Best Way To Finish

The Best Way to Finish A Year~

Happy~


Healthy~


Snuggly~


Toothless~


HAPPY NEW YEAR!

In The News

I could not get the video to embed here, I'm sorry! Here is yet another link for you to check out if you are interested. It is a piece done by CBN News.

Heartbreak and Hope

The webcast is up from last night's session at Urbana. There is a video on Human Trafficking and a short testimonial message from Management. The video is unbelievably heartbreaking!

Urbana, Disney, Friends

Most of you know that Management is away at Urbana this week. I'm so proud of him and miss him so much but know that he is there for such a time as this. He's preached his message to me a couple of times and it is amazing! I wish that I could hear it along with the 17,000+ other people because I just know that God is going to work through the words that He has given Management to speak. It's been really nice to follow Management on Twitter and follow along with the conference too. If you are interested, you can watch/listen to the Urbana sessions about 2-3 hours after the session has concluded. I believe that Management's sessions are tomorrow (Monday) morning and Wednesday morning.

While Management is away, the kids and I are just relaxing and enjoying our vacation. We spent the day at home yesterday in our pajamas. Today we went to church and then spent the day at my parent's house. It was a very nice, laid back Sunday.

I did spend some time this afternoon researching Disney's Give A Day Get A Disney Day program. Management is speaking at a conference NEXT December between Christmas and New Year down south and we have talked about taking a few days after the conference to go to Disney. We've also been talking with my entire family (all 21 of us) about volunteering this January at our local Rescue Mission. Well when I heard about this program I thought that it would be fantastic if we could put the two together and volunteer and get a free ticket to Disney. I'm not sure if it will work but I'm going to try to make it work. Either way, we ARE going to volunteer at the Rescue Mission with all 21 of us and it will be wonderful to give back, to serve together, and to do something where the kids and adults are all working together.

I know this is already long but I'm spending the night at my parents' and the entire house is asleep...at 10:30!?!? I might as well blog...

Management and I will be flying to North Carolina soon to meet with one (of four) of the Vice Presidents of InterVarsity. Management most likely will be changing positions within the organization. I can't really go into much detail because I don't really know much yet. That's what the trip is for...to work out the details. I will keep you posted but please be in prayer for this upcoming trip. Please be in prayer for wisdom, clear communication, unity, and anything else that the Holy Spirit lays on your heart. Thanks!

Finally (really this could go on all night as I am not one bit sleepy), please be in prayer for the Urbana conference and the many many many students, staff, and volunteers that are there this week. Pray for health, safety, security, the Spirit to move and call and direct hearts, the logistics of the conference, travel, and again, as the Spirit leads you to pray. Thank you!

Lastly, I'm so excited for my best friend Grace to come and stay with me a few days this week. Her husband is also at Urbana and so she and her little guys are coming to visit. I just can not wait!!

Lots to look forward to...Lots to pray for....

Praise to the King of Kings

Worthy is the,
Lamb who was slain
Holy, Holy, is He
Sing a new song, to Him who sits on
Heaven's Mercy Seat

Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing:
Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And I will adore You!

Clothed in rainbows, of living color
Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder
Blessing and honor, strength and
Glory and power be
To You the Only Wise King,

Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing:
Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And I will adore You!

Filled with wonder,
Awestruck wonder
At the mention of Your Name
Jesus, Your Name is Power
Breath, and Living Water
Such a marvelous mystery

Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing:
Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And I will adore You!

Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come,
With all creation I sing:
Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And I - will - adore YOU

Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing:
Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And I will adore You!

Come up lift up His Name
To the King of Kings
We will adore YOU Lord
King of heaven and earth
King Jesus, King Jesus
Aleluya, aleluya, aleluya!
Majesty, awestruck Honor
And Power and Strength and Dominion
To You Lord,
To the King, to King
To the King of Glory

Revelation Song: Phillips, Craig, and Dean

Pottery

Christmas Spectacular is officially over. WeeklyAd was happy to have some down time Sunday night and we spent much of the day Monday resting and relaxing. So far we've had a pretty quiet and restful week with a little bit of fun thrown in the mix.

