Happy New Year!!

 We are one week into 2018, and here's how the first week went..

We hosted a New Year's celebration.  Kinsley was the recipient of a game for Christmas that we broke out on New Year's - The Pie in Your Face Game.  Very few adults participated, but the kids had a blast with it.  Despite my concern that we would have a big mess and lots of sticky kids running around, clean up was very easy, and even if it had been messy, the fun would have been worth it.

Kallie started the year with a bang - quite literally.  She fell from a chair onto a tile floor and busted her head.  As is the case with any head wound, the blood was scary.  Her blonde hair was quickly turning red as we raced to find the source of bleeding to see if she needed stitches. 

Other than the dramatic fall, New Year's Eve was a casual event with lots of good company.

The Christmas decor came down on New Year's Day - at least the indoor stuff did - too frigid for outdoors.  In the process of removing ornaments from our sad tree, I discovered this.  Nobody has confessed to this added decor.

Saturday gave me the opportunity for a girl's night out.  I have such smart friends.  I was lost in the Breakout and certainly little help, but it was fun, and I would do it again.  Someone from another group mentioned wanting to do this with their dad.  That got two of us to talking about how our dads would do with this.  In his younger years, my dad might have enjoyed the challenge, especially one like ours with so many numbers, but I can't see him paying to do this.  Mom would have been great at it and would have done it.  I miss the fact that we don't get to do things like this with her.  I would love to do this with my siblings and their spouses.  I have said for years that it would be fun to play Laser Tag with them too.

Today we returned our girl to school.  75 hours down, and 75+ some change to go.  She's thriving!

Sav and I enjoyed a movie date before I drove her back to school this afternoon.  The Greatest Showman is an enjoyable movie, but  I don't think it lives up to the hype.  Spoiler alert - I think the group dance scenes all have a High School Musical vibe which is very strange given the time period for the movie setting.

Other than the above, we have certainly bemoaned the crazy cold temps.  I have had a complete freakout over the coming rise in tuition for Wyatt and Julia - more than our combined income increases for the coming year, and more than I make per month at my second job.  Praying hard about that one.

I did decide on some goals this year.  Including:

• paying $1000 off of a debt that I am working hard to unload - that won't pay it off, but that was a goal last year too, and I am on target with that one (that goal was not set until June)
• organizing our basement (that will mean lots of purging)
• painting my bedroom and the furniture in it
• organizing the armoire pictured below - anybody else have a space that looks like this?  I will actually only organize my side. This is one of those places that I periodically pull everything off of and redo it only to find my efforts undone in a matter of days, so...

• I am still working on a word for the year - leaning toward THRIVE
• I have a jar by our front door where everyone is free to write down memories, silly happenings, blessings etc. that we can review on New Year's Eve next year.
• While I did not make this an official goal, I am months away from the deadline to settle my dad's estate, so there's that- a bittersweet goal as we sell off the last of his possessions, including the last home he shared with my mom. 

Starting the year hopeful for provision, blessing, good health and joy for the year.

Creativity

I love Julia's creativity.  It's a reminder that we are created beings.  I think the arts and humor are two very key things that separate us from the animal kingdom, and for me these two things prove we are not evolved from animals.

Loser Christmas

I have decided to dub this Christmas the Loser Christmas.

I am not a particularly organized person.  I think I am drawn naturally to organization, but I have learned that I will never get anyone in this house to nest the dishes or even put them back in the right cabinet after I have emptied and scrubbed and organized the cabinets.  My attempts to organize anything are met with rebellion, so someday when my kids all leave, I will have a room of my own organized and off limits to anyone else. There was that time, years ago, when I emptied and organized a closet for one of my children's room, and that child literally tore it all apart.  I pushed everything back into the closet and told said child that the closet was no longer his.  He could not access it, could not store clothing in it - could. not. have. it! Until these little sinners leave the house, I will have to live in this state of disorganization.  UGH!

This year we lost a few things around the holidays.

Before Thanksgiving I was in Bath and Body Works, and they had aloe infused socks decorated with penguins....you can't find a more perfect gift for Savannah.  I bought them at full price- fearing they would sell out as they often do with those socks.  I have no idea where they are. We were out shopping yesterday, and they had the socks on the 1/2 price sale, so I just went ahead and purchased another pair.  Savannah had been brainstorming about where the missing socks might be and searching for them.

Just days before his birthday, I bought Wyatt a Google Play card.  Now this one is a true mystery because I watched Andy put it up so that we would both know where it was.  We went back to get it - gone.  After days of Wyatt tearing the house apart to find it, Andy caved and replaced it.  UGH!

