Fourteen Years, Baby

Let's be honest. At 20 years old, we were practically teenagers. Didn't know how to buy a house, much less how to cultivate a marriage.

Then came all those babies. Well, not right away. That took longer than we had planned. But God knew what he was doing. It was like He was saying, "Babies aren't going to stop for awhile; are you sure you're ready for this?"

Man, am I ever thankful for you.

Happy Anniversary AR

Merry-Get-Rid-of-Your-Tree-Day

Every year I'm amazed by how hours of preparation lead up to one grand - POOF - and it's gone.

And then I reflect on what was REALLY worth my time and what wasn't. Let go of the Christmas Eve Birthday party for Jesus. The kids didn't miss it and I don't think Jesus minded.

Let go of trying to get the perfect picture of the tree and kids opening presents. Just enjoyed the moment. Took pictures of this face instead:

I did have to capture this, though - all their stockings lined up with their pictures on top.

Other random thoughts:

"Seven Pounds" with Will Smith is a fascinating movie. I recommend it.

The best thing about winter is a really good excuse to stay inside and become buried in books.

Keep the expectations low when it comes to Christmas and how the kids react to their gifts. Their reaction or lack there of does not define your parenting skills.

Running on a treadmill for at least a few minutes can cure just about anything. (Especially when a few minutes is all you can do anyway...)

Gettin' ready for the Cool Yule

Took these shots when we trimmed the tree a few weeks ago:

I hadn't noticed Jonathan's progress until Aaron said, "Jeannie, look." And the sweet boy had put about 6 ornaments on THE lowest branch on the tree. Hilarious.

So, there's a lot of Christmas music out there and I'm trying to enjoy it, even if it's getting a little old on EVERY radio channel. Here's a few of my favorites this year:

Harry Connick, Jr. -- His album from the 90s When My Heart Finds Christmas is probably my all-time favorite Christmas album. This year, though, he came out with a contender - What a Night. There's a ROCKIN rendition of We Three Kings and a cool duet with his daughter, Kate.

Mercy Me -- The Christmas Sessions Beth W. - did you give me this? It's been one of our family's favorite albums. I just love the cover of the album with all their faces hidden in scarves. Very cool.

Faith Hill -- Has anyone else heard this song A Baby Changes Everything? I didn't know it was a Christmas song, so when I heard it on the radio, it took me completely by surprise. Almost brought me to tears. Amazing song, amazing voice. Whoever wrote it was a genius. Go get it on itunes right now!!

Oh, the weather outside is...downright EVIL

This past weekend was a little brutal in the weather department. We had a few inches fall on Saturday, which made driving up our driveway a little challenging. Here's Aaron clearing a path, God love him.

He rang the doorbell at one point, and I opened the door to this:

Can you see the ice and snow in his eyebrows and eyelashes? (Hmm, isn't there a song like that...) He said to me in his low voice, muffled by the mask, "Take a picture for your blog." Then in the wee hours of Sunday morning, we woke up to a VERY cold house - furnace stopped working. Aaron was able to talk to someone who explained how to "hot wire" it until we could get the part we needed. So we were warm by mid-morning Sunday.

As if that weren't enough drama, we took Daniel in to see a doctor Saturday morning. He had developed a rash on Friday (no fever, no itching) and when he woke up Saturday, his eyes and lips were completely swollen up.

This is actually how it looked as he got better -- his feet were like little footballs and his hands were all puffy -- just heartbreaking. The doctor gave us Claritin for the day, Benadryl for night, and ordered a few blood tests, checked for strep (negative).

It's just bizarre how his body reacts; it feels like we go through this rash thing more than normal. Is this how he will react to viruses for the rest of his life??

Just another day in the life!

It Should've Been My Christmas Card

My darling Greggie brought home this bag with treats from school. I was admiring his colorful penmanship and drawings, but upon closer inspection, I was delighted to find... Joy, Love, Peace, and Pashens (patience) - definitely on my Wish List this year.

I'm so glad...

...that Aaron happens to work with people (and their spouses) I really like hanging out with. We rode a chartered bus down to Chicago from Minnesota, and I looked around thinking, "A lot of my favorite people are on this bus!!" Abbey and Rachel

Now THAT'S a Christmas Party

We got the message in early December - Aaron's company Christmas party would be held in CHICAGO from a Thursday to Sunday. Well, YEEHAW, and sign me up! Here are pictures from Friday.

