Christmas!!!

WHITE CHRISTMAS!

Grace's picture is having trouble uploading.

We spent Christmas day in Monticello this year.  It was an extra special Christmas for that fact and also, it snowed!!!  After a good effort at attending the Christmas Eve Service (Noah John was a handful!),   Shawn and I stayed up late wrapping the kids' gifts while big fat snowflakes fell outside.  It was beautiful.  Thank you God.  Your creativity and beauty on this earth astound me.  I can't imagine heaven.  It must be breath-taking. 

The kids were very grateful for their gifts and took their time opening each gift.  I liked that.  No rushing through and wreaking havoc, thus forgetting what they just opened ;).  Grace helped Noah John open his gifts and ooh'd and ahh'd over his gifts which thrilled him lots.  It was sweet.

The whole day was magical, like it should be. 

We celebrated with Robert, Amanda, Callie, Isabelle, and Clark on Christmas Eve.  Callie and I decorated the tables and mom cooked the food.  We put an extra big spoon at one place setting and whoever sat there, unbeknownst to them, had what we called the 'big mouth.'  The 'big mouth' shared a memory from a Christmas past.  Amanda was the lucky one to get the place setting w' the big spoon and she talked about how she and her family used to go out to her great-grandmother's land and cut down a tree each year.  Every family member shared a story.  Some shared 3 or 4 memories.  Some stories spurred questions and then more stories poured.  When it was my turn, I just sat and cried.  It was a meaningful Christmas for me because it was the first one that I had ever celebrated with my dad since he quit drinking.  He quit 2 1/2 years ago but I hadn't been with him the other 2 Christmases.  My tears were sheer joy and relief and thanks to God for pulling us through.  And for being faithful b'c when dad turned away, God shined his light on him and delivered him.  It kind of hit me slowly then gushed out like water from a faucet.  It started when dad prayed over the food.  I'm abbreviating, but he said thank you to the Lord for piercing his heart with 2 little eyes (my oldest niece, his 1st grandchild) that saved his soul.  He went on to say that one day he looked and saw 2 little eyes watching him and now there are 5 sets of little eyes.  In other words, well there are no words more that can really pay tribute, accurately and thoroughly describe, the things that were said or the emotion that was felt, or the honesty that was laid out like a quilt ... a quilt that had patches and patches from years and years of toil, work, tears, but finally it's complete and now we can all just sort of cover ourselves with it and know that God's redemption is what kept it together then so that we can enjoy it now, and only we know where we've been and what we've seen...and only God could erase all of that.  He is a redeemer.  You know, the kids never asked (Callie, Isabelle, or Grace) why I cried so.  They just sort of took it for what it was, as if there were nothing unusual about it.

So, to close, I'll say this was a Christmas that goes down in history for many reasons-the kids, dad, being 'home', the snow....it was a slow, un-rushed time.  I'm so glad we strive for that each year!  I often hear about people getting caught in the hustle and bustle of the season but that just never tempts me...I tend to slow down and pull back at Christmas and enjoy what really matters:  my family and friends.

   

A Social Network Christmas

Big Conversation

Grace and I had a deep conversation yesterday about heaven and hell.  It started with three questions.
First:  "Momma, who makes people?"  (God). 
Second: "Momma, is hell real?"  (Yes).
Third:  "Why do people go to hell?"  (Through unbelief and unacceptance of Christ).

I think God gave me the words to clearly explain the story of creation, b'c when I started talking, it was as if each word made great sense to her.  I began answering the ?s by talking about Adam and Eve being the first humans on the earth to how they sinned when they ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, to how we all sin now and how God sent his son (baby Jesus-Christmas!) to die for us on the cross, rise 3 days later, ascend into heaven with God to live in heaven until He comes back for Christians...and how Christians will then live forever in Heaven with God and Jesus.  It ended with how important it is that we love the Lord and share Him with others. 

"I do love God, Momma."

