Christmas blessings

It's been a less than ideal week leading up to Christmas this year. We've all been sick and with sickness comes our sins bubbling to the surface more than usual. My kiddos have been whiny and bickering and crying over little things and rude and grumpy and grunting and not responding when they are called or asked a question...and truth be told, I've been a lot of those things too and also impatient, critical of every little thing, inattentive, short-tempered, and definitely not showing the love of Jesus to anyone around here. Really, it hasn't been lovely, it's been quite the opposite.

Tomorrow morning, though, even though my children may deserve a lump of coal in their stockings, they will each find a doll sling and doll blanket, lovingly made by their mommy. They will get something they don't deserve, because we love them dearly and they are our children. And, though I won't have anything in my stocking tomorrow morning, I too deserve a lump of coal and much worse, but instead I (and the rest of my family) will celebrate a much greater gift that our heavenly Father has given to us: "...for today, in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you, who is Christ the Lord."

The catechism we do with the girls has this question and answer: "What do our sins deserve? God's anger and punishment." Our heavenly Father gives us what we don't deserve: a Savior, forgiveness, love, mercy, adoption as sons and daughters of the King. What blessings we have in Christ!

We were sad to miss the Christmas Eve service tonight because of our little sickies, but I am glad that the Holy Spirit took all the yuckiness of the past week and showed me how much I have been given in Christ. And I am also grateful that one day all the yuckiness in me and around me will be gone. Merry Christmas!

Girls' blog updated

Finally posted an update on their blog.

Listening

I started listening to podcasts from thatmom.com tonight. So encouraging and enjoyable, especially as a homeschooling mom. But I think all moms could benefit from her wise, Godly words. I started at the beginning tonight and listened to about seven of them (they are fairly short) while finishing the gift for Nathan's grandmother (we are visiting her soon).

I think she, along with some Two Towers or Hobbit, will keep me awake while driving through the night on our next trip to Texas.

New stockings

Nate's mom and I collaborated to make the girls' Christmas stockings this year. And by collaborated I mean she did all the work and I gave my input. :) She did such a wonderful job. When she visited in early November she finished them and gave them to the girls. They were well received.



Becca's is the manger scene:



Ally's is the shepherds and sheep:



And here are the girls with their Mima. We had such a nice time with her. I am so grateful to have such a wonderful, caring, and talented mother-in-law.

My camera woes

Ever since breaking our digital camera back in August (by tossing it onto cement while it was inside the pocket of my Ergo baby carrier), we've been lacking the pictures around here. I was just looking through the pictures on the computer to choose some for our Christmas card (I'm a bit behind on that) and there are not many for each month. It kind of makes me sad. I do have one small batch on the laptop too.

We did use my parents old digital camera for awhile: an old HP 4 megapixel one, very slow. I missed many a good picture waiting for it to focus and zoom. That recently broke too; the battery door broke off and we tried duct taping it back on, but it just won't stay there.

Now I'm on to my Nikon film SLR. It's a nice camera, but it's film and I've really gotten used to the digital. I thought I'd never say that, but it's true.

I have considered a digital SLR, as I mentioned before. As much as I'd like a Nikon D90, I just can't justify it for us. And I don't think I could handle carrying around a camera worth that much. I wouldn't mind the D60, but the 50mm fixed lens I have won't automatically focus with that, which is pretty essential when taking pictures of fast moving children. I would get a zoom lens with the camera that would auto focus, but I really like the f-stop (1.8) that my fixed lens gets down to.

I know there is Canon too, but I have enough trouble keeping up with the many DSLRs that Nikon has without trying to figure out Canon.

I'd like to know what others out there have. Even if you don't have a DSLR, what do you have instead. Nate wants something smaller. I want something that I can mess around with a little and that makes that cool clicking sound that an SLR makes. :)

Flour tip

We made sugar cookies yesterday and putting flour on the table was made infinitely easier by having the flour in an old spice jar and shaking the flour on the table. I got the idea from the New Best Recipe Book.

I've also put ground flax meal and powdered sugar in old spice jars. For the ground flax I decoupaged fabric on the outside of the jar to keep light out and I keep the jar in the fridge.

Dating my husband

Nate and I got two dates last month. Nate's mom watched the girls while we went out for dinner at Chipotle and ice cream at a local Mexican place and then for a little shopping at Target and Marshall's in early November when she came to visit.

Over Thanksgiving my parents watched the girls from Friday to Saturday so we could have our first overnight away in 4 and a half years! We had a great time eating at our favorite GH places (Snug and Morning Star), shopping, and staying at the same hotel where we spent our wedding night. The girls had a great time with my parents, decorating their Christmas tree, hanging out with their uncle and cousin, staying up late to watch movies in Nana and Papa's bed, and riding the Santa train on Saturday. They loved it and I think Nana and Papa had a pretty good time too.

Glee Disappointment

So disappointed with that last kiss on Glee. As much as I would think Will and Emma would be great together, I was really hoping they would have Will go back to his wife. I guess I just can't expect the writers for a prime time show to care about the commitment marriage is. Especially since his wife was trying to take steps to make things better. So bummed.

On the other hand, loved watching all the fun songs they had this episode.

If they are going to pursue this Will/Emma thing next season, I really don't know if it's worth watching it.