Merry Christmas!

Just Don't Eat the Yellow Snow...

Merry Christmas Eve! Cookie rolling, baking, dipping and decorating are what we are doing ALL day! Then the Christmas celebrations begin!

Miss Evelynn and Snow

Miss Evelynn was not as excited to be out in the snow as her brother. I couldn't get her off of the porch for the first 15 minutes that we were out there. She was perfectly happy watching. Well, not perfectly.

When I did get her off, all she did was whine...the whole time. She treated the snow like it was an alien, or some disgusting matter. She whined and flapped her arms if some touched her cheek. She whined and tried to brush it off of her gloves. When she walked around, she whined and said "stuck" over and over. Sigh.

Evelynn fell down once and didn't try to get up on her own. No, she whined and yelled "stuck"! I walked over to help her, but not before I snapped a few pictures of the damsel in distress.

Evelynn + Snow = Whining. Well, at least she looks cute while doing it!

Calvin's First Snow Angel!

With the recent snowfall in Columbus, I bundled up my babies and took them outside. Calvin was thrilled to finally be let outside to play in the snow. He had been asking to go out even when there was only an 1/8 inch on the ground.

He isn't usually enthusiastic about trying new things, so up until this point I hadn't suggested trying to make a snow angel to him. But this time I did. After seeing me lay down in the snow, I half expected him to ask to go back inside. I was surprised when I got up and showed him my snow angel. He squealed, ran over to a clear area, laid down and start working his arms. "You gotta use your legs too", I said. He giggled.

In fact, Calvin giggled the whole time. Then he got up to survey his work. He was pleased. So pleased, he insisted on Evelynn making one too. It didn't happen.


My study has been about Nehemiah. Two of the concepts that have had an impact on me are:

God is always faithful to His Word. He blesses faithfulness, and punishes unfaithfulness. If we are in a state of discipline, God is still being faithful. Nehemiah praised God while Israel was in exile by the Persians because God was being faithful to His Word.

The Lord's judgment always starts in His house. If we are of a people who do not follow God, He will not excuse us for fitting in, even when it seems as though He is excusing the rest of the world. If He is unhappy, we will be the first to be disciplined.

Stringing Popcorn

This week is going to be busy getting ready for Christmas. We have wrapping, packing, cookie making, cleaning, and celebrating to do. I am most excited for Calvin. I can't wait to see him experience Christmas. He was still a little too young last year to understand what was going on. But this year he gets it.

He loves doing anything that has to do with Christmas. He loves the lights, decorations, stories, and he has even picked out a favorite song (unfortunately it's Jingle Bells). I am sure his favorite part is going to be Christmas morning though. :)

Busy, But Good Busy.

Earlier this month, I submitted a few of my clips/bows for review in Nie's Homemade Christmas. (If you don't know Stephanie Nielson's story you should read it on her blog, it's truly moving.) Stephanie generously set aside 5 days from her blog to feature the work of crafters and handmade goods people like me. Stephanie mentioned a few times that she wouldn't be able to review and post all the items she received. I sent in my bows/clips thinking that they wouldn't make it on the blog.

As the days drew nearer to the event, I was sure my clips wouldn't be chosen. Stephanie mentioned she has received hundreds of items. My clips didn't make the blog on Monday, so I anxiously waited for Tuesday's post. And to my great surprise/joy/relief, Stephanie had included my items in her review (here)! She even called them "dang cute"!

She put up a link to my Etsy account for any who are interested. Or you can click on my "Mini Etsy" in the sidebar to the right. Tell me what you think if you do view my Etsy account (please, please). I need feedback so I can get the kinks out quicker.

Clip making, picture taking, and Etsy posting have been taking up a lot of my afternoons lately.
I have been having tons of fun though. It is an incredible feeling to make something with my own two hands and have someone else think it is special enough to purchase it. Hopefully, this new set up lasts for a long time.

I am also thinking up new products. Things made from re-purposed materials, jewelry sets, and Buckeye necklaces are just a few of the ideas in the works.

Dreaming of a White Christmas

I am very confident we will be getting a white Christmas this year and I am very excited about it. Christmas in Columbus is usually brown and soggy, but not this year!

The weather man calls for a few snow showers here and there and then snow on Christmas Eve too. And the highs are in "butt-freezing", so there is no chance of it melting either.

