It's Beginning to Feel a Lot Like Christmas...

I have a hum in my heart as the Christmas season approaches! I love this season. I love the traditions. I love the decorations. I love the colors. I love the smells. I love the cut-out cookies. I love it all!!!! Mostly, I love the meaning of the season, the celebration of God's greatest gift.

I have been wanting a new tree for years. Our ceilings are tall in our house and I've been wanting a 9 foot tree. Well, Garden Ridge was having the sale of the century and Mason and I came home with a 9 footer! Let the festivities begin!!!

We put on Christmas music and sang as we decorated the tree. We followed up with a cup of hot chocolate! Caleb kept saying, "Merry Christmas, Mommy. Merry Christmas, Mason!" The boys are really starting to enjoy and look forward to our family traditions this time of year. We have our annual trip to the Gaylord for pictures and a glimpse of Santa. (This is the first year they want to sit on his lap). We get the see the model trains set up and the life-size gingerbread house. We make Christmas cut-out cookies. We go look at lights. We read about the birth of Christ from Luke 2. We eat our traditional mock chicken legs and wake up to Santa's surprises under the tree. This year I hope to start the new tradition of lighting the Advent candles. I hope that this will further draw us closer to the significance of the season.

Oh, I must not forget my new favorite tradition to start of the season...Walmart on Black Friday at 3 am. What fun!!!!

Soccer Buddies!

Soccer season came to an end and I must admit, I was a little sad. This was the first year that the boys have ever participated in a team sport. We've always felt like parents that put their children in sports at a younger age do it for their enjoyment, not really because the child will develop skills that can't be developed later. That's another whole issue...

Anyway, we finally signed them up for soccer and they were the only kids on their team who had never played. It was good for the boys. We felt like they would benefit from teamwork (though they are twins and everything is about teamwork in our home), help them to build confidence, and encourage them socially before they head off to public school for the first time next year in first grade. All of these parental goals were accomplished and the boys had a great time!

The last game was really special for the boys. They got donuts from the coach and their first trophy! If you could have only seen the priceless look on their faces. They said, "It's like a Piston Cup!" If you've seen the movie, Cars, you'll know what they are referring to! When I walked in that night to turn out the overhead light, Caleb had his prized trophy cradled in his arms. Oh, sweet boy!!! Looks like we have a few more soccer seasons in our future!

Operation Christmas Child

We are always very excited when we find opportunities to serve others that our children can get involved in. In the past, one way we have done this by packing Thanksgiving Day baskets with all of the ingredients for a holiday meal for families in need. The boys helped me at the grocery store pick out all of the items we needed and eagerly filled the basket. Another opportunity that we've been a part of is Project Angel Tree, which the boys were able to participate in buying gifts for children whose parent(s) is in prison. This year, our Sunday school class and many within our church, have embraced Operation Shoe Box. It is a wonderful, wonderful ministry of Samaritan's Purse and gives Christmas gifts (that fit into a shoe box) to children around the globe. Included in the box, is not only a message from the boys, but the message of Christ. Each child gets a Bible in their own language. For many this is not only their first gift, it is the first time that they have heard about the gift of salvation through Christ.

We had fun at Walmart loading our boxes with toy cars, toy airplanes, balls, coloring books, crayons, balloon rockets, a shirt and some toiletries. It's amazing how much can fit in a box!!! We are excited because we were able to download an informational coloring sheet from their website that the twins got to fill out and color. They got to tell the recipient about themselves (where they live, what they like to do, their favorite foods, and why they love Jesus!). What a great way to personalize this gift for the giver as well as the receiver!!!

We hope that by participating in such things, we will teach our boys about love and giving. We pray that they will see beyond themselves in a culture that is so "me" driven. We pray that their eyes will be opened to God's grace in their lives. And I am humbled because so often I just think of these things around the holidays. I pray that we will continually be mission minded!

Trick or Treat...Smell My Feet!

We had a great time with the kids enjoying the beautiful fall evening and going door to door filling our pumpkins with yummy delights! Later, we filled our tummies with those delicious treats and Brady has found a new favorite food group...chocolate!

