GOD with us!!!!

Christmas has happened.  

I don't mean Christmas 2011.  I mean 2000+ years ago.

Regardless of the actualy date, HE CAME.

HE CAME to set the captives free.

HE CAME to bring peace inspite of our rebellious, ruthless, proud and selfish hearts.

HE CAME when we couldn't do anything about our lost and broken souls.

CHRISTMAS HAPPENED!!

EMMANUEL!

Let us shout it from the mountain tops.

Let us shout it from the valleys.

And from everywhere in between.

My heart goes out to those who reject HIM.  The bitter root that swells.  The resentment. The anger.

And the sadness deep in the inside, that is denied on the outside.

EMMANUEL!

HE CAME!!!

HALLELUIAH

We had a good Christmas this year.  The VA family came up and man did that little boy melt my heart.  

Again.

Christmas morning brought much joy and laughter.

Josiah recorded.

I think the whole underwear conversation was recorded for our *pleasure*in the future.

We had no idea it was being recorded.

Moving on.

Samuel loved this gift.  I am still praying for this boy and some of his choices.

The Eagles??!!?  REALLY??!!!?

My mom invited Josiah's family over a few days later and we ALL enjoyed the evening.

The brothers playing Just Dance.

My dad opted to just plain old waltz.

The tree died prematurely.  WAY prematurely.

And I was slightly shocked since the tree was fresh-cut by us. Usually it lasts longer than that.  When we took it down to pitch it outside, I realized why it died so soon.  Every year, I turn off the radiator that is right there.  I asked John to do it this year while I was doing something else.

He forgot.

Poor tree.

OH!  And HELLO...

I have an interesting amount of gray hair growing right in front of my head.  So instead of coloring it to my super dark brown hair, I decided to color a gray streak instead.  As John calls it...granny chic.

Because I LOVE being a granny.  <3

It looks more blonde than gray.

More young than granny. Oh well.

I still like it.   

ALOT!

4 days

So much has happened for the holyday so far.

Except for ... oh... shopping.

But it will get done.  Even if I turn into one of those crazy people ( mostly men) who are out shopping like lunatics the days before.  I always wondered what causes someone to be that unorganized.

Now I realize that it is not organization.  It is just plain old ugh.  

Uninspiration.

But Elena had her church show.

She was an angel.  And she got to sing Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.  She was the only one who memorized thewhole song.  But let us remember that she watches Charlie Brown Christmas ALL YEAR LONG.

And HEY!  Guess who joined the family.  

You may remember Marv.  He died. John has been needing a real cat.  Fat Surely has disappeared in the basement.  It takes Samuel 10 minutes to find her.  Sometimes I don't see her for weeks.  And Peg has to think long and hard to decide if she will give you privilege of letting you pet her. More often than not, the answer is no.

I am  not a cat fan.

But he is.

And so is she.

Oh, and did I mention...

The most beautiful baby boy is here? 

He is.  <3

The Voice of Truth

This song, though old,  stretches me. Like no other has in a long time.

This song pushes me out of my comfort zone.

This song challenges me to stop being afraid.  HE is my Master.  Why fear?

This song reminds me of a young man I know.

As I was praying today, he came into my thoughts.  I figure when people come to mind during prayer, GOD put them there, so just go ahead and pray.  So I did.

Anyway, I remembered how he put himself 'out there' recently.  He spoke truth.  And though it cost him a possible friendship, Truth is all that mattered in the end.

Though he knew there was a chance that he would be rejected, his Master mattered more.  And HE always will.

This kid inspires me.  He understands that the rat race, as Diane Keaton said, is just going to have to survive with one less rat.

It has been a while since a young person has inspired me like this.

If he can do it at 19 or 20, (I forget how old he really is, lol) HECK I should stand tall and true to HIM, too!!

satan himself will try to squash me like a bug because of it.   he usually tries super hard.  It is painful and certainly not fun.

So.Be.It

Because in the end, the Voice of Truth is the only thing that matters.  For HIS glory.

And who doesn't want to do that??!!??!

Christmas TIme is...almost here.

We decorated for Christmas this weekend. 

It got me thinking of loads of Christmas controversies.

It also got me thinking of The Birth.

And the Miracle.

And the Hope.

And I realized that Hope is truly...my favorite thing. 

EVER.

