I am finally getting around to sharing a slideshow of this past Christmas.
Here's what the slide show is NOT -- a complete picture of our Christmas. It does not show our attempts at advent readings and activities to still our pace and center our hearts, or how the kids picked out and sent gifts to impoverished families around the world through World Vision. It doesn't reflect our desire to make Christmas about Christ, though that was the focus.
It does show lots of presents which could appear to be all about consumerism. These were not ordinary presents, however; they were thoughtful gifts from so many family members near and far, biological and adoptive. Gifts from people who, in some cases, suffered a lot this past year, and they still made time to think of our kids. To send something from Ohio or New York or Florida to bless the kids.
This year there was much loss in our families -- our extended families, our kids' biological families -- deaths, financial struggles, cancer, dissolving marriages. The opening of these presents represents the giving hearts that continued despite all the grief.
I chose this somewhat odd song to accompany the slide show because there is always room for forgiveness, new starts, and ultimately the redemptive and transforming power found in Jesus -- God become man to connect with us, heal us, and change the trajectory of this fallen world and our broken lives.
The past two years (since Oli and Bella joined the family) have been so hard for us, but we are finally on the other side of the transition. This Christmas finally felt like that. Finally felt as if I had breath in my lungs again. (I am working on a couple of posts to let y'all into that part of the journey. Coming soon...) When the lyrics say, "So it's been a long year, every new day brings one more tear..." my heart sighs with the knowledge of that feeling. And yet the good news is what Christmas represents. God with us. Emmanuel.
Showing posts with label gifts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gifts. Show all posts
June 9, 2016
February 17, 2011
Christmas Cookies, Part I
Remember how, way back during the holidays, I wrote about practicing Advent this year? One of the elements of making Jesus' birth real is that of giving graciously, abundantly, with abandon...for this is how God has given to us. It is also giving sacrificially, that is, we don't give because we have so much that we wouldn't even notice the loss; no, we give UNTIL we see our lives being lived differently because we have given so much.
I need to practice this as much as my now three-year-old, but in the spirit of teaching said three-year-old in ways that are meaningful to him, we gave generously...sugar cookies. And that tale will be told in full in Part II.
For now let us discuss the making of the cookies. Of course, Benjamin helped to the best of his abilities. Because I got the hare-brained idea of making this a communal event involving other three-year-olds and their siblings, we had to make something like five batches. Of sugar cookies. This takes some time, as you can imagine, time during which the chief stirrer pooped out and needed to be put to bed.
On a bright and lovely Wednesday, we hosted ten or so cookies decorators. A few forgot that the purpose of the exercise was to make things to share with others and ate more than were planned for consumption. (Namely, Benjamin...I kept turning around to find a cookie in his mouth. And he would act all sincere in asking for one - "Are you going to decorate this one?" "Yes, Mama!" Uh-huh.)
This is Eli. He's my cousin's youngest. Every time I see him, I am tempted to snatch him up and hide him in the closet in order to keep him a bit longer. I mean look at him!
This is Max. He's the oldest of the little people and takes great pride in his work. While other munchkins are slathering icing on with wild abandon, Max is deliberately and carefully decorating his cookies. And while the others may have lost interest only three cookies in, Max completed a beautiful selection of confections.
Felicity looks older than the others because she IS much older! She patiently handled the bags and tubes sticky from the little people, and produced some very artistic versions of the cookies. She's Eli's older sister. I would probably have to fight her if I tried to keep him.
As you can see, we had some real chefs in the group. Amare came well prepared for any photo opportunities that would arise.
And, dear me! Matteo is every bit as huggable as Eli! I might have to hide him in the closet next time...
Stay tuned for Part II.
I need to practice this as much as my now three-year-old, but in the spirit of teaching said three-year-old in ways that are meaningful to him, we gave generously...sugar cookies. And that tale will be told in full in Part II.
For now let us discuss the making of the cookies. Of course, Benjamin helped to the best of his abilities. Because I got the hare-brained idea of making this a communal event involving other three-year-olds and their siblings, we had to make something like five batches. Of sugar cookies. This takes some time, as you can imagine, time during which the chief stirrer pooped out and needed to be put to bed.
On a bright and lovely Wednesday, we hosted ten or so cookies decorators. A few forgot that the purpose of the exercise was to make things to share with others and ate more than were planned for consumption. (Namely, Benjamin...I kept turning around to find a cookie in his mouth. And he would act all sincere in asking for one - "Are you going to decorate this one?" "Yes, Mama!" Uh-huh.)
This is Eli. He's my cousin's youngest. Every time I see him, I am tempted to snatch him up and hide him in the closet in order to keep him a bit longer. I mean look at him!
This is Max. He's the oldest of the little people and takes great pride in his work. While other munchkins are slathering icing on with wild abandon, Max is deliberately and carefully decorating his cookies. And while the others may have lost interest only three cookies in, Max completed a beautiful selection of confections.
Felicity looks older than the others because she IS much older! She patiently handled the bags and tubes sticky from the little people, and produced some very artistic versions of the cookies. She's Eli's older sister. I would probably have to fight her if I tried to keep him.
As you can see, we had some real chefs in the group. Amare came well prepared for any photo opportunities that would arise.
And, dear me! Matteo is every bit as huggable as Eli! I might have to hide him in the closet next time...
Stay tuned for Part II.
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