We were blessed with gifts, tokens of love...although we were not blessed with health this Christmas.  My husband had such an upset stomach that he missed much of the gift opening.  Afterwards he went back to bed for a nap.  We had had little sleep the previous nights.  Then after I got some clean up done with the gift wrap, I collapsed on the couch with a poetry book and started snoozing.  The kids woke us up to go to Grandma and Grandpa's for the rest of the day.  I really did not want to leave my warm cozy spot...because I could feel my cold taking over.  But I just did not feel up to making any dinner...so that was basically what enticed me to finally get up. 

Anyway, the whole time I was dozing, the children were contentedly playing with some of their new toys...that was novel! They just don't play with toys.  They rarely do things on their own...although they are leaning more in that direction now.  But usually they prefer to have some sort of directed activity with me or dh. They were diagnosed with Sensory Integration Disorder as toddlers and apparently that is one of the symptoms.  They were discharged from OT services about 8 years ago, with the condition I keep working with the kids.  So I am always on the lookout for the types of things the OT loved. Along those lines, I found some cool things that I got for stocking stuffers for them.  These totally cool things are the very items that kept them quietly content for hours! 

Familiar with Floam?  www.floamit.com

I'm sure our OT loves this amazing texture toy!  Last spring I saw some of this on display at a fancy toy store.  It was out so we could hold and play with it and it was so cool.  It perfectly molds to any shape you want, is not sticky, and has an amazing touch.  However, I was not so certain of the price, which was a bit steep for my preference.  But I am now sold!  This product mesmerized my children with creativity longer than any item in history!

Then I found some squiggle pens...just for fun!  They vibrate and the kids like to put it up to my back to massage....it feels great!  They had fun wiggling their writing on paper!

Of course this is not meant for handwriting...as least not in the normal way!  I would not take a handwriting grade with anything done with this pen.  But the OT taught me that texture goes a long way in improving fine motor skills...and thus handwriting skills.  

Interestingly, my brother and his wife gave dd some floam too.  They had bought it not knowing what it was, but it looked interesting to them.  So dd excitedly took it out of the package to show them...and it was gooey and sticky.  When it first comes out of the container, you have to work it, but this was not working as well as the ones we had left at home.  DH tried to help them clean up but he couldn't even wipe it off with paper towels. They finally went out back to clean up.  We brought it home and left the container open a few days to dry out some.  I'm not sure how it is now...it disappeared from the kitchen counter.  But if that doesn't work we'll just return it to the store for another one.  So if this happens to you, don't despair. That's not how it's supposed to work.  It is really cool.  The kids were even playing ball with the good batches we had!     

Despite illnesses throughout the family, we mustered ourselves together for a photo shoot.  We get dressed up, except this year we begged off with dh on getting completely dressed up.  After all ds and I had colds and dh had a stomach virus.  So we got to wear bluejeans this year!  We discoursed on how to take the photo, without my face looking red.  I don't think it always looks this red.  I think it has to do with the flash, but dh insisted we needed the flash.  I can't stand that redness in my face.  Anyone know how to keep it from showing up in the pictures.  When ds took tons of pictures of me in my new earrings, we learned my face looked better without the flash...but then it was blurry.  So we opened all the windows and turned on all the lights and that helped a bit.  I also wish I still wore contacts...but that's another story.

Some changed into more comfortable clothes, while I got the snacks/dinner ready.  While tamales were steaming, mozarella cheesesticks were baking, and shrimp was thawing, dh put a fire in the fireplace.

Then dd read our devotion with the Advent Candle.  She and ds had been sharing a lot of the reading this week, which was new.  I was trying to save my voice, with the cold.  Even though we have done this advent candle book for years, the children noticed things for the first time.  Like, there were extra readings, depending on how late in the week Christmas falls. They had never thought of that before.

Guess who showed up for the reading?

Slipper kitty adores laps and books to climb over and edges of books to rub her chin on.

There's just nothing like trying to read while the book is bumping up and down and while getting a furry tail in your face.

Of course kitty acts offended and wanders off...but can't bear the temptation...

Guess who's back?  It never fails.  This is what I put up with all the time!  Maybe she'll be more content if she gets a big hug and her picture taken!

Now she is just too irresistable and ds has to grab her away from dd!

