Holiday Reflections

It's December 1st, the first day of the most exciting month of the year for most everyone, and the month I am expected to bring another little soul into this world! But as God so ordains that this awaited occasion transpire, I look upon it with happiness and humility because I know that there is so much more to a happy birthday. I believe that this world is fallen, in part, because God does not want any of us to fall too deeply in love with it. We were created in His image to worship and enjoy Him alone, and this is glorious. But sometimes we're on top of our mountain, filled to the brim with glee and we feel, for that briefest of moments, that we've reached that perfect state of being. Then life happens once again. Trials small, and tragedies profound are the tether that keep us grounded either in a spiritual way becoming to the true Christian, or in a rebellious way. For some, the loss of a loved one is enough to harden their hearts, turn their eyes from their Maker and toss them into the broad path of destruction. For others, such a devastating event causes them to cling ever tighter to the Cross, putting their faith in the flawless, all-seeing plan of God. For them, that "peace that passeth all understanding" comes. With the start of the Christmas month, many are abuzz with anticipation. Children expect to get that coveted toy, singles expect that first kiss under the mistletoe~~~I hope for the safe delivery of my baby boy, due the day after Christmas. We long for the sacred desires of our hearts to be met and exceeded beyond our most ambitious imaginations. We hold out for that grand surprise. The hopeless dread the holidays, expecting to be disappointed, or stressed, or broke. The fact of life is that it is an ever-shifting score board of points scored and points lost. We live in a broken world, so it's never going to be Heaven for any of us, as we can see when we read the heartbreaking details of another celebrity's life, falling apart. We simply can't touch that bliss until we return home to our Heavenly Father. I do so look forward to meeting little Lincoln James, beholding the most precious of faces, the tiniest of fingers and toes, to examining the folds in his bowed, froggie legs and cupping his itty bitty bottom in my palm as he rests on my shoulder, but as I grow this baby inside me, I hurt. I have suffered about three kidney infections and have passed 5 stones thus far. The past three days have been rough and have caused me to reflect. I'm not to fall too madly in love with my pregnancy, I realized. Beyond that, I am not to idolize James, or Wendy, or Lincoln, or my mother or father, or myself or pleasure. Yes, there definitely is love to be realized, pleasures to be experienced, and joys that I can't even fathom, but there will always be the anchor that reigns in that enthusiasm, ever and always keeping that zeal in check. For the best is yet to come, and transient life is to eternal life what clay is to the harvest! This Christmas season, I hope that we all can look forward to the ultimate blessing of reunion with our Savior, and I am certain that with that focus in our hearts, all of our disappointments as well as all of our pleasant surprises will further ready us for the grand finale! WHOOP!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Here are some photos documenting some developments, including little..er...big? Linc, and Christmas activities that I have tried very hard to "wrap up" before I get TOO BIG! Living Water Church, where we believe we will stay, is sending out Christmas shoe boxes for children in war-torn countries (Samaritan's Purse), and I have to tell you that I love any excuse to shop for toys. It's the kid in me. Below is Wendy (very obediently) allowing me to pack and seal these boxes of goodies for other kids. Of course, when she saw the purple Barbie, she told me she's going to put "purple Barbie" in her letter to Santa. Note to self---get that purple Barbie before they sell out! Oh! James is taking Wendy with him to WalMart, so I just asked him to sneak that doll in the basket. Yay James!
The other night, I affixed Disney Princess nails to Wendy's fingertips, and she loved them! Until one fell off that is. Then she was all tears!

Behold...her first school portrait. I used sponge curlers that morning...Worked like a charm!
I assembled 17 of these for James' coworkers. Pillar candles with candies in festive tin buckets, tied up with ornaments. James will take them in after Thanksgiving. Again, I love any excuse to shop!
Wendy's picture with Santa from this week! 'Got out them curlers again. Couldn't help myself.

Yup, and I've wrapped all my Christmas gifts already too. HAD to! I'm almost too big to save it for later!

