Christmas Eve

I totally forgot about these. I should have posted this one first....oh well! So, it's Christmas tradition to go to Bronson Park on Christmas Eve. Well, my church was having a program on Christmas Eve, and I really wanted to go! So, I'd been telling my family for weeks about the program, that I wanted to go, and that it'd be cool if they'd come too. Well, Christmas Eve comes, and not only do they not want to go to the program w/me, but they won't wait for me to go w/them. I asked if they'd compromise and instead of watching "White Christmas" after the park, that they watch it b4 so that I could meet them at the park, but I guess no one felt it was important enough. So, we waited for Shaun to get in town, and we took the boys to the park by ourselves. Asher HATED getting dressed in his snow gear...LOL He cried pretty much from the time I put his snow pants on until we got to the park and someone carried him :D




Jaden is kissing the lamb :P





He also tried to eat the candy canes, but I wasn't quick enough for that kodak moment...lol!

Merry Christmas

Unfortunately my camera broke, so here's what I got b4 it broke, and everything else was taken w/my phone :(
Just thought this one was cute and had to share :D

Christmas day:












Shaun bought them a box of the cars from "Cars" the movie which of course they immediately started fighting over. Well, as soon as Jaden started playing w/the other things, Asher started hording the cars in his room. Once he had the collection he shut the door. LOL...I thought it was rather smart and TOO CUTE!

A Message by George Carlin:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but
Shorter tempers, wider Freeways , but narrower viewpoints. We spend
More, But have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and
Smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees
But Less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more
Problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too
Little, Drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read
Too Little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too
Much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to
Life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but
Have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered
Outer Space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better
Things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the
Atom, But not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but
Accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more
Computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever,
But we Communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small
Character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days
Of Two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These
Are Days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night
Stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to
Quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window
And Nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter
To You, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to
Just Hit delete...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not
Going To be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because
That little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the
Only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but
Most Of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from
Deep Inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person
Will Not be there again.

Give t time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the
Precious Thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the
Moments That take our breath away.

Christmas

Sunday, my pastor preached part 1 of his sermon entitled "Recycled Christmas". Part of what he preached about was that the first Christmas was about Christ coming to set us free from our debt to sin, and now we've turned Christmas from becoming debt free, through Christ, to being in debt again, only financially. He said the average person will go $2500 into debt at Christmas time. Sadly, I'm not too extremely shocked by that number.
Unfortunately, I too had gotten wrapped up in the same thought process and actually felt like a bad mom bc all my kids were getting from me were 2 gifts. I put great thought into those gifts, and I'm sure they'll love them, but there was still a part of me that said, that's not enough. But, if I can teach Jaden that Christmas isn't about the presents but about celebrating Christ's birthday, then I guess I should follow my own teachings :)

Different Doesn't Always Equal Bad

I've come to learn that when it comes to church, different isn't always bad. My church is definitely different. We're not traditional. We're non-denominational. Most things that good Christians would see as flaws in a church, I know I used to. But what I've seen in my church so far is that it's a place, not of condemnation, but that teaches the love and forgiveness of Christ. I'd say, since I started going there this summer, at least 5 people have given or recommited their lives to Christ every Sunday. I know I did. Growing up in the church, there were a lot of times that I felt not good enough. That my life wasn't perfect enough for me to still get into heaven. A couple times, I even tried to end my life bc it just seemed so hopeless. I mean, I was never going to be good enough, right?....The main reason I kept going back to my church was bc for the first time, in a long time, not only did I feel Christ's love, but I also felt convicted. I know, those things don't seem to go hand in hand, but it just drew me in. I had to have more.
Another odd thing about my church, they don't have members. What they do have are partners. Yesterday, at least 20 people joined the church as partners. And, one thing I've learned about being a partner of the church is that you're not only agreeing to support the church in your tithes and in your prayers, but that partners need to be involved in the church. Every single person, and most of them were couples, but every single person who went up was involved somewhere in the church. Most places would say that that's too demanding, but what I think is that it causes not only a sense of unity w/your church, but a sense of pride in your church.
And lastly, what hit me the most yesterday at church, was from the second I walked in the door, people whom I barely knew told me they'd been praying for Jaden and his ear problems. People whom I don't really know, whom I'm not even sure how they found out, were just flocking me to tell me he was loved bc that's what that said to me. Not only that, I found out after church, that the nursery staff laid hands on Jaden and prayed for him for healing during Sunday school. How cool is that?!
All I can say is different doesn't equal bad, and I am trully blessed in finding my church!