Happy New Year

Although we didn't make it until midnight around here ... we had a fun night.

Steve and I were able to get away for an hour to hang out at the Apple store and learn a bit more about website design ... and how to publish my new blog.

I will no longer be blogging here, but instead you can find me at

www.lisacstucky.com

Then Steve took Shiloh and Landon bowling with our church while I stayed home and put the little ones to bed.

We made it until 11pm, watching How to Train a Dragon.

Today ... the sun is shining - for the 3rd day in a row, which is highly unusual for Seattle.

We are just enjoying a day of rest at home.

I hope you have a beautiful New Year's Day.

There's nuthin' like work

A little homeschooling.

A little work in the kitchen.

Paying bills ... I hate that!

A hug from my kids! =)

Filling out paperwork for our non-profit federal application.

Making phone calls.

Sorting through mail.

A kiss from Steve. =)

Trying to make my messy house a bit less messy.

Working on our website ... now that's fun.

Designing a new blog - yes, the unveiling is coming SOON.

A snuggle with Baby Cake. =)

Not a very FUN day ... but productive, splashed with some good moments.

The Second Advent

After all the waiting for Christmas,

then in the blink of an eye, the day is gone.

Landon keeps telling me how sad he is that Christmas is over.

"Can't it last 3 days, mom?" he asks.

All the anticipation ...

much like our anticipation for the 2nd advent.

The return of Christ, in all His glory.

And this morning, I read this ... so awesome!

"While it's indeed true that we - and all of creation - won't be completely transformed until Christ returns, its also true that we already have eternal life and are made participants in the divine nature. We are already new creations in Christ Jesus and have a new nature given to us by God's grace. We are already filled with God's Spirit and have overcome the Evil One. We are already seated with Christ in heavenly realms and blessed with every spiritual blessing.

Some day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. We who are God's firstfruits are not supposed to wait for this to happen. We are empowered and called to bend our knee to Christ now.

Some day God's perfect love and peace will characterize all of creation. We who are God's firstfruits are not supposed to wait for this to happen. We are empowered and called to manifest God's perfect love and peace now.

Some day there will be no more jealousy, envy, hatred, or violence in the world. We who are God's firstfruits are not supposed to wait for this to happen. We are empowered and called to purge our lives of these sorts of diabolic things now.

Some day all evil will be vanquished and God will be "all in all." God's glorious presence will be displayed throughout the earth, and His perfect love will define every square of creation. We who are God's firstfruits are not supposed to wait for this to happen. We are empowered and called to live in God's glorious presence in the present and allow God's love to define every aspect of our being right now.

In the Kingdom, there is no waiting. There is only now.

The time to be fully awake and fully alive is now.

The time to abide in Christ and to live passionately in love is now.

The time to live in God's presence and let God be "all in all" is now, in this moment.

And now, in this moment too.

And now ..."

Gregory Boyd, Present Perfect, pg 149-151

Merry Christmas

So, about 4am on the 25th, Steve found Shiloh standing in the bathroom. "I can't sleep," she declared. At 5am, I woke up and noticed the tree lights on in the living room. Come to find out, our little princess had fun scoping out the presents .. and tried to open one wrapped only in paper bags but said she stopped b/c she thought the noise from the paper would wake us up. Thankfully, all slept until almost 8am.

I think every present was opened by 9:30am. At this age, we haven't tried opening gifts one-at-a-time, although I'd like to when they get older. But for now, it's enjoyable to just watch them in all their excitement, tearing into every present with sheer delight.

This Christmas was especially enjoyable for me. Shiloh and Landon are old enough now to understand the true meaning of Christmas and yet still enjoy gift giving in all of it's glory.

Sawyer watched The Grinch enough times that he would say, "da Ginch take a peasents away." He got a remote control motorcycle. "Watch thiss," he'd say, as he pushed the button to make it go round and round and round in circles.

Baby Cake has no clue what's going on. She was happy just tearing up the paper and watching Sawyer's motorcycle go cruising by. I love this picture of her, b/c this is how we often find her ... holding something, anything to her head and sucking on her other thumb. She sleeps like this too, with her blanket over her head and her thumb in her mouth.

Landon's sporting new glasses too, as he broke his first pair. Now he's got plastic like me. Hopefully they'll be more durable. Such a good looking boy!

Christmas Eve

Today was a good day.

I started out the day on the phone with my dad ...

working on the federal paperwork to file for our non-profit.

Then, I made green bean casserole and pumpkin pies

and we went to the Torgrimson's for an early dinner.

Gunnar and Kelsey are 6 years old -

Landon and Gunnar are best buddies

Shiloh and Kelsey are two peas in a pod

Jakob is 4 - just the right age for Sawyer, who calls him "day-bub"

When Steve told him it was time to go, Sawyer said, "day-bub come too?"

Steve said, "no, he's going to say here."

To which Sawyer replied, "me tay heeer too"

After a bit more playing ... off to church we went.

The kids sang Hark the Herald Angels Sing and Silent Night with the kids choir. They could hardly wait to be on the risers on the stage.

They were downright adorable.

Home again, they each opened a present.

Landon got a pair of Crocks ... something he's wanted for a LONG time.

Thanks, Richie and Poppi!

I didn't take any photos today.

But tomorrow, I'll have lots to share.

Happy Christmas Eve.

This Santa is going to bed!

Christmas Week Fun

We had a fun weekend, although we're still trying to get rid of colds around here.

- building blocks

- making sugar cookies

and today, the Torgrimson family joined us to make gingerbread houses - Ginger, Kelsey and Jakob

Landon and Gunnar

Sawyer just wanted to lick the frosting

11 months old

The infant year is quickly fleeting.

This little one now has 2 teeth.

She is crawling like it's nobody's business.

She has pulled herself to standing twice.

She's thrilled with herself.

Still our precious Baby Cake!

seven and a half

Shiloh is now 7 1/2 - celebrated with a half cake, the special red plate and bowl and her lunch choice of none other than pasta with butter and Parmesan.

To live in love as Christ loved us and gave his life for us requires that we become single-minded in seeking God's Kingdom in every moment. Aware of God's ever-present love, and surrendered to God's ever-present will, we find opportunities to be used by God in every moment.

charity: water on 20/20

On Friday night - charity: water was on 20/20.

You can see the 6 minute clip on the charity: water blog.

Wireless

So, last Saturday we bought our Apple.

By Tuesday, everything had been transferred over.

Friday night I went to my first one to one to learn about web design.

Oh, I had so much fun.

I learned so much!

I'm on the road to designing a pretty awesome website, if I do say so myself.

And just in time ... as we got our state approval for our non-profit today.

Today, Steve set up our new printer/copier/scanner (which we've never had)

he also set up the wireless connection.

So, now I can be on my laptop anywhere in my house.

Oh happy day.

In fact, I'm enjoying myself right now, sitting comfortably at my table with a hot cup of tea.

So, this week, we contributed to the crazy Christmas spending.

Just like true Americans.

And now, I'm going to buy coal.

Baby Cake is 11 months old

That's right.

Only one more month to enjoy infancy.

Although she's not really an infant anymore.

She's more like a toddler.

She has 2 bottom teeth now.

She's crawling all over the place.

She can open drawers and cabinets.

She can pull all my books off my bookshelf.

She can spill an entire box of blocks.

She leaves a trail wherever she goes.

And she's already trying to pull herself to standing.

She says "uh-oh" and "na-na" (night, night) and "mom" and "Da-Da"

She waves goodbye.

And she has the cutest smile any baby could have.

Her nose crinkle is my favorite!

I love that baby!