A Story Told Thru A Camera Phone

Once upon a time,

there was a brother and sister who loved each other very much.

Only two years apart, they were the best of friends.

They played well together and shared all of their toys.

One of their favorite activities was dressing up.

And posing for lots of pictures for their parents.

Mostly, these two were delightful and as sweet as pie.

Bringing lots of joy to their parents.

Sometimes they got a little mischievous...and fought.

Teasing one another mercilessly.

But they missed each other when separated.

They apologized profusely.

And tried to mean it.

And make the truce last.

Then one day a new person came into their family.

A baby the two had earnestly prayed for.

He was really cute, and they adored him.

But not when he put their toys in his mouth

or drooled into their juice.

Which happened often.

But they forgave little baby

and welcomed him into their world of play.

Except for when he put their toys in his mouth

or drooled into their juice.

Then they cried out for MOM!

who whisked baby away.

THE END.

Goodbye 2009.

Tomorrow is the last day of 2009, and I am looking forward to a new year.  A fresh start, including a big move (shh, more details soon) and settling down after a year of lots of upheaval.  Goodbye, 2009.  I will not miss you.  I will wholeheartedly embrace 2010, hoping for the best and praying for God's peace, provision and guidance throughout the year.  He is always faithful and true, the One we can depend on in every season of life.  This song by Sara Groves has been the theme song of the last year, one I find myself singing all the time...

Morning by morning I wake up to find

The power and comfort of God’s hand in mine

Season by season I watch Him, amazed

In awe of the mystery of His perfect ways

All I have need of, His hand will provide

He’s always been faithful to me.

I can’t remember a trial or a pain

He did not recycle to bring me gain

I can’t remember one single regret

In serving God only, and trusting His hand

All I have need of, His hand will provide

He’s always been faithful to me.

This is my anthem, this is my song

The theme of the stories I’ve heard for so long

God has been faithful, He will be again

His loving compassion, it knows no end

All I have need of, His hand will provide

He’s always been faithful,
He’s always been faithful
He’s always been faithful to me.

Friend Making Monday: New Year's Resolution

The question for today's Friend Making Monday is,
"What are your New Year's resolutions?"

Hmm.  I normally don't make them, but over the last several weeks there have been a few areas the Lord has been challenging me to address and change.  So I will!

1.  No TV.  A few years ago, I'd cut this out after being convicted about it, but TV watching started creeping in more and more.  I know that I'll have so much more time to do more meaningful activities, and 2010 should be full of creative opportunities!

2.  No Sugar.  Last March, I embarked on a healing/cleansing plan that was so energy-giving.  I felt great, looked great and... the "just one won't hurt" excuse totally side-swiped me!  Even during the holidays, I've seen the effect that too many sweets can have on the family, and it's just not worth it to me.  I want us all to get back to enjoying fresh fruits and vegetables more, not associating celebrations with sugary things, and enjoying even stronger immune systems.

3.  Yes Exercise, Yes Healthy Living, Yes Organic Foods, YES to making the year leading up to my 40th birthday fabulous.  I have looked forward to turning 40 for as long as I can remember.  In March I will be 39, and my plan is to make the necessary changes this year in order to be all that I've always wanted to be at 40.  I see myself as a trim and fit forty, with a big smile, lots of energy, and a strong sense of being the person God's created me to be, on the path to greater understanding and fulfillment of God's plan & purpose for my life.

Though I exercise, it isn't as much a regular part of my life or my family life as I'd like it to be.  This is the year we will be a bicycling, walk-taking, outdoor fresh air breathing family.  We eat mostly organic foods and practice healthy living, but I want us to take it to the next level  - for us to ooze health and wholeness and simple living.

These are my goals for 2010.  What's on the agenda for you???

All I Want For Christmas...

The topic of today's Friend Making Monday is All I Want For Christmas...

My list includes... a home, preferably a gorgeous Victorian one.

Photo courtesy of blogtherockies.com

Clarity and confirmation regarding the next phase of our lives, and a smooth, EASY move. Please, please, please, Lord!

But the top of my list every year is always a joy-filled, healthy, strong family.

Most years, I find that the things I want or need the most can't be found at the mall or ordered through a catalog. In fact, the only consistent place I can get what I want and need is from God's Holy Word. The B-I-B-L-E. God's promises cover a wide range from peace in the midst of storms, to enduring grace, His strength when mine falters, true joy, purpose for my life, guidance and comfort, the presence of the Holy Spirit, and eternal assurance. In light of all of that, the true meaning of the Gift given to us, Jesus, and the genuine reason we celebrate Christmas takes center stage. Jesus...the lover of our souls. As one of my favorite songs from the Supertones declares, "He'd rather die than live without us." Jesus was born to bring us hope, so that He could give His life for us. That's Christmas.

A Toast to Making Wonderful Memories

Isn't this bird so festive and Christmasy? He was a decorative member of the Christmas Victorian Tea. (You can read more about it and the decor on my creative blog, The House of Beauty and Culture.)

I'm not sure what's come over me, but I'm loving bird decor. I bought my first bird from Joann's on clearance to inhabit my thrift store bird cage. Then at an ornament exchange, I was given two calling birds. And I have become slightly obsessed with the 12 Days of Christmas. Rather than spending $24.00 on paper ornaments from Ballard Designs, as lovely as they are, I decided to make my own. This is a project en processe (sounds fancy, eh?).

The family and I are currently enjoying an early holiday celebration up in Englewood, NJ, a cute town right outside of NYC. Mr. Nice Guy had a gig up in CT, so we tagged along for the weekend to visit with Grandma.

Making Memories...last night I took the two older children outside during the snowstorm (we had waited all day for the blizzard to show up.) It felt like we were on a set of a movie, the setting was so perfect. Glittery, untouched snow sparkling in the street lights. Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse... Just the three of us battling it out while Mr. Nice Guy took photos, our raucous laughter disturbing the tranquil night. Nighttime snowballs fights are exhilarating!

It reminded me of an evening soon after Mr. Nice Guy and I got married. A rare snowstorm blanketed the city, and we decided to hike a few miles to the grocery store, just for the fun of it. We laughed like little children, eyes bright with wonder and excitement, holding hands while crossing the empty streets. Until we came across some guys engaged in a serious snowball fight. I encouraged Mr. Nice Guy to join in as one snowball whizzed by our heads - no need for us both to become the new targets! Many minutes of hilarious fun later, he rejoined me as we continued our trek to the downtown grocery store. We didn't actually need any groceries but decided to pick up a few snacks for movie watching, just in case we were snowed in for a few days. The return trip was just as fun, as I shared childhood stories of snow fun. Sledding down big, bumpy hills and returning home half frozen. My mother sticking our feet in the warm oven to thaw out. My father building a real igloo for my brother to camp out in (and he did, though my mother dragged him indoors in the early morning so fearful that he would freeze.) My sister losing a shoe in a snowdrift and trying to find it - we never did, even after the snow melted in the Spring!

So last night, though it was past the children's bedtime, in the interest of making wonderful memories and loosening up the overly serious and perhaps rigid parental personal I have, we played in the snow. It was so much fun. And the children kept thanking me over and over when we came in to thaw out over mugs of hot tea. The look of wonder on their faces, their eyes bright with excitement, their peals of laughter and squeals as the cold snow found exposed skin was priceless. A pre-Christmas toast: to many more moments of making wonderful memories!

Merry Christmas from my family to yours!