You have to understand.  I am a basketcase.  I am a woe-to-me fan.  I am a jump off the cliff because there is just no hope left.  Also, an 'oh well, it is for everybody else except for me because it is never for me'.

In a word...pathetic.

BUT, in all that, HE always manages to come in, into the pinholes of my life, and explode with hope.

SO, as we decorated this year, I clung to hope, for in the end, that is all I want to hang my hat on.  

Hope in Jesus.

Period.

The other thing is, we didn't decorate the tree.  We are waiting for my oldest baby girl to come from VA. With her family( read: my beautiful grandson.  Oh, and my dear son in law, too.  But really HAVE YOU SEEN THIS BABY??!!??!).  So I can kiss those cheeks while they do the rest of the work.  

Because my job will be to kiss those cheeks.

Our diningroom table centerpiece:

Charlie Brown's Tree & the Jesse Tree.

Daisy-gurl is a worry-wart in the worst way.  She and Reilly are the same age.  Except Reilly looks so much younger.  Because Reilly goes with the flow.  As long as he eats and has water...life is good.

Peanut's motto:  Have tree, will travel.  She loves Charlie Brown Christmas.  She watches it all year long. She thinks Peppermint Patty should be a boy.

So 12 days of Christmas left.  13 if you are an American.

And I haven't really started my shopping yet.

I should panic. 

I should have a freak out session.

But instead, I am going to hang with Reilly, because it will get done.

As long as can eat and have some water...it's all good.

Random Life, Random Thoughts

Yes, this will be random.

Like my life.

Everyday.

ANYWAY, I was going through my Targ*t flyer and I happen to notice that Mr. Popper's Penguins dvd was on sale.

On sale??!!??

Seriously?  I didn't even know it was out in the theaters!

My daughter loved this book.  It was her all time favorite. Like mine was When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit.  She read it, talked about it, reread it, took it with her to camp, like having a little bit of home when feeling lonely. You get the point.

I had heard they were doing a movie.  Evidently someone pressed some fast-forward button on life somewhere, because it is on dvd already.  :P

Moving on.

I asked my son today what he wants for Christmas, and again he gave me a short list.

And I quote:

" I want a second bow for my violin."

" Why do you need a second bow??!!??" ( panic sets in, as I think he did something to his first one.)

" Because I want to be good enough to have a second bow like my teacher has.  I think it is SO COOL when he opens his case and there are 2 bows in it."

...


words escape me

...

Moving on.  Again.



As you may or may not know, I am in training for the 1/2 marathon. Again.

How much do I hate this?  Let me count the ways.

But this year, I am doing it for a good cause.  It is in memory of our pastor's wife and more so, in honor of her children.

They have this whole thing going on with it.  Pretty cool.  And it will keep me on my toes with the training.  These are crazy trainers/trainees.

All serious and what-not.

Then there is me.  Sucking air and trying not to pass out.

Whatever.

I'm doing it.

Okay, one more thing, because I love stand up comedy/comics.

I work really hard to find ones that are not foul.  Not an easy task.

So I don't get to watch as much as I would like.

ANYWAY, Samuel & I watch them together.

I almost *powdered my nose* in my pants when I heard this one.

" You know I went to the doctors and he told me I am boderline diabetic.  Why did he have to say borderline??  Because I'm a Mexican?"

So, as a fellow hispanic/central american born, and sometimes I wish I was Mexican( according to my mom, they put out some great soap operas, and HAVE YOU TRIED THEIR FOOD??!!??)

H.I.L.A.R.I.O.U.S!!!!

Okay.

I am now getting off the random train and wish you a good rest of the day.

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas.

Ok, it may look like Christmas, but it FEELS wonderful!!!

This is the first year in the past, what?? 20 years I was actualy NOT freezing to death when looking for a Christmas tree.  It was fabulous.

Sweater weather!!!

She loved the little trees.  And Christmas tree searching.  And running in between trees.  And posing like a tree.

This is the pickiest man.  On the face of the earth.  And I love him.

Found it.

Cut it.

Taking it to the car.

The 2 that enjoyed watching.

Pulling it through.  We have been going to this tree farm longer then I can remember. I think about 18 or 20 years. 

And now, it is time to pull out the Christmas movies, play the songs, decorate the house, read the devotions, advent, The Jesse tree, make cookies, and (im)patiently wait for my grandson to come here for the holidays.

GOD is good.  <3

HEY YOU!

HEY YOU!

You! 

