A Jolly-Good Time...

A great visit to see Santa today. No tears. No screams of terror. No refusals to see Santa. Brody was doing great until Santa asked him what he wanted for Christmas- his body language says it all!!!!

Ho Ho Ho!!!!!

Christmas Card Outtakes 2010

It seems like I just put this blog up for 2009, but it's true... another year has passed by. As you may know, this is my favorite blog of the year. This year wasn't as eventful as past Christmas card outtakes, but it had its own shining moments.

Our idea was to stack the boys up. Jadin and Brody waited perfectly while Jeremy prepared to place Dallas on the top of the stack. But, Brody's ticklish nature got the best of him and Dallas was not happy about being on top of a giggling Brody.

So, when your out shopping for that perfect gift, we hope that our outtakes will remind you that you can't please everyone!!!

Merry Christmas to ALL!

Time to Take Back Time...

There are not many places you can go these days where you won't know what time it is. The time is ticking away on wall clocks, alarm clocks, cell phones, computers and wrist watches. And despite the attempts of anti-aging products, it's clear that time is not something you will escape. A quote from one of my favorite movies, Steel Magnolia's, says it best, "Honey, time marches on and eventually you realize it is marchin' across your face."

I was thinking about how much time we are given. No one knows the exact number of days we will be on this earth, but if I were to estimate how many days I had left, would it change how I live? So, let's say I live to 100- a lofty guess but I will think positive. If I were to live to 100 from the age I am now, I have approximately 26,000 days left. Does that sound like a lot? Knowing that I have already lived roughly 10,000 days, 26,000 does not sound like a lot to me. And what if it were less? A lot less.

I have decided that I don't want to squander the days I have left. Whether it's 26,000 or only a few. How do we waste time? Well, each of us could probably answer that individually but I am sure we all could resonate with the next few time-wasters.

I have wasted days being mad at someone. I have wasted days feeling sorry for myself. I have wasted days feeling insecure. I have wasted days being critical. And I have wasted days in regret. In fact, I think that looking back is one of the main ways we all waste time. Sure... there are lessons to be learned from looking back- thus the statement 'Hindsight is 20/20.' The past usually gives us a clear picture of what we need to do better. And if it's a clear picture, then take a peak, take note and get your eyes back on what lies ahead.

How many days have I wasted wishing I would have said something I did not say or did not say something I said? How many days have I squandered wishing I would have taken a risk that I didn't or waited a bit longer before I took a leap. Too many to mention. Paul says in Philippians 3, "But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which Christ has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." This is what I want. I do not want to waste one more day pumping my time into things that bear no fruit. I want to press on.

So, how do I put this into action? Well, I was given the chance last night. A situation popped up and I immediately felt mad. Rather than stewing over it all night (which I have done an embarrassing amount of times) I dealt with it, gave it to God and moved on. You do all you can do and then let God do what you can't. And instead of losing sleep because I was stewing all night, I enjoyed my evening and slept well. I couldn't help the fact that I got mad, but I could make a decision as to how long I was going to stay that way.

No more wasting time- it's far to precious.

The Best Play-Dough EVER!!!

By popular demand... here is my recipe for play-dough. I made the batch we have now 2 years ago and it is still like new and smells good. Enjoy! Below is Blue Raspberry...

Play Dough Recipe

2 cups flour
1/2 cup salt
2 cups water
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 cup cream of tartar
1 pkg unsweetened powdered Kool-Aid (gives color and smell)

Mix all ingredients in a sauce pan. Cook and stir over low/medium heat until play dough is completely formed and no longer sticky. Allow to cool slightly before storing in an air tight container.

Back from the Dead...

After receiving a new phone from our cellular provider, we had an unfortunate event... It went through a complete wash cycle!!! In fact, it went through the dryer too. But only for a few minutes. The knocking was a sure sign something had gone wrong. I'll take the blame... since I do the laundry... and the person that left it in HIS jeans will remain nameless.

Anyway, it's been dead for over a month. We took it to our provider and begged for them to give us something... but we got nothing. We had to go back to our old phone which is... hmmm... how shall I say....HIDEOUS! But, the great friends in our small group suggested we put it in a bowl of rice to absorb the moisture... thus, the picture. After 24 hours, I said a prayer and plugged it in. Low and behold.... we have a working phone. It's a miracle!!!

Thanks to all our great friends for the great advice!!!

Perserverance

I remember everything about this moment in history. I stayed up with my dad to watch the United States win the Gymnastics Gold Medal after Kerri Strug's final vault. The difference between the gold and silver medal would be determined by a teenage girl. Talk about pressure!

We sat on the edge of our seats as Kerri approached her first vault. Because this was her best event, it was a shock to everyone when she botched her landing. And she was hurt. She limped back to execute her 2nd and final vault. This is the moment she left such an imprint on my life and on the lives on many others. She could have quit right then and no one would have blamed her. But her dream of winning a gold medal was so strong that she decided to persevere through her pain and proceed.

I haven't seen this clip since the night it happen 14 years ago, but I have played it out in my head many times when I felt like giving up. Watching it again brings tears to my eyes... reminding me that my dreams deserve my determination. So do yours...

Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:4

Fingerprints

Who hasn't taken the opportunity to write in some frosty glass? Or make a hand print? It's like a right of passage in the cooler months of the year. And when the frost goes away, the print does too. Or so we think. The next time the glass fogs up, the print will reappear- it's like magic to a kid.

When my brother was young, he showed a talent in anything mechanical. By the age of 13, a local small engine shop hired him to fix lawn mowers and along with that talent came greasy hands. We always knew where Brad had been by the fingerprints he left behind. And although this was a minor nuisance to the one who had to clean up the greasy prints... the prints followed him to a career in mechanical engineering.

Now that I have boys, I often clean up sticky hand prints from food, dirt and crafts. But, that's what we do... We use our sense of touch on millions of items each day. And everywhere we go, we leave our fingerprints- visible or not. Webster's Dictionary defines fingerprint as something that identifies: as a trait, trace or characteristic of revealing origin. Fingerprints reveal who you are.

Every time you touch your children, you are leaving characteristics of you all over them. What type of fingerprints will you leave behind? Every time you interact with the people at work, traces of you fill the room. What will you write on their frosty windows? And whenever you interact with the world, your traits stick to everything you touch. What type of imprint will you leave on the world?

Ephesians 4 urges us to live a life worthy of the calling we have received. We will one day be held accountable for the millions of fingerprints we are responsible for. I challenge you to ponder the prints that identify you each day.