Goodbye, 2011.

Okay, so one of my favorite things about this time of year is reading all of the "Best of. . ." and "Worst of. . ." columns.  It doesn't even matter if I'm not interested in the topic at all, if those words are mentioned, I feel compelled to read.  Best professional wrestler of the year?  Tell me more!!  Worst sock commercial?  Give it to me!

And so you would think that I could come up with my own "Best of" list.  So, here is my feeble attempt to give you some highlights. 

2011  Lessons Learned:

Make the most of every opportunity.  It's better to look back and say, 

"At least I tried," than, "I wish I had done something."

Gardens are a beautiful thing.

We can make a difference in our every day lives.  

Harry Potter is a really good book series.  I love Mrs. Weasley the most.

It is a beautiful thing to see your child make their first friend all on their own.

If you set your mind on something (say, running a long distance), you can do it.  Don't give up.

Being the first one to say "I'm sorry" can work wonders.

Making memories is hard work, but well worth it.

Phineas and Ferb is a pretty funny show. 

Being a mother means dealing with poop on a daily basis.  

Children (big and small) are watching and listening to you, whether they let you know or not.

Think globally, and live accordingly.

God wants us to take care of the poor, the lonely, the hurt, and the unlovable. 

If we don't seem different to everyone around us because of our faith, something is wrong.

In all things, give thanks.

What did you learn this year?

Christmas Thoughts

It's almost Christmas, and my mind is kind of mushy.  I blame it on the fudge and cookies.

The longer I am a mom, the more Christmas changes for me.

When I was a kid, it was all about the presents, the food, the fun.

When I was a single adult, it was all about reuniting with old friends when I would come back home for Christmas.

When I was a newlywed, it was all about doing everything for the "first" time (first tree together, first stockings, etc.)

None of those things are wrong.  And don't get me wrong, I still love food, family, fun, and presents.  But now I see Christmas through a mother's eyes.  I think more about Mary and how she must have been so afraid and so confused and so blessed all at once, just how new mothers feel.  I think about what advent means:  waiting.  The whole world was waiting for a savior, but they had no idea how He was going to arrive. I think about how much we have messed up Christmas.  How it has become so full of activities and presents that we don't sit still and wait.  Wait for Jesus to show up.  And I'm just as guilty as everyone else.

When I sit and really wait, really wait, for Jesus, I am filled with awe that the God gave Him to us.  That He let His Son be born in a barn to teenagers.  To be misunderstood His whole life and then crucified, all because of us.

Do you feel it?  God's love?  His love that encompasses everything and is so much bigger than a date on a calendar?  I pray that we all do.

These are the lyrics to John Mark McMillan's song "Murdered Son".  May we all be reminded this Christmas of why we are here and who deserves the glory.

You set us up above all the stars

You set us on a high place by where you are

While we were dead you made us your friends

And scattered our debt upon the wind

Glory to One

God’s murdered son

Who paid for my resurrection

Once from the dust, once from the grave

Daughters and sons from the ashes you’ve raised

And hidden our faults even from your own face

And scattered our debt upon the waves

Glory to one

God’s murdered son

Who paid for my resurrection

Glory to One

God’s murdered son

Who paid for my resurrection

Glory to the one who

Who overcame in death

Glory to the one 

Who paid for my offenses

Glory to the one

Once from the dust

Once from the grave

Daughters and sons

From the ashes you’ve raised

And hidden our faults

Even from your own face

And scattered our debt upon the waves

And scattered our debt upon the waves

So thankful. . .even on Friday!

The busy-ness of the Christmas season is in full swing.  This week we've gone to an orchestra concert, cheered on some swimmers at a swim meet, helped sort gifts at Urban Outreach, made some goodies, finished Christmas presents, and sent out cards.  Oh, and also that whole raising 2 children/loving my husband thing.

But we are never too busy to give thanks.  So, this week I am thankful for. . .

431.  receiving Christmas cards in the mail.  Especially the ones with photos and letters!!  (Have I mentioned how much I love getting mail?  Because I do.  A lot.)

432.  lunch with my mom and sister, which is a rare treat.