The sweetest words I have ever heard. 

"Faith like a child..."

Thanksgiving #2

Last Thursday, we celebrated "Thanksgiving #2" with the Brumfield side of the family.  As has been the custom the last 3 years, Shawn's sister hosted at her house.  It was a smaller gathering, with his parents, his sister, her 2 boys, and her husband, and Shawn's cousin Rachel and her husband Jason.  We were so glad they were able to come this year.  They just married last July and live about an hour and 45 minutes away.  (She was born and raised in Canada!)  I ate way too much (literally, I've gained 11 lbs in like 6 wks, yuck).  The food was amazing though.  My dessert was a hit, which made me proud, b'c my mother-in-law and sister-in-law have a real gift in the kitchen.  Anyway, the dessert was so easy to make and a no-bake at that.  Oreo Trifle.  Layer Double Stuff Oreos, vanilla pudding, and cool whip.  Voila.  Sit in fridge overnight.  (Cookies then soften and make the dessert delectible).  I can't take credit it for it though; I got it from my sister-in-law, Amanda.  :p 

After we ate, played, vegged, talked, and snapped a couple of pictures, we loaded up our two monkeys (who ate, quite literally, only dessert all day long...I just wanted to eat my turkey in peace, so I didn't fuss over their sugar-consumption).  We also loaded up the nephews for the annual T'giving sleepover.  I regret to say we did NOT make a gingerbread house this year, as I didn't have time to go buy a kit (don't say make it yourself).  Believe it or not, we grabbed McD's for the kids to eat for supper and after a quick stop at Rural King & Blockbuster, headed to Nebo.  The kids were wound pretty tight (the sugar intake had to hit a new record!) and I do mean PRETTY. TIGHT.  I ended up laying down with Grace and Jonah, after Jonah and I read books, and I fell asleep right on the edge of the bed.  I'm so proud of Jonah for learning to read!  Poor Noah balled his little eyes out and I had to get him up and lay him back down at least 3 times before he called it a night.  Logan said he would sleep on the couch if Noah kept that up all night, ha, and I'm sure, despite our attempts, he didn't believe us when we said that Noah usually doesn't cry at night at all.  Why would he believe us--Noah did the exact same thing last year!  And honest, he usually sleeps so well at night.  :)

It was a fun Thanksgiving #2, but I will admit, I was drained and felt fatter than butter, neither of which do any good for my mood!!!  Friday night I slept like a babe.  Actually, we all did.  Shew!  Big week and a half for all of us.  "Going and doing" with 2 little ones is harder than it looks! 

Please read the post entitled Intense Love.  I subbed in Sunday school and taught on it.  An hour later, when the preacher began his sermon with, "Today's sermon will be about love"  I was kind of in awe...LOVE must be the theme God wants me to focus on right now.  I LOVE it when God gives me 1 word:  LOVE. It's less confusing for me (I think I've said that before).  GOD IS LOVE.  God loves you!!!

Intense Love

The Bible is full of examples of intense love...

*The ultimate= God sending his son to die a painful death on a cross then bringing him back from the dead and ascending him into heaven.  Intense in so many ways...but 3 days later...complete resurrection and restoration of God's promise.

*Joseph's love and devotion to Mary...I mean, can you imagine?  His fiance turns up pregnant...and He listened to an angel and stayed by her side.  He trusted that God's plan would be revealed.  Intense love of both Mary AND most important, God.  Joseph was human like us.  Don't you think he had reservations, at least for a moment?

*Abraham and his son, Isaac=Can.you.even.imagine.  INTENSE.  Abraham was going to slay his own son at God's command.  Then God said, 'nevermind ... you were faithful...don't touch your son!'  He must have grabbed his son, fallen to his knees, and wept happy tears.

