Well, it appears my computer problems aren’t solved yet. I have quite the backlog of pictures from California and Christmas to share, and none of them are posting properly! I guess my system is taking a holiday along with the rest of us!
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This new bike isn’t for him, but that’s not stopping Jimmy from enjoying it!
I’m still unable to post pictures, but I’ll leave you with the words of this hymn that we sang on Sunday at church. I thought it was especially fitting for Christmas:
Sweeter sounds than music knows Charm me in Immanuel’s Name; All her hopes my spirit owes To His birth, His Cross, His shame.
When He came, the angels sang, “Glory be to God on high!” Lord, unloose my stammering tongue; Who should louder sing than I?
Did the Lord a man become That He might the law fulfill, Bleed and suffer in my room; And canst thou, my tongue, be still?
No! I must my praises bring, Though they worthless are and weak, For should I refuse to sing Sure the very stones would speak.
O my Saviour, Shield and Sun, Shepherd, Counsellor, and Friend! Every precious name in one; I will love Thee without end. As we were driving home from Bible study late at night, I mentioned that it was Tuesday. Becky quickly objected, “You mean Tuesnight.” *** A few weeks ago, we had gone through the McDonalds drive-thru to grab a quick dinner after running errands, and because I was really hungry and the smell of the hot, salty french fries was just too much to resist, I grabbed a fry out of the bag while driving toward home. Miss Sharp-Ears (Becky) in the backseat heard the to-go bag rustle and piped up, “What did you just eat?” I guiltily admitted, “I snuck a fry.” “What did you say?” Becky asked. “I snuck a fry,” I repeated. “What?” she hollered, trying to hear me over the din in the backseat. “I SNUCK A FRY!” I hollered back. “Oh!” she responded thoughtfully. She paused, then said, “Can I snuck a fry?” I’m having technical difficulties posting right now. Hold tight! Many (MANY) more California trip pictures to come as soon as I’m able! I’ve been so busy doing laundry, addressing Christmas cards, and running in circles (usually chasing Jimmy) that I’ve neglected to mention that we returned last week from an amazing trip to California! It was a bit crazy taking all four kids on a cross-country plane flight, but other than causing a Coke can to explode and douse several rows of thankfully-tolerant people with sticky soda, it actually went very well! We loved visiting with my parents, sister and Gramma, and the kids enjoyed celebrating an early Christmas there. I haven’t had a chance to comb through all the photos yet, but here’s one that’s making me smile tonight: Aunt Angie with her newest nephew!
You know you have a toddler in the house…when you find yourself cleaning peanut butter off the kitchen ceiling lights. The other day, when I got the girls up from their nap, they informed me they had been telling each other stories about how Gaston (from Beauty and the Beast) had fallen in “the spare.” I kept asking them to repeat themselves, telling them I didn’t understand what they were saying. Where did Gaston fall? “The SPARE!” they insisted. I asked them to show me the part they were talking about in the movie. So we popped in the Disney DVD and Becky walked me up to the screen so I would be sure to catch it. I thought I would be fast-forwarding to the end where Gaston fell off the castle wall while wrestling with the Beast, but Becky instructed me to listen at the beginning. The narrator came on, telling the backstory of how the Beast came to be in his animal form, and he solemnly intoned: “…and the Beast fell into DESPAIR.” Becky instantly started exclaiming, “That’s it! The spare! The spare! Gaston fell there, too!” I guess I should have been listening to “da movie” more closely! Tonight, Becky turned to me with a big smile and announced, “Mama, I think we’ll never grow up!” It was all I could do to blink back the tears and return her smile, as I thought of all the precious kids in Newtown who will never have the chance to grow up. Oblivious to my inner turmoil, she bounced away and happily tackled her brother and sister and the three children tumbled to the ground in a pile of giggling arms and legs. There was so much joy in those little bodies. When the girls saw me crying after I learned on Friday the extent of the tragedy, they asked me what was wrong. I didn’t know what to tell them, so I simply said, “A bad man hurt some kids in a school.” They looked somber for a moment, and we prayed together for the hearts of the families, then they returned to their coloring. In the days since, they’ve briefly brought up the subject when they overhear adults talking in hushed tones, but they never exhibit much sadness – only curiosity. Their naïve minds cannot, thankfully, fathom the despair that has descended upon the community. In the past few days, while so many are crying, Danny has learned to laugh. He’s only done it a couple times, but each time, his face lights up and his apple cheeks rise and his eyes shimmer with joy. When he laughs, it feels like all is right with my world, like nothing could ever darken the radiance that he exudes. But I know that I cannot keep the world at bay and forever protect the sunshine in my house. I know that 26 families have been suddenly deprived of the glow of a loved ones’ laughter. And I know that the four little lights that have been entrusted to my care could be taken home at any moment. So right now, in the midst of the gathering darkness, I must focus on those lights. And most importantly, I must focus on sharing the Light of the World with my children, so that, Lord willing, whenever their time on earth is done, they may rest in the arms of their Heavenly Father. “…You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes” (James 4:14). “…Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). |
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