 The love of my life!

It is your birthday today!!  

And allow me to say...I love it when it is your birthday.  

I love it that even though when I asked you yesterday, what you wanted for your birthday meal, you JUST realized your birthday was the next day.

I love it that our children have learned your expressions well.

I love it that this one really thinks she is a princess because of you.

I love it that your grandson went to town on your blueprints, while sitting with you way too early in the morning.

Because the 3 of you are morning people.  You, your daughter and your grandson.

I love it that you are trying hard to figure out how to live a life worthy of HIS name.

I love it that you make me laugh even when I don't want to.

I love it that you challenge me beyond my comfort zone, even though at the time I am * slightly * irritated.  

I love it that you sacrificed for your children's sake.  So much more than they will ever know.

I love you

 There is just so much to say and be thankful for on this day.

Happy Birthday My Love.

Giving Thanks

I was watching this very odd movie last night and I realized, again, it is an ugly, mean, volitale world out there.

Now, mind you I already knew that, but since I daily live in my world, I keep forgetting about out there.  And before you say I live a sheltered life, I know I do.  Never mind that we often go to the inner cities to serve, and yes, sometimes hang out; and we live in the NYC metropolitan area and we get to see, experience and know, probably more than the average person.

Still, in spite of my sheltered world...

I have talked to people who are strung out on drugs, protitutes, runaways, parents looking for their run away children from all states, alcoholics, dealers, illegals, people who just came out of prison, mafiosos, you name it, I probably came across it.

The difference is, that is their world, and even if I am in the outskirts of it, I will probably not be in their inner circle.  The circle of terror, or fear, of desparation, deep sorrow, anger, lack of hope.

Have I ever experienced any of those things?  I have experienced ALL of them.  But not to the degree of that they live in daily.

And so today, on Thanksgiving,  I have so much to be thankful for, my Jesus, my family, my home, my car, my everything.  The list could make you sit here for a good hour reading it and I would still not have put everything on it.

BUT I am specially thankful for the privilege of of knowing these people.  Not because it makes me happy I am not in their world, but I am thankful they bring so much to mine.  For in the midst of their suffering, hopelessness, anger, sorrow,  they smile... a genuine smile.  They teach me something no one else can.  They are happy to see me. So happy to have someone talk to them as equals.  So happy to have someone listen.  So happy to sit for a while where we both leave our worlds behind and just enjoy this minute, with each other.

I am thankful for the mean, ugly, volitale world out there, because I realize that when Christians leave their own world and walk into this one, Jesus shows up.

Every. Single. Time.

13 Things....

Happy Birthday, my youngest son.

In honor of your birthday, I will try to come up with 13 things of who you are today.

1.  Inspite of the fact that you never sleep, you have enough energy for 25 people at any given moment.

2. You never really care what others think about the way you dress.

3.  It takes you 2 hours to do a 45 minute math lesson.  But in between problems, you conquered the Huns, fought in WW2, dreamed of sciences of centuries past, became a time traveler, created solutions to conflicts, figured out good plans for the Sunday Night game or created musical masterpieces.  Then would get frustrated at me for bring you back to the next math problem.

4. You heard about the opportunity to play the piano at hospice, and you turned your world around to be able to do it.  And though it was emotionally hard, and sometimes you left with tears in your eyes, it never occured to you NOT to go back.

5. Your favorite birthday gifts usually require time, not money.

6. You have a temper that takes about 30 seconds to show up.  But at the same time, it can leave just as fast.  With no residue to spoil the rest of the time.

7. You love to DO things.  Whether it is with your hands like chopping wood or changing the brakes with your father, or physical , like jumping bridges or scaling rocks; sitting down is hard for you.  And that is ok.

8. You adore your family.  Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins.  A good day to you is a day spent with them.

9.  You don't embarrass easily.

10. You are the most musically talented kid in the family.  I am always amazed when you sit at the piano or pick up the violin and play a song you just heard for the first time.

11. You like swift justice on people. But are grudgingly learning grace.  Because you are now understanding your own faults.

12. Age doesn't  matter to you.  You enjoy older people, little kids, adults, and your own peers.  You can carry a conversation with anyone, and not feel awkward.

13. You know GOD is fighting the battle for your soul, and you really want HIM to win.  Usually.

Happy Birthday my son.  You are a gift from HIM from whom all good things come.

