Christmas trees and other stuff

It's late.  It's quiet.  I'm writing.

The Christmas tree stands to my left.  Yes, it is after Valentine's Day, and the Christmas tree is still up.  Pretty sure this is our latest ever....except maybe the year that our boiler went out and we had to leave our house for 3 months.  The tree might have still been here at the end of March that year.  Anway, it's ridiculous, and I am soooo hoping that the Hub can move it out of here tomorrow.  Not his fault, though, that it's still up.  It's mine...and it wouldn't be coming down even tomorrow if it weren't for my dear friend, Kara, taking the decorations down for me.  THANK YOU, KARA!

It's cold in here.  But not nearly as cold as it could be if our heat wasn't working, so boy oh boy, I am thankful!  I have been enjoying frequent warm baths at night; they make me happy.  I like being warm, and I'm not warm very often in our house.  I was thinking today how much I prefer the hot, sweaty days of summer to the cold, frigid-to-the-bones days of winter.  Spring is around the corner, and I can't wait!

Neil's Gotcha Day was in January, and Tom's is coming up in May.  Remember how I gave myself one year to get the story of our India trip written down?  And how once the one year mark came, I gave myself more time?  Well, if I don't get this story written by baby's arrival, it's not gonna get written.  I. must. focus.

My pregnancy is always on my heart....and yet, I have this shift happening in my mind, the need to get myself together and think about others again.  I feel like my outside-the-womb kids have suffered a bit from my inattentiveness, especially the Bigs, and it's time to make sure that that doesn't keep happening.

There is so much going on right now...so much.  I am so incredibly thankful that God never changes, that He sits on His throne with all sovereignty and love, and that He is trustworthy.

Goodnight.

Home...for now

We're home.  Gone for nearly two weeks.  Many conversations.  Lots of people.  Heart involvement...and yet rest.  I sit at home on my family room couch, ceiling fan cooling the air, Olympics filling the sound space.  My attempt at breaking my writer's block was promptly met with, well...many conversations, lots of people, and heart involvement (and a little rest).

So.....a little late-nite stream of consciousness for you, my faithful readers (all 3 of you).  :)

The Olympics are great, as usual.  This year has been weird for me, though, as I am used to camping out by the tv every night for 2 weeks.  This year, we were at our staff conference, and we were only able to catch a tad bit of the action here, a little bit more there.  The late night replay, however, is allowing me a rare glimpse at an entire event that I had wanted to see:  uneven bars final.  (Too bad I already heard who didn't win....grrrr.)

Our conference was great.  My favorite part was, of course, spending time with people, catching up on life and exchanging encouragements.  Some of my favorite people are on staff with our ministry, and I feel blessed each time I am with them.  In addition, I was able to spend time with a few of my dear friends who aren't on staff but who live in the area.  Blessing upon blessing as we laughed and cried together.

I am distracted by the uneven bars.

One of the testimonies given at our conference rocked my world.  A young man named Jahill had been a wreck, doing everything he could to defy a God that he believed couldn't possibly care.  And then said God got ahold of Jahill's heart.  And now, he is walking with the Lord and sharing the Gospel in powerful ways with other young men in the inner city who are now where he was then.  Afterwards, I was able to spend time talking with him, sharing my heart about seemingly-hopeless situations here in our city.  He was compassionate and he opened the Word and he prayed.  I'm thankful for this man and reinvigorated with the reality that Jesus is truly the only hope for our city.  But He is in us, so the possibilities are endless as His people take Him onto the streets and into the office buildings here!

The Chinese gymnasts look really young.  Seriously.

That last big paragraph seems really Polliana.  It's not.  It's real.  Jesus is real and He is here, and we, His people, get to be His ambassadors and the Gate Beautiful for the people around us.  But. it. will. not. be. easy.  There is a spiritual battle raging daily.  The enemy wants to attack relationships--marriages, friendships, work relationships--and isolate people so that he can do what he does best...lie.  He wants to pit believers both against one another and against those who don't know Him so that he can do what he does best...lie. 

Enough about him.  I wanna make more of Jesus.  In my life, in the lives of my kids, in ministry.  I must decrease; He must increase.

(I feel like I'm sounding Polliana again, but that last part is all Scripture, so I think I'll go with it.  Eyes of faith, baby.)

The reality is that my heart has been pummeled by heavy things this summer.  And I'm still dealing with the effects.  But just as real (even more real, really) are the realities that God is on the throne, that He loves me with an everlasting love, and that He is for me.  Thankful am I.

I love my children.  And my husband.  My kids make me laugh, and every day I have a million things to record, yet I rarely get any recorded at all....except in my heart--which, I suppose, is the best place for them to be.

Gabby Douglas is up.  I'm out.

Stream - Welcome to December!

It's December.  November is over.  Wow.  Just like that.

I chatted on facebook tonight for a long time with a dear friend.  She doesn't yet know Jesus, but I want her to so badly.  She is going through some terribly difficult things, things which are causing her almost to despair.  And I'm far away.  I wish I could do a better job of explaining the Gospel to her in a way that she could understand.  I am grateful that the Holy Spirit goes before our conversations and works in them--despite me.

