We opened a savings account for Ian over the holidays and he was excited to get his own member card to his very own account. And after the paperwork was done we got to empty his piggy bank into the money sorting machine. I never realized how LOUD fifty-five dollars in change could be as it was being dumped and counted! :) Ian was excited until his piggy bank was about three-quarters empty. He quickly asked where his money went and why the machine took it. After explaining that he gets a printout of his deposit and the money is put into his account, he felt better.
But the next day he had something on his mind. At breakfast Ian got really sad and said, "My money is all gone!" We explained again how a savings account works and how a bank is a safe place to put your money until you're ready to use it and he, again, felt better. Then he replies, "So the bank guards my money from the lions, cheetahs and all the big cats?" We got such a big kick out of this. You have to know that Ian has said for a while now that he wants to be a zookeeper and a rancher when he grows up. So much of his thoughts and conversation involve animals in some way.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Christmas
(Written from 12/19/10-1/10/11)
The week leading up to Christmas was such a joyous time at our house and Mark and I feel so blessed to have this time with the kids. Mark had two weeks off and we got lots of time as a family. Now that both kids are getting older, we wanted to start some family traditions of our own.
The kids and I have been making chocolate treats to share at Christmas and we've had so much fun. Now it makes me smile when Ian quickly asks, "Can we bake something today?" upon waking in the morning. Even Anna got into being a little chef and wanted to wear one of my aprons. We made a variety of treats - chocolate truffles, Chinese new year candy, Peanut crunch treats, chocolate covered pretzels, and a treat I now call Grandma J cookies because I remember my Grandma making them when I was young. Mark and Ian made the cookies for Santa and Ian got to decorate them (or, in Ian's case, just pour about a tablespoon of sprinkles on each one...or until the sprinkles spilled over the sides of the cookie.)
On Tuesday night, the kids and I took a plate of our homemade chocolate treats to various neighbors with a Christmas card from our family. I am embarrassed to say that although we exchange smiles and waves to our across-the-street neighbor multiple times per week, we have never met her in the six years we've lived here. So I was determined to meet her at the holidays this year. God blessed our venture into the neighborhood because each neighbor we intended to visit was home. I was so touched when several of the neighbors took the time to not only talk to the kids about what they wanted from Santa, but one neighbor invited us in to sit and talk - so unexpected and so nice. And then the neighbor sent us home with the movie The Polar Express to borrow so the kids could watch it.
The kids were so excited they wanted to watch the movie as soon as we got home. So I got dinner out of the oven and we crowded around the coffee table to eat, enjoy a warm fire in the fireplace that Mark had made for us, and a great movie as a family. Anna danced around the living room and sang along with some of the music. And Ian almost made me cry when he got concerned about the little boy in the movie who goes out into the snow all alone to board the train for the North Pole. Ian got so upset and asked if the boy was going to come back home. We reassured him that he was going to meet Santa and would return home safely. Then he says, "Won't he miss his Mama?" And then he ran to jump into my lap for comfort as he fought back tears. It touched me so because Ian often says that he saves the kisses that Mark and I give him - he 'puts them in his heart to save forever'. And he sometimes says, "Mama, I'll never let you go." He's so genuine and soft-hearted.
The first full day of my Dad's visit, Mark and I had to take Ian to the emergency room while Papa Rod watched Anna. We all sat down to breakfast and Ian leaned his chair back just enough for the back legs to slide out from under the chair. He fell backwards and as he did, he leaned forward and grabbed the seat of the chair where he then hit his chin on the wood part of the chair. We thought he'd just bruised it until we got him into the bathroom to tend to him and realized it had split wide open. A few hours later he had six stitches and was playing at home like nothing had happened. He was amazingly brave through the whole ordeal. He cooperated fully with Nurse Serena and his doctor. He was happy, joking and didn't appear to be in pain at all. They did two rounds of numbing cream on his chin before the stitches. He sat through it all without a tear. I had to take a seat as they stitched him up because it was just too much to see the inside of my little boy's chin - yuck. He came through like a trooper. And now that it is January 10th, the stitches were removed a week ago and his scar is continuing to heal well.
Anna has taken to music even more here lately. She sings (in gibberish) and loves dancing to the radio. The other evening she was singing "Jesus Loves Me" in the tub and tonight she was singing "This Little Light Of Mine". She doesn't have many words yet but she makes up "words" and sings as best she can - so much so that we can identify the song by the tune most times. She loves playing the piano at Gram's and Nana's house, too.
