Christmas Quotes

I love books.  

Scratch that, I love words.  

Any words that edify, jump off the page into my heart, that make me think hard or change my perspective.  

At Christmas I love pulling out Christmas books and setting them out on the coffee table.  Kids books for my children, Dikens and Alcott for me.  When I was small my mom did the same and curling up to Amy Grant I would read all the parables and look at the beautiful artistry.  

Last year I found a clearance book designed specifically for coffee tables and knew I had to get it.  Christmas on this holy night is a collection of quotes and Bible verses with gorgeous fonts and colors. 

 

Rather than just setting it out on the table I decided to pull out several of the quotes 

I really liked (and fit!) and put them in frames.  

And viola!  One of my new favorite decorations!  

The quotes are as follows:

• "The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God" C.S. Lewis
• "For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given;  And the government will be upon His shoulder.  And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."  Isaiah 9:6
• "Christmas is the most stunning rescue story of all time" Anonymous
• "One night ... among the wrinkled hills of Bethlehem ... God, who knows no before or after, entered time and space.  God who knows no boundaries, took on the shocking confines of a baby's skin, the ominous restraints of mortality."  Philip Yancey
• "This is the great mystery of Christmas that continues to give us comfort and consolation;  we are not alone on our journey."  Henri Nouwen

Favorite Christmas books for old and young (italicized are particular favorites):

• Christmas Stories by Max Lucado
• Why the Nativity? by David Jeremiah
• Great Joy by Kate DiCamillo
• The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado
• Mystery in the Stable by Lisa Flinn and Barbara Younger
• The Littlest Magi by Chris Auer
• The Pine Tree Parable by Liz Curtis Higgs
• Christmas in the Barn by Margaret Wise Brown
• Santa's Favorite Story by Hisako Aoki and Ivan Gantschev
• The Niht before Christmas (I like the one illustrated by Leonard Weisgard)
• The Nutcracker, by E.T.A. Hoffman, I like the one illustrated by Don Daily and the one illustrated by Vladmir Vagin.  They both name the main character Clara rather than Marie.  As we have a Clara I prefer those!  
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
• The Quiet Little Woman; A Christmas Story by Louisa May Alcott
• A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
• The Cricket on the Hearth by Charles Dickens
• The Chimes by Charles Dickens

What are some of your favorite Christmas Books?

May you have a blessed Christmas season surrounded by reminders of 

His sacrifice and blessed companionship.  - R

Try it maybe {Monday}

Laundry.

Hate it or love it, you still have to do it.

How about this idea?

Rather than giving your kids a laundry basket that catches most of the dirty (and sometimes the clean clothes they don't want to put away - can I get an amen?) and hauling it down once a week ...

And then sorting it ....

{Maybe give each kid two baskets.}

One for lights and one for darks.  On a day you feel like getting a little laundry done have the kids each bring their whites down, or just their darks.  It takes a while for them to get it all correct during their pre-sort but it's worth it and teaches a skill along the way.

Here's some info on laundry in case you're looking for any basic tips.  I always forget about the empty pockets part.

pssssttt .... as an FYI - 

Nintendo DS games can survive a wash and dry. 

 Tootsie rolls and a deck of cards cannot.  

Protection

Confession:  I ride the Mommy teeter totter.  

Teeter:  On one side, there is the almost irresistible instinct to shield my children from every harm that might befall them, to go before them and prepare the way.  

Totter:  The knowledge that they must themselves be prepared to enter the world and able to handle the blows that will undoubtedly come their ways.  

At a playdate my little one was 4.  All excited, arms and legs moving, mouth yelling and hollering in free delight.  Running upstairs to meet friends only to encounter a door slammed in his face.  

“We don’t want you.”  

Standing on the landing, play sword dangling, eyes filling with tears he looked down at me.  My emotions formed quicker than my thoughts.  

Instinctively I gathered our things and we left.  

Was I protecting him?  

Or me?  

Each situation I now wonder:  Is this something designed for real-world training, or a time I need to protect them?  Are my responses fueled by a desire to be the best parent for them or am I safeguarding my mommy heart?  Or even worse - my mommy pride?

My child at 7 is beautiful and fun and feisty; willing to play and laugh with anyone.  I watched her playing a rousing game of tag with some classmates while her sibling participated in a soccer game.  Slowly the mood of the group started to shift from play to teasing and then disintegrated into unkind.