(way to ruin the pretty snow pictures mood by using the word "butt", huh?)

Our Weekend...

We took another trip to EnterTRAINment Junction this Saturday to see their Christmas displays. We went there for "the kids" but I had fun trying to find the little Santas they had hidden throughout the displays. I counted 13, but apparently there are 19.

Part of the special Christmas displays was a walk through show of The Christmas Carol. Craig and I really enjoyed it, I don't think the babies knew what was going on. The show was put on by two young men, who would pop in and out of character. They started the show by arguing over who was going to play Scrooge. They settled it by "Rock, Paper, Scissors". The guy who lost played all the other parts. It was pretty entertaining.

Bird's Nest Ornament

Bird's Nest Ornament

It is considered good luck to find a bird's nest in your Christmas tree. (We don't believe in "luck", but it is fun to play along.) We didn't find a nest in our tree this year, so we made our own. My younger sisters made this ornament at a function a few years ago and I have been saving the idea and waiting for the year that I could make one with Calvin. I think it is adorable.



Materials: Clothes pin, acorn cap, three Navy beans, glue, ribbon and scissors (optional)

1. Glue (we used low temp. hot glue) the acorn cap (stem down) to the top of the clip end of the clothes pin.

2. Glue the three Navy beans to the inside of the acorn cap.

3. Tie a bow with the ribbon, and glue it onto the clothes pin wherever you desire.

4. Write your name and date on the back, hold up your ornament and look cute so your mommy can take another picture! ;)

Calvin loved making this ornament. Using the low temp. hot glue was a good choice, in my opinion, because it doesn't burn if the little ones touch it. Calvin was also able to handle the ornament and clip it on the tree as soon as it was assembled.

A word on my Bible studies: I have been continuing to study every day (praises to God). The studies have been about the promises the Lord gave to punish (particularly with exile) Israel for disobeying Him. Israel did fall into grievous sin later in the Old Testament and the Lord fulfilled His promise by allowing them to be taken by numerous other kingdoms, the last and most extensive exile being the Babylonian exile. I have found it interesting that even with His promises to punish them, and after many incidences when that happens, the Lord keeps telling them that if they repent and return to Him, He will not abandon them. It reminds me that God desires us to be close to Him, but our repentance is required for that to happen.

December 2010

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Second Day of Thanksgiving (better late than never)

I am thankful that after Thanksgiving we will begin the season of celebrating the fact that our Lord left His Heavenly home to come down and live among us. And for a purpose that secured everlasting life for His people. Think about that, and I challenge you to listen to the song in the video below and not be overcome with gratitude (and tears! So far I have not been successful).

I am also thankful that my life has been full of babies. Children are a blessing from God. They have taught me so much over the years, and it has been an absolute joy to watch them grow up.
Nothing lifts my spirits like a child. They are the most precious things in the world.

MercyMe - God With Us

David Crowder*Band - O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing

First Day of Thanksgiving

I am going to take this week of Thanksgiving to write about some things for which I am thankful. They will be in no particular order, except for today, I am writing about the two things that are most important to me.

First of all, I am thankful for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Without Him I would be dead in my sin, doomed to alienation from my Creator and everlasting torment in Hell. So much did my Creator love me that while I was a vile sinner, loving the things that directly go against His nature, He sent His Son to pay the penalty for my disobedience and hatred for God. So much did He love me, that Christ took on the punishment that should have been mine, even taking on a punishment that made Him a curse before His Father (by hanging on a tree, Deuteronomy 21:22-23, Galatians 3:13). And now through Christ I have full communion with God, peace, joy, and anticipation of everlasting life in Heaven.

Makes me want to sing the hymn by Charles Wesley that has been on my heart the last couple weeks (I've made Craig listen to the David Crowder Band version multiple times):

O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of His grace!

My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad
The honors of Thy name.

Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease;
’Tis music in the sinner’s ears,
’Tis life, and health, and peace.

He breaks the power of canceled sin,
He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean,
His blood availed for me.

He speaks, and, listening to His voice,
New life the dead receive,
The mournful, broken hearts rejoice,
The humble poor believe.

Hear Him, ye deaf; His praise, ye dumb,
Your loosened tongues employ;
Ye blind, behold your Savior come,
And leap, ye lame, for joy.

In Christ your Head, you then shall know,
Shall feel your sins forgiven;
Anticipate your heaven below,
And own that love is heaven.

