Christmas like a Child.

In this family, we love Christmas. All that love comes from some pretty great experiences and traditions that we had a children.

Josh grew up all Clark W. Griswald at his house. Christmas literally was everywhere you turned. Countless tress. Christmas figurines. Dishes. Hand towels. Presents everywhere...even on the porch. Little sleighs filled with Christmas stuffed animals. Outside could be seen from space. Gifts. Stories. Love. He believed in Santa til I broke the news to him....when he was 20. Bless. He really had an ideal childhood and along the way gathered some traditions that we celebrate as a family now. 

My family didn't decorate near as much, but we did put lights on the house and always had a beautiful tree filled with ornaments that my brother and I made. Stockings in my house were and still are a big deal. Way bigger than gifts. We couldn't wait to open those before anything else. 

When you have children Christmas changes. Creating new memories with them and mixing new and old traditions are so special. Seeing and experiencing Christmas through my child's eyes is so magical. I love to watch him. Sure things are crazy, busy, chaotic, and loud, but his anticipation and energy, the look in his eyes....just pure love from this Mama. 

Some of my favorite things we do with him are: 

Elf on the shelf obviously. I love it this year though because we can play with him and tell him about kindness, love and Jesus. 

We play Christmas music almost 24/7. HERE is my favorite favorite Christmas song.

We have a basket of Christmas only books, I LOVE when he grabs those and asks to read them. 

This year he really understands Jesus' birth story. We talk about it everyday, mostly because I love to hear him say what Jesus' gifts were...Frankenstein, change and murrh (it was a bird) ha! 

We know the true reason we celebrate is because of Jesus. He is our primary focus and we put all the glory and emphasis on Him, even Santa. Lots of people go about all that differently and that's ok, but for us seeing Major truly believe in something is really special. I think there is a very small window of time between understanding Santa and not believing anymore. This is the first year Major has understood, anticipated and truly been excited about the big guy. We went to Bass Pro and Major sat in his lap and proudly asked for 3 things because "Jesus got 3 gifts". He also told Santa he has been telling Transformer about Jesus and about kindness. The smile on his face was so precious, honest, and real. 

In this big ole mean and ugly world I take comfort in his innocence for now. I love how pure hearted little kids are. I love the true look of excitement and happiness. I am so grateful that I can shelter and protect him and his little heart. That Josh and I were entrusted with that job. 

There are so many things in this world ripping the innocence from our little ones, exposing them to things that even grown ups shouldn't have to experience. I want to just wrap him up and protect him. I want him to have a childhood full of laughter and fun and love. I don't want him to know about bad things yet. I don't want his heart to ache or him to be hurt. I just want him to be little. I want him to believe in Santa. I want his heart to grow with the love of Jesus. I want him to share that with others. I want him to be a little boy whose only concern right now is trying his best everyday. 

I guess with all the bad news in the world, I just feel overwhelmingly humbled by his innocence and excitement right now. 

His sweet face and laugh make me want to make this world so much better than it is. 

Merry Christmas sweet friends. I hope it's filled with so much happiness, joy and love. 

Prayers

You know those moments when your kids unexpectedly steal your heart?

Those moments when you realize all the talking and praying for actually sank in a little....not like I think it sank in...but it really did this time? Those moments?

We've been talking to Major, I mean Mr. Me about giving to people who don't have as much as we do or who aren't blessed like we are. He's 5. He's very rotten and very sheltered in the way of knowing what privilege is.

Anyway, we've been talking to him about that and today at the store we decided to choose an angel from the angel tree to sponsor. We chose a boy who is close in age to Major so that he could understand a little more about the mission. We asked him if he'd like to get presents for this child and also to pray for him. He reluctantly agreed.

So tonight during prayer he asked to pray first. In 5 years the order has been the same...me first, then Josh, then Major.
He prays first and these precious words came from his heart:
"Dear God, Thank you for this day and our family. Thank you for letting daddy make a lot of money. Please help Zach and Heather to have happy hearts and to be happy. Please help the kids who don't have presents and money. Help me to be good at school and to get a good report and to remember to be kind. In your name I pray. Amen"

My heart filled with pride and joy because compassion and thoughtfulness were laid on his heart. For some kids that comes so naturally but for Major, well, it's not his first instinct. I pray for that a lot for him.  I feel very grateful that he is beginning to understand compassion and that we can bless others.
His prayer made my heart happy. :)

Transformer Ninja

This week has been crazy to put it mildly....everything is upside down right now, but it is still the holiday season and we have a 5 year old little boy who was more than excited for his Elf to come back from the North Pole for a visit.

Transformer Ninja came back to us Tuesday morning by bringing Major presents and breakfast. He was so so so excited!

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The traditional story of the elf is that he comes from the north pole, gets into mischief, watches the kiddo, reports to Santa on said kiddo's behavior and the most important rule....YOU CAN'T TOUCH HIM, or it will take the Christmas magic. 

