Lake San Antonio Trip 2008

Cousins : )

Sage wakeboarding with Ryan

Sage sailing with Uncle Jed

Aspen very very tired.

Okay ... it was just a sip ...

Spinning ball

Kate gave us her old Mac computer ... it's the model that came out in all those cool neon colors ... green, pink, etc. The one she gave us is orange. Tonight I was loading a movie to watch and the "spinning beach ball of death," popped up ... and Sage appropriately says, "That means it's frozen mom." I am sure she'll be surpassing my mediocre computer skills in a few days.

Proud

I watched yesterday as Sage rode her bike (w/out training wheels) around and around and around ... needless to say, we are proud. We have some pictures and video that I might getting around to posting ... but for now, just had to write about this is exciting moment.

5:40 A.M.

is about the time my kids have been waking up lately. I'm tired ...

The thin spot ...

Lately I have felt restless. That the is best word I can think of to describe my state. I have been excusing this feeling away by telling myself that it's summer and things are just a bit slower and less busy and so on and so forth. I find myself wanting to do everything and yet wanting to do nothing all in the same moment. There have even been moments of depression ... feeling down ... feeling lost.

When Henri Nouwen, chaplain of 9 years, was granted a 12-month sabbatical his first journal entry read ...

I have always dreamt about a whole year without appointments, meetings, lectures, travels, letters, and phone calls, a year completely open to let something radically new happen. But can I do it? Can I let go of all the things that make me feel useful and significant? I realize that I am quite addicted to being busy and experience a bit of withdrawal anxiety. I have to nail myself to a chair and control these wild impulses to get up again and become busy with whatever draws my attention.

I have not been making time to experience God in the "thin spots," ... that thin area where heaven and earth meet ... where God is fully present and realizable ... And like always I sit and wonder, "Why am I feeling like this?" instead of getting on my hands and knees and getting close to my creator who's cup truly fills my day (or should anyway). Our schedule has slowed down for the summer, and yet I find myself restless instead of rested.

So ...

...last week my mom and I decided to take the girls to the SB zoo. She had been wanting to take them on the train, so we decided she would take the girls on Amtrak and I would pick them up at the train station and then go onto the zoo from there. I boarded the train in Ventura JUST to take a picture of the girls and as I turned to start heading for the exit, I looked out the window and slowly watched the train stop (and my car -- illegally parked) fade away into the distance -- yeah, I got stuck on the train! Everything ended up working out ... but I must admit that I am not a big fan of public transportation. Something about the waiting around and not having control drove me a little nuts. Hmmm ... probably need to stuck on a train again.

Inspirationless

Is that even a word? Not a whole lot of inspiration for the blog lately. Is it a summer-heat thing? Is the blogging thing loosing it's luster? And then even as I write this I think, ah, whatever, don't need to post that ... Writer's block maybe. Oh well ..

Celebrations ...

Gradutation ... bridal shower ... wedding ... all in one weekend. Life is rich and full.

Sage's Birthday

We had a great day yesterday celebrating Sage's 4th Birthday!! Here is a link to the photos ....

Courting a Disney Princess

Just wondering ... what is the average courting period for a Disney princess and her prince charming? Sage and I were watching The Little Mermaid the other day and I always grumble inside when Ariel's fish, bird and crab friends are trying to get Eric to kiss her after only knowing her for 1 day -- AND -- Ariel doesn't even have a voice. All her little animal friends are actually disappointed ...
Anyhow. So, if I count the 3 days that Ariel is on land (after she gains some legs at the cost of loosing her voice), and maybe a few days prior to that, the total courtship is about 5 days. What about Cinderella, Belle, Aurora (Sleeping Beauty), Snow White ... etc.?

Gotta love the Internet

I don't think I watched one single episode of Brother's & Sister's for the entire '08 season and all I had to do was watch the season finale on the Internet and now I am all caught up. Doesn't get much better than that!

Ice Cream

Cory gifted us with 4 pints of Ben & Jerry's ice cream Monday night after homegroup. My favorite so far is Mint Chocolate Cookie. Oh my ... it is really quite amazing. I have threatened to toss the pints into the sink and drown them in water various times, but I just can't bring myself to waste such amazing ice cream. Now I remember why I don't by the little pint sized ice creams -- they are way too good to stop eating after just a 1/2 cup ...