One of our favorite activities is to head downtown, grab a hot chocolate, and paint pottery at our favorite little pottery shop. We haven't been able to go in awhile and so when I was trying to think of something fun to do with the kids this week, that was at the top of my list. It is fun and quiet and very relaxing and it is something that both kids enjoy. Good memories!






And as you can see, memories aren't the only thing that we take away from this activity. The kids always have a great time and before we leave, they are already asking when we can come back. I have to admit that I'm always ready to go back too.

Christmas Spectacular

After months and months of rehearsals and FIVE performances, Christmas Spectacular will come to an end today. WeeklyAd has been such a trooper and has thoroughly enjoyed the performances. She LOVES to be on stage and though she was tired from the rehearsals, she seemed energized by the audiences. She is definitely an entertainer!

I wish that you all could have seen the show. It was such a high quality, funny show and I know your children would have loved it! Unfortunately we are unable to take pictures or video so I don't even have any clips to share with you. I do think, however, there are some professional photos out there and if I can find them, I will share them.

WeeklyAd's performances were scattered throughout the show. She first appeared in the openning number where she danced with a little boy partner who lifted her up at the end of the dance. It was adorable. She then reappears in the openning number still wearing the costume that she is pictured in above. Only a professional can dance in those boots I tell ya!


Later in the show she is an Elf in Santa's workshop and does a more upbeat Jazz dance. Finally, towards the end of the show she does another more playful Jazz dance to the song Up on the Housetop. Both the Elf costume and Up on the Housetop costume cannot be photographed (though Management was able to get a little glimpse of it and put in on his Facebook page).

I was not able to be backstage with her during her performances and costume changes but a woman who was back there said that WeeklyAd was very self-sufficient and did a fantastic job keeping up with changes, reapplying her own make-up, and keeping her belongings together....oh don't get me started on the belongings...hair pins, make-up, shoes, tights, jeans, water bottle, snack, hats, gloves, boots, etc. Yes, 3 costume changes (4 if you count the final bow) is a lot for a little girl but again, she LOVED it!

It's been a great and memorable experience particularly because two of WeeklyAd's cousins were also in the show. They had a really fun time participating together (though in different songs) and I know they will always remember this Christmas.

Here is WeeklyAd with some of her cousins enjoying a treat after Openning Night ~

Anticipation

Caught Red Handed.

Mother of Preemies

In case you haven't heard, The Duggars gave birth to their 19th baby on December 10th.

As I read the most recent article (linked above), I was taken back 10 years ago when my first preemie was born. He was "only" 9 weeks early and weighed "a whopping" 2 lbs. 11 oz. when born.

Here I am calming him down when he was crying~


Not long after he was born, Management and I attended a Missions Banquet at a local church. After hearing that our firstborn baby was newly born and still in the hospital, several different women came up to me and told me very similar things as the women in the article wrote to the Duggars. I heard, "My son was 2 months premature and he's now a 6 ft. 15 year old." "My grandson was born prematurely about 10 years ago and wow, you should see him now." "Oh honey don't worry, before long he'll be taller and stronger than you are."

These were all very sweet and well intentioned women but at the time those were some of the hardest words to hear. Of course I was an emotional wreck from all of the hormones and the simple fact my firstborn baby was 40 miles away hooked up to a ventilator. I was a mess!

But I think the reason the words bothered me so much was because I felt kind of gypped. Yes, he was born 2 months early but I wasn't gaining 2 months. If anything I felt like I was losing the first 2 months of his life. He was going to come home from the hospital a 2 month old not a 2 day old. And just the thought of "losing" those 2 months of his life was grievous enough, I really didn't want to think of him as a 6 ft. tall 15 year old! I wanted to think of the tiny baby that would come home and need nurturing and care and his mommy to cuddle him.

I know that these well-intentioned women were trying to convey to me that my baby had a future. That there was hope and life didn't have to be as fragile as it seemed when I looked at my boy covered in wires and lights. In my head, I knew this! It was just my heart that wanted time to fly so he could come home but also stand still so that I wouldn't miss a moment.

