A Lot like Christmas

We are in full Christmas swing in our home!  As the children get older Christmas takes on more of a childlike fell and excitement.  They want to do things like bake cookies, make gingerbread houses and hear all about the birth of Christ (for those who know my oldest you know she is obsessed with pregnancy and babies....not at all like her mommy, right?)  Little J is still along for the ride but I know next year she will be able to more understand the whole season.  I am also praying that next year hubby won't have to be running off to work his second job and be able to take in the whole time with us and not have to worry about switching his scheduled around.  Just one of my many prayers prayed often.
There is a lot of the white stuff on the ground right now, again enhancing a Christmas like feel, although they assumed because there was snow that it was Christmas day.  Not so much, dear ones.  A little disappointment and out they went to enjoy it.  Snow is something else that has brought on new excitement for both the young and old.  Its no longer "get them geared up for a 10 minute romp" but wow, they have been out for an hour, better get them thawed for a bit!"  Even J likes the snow, she gets upset when we bring her in and everyone else is out!  Her time will come.
Yesterday was shopping day, I am a thrifty shopper by trade and I spend time making my meal plans and then grocery list.  When I realized that the weather might be turning bad my plans to go out this morning were changed to yesterday.  After already being out for longer than expected I pulled into the parking lot, said a prayer for the girls to behave and headed in.  We made it though, they stayed in good spirits and it wasn't too crazy.  God is good :)  I got to the check out and organized my WIC order first then started for the bigger stuff.  I must have looked tired, hunger or a combination because a woman stepped in and offered to help me.  I was almost in tears!  I was wearing J and my babysitting charge was in the cart, we had been there for an hour and just that extra boost and the end gave me enough to smile and keep going.  Wow.
Our moving date is drawing near!  The reality is starting to set in that we will indeed be owning our own home again in the new year.  I have a writing on our wall, a reminder of how much God has brought us through to get to this point.  Its funny, we have the same excitement now that we did in December of 2005 when we purchased our first home, even though we are very aware of all that comes with it.

The Open Heart

"There is nothing-no circumstance, trouble, testing 

that can EVER touch me until,

First of all, it has gone passed God and Christ, 

right through to me.

If it has come that far, it has come

with great purpose, which I may not

understand at this moment. 

But as I REFUSE to become panicky, as

I lift my eyes to Him and accept it as

coming from the throne of God for some

great purpose of

Blessing my heart

No sorrow will disturb me,

No trial will ever disarm me, 

No circumstance will cause me to fret, 

For I shall rest in the JOY of what my Lord is.

That is the rest of victory."

-Alan Redpath

We have the same excitement now that we did in December of 2005 when we purchased our first home, even though we are very aware of all that comes with it.  We are more aware that God has his finger on the pulse of our lives and we look forward with great anticipation to what His plans are for this new journey.  May you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed start to 2014.