: - 1

Some links to further our blogging communication ....

http://www.netlingo.com/smiley.cfm

http://www.fingertek.com/smilies.htm

Anniversary

Celebrating 7 years of marriage : )

Knowing is Loving

It is no wonder that God not only loves me unconditionally, but everyone else in the world too. He knows me. He knows my story, my mistakes, my joys, my sorrows, my ups & downs, and my good and bad decisions. He knows that I wake up every morning and crave a hot cup of tea. He knows that I list my way through life, crossing off accomplishments as I go. He knows my heart and all of the desires of that blood pumping organ.
How much easier is it to love people when we know them? I wish everyone had a little conversation bubble above their heads which gave a brief snapshot of their lives ... and maybe a statement about how they were feeling at that very moment. How much more compassion would I have for others if I actually knew their story instead of inferring my own for them?

Weeds ...

Sage and I were weeding in the front yard today during which she asked the profound question ...

Mom, why did God send the weeds?

No Internet

Well, no, I haven't been avoiding you all. Our Internet was down over the past week so I have been a little out of it. Glad to be back in-touch.

Daddy and Daughters Day One

Guest Blogger: Daddy Ryan!

This weekend, the nursery is all mine. At 10:41am Amber left, and it's just me and the girls for the next two and half days. As Aspen would say, "It's no biggie."

Today we met Todd, Elijah (4) and Lincoln (1) for a morning of adventure.

We met up at a secret location and took the kids on an adventure that I doubt they will they soon forget.

We took them on a journey through 8 ft. high weeds, over a creek, under tunnels made by the trees & past huge boulders, in search of a cave that I hadn't been to in over 10 years.
Sage made it most of they way, Aspen and

Lincoln were held the entire way, and Elijah ran, jumped, and basically somersaulted as he blazed a path for the rest of us to follow.
The thistles were HUGE, & we most likely walked through tons of poison oak, but then, through the brush, looking like something out of an Indiana Jones movie, we saw a giant rock in which the cave was hewn. We made our way up the creek so we could climb inside.



Then, after tromping back through the poison oak, thistle, and weeds, we made it to the trucks and headed off to eat Ojai Ice Cream in the Gazebo at Libby Park.








We made it back to the house just in time for naps, where we all took long naps.

Now I'm just praying that none of us wake up tomorrow with itchy rashes.

Update: No poison oak, just ticks!

Something in the air ...

I am a broken record and this is my most recent song ...

Sage, share.
Aspen, please do not scream.
Sage, you can't just take a toy from your sister's hand ... you need to at least ask first.
Aspen ... do I need to count? 1 ....2 ....3 ....4....
Aspen, please ask nicely.
Sage, share!

Repeat it a few times, changing the tone from polite to not so nice and you might even be able to sing along with me ...

Some other moms have shared that they are struggling through the same thing this week. Something must be in the air. Whatever it is, I wish it would blow away -- fast!

I de-cluttered the house today ...

...which is a funny statement considering I have never pegged myself as a clutter-type person. But, over time, when things aren't put away where they are supposed to, clutter just happens. The kids have been gone all weekend camping with their grandpa, so I thought I would take advantage of my freedom and do some spring cleaning. I can breathe again.

A phone call away ...

Dropping to my knees in prayer has never been part of my life -- until now. Growing up I was always very content with "horizontal prayer," (i.e. laying in my bed, praying, sometimes dozing off). Which is still a great way to pray and makes up some of my prayer time, but, in our most recent women's bible study, Beth Moore, as crazy and wordy as she is, urged me to truly and actively Believe God, part of which (for me anyway), was getting the lowest I could and crying out to God, knowing that He hears my every cry and request.
During the study I was working through some personal dilemmas and was led to drop to my knees in prayer. I say "led" because I didn't feel like I had a choice in the matter. Now, of course, I did because of free will and all of that, but you get what I am saying.
Okay ... why, oh why am I rambling on about my praying habits? Get on with it, Amber.
Well, you see, since these "drop-on-my-knees" prayers started, I seriously feel like God is just a phone call away. I feel a real sense of relationship ... the one I always sing about but don't always feel. And I have to say that I am more than exited at this new change in my spiritual life. It, like my workout routine, often needs change and uprooting in order for further growth to occur.