The week leading up to Christmas was such a joyous time at our house and Mark and I feel so blessed to have this time with the kids. Mark had two weeks off and we got lots of time as a family. Now that both kids are getting older, we wanted to start some family traditions of our own. We have taken several drives around the city to see various Christmas light displays and the kids have just loved each time we go. Our favorite is probably the sea of LED-wrapped trees on the Chesapeake campus.
The kids and I have been making chocolate treats to share at Christmas and we've had so much fun. Now it makes me smile when Ian quickly asks, "Can we bake something today?" upon waking in the morning. Even Anna got into being a little chef and wanted to wear one of my aprons. We made a variety of treats - chocolate truffles, Chinese new year candy, Peanut crunch treats, chocolate covered pretzels, and a treat I now call Grandma J cookies because I remember my Grandma making them when I was young. Mark and Ian made the cookies for Santa and Ian got to decorate them (or, in Ian's case, just pour about a tablespoon of sprinkles on each one...or until the sprinkles spilled over the sides of the cookie.)
On Tuesday night, the kids and I took a plate of our homemade chocolate treats to various neighbors with a Christmas card from our family. I am embarrassed to say that although we exchange smiles and waves to our across-the-street neighbor multiple times per week, we have never met her in the six years we've lived here. So I was determined to meet her at the holidays this year. God blessed our venture into the neighborhood because each neighbor we intended to visit was home. I was so touched when several of the neighbors took the time to not only talk to the kids about what they wanted from Santa, but one neighbor invited us in to sit and talk - so unexpected and so nice. And then the neighbor sent us home with the movie The Polar Express to borrow so the kids could watch it.
 |
| This was as good as it got for a "family photo" this year. :) |
We were quite blessed at Christmas. We celebrated with Mark's family on Christmas Eve after attending the family service at church, celebrated again on Christmas morning - just the four of us, and then saw my mom and step dad late Christmas day for another celebration. Then a few days after Christmas, my Dad drove up from Houston for a few days where we celebrated with him. Santa brought Anna a baby doll, a baby stroller, and lots of clothes (for Anna). And Gram made her doll some doll bedding/blankets and clothes. While he brought Ian a Star Wars AT-AT, a space shuttle toy, a kick scooter, a toy shotgun, Lincoln Logs, and Legos. We ended up putting several of the kids' toys at the top of their closets to "save" for a few months from now. Four Christmas celebrations, as wonderful as it is that we are so blessed, can be truly overwhelming for little ones...and their parents.
The first full day of my Dad's visit, Mark and I had to take Ian to the emergency room while Papa Rod watched Anna. We all sat down to breakfast and Ian leaned his chair back just enough for the back legs to slide out from under the chair. He fell backwards and as he did, he leaned forward and grabbed the seat of the chair where he then hit his chin on the wood part of the chair. We thought he'd just bruised it until we got him into the bathroom to tend to him and realized it had split wide open. A few hours later he had six stitches and was playing at home like nothing had happened. He was amazingly brave through the whole ordeal. He cooperated fully with Nurse Serena and his doctor. He was happy, joking and didn't appear to be in pain at all. They did two rounds of numbing cream on his chin before the stitches. He sat through it all without a tear. I had to take a seat as they stitched him up because it was just too much to see the inside of my little boy's chin - yuck. He came through like a trooper. And now that it is January 10th, the stitches were removed a week ago and his scar is continuing to heal well.
Anna has taken to music even more here lately. She sings (in gibberish) and loves dancing to the radio. The other evening she was singing "Jesus Loves Me" in the tub and tonight she was singing "This Little Light Of Mine". She doesn't have many words yet but she makes up "words" and sings as best she can - so much so that we can identify the song by the tune most times. She loves playing the piano at Gram's and Nana's house, too.We had a really wonderful Christmas season and are looking forward to lots of exciting times in the new year.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
I Heard The Bells
If you haven't seen or heard Casting Crowns sing "I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day" then you aren't alone. Until this past weekend Mark and I had never heard this song before, despite it being released several years ago. Our church featured the song this past Sunday and our worship team True North performed this song and it blew us away.
So I wanted to share this absolutely captivating song with you all in hopes that it brings you a sense of peace and joy as we approach Christmas.
(Note: Click PAUSE on my Playlist within the Blog so you will only hear the music from the Video and not both music tracks.)
