This Christmas season I found myself much more emotional than usual. As I walked into a store and bell ringers were singing "Away in a Manger". Listening to the Gospel of Mary visiting her cousin Elizabeth who once was called barren. Gazing down in the eyes of my three month old as I reflected on the night Christ was born in a humble manger. I could blame it on the postpartum hormones or a lack of sleep, but I would be missing the true message, the reason for our celebrations. Simple yet incredibly profound. Love. The love born that first Christmas night. The love that is poured out for each of us not just at ... view the post
A Decade Ago
This month Aaron and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. It was a warm 45 degree day, nothing compared to the blizzard we were married in. Crazy to think a decade has gone by and seven years of it without kids. What did we do with our time before kids? Our journey did not play out the way we had written it 10 years ago, because God had something much more beautiful in store. His plan hidden to us as we learned to let go of control and truly trust. A process that tested our faith and marriage and brought us to our knees. To say we didn't have hard times would be a lie, many days I felt so alone. Feeling like ... view the post
Christmas Countdown
I marvel at the pictures on blogs and instagram of children smiling so perfectly and wonder what kind of bribes and candy must have been exchanged to have everyone posing as if they were in a magazine. Sharing a few outtakes from what was attempted, nothing printable. Here we are 10 days until Christmas and soon we will be starting the third week of Advent. In my mind I was going to make this the best Advent ever, carving out extra time for prayer, spending more time in silence and yet somehow the time has vanished between diaper changes, dishes, scary dreams and long hours at work. As I think of my to do ... view the post
Eight is Great
Ahh! I now have an eight year old! When he woke up on his birthday I wished him a happy 5th birthday, I just wish time would slow down. Seems like yesterday that he wanted me to pick him up and now it will be no time before he is at eye level with me. Thankfully he hasn't outgrown the big bear hugs he almost knocks me over with when I pick him up from school and still wants mom to be involved in his activities. Nothing slows him down and he is always throwing some kind of ball and making up a game to go with it. He calls himself the "king" of the kids, since he is the oldest and fills the role well setting such ... view the post
The Online Shopper
I realize it's a bit early being we haven't celebrated Thanksgiving yet, but I have already started my Christmas shopping and am over half way done. The last couple of years it has been my goal to have all of my gift buying done before Advent begins so I can use the season to really prepare without so many distractions. With little ones going out to shop is no longer enjoyable and more penitential than anything, so I have done a lot of online shopping recently and in the process saved money by doing so. I can't take the credit, because Aaron is the one who finds all of the online saving sites. He reminded me while ... view the post