SNOW!

It doesn't happen often in this part of the world, but we did get snow this weekend. Erik and I were actually in Sunriver at the time. Luke was with Grandma and Grandpa while Paul was home with Oma. Here are the pictures of Luke throwing snowballs off the balcony at G&G's place. Paul's pictures are still in the camera. Tomorrow. If I finish the Christmas cards. :-)

Learning to make a snowball from Grandpa.

Great action shots!

"Look out below!"

Advent Fun

We celebrate advent each night by opening a door on our fabulous three-dimensional advent calendar. Within each door is a small treat for each member of the family and a slip of paper with our Scripture reading and carol for the night. It has been so much fun telling the boys the story of Jesus' birth, beginning with God's promise to send a Savior King. Tonight we veered a bit from the norm because Grandma had left an advent gift today when she watched Paul. We reviewed all that we have learned thus far, from the promise to the angel visits to Mary and Joseph, followed by rousing renditions of "Mary Had a Baby" and "Hark the Herald Angels Sing." Then the presents came. Mine was my very own hand-knit stocking, which perfectly matches the ones the boys and Erik have! Erik grew up with his and Lynne found the pattern for it for Luke's first Christmas and also made one for Paul. I LOVE having all of them matching. Not that I can actually hang them this year. Paul would just pull them down. Next year!
The boys also received little gifts - a little lion for each of them. It was especially cool because we shared with Luke that Jesus is also called the Lion of Judah. We have been slowly building our collection of animals since Luke's third birthday and these were an excellent addition. Paul was especially thrilled with his very own lion. Here are adorable pictures for your enjoyment!

Paul's face really says it all.

Luke's face is so precious. He's happy because Paul is tickled.

Roaring for the camera!

Happy Thanksgiving

We began our Thanksgiving with a new family tradition, the creation of a tree of thanksgiving in our dining room. I got this idea from a good friend, Holly, and I LOVE it. Luke had so much fun cutting and pasting this morning. Each leaf has the phrase, "______ is thankful to God for..." followed by a few things. Luke's list didn't change much from the other day: all the roaring animals Jesus made, elephants, and the cows. That's all he had for the longest time, but then I asked him one more time who he was thankful for. This is what he said. "I'm thankful that I have a Paulywog that I love." Yep. That went on a leaf for sure. That's my favorite leaf on the tree right now. Here are the pics.







We thank you, Lord Jesus, for all you have given us through your death on the cross and resurrection. We acknowledge that all that we have is from you.

More Thankful

It's Saturday morning and that means that Erik is at his BSF leaders meeting from 7am until 9am. Instead of thinking grumpy thoughts about that, I decided to ask the boys what they were thankful for at breakfast this morning.
Luke: I'm thankful for the lions and all the animals - that God made all the animals.
Mommy: And Paul, what are you thankful for?
Paul: (pointing at the banana just out of his reach) Nan-ah! (Probably coincidence, but also probably accurately represents that for which Paul is most thankful.)
Luke: ( a few minutes later) I like when God made all of the roaring things.

Two comments from the Mommy's perspective. Firstly, I know there are many reasons why lions and tigers roar, but I believe that God would have given them this ability simply for the delight of the three-year olds. He's like that. Secondly, having just heard on the news that 10 million Americans are currently looking for work, I am SO thankful to God that my husband has a job that keeps bananas on the breakfast table.

And now this morning's pictures, a few quick shots taken after I finished typing this.

Watching Mommy blog is fascinating.

Reading in Daddy's chair is a super special treat.

Colds and Such

I had the best intentions to begin blogging more regularly. And then we all got colds. There is nothing like a cold to make you appreciate the times when you don't have a cold. We have been blessed with a fairly quick round this time. Erik was down Wednesday and Thursday, I spent Saturday and Sunday in bed and the boys just run none-stop through the entire experience. The biggest downer was our inability to keep a dinner date with our new friends who have a new baby. Their little guy was born three months early and although he is home now, he is still on oxygen. There is no way we were going to be able to breathe his air. Hopefully we will be able to reschedule soon.
So, what am I thankful for as I get over my first cold of the season? Zinc. Echinacea. Kleenex. The simple things. This week in BSF we studied Exodus 19 and 20 when God gave the Isrealites the Ten Commandments. Can you remember what the 10th one is? I couldn't either. Don't covet. Simply put, don't want what (s)he has. Her hair, her figure, her shoes, her jeans. His car, his surround sound, his flat screen, his blackberry. Her clean house, his salary, her potty-trained obedient son, his sales numbers. My list applies to my life. We all have our lists. I am SO thankful for a God who speaks to me through His word and quietly convicts me about my covetous thoughts. And then prompts me to share them with the world so that I will be more accountable. :-) I'm so very content with that which God has given me.
And now for the pictures. There wasn't any special event, but I think my boys are pretty special so I take pictures of them.

Luke and Paul are getting better and better at being best friends. Things will get even easier when Paul starts to speak more English.

Luke was pleased beyond description when I discovered this long-sleeved Thomas shirt in his closet the other morning. It was a birthday gift from the Willseas in August. It's Luke's favorite apparel these days. He gets to wear it as long as there isn't any food on it. His eating skills have improved slightly since this restriction.

Thankfulness Begins

My precious mom misses the boys, and so I post these pictures and a few stories for her enjoyment and yours.





Sunday afternoon we went to a birthday party for a three-year-old friend. The theme was John Deere tractors. Everyone was told to wear overalls. Our dudes matched because Luke is on his second pair of these ultra-durable Oshkosh overalls. The boys did really well at the party, with only a few minor infractions. Considering their ages, I felt completely blessed.

As we head into this season of giving thanks, I want to be purposeful about the process. In an effort to do so, I will include my thanks a little with each November post.

Each day is such a huge blessing from God, but He gives so much within each day. Today I have been productive, praying, studying, vacuuming, laundering, picking up at the airporting, and even playing. It feels good to be productive and check things off the list. The thing I am most thankful for, however, isn't the feeling of accomplishment and success. It is that I have a God who loves me when I am productive and loves me the same when I am not. I don't have to get the job done to gain His favor. God's love is longer than my to do list and isn't dependent on its completion.

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Marvelous Light

Erik and I were unable to travel to Texas for Jessica's service held yesterday. I had been feeling empty and a little lost about not being with family and not having the chance to celebrate Jessica's life. Today in church God gave me an amazing gift. We sang a song that so perfectly made me think of Jessica. I stood there and wept with absolute joy knowing that so many of the truths in this song are now about Jessica physically. The song is meant to speak to the spiritual truths of one who has found Jesus. Both truths apply to Jessica! Jesus has risen from the dead and Jess is with Him now, worshiping Him and proclaiming Him the Lord of Lords, who was, and is and is to come. I joined her this morning and was so blessed! Thank you, Father.

My dead heart now is beating
My deepest stain now clean
Your breath fills up my lungs
Now I'm free
Now I'm free

Sin has lost its power
Death has lost its sting
From the grave you've risen
Victoriously

Into marvelous light I'm running
Out of darkness
Out of shame
By the cross You are the truth
You are the life
You are the way