Active

Ever since my bike ride down Sulfer Mountain my eyes have been open to alternative activities to running. I have ran my entire life and have somehow managed to make it to the gym at least two times a week since I was 17 and had come back from 2 months in Mexico and desperately needed to shed the extra cheese and beans from my body ...
It's been way too many years of the same regime. Time for an impeachment. We traded our single bike buggy for our friend's double buggy and today was my first try at "going to Von's for bread." Huh? I told Ryan the other day that I wanted to start riding my bike as much as I could ... even to go to Von's and get bread. After Von's, we flew back down the bike trail (going home is a breeze), and went a little further to Old Baldwin Road (hwy 150) to buy some fruit from Mr. Produce (is that really his name?). We picked fresh mangos, strawberries, bananas and apples -- all of which fit in the buggy.
Daily activity is a good thing.

Bullets

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind for me. There were and are so many blog-worthy moments and ideas ... but alas, I settle for bullet points.

- Went to Easter sunrise service, sung Easter hymns at nursing homes, came home to sleep and recoup and ate egg scramble, ham steaks and cinnamon rolls for Easter dinner.
- Was whisked away by my sister's on my 30th birthday (3/25) to get a massage, go out to lunch and get manicures and pedicures. Then finished off the night with more shopping with the hubby and a fabulous dinner at TGIF's : )
- Recouped on Wednesday (all that pampering was exhausting!)
- Worked on Thursday and then got to go shopping again for an outfit to wear to my official 30th birthday party. (shopping without the kids -- yeah! thanks mom!)
- Went to the Ranch House on Friday night with family and friends to celebrate my 30th. What a magical night ...

Other highlights ....
- Watched the movie, Trade. A must see, but hard on the heart and soul.
- Had a date day with Sage ... strawberry ice cream and gallery shopping downtown. She kept thanking me for taking her out ... guess I need to do that a lot more often!
- My dad underwent his first round of radiation on Thursday (he has undergone various chemo-therapy treatments but his new doctor wanted to go forward with the radiation).
- Found out my little sister is pregnant! Makes for 7 grandkids in 4 years!! Go sistas!
- Went to the women's tea with my mom today -- we never get mom/daughter time, so that was pretty special.


Now I am up to date!

Don't finish the novel ...

Pastor Paul encouraged us this week "not to finish the novel." Huh? He was talking about holy week and the events leading up to Jesus' death, including the death itself. He said, "Stop! Linger, wallow and experience the crucifixion of Christ this entire week, and don't go any further until Easter morning." He argued that without meditating on what occurred before the resurrection, how can we feel the full joy of the resurrection itself? So I got out my bible yesterday morning and read Mathew's account of the events leading up to the resurrection. I am hoping to read Mark's view today and then Luke's, etc. Still, it is difficult to find that quiet time to really reflect upon this entire subject, esp. with kids running around, snacks, lunch, dinner, etc. to be prepared, dishes to be cleaned, etc. But, God knows this. He knows everything. Hey, if you get a chance, come to the labyrinth, hosted by OVCC. If it doesn't get you into the mood I am not sure what else will.

www.ovcc.org

F.I.N.E.

Freaked Out
Insecure
Neurotic
Emotional

I was at the OBGYN today and a woman sitting in the waiting room was quietly crying. After a while she was called into see the doctor. I happened to look up when she was re-entering the waiting room. Fresh tears filled her eyes. She left the office swiftly and within 5 seconds I decided to follow after her. I caught her just as she was getting into her car and from a distance I said, "Excuse me, are you okay?" She had her cell phone up to her ear, but she responded, "Yes, I am fine."
I don't know what news she received. A possible miscarriage? Perhaps the loss of hope of having children at all? Whatever the news, nothing about her was "fine."
Of course, I am a stranger, so maybe, "I'm fine," seemed pretty appropriate. Whatever the case, it broke my heart to see this woman in pain and I pray God's healing on her heart.

