Entries in General (41)
Leighann
I'm now blogging at marquissclan.blogspot.com
All posts regarding baby boy are there and easily accessible. If you'd like to look in the back posts here, click on the most recent one with the label you are looking for. All posts with that label will display. Thanks and happy reading!
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Yesterday, we loaded up the girls and headed out to the local tree lot to find the perfect tree. Bundled up in hats, scarves, and gloves, we trecked through the lot for all of 20 seconds before the girls started complaining of being cold. And, I can't blame them. It was FREEZING! So, the girls and I headed back to the car while daddy braved the wind. He found a beautiful tree and it was being tied onto the top off our car in no time. Meanwhile, the girls colored and sang (you should hear Ainsley sing Deck the Halls) and laughed.
Every year, I get the girls a new ornament corresponding to what their current interests are. This year we wrapped them and they opened them last night to start off the festivities. Ainsley loves her Mickey Mouse ornament and Natalie loves her Barbie Ballerina. They were the first ornaments onto the tree. Most of our ornaments are glass balls - yes, I know, who thought of that in a house with a toddler and preschooler, but I'm happy to report we only lost one. We had such a good time watching the girls pick out where they wanted the ornaments. We also brought out the Fischer Price nativity and the girls have been vying ever since to be the one to play with it. When Natalie was bringing out the pieces, I heard Ainsley say, "Baby E-sus". So cute. I love this time of year.
Yesterday the girls and I had a full day of celebrating Christmas. Natalie keeps asking ' is today Christmas?' and I keep trying to explain we celebrate for the whole month leading up til Christmas, but the actually day is in a couple weeks. Here are some pictures of the girls at a cookie exchange we went to in the morning. They LOVED it! We had lunch, decorated gingerbread men, and sang Christmas carols around the piano. When Mrs. Hatley asked if anyone knew what a king is, Natalie answered, "It's when you are very powerful." She's seen kings in fairytales, but I thought it was perceptive of her to describe it this way.
Last night, our bookclub got together for yummies and exchanging books. We all received a book from someone's home library. We had a great time talking, eating and discussing what book we should read next. Can't wait 'til next year!
Thanksgiving List 2008 - #5
I saved the best for last....I would be totally remiss if I didn't mention how grateful I am for God - the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is unfathomable for man to understand why the creator of the universe chose to pursue a relationship with mankind; why He cares for each of us, and has plans for each of us in minute detail. So, we simply have to accept it. We try to figure out in our humaness how and why God does things, but in the end, we just don't think the way He does. We don't have the whole picture. Why is it His Son, Jesus, is the only way to heaven? Why is it evil exist? Or pain? Or suffering? Why is it children starve to death with their basic needs unmet? These are questions we humans struggle with. However, one thing we do know and I am so grateful for this holiday season is God's love and grace. It's amazing to me that all I have to do is accept God's gift to be acceptable to Him. There are no rituals, good works, religious acts, or random acts of kindness I must do to be acceptable in His sight. I simply have to accept His love for me. His love. That's outrageous. It doesn't answer the human need for fairness. Tit for tat, this for that. It doesn't make sense to us because we constantly feel there must be something more we have to do. But, thankfully there isn't.
And, I'm so grateful it doesn't stop there. God not only loves us to death, but loves us through life. I have felt God in my past through various struggles in my life and especially feel His presence now as we walk through the valley with our baby boy. He has spoken to me through scripture, others, and in my quiet times, calming my heart, giving me hope for the future. It a.m.a.z.e.s me that God speaks to us individually; that He cares about our little hang ups and struggles. We are not looked at as the whole of mankind, but individually who we are.
So this Thanksgiving, and everyday, I am thankful that God loves me; that He walks with me; and that He guides me on this journey we call life.
Ok, so things didn't go as planned. I couldn't log into my website account from my mom's so I wasn't able to post Thursday and Friday as planned. So, I'm going to pretend today is last Thursday, without the big meal. :)
Thanksgiving list #4 -
I am incredibly thankful for my extended friends and family. Each of you have touched our lives in different ways and I'm really grateful for that. Even before our recent saga, our friends have cheered us, confronted us, and played with us. Our family has stood beside us - did I mention we got married at 18 - and loved us despite all our faults. I don't remember who said, 'no man is an island', but it is certainly true. I don't know how we could enjoy life if it weren't for our friends and family. So, Happy Thanksgiving! Today (and everyday), I am thankful for you.