After resuming our reading, we discussed on how people reacted to Jesus' first coming...and how they perceive His second coming today.  This is always interesting, talking about the reading and applying past events to the present culture.  We've discovered that things haven't changed much really!  Then it was time for the snacks.  Since dd was the only healthy person in the room, she got to blow out the candle on the fruitcake, after singing Happy Birthday to Jesus.  (That picture came out blurry.)  You can see the lit candle in the back left corner.

We settled down to eat while watching "It's a Wonderful Life."  We all love this movie.  We are big Jimmy Stewart fans and the story line is wonderful.  By the way, if any of you wonder what my brother is like, he could pass for Jimmy Stewart in a look a like contest!  He can even impersonate him....grunts and all!  =)  Of course, now that I'm settled, kitty is ready to invade my lap with her furry presence.  However I have food I am trying to eat.  It was so funny, I'd just put her down on the floor and ds and I would wave our hands to under the tree, and under the tree she would go.  She kept popping out every few minutes to see if my lap was free yet, then she'd go back under the tree when we pointed to it! 

Finally, I was done eating and my lap was ready. Of course she's not content until I stretch out and lay the blanket on top of my lap. 

Now isn't this cozy?  DD likes to lay against me too...

Usually ds is squeeze in here too, between me and the couch.  Back to the story, I do think this is a classic.  I have felt like George any number of times.  Why am I here?  What is the point?  What good am I?  Of course this has a Christian worldview and can be better adapted...Am I doing God's work?  Am I being God's person?  Am I allowing Him to work through me?  Am I planting the seeds and leaving the fruit for Him to develop? 

After the movie, the kids were ready to open their presents.  DD got an itty bitty origami kit, which I think will be too difficult for her. She has trouble with full size origami, whereas my son is terrific with it.  He got a snowman kit from the same recipient and I suggested they trade out.  But dd is going to give the origami a try.  DS's gift for the night was a group of several books from me and dh.  I'm not sure he seemed to excited about them, but he started reading one of them in a few days, TwentyOne Balloons.  I knew he would like that book, because I did some teacher projects with it when I was in college and I had vague wonderful memories of it.  Sure enough, he loved the book.  That is all he could talk about. 

This is a typical Christmas Eve for us...staying at home, enjoying each other's company, reading and talking about the Reason for the Season...Silent Night...

When I mentioned Adornaments in my previous blog entry, MayTheyBeMightyMen  asked about them.  I'm still a bit under the weather, and had meant to post a link to them, but forgot.  So thanks for asking!  =)  I was surprised to see that these are no longer available.  My mom bought these for the kids about 10 years ago.  I bought the book to go with them, What Nick and Holly Found in Grandpa's Attic.  You may not be able to see, but on each ornament, is a Bible verse.  That is the black you see in the center of each one.

Put out by Family Life, the book teaches children the different names of Jesus. Back then, most of our school in December was all about Christmas.  So we did a name a day, with an art project.  We'd cover the school room in all of our art projects.  Now that my children are young teenagers, we don't have much time for these activities.  But they still enjoy hanging the ornaments and they understand what each one represents.  Here's a link to the Family Life article on the Adornaments, listing the different names of Jesus.

 www.familylife.com/articles/article_detail.asp?id=680

Here are some reviews on the book...

www.amazon.com/Adorenaments-Parenting-FamilyLife/dp/1572292385

Here are some other ornaments my dd made in Sunday School several few years ago.   We are missing the black ball which represents sin.  Uh oh!

I was so impressed when she brought these home, I pulled out the construction paper and put the kids to work making sets for each member of our extended family.  They were quite the hit.  These ornaments tell the gospel message.    

