I am the first to admit it: I struggle with the whole Christmas thing. By "thing" I mean the way society is forcing the commercialism a week prior to Halloween and then wanting to ignore why we even have this holiday in the first place because it is offensive. I find myself grumbling about the songs on the radio 24 hours a day starting on November 1 and the mall trees being up that early too.
However, I am TRYING to be in the mood for some Christmas fun. Thanksgiving is over and it seems like the appropriate time to start being festive. We put the tree up and have started to decorate it and that is about as far as my decorations will go. I just did not get that gene...the knack for decorating.
Thanksgiving went well! We had Daddy Mac's entire family down over the long weekend. The kids were so excited to have their grandparents stay with us. Goosey Lou was ecstatic to have Auntie J come down for a visit too. She is so "cool. Everyone else just takes a back seat when Auntie J arrives. =)
Daddy Mac's brother and family stopped by during their travels. It was so much fun to see toddler boy cousinent! He and Little Man could pass for brothers! They have same hair color, the same walk, the same way of dumping out ALL of the toys and then playing with them. They actually played really well together. Now that they live a bit closer, we will have to try and get together for some cousinent time!
So now we begin the preparations for Christmas. I am going to be jolly. I am going to be jolly. I AM going to be jolly.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Today is my Birthday!
My birthday! I am 22 years old today. Those that know me might scratch their heads and think..."Wow! I knew that she looked young, but I did not realize that she is THAT young!"
It was 22 years ago on this day, November 13, 1985, that I became the adopted daughter of the Maker and Creator. The great I AM. It was on this night that I made the conscious realization that there was absolutely no good in me. That I was a young woman who was trying to do all the right things, be the right person to my family, friends, community and finding that it just did not measure up. I realized that no matter how great I seemed to be, on the inside, I was filthy. I knew that I needed someone or something to make me new.
Romans 3:23 says that "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." That was me! Also in Romans (6:23), it says that death is what is to be paid for my sins. I realized with absolute clarity on that night 22 years ago, that my eternal fate based on my life that far would be hell. Pure and simple. I had sinned (lied, disobeyed, dishonored authority, etc.) and because I knew that God could not be in the presence of sin, that I could not enter into heaven without something to remove it from me.
Did God create me for eternal damnation? No. God wants everyone to be reconciled to Him. "He demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom 5:8). God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ to this earth to die on a cross, bearing all MY sins and YOUR sins, as the ultimate sacrifice. Jesus, who suffered a terrible death, was buried and raised from the dead on the third day. He ascended into heaven and currently sits on the right hand of my Father.
So that night, I asked God to forgive me for all the wrong that I had done. I believed that He sent His son, Jesus, to stand in my place and take the death that I deserved. I asked that God to make me new and accepted Jesus into my life. I did not want to sin. And because of Christ, when God looks at me, He sees me as pure as snow. No blemishes. No spots. No sin...because it has been paid for.
Do I sin? Yes. Do I mess up? Yes. But I know one thing.....Jesus Christ is the reason I can claim my place in Heaven...my inheritance. I believe this with all my soul. I am not the same person I was before November 13, 1985. I am the daughter of a King!
It was 22 years ago on this day, November 13, 1985, that I became the adopted daughter of the Maker and Creator. The great I AM. It was on this night that I made the conscious realization that there was absolutely no good in me. That I was a young woman who was trying to do all the right things, be the right person to my family, friends, community and finding that it just did not measure up. I realized that no matter how great I seemed to be, on the inside, I was filthy. I knew that I needed someone or something to make me new.
Romans 3:23 says that "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." That was me! Also in Romans (6:23), it says that death is what is to be paid for my sins. I realized with absolute clarity on that night 22 years ago, that my eternal fate based on my life that far would be hell. Pure and simple. I had sinned (lied, disobeyed, dishonored authority, etc.) and because I knew that God could not be in the presence of sin, that I could not enter into heaven without something to remove it from me.
