Christmas 2011

We certainly enjoyed a truly wonderful Christmas. The days surrounding Christmas were filled with good times with family and friends. We thank God for the many blessings of 2011 and that we can celebrate the gift of his Son at Christmas.

This year Brian and I made an effort to talk with our kids about the "why" of Christmas. God sent his Son to be born as a baby in a manger, yes, but we didn't want the Christmas story to end there. Because the "why" is really what Christmas is all about. Jesus had to be born, live a sinless life, die on the cross , and be resurrected so that we might be forgiven. He was born because we need a Savior. Jesus is the only way that we can be rescued from the penalty of our sins. What a wonderful gift! But just like any gift, it has to be accepted, "opened up," if you will. If we will admit our sinfulness, acknowledge Jesus as our Lord and ask for His forgiveness, the gift of eternal life is freely offered. This is the present I am most thankful for this Christmas. Thank you, Lord, for Jesus.

Oh Boys...

I love being a mom to four boys. Having boys in the house ensures that there is always something exciting, mischievous, daring, or downright dangerous going on. Having never been a boy myself, I am enjoying getting to know and understand the creature that is the boy.

As a mom of boys, every day is filled with new and exciting adventures.

Just yesterday I found myself aiding in the search for a lost tooth on our bone-colored shag carpet as a result of a friendly game of tackle football in the family room (no, this is not technically allowed in the house). Once we realized that what was thought to be a nose bleed was in fact a missing front tooth, the one-tooth-less boy was no longer upset about the injury but rather eager to find his missing tooth (it had been almost ready to come out on its own). We got out our magnifying glass, walked around in bare feet, and looked and looked, all to no avail. The victim of the incident was very upset about not having a tooth to put under his pillow. I tried to console him by telling him that he could write a note to the tooth fairy explaining the situation. He then looked at me and asked doubtfully, "How do you know?"

I had been stepping over this book that was on the floor in my closet for a couple of days when I stopped to take note of it. "The Dangerous Book for Boys" is a favorite in our household, full of the most wonderful all-boy activities. It was laying on the floor along with the evidence of some creation, or more likely, booby trap designed for another brother. Because what's more fun than being a boy except sharing the experience of boyhood with brothers.