Knock, Knock...

Sadie is totally into "Knock, Knock" jokes right now. I'm not sure exactly how we got hooked on them, but now we make up new ones to keep things fresh and absolutely hilarious.... or at least absolutely hilarious from a 3 year old's perspective.

Anyway... Sadie was using "Knock, Knock's" as her stalling approach at bedtime tonight. I heard...
"Knock, Knock."
"Who's there?"
"Cow"
"Cow who?"
"Cows don't say who, they say moo!"

To which I responded...
"Knock, Knock."
"Who's there?"
"Goto."
"Goto who?"
"Go to sleep!"

See, I told you we were funny! Leave me your best knock, knock jokes! :) We gotta keep the Knock, Knock spirit up!

Preparing for the Coming of the King...

Sadie's prayer last week...
"God thank you for our beds. Thank you for my family. Thank you for our church. And most of all, thank you for Santa Clause. Amen."

When your child begins praying at night thanking God for Santa Clause and not Jesus, it's a good time to refocus the reason for this beautiful season! We began an ABC advent on December 1st, but it's never too late to start now and count down the days to the coming of our King!

I found the ABC advent idea online, but have rewritten it and added scriptures to fit our family's needs. Thought I would post it for those of you who are interested...

Eric made this awesome advent candle holder for our kitchen table!!! I love it... someone from our small group said that it looks like a menorah on steroids. Couldn't help but laugh....


Anyway...
Before we start Advent at night Sadie and Cole have to pick up their toys. Sadie will quickly pick up her toys to do Advent! I LOVE THAT! There's something about children and the idea that we are going to light candles for them to blow out that is incredibly exciting. After toys are picked up, we turn off the lights and light a new candle and the previous candles that have already been lit. As we light the candles, we review what we have learned so far and what each candle stands for. I am amazed at what Sadie is remembering and how well she is telling the story of Christmas herself. Last night we tried something new and sang Silent Night before we blew out the candles. Short and simple, but teaching the truth of this season.

Here's what we are learning as we worship together and scriptures to go with each letter:
A- Angel came to visit Mary (Luke 1:26-31)
B- Baby Jesus (Luke 1:31)
C- City of Bethlehem (Matthew 2:6)
D- Donkey (The Bible does not state exactly how Mary got to Bethlehem, just that she went with Joseph - Luke 2:1-5. It is possible that they used a donkey as a mode of transportation. Good opportunity to talk about the distance they traveled and the possibilities of how they might have gotten there.)
E- Everlasting - Share about God's power and relate it to the season. (Psalm 90:2)
F- Family - As your family we want to teach you about the truth of Jesus. (Deut. 6:5-9)
G- Gift (John 3:16)
H- Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35-37)
I- Inn (Luke 2:7)
J- Joy ( Luke 1:39-45)
K- King (John 18:37)
L- Lamb (John 1:29)
M- Multitude of Angels (Luke 2:13)
N- Name of Jesus (Matthew 1:23 & Phil. 2:9)
O- Obey - Mary and Joseph obeyed Jesus (Matthew 1:24-25)
P- Perfect - Jesus is without flaw.
Q- Quiet time (Psalm 46:10)
R- Rejoice (Luke 1:14)
S- Sins - Jesus was born to save us from our sins. (Matthew 1:21)
T- Twinkling Star (Matthew 2:2)
U- Unto Us a Child is Born (Luke 2:11)
V and W - Visit from Worshiping Wise Men (Matthew 2:7-12)
X - is for Christ (2 Peter 3:18)
Y- Jesus will be a blessing to YOU! (Ephesians 1:3-14)
Z- ZZZZZ - We can rest in knowing that Jesus is Alive! (Psalm 91:1)

Happy Adventing and Merry Christmas!

Cover your sneeze!

While Sadie is eating a carrot for lunch, she sneezes... little orange bits are flying everywhere... mainly all over Eric.

Eric: SADIE... ugh, that is so gross!
Sadie: Sorry
Eric: You need to cover your mouth when you sneeze.
Sadie: But I have a new shirt on.

We've taught Sadie to sneeze into her sleeve... but apparently if you're wearing new clothing it's better for the person you're eating with to wear your lunch than to have it on your own shirt.

Dealing with my Adversions

When I was pregnant with Sadie I craved chicken from Long John Silvers. We went a couple times a week so I could satisfy my longing for the breaded goodness... UNTIL, one day I bit into a perfectly breaded outside into a raw inside. I thought I was going to puke... and to make it better, they wanted to give me MORE chicken! For about a year after that I would not eat chicken in any form.

I've been able to avoid LJS for 4 years now... until today when hubby suggested it for lunch. So, I took a deep breath, checked the inside of my chicken and partook of the greasy goodness. I think I'm finally dealing with LJS.

God's Plan is so Simple...

James 4:7 - Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

A few weeks ago I went to a preview of To Save a Life. It's a movie (based off a true story) that's to be released in January 2010. To Save a Life deals with many issues in teen culture... bullying, suicide, cutting, drinking, drugs, relationships, teen pregnancy... the list could go on and on.

I left with all this running through my mind reflecting on how naive (dingy or clueless... whichever word you prefer) I was in high school... there were things out there going on, but I know I was unaware of the severity or even the vastness... and things have changed drastically in the 10 years I have been removed from high school. As I get older and work with students in ministry (and prepare to raise teenagers), I fear being disconnected to culture. I fear being unable to relate to what students are going through and being able to help meet their needs. I want to be able to understand where they're at so I can help them and point them to the One who provides all healing and redemption.

As I was processing all this, I was thinking about the issue of cutting. A huge issue among teens and young adults right now. It's hard for me to wrap my brain around how someone could want to cut. As I was pondering this, God gave me a picture of what my sinful habit of worry does to my mind and causes just as much damage... worry makes me feel like I have momentary control over whatever circumstance I'm dealing with, leaving a scar on my mind. Cutting is simply the same... a reaction to what's going on in the mind that allows someone to feel in control... leaving a more visible scar for others to see. My sin is "hidden" theirs is more "visible"... both are wrong and need to be laid before the feet of the Healer and the One who has control over our lives.

I can't help be be amazed at the simplicity of God's plan for us. It seems like we try to make such God's incredible gift so complex... it doesn't have to be. God made us for one need... the need for Him. If we can learn to submit our minds to him (day by day, moment by moment), we are going to find that he puts a desire in us to be obedient to him... and as we submit, we will see our fleshly desires and habitsdissipate... we find freedom from worry, alcoholism, drug addictions, cutting etc. Is the submission thing always easy??? Absolutely not... it takes persistence... eyes to His Word, ears to his calling... but I cannot think of a safer place to be when my world seems out of control than in the arms of Christ.

God, you created us with a need for you... help us to not do life alone... help us to submit to you and set our minds on you alone.

Romans 12:2 - Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Colossians 3:2 - Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

My favorite verse right now....

Psalm 91:1
"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty."

Ahhh... I love resting in the shadow of the Almighty... and for those of you that don't know, this Kansas snow we've had has been for ME!!! God gave our city so much snow so I could SLOW DOWN AND REST IN THE SHADOW OF THE ALMIGHTY. Praise Him!