WELL....

We spent the better part of last season writing apology notes to the Elf and to Santa for touching him. Major just couldn't resist. That plus the focus of naughty/nice lists and less focus on Jesus was enough to make us rethink this whole thing. 

I saw a link on pinterest of a parent who wrote a note to her kids about the elf and loved it. I took some of her ideas, and some of mine and came up with a letter that explained new rules to Major. 

Josh and I decided these rules suited Major's personality much better than 'challenging' him not to touch the dang elf everyday.  He LOVES to be the boss and be in charge and be a leader so here's what we came up with: 

Dear Major,

Merry Christmas!

You have been one of my favorite little children to watch this year. First off, I have to tell you that I think you are very special. You are filled with love for your Mom and Dad, your friends and family, but most importantly, you are filled with love for Jesus and I know that he lives in your heart. He lives in my heart too, so that makes us both especially special!

I have to let you know something really special. You know that whole naughty and nice list you hear people talking about? Well, the thing is, that’s more about grace. See, I know Jesus and I know about his grace. Grace is about love, about getting another chance, and about getting things we don’t deserve. Like when you make a bad choice, Jesus gives you grace and loves you still! And sometimes I know your Mom and Dad give you grace too, like when you deserve to be disciplined but you get another chance.

I know that you are not perfect, but I know that Jesus loves you ALL THE TIME and so do I! You don’t have to worry about being on the naughty or nice list, but you do have to believe in the magic of Christmas. Since it is December, the month we celebrate Jesus, our Rescuer, I am sending a special friend to your house to help you remember about grace and about how much Jesus loves you. 

Remember Transformer? He became your special elf last year.

He is a dear friend of mine but he sometimes chooses to be naughty. I have explained grace to him many, many times when he chooses to sin and to be a stinker. I have told him that’s why Jesus had to come, to rescue him from the sin and bad choices in his heart. He is beginning to learn, but I thought if he came to stay with you for the Christmas season you could teach him some more about grace and about how much Jesus loves us. I know that you are learning that you get to obey and love God because he first loved you.  You are learning about Jesus living in your heart and how he can help you make good choices. I am hoping you can teach Transformer that too.

There’s something special you need to know about Transformer. He is an Elf. Elves aren’t exactly like people. You see, Transformer stays still during the day and comes alive at night. You can talk to him, play with him….kinda like George and Rico, they are not alive like you but they can hear you, play with you and love you. Transformer is quiet during the day but will play at night and sometimes he will be naughty. When you find him in the mornings, that’s when you can talk to him about grace and making good choices.

When I told Transformer he was coming back to stay with you, he jumped up and down with excitement! He loves to play Ninja Turtles so make sure he gets to do that while he’s at your house. Thank you for taking care of him and for teaching him about Jesus.

I’ll be back to pick him up the night before Christmas and I will leave you some special surprises.

I love you so very, very much.  

Santa

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I know...it's long.... but he totally gets it. When transformer makes a naughty choice, Major tells him about making better choices in his heart. We've heard him talking to Transformer about Jesus and that Jesus is who he needs to make happy. 

Major does say that he is Transformers boss. Well, he thinks he is always the boss of everyone, but he is really proud to be Transformer's boss. I'm ok with that as long as it brings kindness, compassion and love for Jesus to his heart. 

Anyway, that's our take on the Elf for now. :) 

The picture situation on here....frustrating....apparently I need to start paying to upload pics. Whatever. That's fine. Insert my card #...Can't be processed. FOR THE LOVE! If you want me to pay for them then have your little software working when I try. Um k. So I will try again later gator.

 

This life

You know what doesn't make any sense?

This life.
Yep. The one we live every day. Wondering around in. Taking for granted. Oblivious.

This life that's full of happiness. Joy. Thankfulness. Love. Family. Blessings.

This life that is also full of devastation. Heartache. Pain. Loss. Grief.

Today they intertwined in a complicated, spider-web like way. A day that began looking forward to new life ended saying good bye to that same life. A day full of hope, promise, dreams, ended in a dark, sad, grief stricken way. Somehow there is still peace in this day. Peace in knowing our Father's plan is greater than our own. Peace that his all-knowing hands are wrapped around a family who has suffered more sadness and loss in 9 years than any family should suffer. Ever. Having peace in knowing that there is no answer to why. There.Is.No.Answer. That's just a dumb question.

Today, life fell apart for 2 families. Somehow those lives will be taped back together. The lives will remain cracked, ripped, less complete...you will see the cracks, probably see the weakness, but in rebuilding there is strength, hope, and closeness that was created or renewed through our loss.

Sadly, we have been down this road before. We've buried an infant.  There is no comprehension, no understanding. You move forward in a slow motion, have to find a new normal, this makes no sense state. We lean on each other. Pray for each other. Lift each other.

