favorite pics

Here are just a few of my favorite pictures from December!





"Dad, check out this zebra!" A son and his father bonding. One day it will be over a new tool or gun that mom doesn't 'get'.

"I'm pretty much a big kid now. This is the perfect view for staring at anyone within a 7 foot radius until they give me attention." Note: His KU shirt is on under his coat.

"Need nourishment NOW." Lawrence's favorite part of gifts was eating the paper. I think he was stuffing his cheeks for later. He has at least a 3 month supply built up!

""I pretty much rule this zoo. I can't do much once I get up here because I have to hold on for dear life. But those animals don't have a chance."

Every child needs a picture that makes him say "Seriously Mom, you let them do that to me?!" To which I will respond "Yes Dear, somebody had to take the picture".

happy claps

Lawrence started clapping! Oh, the little things are so much fun! He doesn’t exactly know why he claps. He claps for toys and for mama and for Jayhawks. Sometimes he inadvertently claps for yucky things like green beans and Wildcats. But we’ll get him trained soon enough :)

the giggles

I ended up with the giggles the other night while I was nursing Lawrence and putting him to bed. Corey walked into the room to help with our bedtime, which was usual. I caught a glimpse of him and to myself I thought “wow, my husband looks so young”. Something about his look reminded me of when he was just my friend’s older brother and a young teenager. I would stay the night at her house and anticipate the moment he would walk in and say 'hi' to me. Then my heart would race, I would turn bright red, and squeak a little ‘hi’ back to him. That's where the conversation stopped. And that mental image gave me the giggles! Silently of course, because quiet time is also part of our bedtime routine (which is something I have to remind Corey of often). In my head I’m going – maybe it’s that sweatshirt…or maybe it’s his unfixed hair that makes him look so young…hmmm… giggles. At this point Corey knows that he is being watched and he says quietly “yes dear, I shaved”. OH, YOU SHAVED!!! I was just thinking about how young and spry you looked but I couldn’t figure out why! So then we both had the giggles. Quiet giggles of course, because it's bedtime. He was pretty disappointed that he told me his little secret and wondered how long it would have taken for me to figure it out. It’s hard to say! But my husband has his baby face back. Pretty impressive at 32!

Perspective

I received this letter thru an email. I thought it was an interesting perspective on remembering Jesus not only during this season but throughout the entire year.






Dear Children,

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. Maybe you've forgotten that I wasn't actually born during this time of the year and that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate My birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival...although I do appreciate being remembered anytime. How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Now, having said that, let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town you live in doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, just get rid of a couple of Santa's and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that, there wouldn't be a need for such a scene on the town square because there would be so many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a Holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can & may remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching... explaining who I am in relation to you & what each of our tasks were. If you have forgot that one, look up John 15: 1-8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth, here is my wish list. Choose something from it.

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing President Obama complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past... and forgive them.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile it could make the difference. Also, you might consider supporting the local Hot-Line: they talk with people like that every day.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families.

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary, especially one who takes My love & Good News to those who have never heard My name. You may already know someone like that.

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals & whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them (and I suspect you don't) buy some food & a few gifts & give them to the Marines, Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me & they will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

P.S. Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me & do whatI have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above & get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love.... and remember... I LOVE YOU...