*Ruth & Naomi= The scripture that comes to mind..."Where you go, I will go, and where you stay I will stay.  Your people will be my people, and your God, my God.  Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried.  May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me." (Ruth 1: 16-17)  In other words, Ruth told her mom-in-law...look, there is no one left but us.  I won't go back to my family.  I will stay with you til the day I die.  What a blessing for Naomi, who had lost her husband AND her sons...she must have felt comforted, say, less 'alone', by Ruth's wonderful devotion.

David=danced in the streets...total abandonment to what others thought b'c he loved God and loved praising God.  And boy, did people talk.  Sure they did.  They talked about him, all right.  His own wife basically mocked him to his face.  And to summarize from my very theologically-challenged brain, David said, "That's not what matters.  I'm going to care only about what God thinks."

There are SO MANY OTHER EXAMPLES.  I have been thinking of this lately, because I love my family intensely.  And I come by it honest.  When we are together, we are such passionate-about-everything-people....which is a good thing at times and a hard thing at times too.  God gives humans the ability and the desire to love, care for, take care of at times, laugh with, cry with each other.  All these people I spoke of above...they struggled too, with their intense love/devotion.  They might have even struggled MORE b'c of their intense love/devotion.  Obviously, aside from God, they were humans.  I am trying to truly grasp that.  Jesus walked among them BUT they were humans, with emotions, fears, faith that had to grow from small to big, a wide gamet of emotions.  This is such an understatement, but we know it all turned out okay in the end because ultimately, they loved GOD with the very most intensity, which is the lesson I am learning.  It's hard to think of loving my children less on the one hand, but on the other, not so much.  How can I not love their creator and be MORE passionate/intense about HE WHO CREATED THEM IN MY WOMB.  "...he who made you, who formed you in the womb..." (Isaiah 44:2)  That is my prayer.  God, I love you more. I am learning to be more emotional and passionate about You, and without apology.  I want to be about Your business, which happens to be LOVING OTHERS AND DOING UNTO OTHERS AS WE WOULD HAVE OTHERS DO UNTO US.  Thank you for Your strength.  Infuse me with it.  I LOVE YOU INTENSELY!

Thanksgiving #1

The kids & I headed home last Wednesday (18th).  I am so happy that a section of the road has been widened to a 4-lane and re-paved.  Traffic was very light too. We sailed on 'home' in less than 3 hrs, 15 minutes, including one bathroom stop, which is 15 mins shorter than usual!  Every minute counts when traveling w/ 2 little ones.  :)  The kids traveled well for the most part, despite an argumentative Grace (needed a nap!).  I caught up w/ a college friend for a large portion of the drive, which wasn't the wisest thing to do for several reasons, one being it kept one or both kids awake.  It was good to catch up w' her though! 

We had a great visit and were able to partake in a lot of outdoor activities b'c of the very warm weather.  Dad bought a mare for mom a few months back & has been breaking her.  She is super sweet, unlike the Tennessee Walkers who are high-spirited, not to mention SO VERY TALL that I can't hold the kids while they are on their backs.  Anyway, it's good to have a gentle horse around now.  She would be a good trail-rider.  I got on her for awhile and let dad lead me around and I walked her just a very short distance.  I love horses but haven't ridden much since college (and then it was arena-riding).  Riding her made me want to ride regularly...love horses love horses love horses.  I put Noah John on her a couple times which was fun, because he is used to watching dad ride and not being able to 'giddyup' himself.  He carried around a little plastic horse everyday and said 'horse' repeatedly.  Grace wouldn't get on the first day and I didn't push her, but the next day, I looked out the window to see her up on Midge being led around.  I walked outside and she said she didn't like it...I told her to get comfortable with the horse by petting her etc.  She leaned down and stroked Midge's mane and soon was comfortable enough to be led all the way around the front yard and side yard a couple times (which is huge- 3/4 of an acre?)  Unfortunately, Shawn didn't have the same experience!  Right after getting up on the horse, dad gave him the reigns.  I tried to say no, b'c he hasn't had much experience w' horses but it was too late.  Midge took off at a slow trot and ran out the gate (which is normally closed) and toward the highway.  Luckily, Shawn pulled her to the right to avoid the road and they looped around and came back up the lane.  After getting off, Shawn said to several of us, "Do you know how often I've had a 4-wheeler take off with me and not be able to stop it?"  In other words, he thinks horses are more dangerous than 4-wheelers and tractors.  It's a discussion we have at times.  I know both can be dangerous but I would rather the kids horseback ride than the other... in an arena with riding helmets.  (Truthfully I would keep them in bubbles if I could, but in reality, not gonna happen).

