The gospel according to Elvis

In effort to get as much "into" the Christmas season as possible, which is seemly shorter every year, I've been leaving Christmas music playing in the house, almost 24 hours a day. I really enjoy it and the kids do too. Everything feels more festive with Christmas music going.

But there is a song that is really driving me crazy this year. Its not a new song, its been around like, forever. Actually the version I keep hearing on Pandora is Elvis! (Though he didn't write it.) Its the "Here comes Santa Clause, here comes Santa Clause right down Santa Clause lane"... you know the one. You're singing it in your head now aren't you? Ok good.

Part of that song says "Peace on earth, good will to men, if you just follow the light." Ok, that sounds good. But read this carefully, "Santa knows we're all God's children, that makes everything right. Lets give thanks to the Lord above, 'cause Santa Clause is coming tonight" Uuhhhh... ? No. I'm not okay with that. I mean, I'm not expecting sound Biblical doctrine from Elvis at Christmastime but... seriously?

Its got me thinking.

I'm not an ultra-conservative person. No, my kids don't believe in Santa and never have, but I'm not like, anti-Santa or anything. We watch Dr Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas and the clay-mation version of Rudolph every year. We have wrapping paper with elves saying "don't open til december 25th!" on it because I thought it was really cute. And again, I realize this is just another silly Christmas song. But thanking God that Santa is coming? I'm sorry, I have to draw a line there.

I can't help but think of it this way: If the enemy were to try to use something to deter us from celebrating the true miracle that was the birth of Jesus, what would it be? Maybe some other figure. Not something scary, people wouldn't go for that. (Although I think Elf on the Shelf is just plain freaky, but I think that's just me!) It would have to be something or someone happy. Jolly. That even (if not especially) children would love. What a perfect way to take the focus off of Christ.

And I'm not referring to the origins of Chris Kringle or St Nicholas or who ever. I'm talking about the figure of Santa today. What does Jesus think about Santa? I really really really am not judging anyone for teaching their kids that there's a Santa. Its totally your call. And I'm not trying to be legalistic. I'm just posing the question. At every mention of Santa are we missing an opportunity to speak the name of Christ to our children?

My kids know I buy most of their gifts. Ashley and Emily, just now being old enough to understand, bought all of their family members gifts this year as well. (From the dollar store. The one where everything is actually one dollar :) I love that place.) We've been talking about how Christmas is Jesus' birthday, but since He rose from the grave and lives in those who believe in Him, we give presents to one another, because its like giving presents to Jesus, who lives inside us!

I'm always trying to grow my family. I don't want to slip into parenting auto-pilot and do what everyone else is doing, but I want to parent with purpose. To raise my children as end time warriors for the Lord. Not to live as this world does and not to be desensitized by media that surrounds us.

Lord, I pray that in these last days, that You alone would be glorified. That we would teach our children to rightly divide truth. And that we can all experience the childlike wonder of Christmas when we learn of the birth of the Savior of the world- Your son, Jesus.

Not too busy to grow

"I've got my hands full" and "I don't have time to spend with the Lord"


On first hearing these two statements, you'd think its kind of the same thing. But its not. For me one is completely true, one is completely a lie.

These are two things I hear all. the. time. One is from... pretty much everybody. The other is from... hell. I mean lets just be honest.

