Christmas is coming...

And the children are still delighted to play in cardboard boxes! This was the one that held the Christmas wreath. There was a top and bottom, so both boys played with them all day long.


We baked cookies with Aunt Melanie last Saturday and had a delightful time.



Nathan napped with his snowman yesterday while I listened to The Messiah and addressed Christmas cards. I LOVE The Messiah. The music has been a soul solace for me in the past few years. I still see my babies whenever I see the boys asleep. This was such a peaceful moment for me.


Today we visited my Grandma, and we shared candy canes with the other residents on her floor. That was a sweet time for all of us.


And Nathan and I had a flashlight conversation this morning. I was drinking coffee and reading my Bible by Christmas-tree-light, and he was with me. We have an early morning routine these days (and it sure beats the crazy midnight screaming we had before).

Anyway, he was holding his flashlight so I could read. It started to flicker.

He said to me, very calmly, "Mama, I'll just have to take my flashlight to Daddy, because he's the one who knows best about how to stop this flickering and make it shine strong again." What faith in his Daddy.

And isn't the same true for us, when our light begins to flicker? HE can restore it.

Good morning, Lord

I found Mark standing at his window with the blinds pushed to the side this morning.

He said, "I see pink, Mommy!"

He was watching the sunrise.

The next words out of his mouth were, "I have stinky diaper, Mommy," but the reminder of God's new mercy captured my attention far more than the stench in the room.

The next blessing was a Christmas wreath waiting on our doorstep .

Greg discovered it on his way out.

The boys squealed with delight as I hung it by the door.

Now they are playing with the packaging.

Thank you, Abba.

Christmas Flashlights

This is a post about choosing our Christmas tree and the boys playing in the leaves while I decorated in the house last weekend...but before I get into all of that, I have to share a story about two flashlights.

It was a dreary Monday-after-Thanksgiving. I had PMS, a cold, a sore throat and almost no voice left. Mark hadn't had a nap since before Thanksgiving. Nathan made an incessant "buzzing" sound all morning, and Mark came up with a dozen reasons why he couldn't do each and everything I asked him to do ("My nose is runny again!" "My tummy hurts again!" "I need my blue blanket!").

There was whining and much grumpiness. There was time spent in our own rooms. There was a grocery store trip squeezed into all of this. There was television time, to try and ensure some quiet moments when I wouldn't have to strain my voice to correct someone.

And then, at the end of that very long day, there was personal pizza night at Mrs. Staci's house. Let me just say that those were THE BEST little Pillsbury Grand biscuit pizzas I have ever eaten. Nathan even told everyone they were better than any pizza I make at home!

The after-dinner entertainment was what really lifted my spirits. Mr. Jason has a particular love for flashlights of all shapes and sizes. The children had already spent most of the evening running around the house shining them in all the dark corners and laughing hysterically as they went. Well, Mr. Jason took the kids outside after supper (with their flashlights) to look at Christmas lights.

The giggles and running around and overall happiness was contagious. Even in my sore-throat-worn-out state, I found myself laughing and loving every minute. Something about it took me back to my own childhood, when we'd play with the Mullis children. It was special like that.

Turns out, our friends gave us the flashlights to take home - and keep, much to the boys' delight! They have been playing with them non-stop - together - and the best part about it is, they don't fight while they're checking out the dark places in our house.

When I opened my Advent devotion book this morning to read about John the Baptist, who bore witness to the light of Jesus Christ, I knew those little flashlights have a deeper meaning for me this Christmas. They are a constant reminder of Christ shining in all my dark places. I pray the boys one day bow down and worship the Light of the World.

And now for the pictures from the tree farm and leaf pile...