Ryan at yesterday's party wearing an Elf bib given by a great aunt and playing with the Barbie SUV... he was playing with the convertible first, but this was cute. He just wants a car to play with... doesn't matter if it's girly.

CHRISTMAS EVE

It's Christmas Eve! Maybe there should be no "!" at the end of that sentence. While I am happy, I am also wicked tired. On Friday night we were out 'til 2:30 and dear young Ryan woke up at 6 the next mornining, or the same morning. We were with friends and it was well worth being up so late. I loved every minute of our visit.

I managed a two hour nap and then had to do the mommy and wife stuff. You know, cleaning bottles, packing a diaper bag for later, cleaning house. Then we were out again. Off to a family party for Adam's grandmother. It was nice. We played poker and won. Well, the first game Adam's mom got me out on the first hand. Then Adam came in second. The second game Adam and I were the last two and we just split the money. The game had been going forever so we just ended it. But while we were there Ryan of course got hungry, so I went to get a bottle and there were none! I had left them at home on the stove. I had formula though and lucky for us we were in a home with lots of babies. Thank heaven Ryan was a good baby that wasn't picky about which type of bottle his milk came in because we would have had to drive home 40 minutes with him screaming. He just drank it like a good boy. Then I went to change a diaper... had diapers, but no wipe. I felt like disorganized mommy.

While we were there Ryan ate some Banana Yogurt... the baby stuff. The kid is so sensitive to milk and I never thought he would get sick if I gave him this stuff. He did great. Ate the whole jar! Loved it! We wake him up for his 10 p.m. feeding and he pukes and pukes and pukes! I felt so bad for him. We were standing him up in the tub and he was shivering and we were trying to get him all clean and everything, but it was awful!

This morning he's better. And it's a busy day. Church this morning. Out shopping this afternoon because dadda hasn't finished his shopping yet. Then church this evening with the grandparents. Then dinner at the cousins and home again!

I've enjoyed this weekend so much. I got out of the house! More to come next week too since I don't have Ben anymore. Though it won't necessarily be getting out of the house as it will be seeing friends. Kathleen, my friends Marie and Tanya are coming over for a knitting lesson! Maybe I'll actually master purling!

Merry Christmas all!

Just in case you never read the comments... this person kindly helped me figure out where the thing on GC was... enjoy!


Blueis said...
You can find a link here...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032633/

Then on More students going to christian colleges.

GC on The Today Show

Our dear old Alma Mater was on the Today Show this morning. I just happened to turn it on at the time when they were mentioning something about Christians and Christian Schools and there was Greenville College! Our old neighbor Eugune Dunkley was there. Old Dr. James Lang (back in 1982 when I was in Atlanta I tested a peanut for Jimmy Carter) was there teaching a class. There was the old Methodist Church, which I know has some new name now and there was the Library and many other things! Nothing is on their website about it and I couldn't find anything on the Today Show website either.

Anyway, just thought I'd share.

I FINALLY GET IT!

I got one of those Christmas forwards where you’re supposed to fill in the blanks. Eggnog or Hot Chocolate? You know what I mean. I filled it out, but was really stuck on question 14. I wrote and wrote and wrote and question 14 was two pages. So, I deleted the other stuff and decided I would share question 14 with you.

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you?

Especially this year, the most important thing is that the real meaning of Christmas not be lost in all the “hustle and bustle” of the holidays.

In my devotional this week I’ve been reading about how John the Baptist was so important in the story of Jesus. He was the one who pointed the way to the Messiah… he paved the way. We’re supposed to be the same. Our lives should say, “Look not at me, but at the other one, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.( John 1:29)” Adam and I are the ones who will point the way for Ryan to see Christ. So, the meaning cannot be lost or muffled. We are now the voice crying in the wilderness. We are the ones who, by our example, show that Christ is the real meaning of Christmas. And though Ryan’s so little I hope he gets some meaning out of the story of Christmas this year, even if it’s that Mary had a baby and he was special to the whole world.

While last Christmas I identified with Mary being heavy with child on her way to Bethlehem, this year the entire story has a whole new meaning for me. I see it in a different light. I think I finally understanding the waiting in hope for a savior. The entire story, from the time that God made the covenant with Abraham to the birth of the Messiah finally clicks. These people were yearning for HIM. Just look at Simeon. In Luke 2 it says he was a righteous and devout man who was waiting for the consolation of Israel… waiting for the Messiah. The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die till he saw His Savior. So, he’s waiting in the temple and Mary and Joseph bring Jesus and he says, “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” This guy’s whole life was devoted to waiting and looking for the savior. He waited and waited and then, the savior came. How happy he must have been!

This Advent, I truly understand the meaning of this waiting. Just think of all the hymns. Think of the words to “Come thou long expected Jesus” and “O Come, O come Emmanuel.” I bet these writers had a moment like I am having this year. The light just came on for them.

