We're Safe

Thanks to all of you who were concerned about our wellbeing, due to the Oklahoma Blizzard! Just a quick update (since on this trip we will rarely have internet access)- we ended up stuck in a hotel in Tulsa on Christmas Eve. We couldn't make it to Enid until C'mas afternoon. We are safe and sound, but it sure was a doozy of a winter storm! Thankfully, we decided to be safe and not chance it...and we're very glad we did. Odds are we would have been stranded, and with two babies, that would have been awful. It was a very unconventional Christmas, but we're grateful to be safe, and we're with our family now. Will give a full update when I can. Thanks for your prayers and concern! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

The Gift of A Child

Last night, I was watching The Nativity Story. I was struck with thoughts about how difficult and challenging it must have been for Mary. We often think of how amazing it must have been to be the chosen virgin who would carry the Christ child. I never really contemplated the idea of how scorned she must have been. For all intents and purposes, she really could have worn a scarlet letter. To everyone around her, it must have seemed as if she were carrying a child illegitimately. In the movie, her family and friends, and Joseph, at first, were all terribly disappointed with her and ashamed of her obvious indiscretions. It's so odd thinking that one could be so very much in the center of God's will, and yet so very shunned by their loved ones. Thankfully, God was gracious to enlighten Joseph through the visitation of an angel, who explained the situation. It's an awfully far-fetched idea: conception by the Holy Spirit...but the ONLY way for the Messiah to begin his life on earth.

The other thought that I've often had in the last few weeks is the gravity of Mary and Joseph's situation as the parents of Jesus. I can't even describe the immense love that I have for my children. If someone told me that I had to willingly give up my child, for the sake of a world of lives at stake, it would be heart-wrenching. Of course, this must have been the case with Mary, who watched her son grow, and love, and heal and teach...and then also to be mistreated, beaten, and nailed to a cross. The despair is inconceivable to me. Blessed was Mary among women...but what a heavy cup.

Of course we must remember that God, the father...felt all of those things. Only, He felt them in proportion to the enormity of His love for Jesus, which was obviously greater than anything that we could ever imagine or feel. God gave us his ONLY SON. Now that I have children, the fact of that statement means so much more to me. And I am overcome with gratitude that I, and that you, and that this world full of people meant enough to the God of the universe, that He gave us His son...the way, the truth, and the life.

Today, we leave to spend Christmas with our families. We will enjoy precious moments and make memories. But at the heart of everything that we do, and what we hope to instill in our children more than any other aspect of this season...is gratitude- for the gift of a child born to a virgin in Bethlehem so long ago...our precious saviour. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Christmas Crazy!

Hey guys! Just thought I'd post because they've been so sporadic lately. Of course, it's such a busy time of year. Right now I'm trying to do about twenty things at once because we leave (hopefully) tomorrow after Aaron gets off (early) to start our annual cross-country Christmas adventure. I say hopefully, because a front is coming through today, which is supposed to bring storms, hail, snow, etc. We're under a severe weather advisory for tonight. It's supposed to snow Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and perhaps the day after. This would all be lovely...if we weren't supposed to be traveling tomorrow night. Now, if it's just a nice snow...no worries. The Pilot is big and heavy and has 4-wheel drive. If it's a blizzard or icing or hailing...well that's another story. Since, as my husband is quick to point out, weathermen are mostly just guessing anyway, we'll wait and see how it actually turns out. Obviously, we'll do whatever we have to do to stay safe. But, hopefully, we'll get to go.

We're supposed to drive to Enid on C'mas Eve. We'll be with my folks for Christmas Day and Saturday, and then we'll drive to Norman on Sunday to spend the night with our pseudo-family...

brief pause while I de-glitter my son. He managed to rip a ribbon off of the tree. The ribbon with the most glitter, mind you. He was pretty much covered head to toe, and mouth with silver glitter. Lord! I only decorated the top-half of the tree (which looks...um, interesting) but he managed to get to a ribbon.

...okay our pseudo family, the Lees. Then Monday we'll drive the rest of the way to Goliad. We'll be down in Tx for the week, because I'm giving a bridal shower for my friend, Veronica, on Saturday, the 2nd, in Houston.

So, today, my list includes, cleaning, ironing, finishing a little laundry, two bags of moose munch, wrapping, and packing and packing and packing. Good times. Well, I don't think we'll have much internet access while we're gone. Aaron's g'ma disconnected her home internet, since she's at the apt. now.

Here's the driving lowdown:
Thursday 4 hrs to Enid
Sunday 2 hrs to Norman
Monday 8-9 hr to Goliad
Friday 2 hrs (just me) to Houston for the shower
Saturday 2 hrs (just me) back to Goliad
Sunday 12 hrs back home

Obviously, we love our families very much! Pray for traveling mercies and happy babies. :-)

Family Christmas Photo Shoot

We took these pictures while we were down in Goliad for Thanksgiving. Many of you have seen a few on our Christmas card already...or on facebook. I've added a few that my friend, Sarah, edited really nicely at the bottom and the one that is our header. Aaron's dad, Jeff, took the pictures. Enjoy!

Yes...we're still here!

Sorry I've been MIA for a week. I just realized how long it's been since I've posted. Two words: Angel Tree! I am our church's coordinator for the Angel Tree ministry this year (along with my good friend, Jessica...who we also help head up the young adult group with...and who's husband has been our "leak consultant.") Anyways, this project has taken up countless hours of planning, projecting and organization.

If you are unfamiliar with Angel Tree, here's a summary. Churches, the Salvation Army, malls, etc...sponsor Angels every year at Christmastime. It is a ministry of Prison Fellowship, which allows incarcerated parents to give a gift to their child/ren through the help of outside sponsor/donors which have taken an Angel tag off of a tree at a church, mall, etc. It's a way for relationships to be kept, rekindled, and reconciled between these prisoners and their children. And it's a way for these children, who often don't live in the best conditions (due to the fact that a parent is in prison) to have their needs met more readily.

Step 1 was contacting the 20ish families that our church was assigned...to confirm their participation and to find out what toy and practical gift items the children would like to receive.
Step 2 was actually setting up the tree with the tags, and collecting the gifts brought in by our church donors.
Step 3 is hosting the party where we love on the families and distribute the gifts to the children.

The party is this Wednesday, the 16th. If you're reading this, please say a prayer that every family that we are serving is blessed by the love of Christ through us. Our hope is not only that they are happy with their gifts and a fun evening...but that they meet the Savior of the world and the reason for this season, if they haven't.

So...we are finishing up preparations for what is turing out to be a pretty large event. I just tallied a final headcount this morning, and it looks like we'll have around 115 adults and children. Aside from making sure everyone is fed, we'll also have a program consisting of some of our church kids singing, a Nativity craft for all the children while the Christmas story is read and an interactive legend of the Christmas Stocking. The Angels will receive their gifts and a Bible, and their caretakers will receive a gift bag as well. We will be serving 15 families and 28 children.

Once this project is complete, I'll have a lot more time to blog! :-)

Elf Spotting