To All

I had so much fun designing our card. Seriously! If it weren't for wanting to enjoy my family and my December, I would gladly make cards for others. Maybe someday. So I mentioned back in October that I got some "stuff" done on a long car trip. The plan for our card was one of those things. EJ and I brainstormed together about the theme of our year and how to apply that to our card. I don't know if "joy" is technically his theme for our year, but certainly my lessons in joy were beneficial to our whole family. God is so good like that.

You may remember this looooong post I wrote back in May. Here is part of it, "If God has not changed my circumstance (chronic pain) and yet through His word I have been satisfied with joy and hope. Can that not be true for the poor? What if their circumstances don't appear to change, but their hearts do? What if the joy that comes from knowing Him, is enough? Can I offer Jesus to others? Yes. Can I change their circumstances? Probably not.
Until now I didn't think offering Jesus was enough. When I type that out it sounds really bad. But in truth we all think that in one way or another, don't we? I guess I didn't think Jesus was enough for me either. I thought feeling better would bring my joy.
Please don't think I am comparing my chronic pain with the extremely hurting/hungry/abused/orphaned people in our world. I am merely realizing that my faith is small. "The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made." Psalm 145:9 
His compassion just might not look the way we think it will."

My God is a generous God. I pray that I never forget the joy I found in Christ alone and in reading the Bible during 2010-2011. I also must praise Him for all that I am able to do now (physically) that I was not able to do this time last year. I have come a long way. Don't get me wrong, I would love to be totally healed and forever. I do not know if that is God's plan, but I do know he is more concerned with my heart than my body. Someday I will dance pain free with Him, forever!

On a lighter note:

I did branch out and help make my parent's card.

And since my cuties and their cousin Yeager are the stars of their card, I thought I'd share it.

I can't take credit for the song idea, my mom did that.

What a day!

3 very different sons with 3 very different ideas of a good time.

1 frazzled mom trying to love each as a whole and separately.

Very thankful for THE 1 Son, who gave it all up for us, to cover our sins.

Thankful that my identity is in Him alone.

Today at lunch Mason asked, why people like to be on t.v.

1 simple question that I could answer with the Gospel.

(of course this is not the reason ALL people like to be on t.v.)

We are all looking for attention. We all want to be important.

We are all seeking the approval of others. We all want to be special.

We are special because God made us. We are special because God loves us.

While we were still sinners he loved us and died for us. 

Thankful I was not alone with my 3 sons today or any day for that matter!

Sweet Treats

An afternoon of baking with my 2 favorite ladies with

my favorite guys hovering around waiting for the goodies to be done ;)

 Mason stepped in for a little while

 Then we worked on our gingerbread "mini village"

 Ryan was only interested in eating

Doesn't our village look amazing? Yep, the pieces totally crumbled. Oh JOY!

Thankfully the boys were not the least bit upset. They just moved on!

Owen's "chalet" is still standing, although you'd never know it b/c it's basically just a roof.

Tonight EJ and I joined our small group for a Christmas dinner party. It was so fun!

Wait until you see what I got as a white elephant gift.
My model is sleeping or I'd show you now;)

Little Gift

My post is probably too late to help anyone this year, as most schools are done today. But just incase you want to store it away for next year. I know I am always looking for cute and inexpensive gift ideas. I used this idea last year too but didn't blog it.

The card says, "Mason is truly blessed to be in such good hands. Here's hoping they stay nice and warm this winter."

 

I have posted this one before.

Decor for 2011

It's safe to say that I have a tradition of making Christmas decorations (with paper) each year. (2010 and 2009) I am continuing to use the same huge scrapbook paper pad that I bought 2 years ago. I have 1 more project in mind for this year, but I am not sure it's going to happen.

Normally we have sailboat paintings on either side of the bay window. Each year we put our tree in the same spot. It just seems funny to have summer sailboats with our Christmas tree. Ridiculous, I know! So of course, I made my own art ;)

I selected verses of "O Come All Ye Faithful"

 and "We Three Kings"

 

With my handy dandy graphic design skills I got the words into these 2 shapes. Printed and cut them and then glued them on this cute herringbone paper and added some sparkle black ribbon I had lying around :)

It's the little things that keep me sane!