433.  seeing my high school students step up and buy gifts for a needy family.

434.  healthy babies born to friends and loved ones.

435.  getting to speak at our friend Gordon's ordination.  So honored to talk about this wonderful guy.

436.  making plans to see my dearest friend in the whole wide world.

437.  Christmas stations on Pandora.

438.  soup on rainy days.

439.  our sweet old dog.  Tee Dog is getting up there, but she is still a sweet old dog (even if she does make me crazy sometimes).

440. a washer and a dryer, especially during potty training!

What are you thankful for?

What are you thankful for?

Christmas Traditions

Most people have Christmas traditions.  Some are started on purpose, some just kind of create themselves.  I'd love to read about everyone else's Christmas traditions, so here are some of ours:

*We do the Jesse Tree on the days leading up to Christmas.
*On Christmas Eve, we go to our church's Christmas Eve service, and then we visit We Care Park.  For those of you who have not been there, it is a group of houses on the north end of Kokomo who decorate like crazy and create a little Christmas park that you can drive through or walk through.  Plus there is a little garage where they serve hot chocolate and cookies.  All of the proceeds go to a local charity, and it's entertaining on many levels (lots of people watching, too), so we try to never miss it.
*Watching Christmas movies.  Our favorites:  Elf, Christmas Vacation, The Grinch (old version), and A Christmas Story.  Of course I love Smokey Mountain Christmas, starring Dolly Parton, but David doesn't share my love of all things Dolly.  Go figure.
*Each year we buy a Christmas ornament that has a picture frame in it.  That way, every time we decorate the tree we can relive each year through the photos (insert little emotional sigh for Christmases gone by).
*We drive all over tarnation to see other Christmas lights.  Who doesn't love the ones synced to music??  Come on!
*Eating my dad's rocky road fudge.  And lots of other snacks/cookies/treats/etc.
*Adopting a family to help.
*Wittenbach Christmas (a subject for a whole other post)
*Reading the Christmas story on Christmas morning.

What are your traditions??

Faith

²⁴ By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. ²⁵ He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. ²⁶ He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. ²⁷ By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. ²⁸ By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.


David and I finished reading Hebrews 11 yesterday (you can read my thoughts on the first half of Hebrews 11 here).  We talked about Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Joshua.  And we talked about Moses.  I know that I am guilty of just glancing over verses in the Bible if I've "heard it before", but this time we really looked at what Moses was being given a shout out for in this Faith Hall of Fame chapter.  Moses could have taken the easy road and lived, literally, like a Pharoah.  He could have had any material thing he wanted.  He could have been a head honcho and slave driver.  


But he didn't.  He chose to be on God's side, because "he was looking ahead to his reward."


Hebrews was written to Jews-turned-Believers who were being tempted to go back to their old ways.

So, what a perfect example to give to these people!  Moses (the key Jewish figure) who was in the same position they were in:  keep going down the difficult road or head back.  Moses chose to stay with God's people!  What an encouragement that must have been to them.

Another thing that really hit me was the last few verses of the chapter.


Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. ³⁷ They were put to death by stoning;^[e] they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 


This is a description of faithful believers.  And I wonder why the church today isn't very effective.  Am I putting myself out there?  Am I living proof that God is alive and active, even if it means harsh punishment?  Sometimes I don't even speak up if I'm afraid someone will make fun of me.

And, the icing on the cake is this:

the world was not worthy of them.


Oh, that that could be said of each of us!  We look to the world for affirmation, support, guidance, everything.  But what if our actions were so far out of this world that the world wasn't even worthy of it?  That's a powerful challenge right there.


Lastly, I have to mention Rahab. Why do they have to always mention the fact that she was a prostitute?  Because she was an example of someone. . .

whose weakness was turned to strength; (verse 34).


I can look at each person in this chapter and see the work of God in their lives, turning their weakness into a strength, whether is was Moses' fear of public speaking or Abraham's lack of children.  But what sticks out the most is Rahab.  I had never thought about the fact that if Rahab had not been in that exact spot in her life she would not have been used by God in such a powerful way.  There is no way the spies would have knocked on a door of a family where people where coming and going openly.  Because of Rahab's "status" in life, she was able to hide the spies and eventually save her family.  Did God want her to be a prostitute?  Of course not.  But He definitely used her weakness and turned it to strength.