And looking back, I know those 2 months weren't lost but just time spent away from home. He was still my newborn and one month old and two month old even in the hospital. Surprisingly, thinking about a strong teenager brought me to tears but looking at books and books and books of NICU graduates brought me joy and hope. I scoured those picture books looking at the babies that went home and night after night sitting in the hospital I took great joy in seeing that most of the babies that went home were around three to four months old and were still pretty tiny. While I didn't want to think about my son being taller and stronger than me, I didn't want the hospital stay to last forever either. So the books gave me great hope in that there was an end in sight but in the end I wasn't bringing home a man. There was still plenty of newborn in my 2 month old baby.

I don't know if any of this makes sense to anyone out there!? Maybe I'm a rare bird who felt a bunch of irrational emotions...but I don't think so. I think a lot of women feel gypped and sad and uncertain when they give birth prematurely. And rather than rush them ahead maybe we could encourage in different ways. Our first response does not have to be the same as the women in the article. I wish this is what Candace had written "'Dear Duggars: Fear Not!'....'My second grandson was born at 26 weeks, weighed 1l lb., 11 oz. and was 11 inches long. He is now a healthy, happy and normal three year old.' 'You are on a journey that will test your faith, but fear not! Trust God first, the doctors and medical staff second. Josie will be home with you sooner than you think!'"

Just something to think about from a mother of preemies.

Cake and Christmas

~Today I am baking a cake similar to our Halloween cake. This time it will be a green and red cake and have Christmas decorations a plenty on top of it.

~We have TWO Christmas gatherings this weekend. We will get together with my mom's side of the family tomorrow and then my dad's side on Sunday.

~I still have to get a few gifts for tomorrow's gathering. And for Sunday's too.

~I'm very very very ready for Christmas vacation! I can't wait.

~I'm even more very very very ready for our trip to San Diego which will happen in January! I've never been to California.

~We will be in LA for two days and I'm contemplating trying to get tickets to the Dr. Phil show. I think that would be fun!

~Back to the cakes....

Christmas Shopping

I finally started my Christmas shopping yesterday and was overjoyed when I convinced my dear friend, S, who is not a huge fan of shopping, to come along with me! She brought along her two little elves and we had a great time at, where else, Target!

While Mama S was looking at something in the next aisle, the two little elves and I kept ourselves entertained. What are Aunts for anyways!? We got down the biggest horses we could find and had some fun of our own!




And HOORAY, Merry Christmas to Mama S, the two little elves got to take their horses home with them!


I LOVE Christmastime!

THANK YOU S for shopping with me and helping me with my dreadful indecisiveness! I had so much fun!

Have You Seen This Yet?

Found

Kringle has also been spotted around our house again this Christmas season. In fact, he had safely flown in from the North Pole by the time we came home from our Thanksgiving celebration. We've had fun trying to find him ever since.

My old camera has been found and charged. Hooray! Lots of pictures to take and share with you.

As soon as I find some time, I will post them.

Day of Teeth

NOTHING makes me more nauseous than saliva....well dirty socks come very close but saliva is sure to make me vomit in a matter of moments if I think about it too much. Truthfully, I once dropped a class in college because the professor "foamed" a bit. gross!

Yesterday was the day of teeth and I was so happy when it all finally ended.

It all started when WeeklyAd bit into a bagel and lost her front tooth. With one little bite, one dangling tooth, and some much needed tissue we officially entered the awkward "nanny mcphee" phase of life.

A couple hours after that, HomeAudio and I headed to the orthodontist to get his expander turned. I will be turning it at home once a day but let's just say that my first attempt didn't go so well. Remember the vomiting? Well in an attempt not to vomit, I tried to hurry and poked the dickens out of HomeAudio's mouth which resulted in a dishtowel shoved down his throat and some broken trust between the two of us. Thankfully the orthodontist showed me how to do it quickly and effectively and trust has been restored.

A few hours after that, I took my grandma to the dentist. Should I remind you that my grandma is not the easiest person in the world to get along with? No, I won't remind you of that. I'll just tell you that I have taken her to not one, not two, but three dentists and I will never be able to show my face at those places again. This time I took her to my own personal dentist and gave her a very long and detailed lecture before I let her out of the car. She was still very rude but much more manageable. I know she at least tried for my sake to be nice. Of course the gauze shoved in her mouth helped a bit too (she had one tooth pulled).

The day of teeth. What are the chances of that!?