Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year to everyone! We had a great New Year's Eve although not a typical one! Ty & his cousin Kamen spent most of the day outside playing water/mud wars which was interesting to say the least! After Kamen left we headed to Target to run a quick errand before heading home to fix dinner and have a quiet night together. Ty spotted the "cafe" as we were checking out and desperately wanted a hot dog. Tim & I figured that we might as well just grab something small so pizza, a sandwich and a hot dog made up our New Year's meal! The seating area was completely empty as was the Starbucks which is right there. One girl was working at Starbucks and Ty struck up a conversation (are we surprised?!). She was extremely nice, has 2 younger brothers and is studying to be a teacher (she'll make a good one!). Ty decided he would suggest some ideas for "new" drinks. He told her she should make one with milk, whipped cream, chocolate and candy canes. She told him that "Peppermint Mocha" sounded like a great name for it (lol) and that she would try out that "recipe". She made "his" version and gave it to him for free. He (and we) thought that was incredibly nice. We spent quite a while just the three of us eating and talking. In a really weird way, it was probably the nicest New Year's Eve we ever had! We came home and I went to bed by 9:30pm and Ty tried his best to make it till midnight with Tim until Tim told him that we could celebrate tomorrow and he finally laid down and fell asleep. Fireworks woke me up at 1:30am and I raced to the living room thinking it was midnight. Tim thought that was pretty funny!

In the middle of the day with Ty & Kamen I had the brilliant (not!) idea to talk to them about New Year's resolutions. They were giggling hysterically (the first sign!) as I tried to tell them resolutions were like decisions we made to make changes in ourselves or maybe to decide to help others etc. I then asked if they could think of some resolutions they could make. Kamen volunteered that they could stop peeing in the backyard (a practice they started when they were about 2 & 4 and unfortunately still continue to do!!). Ty said that he could help an old lady cross the street. Admirable resolutions but I figured we might as well let them go after that! ;-)

At Target, I figured out my New Year's resolutions. 2009 will probably hold many changes for us and many decisions and many unexpected things - but here are the 3 things I am going to strive for:
1. The Strength to serve Christ MORE!
2. The Wisdom to serve Christ BETTER!
3. The Courage to make changes even if difficult!

Wishing you and yours a very Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas to all!

This year we spent less and had the fewest presents. WHo knew that would equal a better Christmas?! Ty loved everything and wan't overwhelmed like he sometimes is! We had a great start with a phone call from Mickey to tell Ty what he "would see him real soon" (in 9 days!) and then a relaxing time here and at my parent's house followed by a matinee showing of "Bedtime Stories". A great day and most importantly - a chance to sit and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas!

"Santa knows my name!"

Monday night we made a hurried trip to the mall with Ty & Kamen after realizing that we had not visited Santa yet and Christmas WAS 2 DAYS AWAY!! What bad parents we are! lol Actually Ty is well aware of the true meaning of Christmas but Santa is a part of our Christmas tradition as he was in my family. Rox had given me a heads up that at the age of 10 - Kamen was a little skeptical of most Santas and that it was important to him that Santa call him by name. After quickly figuring that one out (a whispered conversation to Santa's helper while we were looking at picture packages) and then the boys were on their way. Ty approached first and Santa called out, "Tyler, what do you want for Christmas?". It wasn't until he called "Kamen, how about you?" that the boys had stunned looks on their faces. Their picture is so cute - partly because instead of the hilarity that ususally surrounds these two - it is a softer, sweeter version! The both came running out to tell us, "Santa knew our name!" Kamen added, "He must be the REAL Santa!" Sharp as he is, he noted that WE hadn't even talked to Santa before the boys got to go see him! The rest of the night, they marveled at the fact that they had talked to the "real" Santa, otherwise, how would he have known their name??!!

It was actually a cool spiritual thought as well. After all, we know the true Messiah, one who knows us BY NAME. The one who came to earth as a baby and left it a Savior. Every night we read our Advent book and have read Luke 2 many times this season. But Jesus Christ isn't some far off Savior - He lives in our hearts and calls us BY NAME! My mind can't remember the actual song that goes something like, "He knows my name, He knows my every thought, He sees each tear that falls, and hears me when I call, and hears me when I call..." Isn't that the greatest gift ever!

"Will there be Nintendo in heaven?"

Ty actually asked me "Will there be Nintendo DS and dvd's in heaven?" the other night. Since the question came out of nowhere, I admit to being at a loss for words for a minute.

I guess I should say this, Christmas time always brings about conversations about heaven. Tim's mom passed away on Christmas Eve 6 years ago. Ty's friend, Janefar, has also lost 2 grandparents (strangely enough, in both the same way as Tim's parents - car accident and heart attack). I heard them talking about it one day and I guess with all of that - Ty came up with this question. I told him that I think that God has whatever we need to be happy there but I was pretty sure that after seeing Jesus - Nintendo DS and dcd's would be the last thing Ty would think about! He then asked me what his house would look like. I asked him what he wanted it to look like? He said, "I think I would like it to be wood and have doors and handles like those (the doors to our large armoire in our room)". I told him that I thought that since God could do anything - I am sure He could do that.

Fast forward to this morning. Tim got a call from a friend needing help this morning so Ty and I had "church" here at home including reading Luke 2. I came to work on the computer and Ty was playing a game on his DS when I heard him mumbling something. I finally listened closely enough to hear "Please Jesus! Please Jesus, help me to win!". He soon got upset that he wasn't succeeding as well as he would have liked. He came running in to ask "Why isn't Jesus answering??!" I told him that Jesus gives us what we need, not always what we want and since I don't necessarily think that winning a video game would be high priority on a "needs" list, that I think there was a bigger lesson to be learned.

I am glad his first thought was to pray and I don't want to change that. But we had a good conversation about asking for what God wants and that being a "winner" doesn't always mean winning a game.

"Big" thoughts around Christmas this year - and since several friends have lost loved ones within this past week - thoughts have turned more to the eternal than the material. Just the way I think God wants it!

Christmas Card 2008

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Ty's 8th Birthday Party

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Ty's 8th Birthday Party invite

Make a Smilebox scrapbook