Christmas Gifts and Ideas/Recipes

So yesterday was Darby's last day of preschool and now we have a break for the holiday.  I put together some things to give her teachers and I am also sharing some with my neighbors.

For your taste buds:

White Chocolate Peppermint Popcorn!  Click here for recipe.   There is another version at Our Best Bites but I did the white chocolate kind.

To kill germs: (not caused by the popcorn)

Last year I made these.  This year I made them simular but went with the monogram version here instead.  Love them. 

Pray for Ansley

How sad.  This family just recently found out that their 4 year old daughter has cancer.  Here is a link to the blog they have started.  Please join with me in praying for God to heal this child.

http://prayingforansley.blogspot.com/

She's a funny one...

At least that is what the doctor said at her 18 month check up. 

My sweet Carson is 25th percentile for head circumference, 50-75th for weight and 25th again for height.

She actually on the scale isn't too chubby but bc of her height she is my little butterball.

I love her, she is super duper sweet all the time.  It's been a while since I updated my blog on the kiddos so I need to more often for my records and such ; ).

She is running and walking rather well, her hair, bless her, is still slowly but surely growing in.  She is very quiet.  She talks but not much and not often.  She does repeat things you say when you ask....if she is in the mood.  Some times she spouts off in what we call her own language... She is generally just a heavy thinker and serious and quiet.  I love her little personality.  Her favorite jam is the ABC's.  She LOVES her big sister.  Really she loves all of us, the dog, dad and mom.  She is quite attached to her family and is so lovey.  I love watching Carson and Darby interact.  They play so great.  Yesterday when I picked Darby up from her little preschool Darby came and grabbed her hand and walked her over to her friends on the rug and asked, "Do you like my baby?". 

A week or so ago Carson went in to the bathroom and grabbed the step stool and brought it into Chad's office, first she tried to climb into his lap, then she was "helping" him work by bringing him CD's one at a time and getting him to stack them on his desk...then she just stood by watching and waiting to see if he needed help ; ).  It was so stinking cute.  I snapped a picture on my phone.  I think it is the cutest.

Some thoughts on Christmas

I think I have said before but Christmas is my FAVORITE holiday.  I love the colors, smells, decorations, shopping, family, food and etc...

Christmas with children is fun...and challenging.  Trying to capture the true meaning of Christmas is a hard thing in all of our hearts but especially in a child who LOVES the presents, the lights and the junk food and etc.  All of those things are fine and dandy but if they replace the true excitement over a Savior being born then they really are all meaningless little idols in our hearts.

What's annoying as a parent.  Christmas programs.  As Darby and I were watching one the other day I was just so disappointed, but not surprised. 

So here we go, seemingly against the grain to teach her:

the point of Christmas: Jesus' birth

the miracle of Christmas: God in the flesh (born of a virgin)!  come on ppl that is a big deal!

the "magic" of Christmas:  personally I don't care for the word but I would just refer to last statement

what to believe in: why Jesus is the son of God of course sent to save

I'm so confused...this program had not a single mention of Jesus but they taught that when something is wrong all you have to do is believe in the magic and miracles of Christmas.  It's so shallow and fluffy really.  I'd like to ask people who live this way,  what do they do when something goes wrong in January?

Another one we watched recently made it seem like the only way Christmas is "magical" is if you believe in Santa... oh me oh my

So now I feel like singing/praying some of the words to "Onward Christian Solider".

Just continuing in the faith and praying for God's mercy on me and my children and for the people around me.

And thankfully and joyfully with Jesus' cross before me.

"See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of the world rather than on Christ."  Colossians 2:8