A Small Snippet

i’ve taken a blogging hiatus these last few weeks so that i can tend to all that is going on around here as we gear up for this Big Celebration!  but i couldn’t let the day pass without wishing you and your families a Very Merry Christmas!!

hope this Christmas Season finds you full of HOPE over what God has already done and what He has Promised that He will do!!

Merry Christmas,

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ready for an update of our beloved little elf?

the kiddos spent the night out last Saturday night, and we picked them up on the way to church.  so imagine our surprise when we walk into church to see this on the big screen:

apparently, that little stinker snuck into the church over the weekend and enjoyed a little drum practice.  he certainly wanted us to make sure we knew that he had been there!

the next morning, we found him playing “teacher:”

upon returning from school drop off that morning, i happened upon this:

i think it was Bella’s form of retaliation!  (we had quite the laugh…and then, once again, had to have a little discussion about grace!)

it seems as if the next night, Eli was trying to get back to the North Pole by attempting to turn the My Little Ponies into reindeer:

and then i guess he realized that Rapunzel was in need of a good  teeth cleaning:

if you know about NFL football at all, then you’ll understand this next one.  i guess Eli is a Jaguar fan:

he found his way to the Hub’s wallet and we caught him attempting to make a clean getaway:

we also caught him relaxing in a bubble bath, while catching up on his reading:

we woke up one morning to find Eli and Rapunzel in the middle of a heated snowball fight:

and then this morning, Eli created a swing in the kiddos doorway:

complete with a “Good Morning” sign:

we’ve got one more week with our friend, so i’m sure there will be more to share before too long  (i’d be lying if i didn’t say i’m kinda ready to scoot his little hiney back to the North Pole.  he’s making me tired )

and….i can’t finish this post without addressing what is most heavy on my heart…today is one of those hard days.  along with the rest of the world, my heart completely aches over the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, and as i had to drop my precious treasures off at school this morning, i couldn’t hug them tight enough.  i feel like i’m walking through this day, just putting one foot in front of the other, step by step, needing loads of faith, and begging God for help to trust His goodness and protection.  my flesh wants to keep my kids in a bubble, never let them leave our house, my sight, my presence, all the while knowing that this is not the life God has called us to live.  its times like this where i really think that our human hearts were not created to endure such pain and tragedy.  we were not created for this world, and i LONG for the day when all is completely made new.

Tim Keller has written about this very thing, and the first time i read it, it completely blew me away.  in his book, The Reason for God, in Chapter 2, and he says,
“Everything sad is going to come untrue and it will somehow be greater for having once been broken and lost…The doctrine of the Resurrection is the ultimate defeat of evil and suffering.  It will not only be ended but so radically vanquished that what has happened will only serve to make our future life and joy infinitely greater.”

He quotes C.S. Lewis as well,
“They say of some temporal suffering, ‘No future bliss can make up for it,’ not knowing that Heaven, once attained, will work backwards and turn even that agony into a glory.”

that’s the hope i cling to, when things such as this tragedy do not make sense to my finite human mind and heart, and as we as a nation are mourning, and heavy, and scared.  and even though i don’t get it, i cling to that being true.  and i cling to hope….a confident expectation, that this is a promise that WILL be fulfilled.  and my prayer is that is comes soon!

i’ll leave you with some lyrics from a great song by Matt Mahar, called “Christ has Risen.”

O death, where is your sting?
O hell, where is your victory?
O church, come stand in the light
The glory of God has defeated the night

Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave

you can listen to it here:

PS:  there was a little issue with the website that was linked on one of my sponsors.  if you were looking for the jewelry line from Beso Handbags, i have updated that link so that you can now find the jewelry as well as the bags.  you can click here or on the sidebar ad.  i just ordered some of the jewelry from that site as a Christmas gift, and i am SO excited for it to come in!  there is still time to order and receive it by Christmas.  just make sure you place your order by Wednesday.  

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…of my favorite things!

with it being just less than 2 weeks before Christmas (eek!!), i thought it’d be fun to share with you a few of my favorite Christmas things!

first things first…i’m a big fan of great candles these days.  probably because this little place i live in picks up smells (good and bad) and makes them linger for a long time.  so having a good candle ensures that i can keep this little place smelling great all day long!  so….

this candle…oh this candle….THE BEST Christmas smelling candle ever.  truly…makes my house smell just like the Holidays!  i don’t even know exactly how to describe that smell, but as soon as you smell it, that’s what you’ll say…”this smells JUST like Christmas!”

i got it a few years ago, and only burn it at Christmas so it lasts.  unfortunately, i can’t seem to find the exact one anymore, but from reviews i’ve read, i think this one is similar:  Sparkling Snow Yankee Candle

these are some of the Christmas books that i check out every year from the library.  i order them in advance, so that they are not taken quickly by the time the holiday comes around:

Angelina’s Christmas
God Gave Us Christmas
We Were There: A Nativity Story
Charlie and the Christmas Kitty
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey
The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree
Room for a Little One
Just in Case You Ever Wonder

and one more, that is a little longer of a read, but so super sweet, and a great book to read together as a family.  (its written by Billy Graham’s wife):

One Wintry Night

 this next one…oh man!!  its absolutely my all time favorite favorite favorite Christmas book.  this was shared with us years ago by our dear friend (who is now Bella’s Kindergarten teacher!).  it is the absolute sweetest story, and will make you tear up as you read it to your kiddos.  its called The Crippled Lamb.  i cannot tell you how much i ADORE this book!

