Christmas Love

In lieu of buying gifts for each other this year, we adopted a family to give presents to this Christmas. We weren't sure our kids would understand or grasp why we were doing this, but we felt a strong conviction to do so anyway. Our children will be far from neglected at the five different family Christmas celebrations we will attend. Plus, I broke down and bought a box of the new hot chocolate with colored marshmallows that they keep eyeing every time we are buying groceries!
We had a great time shopping for this family together and Zane understood a lot more than I thought he would. My favorite part of this whole experience though, was when Bryce and Zane delivered everything this morning. When they got back, I asked them how it went and if they got to meet the family. Bryce said that the little boy, close to Zane's age, immediately ran up and hugged him. Zane said, "It only took us 2 seconds to be friends, Mom." Those words were so sweet to my ears.
Just like so many people, I have been running around like a chicken with my head cut off all week. (where did that expression come from anyway...yuck.) I've been reminded several times to "be still". Our world is so much about the big, hungry, lit up, decorated, shopped for and then exchanged celebration. I'm thankful for the little reminders of Jesus, during a holiday all about Jesus.
My greatest gift? Jesus.
My favorite gifts this year? My son's 2 second friend and a little yellow sticky note that Zane gave me, reading "I love Mom. I'll give you $2 to the dollar store. To Mom". He has $4.

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might love through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." 1 John 4:7-12

Graham Cracker Houses

We put a lot of our old candy to good use last night, making graham cracker houses. We had a great time!

Gemma had a little help from dad.

Gemma's finished product

Zane's super cute house

My house

Note the duck in the backyard

Go Fish

Arrgh! Me has an ornery brother.

Trying to get a Christmas Photo

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Talk & Roll

Bunch of clowns!

It was clown night at AWANA this wednesday. We couldn't figure out costumes, so we decided that face paint would be just as much fun! I sure am blessed by my house of clowns!

Ruth and I didn't participate. :-)

"Punkin Patch"

It was a perfect cool fall day to head to the pumpkin patch with some friends. I wish I had taken more pictures, but the few I ended up are cute. FYI - You need about 8 arms to take 3 little kids to the pumpkin patch.

And although not pictured, we did end up with 3 beautiful "punkins".

Bet you never did this at your school...

Naked apple stamping! The kids thought it was hysterical when I told them to strip before we started. Hey, it saves on the mess and laundry. Fun times at School on a hill.

Resurrection Sunday Dance, Budapest, Hungary

Zane's Birthday!

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Hillsong - Made Me Glad

Bart's new digs

Zane and Gemma chillin' in Bart's abode.


Upclose of Bart hoping she can come in and play, even though she loves her new pool that Bryce's brother graciously helped put together.


Swimming in her personal pond. She even naps while floating along. I took the pictures through the glass, because when I open the door, she comes running. So for now, this is the only way to get a shot in the water. We have recently added goldfish to the pond as well, to help keep it clean. The goldfish remain anonymous (unnamed), as Bryce forbids us from becoming attached to anything else. :-)

Roomies

I went on a Mom's Retreat with our church a couple weekends ago. It was such a blessing to me. Ruth came along and we braved a room with 2 other precious mom friends and their sweet blessings. Here are Ruth's buds for the night, Isabelle (who is 3 days younger) and Elliana (who is a month older). They all did a great job and I think got more sleep than us moms did.

I am so thankful for a little time away from the norm to be refreshed, filled with some Godly teaching and loved on by like-minded mom friends. I'm already looking forward to next year!

3 Months Old!

Ruth is 3 months! It sure does fly by. Here is how she has grown...

newborn

one month

two months

three months

All fists

Ruth is in the baby stage where she often has her hands clenched into little fists, waving them around uncontrollably. Lately, I keep finding her with something in those fists that one of her siblings has found she needed.

Both of these made me laugh!

My ducklings

Stopping to smell the roses...literally.


Bart is camouflaged well in the dry grass!


I love watching Bart follow the kids wherever they go. It is exactly how I want my relationship with Jesus to be. I will watch Bart stop briefly, enticed by something that looks interesting, but only for seconds, as Bart's main focus is to follow Zane and Gemma.

Matthew 16:24
"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.'''

Besties

Gemma is often looking out for her sister. I don't know that it's necessarily for safety so much, but just to make sure she is included. Gemma is enjoying snuggle time with Ruth here. When I came back from the bathroom, Gemma had a blanket and stuffed animal for each of them. I pray that they will always love each other this much and that they will be best friends.

Bath Time

Bart provides great entertainment on his little swims in our tub.

Somebody's getting smiley!

Fair Day

We went to the Kansas State Fair this week for a fun family day and school field trip. We have been studying creation and so we looked for everything that God created while we were at the fair. We saw horses, fish, goats, sheep, chickens, roosters, ducks (one of our new favorites) & rabbits. Last year we went on a rainy day and it was nice and cool. This year it was HOT! I'm sweating just thinking about it. I even came home with a nice sunburn souvenir.



Zane was anxiously awaiting the pig races this year. We sat in the yellow section and our pig won 2 out of the 3 races. Woohoo!


Here the kids and I are waiting for the Wild About Monkeys show to begin. The kids loved it!



Resting and refueling in the food court! Mmmm... Zane went with a hotdog, Gemma chose a hamburger and the two of them shared a pickle popsicle. Zane wasn't as impressed as he thought he might be, but Gemma finished it up happily. Bryce and I went for the healthy stuff, like cheese curds and fried oreos. Delish!

The kids also enjoyed the midway. Lots of rides and a fresh squeezed lemonade to keep us cool.

It was a fun, but tiring day. Ruth was quite the trooper and we all slept good that night!