So I am challenged today to think about my weaknesses and ask God to turn them to strengths.  To seek out ways to live faithfully for Him.  To stand out as one whom the world is not worthy of.

Mean Mom

Well, my parenthood level reached a new status yesterday, when Noel declared that I was mean.

Why?

Because after he tried to eat a candy cane, he was covered in stickiness and goo, and I (gasp) made him wash his face and hands with soap and water.

I know, I know, call social services.

I always thought I would be able to laugh it off when my children called me mean, but to be honest it really stung.  It hurts that sometimes my children look at me and think that I'm "the mean one".  I know it's not true, but sometimes I feel like my husband gets to be the fun dad who shows up at the end of the day and gets to play with them while I've spent the whole day getting on them about what they can't do.  What they shouldn't do.  What they are doing wrong.

And I know that a 5 year-old's perspective isn't always the best one to listen to.

But I also am reminded of what my attitude is with my children.  Do I need to correct them and guide them to become responsible, respectful adults?  Absolutely.  Do I need to be grumpy about it.  Absolutely not.

And so I walk the tightrope today, trying to balance being a good mother, but also one who can laugh at herself and be joyful in the midst of chaos.

Disclaimer

I promised a picture of our Griswold Family Christmas Tree:

I never promised that everyone in the picture would
a)be wearing pants.
b)be smiling.
c)have their hair brushed.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Thursday Thank You's

This week I am thankful for. . .

421. siblings who play together (that is not always the case with my two).  They actually want to have a "sleepover" in Noel's room this weekend.  Am I crazy if I say yes?

422.  our washing machine and dryer.

423.  my mom taking the kids and me to see The Muppets.  So fun to share a childhood favorite with my      children.

424. chocolate fudge.  (Although my scale is not so thankful!)

425. fun Christmas activities.  Concerts, lights, old Christmas movies, decorating, wrapping, singing.

426.  a turn for the better for a dear friend's husband.

427.  the sunshine we had yesterday!!  This cloudy weather gets me down.

428.  two special friends who are there when I need them.

429.  clementines.  Seriously, aren't they the best fruit?

430.  my Bridges students.  Sometimes they frustrate and annoy me, but they have also challenged and convicted me, so it is worth it all.

What are you thankful for?

What does faith look like?

Over the past few months, David and I have been going through the book of Hebrews together.  And this week we started reading chapter 11.  We had so much to talk about that we had to stop halfway through.  I know that I've read this passage at least a dozen times, but every time I read it something else jumps out.

This time, as we were going through the different people mentioned in Hebrews 11 "Hall of Fame of Faith", we looked at how each person's faith can be relevant to us in this day and age.  (P.S.  When I say, "this day and age" I feel like an old person).  So far, this is what we have come up with:

Abel:  He gave an offering to God.  But not just any offering--his finest.  His heart was right in the sacrifice.
When I give/serve/offer what are my motives?  God, give me a clean heart and a desire to serve You above all.


Enoch:  He walked so closely with God that he was known as "one who pleased God".  He didn't even experience death;  God just took him straight to Heaven.
Is my relationship with God so intimate that I know what pleases Him?  Father, pull me closer to You, and let everything else fall into place.


Noah:  He followed God's commands, even when everyone thought he was crazy.  Even Noah didn't understand what was going to happen, but he obeyed.
When following God makes me stand out, am I willing to trust and obey?  Lord, help me to care more about pleasing you than anyone else.

And then there's Abraham:  He left everything (okay, he took his wife and some other stuff) and left all of the comforts of home to follow God's leading.  Where was he going?  No idea.  How long would the travel be?  Unsure.  Did that stop Abraham?  Not in the slightest.  I like to think of Abraham and Sarah as the first missionaries.  And then, as if that wasn't enough, God asked Abraham to sacrifice his own son.  The son he had been waiting 100 years for.  The son whom God said would be a blessing to many nations.  Isaac.  And Abraham obeyed.  He had such faith, he knew God would work out a plan even better than one he could comprehend.
When obedience involves sacrifice, how do I react?  Will I go where God leads, whatever the cost?  Jesus, I want to have faith like these people (and so many others).  Let my life reflect that desire in my day to day actions.