I Wish I Had an Accent

  Granted, some people may say I have a Jersey accent.  Whatever, Jersey doesn't have an accent..  

This little girl is coming into her own.

She is a real-live NorthEast American girl.

She is learning sarcasm right along side her English.

:P

I would very much like to blame this kid for that.

But where...pray tell...did he get it from??!!??

FINE.  

The hard past about this is that I have gotten so much better then I used to be years ago.

My poor older children.

 I would very much like to live a life minus sarcasm.  

And how much would I like to blame somebody, anybody for the fact that I am too sarcastic. For example, why did my parents move here??!  Why not TX, or CO, or some southern state where people are just naturally kind, not cynical??!? ( I know I know, my daughter tells me that people can pull off 'not kind' in the south just as well as they do here, but we are in your face about it as opposed to walking away from it.  Walking away may not always be a bad thing.) 

But no.  I was raised in Jersey. 

It becomes painfully aware to us when we meet someone from another state, just how bad we are.   Because in reality, we don't even notice it.

And if need be, we can even point out Scriptures where sarcasm was used to justify that it is ok.

Yeah.

Pray for us here.

We need to be kinder, more gentle spirited. 

And HEY!!  

Guess what happens in 4 days??!!??!

Go ahead guess.

I will give you some hints.

1. it involves my youngest son

2. it involves the number 13

3. it involves cake

4. and presents

5. and family coming over

6. and probably a couple of friends too

7. and a little sister wanting it to be her turn, because a year is so darn long to wait.

I think those clues may help in guessing.

Maybe not.

But regadless, he is spending the night before and next day doing his very favorite thing.

I won't see him until late afternoon!!

But who can argue with his request to spend his birthday eve & birthday doing this??!!???!!

GOD is good.  I am watching HIS hand on my son's life.  Not that he is this great holy person, but there is a level of desire for HIM and humility in the midst of the hormones, business, bouncing off the walls of his life.

Well, off to rake the million new leaves on our yard.  Thankfully, I raked last week, just in time for it to look worse then before, seeing as how the rest of the leaves just decided to drop all in one shot. :P SHEESH is that sarcasm??!!? 

See you on the flip side.

NYC Marathon and:::sigh:::

SHE DID IT!!

Waking up at 4am, to get ready to leave by 5am to take the shuttle bus into NYC from Giants Stadium.

You can tell who has adrenolin already hard at work and who doesn't.  :D

This is it.

The family dressed in red, walked all over NYC in order to cheer for her in several places.

Mile 25+ looking for his baby girl.

THERE SHE GOES!!!!!    Less than 1 mile to go!!
She is the one with the blue shirt and cerulean blue socks.

 ALL DONE!!!

 She got her finisher's medal.  She has been dreaming about this since she was 7.

He was super proud of his bride.  

 And then, she couldn't walk anymore, so he gave her a piggy back ride to the car.

I have been wanting to write a post about how awesome my daughter is.

And how she completed the NYC Marathon this past Sunday.

And how she did it all after having a baby 5 1/2 months ago.  

And how she only had 4 months to train. 

And how she just didn't do it for herself, but she ran and raised money for Samaritan's Purse, in order to bring a child over here to get surgery. 

And how when I saw her after she finished, I just wanted to cry.

It as inspiring.  And humbling.

And I wanted this post to be all about that.

Even though there are loads of pictures and Lots of information, there is so much more to say about this day.

But then life happens and now I look at what is hapening in this world.

I love football.

I really do.

Today, I can't turn the radio, read the paper or turn the computer on without seeing something about Joe Paterno, and what is happening.

I watch as students and people in general and rallying and fighting and chanting and crying over his firing.

All I can think is...ReaLLy people?

OK

I think Mack Brown is coolness on 2 feet.  And Mike Tomlin?  <3

But really, it is JUST football.

People...you should be crying, rallying,fighting over this:

Joe Paterno will be fine.

Football will still be played.

These children, these people of the world, they depend on our rallying, or crying, our fighting for their sake.  They depend on our efforts, our hearts, our compassion.

Who else will show them HIS grace?

  

Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. ~ James 1:27

So next time you see another article on Joe, remember... life is just so.much.bigger than that.   And you should live it accordingly.

STOP WHINING AND DO IT!

I think the most exciting this about the NYC Marathon this weekend, is that I get to see Beautiful Boy again.

