CHRISTMAS CATCHUP.

another year, another visit to santa.

 another year, another visit to the nutcracker ballet! this time we went with our friends, the dichsens.

christmas had the potential to really suck this year, but it really was fine. mom and red came to us this year, which was a huge help. we got to do our Christmas with them at our house, and they got to see hallie in henry in the church christmas program - it was such a great weekend.

 

 

 

and i was soooo glad that Christmas program was over. i was stressed beyond belief, but it turned out so cute. the kids in our church are hilarious, and there were some spectacular performances. king herod's death scene was pretty incredible. hallie was superb as a narrator and henry was a fabulous chicken.

 

we went to church on christmas eve and then to Lucille's for dinner and gifts. it was hard, but manageable, and i think there was only one, tiny breakdown. gifts at barb's afterward was harder, but i think it will get easier over time. just being together is so important.

 

christmas morning was spent at home with my little family. normal breakfast of biscuits and gravy, eggs and...was that it? barb and lucille stopped by to check out the loot and then we headed for st. Louis for christmas with the chronister fam.

 

this was the first year at phil and kath's and i have to say...i missed being at dad's! they were wonderful hosts, and it was nice to not have to drive as far, but it just isn't the same as doing it at the farm.

 

we had tickets to see the trans siberian orchestra while we were in st. louis, so dave and i had a nice date the day after christmas while dad watched the kiddos at bev's house.

 

then it was off to home, and we had the rest of the weekend to hang out and get the house cleaned up before work.

 

it was such a nice, long break.



BUT FIRST, THE QUICKEST OF CATCHUPS.

 dave played in an old man basketball tournament (can you spot him?).

 dave and luke (and hallie and eve) lead worship at church a few sundays ago.

 hallie and eli got to spend the day together. and henry.

 these three.

 henry got super sick.

 we took hallie to see franchesca batistelli (spelling, who cares?) and loved it.

 had a beautiful, magical christmas.

 these two.

 oooohhhhh....i am such a midget. i love these girls so much. and get to see them in a few weeks at SARAH'S WEDDING!!! 

 i took a snowy hike. i love where i live.

 these four.

 

the end.

YOUTH GROUP, FLAT TIRES, TORNADOS, OH MY!

a few fridays ago, we took our youth group to six flags for the grand finale trip.

 

we had already cancelled once before, so even though it looked like rain i was all, LET'S DO IT. my phone even said 0% chance of rain. (my phone is a liar. or an optimist.)

 

so here we are on the mason sound bus. all happy. making good time. all was well (except the crappy pictures).

 

 

 

 

and then this happened.

 

 

 

 

but we got through it! called some taxis, headed to six flags - a mere 10 miles from the flags. lame.

so we get there and it poured, so that was stinky.

but then it let up and that was awesome! the park cleared out and we bonced from ride to ride without waiting in any lines.

 

i'm pretty sure someone then made the misteke of saying, "this has turned out to be a perfect day!"(probably me).

 

and then this happened on our way home:

 

 

 

oh, just a tornado, subsequent stay in a mcdonald's cooler with 13 other people, and dave at the cash register after.

 

just a typical youth group trip.

 

we were fine. that's all that's important.

 

we had amazing people praying for us and were able to post up to the second updates on facebook :/ thank goodness for iphones, right?

 

the end.

 

A TERRIBLE, ROTTEN, NO-GOOD, VERY BAD DAY.

yesterday.

 

it started by getting cat pee on my feet and shoes first thing in the morning. yeah. no good.

 

and then work got stressful and yucky and so, so bad. i was feeling overwhelmed and bummed out and stressed to the max. i tried praying and just couldn't seem to get anything under control.

 

i hit my limit when i was driving in springfield and my check engine light came on my dashboard lights started flashing at me.

 

i pulled off to the dealership and immediately texted a friend for some prayer. it took about five minutes and then:

 

1. i realized how blessed i was that i was RIGHT by my car dealership; and

2. they got me right in, there was ZERO wait time; and

3. it ended up being something minor that could have been serious; and

4. it confirmed my decision to not drive four extra hours in the car the day before for the tumbling meet (my engine probably would have burned up; and

5. the mechanic gave me a big discount; and

6. i found some very important papers that i had lost; and

7. dave got home in time to see the kids before bed...and henry's face when he walked in...oh, i never want to forget that look. it was so precious; and

8. i am so grateful for praying friends.

 

it is so amazing how quickly the prayers worked. sometimes it takes awhile to see results from prayers, but not yesterday. it was fast, it was SO fast and it was so needed. i was so GRATEFUL.

 

***

 

today is another crazy day, but i'm going to try so hard to not get stressed out. this week is one of the busiest i've ever had at work. but i can do it.

 

 

 

EASTER.

easter is one of my very favorite holidays - and yet, sometimes i feel like i am not grasping the ENORMITY of the holiday. i worked good friday and then we had plans that evening. i never took the time to reflect really, or think much about the huge significance of that day.

 

and then easter sunday itself was such a whirlwind of sunrise service, naps, lunch, naps, etc. but, it did hit me on easter sunday. that it wasn't about the food or the clothes or the easter baskets. all of those things can go away, because the ONLY important thing was that on that day, the tomb was empty and we were filled with living hope. jesus gave up his spirit, died for our sins and now sits up in heaven with god the father.

 

so while my kids looked adorable at church and man, those naps sure felt good...that's NOT what easter is all about. it's about jesus and let's not forget it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SONGS IN MY HEAD.

i had a dream last night and woke up with a hymn in my head. oh great, now i can't remember. dangit. it was an older hymn. shoooooot. i lost it.

 

but.

 

that soon gave way to this song: bless the lord, oh my soul, o-o-oh my soul, worship His holy name. seems like never before, oh my soul, worship His holy name.

 

 

and now i have THIS song in my head: like sunlight burning at midnight, making my life something so beautiful, beautiful.

 

 

apparently it's a jesus sort of a day, as it should be. which is nice, because i could use some fortification at work today. i have a co-worker that i've always been close with, but lately it seems like i'm walking on eggshells around her.

 

so now i can fortify myself with a good, strong message - i can boss my soul around - bless the lord, oh my soul! knock off the negative speak and focus!

 

 

in other words, hallie continues to be the cutest little tumbler i ever did see!

 

 

 

 

TUESDAY.

what a tuesday.

 

it's so springy outside. i walked to the post office just now. without a coat. or even a jacket. it's breezy and humid and i just love it.

 

it's such a nice break from cold, dreary weather. puts some pep in your step.

 

i want to get some big art for my living room. we have a huge space above our tv, between two huge mirrors on a gigantic wall. i thought about doing something gallery-ish but saw this today and i really like it.

 

 

you like? i could blow it up and i sure to love blue. and clouds.

 

i'm going to a visitation today for someone i barely knew, but am really sad that he has died. we went to church together and he's one of those people that you automatically like. a genuinely nice person with a great family.

 

so it's sad and unexpected which makes it more sad. it's comforting that he's up there with jesus now, so i'm just holding on to that.

 

that's all.