I'll have to remember to post these ideas next Christmas, early!  lol  The Adornaments may be out of production.  But if interested, maybe they could be found at Ebay or at a thrift store or yard sale.  Also, the Family Life link I gave listed the names.  I just made simple art projects to go with them.  For the Lion of Judah, I traced a simple lion's head for them to color.  Then they used yellow yarn for the mane.  For the Light of the World, I traced a simple candle, and they colored that.  Then they could use gold gel pens (or glitter if you dare...not my favorite...lol).  For the Lamb of God, I traced a simple lamb.  Then they colored the black parts black.  Then I had them pull cotton balls apart to glue on the body.  You get the idea!  =)   

Days later...I am finally starting to feel better.  So here are the pictures of our decorated home that someone asked for.  =)  I wasn't sure whether to post these or not.  Then I decided it would be helpful to me to take all the pictures and come back to them in a year to remember where to put everything. When I was growing up, we always got the house decorated in one day.  I always knew where everything went.  Since getting married, we are either moving, or changing up the house in some way, so that I never remember where to put things.  Then when dh does his remodels, or if we get a new piece of furniture, I have to rethink the decorating. =)  This does not mean I'll definitely keep these items in these same places this year, because I know a lot of these things could be in better places.  But at least I'll have a road map to begin with, and I might get the decorating done in one weekend!  =0 

First, our school room, or loft.  I have a teddy bear collection up here, as well as Texas items and darker decor.  The main accent color here is red...to energize our thoughts in school!  =)

This was a last minute shift a few days before Christmas Eve.  These were where our gingerbread village is now located.  I liked them better down there, but dh insisted that was the only spot for the village, and I think he was right about that.  I like the nativity set, I'm afraid it's hard to see.  I got these as tiny ornaments from Hobby Lobby and the NOEL I got at the after Christmas clearance at one of the Christian bookstores.

 I love these teddy bears.  The little figurines I got at Hobby Lobby years ago.  The stuffed ones came from MIL.  And the nativity plaque was made for me by a great aunt and uncle when I was little.  They gave me a matching card.

DH made this arrangement for his first apartment when we first met.  I try to emphasize the nativity, instead of santa.  But dh is very proud of this.

I bought this tree, light set and set of ornaments at Hobby Lobby several years ago when dh was in Korea.  He got to decorate his own little tree in his dorm room.  DS gave me the little snow globe nativity for Christmas last year.

Our garland and Christmas cards.  The ficus tree you see in back has "Adornaments" and ornaments dd made years ago that represent the salvation message.

I love this moose!

Pillows, I forgot to get these out until Christmas Eve!

Dining room.  I am liking the kissing balls a lot.  I never did get this one hung in the doorway.  The ribbon on the chair back is left from our medieval feast.

The rest of the dining room.

I love these bird houses.

This has been our newest corner to decorate, since dh remodeled the kitchen last year.  I did have the pointsettias with the NOEL and nativity here on the countertop.

Close up...

Candy cane placemats and jingle bell napkin holders.

We got these candlesticks free when we bought some furniture.

Another pillow.

And another pillow.

My precious moments nativity was supposed to be my real nativity set, bought in sections each year.  But I can't get anymore pieces to this. 

I made these stockings our first Christmas...dh wanted 2 children.  We had just enough kids for the stockings.

Cozy candles and poetry books...

The tree.

One of my favorite decorations.  I always remember where this one goes, in the doorway between the kitchen and pantry!

Another snowglobe that I got to have a nativity scene.  It plays one of the Christmas Carols.

These were all taken in the dark, which now seems to have been a bad idea.  I was exhausted, and the rest of the family was finishing up the Take Off game.  We were about to start our special Christmas Eve....that will be next.

The guys are a bit under the weather.  So they played games...

DS thinking...does the hat help?

DD helping me in the kitchen...

Then I got some laundry done and the house cleaned up...and then I was wiped out.  I am hanging on with my cold thanks to zicam.  We settled down for a movie, The Homecoming (The Waltons and John Boy.)  Then we played dd's favorite game, Take Off!  That's a geography game and I won!  Not often I can say that in this house.  I'd better enjoy it while I can.  So according to the game, I am now in Hawaii saying Mele Kelikimaka...while they struggle to get their airline flights to join me!  LOL

It's probably too late to mention now, but about this time every Christmas Eve I recall a favorite activity we do just for fun!  Norad (with the USAF) hosts a cute santa tracker around the world.  www.noradsanta.org

Of course the real celebration will come at nightfall with our advent candle and Bible story with the Happy Jesus birthday cake and party.  More on that later. 

Merry CHRISTmas!

Today was finally the day to build the gingerbread village.  I like doing this better than gingerbread cookies.  Maybe there's more variety to it.  Nevertheless, I was reminded of how agonizing this can be, getting the icing into the piping bag, the mess, keeping the walls stable until the "cement" hardens, the mess, adding elements to the houses so that the walls do not cave in, the mess...

