She's a very tired baker...
Sunday, December 21, 2008
a Day at Grandma's
We spent the afternoon baking Christmas cookies and my family's now infamous toffee - and Bella got in on the fun. Fuzz bought a gingerbread apron complete with a chefs hat for Bella, it was SO stinkin' cute! At the end I was talked into letting her decorate a cookie herself (I figure with a pacifier the ridiculsouy sugary frosting will stay out of her mouth)... she did awesome!
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Our Little Elf
Dear Santa, I already have my two front teeth, but that's about all...
Bella did real well with Santa, I thought (and hoped) she was going to grab his beard or start crying or something for a unique and hilarious picture, but she was so happy sitting on his knee and bouncing as she chattered nonsense to him. He translated it into a little dolly he'll bring her for Christmas. We'll keep an eye out. She's wearing the outfit we bought with part of her present from her Farmor and Farfar, I thought it looked a little Swedish so it was fitting. Thank you!!
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Good Tidings of Great Joy
I’m finally figuring it out – it only took 26 years, no big deal. Actually, I guess I’m finally really figuring it out, I’ve known the true Christmas story (sugarplums dancing in heads and Dasher and Dancer not in the picture) for as long as I can remember. BEFORE I can remember even – I played baby Jesus when I was six months old and Mary whacked my head on the wall when she was walking out for a scene. They don’t lie, it’s not easy being Jesus! (hope I’m not condemned for that one, crap.)
For real serious though, my church has been doing a series called Advent Conspiracy – this charge to Give More, Spend Less and Worship Fully. I’m going to be using all my notes from one particular service (Give More) partly so I have it to read over and over later, and partly because it really struck a chord and I want to share. Our pastor was in the middle of the sermon, explaining we are called to give more by giving things up. (John 1:14 – And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth)
The picture he painted to help the congregation grasp just what Jesus gave up and left to come to Earth I pray will always stick with me, especially during this time of year. He asked everyone to think of their happiest moment (lounging on the beach, taking in the view from a hike, etc. mine was probably when I held Bella the first time – it was surreal) so you think of your happiest moment and label it A. then think of your worst moment, the one you may hide and not share with people or the one that’s so painful you tuck it deep away and hide the key – that moment is labeled B. He said to multiply those moments by infinity and magnify it by eternity, and then you have Christmas.
Jesus left his A – the best place imaginable, heaven, where he was worshipped and it was peaceful and he sat next to his Father, for B – to be born in a stable and laid in a manger where cows had licked the troth. He left A and he came to B. He was God and He became a human being – our pastor explained it was the creator becoming the creation. for me.
Then he told a story he heard about a missionary who was leaving to go home and one of her students went missing for days, when he finally came back he presented her with a beautiful shell necklace and she knew he must have made the days-walk to the sea to get the shell. She insisted it was too much, that he shouldn't have gone so far, and she couldn’t accept it, to which this boy’s eyes shown as he explained the long walk was part of the gift. Jesus took the long walk, from A to B to become Christ. for me. for us. He left His best for my worst.
I’m not sure I’ve ever felt so loved and precious as I do when I consider this and really try to wrap my head around it. So, as Charlie Brown and simple as this may sound, my Christmas wish this year is that everyone could experience this feeling and understand and love our God for making the journey.
A better and more broad explanation of the Advent Conspiracy:
My church (with Pastor Rick’s messages available if anyone’s interested): cvconline.org
For real serious though, my church has been doing a series called Advent Conspiracy – this charge to Give More, Spend Less and Worship Fully. I’m going to be using all my notes from one particular service (Give More) partly so I have it to read over and over later, and partly because it really struck a chord and I want to share. Our pastor was in the middle of the sermon, explaining we are called to give more by giving things up. (John 1:14 – And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth)
The picture he painted to help the congregation grasp just what Jesus gave up and left to come to Earth I pray will always stick with me, especially during this time of year. He asked everyone to think of their happiest moment (lounging on the beach, taking in the view from a hike, etc. mine was probably when I held Bella the first time – it was surreal) so you think of your happiest moment and label it A. then think of your worst moment, the one you may hide and not share with people or the one that’s so painful you tuck it deep away and hide the key – that moment is labeled B. He said to multiply those moments by infinity and magnify it by eternity, and then you have Christmas.
Jesus left his A – the best place imaginable, heaven, where he was worshipped and it was peaceful and he sat next to his Father, for B – to be born in a stable and laid in a manger where cows had licked the troth. He left A and he came to B. He was God and He became a human being – our pastor explained it was the creator becoming the creation. for me.
Then he told a story he heard about a missionary who was leaving to go home and one of her students went missing for days, when he finally came back he presented her with a beautiful shell necklace and she knew he must have made the days-walk to the sea to get the shell. She insisted it was too much, that he shouldn't have gone so far, and she couldn’t accept it, to which this boy’s eyes shown as he explained the long walk was part of the gift. Jesus took the long walk, from A to B to become Christ. for me. for us. He left His best for my worst.
I’m not sure I’ve ever felt so loved and precious as I do when I consider this and really try to wrap my head around it. So, as Charlie Brown and simple as this may sound, my Christmas wish this year is that everyone could experience this feeling and understand and love our God for making the journey.
A better and more broad explanation of the Advent Conspiracy:
Friday, December 12, 2008
Dear Jesus, Here's Bella
Bella was dedicated a couple weeks ago and our friend was kind enough to record it for us... I'm so glad I have it on film because Bella was squirming around a little and I was completley distracted and nervous about saying all the confirmations at the right time that when I watched it over again I really got to hear everything he said... she did great the whole time and then when he went to mark a cross on her head she strated grabbing at his face and microphone. ha!