I can't tell you how irritating it has become to me when I hear "Boy, you've got your hands full!" Its because of how often I hear it. But... it is true. My hands are full. I'm aware. My day is nonstop. Getting kids ready in the morning, packing lunches, making meals, cleaning (this big beautiful house that I'm so grateful for ;)), doing laundry (for eight!), nursing, changing diapers, filling sippy cups, helping with homework, giving baths, answering emails, budgeting, paying bills, staying on top of 3 different schools' functions, meeting with teachers, potty training... oh and trying to actually connect with my husband, my kids, my family, and my friends. And this blog? Its my "me" time, but each post is usually written over the course of a week (or more) unless its one of my silly posts like the last one. :)

~~~

When I was in high school, I was super close with the Lord. I knew what it meant to fully put my trust in Him. I was at church every time the doors were open. I sat on the front row and took notes in my journal for every message (I still have a big box full of those journals in our garage). I remember sitting in my closet and listening to worship music on my walkman. My walk with the Lord was more like running, dancing and spinning with the Lord.

I didn't know then how much I would draw from that time.

Now as a wife and mother of six, I don't have the time to sit in my closet with an ipod. I worship while scrubbing counter tops. In church I'm in the "overflow room" with a kid or two in my lap. Not taking notes in journals, but drawing animals on scrap paper to keep them entertained and quiet. But boy... I'm pretty sure I pray harder now than I ever did then. If you have children, you understand. (A friend of mine says "praying for my kids isn't the least I can do, its the greatest that I can do." Amen to that.) Since its hard to catch the first time, I like to re-listen to pastor Steve's weekly messages again online. While I'm mopping. One message pretty much covers the whole downstairs floor, its perfect. :) And I'm also fed through the fellowship of the saints. Amazing women of God who walk this same road I do. If I'm spending quiet time with the Lord it means its either 5:30am, or its the afternoon and my kids MIGHT be killing each other in the playroom, or its after they've gone to bed and before Jake's gotten home from youth group... and I'm struggling to keep my eyes open. But. :) My quiet times with the Lord, though they are admittedly fewer than I'd like, are deep and rich. He reveals things to me that are molding and maturing me, and I hide them in my heart to "chew on" through the day... or week... month... oy.

I think too often the enemy lies to busy moms. He did to me. And told me that I wasn't close to the Lord as I used to be because my days didn't look like they did then.

~~~

I'm nursing Kate every 3 1/2 to 4 hours. We stare into each others eyes, fairly unhindered for 20 minutes, several times a day. When she goes anywhere, its in my arms. Feeling my warmth, breath and hearing my voice.

My relationship with Ashley much much different than my relationship with Kate. We don't spend long periods of one on one time together. We might go a few days with just basic interaction, but then the one on one times are so precious. We connect on a much deeper level.

But that time when she was a baby, like Kate, bonded us. Connected us. And we draw from it now. It was a completely necessary season to build on to have what we have today. Now we have a more mature relationship. Our time together looks different but we have a greater knowledge of one another. Our love is maybe even stronger than it was then, if that's possible. And in a few years, it'll look different again, and that's okay. Hopefully it'll be even richer, deeper, and stronger.

And so it is with my walk with the Lord. Go back and reread that last paragraph, starting with the second sentance.

But hear me out- if there is "busy work" in your life that needs to be cut out, do it. I'm a huge fan of boundaries. Good ones. But if you're a believer, busy with work that the Lord has called you too- that's. Different. If you're a mom, it doesn't mean you don't have time for the Lord. You can take Him with you as you go. Walking with Him daily but sneak in one on one times. And in those one on one times -though they may be few- take a piece of meat, chew on it well and swallow it as a stronger woman of God! And look forward to with anticipation your next, undoubtedly sweet, time with the Lord.

Relationships grow. They takes on new forms. Obviously the goal is to not wait too long for those one on one times. But if it is, know this, you aren't starting over with each rendezvous. You're building. Not going backwards, it just looks different. You must realize this to keep maturing.

If you're a mom of 1 or 10, I get it. Its hard to find one on one time. But we must. And we must continue to keep Him with us as we cook, fold laundry and wipe little faces. We have to learn how to do this dance called motherhood as a child of God. We have to learn how to grow in each season.


And listen, I'm not saying I've achieved this. Its just the thing the Lord has been talking with me about most recently.

Stand with me, busy women of God. Look deeply into the eyes of your first love and build on a relationship that's already been established. Don't let the enemy tell you it isn't there just because its been a while. Tell that liar you love your God and you're NOT too busy to grow in the Lord! To the lady gawking at your crying baby in Target- that's your call. ;)

Step One...

...is admitting there's a problem.

May your coffee be abundant and your creamers be yummy. Happy Wednesday!

From a thankful heart

Its that time of year. Pondering all of the things I'm thankful for. And I can think of a ton of random things... like...

