let every heart prepare Him room....

Like most people, I love Christmas.....so much hope, joy, and promise. But what I really love is the waiting and anticipation of Christmas. The word "advent" means coming, and there are so many teachable moments as we wait to celebrate the birth of Christ.
Every year we add something to our advent traditions. This is our 5th year to do the Jesse Advent tree, which traces the heritage of Christ by adding a symbol to the tree each day leading up to the birth of Christ. So far we have walked through creation, the first sin, Noah's ark, Abram's call, Isaac, Jacob's ladder, Joseph's coat, the Ten Commandments, the Promised Land, Ruth and Boaz, King David, Josiah, and the Stump of Jesse. It is so exciting to see how the stories and prophecies in the Old Testament lead to the baby Jesus being born in Bethlehem.
This year we added an advent candle wreath as the centerpiece on our table. It is a simple wreath with four candles around the circle. Then, in the middle is a big white candle. We light one candle a week on Sunday to remind us of the coming of Christ. The circle of the wreath reminds us that God's love is everlasting. The evergreen wreath symbolize the ongoing life and joy that the birth of Christ brings to the world. The lighting of the candles helps us to remember that Jesus said "I am the light of the world." John 8:12 On Christmas day we will light the big candle in the middle and sing happy birthday to our Savior!

Joy to the World!
The Lord is come.
Let Earth receive her King.
Let every heart prepare Him room....
And heaven and nature sing.

We are making room in our hearts for the baby Jesus this season.

good gifts

"Every good and perfect gift comes from above." James 1:17
This is one of the kid's ABC memory verses and it has been on my heart and mind so much this season. We had a thankful jar during the month of November and the kids loved talking about these "gifts." At dinner we wrote things we were thankful for on little strips of paper, then hung them as a garland in the dining room entryway. We thanked God for: His son Jesus, our church, Daddy, Mommy, grandparents, cousins, our house, the farm, food, the new fence, swings, Jack, Josie, Kate, Sam, good health, school, flowers,friends.
The kids and I loved our time at the farm for Thanksgiving. A full house of family - seven kids, ages six and under, good food, laughs, an Aggie win, and lots of cousin time. Aunt Kat and the kids made an adorable tablecloth and we had our meal in the new barn. We also were able to share a meal with one of our favorite friends.
Will spent Thanksgiving in Louisiana with his family. We missed him but the four siblings loved having their parents to themselves! They too had lots of laughs and shared good food and company.
We don't take for granted these good gifts from God.

God sighting

This past summer at our VBS, we were encouraging the kids to look for God in our days....in the smile of a friend, a kind word, or a hug.

It's humbling and awesome when you have a God sighting in your own home, talking to your son.

Jack recently had a bad fall that led to a bruised back. He needed a few days of home health visits, 3 doses of his iv factor meds, and a trip to the physical therapist. That would overwhelm most six year olds. Shoot, that would overwhelm most adults.
But when God made Jack, He didn't just make him with Hemophilia. He gave Jack extra doses of wisdom, courage, and sensitivity to the Spirit.
I was tucking Jack into bed one night after the fall. He seemed deep in thought, as he often does. He internalizes things so I am always ready to listen when he is ready to talk. He asked simply, "Mommy, did God want me to fall?" I told him that God never wants to harm us because He loves us so much....but that sometimes He allows us to fall. He smiled. And then, I saw God. My son ministered to me and said - "Mommy, God knows everything about me, and He knew I would fall! But He will always be with me."

I feel like God was speaking to me through my child....reminding me that He will be with Jack. Reminding me that He made Jack and knows him better than anyone, even me. I needed to hear God that day. I needed that God sighting. Thank you God for my son. Thank you God for making him, loving him, and never leaving him.