Christmas Traditions - CHRISTMAS CARD PICTURES

I enjoying taking pictures of my kids. (that comes as such a surprise I am sure!). It is time to start making plans for Christmas cards. I didn't want to use summer vacation pictures again this year. I thought about having their pictures taken at a local studio, but at the last minute decided against it. After church today, we had our own little photo shoot. We had some fun and after much cropping of pictures (I have a secret love affair with cropping pictures) this is what we had!
The first four pictures were used on the Christmas Card
These didn't make it on the card, but did make it onto our annual photo calendar!

Family Traditions - Old and New

We just finished one of my favorite family traditions. Decorating the house for Christmas. Every box you open is like greeting an old friend. Remembering where you got that prized decoration, remembering who gave you each thing.

Our Christmas tree is much like the one I had growing up. Every ornament I remember getting. Each one has a special meaning. Ornaments cross-stitched by one of my dearest childhood friends. Ornaments given to us as wedding presents (thanks to having a wedding right before the start of the holiday season). Precious ornaments made by Caroline and Jack. Ones I was given as a child or we have given each of our children each year. Each one a special memory. Don't get me wrong, I love the beautiful coordinated Christmas trees that are breath-taking to look at, but I love my Christmas tree ~ my memory tree.

We got the rest of the house decorated as well. I love looking at all my St. Nick's and the different nativity sets we have set out in each room.

We started a new tradition this year of writing down things we were thankful for on different strips of paper. We then made a paper chain out of it. It was to go on the tree, but I thought it would get lost with all the decorations, so we gave it a place of honor to remind us of all our many blessings (over the food pantry, of course).

Tomorrow, we'll engage in another holiday tradition - taking pictures for the Christmas cards. Here are some practice runs. Hope tomorrow goes well!

Light in the Darkness

Last weekend when we were at Jack's soccer game it was later in the day and very dark, wet and cold. Absolutely awful weather to be outside in. But as we were getting ready to leave, this is what we saw.

It was so beautiful and really has made me think this week. These times seem very bleak, dark, cold. Our economy is in the tank. People are losing jobs all the time it seems. Retirement funds are dwindling with every poor day on the stock exchange. More than 1/2 a million could be out of jobs with the whole car industry failure. It is really scary.

Not to mention worrying about our political climate, our national security and myriad of other personal and health crisis's that different ones are going through. On top of the busyness of the season and normal everyday stresses and work and home, it is enough to make you want to cover your head and stay in bed.

But the Lord is faithful. He always has been and always will be. We've been doing a nightly family devotional that my friend, Lisa, gave us highlighting what the Pilgrims did and how faithful the Lord was to them as they came to America. Talk about some really tough times! But God provided and sustained them.

He is faithful today as well. So as I look at the picture (I think I'm going to have it printed and framed as a reminder) I recall these promises from my Father. Promises that He is faithful to keep~

I have been deprived of peace; I have forgotten what prosperity is. So I say, "My splendor is gone and all that I had hoped from the Lord." I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. Lamentations 3:17-26

So as we hold fast to the promises of the Lord, let us not lose heart and hope. He is always the light in the midst of darkness.

End of Soccer Season

Soccer season ended last weekend. Just in time too. Jack played his last game last weekend and boy was it super cold. He played a great game. Got the ball at one point, dribbled it down the field and set-up a beautiful shot into the goal. He was so excited.

After the game we went to Dairy Queen for our trophy party. (how crazy was that frigid temperatures and ice cream - it didn't seem to stop the kids any, but I think the parents would have liked some hot coffee instead!)

Jack is so proud of his trophy. He loved that this one has a soccer ball on it with fire heading towards the goal. He said that is how he kicks the ball - fast enough for fire!

Christmas Market

Last weekend at our church we had our first annual Christmas Market. It was such a fun experience. Different vendors set up booths to sell their wares. What was really neat is that most of the vendors were stay-at-home moms who used this as an opportunity to expand their home based business and make some extra holiday money.

The entire place was set-up to look like Dicken's Village. We had spent time painting sets and back drops. It turned out beautifully. Another local church does a large Dicken's Village each year and had so generously loaned us costumes, and set props. (if you are in the area visit Heritage Church to see their incredible Dicken's Village in December). Here is Caroline with her good friend, Carlin.
Some of the children in our church dressed up and sang Christmas Carols. Caroline with Ethan and Sarah Crouse made the rounds spreading Christmas cheer.
Not being a stay-at-home mom, but hating to be out of the action, I had a booth as well. I figured there would be lots of moms there with their kids and the children might like an activity to do as well. I set up a booth where children could come and make hand-painted glass ornaments and packets of magic reindeer dust. Jack and Sarah loved making the ornaments.
We had a blast and made a little money in the process. Enough for a new winter coat!

10 Wonderful Years!

A wonderful getaway!

I can't believe that as I sit here and write this, in two days I will have been married for 10 years. Doesn't at all seem possible or nearly that long. In honor of our anniversary we took a trip to Orlando for an extra-long weekend. At first, James wasn't at all sure why I wanted to go to Disney World if the kids weren't going with us. I guess all those times as a young adult when I would go, I dreamed of going with the man I would love and enjoying the magic that is Disney. We have been several times since we've been married, but always with the kids. So this time would be different.

Saturday morning we didn't rush to get up, but were still out the door headed to Epcot by 10am. Epcot had their annual food and wine festival going on and we wanted to enjoy the festivities. It was fun riding rides that we normally don't get to ride such as Mission To Mars. James liked it so much he rode it twice.

After that we loved the thrills and spins of the Test Track and had fun dreaming about some of the new cars available (sure beats our old cars - but hey, they're paid for!)

We figured we walked at least 8 miles during the day, but when you're enjoying good German beer, wines from around the world, it isn't all bad. We enjoyed hearing some good Louisiana Zydeco music.

And chilling out to the sounds of the Atlanta Rhythm Section.

Our close friends, Jim and Mandy, met us for dinner that night and we enjoyed lots of great conversations and catching up with them. (and we got an invite for dinner the next night at their house!)

Sunday we slept in, drank coffee in bed and watched Close Encounters of the Third Kind on cable TV. We enjoyed perusing the bookstore and FINALLY had the opportunity to go see Fireproof. I can't recommend it enough. It is such a good movie about marriage and the struggles that so often overtake us. It was a great conversation starter for us. Definitely make time to see it! After dinner we enjoyed dinner at the Blume's house (Mandy and Jim) and loved getting to see the boys. As always the company, conversation and wine was great. We talked late into the night. Such fun people to hang out with!

Monday we headed to SeaWorld. Our tickets we bought in April of this year were still good and we decided to enjoy it all over again. We were totally psyched to find out that there was a roller coaster there. We had no idea. It was a fast, wild and totally fun ride! Definitely something we can only do when the kids aren't there (at least until they get a bit taller!)

We were entralled by the Blue Horizon Dolphin Show and the Shamu Believe Show. Both are awe-inspiring and leave you with a bit of a lump in your throat.

We enjoyed the free beer at the Anheuser Busch Tent and the beautiful gardens.

We went to Wolfgang Puck's restaurant and enjoyed a wonderful dinner of Wienerschnitzel and dark chocolate torte.

I can't begin to state how awesome it was to spend some time with James without the kids. We adore our children, but when you have some downtime without the kids the conversations sometimes are really special and meaningful. The memories are fun too!