Craigslist is Trafficking

Did you know that Craigslist is serving as a portal for human trafficking? Here is the article. Here is the main website to learn more. Awareness is the first step.

Sulfur Mountain

I have lived here all of my life and still never made the long bike-ride down Sulfur Mountain -- until yesterday. Cory set me up with a bike, gloves and helmet and Ryan drove us to the top of the mountain so we could make the downhill ride. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous were our views. Seriously, the ocean and greenery (even the cows, mules and horses) were amazing. We didn't stop to take any pics ... we were going to fast to stop! Hahaha ... j/k. Oh, and we were going to have Ryan pick us up at the bottom, but that didn't work out so then we got a killer glute work-out riding up the path back into Ojai : ) Ryan looked it up and I think it was a 15 mile ride ... no wonder I am so tired. Here's the link to flickr.

New word

Diarena, commonly known as Diarrhea. Sage's newest word to date.

I'm Sorry

I have had to say that phrase a lot lately. And yet today (while I was again saying it to none other than my mom) I realized that when I utter those words I feel the truth of what it means to die to yourself. In an apology ( not an "I'm sorry, BUT" apology) , I am humbled, I am broken, I am wrong, and whatever I was I don't want to be again.

The tally of my apologies this week ....

To Ryan: I am sorry that my words to you this week have been unkind.
To Sage: I am sorry that I lost my temper and yelled.
To my Mom: I am sorry that we got in a tiff this morning.

Where would I be without God's redemptive love and forgiveness? Somewhere very far from true joy and happiness.

High Heels

So ... you have to do it once in your lifetime ... right? I bought these heels for a party that Ryan and I went to in Orange County. I gained many inches in height and some serious foot aches ... all worth it, though. Look out, I think I will be getting a lot of use out of these.

Disneyland

We went to Disneyland on Monday. It was crowded but still a lot of fun. Thanks again Monica for taking us! (my good friend who can take 3 people in for free to the park because she works for ABC). Here are the rest of the photos.

Funny

While at Von's parking lot ...

Sage: Mom, why are there lights still on that tree?
Me: Oh ... I don't know. I guess they haven't taken them down yet.
Sage: How are they going to take the star off?
Me: Hmm ... I am not sure.
Sage: Maybe Jesus will come and help them.

Happy Birthday & Happy Valentine's Day

Aspen turned two this week (Feb. 15th) and we had a nice little Valentine's Day celebration with the girls. On Valentine's Day Ryan said to me, "I didn't get you a card," to which I replied, "I didn't get you a card either." Such romance after 12 years of being together ...

Cool new Dora glasses & dress-up beads

Pump-It-Up fun ...

Valentine's Day goodies

Pismo

I came down with something bad last week ... a cold/flu bug forced me onto the couch for a few days. We had already planned our Pismo trip a month ago, so Ryan decided that he was still going to go -- with or without me. As of Saturday morning I didn't think I was going ... all I could do was sleep. So, Ryan went to the store to shop for the weekend. My parents were also going on the trip and they were bringing the bulk of the food, but Ryan went and bought some emergency snacks ...
1. Dora/Shreck animal cookies (iced and normal)
2. Pony fruit snacks
3. Pop Tarts
4. Orange Juice
5. Cookie Dough
6. Wine
7. Chocolate Cookies
8. 3 apples
9. Diet Coke

I ended up being able to go on the trip and boy did we enjoy all the snacks!

Time

Beth Moore writes, "Time by itself does nothing but grow us old. What we do with time makes the difference."

What I have been doing with my time lately ....

• Enjoying my Beth Moore study
• Meeting up with cousins at the zoo
• Hosting Home Group (food, fun and games)
  
• Eating dinner with friends
• Trying to keep up with the laundry
• Dreaming about a new couch, new T.V. and freshly painted walls (in hallway & bathrooms)
  
• Worrying and praying for certain family members
• Watching my kids grow up
• Getting creative without our T.V. working for more than 20 minutes at a time
  
• Playing with my new phone (I can finally text now -- now I am cool!)
• Walking and lifting weights

That's just this week ... what will next week bring?