Glory to God, and praise and love
Be ever, ever given,
By saints below and saints above,
The church in earth and heaven.

On this glad day the glorious Sun
Of Righteousness arose;
On my benighted soul He shone
And filled it with repose.

Sudden expired the legal strife,
’Twas then I ceased to grieve;
My second, real, living life
I then began to live.

Then with my heart I first believed,
Believed with faith divine,
Power with the Holy Ghost received
To call the Savior mine.

I felt my Lord’s atoning blood
Close to my soul applied;
Me, me He loved, the Son of God,
For me, for me He died!

I found and owned His promise true,
Ascertained of my part,
My pardon passed in heaven I knew
When written on my heart.

Look unto Him, ye nations, own
Your God, ye fallen race;
Look, and be saved through faith alone,
Be justified by grace.

See all your sins on Jesus laid:
The Lamb of God was slain,
His soul was once an offering made
For every soul of man.

Awake from guilty nature’s sleep,
And Christ shall give you light,
Cast all your sins into the deep,
And wash the Æthiop white.

Harlots and publicans and thieves
In holy triumph join!
Saved is the sinner that believes
From crimes as great as mine.

Murderers and all ye hellish crew
In holy triumph join!
Believe the Savior died for you;
For me the Savior died.

With me, your chief, ye then shall know,
Shall feel your sins forgiven;
Anticipate your heaven below,
And own that love is heaven.

Secondly, I am thankful for Craig, the husband God has given me. He is a faithful and loving provider. I cannot imagine a life without him. No other man could be a better husband to me than Craig (multiple people have made this observation on seperate occasions). God created me to be a helpmate to Craig, but I benefit more from our relationship than he does. I love him with all my heart.

Zechariah 4- Zechariah is shown a new golden lampstand similar to the one in the tabernacle only it was continuously supplied with oil through two olive trees, which means its light would never go out. This lampstand points us to the true Light.

Also in the passage, Zechariah is asked if his understands all that he is shown, he replies that he does not, so he is given understanding. So to we will be given understanding if we run to God and ask for His guidance.

The Blog Guidebook

If you blog, and would like to have your blog listed for FREE, I found this wonderful site called The Blog Guidebook. Click the button on the right of my page to go directly to their super cute site!

The Big Man Around Campus

Craig is a celebrity.
We stopped by the community college to drop off some paper work and Craig asked if I wanted to go see his picture.
What?
Yep, that's my husband. He's so cool they're using his picture for the Mechanical Engineering Technology brochures. He's going places.

Inniswoods

Here are a few pictures of a recent trip our family took to see all the Fall colors at Inniswoods.
We picked a beautiful day to go. It was so warm and sunny.

Calvin loved the frog pond, even though he didn't get to see any frogs.

And Ebie loved being able to walk the trails on her own.

Exodus 25:31-40 The last few days I have been reading about God's instructions to the Isrealites on how to build the tabernacle. The tabernacle was meant to be a copy of the Lord's heavenly throne room, and so each piece had great significance. God commanded the people to make every piece out of the finest materials. They were told that any who felt called to give materials, skills, money, or time should do so because it was the Lord calling them. It was interesting to learn that the people were called to give whatever they were ABLE to give. God does not expect more, and does not accept less. Not all are expected to give the same thing or the same amount, but we are expected to give of what the Lord has given us. We are also called to give of our very best. Now it is up to me to listen to what God is calling me to give and to give my very best.

The Craft Show

The craft show was this past weekend, up near Lake Erie, at German's Villa. It didn't go as well as I had hoped, but it helped me to realize that I need to diversify my product.

I enjoyed being there though. I was there sitting alongside the veterans. Some of the vendors had been doing this for 30 years or so and it was fun being called a "vendor"with them. The remaining clips/bows from the show will be put up in my etsy shop soon.

This post is brought to you by: Rob and Susan Miller!

My computer is having issues. It is old and has a lot of stuff on it. Craig and I have been taking things off of it to free up more space so that it will feel better. ALL my pictures are safe and sound (including these two of my beautiful baby), backed up on a portable hard drive my uncle Rob and aunt Susan generously gave me.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Rob and Susan!