This Saturday, we are going on the Great Happy Little Fleet Christmas Extravaganza!  In other words, we are going on our annual Christmas tree hunt....one of our favorite days of the year.  Of course, the forecast isn't very good, so that will be...different.  Last year, it was perfect...a fresh snowfall made the field just gorgeous, and we got the most amazing tree (which we promptly did NOT get to decorate and enjoy because our boiler went out a few days later, and we were expelled from our house 'til March).  We are hoping for some snow but will enjoy it regardless.  The weather is always part of the adventure!

I have a couple of pretty sweet Christmas gifts in process.  I am super excited about them but can't say too much here....people (big and little) read this!  :)

I am getting my hair cut tomorrow.  I can't wait. 

WIG update for November:  I am extremely grateful that I set the goals, and even though I didn't hit any of them, there were some improvements that I'm hoping will be lasting.  There were a handful of evenings that I didn't go to bed at 10 o'clock, but for the most part, I did.  And while I struggle with that still for reasons like getting to chat with my friend tonight (I don't want to be so strict about my going-to-bed time that I can't flex when people need me...people are more important.), I do believe that I need to stick with that goal and honestly, even move the bedtime earlier.  Because for me, going to bed at 10 often meant turning out my light at 11.  By the time I would wrap everything up, get ready for bed, and read for a bit, it was often 11.  And I need to wake the kids up at 6:30 (And if I'm not up and ready already, my kids feel the brunt of my sleepiness, and I don't want that...people are more important.).  See my dilemna?  I'll keep working on it.  As for the other goals, I blogged 26 times, I think.  Not every day.  Not 30.  But 26!  26 is good!  I love to write, and this space offers me a place to both write and record important events for our family...that is a good thing, and someday, people will appreciate it!  :)  Although I will say that I told Rex tonight that on my blog Episodes, we are in England!  He said, "Hurry up, Mom!  You only have 6 more months [before my self-imposed deadline]!"

The next few weeks look to be very, very busy....but I really want to embrace each moment.  And not miss anything.  I want to flourish by resting.  To understand the rest of the Gospel.  That when I am believing the Truth, there is rest.  That Jesus understands.  That He really, really does.  And that He is Enough.

Tomorrow morning, Rex and Neil are in their first performance of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.  They will perform it for most of the lower school, including both of their classes.  That should be fun.  Also fun should be figuring out all of what they need to take in the morning to school (costumes, etc.).  I definitely should have figured that out already, but I haven't.  Oops.  I'll figure it out while I'm falling asleep.

It is strange to hear rain falling outside, in December.  Where is the snow??!

I have so much for which to be thankful, it's ridiculous.  Ridiculously amazing.  God, you astound me.  Reveal yourself to others I love.  Astound them as well, showing them your mercy in every breath they take.  May we each come and behold You and adore You this month and beyond...you are worthy, and I want to praise your name forever!

Stream: From my brain to yours...

There is lots to write about and not enough time to write it.  I have a running list of things I want to blog about, but once the kids are in bed and everything that I need to do in the evening is done, I'm tired.  Or it's 9:46 p.m., like right now.  And my bedtime is at 10:00.  Can't blog much in 14 minutes.

Tonight, my husband asked me the question, "Are you sewing?  Are you actually sitting there sewing?"  No, but I was ripping out a seam, which is sort of in the same category, right?  Turns out that we have moved onto Costume/outfit 2 of 4 that Rex needs this week:  a town crier costume.  Now, if I were my best friend from high school, Sasha, I would simply pull out my material, thread, and sewing machine and whip somthing up.  She's super duper creative that way.  And handy.  But unfortunately, Rex doesn't have Sasha for a mother; he's stuck with me.  So here was my plan:  go to the after-Halloween sales, find a costume that works (I did--a vampire costume that is perfect, minus the bat collar.), and alter it.  So I was ripping out the seam and removing said bat collar.  I felt slightly domestic for a moment.

There is a sub woofer working its magic outside right now.  Not quite rattling the windows, but close.

My legs and back ache, and my sneezes feel like I'm getting sick.  Uh oh.

Back to the town crier:  tomorrow morning, Rex gives his presentation on Medieval Farming.  The 4th graders at our school have been studying the Medieval period for the last few weeks, and it culminates in tomorrow's presentations (which parent are invited to) and feast (which they most certainly are not!).  Rex will lead the classes through the halls of the school as the town crier, announcing the coming of the queens (the 2 teachers).  His costume is awesome, and I can't wait to see him and the rest of his classmates tomorrow!

My friend, Jessica, has been on my mind all day.  Praying for her tonight as her husband lies in ICU, recovering from a very serious operation.  Praising God that he is alive and that he was able to talk to her tonight!

The house is quiet.  Neil had a rough day and was in bed by 6:30.  I wonder what time he'll be up tomorrow morning.  And I wonder if he'll remember these rough days when he grows up.