Did God create me for eternal damnation? No. God wants everyone to be reconciled to Him. "He demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom 5:8). God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ to this earth to die on a cross, bearing all MY sins and YOUR sins, as the ultimate sacrifice. Jesus, who suffered a terrible death, was buried and raised from the dead on the third day. He ascended into heaven and currently sits on the right hand of my Father.
So that night, I asked God to forgive me for all the wrong that I had done. I believed that He sent His son, Jesus, to stand in my place and take the death that I deserved. I asked that God to make me new and accepted Jesus into my life. I did not want to sin. And because of Christ, when God looks at me, He sees me as pure as snow. No blemishes. No spots. No sin...because it has been paid for.
Do I sin? Yes. Do I mess up? Yes. But I know one thing.....Jesus Christ is the reason I can claim my place in Heaven...my inheritance. I believe this with all my soul. I am not the same person I was before November 13, 1985. I am the daughter of a King!
Cowboy Mama or Alicia Mama?
For over a year now, we have been seriously concerned about Little Man's expressive speech abilities. He has babbled a lot and has been difficult to understand. We have had him tested for some delays, but have been told that he will catch up by the time he turns three.
T-minus 6 weeks and counting and Little Man is really taking off with his talking! So much so, today while we were outside playing in the gorgeous weather, he decided to play cowboy. With a vest made by his great grandma for his daddy, Little Man strutted his stuff around the yard. When he put on a dilapidated straw hat, he became "Cowboy Little Man".
A few minutes went by and he decided to take off the hat. Handing it to me, he said "Put it on mama! You are Cowboy Mama!" And so our game of pretend began. Cowboy Mama simply wanted to sit and watch Former Cowboy Little Man ride his three-wheeled horsey across the concrete range. However, I had to get up and follow him around being "Cowboy Mama" for a long while.
Then we proceed to the swingset, where Little Man transformed into Diego. This is done by sitting in the swing seat, leaning back and singing the "Go, Diego, Go" song very loudly. After a few minutes of ripping down the zip line of the swing, Little Man says, "Mama. You are Alicia Mama". Alicia is Diego's older sister, who evidently loves to push Diego on swings.
And where would we be without Baby Jaguar...also known as Ansley, our pet dog. This wasn't received well from Ansley, so she pretended to be Baby Jaguar in our minds.
He is such a hoot!
T-minus 6 weeks and counting and Little Man is really taking off with his talking! So much so, today while we were outside playing in the gorgeous weather, he decided to play cowboy. With a vest made by his great grandma for his daddy, Little Man strutted his stuff around the yard. When he put on a dilapidated straw hat, he became "Cowboy Little Man".
A few minutes went by and he decided to take off the hat. Handing it to me, he said "Put it on mama! You are Cowboy Mama!" And so our game of pretend began. Cowboy Mama simply wanted to sit and watch Former Cowboy Little Man ride his three-wheeled horsey across the concrete range. However, I had to get up and follow him around being "Cowboy Mama" for a long while.
Then we proceed to the swingset, where Little Man transformed into Diego. This is done by sitting in the swing seat, leaning back and singing the "Go, Diego, Go" song very loudly. After a few minutes of ripping down the zip line of the swing, Little Man says, "Mama. You are Alicia Mama". Alicia is Diego's older sister, who evidently loves to push Diego on swings.
And where would we be without Baby Jaguar...also known as Ansley, our pet dog. This wasn't received well from Ansley, so she pretended to be Baby Jaguar in our minds.
He is such a hoot!
Monday, November 5, 2007
A Sincere Offering
Since Goosey has been in the first grade, she has been required to attend the Sunday services in the sanctuary with us and then go on to her Sunday school class. She is allowed to bring her church bag with her Bible, a pen, some paper, and maybe some other trinket to keep her still during the sermon.
Every Sunday, Daddy Mac gives her some money to put in the offering plate. She is so sweet and reverent as she puts her money in the plate and passes it on to the next person.
Yesterday, I noticed that she was fiddling around with an envelope and her money. I leaned over to see what she was doing. She whispered her explanation: I made this envelope at home to use here today. Is it OK if I put my offering in it?