Hot Fudge Tootsie Roll Sauce

I was craving hot fudge the other night so I decided to look up a recipe to try to make some. As it was late at night and I wasn't going to rush to the store for any special ingredients I had to pick a recipe for which I had all of the ingredients. And I didn't want to spend too much time making it, so I picked a microwave friendly recipe -- mistake #1. I also didn't want to make a huge batch of this stuff, so I divided everything by 4 -- probably mistake #2. I followed the short instructions and it actually looked pretty good after a few minutes of cooking in the microwave. I scooped out some vanilla ice cream and poured the warm chocolate sauce on top. I took a couple of bites ... Mmmm ... not too bad. Then I took another bit ... Hmm ... it's a little chewier than the last bite. As I continued to take more bites, the chocolate "sauce" got chewier and chewier -- much like a Tootsie Roll. And you would think that I would put down the odd tasting dessert, but no, my hormones had the better of me that night and I continued on to finish every last bite. Don't think anyone is going to want this recipe!

I got tagged ...

Okay, okay, I'll play a long. But the only person I will tag is Ryan because I think all of my blogging cohorts have been taken up!

I love ...

• hearing Aspen say "bopper" (diaper)
• walking Shelf after an amazing rain storm
• living with my mom-in-law
• having movie night with my girls
• talking late into the night with my husband
• realizing that the mystery of God is greater than I will ever know
• how involved my parents are in my kids' lives
• chocolate-covered peanut butter balls
• Cadbury eggs

I hate ...

• scrubbing bathtubs
• being rushed
• when people story-top
• confrontation via email
  

If Not for My Husband

by: Amber Smith

If not for my husband
What a bore I would be
Eating bon bons and cherries
And only watching T.V.

If not for my husband
No adventures would I seek
Save for hunting down the missing sock
And wiping tears from some chubby cheeks

For he spurs me on toward camping
Toward snowboarding and more
Toward early mornings and late nights
In a car that fits no more than four

Still, it’s not until,
The wee hour before we leave
That I get that bit of excitement
And to my home a little less I cleave

For my worrisome mind wanders
And complains even more …
“But I’ll be tired, the kids won’t sleep
And I might even be bored!”

So here’s an ode to my husband
Who is ever the adventurous man
Creating many lifelong memories
Again and again

Tomorrow some ladies and I are making a turn-around trip to Sierra Summit (5 hrs 1 way) to go snowboarding. Ryan is already up there with the youth group so we are going to meet him up there for the day. I have tried to get out of this trip a zillion times and it wasn't until a few moments ago that I got really excited and I realized that I owe much of this excitement (and the exciting moments of my life) to Ryan, who is usually spearheading all of our trips. Thanks dear, I love you.

Snow!

I meant to post these a week ago, but life happened. So, here are some pics from when we drove up to Rose Valley to play in the snow after our recent rain storm. Sage couldn't wait to eat the snow, hence the funny pictures.

Pants & Visors

I was putting Sage's clothes away today and I noticed that her clothes rack was finally thinning out. I put most of her clothes in a dresser, but I usually hang up dresses, nice shirts and jackets. There was so much room in her closet that I decided to hang up her pants too. I remember trying to hang up her pants when she was a baby/toddler and if I didn't have any real pant hangers then I would try to fold the jeans through the hanger hole ... only to find the pants lying there on the floor the next day. After that I just decided to fold her jeans and put them in a dresser. So I was surprised today when I slipped her jeans through the hanger hole and they hung there perfectly. Surprised, sad, excited, and overwhelmed by how quickly all of this motherhood stuff is whizzing by me.
Then to top it all off Sage fits into my visor!! We were heading out for a walk and I put my visor on and Aspen wanted to wear hers (used to be Sage's) and I realized I didn't have one for Sage. I thought I would try my visor on her just in case it fit and to my surprise (again), it fit. I guess our little girl is becoming a big girl right before our eyes.

