Great

Christmas was great.

Ethan was sick with a fever on and off all weekend. He was very whiny and crabby, but did enjoy opening his presents! It didn't matter what was inside of them he just wanted to open them.

Here is a picture from our visit downtown to visit the toy soldier.



Here is a picture of all of my brothers and their gift from me!
(They thought it would be funny to stand next to dad!)

Hope you had a great Christmas too!

So MUCH & CHRISTmas 9 of 12

It has been hard to keep up with my blog with all that has been going on, Christmas, 2 funerals, unexpected visitors, computer problemse etc.

Let's start with the worst news. 2 funerals within 2 weeks. Saturday Dec 2, my great uncle died. On Dec 9 his wife, my grandma's sister died. I wasn't very close to them but obviously my mom and grandma were. One good thing that we got out of it was that my aunt and uncle who weren't going to be here for Christmas, got to be here!

Merci got an early Christmas present from gumma and papa. She got a little baby gerbil. He or she is sooo cute. But I already regret saying YES! So messy.

We went down to Tower City to see the Toy Soldier, like every year. Ethan would dance with the lady but not the Toy Soldier himself.

I did end up with an A in English!!!!

Christmas shopping is done. Christmas baking is done. Just waiting for Christmas to show up!

Ethan is now a big boy. We took out his toddler bed yeasterday. There was no sense keeping him in the crib that he wouldn't stop climbing out of. He isn't so sure he likes it. He keeps asking where the gate went. He ended up on the floor in our room last night after he woke up with a fever=(

Between Ethan waking up every 30 minutes or so, and the 8 gun shots at 3 this morning, I didn't get a good nights sleep. I was pretty scared after hearing the gun shots, but never did hear any sirens, so hopefully the gun was fired at nothing. It was pretty close, maybe the next street or so, it woke Josh and I up. I can't find anything on the news sites, so I hope nothing else comes of it.

I haven't gotten through all of my 12 days of Christams, but I will continue them becasue there are some pretty good ones.

Eternal Glory

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV)

If our present day situation is disturbing to us, perhaps there's something beyond our natural sight in the works, but not yet accomplished. The trouble we face today may be acheiving an eternal purpose so much better than we can imagine.

Remember that what we see right now is only temporary. What is most important, though we may not yet be able to see , is eternal.

I was going to post pictures, but our computer problems are very persistant, so I am having a hard time staying connected to the internet.


MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Close Call

I just got my final grade for my Medical Terminology class!

397.5/440

A-440-396

Got my A, just by a hair.
YEAH ME!!

Still waiting on English

So remember while December
Brings the only Christmas day,
In the year let there be Christmas
In the things you do and say.
- Anonymous

"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer." Psalm 19:14 (NIV)

Pleasing in Your Sight

The words we speak are reflections of our thoughts and meditations. These God-pleasing thoughts and words become pleasing in his sight because they will motivate us to Christ-like actions - that are seen and not just heard. Are your thoughts and words pleasing to the Lord every day and not just at Christmas or on Sunday mornings? Do you keep the spirit of Christmas alive in your heart all throughout the year?

As humans we tend to change our tone according to what surrounds us. Lord I want to make the choice to be pleasing to you ALL the time no matter the surrounding, no matter the circumstance. Lord help me with your loving strngth.

(taken from about.com)

CHRISTmas 7 of 12

John the Baptist said of Jesus:
"He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less." John 3:30 (NLT)

A Christmas Candle

We are like a candle that holds the flame, burning strong and bright the light of Christ. We softly give ourselves away in worship of Him and service for Him, that we might become less and less, and that He might become greater and brighter through us.

I hope this is something we are all striving for.

(taken from About.com)

A Little Fun

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot chocolate, hand down! My favorite id Swiss Miss French Vanilla Hot Cocoa

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree? Wrap them! We wait until the kids are in bed Christmas Eve night and then bring them out and set them under the tree!

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? I like white most of the time!

4. Do you hang mistletoe? No, but maybe I want to this year,i need to go buy some.

5. When do you put your decorations up? I would love to do it the day after Thanksgiving but Josh isn't a huge Christmas fan,so we usually don't get them all up until about 2 weeks before Christmas..we just got our tree last night, i haven't even had energy to do the lights or ornaments yet

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Cheesy potatoes,my Aunt makes one kind and my mom makes another..lots of carbs, but YUMMY

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? Snooping around the house for our gifts..one year I found a receipt and ruined my whole Christmas=( I also like seeing the tree with all the presents piled up on Christmas morning.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? My mom never lied to us! We don't let our kids get carried away with Santa, I don't want Santa being the focus of Christmas instead of Jesus. They can visit Santa and get pictures that is fine, but we don't go out of our way to lie about him

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? I usually buy and ornament for them to buy...but we also have a family gathering on Christmas Eve so we get to open lots of presents!!

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? Silver, and white. I love snowflakes so the majority of our ornaments are snowflakes, and then there are ones thrown in from when we were kids and the kids first Christmas ornaments etc. You need a little splash of color!

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Only love it on Christmas Eve and Christmas, or if I don't have to go out in it!