Oh, yeah, we are the Griswolds

One thing I love about Christmas is creating traditions with our little family.  And one of those traditions is getting a Christmas tree.  David and I have always had a real tree for Christmas, but we used to get our tree at Lowe's. But once we had Noel, we decided to "do it right" and go out and cut down our very own Christmas tree.  I wish I had pictures of us going out to pick our Christmas trees over the years, but this was the first year I actually remembered my camera, so just be impressed with that.

On Saturday we headed out to a Cottrells, which is a tree farm about 30 minutes from here.  You ride on a hayride out to the farm, so that was a highlight for the kids.  Then we marched around looking for the perfect tree.

Not sure why I look a little drunk in this picture.  Maybe I was avoiding mud.  Maybe I'm just that clumsy.

Success!!  If you didn't notice, the kids are flexing to show you how excited they are about their new tree!

Hayride back to the parking lot.

What we didn't get captured in pictures:
*Noel totally hitchhiking a ride on a golf cart out by the trees.
*The kids being totally fascinated with the tree shaker (it gets rid of all of the dead needles).
*Eating out at the only restaurant in the town where the tree farm was.  I'm pretty sure the decor had not changed since it opened.  Now, it's vintage, right?

And of course I don't have a picture of the tree fully decorated, right?  Because that would ruin the excitement of coming back tomorrow!!

In other news. . .

Is my son the cutest little pilgrim you ever did see?

In more news than other news. . .

Dressing up is the new favorite pastime around here.  I wish you could see Noel's entire body, because that Care Bear costume comes to his knees.  It's pretty comical.

What are your family traditions?

Kickin' it in Heaven

About a year and a half ago we started visiting with residents at a local nursing home.  We sing a few hymns with them, eat some treats, play some games, and visit.  And since we've started going we've met some really neat people.  And one of those people is Levi.

Every time we would see Levi and ask how he was, Levi would say, "I'm still kickin. . .not very high, but I'm still kickin."

And every time we would say goodbye, Levi would say, "If I'm still here, I'll see you next time."

This weekend, Levi passed away.  And while I am sad, I am joyful that Levi is kickin' as high as he wants now in Heaven.  Being 97, he outlived his entire family by decades.  He was a great card player, and he loved to sing.  He loved camping and being outside, and I will miss him.

And so my heart is a little heavy today.  I knew when we started visiting the nursing home that the reality of death was much more present.  But I am thankful for that, because it has reminded me of the importance of living life to the fullest.  I am also reminded that this life is not all there is.  This is just a blink of an eye in comparison to eternity.

So, thank you, Levi.  We will miss you.  Now you can sing as loudly as you want .

Thursday Thank You's

This week I am thankful for. . .

411.  electricity.  Thousands of people in the county we live in lost power due to our first snow.  Believe me, we've had our fair share of power outages.

412. clean water.  Thousands of people die EVERY DAY because they do not access to clean water.

413.  our Jesse Tree.  It's an advent experience that walks you through the Bible, leading up to Christ's birth.  You can read about Jesse Tree here and even download and print out the devotions and ornaments.  Ann Voskamp wrote the devotionals, and if you haven't read anything by Ann, you are missing out.  Her words touch my heart.

414.  opportunities to show God's love.  We've been praying every day for God to show us people we can love, and He has been doing just that.  Sometimes the love looks strange.  Sometimes the love is uncomfortable, but it's always worth it.

415.  playing in the snow with the kids.

416.  reading a newspaper article about a Bridges student.

417.  laughing with the other Wittenbach "in-laws" (those married to Wittenbach children.  We definitely have a bond.

418.  forgiveness.  Extending it and receiving it.

419.  a borrowed work vehicle with a built-in DVD player for our trip to Michigan!

420.  sunshine!  Everything seems better with sunshine.  I'll take sunshine and snow on the ground any day over cloudy and 50.

What are you thankful for?