Ready for Something

H keeps asking about snow. He wants to know when its coming and if it snows in Dublin. He also thinks there is a connection between Christmas and snow, like it will snow on Christmas. I remember thinking that thought as a child too. They obviously found the winter accessory box the other day and had a ball finding everything they needed to (pause) (thinking) play inside. Yeah. Not much cold around here right now. which is fine. But when it comes, they have practiced getting ready and will be ready.

Notes

Several days ago, on our way home, 2 cats passed in front of our car, they passed to L's side so I let her watch them for a minute. She said she would tell Daddy when he got home and honestly I didn't put much thought into it. But the second he came 6 hours later, she gave him a hug and said, "Daddy we saw 2 kitty cats cross the road!" Wow that she can hold a thought like that for that long. J kinda looked at me like "what?" He was so pleased that she had thought of him.

Ek has been so sweet with L lately. She is quite the big sister. Friday J took H to school, Ek was staying home with fever. L fell apart. I rocked her for a few minutes and she was calming down when Ek offered to read her a book. So they cured up on the couch and Ek read her all the books that L wanted. how sweet.

Ek is also leaning the art of distraction. While sick and lounging on our bed, L came to see what was going on. Because she was not sick, she had a bit too much energy for Ek. Ek said "L, will you show me your forward roll on the floor?," in her sweetest, most encouraging little voice. Good one Ek. I don't think it worked, but I appreciate her kind attempt to get her off the bed.

H is doing so much better at choir. He doesn't love going but he loves singing and I just have really encouraged him to share something that he is so great at! He has been almost leaning on me while he sings, but tonight I was able to sit in a chair and watch him sing. It was so fun. He is adorable when he sings. I hope he will sing in front of the crowd for the performance (insert fingers crossed).

Our weekend Nutcracker rehearsals are over. I confess I am sad. I just love it. I am so excited about this week and cannot wait for Friday night!!!! And I promise you, I am not a stage mom, Ek is equally excited.

Parties

J and I did some good partying this weekend. We had his office party Friday night and our church leadership Saturday night. We had wonderful food and wonderful fellowship. Friday night we did the same gift exchange that we do every year and every year it proves to be so much fun. We laughed and laughed. I had a bit of trouble wrapping my singing penguin for the exchange. My first attempt had to be immediately unwrapped. My second attempt had the help of H's boot box and it had the shape of a house. So I completely got carried away and used all colors of ribbons to turn it into a house including a chimney with a silver ribbon to be smoke. Really, K? Really. And it was the fourth present choose out of 29 with my other present being the second. silly me. I am so grateful that J has a amazing group of people to work with that genuinely seem to enjoy being together and I know their patients receive that kindness and joy that they share. Saturday night while all the championship football games were going on, we enjoyed time with dear friends from church. It was really nice to have some time out with J.

Christmas pondering

Today we were listening to Third Day's Christmas CD in the car. There was a line in a song about Jesus crying for the world. I have often wondered over the last 6 years what it must have been like for Mary to raise a child that was without sin. I wonder what his cries sounded like and what he cried about. When I heard that line today it really struck me. s Jesus cry for the world? Did the part of him that was fully God ache to live as a baby in our fallen world? Did he feel the helplessness and depravity of man? I know my soul aches eternal glory. My soul aches for crying to be done. I treasure the verse in Revelation that our tears will be wiped away. Jesus was temped in every way, yet was without sin. He has passed through the heavens and is our great High Priest who sympathizes with our every moment, he's been here. as a baby. Can you imagine going from Creator to helpless? dependent? I sure can't. What did his cry sound like?

Also today, my Christmas present came. It was delivered in little box this morning. It was not identifiable so I had to open it and see what it was (that is my story and I'm sticking to it!). Once I saw what it was, ohhhh I want it. But its not time. Israel waited 400 years in silence after the last prophet waking for the arrival of their Messiah. It does not compare to waiting for a Christmas gift. But a lesson and reminder in waiting is good for me, for all of us. I also can't wait to give. I begged J last night to let me give him his gift. Nope, he wants to wait. Can you imagine what heaven felt as it waited for the birth of Jesus, it must have been humming. The angels were so excited that night that nothing could hold them in. What must those shepherds have thought. One day we will know more. There has got to be big screens in Heaven with replays. Those reruns will not be filler for a new season I'm sure.

Talent

Tonight L was practicing her newest trick- her forward roll- in the living room when Mopsey called to check on the kids (Ek is coughing her head off). L wanted to talk to Mopsey and the first thing she said was "Watch this Mopsey" while she held the phone on her ear with her shoulder and did a forward roll. Then she said "I roll." Now that is talent. I look forward to cell phones having live picture.

Long ago

We just began out advent calendar for the 6th straight year. This may be one of a few times we actually began on December 1st ;) but we have gotten to it within the first week... or so. Anyway, we got it on the right day this year. It is quite fun to hear those words again "Long ago in a little town named Bethlehem..." I am hopeful Ek and H will have a good bit memorized this year, but more importantly hope that they learn well what all the celebration is about. It is really quite astounding that our Messiah was born a baby. Here is a picture with our baby 6 years ago in front of our advent calendar the first year we used it a long time ago in a little town named Temple (and I do not forget who took this picture).

Glad to be Wrong

J and I received a very unexpected invitation Saturday morning while at mom and dad's. The guys were in the middle of the swing build and the girls were watching the kids play. J got a text asking if we wanted to go to the Tech game. Did we?!? yes. We fed, bathed and pajamaed the kids and left them in the care of their Pops and Mopsey and headed for ATL. I heard J say at least 5 times that he expected us to be down 35-0 at half. We weren't. I told J we had better hurry because the highlight might be the players running out onto the field. It wasn't. We had a blast. It was a bit strange to be yelling and cheering and look up to see no one else cheering. Our neighbors were not pleased that we had so much to cheer about. So glad we had a fun date night. If I had to be all alone in a rival crowd, it sure was fun to hold tight to him! What a game to see there!