Ok, FINE.  It is wonderful that my daughter has worked so hard for this day.  And that she is trying to raise money, because in the end it is not about her.

And I so enjoy her company in general.

And my son is law's too.

BUT have you ever smelled a baby?  And watched him laugh??  And hold him close and realize he is just such a GIFT from HIM?

I used to be insulted when people would say all those if I knew grandkids would be so great, I would have had them first jokes.  Because quite frankly, I REALLY enjoyed my children.  And did it really get better than that?

IT TOTALLY DID!!

And now I get it.

:::sigh::: I can't wait.

But that brings me to another thought.  One that I keep forgetting about.  Intentionally. On purpose.

Only 137 more days until my 1/2 marathon.

I REALLY need to start training.  I really need to go buy a new pair of sneakers.

I really need to stop whining about it and just do it.

I really don't want to.  But I need to.

And so, when we go tomorrow to the Javitz Center and get her number, and see all the stuff that is there to excite you about running...it may just be the swift kick in the pants that I need!!

Or not.

Regardless, the days keep coming and this body wil need all the help it can get, come St. Paddy's Day.

SO... of to the races.

November

November...

 ~You bring birthdays.

Like this child of mine will become a teenager in 18 days.

And The Love of My Life also has a birthday... at the end of the month.

(notice the running theme , mainly SLEEPING, of the men in my home.  :P )

~You let my daughter fulfill her dream of running the NYC marathon.

~You bring my favorite holiday.

~ You prepare the way for the crazy season, which in its own way, is delightful.

~ You show us beauty beyond reason.

~ You dump that beauty for us to clean up, in about 3 days.

~ You allow us to wear our favorite sweater, light our Yankee Candles, have the fireplace going, sip hot cocoa, tea, hot cider, and it is all nostalgically new again, not like when it is Feb./March and we are sick of our sweaters and freezing all the time.  And if we have to drink one more cup of tea to warm up...

~ You remind us that the end of the year is right around the corner, and have we wasted away our year, instead of enjoyed the life out of it.

~ You remind us that we are a good nation, regardless of all our faults.  And we have many.  And many more waiting for their chance to 'shine.'

Black Friday.  Enough said.

You are my favorite month.

Good to see you again.  

Elena loves her dance classes.

She, as the Chinese say, Iron dances.

OK, maybe it is just the Chinese person who lives in this house if you needed to get technical.

Everyone else calls it Irish Dancing.

And she loves to practice till she drops.

Reilly comes over to see if he could help her out in anyway.

And it just starts a giggle fest.

  You know, John and I are not what one would consider minivan people.  We are more truck people.  And I rather have a station wagon then a minivan. Nothing agaisnt minivans, it's just not us.

Why am I telling you this??

Because this weekend when we went to a flea market in the city, a minivan with three different 'aisles' sounded like a FANTASTIC idea.

One never has to wonder if they have bonded as siblings.

They have.

Thankfully, we got there and we didn't buy much, but we sure enjoyed the wares offered.

Except for maybe this one.  :P

Scattering

We are painting the dining room.

We have a small house.  It is okay; it is what we could afford and are thankful for it.  The dining room is the heart beat of living here.  It is where we eat, school, do projects, talk, make plans, just about everything.

 SO, that being the case, our house is in c.h.a.o.s.

Life is good.

It will look nice when we are done.

I hope.

The color is called Laura Ashley Chambray.  A serene blue.  A little darker than I would have thought to consider, but I was at my sister's house this summer, and she had a paint chip on her wall with this color and I instantly fell in live with it.

I will post picutres when we are done.  :D

Samuel wants a punching bag for his birthday or Christmas.

 We only get the kids this age and higher one big present.  Sometimes they may get little things on the side, but this is their time to ask for something big.

SO, as we were talking about boxing, karate came up.

And who can talk about karate without this wonderful quote:

Karate is a form of martial arts in which people who have had years and years of training can, using only their hands and feet, make some of the worst movies in the history of the world.


True story.

Anyway, this was one of his options.  He gave me a small list.  Now it is time to start pricing stuff.

And since I am so scattered today, going back to the previous topic, the kids from our church are coming over this weekend for a wiffle ball tournament/man hunt/ general hanging out this weekend.

I hope we finish painting.  :P

If we don't ... well I suppose there are greater tragedies.

I pray you are having a good week.

Or at least you know HIS presence in your life.

Because in the end, that is all that matters.