We enjoyed the fall festival at our church on Wednesday, a trunk or treat at a different church nearby on Friday, and our neighborhood festivities on Saturday. The boys had so much fun!!! Brady really seemed to get into the holiday spirit and ran up to each door with a smile on his face and quickly either held out his bucket or reached his fist out to grab the goods!!! The twins love picking out which treat they want to put in their lunch box each day! Oh, the joys of the weight gaining season have begun!

Cabo Cont'd

Too many to fit on the previous post...

CABO SAN LUCAS

Yes, we are still alive. Yes, our summer was busy. Yes, I have severly neglected my blog. Now...onto more important things.... :)

Michael and I were able to celebrate our ten year anniversary in beautiful Cabo San Lucas. We had a wonderful, wonderful time relaxing in the sun and enjoying one another's company. It was difficult to leave the boys while we were away, but it was a much needed time of refreshment and reconnecting. It didn't hurt that every direction we looked was like a postcard.

Enjoy!

Mother's Day and Church

I will admit...there were many years that I dreaded going to church on Mother's Day. At first it was because I longed to be a mother and despite our efforts, it wasn't happening. Watching all of the mother's recieve a flower when they came through the door or remaining in my seat while other glowing moms stood to be recognized was painful for me. It was a reminder of what I wanted so dearly.

After the twins were born, I still could not stand. I was finally a "mother" and gloriously happy about it. But as I went to church on each Mother's Day Sunday, I couldn't help but look around the room and see friends who I knew were still hurting like I once was. I'd see the face of my friend who had been trying for five years. I'd see the face of another friend who lost three babies. I'd see the face of a friend who had undergone several infertility treatments and still was without child. I couldn't stand because all of a sudden I didn't feel like I needed to be recognized publicly for a job that God graciously bestowed upon me.

Last Mother's Day that changed. I stood for the first time ever. Brady was just shy of two months old and I had a revelation in my heart. I must stand. Brady's birthmother chose me to parent and love Brady. I stood because I would honor his birthmother's sacrifice by doing so. This year, it was the same. I stood, thought of Brady's birthmom, and silently gave thanks for her love for our child.

We are at a new church this year. I wasn't sure how the whole Mother's Day thing would unfold during the service. The neatest thing happened. Our pastor to families prayed a prayer that I was so grateful for. He prayed for each of the mothers in the congregation. He prayed for their health, stamina, wisdom, etc. Then, he prayed for all of the women in the congregation who became mothers through the miracle of adoption. He thanked God for the birthmothers. He thanked God for the adoptive mothers who lovingly parent children that came to them in such a special way. Next, he prayed for all of the women who long to be mothers and are still waiting for God's plan to unfold for them. He prayed that they would have direction and hope and comfort. Afterwards, he prayed for the mothers in the congregation who have lost children. He prayed for their hurting hearts and peace to wash over them. Lastly, he prayed for those that have lost their mothers and recognized that all of these situations bring pain for some on this very special day.

For the first time in my life, I sat in it a church with a pastor who "got it." Someone who recognized that God's precious women are all in different stages of their journey of life. I was so appreciative, I went to this pastor after the service to personally thank him for his compassion. Today, I was blessed.

(I have to include that my boys did a great job making special gifts and cards for me. My hubby has been the picture of sweetness with my beautiful flowers and thoughtful gifts and servant heart. Honey, if you are reading this...I love you! I love sharing my life with you and I am grateful that together we are the parents of three beautiful boys!)

Adoption Talk

Okay, when Brady was a newborn I got comments and questions everywhere I went. Is he adopted? What race is he? Where did you get him? How much did he cost? Are you going to tell him he's adopted? (That one is personally my favorite question...I have to hold back the sarcasm! I mean, aside from the fact that his skin is darker, his eyes are darker and he looks nothing like us...I'm standing with Brady's five year old twin older brothers...I think they'll remember that Mommy's tummy never grew with this addition!) The list of questions could go on and on and really, I find them humorous and I don't take offense to curiosity for the most part. I love opportunities to educate others and show my children the beauty of how God built our family.

