Our Day...

We had a very full day!  It was great....especially since all of our kids are with us this year!   We started off bright and early and headed downtown with some hot coffee and breakfast casserole.   We drove around and ended up setting up on a side street and handed out our goodies.  The kids were great helpers.  This guy broke my heart.  His name is Arthur.   He seemed so destitute.  I watched him drop the piece of casserole we gave him on the ground littered with garbage and pick it right back up and eat it.   We got to pray with him and then the kids gathered around him and he just lit up!  Kids are such a blessing to us and to others!  It's amazing how everyone's countenance changed when the kids served them or shook their hand.  One man held Ethan's hand and said, "Well, you've just made my Christmas.".   We were so excited to run into some friends from Water Angels! It was SO fun!

Then we ran home and my side of the family came over for a good game of "dirty santa" and Papa and Nana handed out some gifts.   Then we headed over to have dinner with the other side of the family.  

We came home and got in our pj's and grabbed our stockings.   Everyone had written a letter or drawn a picture for each person and put it in their stockings.  It moves me to tears when I watch the kids read or listen to their letters.   You can tell it means so much to them.  Most of the time they are speechless or just say, "wow...thanks".   It makes me want to sit down and write letters like this to my kids more often.   It was a perfect end to the day.   

Christmas Trees!

Well, I'm not sure if we have the flu or not...but, it feels like the flu....fever, body aches, a little throwing up, coughing, runny nose, etc, etc.   Not fun!  I hate seeing my kids sick.  With 4 kids now it feels like this stuff is never going to end and I'm constantly watching for signs of the next kid coming down with it.   At least we know there is a light at the end of the tunnel and before long we'll all be fine again.

Along with that, Chad started his new job.   It's at the same place, different plant, different schedule.   He'll be working seven days a week.   I'm so thankful for his job.  I know there are so many in desperate situations and without work.  But, honestly I have cried over this.  So many times, I feel like I  "if I can just hold on until Chad gets home".   Sometimes you just need a break or for someone to help share the load, answer the 100th question from the same kid, help with some math, or do the dishes.   Even typing that I'm reminded of plenty of people who don't have that kind of help...or won't very soon.   So, I'll just shut up and be thankful now. :)

I've been trying to decide whether or not to try to take part in co-op classes next semester.  I think I stress out over this stuff way too much. I'm afraid I'm going to ruin my kids' lives if I don't make the right decision on this.   The main reason I am leaning towards it is for the social aspect...for me and the kids.   But, I know I'm kidding myself...with a two year old I'll spend my time entertaining/chasing him around. :)


Today I heard about a really cool ministry.  Check it out here .   I love hearing about ministries that have long lasting impacts...this seems to be one of them!


We went and got our Christmas Tree this weekend.   It was funny watching Christy trying to figure out what we were doing.   Before it was all together and decorated, she couldn't picture what everything was for.  I think she thought it was going to be outside until we had put up in the house.   She loves the lights, but she still just kind of looks at it like it's weird and we're all a little crazy.   They had a blast getting it though.  We went to a tree farm so we could our own down.   They loved it!

Traditions

When I was pregnant with Ethan, Chad and I made him a bear at Build-A-Bear. Then, when I was pregnant with Luke, we all made him one. It was something fun to do together. The boys still have their bears and they mean a lot to them. Since we are "expecting" again, we headed back over there and made each of the kids an animal. For Miss C, the boys picked out a pretty bunny. They named her Clara. :o) For Little B, they picked out the cutest, softest puppy. It was fun making them together. We all put hearts in each one. We also recorded a message to each child to be put in their stuffed animal. I love the thought of them being able to hear our voices and hold their stuffed animal and hopefully it will help them to know how much we love them.