One -- something that happened before Christmas...The 4 year-old class Nativity Play at Wheaton Bible Church Preschool...starring our very own, Kyle.
Kyle, being the studly shepherd he was, begged and pleaded with his teacher, Mrs. Erickson, to let him wear his shepherd head piece a little non-traditionally...because "it would mess up my hair, mom!" So, here it is...the third shepherd at the manager meets Rambo....
Two -- the birth of a new holiday tradition for us. Erin and I went to see The Nutcracker this year, at the College of DuPage. Done by a very well-known dance troupe from the city, this ballet was beautiful and Erin absolutely loved it. I look forward to the two of us going again every year. Since it was a very cold day, she enjoyed being snuggled up in her warm winter dress coat- I couldn't resist taking a picture as we headed out the door. She looked like quite a little angel in her coat.
Three -- Our house in lights...we worked hard to get the display up this year, as it got cold and snowy VERY quick after Thanksgiving. A few bushes went unlit, but I think the outline on the roof was very pretty--
Four -- a little bit about our Christmas Eve day.... we went to see the Barrington campus of Willow Creek's service- LIght. This year, we met my Aunt Fran and Uncle Bill there- and all enjoyed it together.
After church, my brother, and parents came up for another church service- the local DuPage branch one...and then we went home to make dinner-- Fondue!
After a terrific three-course fondue, my brother found his way to the couch to snuggle with my cat, Tinkerbell. I walked into the room and just had to take a picture when I saw what I did...this was NOT posed!
Five -- a shot of the kids on Christmas morning...gotta love the holiday jammies tradition- and the picture under the tree!
Six -- it gets really freaking cold here....need some proof?
Yeah, the picture is a little blurry...but give me some credit- I was driving nearly 33 mph when I was trying to take it....
Seven -- Barb's Birthday Bash. A good friend of mine celebrated a very big birthday on December 27...she turned 40! A few of us took her to her choice of celebratory activities...a movie (Four Christmases) and then for drinks and appetizers at Friday's.
I coordinated and threw together this gift for her:
Supplies? A simple paint can ($2 at Menards), a few sheets of patterned paper (of your choice), glittery letter stickers, stamps, and a variety of ribbons. We filled this can with a spa gift certificate, hair products (one of our friends cuts her hair), body salt scrub and lotion, a candle in a cute Party Lite holder, and some margarita mix (her favorite).
Eight -- pond hockey. The field at my in-laws house flooded a few weeks ago when the snow melted during a rain storm. Of course, since this is winter in Illinois, it promptly froze again the following day, but left a great ice rink! With only a couple of inches of ice, it was a safe place for a game of pond hockey- everyone threw on their skates and played!
Mike and Kyle, with Megan's boyfriend, Kevin, closing in on them...
Nine -- my new hat. Yeah, I have an interesting job. This has led me to meet some interesting friends with interesting hobbies-- like Deb, she knits models for childbirth classes and donates the proceeds to fight world hunger. She made me this hat....
Yes, it is a breast. Yes, it is squirting breastmilk out...and, yes, my son was kind enough to model it for me to take a picture. My kids, growing up with a birth-junkie momma, are quite used to these kinds of things. Just wait until Kyle starts telling some poor kid on a play ground what he knows some day!
Here's another view...
Ten -- Last night, I kicked off my new Bradley class- with TEN couples there. : ) I think I am going to have a great class, as everyone was friendly and had a great time. I was, however, reminded of just how small the world is though when Mike, greeting couples at the door, started laughing and joking around with one of the couples who had just arrived....when I came upstairs, they were calling each other "ESPY" and "Hink-bot"...because- he and Mike had played hockey at the U of I together! Kind of neat that now, over 10 years later, he and his wife would end up in Wheaton, just ten minutes from us, and in my childbirth class...Mike is wondering if his wife would mind if he tried to snag back one of his favorite defensemen....
Eleven -- dress up. Erin loves it- and is always wearing a Disney Princess dress...today, we are Sleeping Beauty.
And Twelve -- This weekend at church, was the second week of a series called "Families at Their Best". It really struck a core with me, as we went tough, evaluating our family (Mike and I, each doing our own as we sat side-by-side) on each of ten areas...they were:
Treasured (do each of your children feel that they are irrationally loved?)
Open Communication (can everyone in your family communicate to anyone about anything?)
Celebrate Uniqueness (do you love how you are all different and cherish each individual for their qualities God gave them?)
How Safe? (is your home a safe haven for all who enter and live there?)
Common Faith (families with common faith are families that last)
Respect (does everyone feel respected and revered?)
Responsibility (do parents teach and model responsibility to children?)
Play Together (do you take fun time to play and enjoy each other regularly?)
Rituals and Traditions (these are the things you remember when you grow up and the breed security)
Seek Help (if it is needed, do members of your family call out for it?)
What hit me is that I equate myself with what I accomplish....
Me (and my worth, my reason for others to love me) = My Accomplishments.
Yeah, I know it is sick, isn't it? But, if I clean the house, mop the floors, and have a toilet that I would be proud to have someone thow up in, it makes me a better person...but to whom?
God could care less...his grace is ours regardless of what we do- as long as we believe in Jesus-- and that is a scripture I spend time teaching my 6th grades this week...
Mike doesn't care- he appreciates clean jeans and a shirt when he goes to work, loves if I have a good dinner about ready when he comes home- but doesn't expect the house to always be ready for a BHG cover shoot...
Kyle and Erin-- they love when we get time to play together. The like going places with me and doing things. They like having play dates and making crafts...they don't care if the place is spic n span...they just want their mom to spend time with them...
SO, who am I trying to impress? Why do I spent the time doing the things that don't matter, and why, oh why, do I equal myself with what I am able to do in a day? There are things that matter more- like treasuring my kids...communicating with my husband and kids...celebrating our families uniqueness...sharing our faith and showing our respect....playing together....and you know.
As I work through this, I want anyone who reads this blog to help hold me accountable for what I do- or don't do. I really hope to be a mom with an incredible family.
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