The Twelve Gifts of My Birth Day

This could be the first day of the last year of the first half of my life.  My Daddy called me his "little tax deduction."  I've been asked on too numerous occasions to count, "So do you get gypped out of presents at Christmas?"  "What's it like being born on a holiday?" 

As I sit here listening to the fireworks go off around our home, I think back to many a birthday spent away from home.  Our family traveled to see grandparents in Florida or Texas almost every year for Christmas.  This meant that I had the privilege of spending my birthday with grandparents and cousins.  On one very important birthday (it had to be 14-you know those years are so crucial to a young girl if she thinks she's being left out), my Dad decided that we needed to be heading back to Michigan from Texas...on-my-birthday!  I remember trying to talk him out of traveling.  It didn't work.  We hit the road and I wasn't in a good mood.  Mom talked Dad into stopping at Chuck-E-Cheeses somewhere along the road that day. That was a first for our family.  Dad endured the expensive, bad pizza so that we could have a few games to break up the trip.

The first gift of the day was a "Happy Birthday to You" call from Andrew and Becki's boys in Michigan.  What a way to start out the day!

The second gift of the day today was a gallon of milk spilled all over our carpeted dining room floor.  This tempered our whole day as now my dining room carpet got a complete shampooing.  It needed it anyway, so I guess this was a blessing in disguise. 

The third gift was a nice long nap with my son snuggled next to me.  Craig is such a snuggle bug.  He loves to be plastered right next to me and thankfully isn't a real wiggle worm like one of my older daughters.

The fourth gift was a nice warm home in 20 some degree below zero weather.  We've been blessed to have such a nice home.  Our wood boiler keeps us warm a toasty.  Tim works hard to keep wood cut for it...which leads me to...

The fifth gift of my husband.  I thank God for giving Timothy to me.  He is so understanding of my quirks.  He just smiles at the girls being girls.  He works hard to take care of our family.  Of course he is still a "work in progress" but I thank God that he's willing to be worked on. 

The joy of childhood is my sixth gift.  Yesterday when I got home from working a 12 hours shift (which gave Tim that whole time with the kids), I asked of the girls had made me a birthday cake.  Natalie came running up to me and said, "No mommy, we bought you a birthday cake!"  I love this age.  It's so fun.  They just can't keep a secret inside.

The seventh gift was a book from my brother and sister-in-law The First Born Advantage: Making Your Birth Order Work for You  by Kevin Leman. It's quite a coincidence that I have five sister-in-laws that are all firstborns.  You can just imagine what it's like getting together.  I'm looking forward to reading this book and seeing how it works for me.

The eighth gift  was a yummy dinner at my brother and sister-in-laws house.  There wasn't going to be a party at my house on wet carpet so I gladly accepted her invitation.

The ninth gift was watching my kids get more excited about my birthday than I did.  The cake, the candles, the questions-"Are we going to have lots of people over?  Are we going to have pretty plates and napkins?"  My girls are BIG into parties.  If it were up to myself, I wouldn't go to all the extremes, but I know they like it.  It's what makes it mysterious and creates excitement, I guess.

Number ten came a little early, before Christmas.  I got a new Nikon DSLR camera for Christmas and my birthday.  What a package!  I'm going to need some schooling on how to capture all the essence of this machine.  Hopefully I'll be able to share some of the pictures in the future-I'm still learning.

After we got the kids in bed, Tim and I sat down to watch the DVD "How Great Is Our God" by Louie Giglio.  It is so powerful in describing how amazingly we were created by such an awesome and mighty God.  It's a must see and made it as the eleventh gift of my day.

And now as I prepare for a good nights sleep in the wee hours of the new year, I will be enjoying the gift of quiet remembering all the wonderful things from the past year.  The challenges that brought determination.  The daily chores that brought perseverance.  The young laughter that brought joy to my heart.  The Hope knowing that I whatever this next year brings, it has all been planned way before my existence.  I have the God that breathed the stars into existence as my Savior and friend. 

Happy New Year!

Natalie's Four Year Birthday Pictures

Natalie wanted a "horse cake."  At first she wanted a pink horse with blue eyes, then she wanted a purple horse but settled on a white horse with purple hair.  You can probably see the theme-her favorite colors are pink, purple and blue.

 

"I LOVE IT!!!" is what I heard when the cake was done.



I love this photo.  Natalie was telling her daddy something and we got the sweetest shot.



"I'm going to be 4 on December nineteen.  That's when my birthday is."  We have been hearing this since Spring.



