December 7, 2011

• 1.  This year I’m going into Christmas a little wearily.  It sort of feels like we just took down the Christmas decorations about four months ago, instead of eleven.  And, can I just say decorating for Christmas is an awful lot of work?  To turn around and take down a few weeks later?  So this year I resolve to leave my decorations up all year.  Not really. 

  But I really am doing it just for the kids.  If it were up to me, I think I might skip it this year.  Last night we finally got the tree up, and mostly decorated.  My camera didn’t even come out to see it happening.  It was being lazy.  After we decorated the tree, we made pretzels together.  The boys thoroughly enjoyed this activity.  Here’s my one measly picture from this activity (actually I took more than one, just of the same thing).  

  

  Here’s another, so you can enjoy Tim’s face.  You’re welcome.

  

  I like the idea of Christmas traditions.  I like the pretzel making with the tree decorating, although truthfully the whole decorating bit is a bit hard to rope the husband into.  His holiday energy is sort of short.  ;)  But he helped me anyway.  He must love me.  I also brought out my delightful stack of Christmas books today.  And I revved up the baking with some Chocolate Revel Bars.  Hello, lusciousness.  The boys also really enjoy doing an Advent calendar with doors that open every day of the month.  My mom always sends them one of those.  I expect over the years we will add some more.  I love their wide eyed delight in Christmas.  It makes Christmas really fun.  And worth going to all the bother for.  

  2.  I am currently in the throes of dread in regards to our Christmas traveling.  I am totally excited about the destinations, and seeing family, some that we only get to see once a year, but the Layla Factor makes my stomach knot up and squeeze.  I have been going back and forth and hemming and hawing and scheming and planning on the BEST WAY to travel 11 hours with a 8 month (she turns 8 months on Christmas Day) old child who despises traveling.  Currently my plan is to leave early early early on Christmas morning, and have Layla in the back between Gabe and Israel, and drive 760 mph safely in our jet car so as to get to IN within 30 minutes.  Except not actually.  Oh yes – and the very very first part of my traveling plan is to pray VERY HARD that Layla would be a peaceful and happy traveler.  If anyone wants to join me in that prayer, I would welcome it.  

  3.  Seems like there are babies popping out right and left around here lately.  I can think of at least eleven babies just born or due very soon or kind of soon to people I know. Phew.  I ain’t climbin’ on that bandwagon, though, no sirree.  I got me a little baby and she is quite enough work right now, thank you kindly.  And dear and precious.  Look at her squeezy little legs.  

  

  Note to anyone with eyes.  Enjoy the mess on the floor behind Layla, and then you can come clean it for me.  You’re welcome for that, too.  ;) 

  4.  Tim was gone for part of last week, going to a conference thing in PA.  He left Tuesday night and got back Saturday night.  Things actually went really smoothly here.  Something about adjusting my expectations to fit the week.  I did feel like my evenings were basically chock full of Layla Baby.  Girlfrien’ likes to nurse 28 hours a day, especially in the evening.  She can happily nurse the entire evening away.  She’ll be tired and cranky, and not quite asleep, but not really ready to do anything else.  Probably needs the drink…she’s such a skinny ol’ thing…  

  The cool thing was that I got to webcast into the same place Tim was at – I could even see Tim right on the second row.  

  

  It made him not feel very far away.  

  Here are me and Layla Baby while Tim was gone, in a delightful self portrait where I shamelessly merged the best picture of her and the best picture of me.  

  

  Photoshop is nice that way. 

  On a lot more sober note,

  5.  Tim’s maternal grandfather, Henry, is in the process of going from this world into the other.  I really liked this picture that his aunt Kathy posted on Facebook this morning:

  

  I love that he is going with his family by his side, with his wife who loves him to send him on, and his children to take care of the things that need to be done.  What a treasure.  I pray for blessing on Henry and Polly and all of their children that wait with them.  I pray for a gentle going, for peace, for freedom from pain and a heart that can rest in Jesus.  And bless his family with Your presence, and a quiet peace, and wrap the arms of Your presence around Polly as she says goodbye to her husband.  May she feel Your spirit tangibly supporting her.  In Jesus’ name.  

  • 10:20 pm
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