I looked at the envelope that had written upon the front: To: God, Love: "Goosey" and had little hearts drawn all over it. It was very humbling.
The Bible instructs us to give with a cheerful heart. To be faithful. To come to Him as a child.
How can I say no to her?
Every Sunday, Daddy Mac gives her some money to put in the offering plate. She is so sweet and reverent as she puts her money in the plate and passes it on to the next person.
Yesterday, I noticed that she was fiddling around with an envelope and her money. I leaned over to see what she was doing. She whispered her explanation: I made this envelope at home to use here today. Is it OK if I put my offering in it?
I looked at the envelope that had written upon the front: To: God, Love: "Goosey" and had little hearts drawn all over it. It was very humbling.
The Bible instructs us to give with a cheerful heart. To be faithful. To come to Him as a child.
How can I say no to her?
Instantly Annoyed
Goosey and I were coming home from church last night when I turned on the radio. I was surfing the channels when I came across the voice of Burl Ives...BURL IVES, people! It is November 4th!!!! Holly, Jolly Christmas. GIVE.ME.A.BREAK.
Goosey started singing and was so excited! I instantly became annoyed. I went on a five minute rant (which then ran into "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree" and "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire") about how Christmas is totally being crammed down our throats for 8 weeks in hopes that we purchase so many things that we go into debt and the banks make lots of money on the interest on our credit cards and how it is NOT about the birth of Jesus, but about the re-birth of our economy during a 4th quarter slump.....
Goosey was so polite. She sat and listened to me gripe and complain and gripe some more. Then she said some pretty wise words:
"You know, mom. Little kids don't know all about that stuff. All we know is the good stuff and that is why I am SO excited about Christmas music....it means that Christmas is coming!"
I was a bit surprised at her comment. It is true. Christmas is so much fun when you are a kid and on the receiving end. It is a fun time. You get to see family and eat and open gifts and not once think about the national economy.
So I told her that I would suppress my annoyance and allow her to listen to the Christmas music until we got home. It is only 5 more minutes, right? I bit that tongue until that dang "Little Drummer Boy" pa-rump-pa-pump-pa'ed onto the airwaves.......
Goosey started singing and was so excited! I instantly became annoyed. I went on a five minute rant (which then ran into "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree" and "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire") about how Christmas is totally being crammed down our throats for 8 weeks in hopes that we purchase so many things that we go into debt and the banks make lots of money on the interest on our credit cards and how it is NOT about the birth of Jesus, but about the re-birth of our economy during a 4th quarter slump.....
Goosey was so polite. She sat and listened to me gripe and complain and gripe some more. Then she said some pretty wise words:
"You know, mom. Little kids don't know all about that stuff. All we know is the good stuff and that is why I am SO excited about Christmas music....it means that Christmas is coming!"
I was a bit surprised at her comment. It is true. Christmas is so much fun when you are a kid and on the receiving end. It is a fun time. You get to see family and eat and open gifts and not once think about the national economy.
So I told her that I would suppress my annoyance and allow her to listen to the Christmas music until we got home. It is only 5 more minutes, right? I bit that tongue until that dang "Little Drummer Boy" pa-rump-pa-pump-pa'ed onto the airwaves.......
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Jesus is in the truck.....
I am not sure if Little Man really understands prayer. Today we saw an ambulance screaming down the street. He starts pointing and hollering "Am-bance tuck! Am-bance tuck!" I tell him that they ambulance is going to help some sick person and take them to the hospital. I ask him if he would like to say a prayer for the sick people.
Me: Dear Lord, please be with the sick people the ambulance truck is going to help. in Jesus' name, Amen.
LM: Amen.
LM: Mama! Jesus in the tuck! Jesus in the tuck!
Me: No, baby. Jesus is in heaven. A sick person is in the ambulance truck.
LM: Otay.
Me: Dear Lord, please be with the sick people the ambulance truck is going to help. in Jesus' name, Amen.
LM: Amen.
LM: Mama! Jesus in the tuck! Jesus in the tuck!
Me: No, baby. Jesus is in heaven. A sick person is in the ambulance truck.
LM: Otay.
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