The only one unaware of the change was my daughter, and I was painfully mindful that she was becoming the brunt of a new game that would not end well.  I walked to the group and as my presence was felt the kids looked at me sheepishly and scattered.  My little girl glared at me in frustration.  

She wondered why I couldn’t let her enjoy this moment of blessed community.  It has always been the ache of her soul to have a gaggle of friends and giggles and attention.  To her, I was the killjoy with a mission to keep her from friendships. 

Her irritation quickly moved to anger.  “Why do you always ruin everything, mom?”

I knew that to alert her to my protection was to shine a light on the fraudulent camaraderie.  

I smiled small and let her pout.  

Conferences came around and the teacher slowly pointed out that my second grader had not turned in any of her math homework.  We were surprised that there even was any schoolwork at all.  None had made it to the kitchen table during homework rounds.  

The teacher hadn’t alerted us sooner because “I just thought that was the way things went at your house.”

Should I have not allowed the natural consequences?  Should I have been cushioning her in school from the repercussions that she needed to feel?  Or would it just preserve my pride in being the mommy that has it all together?  

Maybe I read the entire situation all wrong?  

The tension of the teeter totter shifts quicker than I can anticipate.  They change.  I change.  The world races along at an adult pace willing the kids to grow quickly.  

“Catch up,” it seems to call!

I grasp and balance and try to offset the uncertainty.  Sometimes it works, sometimes I tumble into the sandbox.  Always I find peace when speaking truth.  

Dusting myself off after a fall:  “He knows the plans He has for them, plans for a hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Shifting to regain balance:  “I give thanks to you, Jesus, for they are fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:14)

Fearful that God’s plans will overwhelm them:  “He can make a mountain into a highway” (Isaiah 49:11)

It’s in the realization that I serve Him, 

not the sweet children I have (whose hearts are so tender), 

not my husband (who I long to please and honor), 

not myself (and the pride that rears its head).  

Jesus is the same yesterday and today and tomorrow.  He never teeters or shifts or reacts from rash emotion or pride.  He gives me eyes to see and grace when I fail.  And He is the one who will be glorified.  

Long absence

Where I've been ...

Caring Bridge

Video that I put together chronicling the journey

Clip of Clara reading a story.

And the journey continues ....

- Rachel

Kimono PJ's

I finished a cute little birthday present for our 1 year old neighbor. She had a lady-bug party, so I made her a stuffed lady-bug and kimono style pajamas. Turned out pretty cute.

Patterns for both the outfit and toy I got from Amy Butler's book, Little Stitches for Little Ones. The fabric is also Amy Butler, midwest modern, ivory floating buds.

Hopefully my neighbor will send a photo of her wearing it. :) She's way cuter than the project, anyway.

Finished!

I finished two major projects:

1. The blankets for the soldiers. Whew. So glad to be done, so glad to be a part of it. I felt so humbled as I prayed while sewing for those who sacrifice so much.

Abbie kept asking if I was done with the blankets for the knights. So sweet. I kept telling her that they were soldiers, not knights. She finally announced "Well, they are knights to me, mom." Amen, sweetie. Amen.

2. The Thanksgiving countdown! I did actually finish it in time for us to do it a few times before Thanksgiving. It will certainly have more use in the future.

Between these two projects, I am now an official applique master. Seriously.

Now for the rest of my projects ... :)

Flu Care Package

With so many people out with the flu I came up with a fun little care package to drop with friends who have little ones!

The basket that this went to had three kids so I went into the dollar bin at Target and made each of the kids "peace pails" with a few novelty toys.

There were a few "Smith-flix" for the family to borrow and shake things up a bit. 3 for the kids, 2 for mom.

Another fun idea is to sew button holes into wash cloths and pair it with some of those hooks that won't damage the wall. It's great for kids to use as hand towels after they wash their hands - keeps the germs at bay (or at least a little more isolated!).

The water bottles and soap were part of a fun game for the kids.

1. Drink water.

2. Cut bottles off at bottom half

3. Cut washcloth in thirds, and attach to the bottles with rubber bands.

4. In tupperware bowl, put a few tablespoons of dish soap with water. Dip bottles into soap and then let the kids blow bubbles through the mouth of the bottle.

I put everything together in a big laundry plastic bin, with tags on each small gift bag.

Add a prayer, a hug, and a note of encouragement and it's set to go!