So I wanted to share this absolutely captivating song with you all in hopes that it brings you a sense of peace and joy as we approach Christmas.
(Note: Click PAUSE on my Playlist within the Blog so you will only hear the music from the Video and not both music tracks.)
Revelation and Resolutions
God reaches people in various ways but I often hear the Lord the loudest through music. The Lord certainly didn't bless me with the talent to sing beautifully or to play an instrument, but I do believe He speaks to me through music.
A while back I heard a song on the radio that made me instantly tear up. The message was so powerful that by the time I heard it a second time, I was singing right along with it as loud as I could. Since then I have heard that song on the radio quite often and it just puts life in perspective on days when it's so needed. It's a song called "My Own Little World" by Matthew West. Below is an excerpt of the lyrics. After hearing this song the lyrics stick in my head for days...and I love it. These lyrics have turned into a sort of prayer I pray often.
What if there's a bigger picture?
What if I'm missing out?
What if there's a greater purpose?
I could be living right now
Outside my own little world
Father, break my heart for what breaks Yours
Give me open hands and open doors
Put Your light in my eyes and let me see
That my own little world is not about me
What if there's a bigger picture?
What if I'm missing out?
What if there's a greater purpose?
That I could be living right now
I don't want to miss what matters
I wanna be reaching out
Show me the greater purpose
So I can start living right now
Outside my own little world.
Check out the full song/video via YouTube here.
And if I'm in the car by myself, I turn "Revelation Song" up as loud as I can stand it and sing along as if I'm performing for a crowd of ten thousand. (Shh! That's a secret!) That song gets me so amped up with grace, I feel unstoppable. On a day when it seems like nothing is going right, singing Revelation Song at the top of my lungs is one of the best spiritual boosts I know of!!
As 2011 quickly approaches, I began to ponder recently about my new year's resolutions. And I have decided to give up on creating resolutions. Instead, I want to create a personal purpose. Resolutions are an outward commitment and often get forgotten a couple months into the new year. A purpose is deeper. To me, a purpose is a spiritual commitment. I am honored beyond words to include wife and mother within my life's purpose but for the past few months I have felt the Lord calling me to fulfill an additional purpose outside my own little world. My talent (or gifts) may not be in music but I'm certain the Lord gives us all unique gifts so that we may bless others.
Matthew 25:40 says it perfectly...
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
My prayer for the new year is that we have complete faith in His plan for our life and the strength to follow Him wherever He leads us.
A while back I heard a song on the radio that made me instantly tear up. The message was so powerful that by the time I heard it a second time, I was singing right along with it as loud as I could. Since then I have heard that song on the radio quite often and it just puts life in perspective on days when it's so needed. It's a song called "My Own Little World" by Matthew West. Below is an excerpt of the lyrics. After hearing this song the lyrics stick in my head for days...and I love it. These lyrics have turned into a sort of prayer I pray often.
What if there's a bigger picture?
What if I'm missing out?
What if there's a greater purpose?
I could be living right now
Outside my own little world
Father, break my heart for what breaks Yours
Give me open hands and open doors
Put Your light in my eyes and let me see
That my own little world is not about me
What if there's a bigger picture?
What if I'm missing out?
What if there's a greater purpose?
That I could be living right now
I don't want to miss what matters
I wanna be reaching out
Show me the greater purpose
So I can start living right now
Outside my own little world.
Check out the full song/video via YouTube here.
And if I'm in the car by myself, I turn "Revelation Song" up as loud as I can stand it and sing along as if I'm performing for a crowd of ten thousand. (Shh! That's a secret!) That song gets me so amped up with grace, I feel unstoppable. On a day when it seems like nothing is going right, singing Revelation Song at the top of my lungs is one of the best spiritual boosts I know of!!
As 2011 quickly approaches, I began to ponder recently about my new year's resolutions. And I have decided to give up on creating resolutions. Instead, I want to create a personal purpose. Resolutions are an outward commitment and often get forgotten a couple months into the new year. A purpose is deeper. To me, a purpose is a spiritual commitment. I am honored beyond words to include wife and mother within my life's purpose but for the past few months I have felt the Lord calling me to fulfill an additional purpose outside my own little world. My talent (or gifts) may not be in music but I'm certain the Lord gives us all unique gifts so that we may bless others.
Matthew 25:40 says it perfectly...
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
My prayer for the new year is that we have complete faith in His plan for our life and the strength to follow Him wherever He leads us.
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