Family Update

I love my James. He's such a sweet man. Last night, he was going to go for a jog, but Wendy ran up to him and said, "Daddy, do you want to have a tea party with me?" and of course, in his work clothes, with his work badge still attached to his belt loop, he shuffled into our kitchen, got out the tea pot, the gummy snacks, and crouched down at her teensy IKEA table and chairs, and they partied. Around the two of them were Pooh Bear (of COURSE!), two dolls and other little "friends." James named them all. They took turns and used "please" and "thank you." He always uses their tea parties as a chance to reinforce good manners. Another thing he and Wendy do together is Playdough, and jogs in the jogging stroller, and watching the fishies swim around in their tanks at WalMart. Yup, I am blessed to have married a wonderful man.
Now, back to other news, Wendy news, as if I have any other kind of news--She's been her usual chatty self. She often asks me in public, the moment she spots a victim, "Mommy, Can I talk to strangers because I'm with you?!" I say, "Yes," and she then turns to the unsuspecting man or woman and says, "Hi! What's YOUR name?" It's actually a neat sort of social experiment that I get to observe because you'd be surprised how DIFFERENT folks out there are! Some adults are hesitant to speak to her. Weird. Some are bubbling over with interest in her and sweetness. I like those folks best of course. If she gets sort of blown off, she turns to me and says, "She's busy, right Mama?!" I hope the world is going to be kind to my Wendy. She's so young now, so innocent, and there are meanies out there, so I hope she is blessed to retain her good nature while also developing a strength that will uphold her in the face of rejection or outright cruelty. I wish I could be her shield forever. I hope SHE stays kind as well. I know how important it is for us to pray for our childrens' salvation in the Lord, that they may never know a day apart from the otherworldly comfort, protection and influence of the Holy Spirit within them.
Well, we miss my folks terribly, but they'll be back the 15 for the birth of Linc! Woo HOO! Below are pics of the rest of my folks' time here with us.

Fun with Folks!

My folks have been visiting since the 29th and we've done quite a bit already! Below is Wendy, half-dressed for her school picture day! I'd curled her hair with sponge curlers, and she looked like Shirley Temple! She loves to climb on Granddaddy!

I love her as Curly Sue!

Last night I made verde salsa chicken enchiladas, and they were so-so, but the other night, I made this pecan-crusted chicken, and it was the bomb! It was not ME, so I'm not bragging or anything, it was this amazing recipe. E-mail me if you want it.

Halloween Day!

Portland City Grill....Mmmmmmmmm. Rebeccah watched Wendy for us!

OMSI Imax, Bugs.

Right before the show...

Playing at her table....Instead of eating.

Morning Play Date with Luke --Check out the Mommy Bumps!

Now I'm fixin' to get Wendy ready for our trip to Timberline Lodge, where we'll spend the night tonight. I bet this will be a neat experience!

Happy Holloween!

Happy Halloween Y'all!!!

Wendy had a ball trick-or-treating with her friend, Rowan, and Anna Marie. She looks a little uncertain that the creepy green alien is really Anna's big brother, Cole!Yes, we've gotten lots of mileage out of this princess dress that Mimi got for Wendy. Below are two pics from Disney on Ice the Saturday before.

And she got to wear her get-up in Camas for Boo Bash as well. That was fun.

She loved the attention she got from Mickey Mouse.

Katie's Visit---Fantastic Memories!

Katie's visit was awesome! We were so blessed to enjoy her and lots of excursions! Below is Wendy with Katie at a pumpkin patch! A Mommy Elephant with her baby at the Portland Zoo!

Smoochy smoochy as the sun sets...

Daddy with Wendy as the sun began to retire (this was on our way up a bike path that overlooks a ton of...well, rocks that they break up and sell for landscaping.)

Katie trying her hand at silhoettes! Great job, Katie!

A cool tree on our way up to see Multnomah Falls.

Cape Horn.

Our Family at the Rose Garden.

A little play time at Laurel Hurst Park.

Zac at Roloff Farms!

Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach.

Lincoln's very first Halloween costume!

Roses...ah...so lovely.

A silly girl who absolutely LOVES going to the dentist!

Enjoying the sand at Cannon Beach.

So proud of our goof ball....