I like chocolate.  There is a lot of chocolate around here right now.

I leave you with a preview photo of Rex, the Town Crier...

Random thoughts for today...

Most of my post these days have been about the past--rewinding our trip to India and pressing "play" in very slow motion.  :)  Today, a bit of a stream from my proverbial consciousness...

Tom is currently sitting on my lap, a car in each hand.  His ability to maneuver the fingers that he has and use his grasp to do just about anything he needs to do is astounding.  He very much wants to touch the computer keys right now, and he succeeds every now and then.  I did think of one thing the other day that he wouldn't be able to do....snap his fingers.  Then again, he'd probably figure that out, too.  He's an incredible little boy, and to think that WE are the ones who get to be his family!?! 

Speaking of Tom and his hands, I finally was able to have a good conversation with an applicant coordinator for Shriner's Hospital for Children.  I need to fax in the adoption decree and Tom's immunization chart, and then we will wait for a couple of weeks to find out if he is accepted as a patient.  Hopefully we will know by Sept. 1 and can get this show on the road!

There is another family in India today, spending their first precious days with their daughter.  As it turns out, she was one of Tom's roommates, and so I am especially excited to hear about their time there.  In addition, there is a place that is important to Tom's story that I'm hoping they can photograph for me, as well as another special little girl that we met while we were there.

Tom's development and attachment are gifts from the Lord.  He is a smart, brave, handsome little guy, and watching him learn and grow is a blessing.  He and Beth are quite the best buds--and worst enemies all at the same time--just like is normal for 2- and 3-year-old siblings.  I keep thinking that I should video them playing together but haven't really done much of that, sadly.  That and his language, too....he will often look at me, point at something with his pinky finger and say something that sounds quite intelligible, if only I knew Oriya.  He's amazing.  Have I said that yet?

Rex is getting ready for school to start but for sure isn't ready for MYSO to start yet.  Don't tell his violin teacher, but he hasn't had his violin out all summer....since before India actually.  Not good.  I should make him get it out today; the suggestions obviously aren't working.

Neil is off playing with his good friend, C, today.  C's mom has blessed me over and over in this last year, as she took Neil for me many Wednesdays after school, especially helpful during our boiler breakage and the subsequent time out of our house.  Neil and C have become very good friends...it's fun to see that.  Neil can hardly wait--he is counting the days--'til school starts.  That kid LOVES school!  I hope the boys will be in the same class, but if not, Neil will be fine...he is super social!

I change a lot of poopy pull-ups.  In the writing of this post, I've had to stop twice to change 2 kiddos.  C's mom said that his 2-year-old sister "potty trained herself" this summer.  I am an awful potty trainer.  I admit it.

Our summer in Colorado was wonderful.  Being on the production team is life-giving to me, and I love how year after year, I am getting to learn and grow in these professional skills.  What I'll ever use them for beyond CSU, I have no idea, but that's okay....maybe someday I'll know.  Or maybe not.  And that will be fine.  This year, I got to run shoulder cam as well as direct a bit of one of the concerts.  Sasha, I wish you could join me...you would love this stuff!

Remember how I said that Tom and Beth are best buds?  He just hit her in the head with a toy car, and now she has ice (and a cut underneath) on her forehead.  That's the way love goes.

There's more, but this post has already taken me an hour to write.  I don't have an hour for writing blog posts.  Hoffbeauty, over and out! 

Feb. 1 - In the Wee Hours of the Next Day

Stream of Consciousness...

This whole thing is a much bigger process than we ever dreamt it would be.  And by "thing", I mean the process of getting a new boiler in our house.  Today was nerve-wracking, then not good, then frustrating, then better, then really not good, then a whole lot better, then wonderful, then exciting, then terrible.  I think I might be developing a stomach ulcer.  Either that, or a lot more gray hair.

It is really windy.  Makes me think of our house, where the wind knocks hard against the windows and they rattle and shake like crazy!  At first it was annoying, but now it's just part of the character of the house.  Wish we were there.

Our kids really, really, really like the Wii.  Well, the boys do anyway.  A lot.  Really.  Did I say they like it a lot--really?  They do.  Mario Bros. is a fav, probably the favorite right now.  Note that Rex actually calls it Mario Bros.  Like, he doesn't say the words "Brothers".  Just says "Bros".  Now that's funny.  Sometimes he has no idea just how cute he is being.

This blanket is nice and warm.  And my hot chocolate, made lovingly by our gracious hostess, Andrea, was delicious!

The Superbowl is in 5 days......GO, PACK, GO!

Heart palpatations.  Breathe.  In 5 days, we have to have a snow day, see the rest of our radiators delivered (We got 7 of 11 delivered today.), sell our old radiators to the mysterious buyer that our salvage guy knows of, pack in the c-o-l-d house (It was 32 degrees inside today.), and drive to Florida.  In 5 days.  Oh--and get everything ready for Rex, who is staying here for our first week gone.  Oh my.

Oh.  And read a book.  I'm supposed to be reading a book for the conference.

I'm tired just thinking of it all...I'd better go to bed.