I can't even remember the last time that a stranger asked me a question that I found offensive until last week. Well, the question itself wasn't offensive...it was her "look." The saleslady in a local department store kept staring at me and then Brady and then me and then Brady. She got this weird expression on her face. She curled her upper lip up and scrunched her eyebrows together really oddly before raising them. Then in the strangest tone that will never do justice unless you heard it she asked, "Is he yours?" I smiled brightly and answered, "Yes, he is!" She got this strange look that I can't even begin to explain. Then, after about twenty seconds of looking oddly at the two of us she said with her face all contorted in an almost condescending tone, "Does he look like his dad then?" I was so proud of my quick wit! I said cheerfully, "He looks like his birthfather!" I smiled at her obvious confusion and let her chew on that for awhile while I walked away! :)

A Race to Remember

Michael after he finished the 1/2 Marathon
In front the the reflecting pool at the Memorial. Michael was explaining the bombing and the significance of the Memorial.
And Jesus Wept.
Each chair represents a person killed in the bombing. The large chairs represent each adult. The small chairs represent each child. Each chair has engraved on it the name of a person who was killed that day.

We had a wonderful, wonderful weekend with my longtime friend, Sally, in Oklahoma City a few weeks ago. We went up there to see their home, enjoy the fellowship of dear friends, and watch our hubbies run the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon. They actually ran the half and did great!

This was a very special race for the city. It began and ended at the Oklahoma National Memorial which was built to remember the men, women and children whose lives were taken during the bombing of the Alfred P.Murrah Building on April 19,1995. I remember vividly watching the news coverage from my college apartment right after the bomb went off. Half of the building was gone. I remember the frantic faces of parents looking for their children in the daycare center located on the first floor of the building, knowing full well that that entire section of the building no longer existed. The image of the firefighter carrying the baby will forever be recognized as a symbol of the evil that took place that day.

What I realized during this annual marathon is that those images are still alive and well today in the hearts of those so closely touched by this needless tragedy. Family members and friends run or walk in memory of their loved one. Family members personally place medals around the necks of competetors when they cross the finish line. The chairs at the memorial symbolizing each person who died that day are covered with the medals and race numbers of those that ran in their honor. It is truly a sight to behold.

This memorial is so well done. There are two gates on each side of the reflecting pool. The East gate reads 9:01. It is the minute of peace before the attack. Everyone was going about their day. The West gate reads 9:03. It symbolizes the horror that took place after the 9:02 explosion. On the front of the memorial it reads, "We come here to remember those who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever. May all who leave here know the impact of violence. May this memorial offer comfort, strength, peace, hope and serenity."

My favorite part of the memorial, though, is the statue placed across the street from it. Have you been there? If so, I know that you, too, will never forget that image. It is a statue of Jesus. His back is turned to the site, his head in his hands. It reads, "And Jesus Wept." It makes me teary even now. It was such an incredible teaching moment for our boys. They learned there that man is sinful. They learned there that bad things do happen to good people because of sin. They learned there that Jesus is a God who allows tragedy for some eternal purpose. They learned there that Jesus cares.

We hope to make this race an annual family tradition. I pray that each year our boys will be reminded of our need for a Savior.

MUST SEE!!!!

I have lots of things that I need to write about, but they all went out the window right after I watched this!!! You MUST watch this amazing woman on Britain's Got Talent. To watch Susan Boyle blow you away click here

BEAUTIFUL BOY!!!

Natalie has prayed for years for a baby sibling...it was so much fun to make her this shirt! She'll be a great big sis!
Already singing lullabies to Baby Cole!
Proud Papa! Cole Douglas was 19 inches long and 8 pounds 4 oz. SOOOO SWEET!
Thank you, Jesus! Can I take him home with me???

I am very thankful this week for the gracious hand of God at work in the lives of my dear friends. You know, there are some people in your life that you feel such compassion for, such empathy that you physically hurt when they hurt and physically feel elation when they do, too. It is a gift to have even one friend like this, where you feel like you are a part of them. I am blessed to have two.

My two closest friends have had a rough few years. Both have lost multiple children before they had the chance to hold them in their arms. After years of prayers for these two beautiful friends, I am overwhelmed by God's gracious gifts to them. Sally is pregnant and will find out if she will be painting the nursery pink or blue in a few short weeks. And my other dear friend, Blythe, delivered a beautiful, healthy baby boy on Thursday. Welcome to the world, precious Cole Douglas! We have longed for your arrival and rejoice with your Mommy and Daddy and sister over your life!