Songs

I have had this song stuck in my head all day after singing it at church this morning. I guess it's a pretty good song to have stuck in my head .... the tune is absolutely beautiful. Here is a link to a letter written by the author of this song, Stuart Townend.

HOW DEEP THE FATHER’S LOVE FOR US,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss –
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.

Behold the man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders;
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life –
I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything,
No gifts, no power, no wisdom;
But I will boast in Jesus Christ,
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer;
But this I know with all my heart –
His wounds have paid my ransom.

H2Ojai

I love water. But not just any water. My favorite is my mom's water. They have this crazy reverse osmosis system which makes the water taste as good, if not better than Aquafina. It is really the reason why I am such a water snob. I just really like that crisp clean taste of good water. Anyhow, lately we have been buying Von's brand water. It is okay and is a step up from water "purified" by a Brita filter. But the last two gallons of water that I bought from Von's tasted like chlorine, so I decided to try out H2Ojai. At just .50/gallon (cheapest in town), you get clean, fresh tasting water. This is 1/2 as much as Von's water (.99/gallon). And, if you buy 100 gallons (on a pre-paid card) then you can buy the water at .40/gallon. They have all of the fun accessories at the car-wash (inside it - where you pay for your carwash). You can sanitize and fill your bottles inside and there is a nice little cart to assist in bringing it back out to the car. I think they are just getting off the ground, so if you have been looking for good tasting water and don't want to pay the big bucks, try it out!

Gratitude

After opening up her new princess dress-up clothes that she received for Christmas, Sage said, "Mom, I just don't know how to thank you." I was nearly brought to tears with her gratitude.

Our Marine

After 3 months of grueling recruit training, my brother Jed is now a Marine. He finished 2nd in his class of over 400 recruits. We are very proud of him, and yet we pray earnestly that he is not called away to war -- this war specifically. Below are some pictures of us reuniting with him after one of the graduation ceremonies.

We haven't had a family photo in years ... from left:
My dad (Ed), me, youngest sister (Jamie), Jed, Holly (& Riley), Ginger (preg. w/ #2), Judy/Mom.

Happy New Year!

After watching the Rose Parade, and after I told Sage that maybe we would one day go and see the Rose Parade, she said, "No mommy, I want to be IN the parade, I don't just want to see it!" So ... we had a little parade of our own ....

We've been busy ...

Horseback riding with my sister for her birthday ...

Camping at the sea wall ...

Sage on her new scooter, Aspen on her new Plasma Car

Christmas at Papa & Grandma Smith's ....

Sage gets dress-up clothes and play cleaning supplies for Christmas ...

Post-Holiday Shopping

Okay ... so I happily embraced the early onset of Christmas celebrations because Sage I and were able to have some great conversations about the Christ in Christmas. Today is December 26th and I just received some "post-holiday shopping" emails from Joanne's. Since there is no more consuming to be done for Christmas, we must create a new holiday: Post-Holiday. Now I am just annoyed.
On a lighter note, our family celebrations were wonderful and tiring all at the same time. We have much to be thankful for this year.

Mochi

Last night Ryan and I went to my work party. I sometimes forget I am a working woman since I only work Fridays. Anyways, my boss hosted a fabulous dinner in his home and when it came time for dessert Ryan and I happily noticed they were serving Mochi Ice Cream. We got hooked on Mochi ice cream when we lived in L.A. Excited to see the little balls of ice cream, I asked my boss's wife, "So, you like Mochi?" To which she responded, "Never tried it, I just thought it would look really pretty in these bowls and it would be a fun adventure to try this out together," at which point my boss grabbed his spoon to dig into our fun dessert at which point Ryan and I both blurted out, "Um ... it's a finger-food dessert. You eat it like this." We had fun coaching them all on the ways of Mochi in addition to fully enjoying everyone's first responses to the little balls. If you have never tried Mochi ice cream this story is pretty anticlimactic -- but if Elen, Carla or Tiff are reading this, I am sure you guys are laughing!
p.s. TJ's sells Mochi Ice Cream. I highly recommend the Strawberry and Chocolate Flavors. Although Mocha is my favorite, but our TJ's doesn't carry it.