Last year I bought a scarf to go with a sweater.  I bought it online, and it did not match when it arrived.  I have been looking for a simple shirt to wear with the scarf.  I bought one two days ago, and I have no idea where it is.

My tweezers went missing.  I  bought new ones a couple of weeks ago.  You guessed it, can't find them.  I bought new ones last night.

I have never experienced losses to the degree that we have replaced so many recent purchases.  It's ridiculous.

Anybody else ever had a Loser Christmas?  - and no I do not like the word loser.  It does make me laugh a bit as I am reminded of a funny Jackie story about when she dreamed that she wrote a blog titled When God Called Me Stupid. Jackie did not like the word stupid. Her sister shared that story when our Sunday school class gathered to share stories about Jackie.

Now if only I had lost some pounds from my belly instead of all these items.  Hmm.

P.S. I have found my shirt.

Christmas Cheer

This is how Christmas morning unfolded at our house.

Because three out of four of our kids are teens and the other is an adult who works nights, people were posting their Christmas morning celebrations before we were all out of bed.  Andy had time to make eggs and chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast before most of the crew got out of bed.  I should note a Christmas miracle that Zach was the first one up and was up fairly early for that matter.

We did not put gifts under the tree until Christmas Eve.  I had to snap a picture to commemorate the fact that the gifts were actually only on one side of the tree because we have a little dog who has peed daily under the other side of the tree.  If I am honest, some of us thought it would be a Christmas miracle if she just dropped dead.  We even had a conversation about how we could pawn her off on someone else during our Christmas Eve gathering.

Julia ended up liking most of her stuff and receiving a few surprises, so she actually only returned one gift.  Julia received some clothes and boots for Christmas.

Wyatt's gifts were very small as we were holding back in hopes that we could make up the difference in a Nintendo Switch - it happened today.  He received a new ornament (Chinese takeout box) as Wyatt's personal ornaments have never been a match for the other kids.  He also received a really cool agate rock and some goodies from the Asian market.

Zach wanted music, so he received an iTunes card, some Carhartt socks because he works outside, and some cooking sauces.  Logan had his name for the family exchange and delivered on some CDs Zach wanted.

Savannah needed and received clothes and boots.  In this picture she is looking through her gift from Zach - The Letters of Vincent Van Gogh.  Austin had a little something to do with that one too.

Zach will receive the sweatshirt he is holding up when it arrives.  He's wanted that for at least a year. 

Santa (aka Zach) provided the family with a fun toaster.

There were socks, lots of socks, and I think everyone who received them was very happy to get them.  I think I am the only one who did not receive socks, but at the gift exchange on Christmas Eve, I received slippers and then Zach got me a pair as well.  I love them.  Apparently Zach and Tiffany bought them the same day, and both pairs were already purchased when Tiffany notified Zach of what she had gotten for me.  Tiffany also got me a Tervis bottle, and it was funny talking with her today and finding out that she also bought herself slippers and a Tervis bottle when she bought mine because she liked mine so much.

Andy received some cooking gadgets he requested - a bread machine, an avocado slicer, and a pasta press.  He was so anxious to play with his new stuff. Andy got me a new fitness tracker.  My three year old (maybe older) Fitbit Zip has been trying to die for months.  It's erratic and draining batteries far too fast.  My employer allows us to participate in a program where we get points for our fitness.  I  then turn them into Amazon cards.  It's not much each year, but it's worth tracking for many reasons.  I really had hoped to upgrade to something with a heart monitor, and Andy delivered on that front too. The girls came through on some Trades of Hope bracelets I wanted, and I have to say that they are so much nicer in person than on the website.  I also wanted to try a bath bomb, so Zach got one from Lush for me.

After our morning celebration, we travelled out of town to celebrate with Andy's side of the family.  It was the first time in three years (I think) that the whole family was able to be together.  Julia is the youngest cousin on that side, and with so many young adults, holiday schedules are very hard to coordinate.  It was really nice.  It would be really cool to take a vacation or get a weekend away with that side of the family some day.  I forgot to take the camera and failed to take any pictures.

Update on my sister's car - upon initial inspection from the mechanic, it can be fixed.  :)

The Shepherds

They were simply doing their job when they were alerted to a most glorious miracle.  Simple men.  I learned recently that they may have been shepherding the lambs used for the temple sacrifices so very near to the Lamb born to be the sacrifice for all of us.  Christmas didn't come with a frenzy of programs, gift buying, and perfection.  It was messy, in a manger, celebrated by simple people.

