blessed beyond measure

Hustle and bustle Aden tearing it up at practice. Games start in January, and he is pumped! Pretending to be preachers in the new youth room at church, where apparently the boys plan to have their birthday parties. My boys, both boys , participating in the cantata. Boys got a night at Giga and Poppop's house, where Aden managed to finish his new Lego Airport... and Trey helped Poppop with farm chores! The Christmas tournament a few towns over, where we got to cheer on Brandon's team. Chillin at home First time ever I have successfully made homemade rolled sugar cookies. Aden's pets. They all have names and voices and with all this free time, we're playing like we've never played before. Aden's new pet, Best Friend Max. Love at first sight for this boy who so desperately wants a dog. Kitchen all ready to welcome family for our big Christmas meal. I love the clean, the fancy-for-us feeling, the quiet of Christmas Eve night. I got a color...

I heard the bells on Christmas day Their old familiar carols play And mild and sweet their songs repeat Of peace on Earth, goodwill to men And the bells are ringing, peace on Earth Like a choir they're singing, peace on Earth In my heart I hear them Peace on Earth, goodwill to men Then in despair I bowed my head There is no peace on Earth, I said For hate is strong and mocks the song Of peace on Earth, goodwill to men But the bells are ringing, peace on Earth Like a choir singing, peace on Earth Does anybody hear them Peace on Earth, goodwill to men Then pealed the bells more loud and deep God is not dead nor doth He sleep The wrong shall fail, the right prevail With peace on Earth, goodwill to men Peace on Earth Peace on Earth Peace on Earth, goodwill to men From our hearts to yours, a very Merry Christmas and blessed New Year

We've made the sweets and holiday savories. We've oohed and aahed over the lights. We've They've stood over the big bathtub full of Amazon boxes wondering and guessing. We've been to town and walked among the last-minute crazies. We've packed goody bags for those in need and those who protect us. We have sung the songs and played the poor piano til it can't hold a tune. We've watched The Polar Express, The Santa Clause, Rudolph, and Charlie Brown. We've celebrated with church and extended family. We've made the homemade gifts. We've tried to pose for nice photos for next year's grandparent gifts. What's left? On Saturday night, we will make much of Luke chapter two, a story and truth whose beauty will never be surpassed. The boys will struggle to find sleep while Dad and Mom stuff stockings and wrap their presents. On Sunday morning, they'll storm down the stairs for round one. We will head off to church for a morn...

It's practically here. We're swimming in Christmas. Church celebrations, school parties, pajama days, piano covered in carol-filled books, homemade gifts to those we won't see for a while, stacks of precious construction-paper decorations of which I will save all . And I can't for the life of me decide on a menu for Christmas day because part of me is ready to be done with tradition altogether and do something bold like grilled shrimp. Part of me just wants a salad or a bowl of cereal. Festive, right? I blame two things for my food confusion. One is the forced Christmas spirit. Just being honest, I still don't feel it. The other is that over the last two weeks or so I have been cooking ALL THE THINGS. All of them. Which has made me want none of them . So thankful for these two sweet sillies who pull me back from Grinchness every time.

Full disclosure: I don't feel like blogging. But life is an almost-predictable roller coaster ride and over the last near-decade I have ceased blogging in some low moments, kind of like a protest of sorts. And I regret it. Because always, even in the lows, there are beautiful moments of life. Everyday, small, passing, seemingly forgettable things that deserve to be memories. Splashes of color in the bleakness of that section of timeline. So here it is, even amid the low. The last two months of nothing terribly special. Except the gift of life. Trey made it six months with glasses intact. A game of football catch with Daddy did in the first pair. Three weeks later, a practice with Daddy's basketball team did in the second. What outdoor fun at Nana and Granddad's house looks like. The riding mower is by far their most expensive toy. Took photos of the boys in such an amazingly beautiful place this year. Couldn't leave without capturing a few photos without ...