a little snow day

We finally got our first snow!!! This is coming from a girl who used to HATE the snow. Then I moved to Colorado and pretty much figured out I better learn to appreciate it because it wasn’t going anywhere. After that we got along great. Then came the love of skiing and snowshoeing; and a 4WD Jeep helped a lot. I must say I’ve been getting a little antsy with January ticking by and no trace of snow. Until this morning when we woke up with 4 inches on the ground! There’s not much to do in 4 inches of snow. I guess I could have snow shoed in my back yard. I would have had to add some high knees and lunges to really call it anything more than a step outside. Nonetheless, Lawrence and I went out and played in it after his morning nap. Not only was it the first snow of the winter, but his first snow ever. I was wishing I had a sled. Instead we made snow angels and took pictures. Copper tried to teach Lawrence how to dig his nose into the snow while on the run. Maybe he’ll catch on next year.

And as a side note, I really had to laugh that some of the schools were out. In Colorado this would have been a “really, you couldn’t make it to work on time due to the weather” sort of morning.

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...

THANKS

Well it's the week of Thanksgiving and there are just certain things you come to expect. Kids make turkeys out of hand prints and write Thanksgiving papers. Moms make mashed potatoes and write 'I'm So Thankful' blogs.



Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of year and now with the little man around, it's got me thinking more about how I want it to look for him. I don't want it to simply be a day to drive to get somewhere on time, spend lots of time in the kitchen, do some hunting, watch some football, eat too much so you can talk about how full you are and then eat leftovers 2 hours later... I want to be able to verbalize as a family what we feel in our hearts. So I will risk writing the cliche Thanksgiving blog for the chance to express what's really going on in there.



~I give THANKS for my family who knows me and loves me both with and without my makeup on -- physically and figuratively.



~I give THANKS for my friends who lift me up each day with their words, smiles, and kindness.



~I give THANKS for the humble reminder that life is not about me. I no longer sleep, eat, poo, sleep, workout, or sleep on my own timeline.



~I give THANKS that I know and love the Lord. I desire to know him deeper. And he loves me without my makeup also :)



~I give THANKS for a compassionate and serving heart.



~I give THANKS for a husband that strives to be a better man daily.



~I give THANKS for a little life that reminds me that nurture and love and time are way more important then my to do list and a clean house.





I hope that everyone has a truely blessed Thanksgiving! Take time to reflect and give THANKS while you are scurying to Grandma's house with the best mashed potatoes ever in tote!

Fun Fall Pics

We have been LOVING this wonderful fall weather. We have been going on walks pretty much everyday to take in the sunshine. I don't know what we'll do when winter comes and we have to be holed up inside.

Here are some pictures we have taken of fun fall activities. Like checking out the leaves...and checking out cereal...and visiting the pumpkin patch with Nanna...and public humiliation as a penguin...

...all I can say is 'poor kid'. His older cousin dressed up as a rough and tough football player. Lawrence was a penguin. I will be paying for years and years of therapy for that one ;)