As I think back on Christmas with the nieces and nephews, my heart hurts a tiny bit that Mom wasn't there chuckling over their antics, offering comfort to their hurts.  Dad was not there teasing them and enjoying watching them play.  We had an imperfect family, but it was always loving.  We've lost big, but we still have so much.


I have been burdened by the pain of five families we know-some experiencing a first Christmas without a loved one, some overcoming serious medical battles.  While not as serious as those, my sister is spending this Christmas in a state of extra stress. This morning she hit a deer while driving to pick up her son's Christmas gift.  She waits and hopes the car is not totaled because this car is more than a car to her.  It's a piece of her inheritance from my dad and holds extra sentimental value for her as she loved our Dad so much, and he loved his cars.  She was always a daddy's girl and probably the closest of all of us to him.  The estate is not yet settled, so she received this part of her inheritance early.  She's very good at managing her resources as she supports three people on very low pay, but she faces a long and labor intensive career as she enters the years where physical labor gets harder and harder, and this is a difficult setback. Please pray for her and for hurting people everywhere this morning.  Christmas did not start out tied up in a nice bow, and it is not that way for so many this year.  Even so, we have much for which we can be thankful.

May your heart be light...

Merry Christmas!

Let every heart prepare Him room!

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you.  You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests."

Luke 2:8-14

Merry Christmas!!!

Christmas Eve

All my babies together in church - I am so blessed!

Ending Christmas Eve services with a church tradition - Silent Night by cell phone flashlight light.

After services we gathered at the last home my parents shared for our last Christmas there as the house is being prepared for sale.

Savannah reads Guardians of the Galaxy with Kallie.

Which one is yours, Kinsley?

Isaac

Ira asked for a remote control truck, a regular (non-remote) truck, and a Barbie he could give to Regan.  He's so thoughtful of others.  It was sad to see his disappointment that his remote control truck was broken by the end of the night.  That should not be, so it is being returned.

This guy wanted money- trying to accumulate enough for the Nintendo Switch.

Kallie loves to be the center of attention and was thrilled with her Anna and Elsa toddler dolls.

Kinsley seemed to like her gifts which included a Barbie car and Disney Princess Barbies - have you seen them?  Their heads are enormous.  However, Kinsley was struggling with an earache tonight.

Julia wanted money.  She has a cart full of things she wants for her December 26th shopping after returning whatever Santa brings as she is convinced that she and Santa have different tastes.  She's a fun one!

There may or may not have been a tantrum.

The big kids wanted gift cards for the most part.  Zach asked for CDs and Logan delivered.  Savannah wanted a variety of things including a jacket and art pens, and Austin delivered.  He's another funny one.  He received Savannah's list on Thanksgiving.  It was all on Amazon, so he ordered it during our Thanksgiving gathering then told her he ordered her whole list except for one item.  That stinker!

 A little Play Doh action.

hamming it up

"Cheese"

Our traditional birthday cake for Jesus

Wyatt and Regan split the reading of the Christmas story from Luke 2.  Regan did an amazing job even if Jesus was "circumized" (circumcised) and "convinced" (conceived).

Best quotes from Regan--

She really wanted a CraZ Art pedicure spa.  When she opened it, she said, "I am hurting with joy!"

May we all hurt with joy over our Savior!  Tonight was fun.  The kids are always a blast, and my siblings and I have such fun rehashing old memories - especially memories of driving with Dad.  However, the main thing is that we have the light of the world.  This year I have been reminded of that again and again.  In just the last two weeks; a friend has lost a parent, a friend has died leaving behind her husband and three children, friends have been traveling out of state for chemo treatments for their preschooler, and another friend had a thirteen hour emergency surgery for a life-threatening medical situation.  My oldest friend, who is a widow, posted on FB tonight that this is the loneliest night of the year for her.  She's not talking about missing out on Christmas Eve celebrations. She's talking about staying up late to give her kids a nice Christmas in the morning and doing it solo. If we lived next door to her, Andy and I would be there doing that with her, but we don't, and we have a road trip to take in the morning, but really I don't even deserve a pass given that.

Perspective.  It's not about me.  It's not about me when someone is downright hateful to me on social media even as I internalize it, and I want to defend myself.  It's not about me when I concern myself with the trappings of Christmas.  Our church always has a very nice Christmas Eve service, and do you know how I spent it today?  Worrying about whether we turned off the tree - really ridiculous! This holiday is not all joy and lights.  It's really painful for so many.  I need to be better about loving others.  I have been really convicted this season about how Jackie lived her life.  She truly lived to love others.  

I simplified a lot for Christmas this year.  I am so grateful that all my kids were together tonight, and God willing will be there tomorrow.  We aren't promised anything.