(that pic was taken 3 years ago…how much she has changed!!)

here are some books that we’ve accumulated over the years, that are just fun reads for little ones:

Merry Christmas Big Hungry Bear
The Biggest, Best Snowman
Guess Who’s Coming to Santa’s for Dinner?
Madeline’s Christmas
Merry Christmas Mom and Dad
Touch and Feel Baby Jesus Is Born
My Merry Christmas: And the Real Reason for Christmas Joy

and of course, it wouldn’t be Christmas in our fam without reading some form of  The Nutcracker Ballet:  (Bella’s Nutcracker Performance is this weekend … ahhh!!   )

here’s one for the mommas out there, who are like me, and feel like this season just rushes right past in a blink of an eye amidst all the hustle and bustle, buying and wrapping, baking and planning….and before you know it, you’ve totally forgotten what you’re celebrating in the first place.  i keep this one on my coffee table and grab it for a quick read here and there, to help my mind and heart slow down and remember the most important reason we celebrate:  One Incredible Moment

its made up of a bunch of short stories about all the details surrounding Jesus’ birth.  they are completely captivating to read.  they make me feel like i’m really in the moment, in that time period, there….Max Lucado truly has a gift!

i posted on Instagram not too long ago that i am one of those who starts listening to Christmas music before Thanksgiving.  (sorry!)   but i just love it, and can’t resist, and feel the need to enjoy it as long as possible.  because its just not the same after Christmas, ya know?

here are some of my favorite Christmas CD’s:

On The Incarnation (this one is my current fave, and has been for the last few years since it was given to us.  its amazing!  trust me…you will NOT be disappointed if you decide to download it!  it might just become your fave too!  and in case you do download it, check out #4, Rise and Fall, first.  its incredible!!)
James Taylor At Christmas
A Very Special Christmas 2
Time-Life Music: Treasury of Christmas – Holiday Memories
Christmas Songs by Jars of Clay
Hillsong: Celebrating Christmas
Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas
Relient K: Let It Snow Baby… Let It Reindeer

and of course, Amy Grant’s Christmas Albums are so classic and always in our rotation!

Amy Grant: Home for Christmas
Amy Grant: Christmas Album

and have you ever heard about this?

What God Wants for Christmas

its a really sweet activity to do as a family the week leading up to Christmas.  you open a box on each day (there are 7 boxes) and read the story and Scripture that goes along with what is in the box.  the contents of each box end up making a nativity set (not the one pictured…sorry to confuse you!)  it all leads up to the big reveal of “What God wants for Christmas,” which you find out on the 7th day.  we do it before bed each night the week before Christmas, and my kiddos wait in anticipation all month to finally get to do it.  (we have to take turns and alternate days to open the boxes, cause in years past, its caused some arguments  funny how sweet family moments can so quickly turn into all out crying temper tantrums!  please tell me that happens in your families too??)

and this nativity set is perfect for kiddos!  this one stays in my kids room, and they love to play around with it:

Veggie Tales Nativity Set

 who doesn’t love Veggie Tales?  and speaking of Veggie Tales, we watch many Christmas movies during this time of year, and especially enjoy all the classics, but these two are at the top of our list:

The Star of Christmas
The Nativity Story

i can’t talk about my favorite Christmas things without talking Christmas decorations, because i LOVE decorating our home for Christmas.  but i won’t bore you again, as many of you have seen my decor in years past…it hasn’t really changed much!  you can take a peek here.  however, i will tell you that i’ve added a new addition to my decor this year, and i’m so excited about it!  its this creamy winter bunting from one of my sponsors, Sweet Bay Crochet.  i’m loving it, and i especially love that i can keep it up for January even after all the Christmas decorations come down!

and i’ll let you in on a few secrets:  here is a list of a few of the Christmas presents that i think Santa might be bringing the kiddos.  but shhh….its a secret!

Unjournaling
Bendaroos Mega Pack 500 Pieces
Multi-Flex LED Book Light, Silver
Crayola Washable Window Markers
SKLZ Pro Mini Basketball Hoop
Pillow Pets Dream Lites – Snuggly Puppy 11″

that about wraps it up for our favorite Christmas things!  please tell me your favorites too!  i’m always looking for good books, gift ideas, CD’s, etc to add to our collection!

and…i’m presently accepting a few more sponsors for the month of January, at a reduced “After Christmas” rate.  if interested, contact me at asmallsnippet{at}gmail{dot}com.

coming back soon with more of Eli,
 

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