Pizza Friday at school

Naptime

"Kohls cash"

Pandora.com

My crockpot

Starbucks Gingerbread lattes

Kids big enough to brush their own teeth

Kroger fuel points

Chalkboard paint

Disinfectant wipes

The calculator on my phone
A picture where everyone is looking at the camera

My bleach pen

Tums

... ya know. This is all good stuff. :) But this year I'm just mostly grateful for the "big things". Family. Friends. For these things, I find myself stopping to say "Lord, thank you!" So in no particular order, I'm thankful for:

~Good friends. Like, REALLY good friends. The ones that let me vent and don't judge me. The ones that keep me accountable. The ones that love me even though I'm quirky. The girlfriends that meet me for a late night meal after we've put our kids to bed and we're still wearing sweat pants and diaper bags... just so that we can connect. The "couples" friends that come over for dinner, prayer and a board game. The "support group" friends that I rarely talk to but we totally pick up where we left off when we need to relate to someone about Down Syndrome, adoption or both. I can't even imagine life with out each of these different friends.

~My husband. I love him. After nearly 10 years and 6 kids, I still think he's so cute. He's one incredible dad. An awesome pastor. I love the little dance he does while making himself a sandwich in the kitchen at night. I love that he cried during his sisters recent wedding. I love the way he laughs. I love that he's so patient with the 6 first and second graders he drives to school every day for the carpool. I love the way he smiles and watches Micah out of the corner of his eye at the dinner table while Micah is trying to imitate him. I love the way he holds his hands out and says "Beautiful!" after he's changed Mabry into her nightgown. I love the way he loves me.

~My kids. Ashley was just baptized last week and I could not be more proud of that kid. Emily is too cute for words with those huge green eyes, raspy voice and always inquisitive spirit. At school, Micah is making friends and is being invited to birthday parties. Abby is hitting all of her IEP goals and we had to write new ones. Mabry is talking a ton and knows almost all of her letters. Kate just cut her first tooth and has the cutest giggle you've ever heard. Can my heart be any more full?

~My house. It makes me wonder how on earth we survived in that tiny house before. The space. Is. Amazing. What an incredible blessing and we are so grateful for it. An open floorplan, huge living room, huge kitchen, enormous playroom, lots of bedrooms, a bonus room for the girls, killer master suite... not to mention the fenced in backyard, great neighbors and a culdesac full of kids!

Thank you Lord. I recognize that these blessings are from You, and give You alone the glory for them! Thank you.

"Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights..." James 1:16-17

Thats my girl

I've become quite Pinterest obsessed recently. How can you not? Its amazing. Not only can you collect all of the things you love from all over the internet (instead of having a bzillion bookmarks and favorites) to see in one place, but the ideas, tips, recipes and tricks are endless! Its got me making my own Febreze, pulled pork with Pepsi, roses out of magazine pages, wall art out of toilet paper tubes, amazing french braids in the girls' hair, and much much more.

Its kind of like crack for crafty people. There. I said it.


Apparently I reference it often because in the car the other day Ashley asked me, "Mom, do you think Pinterest will be around when I'm a grown up?"

:)

"I don't know Ashley, why?"

"Because I want to use it to decorate my house."

Beloved child after my own heart. :)

5

Happy Birthday to my big FIVE year old girl, Abby Grace!!! What a beautiful, funny, happy, loving little girl you have become.

Has it really been five years? Five years since my world took an unexpected turn down an unfamiliar road. Five years since I joined an unexpected "family" of travelers down this same path. Five years since I learned that God is in control and I am absolutely not. Five years that I've been in Holland. I used to say that with a lump in my throat. Now I can't help but smile. :) My baby girl was born with an extra copy of the 21st chromosome in every cell of her little body. And God says she was fearfully and wonderfully made!

Five years of love. Therapy. Intervention. Struggle. Tears. Hope. Success. Joy. Amazement. And more love.

Fearfully and wonderfully.

Happy Birthday Abigail Grace. My heart bursts with love for you!


*Her birthday was today, this video was taken yesterday. AND she was about ready for a nap :)*