A Wonderful Week!

Merry Christmas to everyone! I haven't blogged in a while because we have been all over the place, and I barely had a chance to even take photos, let alone blog! :)

The weekend before Christmas, we were able to head down to Ohio to celebrate Christmas with Josh's side of the family. It was so much fun, and I think I can say one of the best times we've had in years. It was so relaxing and enjoyable to be with everyone. I wish I had not forgotten my camera at home!

We got back from Ohio on the 23rd, just in time for friends to stop by for a visit and we had dinner with them. With all of our kids plus the two they were watching, we had NINE kids in the house! They brought us a bunch of gifts from their Sunday school class, including a whole deer! They had heard that Josh did not shoot a deer this year, so one of the men went out and shot a deer for us to have venison! What an amazing blessing!

Christmas eve started out so great! We went visiting with some very dear friends of ours, and had mince pies! First time I had them, but hopefully not the last. They were delicious! The whole family had a great time just relaxing and chatting. The girls loved playing with the legos, and I think both of the Daddies did too! :)

That afternoon my parents came over. We went to the Christmas eve service, and then went to look at Christmas lights on our way home. My parents spent the night and celebrated Christmas morning with us. The girls had a great time opening gifts. They are so fun to watch! After eating some brunch, we just played all day with the toys, watched movies, and snoozed.

The next day we were off to Wisconsin for Liz and Michael's wedding. I was honored to be a bridesmaid, and all three girls were flower girls. It was a long weekend, but SO much fun. We are so very blessed by their friendship and honored that they would want us to play a part in their special day.

The girls got microphones. A very fitting gift if you know how much they like to entertain!

A yummy egg bake, blueberry muffins, and donuts make for a sweet and filling brunch.

Daddy and the girls hanging out in the hotel room. They did a lot of this while Mommy was doing bridesmaid things. I am so thankful for a wonderful husband who made this past weekend possible!

Jenna and I at the reception. I told her that this was NOT a crazy face picture, and this is what she gave me. Love you my fellow bridesmaid!

A Little Holiday Baking

A couple weeks ago before I hurt my back, we had some students over to bake some cookies. It was a huge mess, but a lot of fun, with some tasty results. :)

Checking on the cookies.

Um, Kayla...I hope you got a new knife...

The yummy cookies. :)

Then all of a sudden there was a cookie war on our hands! I had to beg them to stop, because I was skeered for my poor kitchen getting any messier. They called a truce. This was the end result:

Oh, Dan and Jamie. You crazy kids.

Angel Alert!

Today was the children's Christmas program at our church. My back is still in a lot of pain, but I had enough medicine in me to be able to go. I am so glad I didn't miss it!

Josie's class started out the program with a little poem. It was so cute! I only wish I had a better view of her.

After Josie's class was done, the rest of the kids started. This year Emma was finally old enough to join the big kids choir, and she had so much fun! She really got into it and was dancing and moving all over the place. I am positive she didn't know that everyone was laughing at her, but it sure was funny! Everyone kept asking where our little angel got her moves. I told them it was their daddy, of course! :)

It was a great program, and I just love knowing the girls are growing up, making life long memories of singing in the church choir. Some of my fondest Christmas memories as a child include the same thing. I felt like I really was there back in the beginning, sharing for the first time the birth of our Lord. It was so exciting, and I love seeing the girls experiencing the same thing.

I wish I had some video to show you. It was SO cute!

Josie walking up to the stage, with her buddy Jack not too far behind.

I didn't really have a good shot of Josie. Here is the best I have.

Here is the Angel choir. Can you spot Emma? Here is a hint, she is in the front row.

A close up of my little angel.

The Things That Happen When You Least Expect It

This has been my view for the last couple of days:

It is my ceiling. I am on the floor. Not by choice mind you. It was my back's idea.

I thought my back was a team player. I thought I could count on it. That my back was on my side, "backing" me up if you will.

I was wrong. Horribly wrong. Tuesday morning my back, without even discussing it with me, decided to give out as I got up from a chair. Why? I have no idea. Didn't my back KNOW I had 300 loads of laundry to get caught up on? That I was hosting a small Christmas party at my house that night? That it was the very last week of school for the students here and I had a BILLION things to do???

Well, it seems my back doesn't really care about my schedule.

Hmmm...

I decided to scoot closer to the tree. There now, things are much better from this view, right?

Not really.

You know, when you are lying around, there really isn't much to do (besides take goofy pictures of yourself, and your ceiling) but think and pray.

I have been thinking about my dad. I remember one Christmas (I think it was 1991?) when his back went out. I mean, it wasn't a couple of weeks before, it was Christmas eve! We had just arrived to my grandparents cabin in TN, and he spent the rest of that week in bed. Not complaining at all. Can you imagine how hard that must have been? Hardly ever seeing your family, making the ten plus hour trip to be stuck on your back for your whole vacation? I am sorry that you had to go through that dad. I thank the Lord for your gracious heart, and making sure we all had a great Christmas, despite your pain.

I've been thinking of my own father-in-law who has suffered from chronic back pain for years and years. I don't know how he does it, but I now know how to pray for him better. I am sorry dad, that you have this burden. Please always let us know what we can do to help.

I have been thinking of my friend Cherri who was just in a car accident and fractured her pelvis bone in two places. With every wince of pain, I am reminded to pray again for you. I am sorry for your accident. I am praying for your quick healing, and thanking God he saved your family in that accident.

I have also been thinking about my pastor who had the flu turned pneumonia and was on his back for FOUR weeks! On Sunday he was sharing what God needed him to learn, and he had to put him on his back to teach him that.

God's timing is funny sometimes, no?

This is my view right now:

I am starting to feel a little better, and I have moved from the floor to the chair. I have been seeing a chiropractor daily who said "You really did a number on her" I think he may have been speaking to my back about me.

I am thankful for all the prayers. For kind neighbors who bring us food, for friends who are willing to give up an evening on the town to come sit with me and watch a movie, to last minute babysitters to watch the girls as I go to the doctor. I am most thankful for an amazing husband who had taken on the job of "mom" while still being dad and missionary on one of the busiest weeks at the Bible school. I am thankful for his extra care for me in making sure I am comfortable, that I have enough pain medicine in me, and just recently, bringing me my laptop and a cup of coffee so I can feel like part of the world again. Love you my sweetie.

We Need a Little Christmas

I just realized how we have family traditions that just happen. We have, for the last couple of years now, had some students over while we put up our Christmas tree. It is a lot of fun to have a fresh perspective of the decorating, it gives some students a way to not miss home too much at this time of year, and the kids really like it!
Last night was no exception!

Kayla and Emma dig through one of the decoration boxes.

Addie placed 90% of the tree ornaments on the bottom right of the tree. :)

Josie was so excited to be able to hang the star this year!

We have red lights on our tree this year. It's different, but the girls like it!