Justin and I are hopefully up to all the challenges that comes along with giving our child to God and raising her according to Him - it makes me more than a little nervous because that's a lot of pressure to really truly to it right - if I can't even really figure it out for me, how am I supposed to teach someone how to do it? oh man...
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
she lights up my life. lots.
I hate admitting she's a Daddy's girl, becuase I'm still learning to share, but I think she may be swaying that way... she's willing to support her pops' depressing football team!
We cut down a Christmas tree last weekend - it was so fun (and Brady Bunch of us)! We bundled Bella up and even brought Rocky. We had checked out this lot on the way Christmas shopping and by the time we went back with the dog and winter gear, it had snowed a couple inches. It really could not have been more perfect!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
soundtrack of my life
I’m sure some people’s life soundtracks are considerably cooler than mine – it’d be some ancient rock band that’s just recently appearing on worn vintage tshirts for sale in department stores. It’d be the kind of music that very few people really “get”, except conveniently for the he and she in a romantic comedy who are so obviously destined to be together. One of the reoccurring names on the soundtrack to my life is Michael W. Smith.
One of my favorite roles in the choir performances at church when I was in middle school was based around one of his songs (I was no better at singing then than I am now, but my dad worked with the youth group and I think the pastor had pity on me, ha!) and I’m familiar with all his synthesizer praise music from the 90s from church and my parents stereo. As long as I can remember, I’ve known his music.
He was one of my very first concert experiences when my dad brought us to Praise in the Rockies. I saw him in 1996 when my youth group traveled to California for a youth conference called DC/LA and in 10th grade when I was asked to write about an influential person, my essay was about him. It was the first time I can remember I was made fun of for my beliefs.
When Columbine happened just 40 minutes from my high school and I was walking through the hallway weary of the students who still wore trench coats I found comfort in the song he wrote for the girl who answered a sweet and simple “yes” to her belief in God before she was killed. The album he released the year I graduated was on constant replay, and my parents used one of the songs in the senior video they played at my graduation party.
His instrumental CD “Freedom” was the only thing I could listen to while studying all four years of college – and it never got old. The first time Justin and I ever slow danced happened to be to one of his songs, and we danced to it again for the first time as man and wife. I used three of his songs on “Freedom” during my wedding procession as the candle lighters set the ambiance for the ceremony and parents and grandparents were seated. It could not have been more perfect. I had this CD in the background during the ridiculously long labor day with Bella – it’s what she was welcomed into this world with.
One of the CDs we play for Bella to fall asleep was a gift for her baby shower and lulls her to sleep with instrumental versions of all his best singles. The best part of opening this present is this is literally the first time I’ve ever really told people how much of an influence his music has had in my life – in the background, once again, it was just there.
My favorite holiday, without a doubt, is Christmas and ever since the first Christmas season we spent together dating, Justin takes me to some kind of Christmas concert. We’ve seen the Nutcracker, the Christmas Story and this year we saw Michael W. Smith’s Christmas concert with music from the CD he released last year. It was much simpler than the concerts I’m used to from my job, but it was simple and intimate and I loved it. He sat and played at the piano for most of it and although it had his hokie parts (as most of his albums have) it was awesome – and Bella’s first concert. She sat in our laps and rocked back and forth with this huge smile until she finally fell asleep.
SO, I know it’s not incredibly impressive or cool, but it’s surprisingly meaningful and mine.
One of my favorite roles in the choir performances at church when I was in middle school was based around one of his songs (I was no better at singing then than I am now, but my dad worked with the youth group and I think the pastor had pity on me, ha!) and I’m familiar with all his synthesizer praise music from the 90s from church and my parents stereo. As long as I can remember, I’ve known his music.
He was one of my very first concert experiences when my dad brought us to Praise in the Rockies. I saw him in 1996 when my youth group traveled to California for a youth conference called DC/LA and in 10th grade when I was asked to write about an influential person, my essay was about him. It was the first time I can remember I was made fun of for my beliefs.
When Columbine happened just 40 minutes from my high school and I was walking through the hallway weary of the students who still wore trench coats I found comfort in the song he wrote for the girl who answered a sweet and simple “yes” to her belief in God before she was killed. The album he released the year I graduated was on constant replay, and my parents used one of the songs in the senior video they played at my graduation party.
His instrumental CD “Freedom” was the only thing I could listen to while studying all four years of college – and it never got old. The first time Justin and I ever slow danced happened to be to one of his songs, and we danced to it again for the first time as man and wife. I used three of his songs on “Freedom” during my wedding procession as the candle lighters set the ambiance for the ceremony and parents and grandparents were seated. It could not have been more perfect. I had this CD in the background during the ridiculously long labor day with Bella – it’s what she was welcomed into this world with.
One of the CDs we play for Bella to fall asleep was a gift for her baby shower and lulls her to sleep with instrumental versions of all his best singles. The best part of opening this present is this is literally the first time I’ve ever really told people how much of an influence his music has had in my life – in the background, once again, it was just there.
My favorite holiday, without a doubt, is Christmas and ever since the first Christmas season we spent together dating, Justin takes me to some kind of Christmas concert. We’ve seen the Nutcracker, the Christmas Story and this year we saw Michael W. Smith’s Christmas concert with music from the CD he released last year. It was much simpler than the concerts I’m used to from my job, but it was simple and intimate and I loved it. He sat and played at the piano for most of it and although it had his hokie parts (as most of his albums have) it was awesome – and Bella’s first concert. She sat in our laps and rocked back and forth with this huge smile until she finally fell asleep.
SO, I know it’s not incredibly impressive or cool, but it’s surprisingly meaningful and mine.
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