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

"I don't want to ask for too much!"

IN pictures - finally!
With cousins at the Children's Museum (world's largest!) - Ty's favorite place

Ty at the Dinosaur area talking to the scientists on duty (I think they are called paleontologists - probably have that completely wrong!!). Ty enjoyed getting to talk to them and observe them working on fossils etc!
Let it snow - and it did!!!
It was cold - very cold!!
And now on to the rest of the story!!!!!

"I don't want to ask for too much!"
That is what Ty said when I asked him what he thought Santa might be bringing him. He said "Hmm... maybe 4 presents? I don't want to ask for too much." He was quite serious and although I have no idea what was going through his mind - it was not the response I quite expected. In fact he had only asked Santa for one thing - a blue power ranger (all of about $7). I'm not sure if he thought Santa couldn't carry it all or that Santa was having a hard year but for some reason he didn't expect much. He was quite excited Christmas morning to see an air hockey table (and enjoyed beating all of us!) and a lot of other presents but after the first couple, he started asking "is that for me too??!". It wasn't the excited glee you might have figured and to be honest, he looked a little confused. I think he really thought that 4-5 presents would be ok. The more I thought last night (after a wonderful day spent with my mom and sister's family and phone calls with dad and more family!) the more I realized how true of a spiritual concept that is. We so often don't want to ask for too much from God. And I think that we sometimes set ourselves up for diappointment when we ask for things that are only for our comfort and not really seeking the heart of God. But either way God has the resources of heaven ready and waiting. This next year I want to ask for too much. Too much of His grace and power and peace. And wake up expecting all of it to be available to me. What a gift to open that every morning!

It's beginning to look a lot like ... Christmas - even in Florida!

Tim , Ty and I headed to Disney on Monday and checked into the Port Orleans French Quarter hotel. Ty received his birthday "button" and we were off. We have stayed at this hotel often and Ty knows his way around so as soon as we dropped our bags we were headed to the boat dock to take a water taxi to Downtown Disney. Ty had saved his birthday money to spend. (It was almost hilarious - he is very frugal with his money - but was finally ready to spend it!) We headed to Ghiradelli to get our free sample of chocolate and then to Ty's destination - Lego World! After playing and shopping we then headed to Once Upon a Toy where Ty (with LOTS of help from Tim and a salesperson) proceeded to make a double light saber. They had a "gift" of a complete set of commemorative coins celebrating Star Wars 30th anniversary if you would buy $50 in Star Wars items. Ty only wanted a light saber ($20) and wasn't about to part with any more of his hard "earned" money - but the salesperson told Tim he was just going to throw them in our bag as a gift for us! It was a really nice set and we were just beginning our days of "free" stuff! We took the bus to the Grand Floridian to see the life size gingerbread house (which was underwhelming for Ty!) and then the monorail back to MK to catch a bus to our resort.We thoroughly enjoy meeting all kinds of people especially ones from other countries and it is fun to hear other accents and info from them and be able to pass on some good American hospitality. I am slightly (??!) neurotic in terms of planning and figuring out how to get the most for our money and out of our experience so am usually able to pass on some info. We ended the day in the pool and hot tub after some jambalaya and beignets as Ty anxiously awaited the arrival of Nana, Aunt Roxanne, and Kamen the next day!

Once they arrived, we hit Downtown Disney again for a little shopping at World of Disney and then back to the resort to catch our bus to the Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom. We had a blast! Even with the rain - made all the more memories. One highlight was watching the Mickey's Twas the Night Before Christmas Show. Last year we arrived late and stood at the back next to a very nice couple. We noticed them "signing" along. Ty and I had been studying some signs so he showed them what he knew. They were actually impressed and told us that they worked full time for Disney signing for hearing impaired guests. They work in a variety of situations but that night they were practicing the show. This year we looked up on the platform and saw the same couple signing the show for a big group of guests. They were incredible! Mom & Rox remarked that it was almost as much fun to watch them since they put so much expression into it. We ate more than our share of free cookies, apple slices, and hot cocoa! We enjoyed rides like Buzz Lightyear and Peter Pan and the Jungle Cruise. And things like Mickey's PhilharMagic and Snow White ride, the race cars, the fireworks (in the rain!) and more. All in all a great night and as we left the parade to snow falling on Main Street - it really did begin to look a lot like Christmas! The next day was spent at the pool, hot tub, more Downtown Disney and a boat trip to the sister resort Port Orleans Riverside where the boys had a blast at the playground. We did really get a lot of "free stuff" too! Ty got a banana at dinner the first night; I noticed I had been given extra money in change and when I returned it the gift shop manager awarded me an exclusive pin(s) (1 to keep and 1 to give) that aren't sold - they can only be gifted; Rox got a pin on the boat ride from the captain for having to put up with Tim giving her a hard time!; the boys each received giant cookies with icing and mickey sprinkles to decorate; the food court crew gave Ty a birthday card, Mardi gras beads and coins and Mickey Rice Crispie treats (and Kamen got those too!); a birthday card from Mickey written to Ty; the Star Wars coin set; lots of extra stickers etc for Ty's birthday and lots of special attention - which he of course loved! It was a great time away and we didn't want to leave. Mom & Rox were the funniest parade and pool side (parade in the rain - ready to leave; poolside - just a "few" more minutes Ha!). Hardly any crowds or any wait - our favorite time of year to hit Disney and start our holiday celebrations. We were blessed to spend it with family!