Anyway, I talked with my husband today about recently learned information from his mom.  As much as he insists we decorate cookies every year, he is never available when we decorate.  Apparently this was not something he enjoyed as a child.  His sisters are the same way.  Yet he always insists we decorate.  He did not believe this so the dc and I reminded him of all the past incidents until we are laughing too hard.  He now admits he does not like the tediousness or mess or the extreme need for patience.  Finally, honesty!  lol  I can relate and we commiserated as we all teased him about how he can really tease us unmercifully.  Speechless, my husband grinned and said, "It's the quiet ones you need to worry about."  He was talking about me!  My dd and I are the quiet ones in the family.  The guys are the chatty, noisy ones.  Actually, my son has moments of quietness where you can just see the wheels in his brain turning and you know something funny or brilliant or extremely difficult to answer will pop out of his mouth.  This was one of those moments.  "That's because they are thinking!" he innocently replied.  He thought he hit upon something insightful and brilliant.  We all just died laughing (you should have been there) as now everyone is waiting for us quiet ones to pull a big practical joke!

Well, I didn't really know how to capture that moment in words, so lets move on to the gingerbread village.  I helped them a little with the first houses...

DD had an awful time, bless her heart.  Her walls kept caving in.

The creative wheels in my son's head started turning and we had to have him stop by dinner, or else he'd be working on this until next Christmas!

They made a couple of houses, a barn and a silo.

He even made snowmen...

Well, ds and I been sick with a cold and are feeling tired.  We are about to settle in front of a cozy movie, "The Christmas Wish" with Neal Patrick Harris (Doogie Houser) and Debbie Reynolds.  This is one of my favorites. Last night we watched "The Christmas Box" with Richard Thomas (John Boy) and Maureen O'Hara.  Before the movie we had been out watching lights and it was too late for a fire in the fireplace.  We woke up to a bitter 27 degrees!  We are headed for another freeze tonight, and we are starting the movie early enough to have a fire!  Kitty will love that!  She gets so excited when she sees my lap.  She gets up from her cozy blanket as soon as she sees me.  Then I lay on the couch and lay the blanket on me and she lays in my lap.  What could be more cozy?

Merry Christmas!

As a tag on my previous entry, the Christmas card saga continues!  LOL

The other day a box arrived from my husband's sister.  We opened the box and we were confused.  She has a way of creatively packaging gifts.  lol So I grabbed the enclosed Christmas card, opened it up, and sure enough, it included the directions for the gifts.  DS exclaimed, "Now that was a good card to open now!" 

Yesterday a box arrived from my husband's other sister.  I opened the box and put the gifts under the tree.  Now I wondered...do I open the card or not?  Blogging about this has made me question my habit!  lol  I decided to open the card and she wrote on both sides of the card!  I sat down to enjoy what she wrote.  As I started the second side of the card...uh oh!  I might have seen too much!  LOL  This card belongs under the tree!  LOL

Another tradition we have, is to enjoy the Christmas cards and newsletters we recieve while we do our Advent candles, and then pray for the giver.  Then I display them on the garland in our stairwell. 

The newsletters and pictures that arrive I put on our refrigerator.

Last night one of the newsletters we recieved was from some missionaries I met in our Sunday School class a few years ago.  They are a young family with several children in Germany.  It was fun listening to the lady, who shared what her life is like, raising her children in a foreign country.  She told of taking her littles ones by bus to the market for food (because that is how it is done in Germany.)  But she just couldn't get into the German mentality to shop for only that day.  Can you imagine taking bags of groceries home by bus???  Well, she was determined to make her American traditions work, to the utter amazement of the Germans!  She had each boy wear a backpack, even the baby!  After purchasing her items, she'd stuff everyone's backpacks, yes, even the baby got to carry something home! A few things had to be carried in bags.  I don't think anyone was school age yet, however, they needed to be rather independent.  As the bus pulls to a stop where you want to get off, you need to be quick getting off because others are coming on and the bus is ready to move on.  Therefore, like a defensive tackle, she was ready!  When her stop came, she quickly took over the door, tossed out bags, then shooed children out and finally herself with the baby on her back (remember the baby has a backpack too!) In the meantime, those wanting to get on the bus stand clear of the flying objects....

