Nana Nana...

We can't wait for you to spend Christmas with us Nana!

We love you!

WWJW?

As I mentioned in a previous post, I love birthdays.

And since Jesus' birthday celebration is only 8 days away I've been thinking:

WWJW?

Not to be confused with the overly used phrase 'What Would Jesus Do?', I was struck today by 'What Would Jesus Want?'. For his birthday party that is.

Ever find yourself being asked or asking someone what they want for their birthday? certainly.

Honestly though, I've never stopped to ask Jesus what he would want for his birthday. We celebrate the season by giving gifts to one another but if Jesus was sitting next to me and feasting on my plate of carrots and hummus what would he say he wanted for his birthday?

Would it be something I could give him? Broader than that? Or both?

I invite you to step back from the hustle and bustle of the season and just stop.

Stop doing.

Stop obsessing about the long list of things to do.

Just stop.

And ask the One who gives us all good gifts "Jesus, what do you want for your birthday?".

And that's exactly what I'm going to do right now.

goodbye computer. hello Jesus.

My Birthday

I love birthdays.
My special day was yesterday and I turned another year older.

The kids were super cute. All day they were telling me
"happy birthday" and "I love you mommy".
And, we captured this priceless video of them singing to me!
Tonight Jeff and I went out on a date sans kids. It was fun to talk
about this past year and to dream about what this next year holds.

Snowday Shmoday

Today all of the are schools are closed and people are staying 'in' due to the snowy weather. I personally love snow days because it is an opportunity to slow down and enjoy being home.

Since the kids didn't have preschool and were up at 6:10am this morning (ahhh!!!) I decided that an Advent craft was in order.

For three decades this ornament has graced my family's Christmas tree.This year while we were decorating the kids tree they thought it was really fun to see mommy when she was little.

So now, here is our own version of this timeless ornament.
The kids painted salsa jar lids on both sides (letting each side dry in between)then we glued green ribbon around the edges of the lid, made a hanger, and pasted their picture inside.

Voilaa timeless treasure

Our Thanksgiving Day

I hope that you were able to spend Thanksgiving Day with those who are dear to your heart and that your thoughts were focused on the one who gives all good gifts.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17

We spent the day with Jeff's side of the family and long time friends. It was a wonderful time of hanging out together, loving, laughing and eating yummy food. Here's some pic's of our day!(Jeff's parental unit, aka Jack and Lennyce, aka Papa Grandma)(Jeff and his Dad)
(me...some people say they never see a pic of me on the blog. here you go.)(Our buddy, aka Caleb Jackson)
(Our sweetie, aka Carissa Joy)
(Our adorable niece, aka Olivia)(Our friend, aka Katie and youngest Izzy) (her eldest Evie and Carissa)(Papa carving the turkey, the kids admiring the 'raw' turkey)

Happy Birthday

Caleb and Carissa anticipated their three year old birthday party for three months.

Seriously.

We had their party on their actual birthday, Nov. 8th.Caleb emphatically declared he wanted a 'Diego' cake and Carissa went along with it saying she'd like a 'Dora' cake. Whew, that worked out nicely.I bought this carved fondant cake from a nearby mom who is a friend of my friend. (it was a total bargain!) The kids were thrilled, all 13 of them.

Backpack, Backpack...

Caleb pinning the tail on Swiper - one of three party games the kids played It was a full house with 13 little people, some parents and other friends. Dinner for the wee ones included a Kintner kid favorite of 'mac & cheese' and 'cake'. Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you...The party blowers were a hit!

the presents were too!Goodbye hugs

A great party!

Thankful Thursday

Happy Thanksgiving.

I love the Thanksgiving holiday.

A set aside time to be with family and close friends. Time to reflect on life's blessings. Time to unwind.

For today's thankful reflection I'd like to share an excerpt written by my pastor, Bill Tibert.

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"Today, I’d like to focus on two more aspects of giving: Giving thanks and giving to those in need."

"Giving thanks is not really about thanking God for what we get—though that is certainly a good thing. Giving thanks begins with the recognition that everything about us—all that we are, all that we have, all that we are able to do—everything comes from God and really belongs to him. God is the Creator, “we are his workmanship”—his work of art (Ephesians 2.10). We have life because of him—“… he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things … in him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17.25, 28); “The earth is the Lord’s and all that live in it” (Psalm 24.1)."