The craft show is this Saturday. Still busy getting things made for that. Whatever doesn't sell there will be put on my Etsy account for anyone interested. I'll post the information for that when the time comes. I am also very happy to report that even though I have not been posting, I have been doing my Bible studying everyday. I am thanking God for giving me diligence in that area especially. It has been such a blessing and encouragement!

Fall Playing

I've wanted to share pictures and tell you about taking my babies to Boo at the Zoo.

I've also wanted to tell you about and share the pictures from the recent trip to the pumpkin patch.

But Craig said there is very little space on my computer, so I am not allowed to download any more pictures until I get rid of some old ones. It is taking a while to go through all the pictures on my computer and it is hard to delete them. I agree with Craig, I do not need all 15 pictures of Calvin's first smile, but it is so hard to choose which ones I am willing never to see again. In some ways the conveniences of today make life difficult. My mother never had to make these decisions! =)

I am posting my readings for earlier this week, I have not done my reading yet today, and I am hoping to go through pictures today so Craig will let me download and post some from trick or treating tonight, so I will post my reading for today then. That's a run-on. No, its a comma splice. Whatever.

10/25- The Everlasting Reign, 1 Corinthians 15:20-28: Although even righteous kings of Israel could not keep the law perfectly, the last King is the fulfillment of the law. King Jesus has come to conquer all His enemies. Death will be conquered and we will be set free from it's chains. He will set up an everlasting kingdom. All things will acknowledges His rule (He will have a visible reign).

10/27- God Chooses Israel's King, 1 Samuel 16:1-13: Saul failed to be a godly king for the Israelites, so God brought forward David, the man of His choosing. Samuel was surprised at God's choice. But we all know what God said, "For the Lord does not see as a man sees: for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." The Bible says David was a man after God's own heart. David was "sensitive to the work of the Holy Spirit and knew when to repent if he had sinned" (Tabletalk). Am I a woman after God's own heart? No. It seems that more often than not I quench the Spirit by trying to justify my sin instead of repenting from it.

Some Things Change, Some Stay the Same

As the leaves change and begin to fall, the realization that Summer is gone is beginning to set in my mind. I lament for the season I see as holding never ending lazy hours. Even though our activities change only slightly with the change in seasons, Fall always brings a mindset of leaving play and getting back down to the business of life.

Looking back on the pictures I took of our play from this week reminds me of earlier this year at another change in season, one that held a little more excitement for me. Seeing these pictures made me realize that a certain someone is always excited to see the changes.

Even when the snow comes, which I dread, he will still be happy to run around the yard like a crazy man.

("one Grecian Urn" if you don't know what I'm talking about you need to watch The Music Man)

2 Kings 20:12-21- Hezekiah makes a foolish decision that shows his lack of faith in the Lord and a desire to be like the nations around him. Despite his weakness the Lord loves him.

Extras

Here are a few more things we did at EnterTRAINment Junction.

Really I just want to share the pictures...

Deuteronomy 17:14-20- The passage was foretelling of Israel's desire to have a king like the nations around them. Israel's "request for a king in Samuel's day was an implicit rejection of God as king." They wanted to rely on a man to fight their battles instead of relying on God who had promised to fight for them.
There have been undertones on reliance on God in my Bible study and in my reading outside of the Bible. I think God is trying to tell me something again. Not that it is a new message for me. Reliance on God is the basis of the Christian faith, but knowing a little of how the Holy Spirit works, I can say with confidence that if a subject is repeatedly being laid upon my heart I need to sit up and take notice. Now that I know what God wants me to hear, it is up to me to figure out (pray and ask God) to which area of my life the words need to be applied. If not all of them. After all, do I rely on God truly and sincerely in any area of my life?

EnterTRAINment Junction

Last weekend we took the babies to EnterTRAINment Junction down by Cincinnati.
It was pretty impressive. The train display was huge and very detailed.

Calvin loved walking up and down the isles pressing buttons that made noises that could be heard in train yards or that made the trains go.

They also have outdoor train rides for the kids. Calvin was excited to get to ride Thomas again. He enjoyed his rides so much that he still randomly announces that he got to ride on Thomas.

I only rode on Thomas because otherwise Ebie wouldn't get to. Honest.

Joshua 20- God tells Joshua to set up cities of refuge for people who unintentionally murdered someone, to protect them from avengers of blood. Many people think Mosaic law was harsh, punishing with the toughest action for even small offenses, but here we find that God allows for mercy to the truly innocent.