I have loved praying for this family and learning about customs in other countries.  A few years ago, my son needed to do a prayer project and write a letter to a misisonary.  I thought he'd lilke to use this family for his project, since they had children, and the oldest boy shares the same name as him. 

Well, yesterday as I opened their prayer letter, I wondered what all the envelope contained.  It was rather bumpy.  I pulled out the creative newsletter which we all enjoyed last night.  I pulled out a new picture of their growing family (six children now) to put on our fridge.  And I pulled out this... 

Isn't this too cool?!  It smells wonderful...orange and cinnamon!  I'm looking forward to enjoying some German tea, while I ponder how I could bless them back?  Any ideas?     

Every Christmas, my Tapestry of Grace yahoo group does a Secret Sister ornament exchange.  This is so much fun and meaningful.  This gives us an opportunity to secretly pray for a sister in Christ, and then reveal ourselves when we mail our ornaments!  In October, we submit our applications with information about ourselves and prayer requests.  We are assigned at the beginning of November and then we have a month to pray and shop and learn about our secret sister!  Each year I have been blessed as all the other ladies are.  In the meantime we have lots of fun posting hints!  This year I got to pray and bless a lady who lives in Florida who lives very close to my SIL!  That was fun!  Meanwhile, I've been putting together hints on who my SS could possibly be!  I didn't keep a master list, but there was one lady in particular who gave clues which matched me, unlike the other hints flying around.  This afternoon I received my box!!!  Yes, I had guessed correctly!  Did someone call me...tenacious???? =) 

Delightedly I opened it and read her sweet, sweet words in the card.   I was in tears. 

Then I pulled out a chocolate ball, like an orange.  Do you know those candies?  I can't show a picture of that because my children have already eaten part of it! =) 

Then I slowly opened a square box and unwrapped and unwrapped and unwrapped and unwrapped this...

Doesn't this fit my blog well?  DH said I should incorporate a picture of it into my blog design, so I will be working on that! =)  She had said in my note that she had been a secret reader of my blog.  =)  This is equisite and could have easily made my blog of my favorite things the other day!!!!  I also love mosaics out of china on top of items like this.  I love, love, love this!!!!  

Then I opened a flat box, she had said it was to thank us for our years in the Air Force.  I was flabbergasted as I unwrapped the box.  It is the 2007 White House Ornament! 

We have talked about starting a collection of these for sometime. We love to watch The White House Christmas every year on hgtv, where they always show the latest ornament.  In fact, the kids were recently asking when this year's show will be on....Sun night!  My son, who wants to be president gets caught up in the decorating of the White House and tells how he would decorate.  I always tell him that his wife will do the decorating and he will be running the country.  Then he tells us that if his plans come true, we're all invited to "his house".  lol 

This ornament commemorates the first presidential White House wedding. In fact, this is the only wedding in the White House of a president...Grover Cleveland!  His bride's dress and veil had orange blossoms...which is the silver filigree part of the ornament frame...and my children had orange candy!  What a connection!  My dd, who thinks fruit is the best food in the world and loves strawberries, always asks me what my favorite fruit is.  I enjoy many fruits, but I have a way of always choosing orange flavor!  I can't imagine what real orange blossoms are like!  I could have posted a picture of this in my favorite things as well!  I'm looking forward to reading this booklet more thoroughly!  =)

Thank you SS for praying for me and blessing me with these sweet gifts!  The neat thing is that now I know who she is, I can pray for her!  =) 

Perhaps my favorite tradition entails the Advent Candles.  I have designed my own arrangement of advent candles.  The ones that are normally available for purchase are too thin.  I like nice thick ones so that I can continue burning them each night, as we sit to enjoy a Christmas movie or read a good book or sing carols.  Years ago when my children were very young, I found Christ in Christmas:  A Family Advent Celebration at a yard sale.  Every Sunday night during Advent, we read a selection by either James C. Dobson, Chuck Swindoll, James Montgomery Boice, or RC Sproul.  In addition, there is Scripture, carols, activities and discussion questions that are simple enough for the youngest member of the family to answer.  Last night we started with Dr. Dobson's essay on traditions and afterwards we discussed our favorites.  I enjoy this, because in this busy season, there is simply no time to do it all.  This way I get a good feel for what's important for each member of the family and try to be sure to fit those traditions in.  Also, with the children growing up, and dh and I growing older, I know there will be change. 