I had to put in a picture with Mr. Ornery Man in it.  Can't you just see the mischief?  Notice his hands are up on the counter, just waiting for the prime opportunity to swipe some frosting.

 

There they go!  He's getting closer!



And She Pondered all these Things...

Every year when December rolls around we start to get busy thinking about Christmas.  The first thing that comes to my mind is the Baby.  The Baby that was born to save the world-God in human flesh-Jesus.  There was a year that I dreamed of holding a newborn baby in church on Christmas.  In fact, my due-date was the 25th of December.  That year our precious Natalie was born on the 19th.  That event changed our lives forever.  Though I approach the 19th with much excitement seeing our daughter celebrate another milestone, there also comes the fearful memories of days spent in the hospital with a very sick child and the apprehension that comes with wondering what the future holds for our daughter with a special heart.

Mary was given such a special mission and we think of the thrill that she must have had carrying the Son of God.  But at the same time, she accepted a very difficult assignment.  She was engaged, but not married.  Being pregnant outside of marriage could mean death in her time but most certainly public scorn.  Just recently I learned in a Bible study that I've been attending, that when it was said "there was no room for them in the inn" (Luke 2:7) the inn that is referred to was the guest house of relatives.  Probably, Joseph's relatives would have taken in Joseph's family at that time.  During the census there probably weren't a lot of public places to stay so extended relatives would take in their kin.  But could it have been that because of Mary's state she was not allowed to stay in her fiance's relatives home?  Most likely she was turned out and gave birth in a courtyard where the household animals roamed.  It is said that "she wrapped him in cloths and laid him in a manger." (Luke 2:7)  We all think of a cozy little stable with animals looking over the side of their stalls admiring the little baby lying in a manger.  But in reality, it was probably much different than this.  Do you suppose that this is why the shepherds were the first ones to hear of Jesus' birth?  They were the "lowly" ones in this society.  Maybe they wouldn't have questioned the virgin birth.

"When they (the shepherds) had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them." (Luke 2:17-18)  They were amazed?  Were they amazed at the messengers, or the message, or the lowly means that a King could have been born?

"But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." (Luke 2:19)  Mary knew that God had called her into something that would be a lifelong commitment.  She humbly accepted the assignment.  She was witnessing miraculous signs and yet Mary still didn't know how Jesus would save the world.  She didn't know what it would be like training the Son of God.  I wonder if she had apprehension.  I wonder if there was any fear?

So at this time of year, I take heart that even though there are many unknowns out there for my daughter, Natalie, I can take courage from Jesus' young mother who completely put herself into the mercy of God's hands.  She yielded her life to God for her life was not her own.  She took on the task of baring a Son and then watching Him die to save the world.  And because of His resurrection from the dead, I can have hope that no matter the outcome with my daughter's heart, if she accepts Jesus Christ as her Savior, we will be together for eternity in Heaven.

Jesus, Joy of the Highest Heaven

by Keith and Kristyn Getty

Jesus, joy of the highest heaven,

Born as a little baby

Under a wonderous star.

Like us, crying He takes His first breath

Held by His mother, helpless

Close to her beating heart.

Jesus, laid in a lowly manger,

Facing a world of dangers,

Come to turn me a stranger,

Into a child of God.

Jesus, King of the highest heaven,

Learning to take His first steps,

That He might bring us life.

Like us, knowing our smiles and sorrows,

He showed the way to follow,

A way that is true and right.

Jesus, take away every darkness,

Steady my simple footsteps

That I might in Your goodness

Live as a Child of God.

Craig's Two

Last month our son turned two. It's been full speed ahead since then and I haven't gotten a chance to recap the milestones and celebration. It's been awhile since I've written anything about the mitlestones Craig has met.

Craig's first sampling of his cake before it was fully frosted.

Craig has left the Toddler stage and is a full-fledged Little Boy! He was a slow one to talk and I was a little concerned that he wasn't saying any words by 18 months. His pediatrician said with a smile, "He's got three sisters that talk for him and he's a boy so I'm not concerned. Late talkers will start talking and never stop! My son and I were late talkers and look at us now!" (We have a really chatty pediatrician.)
July was the month. Craig started talking...in 2-3 word sentances. He's quite the talker for a boy and is trying to keep up with his sisters. He's not always understandable, but has a LOT to say. Some of my favorite words of his are "dadden?" (again), booball (football), Eat! Eat! Eat! and hungy (hungry). He went from a 6-9 month level in speech in March to a 24 month level in October. Our pediatrician was right!