12. Can you ice skate? Uh-huh! i went every Friday night for like 4 years+

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? My Tanzanite and Diamond tennis bracelet on our first Christmas (He overdrew our bank account for it!! LOL)

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Trying to instill in my children a heavenly understanding of it and not a worldly one. I love to give gift to everyone, and spoil my hubby and kids.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Pie

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Don't have many yet, I just like waking up early and getting the kids up to open their gifts.

17. What tops your tree? My tree s bare right now, but there will be a white glittery star.

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Both...if I just get one gift I am happy. i like the silly little things Merci picks out for me!!

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? The Little Drummer Boy, the new version by some Christian artist, and that one song I don't know the name of... I will have to get back to you..LOL

20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? Yum Yum, I like the Spree ones, and other yummy flavored ones, not too fond of pepermint.

I am supposed to tag people, but I won't, because they won't do it anyway. but you can respond to some in the comments!

CHRISTmas 6 of 12

Come as a Child

He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: 'I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'" Matthew 18:2-4 (NIV)

Is there anything more exciting than being a child on Christmas morning? And yet this is what God asks of us each day, to change and become like little children. Not just on Christmas, but each day approaching our Father, God as a child, with excited anticipation of His goodness, and humbly trusting Him that every need will be met and every care will be under His control.

I really like this verse, I was just chewing on it the other day. Except I can't remember why! I know I was in the car and I realized something, I really wish my memory was better. Enjoy.

Remember I take these devotionals from About.com

CHRISTmas 5 of 12

Not so sure what this has to do with Christmas, but hey...another good reminder=)

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: 'For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:35-39 (NIV)

Not Alone at All

When you feel the most alone, it may be the very moment when you are truly "least" alone at all.God is there in your darkest night and coldest wind. He may be so close you cannot see Him, but He is there. And perhaps He has chosen this moment to pull you closer to Him than you have ever been before.

CHRISTmas 4 of 12

Make Room for More

If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use in giving--large or small--it will be used to measure what is given back to you." Luke 6:38 (NLT)

We have heard people say, "You can't out-give God." Well, you can't out-give yourself either! You don't need to be wealthy to possess a giving heart.
Give a smile, lend an ear, extend a hand. However you give, God's promise is tried and tested, and you'll see the blessings return multiplied back to you.

(This devotional was taken from about.com)

This is definitely the time of the year, I feel like giving the most. It makes me so sad to think, some precious child won't be getting any gifts this year. I can't make a difference in everybody's life, but I hope to learn how to go the extra mile and be kind to ALL of those around me. Even the ones that drive 10 miles per hour on a street that is not snow covered enough to be driving 10 miles per hour!!!=)

CHRISTmas 3 0f 12

Just a reminder=)

Wonderful Impossibilities

"When God intends to make something wonderful he begins with a difficulty. When he intends to make something very wonderful, he begins with an impossibility."
- Former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Coggan

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)

Wonderful Impossibilities

The birth of Jesus was not just a difficulty, it was an impossibility. Mary was a virgin. Only God could breath life into her womb. And just as God caused her to conceive the perfect sinless Savior - fully God, fully human - He can accomplish through you, those things that seem impossible in your life.

(devotional taken from about.com)

CHRISTmas Day 2 of 12

Not so sure I liked todays devotion. Kind of generic.

How does YOUR family, "Keep Christ in Christmas?"
Let me know what traditions you have incorporated into your Christmas celebration!

CHRISTmas Day 1 0f 12

As I began to prepare for Christmas, in my thoughts a few months ago, I began to hear little pieces of what God wanted me to do. Here and there you hear of parents getting their child 3 gifts to symbolize the 3 gifts brought to baby Jesus. I always thought it was a cool idea, so we will be implementing this tradition (it is really hard though, so we will get them each 3 gifts and the stocking stuffers don't count!) Then after reading a few different blogs, the phrase "Keeping Christ in Christmas" kept repeating itself in my head.

For the past few years we have made a paper chain so Merci could count the days until Christmas. Last year each link had a little something written on it that we could do. (make cookies, make a Christmas card for grandma, etc.) This year we will be doing the same but each day we will implement something to remind us to "Keep Christ in Christmas!" Merci is not allowed to tell us what she wants for Christmas, and is not allowed to say I want, we are trying to get her focus off the presents...We all know how hard that is for kids and adults=) I did some looking on the internet and found lots of great stuff, crafts, coloring pages, poems, stories, etc. On About.Com, they even have daily devotionals. Which I am not sure will be age appropriate for Merci but I love hearing new scriptures, I may have missed or never thought about before, so I will be posting, them for me and hopefully you can get something out of them also!


"This is Christmas: not the tinsel, not the giving and receiving, not even the carols, but the humble heart that receives anew the wondrous gift, the Christ." - Frank McKibben

"And what a difference between our sin and God's generous gift of forgiveness. For this one man, Adam, brought death to many through his sin. But this other man, Jesus Christ, brought forgiveness to many through God's bountiful gift. And the result of God's gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man's sin. For Adam's sin led to condemnation, but we have the free gift of being accepted by God, even though we are guilty of many sins. The sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over us, but all who receive God's wonderful, gracious gift of righteousness will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ." Romans 5:15-17 (NLT)

The Greatest Christmas Gift

Each year we are reminded that Christmas should not be just about giving and receiving

But if we really think about Christmas, it truly is all about gift giving! At Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the greatest gift ever given, by the greatest gift-giver of all, our wonderful God and Father!

Taken from About.Com!