I usually wait for a 50% sale at Hobby Lobby, and get their name brand Christmas candles.  I get my two favorite scents, I think vanilla and I forget what the mulberry one smells like.  They are a good bargain.  Then I usually fill in the space with some sort of filler, which we keep an eye on to prevent a fire.  Usually I use greenery.  But last year I bought a couple of these bags of tiny red balls at Hobby Lobby extremely cheap.  I only needed one bag, so this year I am using the last one.  I don't plan to buy these again though.  They are actually styrofoam balls painted red.  If we are having a warm spell, we turn on the ceiling fan which blows the little balls out of the dish.  Or, like tonight, I forget to use the candle snuffer and blow out the candles and get this....

which is worse than 52 pick up!         

Interestingly, the answers have so far been the same from year to year.  12yos favorite tradition is doing the Happy Birthday Jesus fruitcake. Wait, don't leave!  It is really easy to make and delicious! It's not like most fruitcakes! My MIL has me send her some every Christmas!!!  It's a recipe I got from my mom.  My parents and brother don't enjoy much variety, lol, but they have to have this fruitcake every year, as do we.  DH has never liked fruitcake before, but this one is growing on him!  ;) 

14yod favorite tradition is driving around to look at Christmas lights.  I think she was purely delighted Sat when she got to help dh put up outdoor lights at our house for the first time in years.  In past years , dh has either been out of the country,  busy going to college, or something!  Of course, dh expects me to come up with the master plan for the lighting show.  I'm a little too exhausted thinking about the inside of the house and school to think of the outside lights!  Saturday while I did Christmas shopping, he perservered with the lighting plan without me and it looks great! 

We'll drive through some neighborhoods in a few weeks.  Before our children were born, there was one neighborhood where the homeowners hired professionals to design their light shows.  This was the mother of all light shows to be seen!  Traffic backed up considerably, to the point they are no longer allowed to get this fancy.  Nevertheless, this neighborhood still has some good light shows, albeit on a smaller scale.  Last year one of the houses had an interactive.  I got out of the van and rang the bell.  I forget what happened then.  Maybe that was it!  

Then there is another neighborhood where every house on the street is lit up to the max!  It is beautifully bright.  We always laugh, that if someone new moves  onto the street, little do they realize the expectations that will be upon them come December!

One of my favorite streets is near our church.  This is an older neighborhood with large yards and giant live oak trees gracing the road.  The branches sweep over the road and the trees on each side of the street seem to touch at the tips of the branches.  All along the road, are angels lit up underneath the branches, guiding us as if we were driving to the manger...

Yet, despite all the driving all over town, we think the best neighborhood would be our own.  Even our "crazy" friends who did the 12 Days of Christmas were pleasantly surprised as they drove to our house every night, at the great light shows they saw.  Not always huge or elegant, many participate.  Houses around here are consistently colorful and bright, full of hope and good cheer.  

DH's favorite tradition is music.  He leads our music in the evenings.  When we were in Fredericksburg a few weeks ago in the Christmas store, there was a man playing Christmas carols on the guitar.  DH had to buy his CD and we listened to the beautiful music on the way home.  We have a few hopes for incorporating music into our celebrations...I'll blog as those happen.  

My favorite tradition, is this advent book.  For each evening, Monday through Saturday, there are Scripture readings. Tonight we started in Genesis, reading about the Creation, God's original plan. Then that will build to the fall in the garden and God's covenant of a Messiah.  Then from there we'll read verses prophesying about the Messiah.  By the week of Christmas, we'll read about Elizabeth and Zechariah, Mary and Joseph, the journey to Bethlehem, the birth of Jesus, the announcement of the angels, and the adoration of the shepherds.  If it's a long Chrismas week, we'll even read about His presentation at the temple

Reading these verses on a nightly basis reminds me of the Reason for the Season.  It prepares my heart for the essence of the holiday, to worship God's gift to us.  It is very peaceful reading the Scriptures, sitting cozily with my family, in a dark room, softly lit with the Christmas tree and the advent candles.