A hymn I truly love is a Catholic one, at least I think it must be because I have never sung it at my non-denominational church. It’s called Waiting in Silence and I feel like this hymn says it for me when it comes to understanding Advent. I’ll share the first verse with you…

“Waiting in silence, waiting in hope; we are your people we long for you, Lord. God ever with us, Emmanuel. Come, Lord Jesus, Maranatha!”

The rest of the hymn talks about thirsting, longing and seeking for the Messiah.

That’s how it was for the Israelites. They felt they truly needed a savior and they were looking for him anywhere. They were desperate.

This should be our lives!

Let’s face it though. The Messiah came, he saved us and we go about our lives. We’re too busy to spend time with him. We’re too busy to spend time with the one who loved us so much that he would die for us. How absurd!

That was my excuse and because I am not perfect, it could be my excuse again. Then I decided this Advent that I would make time. I mean, I make time to watch a movie with Adam. I make time with read books to Ryan. I make time to play games online. I make time to cook and eat. That’s all for my physical life. And my poor spiritual life was dying. It was starving. I think my hunger brought me here though. I wanted to fully understand what I would be teaching Ryan. So, at church I picked up a Christmas devotional that was free and I can’t put it down. I had to make myself not read the entire thing the first night. But through reading that and reading the scriptures that go with it – I feel I fully understanding now.

So, Come thou long expected Jesus, o come, o come, Emmanuel!

A Picture is worth a thousand words


Well I hope so becuase the images below are filling up space and making up for not blogging very often. I hope you enjoy. Here's our Christmas tree. It's a little one this year, but it's just right. It's on a small end table so that Ben and Ryan won't destroy it =)

I clap my hands (a trick I learned from Ben) and then I eat them... yum!

"Hey, only one person at a time in the laundry basket, mum."

Ryan playing in the laundry basket.

Ryan on the move... he's good at crawling!

Ryan eating the lense cover to my camera.

Ryan eating a block.

The story is below, but here are more of the lights!

Adam took me to see Christmas lights in Lebanon on Thursday night. He saw this house on the way home from Rochester on Tuesday and wanted me to see it. I can't believe how many lights and lawn decorations these people put out. The photo doesn't even capture it all. It was COVERED. And there is a house a garage and Mike's Takeout all on the same plot that were just covered. They had every inflatable Christmas lawn decoration ever made plus tons of lights, a nativity, a santa, a grinch a sign that said "Santa stop here" and that's not even a dent into the decorations... it was pretty, but imagine the electricity bill!

THE PARTY WAS GREAT!

Just a quick update. I ended up wearing brown pants, a green/blue button up long sleeved blouse and high heels. Some people showed up in jeans. But I think the clothing I chose was just right. We had a blast! Ryan stayed with his grandparents. Anyway, we went to Anthony's in Portland, which is kind of like the Royal Dump in St. Louis. It's a dinner theater kind of thing. They sang songs from musicals like The Producers, Cats and host of others. We had a five course meal which was so yummy. We sat next to Adam's boss, rather, he sat next to us, and had a great time laughing and talking. I'm glad it's over with. Thanks for the advice. I'm glad there are people who actually read my blog!

Adam's secret Santa liked the purse I made for her (you can see it on my crochet blog) and Adam's boss was his secret Santa and gave him some really cool stuff over the four weeks. I am excited about making the fireside chili that he gave Adam.

This week Adam had yesterday and today off. We're busy working on Christmas cards and the like. Our tree is up as of Saturday and I'll have photos of that and the ever cute Ryan on here soon.

Merry Christmas to you all. And if you happen to read this and know I don't have your mailing address... send it!

Sugguestions wanted

Adam is taking me to his office party this year. Normally this wouldn't be a big deal. I mean, how hard is it to show up, mingle and eat? I guess the issue is that I haven't the slightest idea what to wear, the main reason being that I still have about 5 pounds to loose since having Ryan. Pants are too tight, a dress seems too formal and that leaves jeans. I asked Adam what we are supposed to wear and he said he called and they said something along the lines of Khakis and a sweater. I think I have three sweaters that fit, all of which I would say are frumpy, and no khakis, just jeans.

This past weekend we had to go to an event that required dressing up and I have to admit that I wore a pair of maternity pants (from the early months) and a maternity jacket that was size small so it really didn't look like one. However, the fact that they were maternity clothes just put me in a rotten mood. It'd be okay if I WERE pregnant, but I'm NOT pregnant. It's actually rather depressing.

I have no idea what to wear. I spent today, Tuesday, stressing over this issue. I want to look nice. Who doesn't? I especially want to look nice because these are my husband's co-workers and I don't want to be the frumpy-wife-who-just-had-a-baby lady. My options right now consist of that maternity outfit and a dress that is too formal. GRRR!

So it comes down to the fact of buying something or creating an outfit out of some items in the closet. Will it be black pants, a nice sweater and heels or is that still too casual? A skirt? (it's supposed to be wicked cold on Saturday, so I'm not leaning toward this option) Or??? I have no idea.

Suggestions are very welcome because I officially hate clothes!