"When we start there, we are set free to give thanks to God in the midst of all things, regardless of the circumstances; regardless of what we have or don’t have; regardless of what we get or don’t get. This is what Paul is getting at in Philippians 4.11: “I have learned the secret of being content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty.” Earlier in his letter, he tells how we enter into that secret: by rejoicing in God, knowing that he is near, giving up worry, and making our requests to God in prayer with thanksgiving."

"This week we have the opportunity to join with people all across our nation in giving thanks. Some will be focused on giving thanks for what they have received, as ought we all. But I encourage you to give thanks and praise for God himself: that we live in the shadow of his wings and the hollow of his hand, that he is near, that he created us out of love for love, and that we have been invited into the realm of His Kingdom to carry out his plans and purposes in the world."

"Give thanks!"

"Give to those in need. Repeatedly throughout the Old and New Testaments, God reveals his bias on behalf of the needy: the poor, the marginalized, the disenfranchised, the outsider, and the stranger. And God wants us to give in a variety of ways to help those in need. Following is a selection of Scripture passages I encourage you to reflect on:"

“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20.35

“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.” Proverbs 19.17

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ Matthew 25.35-40

“Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.” Proverbs 22.9

“Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6.2

“Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.” Matthew 10.8

“Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth …’” Matthew 5.1-48

"One more verse that ties these two together—in 2 Corinthians 9.11 Paul says: “You will be enriched in every way for your generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us … and overflow with thanksgivings to God.” When we give generously, the floodgates of thanksgiving open up and overflow! What a great image and promise."

(thoughts by, Bill Tibert, Pastor, Covenant Presbyterian Church)
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May this be ever true in our lives in increasing ways.

Happy Thanksgiving

Were Back!

Our trip was wonderful on this here beach.

It was idealic in every way.

A true vacation indeed.

But now were back and enjoying our little ones with lots of snuggles and love in our jammies. Its great.

More about our trip coming soon.

And a post of pics from the tots 3 year old birthday party!

Were Off!

We've got our bags packed and were set to leave at the crack of dawn.

Just the two of us.

Me, and my honey of 10+ years.

Mexico, here we come!

Birthday Eve

On the Eve of the kids third birthday we celebrated as a family of four.
Both kids received Harley Davidson scooters that light up and rev like a motorcycles.
It was fun and thrilling.

Happy Birthday sweet ones.

Thankful Thursday

Lately I've been reading a book titled 'Sabbath Keeping' with a group of women from church.

While there are some whom still observe a day of rest many do not. We have become a 24/7 culture.

I am challenged by this discipline.
I'm noticing that when I experience rhythms of rest that my heart turns toward God and the wonderful things that He has done.

The Psalmist encourages us to:

"Seek his presence continually. Remember the wonderful works he has done, his miracles, and the judgements he has uttered." Psalm 105:4-5

I don't want to live life on auto-pilot.
I want to live a life remembering and appreciating who God is and the good things that He has done.

Today
I am grateful for beginnings and celebrations.
I am grateful that we are blessed with children and will celebrate their 3rd birthday this weekend.
I am grateful for the unusually high temperatures we have had this week.
I am grateful for scissors and the skilled hands of J to cut Caleb's many curls today. My, his hair grows fast!

09 Halloween

This year the tots were very excited about dressing up.

Caleb Jackson dressed up as a 'Fire Chief' aka 'Fireman'

He wore the costume for 4 days prior to Halloween.

Carissa Joy dressed up as 'Tinkerbell'

Fireman extinguishing Tink. Tink aghast.
Caleb thought he was 'big time' with his real fire extinguisher

Tink 'ding-ing' Fireman. I'm not sure what she's changing him in to but...her face is glowingOur first stop was our neighbors home - this is where the tots play while I'm teaching voice lessons
Our second stop was at the Peterson's home. Caleb and Carissa thought it was really funny to say 'Trick or Treat'. Given the reward there was no coaxing needed.
Carissa 'ding-ed' Uncle Brian (pictured above) and he turned in to a monkey! Brian was fairly believable (to a tot) and Carissa got a little scared and wouldn't turn him back. Poor Kim, she had to live with a monkey the rest of the evening!
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Our third stop was our church Harvest party. Complete with a bouncy house, toddler games and food, the kids had a blast!