Thanksgiving #1 consisted of my parents, Shawn, the kids, and me, my brother, his wife, 3 kids, Uncle Henry, Aunt Jackie, Uncle Ben, Aunt Gay Lee, Cousin TaSheena and her cute 2 year old Annsley, Cousin Joe Kyle (wife had to work), Cousin Will and his wife Miranda.  Other regulars who were unable to attend this year were Jack and Pam & Chelsea and Dan.  We also missed Uncle Johnny, Aunt Olivia, Aunt Becky, & Tim but they haven't made if the last few years, but at least we spoke w/ most of them on the phone.  Will fried a 22 lb turkey and it was a huge success.  It was the best turkey I have ever eaten.  Grace said the same and even Callie, who doesn't normally eat turkey, ate quite a bit of it this year.  We started frying at noon and the last of the family members left around 6:30 pm, not counting my brother and his family, b'c I don't remember when they left...they were there til late-thirty :).  Someone came out and took some pictures of my parents and my brother and his family and me and mine.  I can't wait to get those images on cd.  Unfortunately, my brother got a page to go to work as soon as we sat down to eat, but at least he was back in 2 hours and was present for the pictures and before all the food was gone.  We ate almost the entire turkey!!! 

The visit ended with Grace and I singing at church but we added my oldest niece in the mix and I'm so glad we did.  I was able to have lunch at F&H drug store w/ my cousin Stephanie as well as relax in the hot tub w/ my good friend Sarah.  I had to pull myself away but once we made it back (with promises to Grace of Chic-Fil-A lunch on way home in BG from my dad), we unpacked, did laundry, cooked dinner, had a ballet class, etc.  In other words, we are back to our WKY normal lol...which is me and the kids and naps etc...God is good.  Isn't that why the pilgrims came here and why we celebrate T'giving?  It is, it is, it is, and we shouldn't forget it.  Charlie Brown reminded me of that just last night ;)  lol.  When we settled down last night after dinner, we watched Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving.  Grace fell asleep in the floor with her blankies.  It is bittersweet to be back for all of us!  I think Shawn particularly is glad we are home, since he only came for a couple nights.  One more thing, I have had trouble w/ the pics so sorry, they are mostly here at the end.

                    finally...the perfect way to wind-down in the evenings....for kids and adults alike....

Praise

As expected, because God is so good, things are already better and no longer spinning and spiraling out of control.  God can move suddenly (-Joyce Meier) ... and he certainly is moving suddenly in our hearts & home. 

Immersion...the word the Lord keeps giving to me.  So glad for 1 word.  Easy for me to understand, remember, implement.  No confusion.  Be immersed in the Word...just be IMMERSED.  Deuteronomy is such an interesting book in the Bible.  I'm not quoting exactly but it says to talk about God when you get up, when you lie down, when you're walking, all the time...to put His commandments above your doors.  Immersion.  Listen to kluv in the car.  Call it what it is...satan wants to kill and destroy.  God is life.  So glad for God's word.  Without him, I am a wretch.  With him, I am not.  Keep it simple.  Stay immersed!!!  My heart is changing.  Things are rearranging.  All because of WHO GOD IS, not who I am.  I love Him for HIS GOODNESS AND WISDOM.

God bless and enjoy Thanksgiving!  I am so thankful for the word---immersion.