Monday, December 30, 2013

Our Christmas in Pictures

I absolutely adore Christmastime.  I always make lots of holiday plans throughout the season...basically cramming as much Christmas as possible into the numbered days between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Since this was Adelaide's first Christmas, my paparazzi tendencies were even more extreme than usual.  Here's a small representation of the thousand (srsly) photos we took over the past month.

Adelaide helped trim the tree, and was especially good at staring at the lights.  
We finally found something that fascinates her more than the tv! : /
"Dad, this one should go between the ribbons, to the right of the snowflake." 
Tree trimmer extrordinaire!
Lexi worked the camera with her red bow (thanks to Catelyn :) 
Adelaide LOVED Santa and cheesed it up for the camera!
I practiced my bokeh photography skills.
While Lexi gave Adelaide a paparazzi pep talk.
Nailed it.
Lexi protested the Christmas picture.   
So I tried to tame her, and we see how well that went.  
Victory!  Mad props to Brooksie.
Adelaide loved opening her stocking. 
It snowed while we opened gifts!    
Lexi was convinced Adelaide's toys were actually for her.   
Christmas morning was a success.
We had belly laughs.
Aaaaaaaand angry tears.  
*After driving to Hutchinson, we had to abandon Christmas Eve service because she was NOT HAVING IT.  Clearly we have some Jesus appreciation work to do.*
Of course I had to get a better picture of her in her Christmas dress, so the next day we re-created the Christmas Eve scene for Round 2 of pictures.
Worth it.  

Merry Christmas and much Love from our home to yours in the coming year!   

  


           

Sunday, December 22, 2013

The Beauty of Christmas

Ah, Christmas Music.

My dear husband tries to restrain me every year from busting out my Christmas tunes before Thanksgiving.  I usually try to exhibit some self control as well, but really if it were just up to me I'd start listening at the beginning of November.  I refuse to listen to any other kind of music between Thanksgiving and Christmas, so we definitely get a decent dosage of Christmas music every year.  

Given my affinity for Christmas music, I have a definite favorite.  Sure, every year, there are those albums that are newly released that I become slightly obsessed with for THAT particular season, but year after year (since 1998, kid you not) the album I always return to is "Christmastime" by Michael W. Smith.         

And every year, since 1998, I cry when I hear one particular song on the album.  "Welcome to Our World".  

I used to not be a crier.  Miss Adelaide and all those baby hormones have since turned me into a blubbery mess, but prior to baby, I really was not considered to be a crier.  

I think the song can still elicit such a strong response, year after year, because the lyrics so poignantly address the devastating heartbreak in our world, but also the beauty and hope found in Christmas.  Every year the heartbreak seems to hit closer to home, and I guess that's just part of growing up.  The brokenness of our world is evident in so many ways.  Extreme poverty.  Loss of loved ones.  Sickness.  Miscarriage.  Stillbirth.  Dysfunctional government.  Family turmoil.  Loss of friendships.  Divorce.  Loneliness.  Oppression.  Racism.  The list could go on....and on.  Sometimes it's all too much.    

The beauty of Christmas is the hope we have in a Savior.  

Listen to my favorite Christmas song here:

Tears are falling, hearts are breaking
How we need to hear from God
You've been promised, we've been waiting
Welcome Holy Child
Welcome Holy Child

Hope that you don't mind our manger 
How I wish we would have known
But long awaited Holy Stranger
Make yourself at home
Please make yourself at home

Bring your peace into our violence
Bid our hungry souls be filled
World now breaking Heaven's silence
Welcome to our world
Welcome to our world

Fragile finger sent to heal us
Tender brow prepared for thorn
Tiny heart whose blood will save us
Unto us is born
Unto us is born

So wrap our injured flesh around You
Breathe our air and walk our sod
Rob our sin and make us holy
Perfect Son of God
Perfect Son of God
Welcome to our World.