Craig is still hanging in the 5-10th percentile for weight (24 pounds) and is 34 inches tall (25th %). He may be scrawny, but he's strong. He mantains and iron cross when held by the elbows. He loves to grab ahold of my arm, wrap his arms and legs around my forearm and hang on, all the while wanting me to pick him up over my head. (Good thing he doesn't weigh much!) When he's wanting his mamma, he grabs ahold of my leg and won't let go.

Craig's head is the biggest part of him reaching into the 50th%. He must be exercizing his brain with all of his exploring. Last night, I thought he had followed his sister out to the car after church, but we found him in the church office dumping the toner out of the copy machine! Buttons, levers and knobs turn him on. He's just one curious dude.

Speaking of curious, Curious George is a favorite TV program of his, although any program will usually do. This kid gets "glued" to the TV very easily and is learning about limits.

For Craig's birthday, he got a Bob the Builder birthday cake. I picked up the form for the cake at the second hand store. I didn't get the cake completely frosted while he was down for his nap so he thought he'd help out. He sampled the frosting and the cake even before I got the face on Bob. It was just another one of those times when I had to grab the camera so I could smile later.

The gifts that Craig got were very thematic this year. He got a carpenter's belt with two sets of tools. Incuded in one of the sets was a set of suspenders. He could really use those-he's always losing his pant.

New tools-too bad daddy hid the "real" hammer.



Birthday Cake celebration with Bob the Builder



The Alaska State Fair

The Alaska State Fair is usually in August extending over Labor Day weekend.  This year we had not had a family outing so we thought we'd attempt the fair.  In the past, our older girls haven't even known that it even existed so we didn't feel like we need to introduce them (as it isn't one of Tim or my favorite things to do).  But this year we happened to pass by the fairgrounds in Palmer when they were setting up the rides.  Heidi is a smart girl and there was no way we could keep the fact that the fair was just around the corner from her.

So on Family Day, we packed up and made the 2-1/2 hour drive to the fair.  We joined many other families and the fairgrounds was crawling with children.  The first thing we did was head to the animal barn.  If you've been reading my blog long enough, you'll know that we all love animals.  It was a joy to hear their squeals of delight while we tried to keep track of everyone.  Craig started in the backpack but wanted to get on eye level with the critters so we let him down.  Natalie had a habit of wandering (I think she got that from her mother) and was temporarily lost while she headed to the turkey pens.

After seeing the animals and grabbing some caramel corn, we headed to the kiddie rides.  Craig and Natalie spotted the cars.  The both lit up.  Each had their own interests though.  Natalie enjoyed the cars going up and down while Craig was pushing all the buttons in the car and really wasn't paying any attention to where he was going.  Good thing the cars were all on a track.

Heidi and Jess got their first taste of a roller coaster.  You can see their faces in the second car from the left.  It was a thrill that just whetted their appetite for more.  Each got two rides as this was all our budget would allow and there were promises of rides at a theme park someday...someday.

Jessica snuck in just under the height requirements for the big swing.  Of the two rides, I think they preferred the roller coaster best.

 We couldn't go to the Alaska State Fair without getting a picture with the Giant produce.  Alaska is known for their giant produce.  The long summer days produce prime growing in the Palmer area where they grown huge cabbage, pumpkins and broccoli.

After three hours at the fair, we had had our cotton candy, caramel corn, seen the animals (also those of homo sapien variety) and ridden the rides.  Craig was cranky and finally fell asleep in my arms which meant that I had to carry him all the way to the car.  A lot of use the backpack was.  We hit the grocery store and hit the road for the trip home.  An exhausting day, yes, but which one isn't with our brood.

Buttercup Update

Every time Natalie is asked to pray for a meal we hear something like this..."God, thank you that we can eat our food by ourselves and the chickens eat their food by themselves. Amen."

Even though the chickens no longer reside at our house, their memory is not gone. Just recently, Heidi saw the owner of the chickens. He told her that an owl had gotten Blackberry, but that Buttercup had grown up into a nice big Rooster! A Rooster named Buttercup!!! Maybe he could have fit in with the hens on "Chicken Run" better than his counterpart, Rocky. Mr. John said, "It's a funny thing. That rooster is a loner and just walks around in circles. He doesn't interact with the other chickens." I'm not surprised. He doesn't think of himself as a chicken-he's a kid. He's probably bored too-no flying lessons or gourmet made meals out of green bean ends. He's probably thinking..."Those were the day! I had attention every day. I got to be cheuffered in a bucket. They clothed me like a baby! Oh, for the land of the Hand's."