Rudolph

Oddly enough I know ALL of the words to this song. Sage loves this song. She even knows all of the echo parts : )

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

You know Dasher and Dancer, and Prancer and Vixen,
Comet and Cupid, and Donner and Blitzen,
But do you recall, the most famous reindeer of all?

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Had a very shiny nose,
And if you ever saw it,
You could even say it glows.

All of the other reindeer
Used to laugh and call him names;
They never let poor Rudolph
Join in any reindeer games.

Then one foggy Christmas Eve,
Santa came to say:
"Rudolph with your nose so bright,
Won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?"
Then how the reindeer loved him
As they shouted out with glee,
"Rudolph the red-nosed Reindeer,
You’ll go down in history."

We Three Kings

7 days until Christmas. My (Tracy's rather) sewing machine is threading away. I think I am almost done with everything. Still have to wrap though ... need to get a good movie to watch and wrap while I am watching the movie. For some reason I always love watching "You've Got Mail," around this time.

We Three Kings

We three kings of Orient are;
Bearing gifts we traverse afar,
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.

Refrain

O star of wonder, star of light,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.

Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain
Gold I bring to crown Him again,
King forever, ceasing never,
Over us all to reign.

Refrain

Frankincense to offer have I;
Incense owns a Deity nigh;
Prayer and praising, voices raising,
Worshipping God on high.

Refrain

Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom;
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone cold tomb.

Refrain

Glorious now behold Him arise;
King and God and sacrifice;
Alleluia, Alleluia,
Sounds through the earth and skies.

Refrain

Humming ...

Like I said, I am really enjoying Christmas hymns this year. So, lately when I sing to the girls at night I try to sing a couple of carols. The sad thing is that I only know the first verses of just a few carols. So I sing the first verse very confidently and struggle through the rest of the verses, humming in place of verses forgotten or never memorized. Last night Sage started to hum with me ... that was pretty fun.

Silent Night

Silent night, Holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in Heavenly peace
Sleep in Heavenly peace

Silent night, Holy night
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from Heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Hallelujah
Christ, the Savior is born
Christ, the Savior is born

Silent night, Holy night
Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from thy Holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth

I have really been enjoying Christmas Carols/Hymns lately. The lyrics bring me back to the true meaning of Christmas ... Christ not presents. Just this morning I was thinking of some more things that I want to buy the girls. Then as I was singing, "What Child is This," during worship this morning I realized my focus of Christmas had once again been derailed.

Here are the lyrics to, "What Child is This":

What Child is This

What child is this, who, laid to rest
On Mary's lap, is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?

Chorus:
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!

Why lies he in such mean estate
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear for sinners here,
The silent Word is pleasing.

Chorus

So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come peasant king to own Him,
The King of kings, salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

Raise, raise the song on high,
The Virgin sings her lullaby:
Joy, joy, for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!

Wrapping Paper

This year I am only using the brown paper from grocery shopping bags to wrap presents. I just can't get myself to spend money on colored paper that you buy, wrap around a box with some tape, rip open and then throw away. If I run out of bags, then I think I will just buy the re-usable bags from TJ's and use those to put my presents in. They are actually much cheaper than holiday bags and can serve multiple purposes. And I am not buying tissue paper. I decided to boycott that a while ago. Although, if you give it to me in a present I will re-use it. You know that you can iron it back to it's beautiful flat self, right?

Zoo Favorites

We went to the Zoo today. My all-time favorite zoo animal has always been the Capybara. They just look like cuddly creatures to me. But not so much today as we witnessed the capybara and the anti-eater (who now share living quarters) stand each other off and chase each other around their pen. Another zoo favorite of mine would be the gorillas. Today one of the gorillas actually leaned against the looking glass and Sage, Ryan and I were able to observe him as he picked at his fur and chewed on some grass. His back was to us, but he kept looking at Sage through the corner of his eyes. It was pretty amazing. I think I could have stayed there for hours just observing this magnificent creature. But Aspen was definitely not a fan of the big burly guy and Sage wanted to move on to the giraffes and lions. So, we moved on, but both Ryan and I were pretty blown away by our experience.