This is the restaurant Carnavale (sp?) where we ate dinner in the city before heading out to see a show.

Steve and Anne (thanks to Steve for putting all this together - AWESOME!)

Syna and I getting ready for a night out

After dinner we saw "Wicked" (based on the novel by Gregory MacGuire - all about OZ, primarily the Wicked Witch of the West). I wasn't supposed to take pictures, but I took this blurry one after the show was over. That's a map of OZ on the stage, and notice the dragon on top that they put into action during the show.

I usually rate a vocal performance on how many times I got goosebumps, so this show was definitely a TEN. Amazing talent, amazing performances! Made me want to be in a musical NOW...

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

• Going to the Steel Mill with Aaron and finding out all the things I never wanted to know about the Steel industry.
• Eating lunch at the Cheesecake Factory (oh how I miss you) with friends
• The Magnificent Mile (and saying "OMni Hotel" like Oprah)
• Laughing A LOT
• Playing a scavenger hunt-team building activity and winning!! (My normally dormant competitive side going crazy...)
• Willow Creek Community Church - amazing (especially when you sit in the 4th row) and hearing an awesome message from Gary Haugen, director of International Justice Mission

Sorry folks...

I know, I'm pathetically behind.

We got back Sunday night from Chicago - lots to tell, but no time to tell it! You can go to my friend Rachel's blog to see what I'm talking about.

See you soon!

Tough Enough

These little "teachable moments" hit me so fast, I can only pray I'm ready. This one came at breakfast a couple days ago.

As Greg got ready for school the other day, he took off his shirt and said, "Mom, I know why guys take their shirts off first when they get undressed."

Ooh, this should be good. "Why, Greg?"

"Because they want to show how tough they are. Is that what all the bumps mean here?" he said, rubbing his chest and stomach.

Trying not to laugh, I said, "Yeah, some guys like to show they are tough by building their muscles."

As he stretched and "acted tough" I said, "But, you know, Greg, I know some guys who are really tough and it's not because of their muscles."

"Who, Mom?"

"Well, I have a friend named Josh who can't use all his muscles right now, but he's one of the toughest dudes around!"

"Oh, yeah, your friend in Michigan?"

"Yup. And you can be tough, too, in your heart and your mind."

He nodded, so I'm hoping he got it.

This Website Rocks

Well, thank you very much, but I'm talking about this other website - http://www.annetaintor.com/ - where you can buy cool stuff with funny quotes.

Sorry

My blog is acting weird and not letting me post new stuff -- just trying this to see if it works --

There's a first...

I have never listened to a sermon with a spanish translator -- until yesterday.

We had a guest speaker who shared a vision for our church, our community. We have a Hispanic Church plant that meets in our building every Sunday, and until today, I didn't really think that much about it.

He emphasized how our country was changing -- how we no longer have to go to the nations -- the nations are coming to us. But unless we recognize what God is doing, and get involved where God is working, we will have failed this awesome responsibility.

"From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us." Acts 17:26

The evangelical church in general must show America what it means to truly love and embrace those who are different from us.

This was my wake-up call. Someday, my children will live in a country where they will certainly be an ethnic minority. The statistics speak for themselves. Will they be ready to accept and care about others who are not like them? I don't know all these answers or how to train them in this, but I pray for wisdom. I pray for opportunities...

Hope's Giggles

Excuse the quality of this video; Aaron captured this quickly on his cell phone the other day.

Daniel was throwing a glove into the air and catching it, and somehow she thought this was hilarious. Enjoy.

Deep Thought Thursday

Motherhood is a lot like the United Nations.

There's a lot of talking, but is anyone really listening?

that there is the best singing camel i've ever heard

My oldest son in his debut performance!

I really think he looks more like a dinosaur, but I guess that would throw off the whole nativity pretty quickly.

Ah, there's nothing like a school Christmas program to put you in the holiday spirit.

Christmas Memories

Just looking back through some pictures from two years ago...It's sweet now to see Greg with all his baby teeth.

The year of the Packer chairs for the boys and their cousin!

Little did we know a sweet girl would enter our lives two years later. Don't blink, man, it's over before you know it.