What's Up

If I could be 2 places at once this would be the other place. I have missed blogging. It's just not happening. I have fleeting thoughts for posts and then they dissipate before I have the time to write them. This might be very random!

After much effort to keep 5 Days His Ways running during the month of December, I gave up. I think it's good to set aside for awhile. The verses on our fridge where beginning to blend into the background, if you know what I mean. I should probably do new ones for the new year to get everyone excited again. Some days have been easier to maintain than others. I will have to do a bigger update soon.

Instead, we've been following along with a Jesse Tree Advent project that our church put together. I had never even heard of a Jesse Tree until recently. We read the recommended scriptures each night at bedtime and usually ask the boys a few questions. Some nights it goes smoother than others.

I am totally ridiculous for adding my sparkly ornaments, but I just missed them too much.

I wish I could say I am getting a lot out of the devotional, but by that time of day my brain is done. I really should read it on my own, but I haven't.

I don't really like how certain things feel put on hold for the month of December. I keep thinking next week will look different. Ha! Next week there is no school. So it will look different, but not the normal different.

Gift shopping is basically done. A huge percentage was done on-line. It's SO convenient. Plus, I have really enjoyed opening all the boxes to figure out what is inside :)

On to the meal planning and wrapping and baking and cleaning. We are hosting Christmas Day :) I love it!

Kitchen Aid

I had some help putting away groceries today.

 He even tried to put away the bags.

 That's what I feel like doing too, when they don't fold quickly.

11th Anniversary

This year, we had 2 drastically different celebrations. 

The first took place on our actual anniversary. 

The boys and I created a "restaurant" for us ALL to celebrate together. 

I gave them the idea, and they ran with it.

Owen created a menu for Mo's Seafood ("M"ason+"O"wen=MO)

We had small heart shaped cucumber sandwiches (Owen's idea) for an appetizer.
Mason is explaining the dish ;)

Owen took our orders

They both served us (sort of). EJ and I share a love for crab cakes.

These are the frozen kind, don't be too impressed.

 It was a really fun dinner. Definitely not something I imagined myself doing 11 years ago:)

The second celebration was an overnight get a-way. My parents watched the boys and EJ and I cashed in a gift certificate he had received through work for a 1-night stay at a very nice Inn. It was especially beautiful with the Christmas decorations.

We have had so many anniversary pictures in front of Christmas trees. It cracks me up. 

 We did a little shopping. We had a great dinner out, despite the frigid temperatures. 

Stumbled upon an adult league ice hockey game (random).

Our slow leisurely morning was my favorite part. It was SO quiet I almost couldn't stand it. 

We each read and talked about what we were reading and enjoyed our coffee while it was still hot! 

Then went out for bagels and more shopping.

The view from our room

 

It's kind of hard imagining being gone for more than 24 hours! When does that change?

Outtakes

Scary how different the lighting is for their portraits. I have a lot to learn!

1 very blessed Mama

A Midst the Bustle

After dropping Mason off at school, I headed out with Ryan, a bag of tricks to keep him happy and my lists. He was a gem the whole time. I could not believe it. What a blessing! I spent the entire preschool time crossing of items on our gift lists. Awesome!
In fact, he was so quiet and happy I spent way too much time wandering around looking at things that weren't on the list.
It's the age old problem. I have a list in hand, but when I enter the endless world of retail, suddenly the list doesn't seem long enough. Surely, I need this and that. My thoughts get muddled. My list gets stuffed deeper in my pocket b/c if I referred back to the list none of those other items would be on it. Fortunately, I am too practical to walk away with much, but it does leave my brain feeling overworked and peaceful.

This semester in Wellspring, I have noticed in Genesis that God's people are constantly doing this too. Not at a store mind you, but in every day life. God tells them what to do (for their good) and as they go about their days they forget. They form their own plans, their own ways and suddenly their to-do list (God's word) no longer matters.
Their stories of failure, God's pursuit of them regardless, His grace and their return to him(or not) has been teaching me a lot. I feel like I have a better understanding of our sin nature. After all, I am just like them. God has given me his Word. I can read it or it can sit on the shelf. I can apply it to my life or I can justify my reason's for ignoring it. Perhaps the gap between the people of the Old Testament and myself is shrinking.

Even when I am reading it and learning and applying it to my life, the world and all it's neon lights still distract me. I am realizing that if the distractions go on long enough I become complacent to them. The lines get fuzzy, the "list" gets blurry. I get desensitized to things. Half the time I don't think twice.

If I stop and listen, I sense Him challenging me to stop and LOOK. His Spirit wants to enlighten my eyes to His ways, not the Worlds.
You would think seeing my sin nature in a bigger way could cause me to feel burdened, but God has been generous to reveal it by way of seeing His Grace bigger than I had seen before.

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, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18