Last glut of life

So next year I have I have decided to do a format of the “monthly moment” on my blog. I have decided I when I look back at life - I don’t want see just the glut of random photos and hap-hazard thoughts. Of COURSE the big days are worth remembering and photographing… but what I will forget are the saying of the kids, the moments of learning and sharing and growth. Those quotes, those breaths.  So that is the plan… one random moment a month.. with or without photo… that I never want to forget. But for now - here is the last month in a vomity kind of way. 'Cause December kinda does that... spews joy and beauty everywhere in a way that makes me think, "Should I clean this mess up or wallow in it?"

Awe... Christmas lights.  The perfect example of how Jarod and I's families differ.  Stafford can't find their lights and the Wilhlems have theirs labeled perfectly "warm/cool" white lights - with designated, reels, boxes, hooks, and arrangements - even when a two year old helps put them up.

The weather was confusing.

The guys have more friends than they can shake an ornament at. 

True elves.

And decorating elves.

And sheep farmers.

And tree farmers. And cutters.

They all came out of the woodwork for a little Sunday afternoon decorating - 

right in the middle of studying for finals. 

We must be doing something right. 

Ok. So I think I found my Christmas meal.

Ginger sesame chicken, glazed sweet potatoes, garlic green beans, rice (&bread), 

as well as Nutella cheesecake. EVERYONE was happy.

And let me tell you - that does NOT happen every day.

Randy successfully aged Jarod a decade in one year. Seriously.

"Happy 43rd birthday honey."

See all that coffee floating around? 

That makes for a good company party.

These lovely smiles helped too! 

So blessed to have these ladies in our lives.

And this guy.

With that hat.

Makes my Christmas.

And Katie made our son's.

I hate nerf guns.

Here are the 4 additions to the Bethesda family.

And the founder got into the British flour game.

Lucy got a lamb leash for Christmas.

The Grinch Play... it was a bit much - but these kids pulled it off so WELL.

And in case we didn't have a three ring circus going on... the children have taken up loom weaving.

In fact they are home sick - weaving right now in the living room.

... taking a break from their poker game.

That's how we do the month of Christmas - before a week in the mountains.

I'm sure I will have a moment to share from there :).

thanksgiving

I’m a slow processor in the body of a woman always in a hurry.  And today I have the stomach flu. This thanksgiving day. This day to process every gift given us, on all those other days when I am too hurried to notice. And I sit and listen to my sweet husband struggling to make six pies while the youngest runs around licking batteries and the boy begs, “Can’t we please make a whole pie of maraschino cherries? - are you SURE it would cost $35.00?” 

And I laugh.  I laugh that tomorrow I will be well and their shenanigans and his habits will somehow annoy me, while today I long to be a part of it all. I laugh at the footsteps I hear upstairs and doors banging downstairs… of people in my house - once strangers and foreigners… now friends who I do life with - if I take the time.  And my family - out-laws - in -laws - mother- father- men-of-my-heart, from a distance and those who somehow find their way into my living room every-single-day of the week. Who last week I was bemoaning the simple reality that time spreads too thin to reach them all on one holiday… and now today - I see no one. Quarantined for a mere instant - one little day - because He knows I am a slow processor.  Today I miss their faces - the hubbub… because it takes me all day to sit here and mull over how wonderful this gift of my life really is.

This is where you say, “SHUT UP!”  anytime I begin to complain about anything from here on out…. ok?? 

Thank you.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Scripture notes:

48 give thanks - most have to do with His “unfailing love”

6 - thankful

30 - thanksgiving - I love how in the Old Testament this was often someone’s whole vocation :)

I never knew Colossians was such a thankful book.

Colossians 3:16 NIV

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Chronicles 16:34

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Philippians 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

In no particular order:

I am thankful for Jay and his baby lamb! Her name may or may not be "Easter Dinner"

This guy learned to drive... and we didn't even DIE!!

our chickens may not be the smartest (i.e. - laying their eggs anywhere - including a tool box inside a shop) but we DO have fresh eggs.

Umm... I just think they are amazing... authentic... and amazing

and they make huge messes and tons of great projects... never boring.

like I said. Never boring.

I may never have HAD brothers... but I watched brothers my whole life.

And these police men makes John's day - every year :)

And our students teach about their cultures to the kids at Washington...

And my dad is moving into the 21st century... kind of excited - kinda sad.

I am thankful for these children and that sunset - and that we didn't get towed...

I am thankful for her. INSIDE and OUT.  

The Doctors can find NOTHING wrong with her.

That's always been my problem too...

I'm thankful for this grandpa and the 3 others who pour into our kids lives - every day

I think mostly I am thankful that I am too sick to try carbonated olives.

I am thankful for the unique experience that my son and I have of sharing a best friend. 

30 years later...

This.

This is my life. Could it get any better? I think not.

"celebration season"

One of our first students, Marina, told me the second year she lived here that from Halloween until New Year's day was "celebration season" - that the whole of these 2 months were a run together of happy events.  As a child, the weeks from Halloween until New Years seem as long as the endless summers on the other end of the year. Now... they are a run together.  But in our house they are a run together of beautiful.  Why not celebrate for an entire 2 months of the year? Why not carve out a giant section of the year to be intentionally creative, hilarious, thankful, generous and gracious?  I cannot for the life of me think of a reason to not "celebrate" for the rest of 2014.

So - the rest of FHSU starts "celebrations" at Octoberfest... and apparently this newspaper clipping shows a sobriety test being given in our drive way.  I think we slept through that.  And we probably miss the 100s of others given there while we carry on with life...

Like tonight's celebration of the beginning of "celebration season"

Or our "goodbye" celebration to Grace, Daniel, and Noah... :(

Or maybe we were busy watching the backyard fungus grow...

or on a field trip...

Or maybe we were trying on a wig...

Or doing some crafts while we pass a month of illness

Or maybe we were on a pumpkin patch/corn maze/haunted house road trip

Or... carving a pumpkin

Or costuming...

it's what we do best...

well... it's what Grandma Joan does BEST

We just do a lot of it :)

Ahhh.... 703 Fort.

So much to celebrate here...

And just a little reminder to me: 

Don't Blink.