Josh's sister and brother as well as their spouses now each have the experience of losing a son. There is nothing I can do to understand that loss. Losing Sam and River have left missing pieces in me, but my grief pales to what they feel. I hope, pray and beg for God to give them peace. To know their babies will suffer no worldly hurt, pain and disappointment. They are dancing in the arms of Jesus and their proud Mimi. I know that.

There are no words to make it better.

Praying makes it bearable.

In the days to come, love your babies and your families and remember that no day is guaranteed to you.  Do the best you can do, make the most out of what you have and know that no matter what there is a God bigger than anything we can understand or imagine. I have to find peace in that.

Fifth Birthday Pirate Style

This month has just flown by me...shew! My big kid turned 5 on November 4th!
Can't believe it.

Five whole years. A whole hand. Half a decade. Ready for Kindergarten. Insane.

Wasn't he like just a baby a minute ago?


This year we celebrated pirate style at home. We had the best time and were surrounded by lots of family and close friends. Major and his buddies had a ball pretending to be pirates and honestly I think the older kiddies had as much fun as the littles did.


Here are some snapshots of my little loves birth day:

Good night 4 year old

Good Morning 5 year old

 

 Opening presents birthday morning

Here are a few details from his day....

(there are a lot of pics...sorry :)) 

We burned the edges of his invitations for a more authentic pirate look

 and sent them to friends message in a bottle style

 At the party, I really wanted the kids to have a place to sit and eat that was to scale for them. 

I borrowed the tables and chairs from my classroom and made the banner and think it turned out really cute

 handmade burlap placemats are a fav

 I framed his invitation in a burlap wrapped frame and LOVE how it looked.

Welcome table for all the pirate to grab their swords, bandanas, patches and treasure maps

  Pirate booty bags for all our pirate guests

 Pirate games included:

A treasure hunt

Peg Leg Pirate Races

 Cap'n fishin'

 Walk the plank, mateys

 Cannonball battle

 Tug of War

Major drew himself and his nana and wrote his name and a 5 for his bday while we got everything together :)

 I set up 4 main tables.

Drinks

Desserts

Food 

Gifts

Here is the drink table. We had Buccaneer Brew (tea) Pirate Punch (lemonade) Sea Water (water)

 A halloween tub made the perfect addition to this table

 Dessert

 The yummy dessert table included an allergy free cake from Emily at the Savannah Tea Company, yummy cupcakes from my very sweet friend Brooke, Chocolate Sea Scrolls, Walk the Plank Wafers, Chips Ahoy There Matey, Peg Leg Pretzel Sticks, and Krispie Ships

 The food table was made of little snacks and finger foods bc his party was at 3 in the afternoon. We had Major's Catch of the day(goldfish), Polly's Crackers (veggie chips), Cannon Balls (cheese balls), Jolly Rogers (Sandwiches: either bbq or soy butter and jelly), Pirate Bananas, and Scallywag Skewers and a fruit ship

Above the table for gifts I wanted to show pics from his birth day and each birth day since. 

Crazy to look back and realize how fast time flies.

 

My happy boy

 Pirate Parents

 I love this little pirate so much

 Major and his best friend

 The CREW

Every year this day is a time of true reflection for us. We are so lucky and blessed to be this little boy's Mama and Daddy. We love you precious boy and hope that you know how much we adore you.
                                                                 Happy 5th Birthday. 

Take me to the Beach

I'm finally getting around to blog our vacation....It's kinda long... :)


The last weekend in September we headed to the beach for a VERY long overdue family vacation. We stayed for 9 days and every single bit of it was amazing. Major LOVED the ocean, the sand, all of it. It was the perfect trip. He was super well behaved and we were once again blessed to share our trip with the O'Neal's.

Maj and Leo love each other so much that they love and fight like brothers. :) They did great together though and we really enjoyed spending time with their family.

The day we got there, Major could NOT wait to get his boogie board out and hit the waves. Problem was...it was 6pm. He didn't care. We went out and stayed til dark, unloaded the car, settled in and had the rest of the week to just enjoy the trip.

The night we got there (like fresh from the parking garage)

We did a ton of this:

 Little do they know we are saving them a lot of trouble with this whole pre-arranged marriage thing

 We saw lots of this excited face

 We searched for seashells at the seashore

 We practiced surfing

 Ate lots of yummy seafood

 Took in God's art work

 Hung out with the fishermen

 Played on a pirate ship

 Made lots of memories

 Got photo bombed by a 4 year old

 Went to a pirate parade

 Said see ya later to the ocean

And dreamed about the next time we'd be back to visit.

We had the best time. We made a ton of memories and still Major prays at night about that trip. Not one part of us was ready to come back, even after 9 days. I'm grateful we had the opportunity to go and hopeful that next year will be as wonderful.