Top 9 Reasons I Loved Christmas

9.  Madeline dressed Gabriel for our Christmas Eve festivities. 

(the fact that I have a child old enough to dress another child goes on my Top 9 Reasons I Love My Life)
8. ......and stole a kiss in the process.
7.  Gabriel and I took a carousel ride together at the zoo lights.

(I never tire of watching him say "cheeeeeese!")
6.  Baking and consuming so many you'd think I was eating for 12 Christmas cookies.

Lauren enjoyed every morsel. 
5.  Watching Ron open Madeline's gift.  A quilt of their soccer jerseys of which each stitch was lovingly hand-sewn.
4.  Madeline unveiled that she and Abby had added a handmade stocking for bambino.
3.  Switching up tradition and opening stockings on Christmas Eve after church.
2.  Opening bambino's outfit.  

(this outfit was first unwrapped during Christmas 2000 when our dear friends, Liz and Charlie shipped it to us from the West coast.  We were eagerly awaiting the arrival of our first miracle.)  

All five of our miracles will wear it.

1.  Our Savior

"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.'"- Luke 2:1-14

Counting to 20

Madeline is teaching Lauren to count to 20.  

She wrote a song to help her and I managed to snag it long enough to post here:

(to its own - and quite original - tune)

Counting to 20 can so fun.....1,2,3,4,5

Then comes 6,7,8,9,10

And then comes 11,12,13,14

Here comes 15

Maybe 16

Also 17

Then comes 18

What about 19?

The last one is 20!

Oh, how I like to count with Lauren

Will you count next time with me?

RAK Wednesday

Completely worth your 2 minutes and 39 seconds.

$10 will give a child clean water for life.  That's not an estimate.  That's a fact.

Someone's thirsty.  Click here to give your glass of water. 

(scroll down and pause music before viewing)

Surprise!

My parents gave us this year's Christmas ornament to hang on the tree.

Notice anything interesting?

Maybe this will help.

You guessed it.  We are expecting Baby #5!  We are elated and feel blessed beyond belief.  

(the surprise is that we are telling everyone....little bambino was 100% planned ;))

A Heavenly Perspective

Our Pastor heard this story from a friend of ours and asked Ron to share it during his sermon:

--------------------------------------------------

As I was packing for a 2-day business trip, I was approached by Madeline, our 7-year-old daughter.  She said in a soft and almost troubled voice, "Daddy, you can't go.  You have to stay." 

I knew by her eyes and the tone of her voice that this was sincere.....it was not that she was losing her jungle gym for 2 days (I like to rough house with the kids) but more that she was in a place that she didn't want to be without me.

We had recently watched a movie together where the little girl was not sure her father was going to return to her.  I knew this was on her mind.

I explained that while she was far more important than my job, I did have a responsibility to do my work with excellence....which sometimes means an out-of-town trip.  Following through on my work is honoring to God and my family.  She seemed to understand, but was still not happy about it.

A few minutes later she brought me a note -- and in her wonderful 7 year-old letters -- she wrote, "Please sleep on the floor beside my bed tonight?  Circle 'Yes' or 'No'"

Of course I circled "Yes!"

She returned a few minutes later with an addition to the note that said, "What time? _____"

I wrote down a time and she seemed satisfied with the response.

Later that night, I went in to sleep beside her bed.  I found a new note sitting on top of two pillows.  "Please bring me down to sleep with you.  Put me on the stripes pillow and you get to sleep on the pink pillow.  And don't forget to snuggle with me."

I can't tell you what a precious moment that was.  Her genuine desire to be near me.  It was not a manipulative thing, just pure and genuine love.  She could have asked me for anything - literally anything! - at that moment and I would have given it to her.

I felt like a got a glimpse into our Heavenly Father's perspective.  He just loves when we want to be near Him.  When we have that genuine desire, there is nothing He wouldn't do for us.

-Ron

11-16-08

A Christmas Poem

Madeline wrote a poem in her journal today that made my day even brighter.

(I've lovingly corrected the spelling errors for her ;)

Christmas is coming

Presents are wrapped

Snow is coming

Season galore!

Cold breath

Bundled up

Snow everywhere

I love Christmas

I'm definitely in the Christmas spirit.

(and the presents are definitely not wrapped!)

Laughter is the Best Medicine

Throwback Friday

I'm - once again - only Throwingback a week.  But believe me, its well worth it.

I happened to have the camera on Thanksgiving morning and caught this footage of the kiddos in the playroom with Ron (aka Stallion).  

(scroll to bottom and pause music before viewing)

I heart Stallion.

RAK Wednesday

Oops.  Little late in posting....

The girls decided this morning to make a special Christmas card for someone (TBD) that explains the true meaning of Christmas.  

I was proud of M for coming up with this completely on her own.