Merry Christmas!

Before we know it another year will be upon us so let's not let the "holidays" slip by without slowing down to really celebrate.  Christmas.  So grab a warm drink, a comfy seat, and check this out.  Micah was an old testament prophet who lived hundreds of years before Christ.  He penned these words inspired by God:  

"But you, Bethleham Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come from me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.  Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor gives birth and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites.  He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.  And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.  And he will be their peace." Michah 5:2-5.

God has had a plan of redemption since the beginning of time and because of prophesies like this one, the world was anticipating a Savior.  However, for many people, Jesus didn't live or die according to their expectations.  This Christmas, I challenge you to submit your expectations of who God is and how he does things to the truth that can be found in scripture.  So whether 2012 is filled with more joy or more heartache, may we celebrate the fulfillment of this prophesy and may He be our peace!

2011 Year in Review

• Aaron took a job with Amazon.com and we moved to the Phoenix area in late February.

• On moving day we picked up Josiah’s first pair of glasses.  We have a greater respect for warranties and superglue (5 pairs later).  

• Jane and Richard Daume have blessed us with their friendship and the love of family.  They live just 20 minutes away and are relatives on Aaron’s dad’s side.

• We moved into a house in April and have had fun making it a home.  Hooray for Craigslist (our official furniture store) and for artificial grass (we don’t mow or scoop snow now!)

• We took a break from the summer heat with a family vacation to Colorado in July where Aaron hiked his first “fourteener”.  

• The kids experienced the ocean and the Grand Canyon for the first time this year.

• Mary started preschool four mornings a week in the fall.  She loves to role play/dress up and do “projects”.  Give her paper, scissors, glue, tape, staplers, markers etc. and she is set!  If she is not working on a project, she is likely performing through song and dance.

• Josiah loves to draw, be read to, play with animals, go to the park, and eat.  He will also be found belting out a tune and squirming a toddler jig along side his sister whenever a performance breaks out.  He no longer wears his hip brace at all!

• Sarah stays busy shopping for art supplies, snacks, and witnessing daily flash mobs in  her home.  She’s also been part of a mom’s group at church, connected with some neighbor ladies, and helped sew costumes for an annual Christmas dinner theater.  

• Early in October we attended the wedding of a dear friend, had a small group reunion, and visited family and friends in southeast Kansas.

• Later in October Aaron ran his second 1/2 marathon.

• November and December have been more intense for Aaron at work (imagine that!), but we made it through our first “peak” season!
  

from the mouths of babes

Mary:  "Mom, are you excited to hear what songs I'm learning?"  (for her school Christmas concert)
Me: "Yes!  I'm really looking forward..."
Mary interupts:  "Mom, pray to God, and ask Him to give you patience."

A couple recent Mary questions:

"Mom, who made God?"
"Mom, when does a table become a table?"

Some of Josiah's most frequent phrases:

animal book
baby animal
monkey bars
I want...
I did it!
Daddy's home!
God, thank you. amen.

My friend Valerie to her daughter:  Do you want me to sing 'Mary had a little lamb?'
Juliana (2 years old):  Mom!  Mary doesn't have a little lamb, she has Josiah!