Christmas 2011 Post I...Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning

 We almost didn't think we'd pull it off, but what is Christmas without staying up until 2 am.

 

I even managed to finish(minus tabs to hang them ;-)) the stockings I had been talking about making for the past 6 years.

On Christmas Eve we went to our annual Christmas Eve candlelight service which we always look forward to. (I forgot to take my camera to church) Afterwards we usually eat something light and then open a gift that that we know to be a book.  That way the kids can read their book while winding down for the night.  Jack had also bought gifts for everyone and was so excited that we opened his gifts as well.   He was so proud to give me a big bag of chocolates.:-)

 

Anne Michal and Creed open Christmas Eve presents.

 All the kids on Christmas morning before stockings.

 Anne Michal with hers while Creed coughs in the background. He has been a bit under the weather.

 Creed with his.  He was very excited for Christmas. 

 Janey Kate snagged her baby doll from her stocking.

 Jack helping her with the rest of hers.

 Emma looking at a necklace.

 
 Jack with his annual toothbrush.

Janey Kate helped Anne Michal with hers.

  Elizabeth got her favorite flipflops replaced with a bigger pair and conveniently hid her face with them. She wears them year round as much as possible.

 

Creed and Jack wearing their spy glasses!

...next post Christmas afternoon and evening.

In Case You Have Forgotten

what Anne Michal looks like, Creed drew a picture of her.  Apparently her nose is above her eyes.  He seemed genuinely surprised that I didn't know who that was. ;-)

Just Because

Knox--Dec2006

We see this same look on Janey Kate's face so often!

Janey Kate turns One!!!!!

     Today our Janey Kate turned one. I cannot even put into words how thankful I am for this little girl.  I am pretty sure my pregnancy was more like 3 yrs instead of 9 months.  It seemed like it anyway as it was very rough physically.  There were times I thought I'd literally lose my mind, but I knew it would end and bring  sweetness with that end. I'd do it all over in a heartbeat.  She can be a bit high maintenance, this girl of mine, but she is such a delight.  She is always on the go, but is learning to enjoy a quick cuddle now and then and loves to give hugs and kisses.
    I always have to fight (or accept) waves of sadness on birthdays.  I always miss Knox more than usual on special days.  Birthdays are such fun and greatly anticipated days in our house, and I miss sharing those with him.  Birthdays also mark the passage of time...time without him.  However, I was thinking today about Janey Kate, Knox and a friend of mine whose mother is nearing the end of her pilgrim days and how today could be the day she enters eternity. That day could be shared with Janey Kate's birthday.
     I used to not want special days like birthdays to be shared with Knox's anniversary days...birthday, accident, death...and it still would be very hard. Knox was born on October 27th, 2005.  Janey Kate was born on November 27th, 2010.  She is exactly 5 years and 1 month younger. Anway, I know this is random and rambling, and all they share is the number of the day, but somehow it is a reminder to me in yet another way of Our God, Ordainer of all things, Orderer of our world, and Giver of Good Gifts.  A reminder that in my continual sadness there is also continual blessing and joy and maybe, while we cannot know the mind of God, the gift of life can be a reminder that he is still with us and caring for us in the midst of loss.
  This is a birthday post, so of course, there must be pictures and pictures of us making merry.   She is becoming increasingly difficult to take pictures of since she is never still!!!!! But here there are!!!


Elizabeth continues her stint as birthday decorator.

The little dolls in cups are a matching color game that she made for Janey Kate.  I'll post more pictures of that another day.  We got the idea from pinterest.;-)

She made her a strawberry banner.



 
Opening presents with Lizzy...brown paper packages tied up with string! 



It is a made-by-mommy doll with a matching dress.

 Playing with another toy.

 She kept hitting the toy with her hand and the she'd throw it back and look at it. So cute!

 Showing off her birthday dress while dancing to music.

Giggling with her sisters.

 I think Creed sat here for two days waiting for cake!

 Miss Peggy helped her sneak a lick of icing.

 Eating a bit of dinner first.

 Cake! White cake with homemade strawberry icing made by Elizabeth.

 

 Posing with her doll for a picture.

 

 And in case there was any doubt that she might be a drama queen, this is totally feigned surprise on her part. She wasn't reacting to a thing; just making funny faces. :-)

Thank you friends who came to celebrate though I somehow didn't get pictures.

Love you Mallory Jane Katharine, our favorite one year old.  You make our lives more joyful and give us much to be thankful for!!!!!!!

Things to Remember

Creed: Mommy, I love you.
Me:  I love you too, Creed.
Creed: Thank you for loving me too!

No One Better Mess with My Girls

Anne Michal's target from shooting practice with my dad. It was only her second or third time shooting.

Elizabeth's target.  The ones off the center were her first few and then she got the hang of it.  Be afraid...very, very afraid. ;-)

October 2011 Book Log

Death Penalties by Paula Gosling

The Wychford Murders by Paula Gosling

Dead on Arrival by Patricia Hall

The Italian Girl by Patricia Hall

Our Lady of Immaculate Deception by Nancy Martin

Sticky Fingers by Nancy Martin

Hardscape by Justin Scott

Mausoleum by Justin Scott

Stonedust by Justin Scott

The Dragon's Tooth by N.D. Wilson

False Picture by Veronica Heley

Comeback by L.L. Enger

Jesus Made in America: A Cultural History from the Puritans to The Passion of Christ by Stephen Nichols

The Bible Made Impossible: Why Biblicism is not a Truly Evangelical Reading of Scripture by Christian Smith

The Gospel and The Mind: Recovering and Shaping the Intellectual Life by Bradley Green

Thinking, Loving, Doing: A Call to Glorify God with Heart and Mind by John Piper

Lit!: A Christian Guide to Reading Books by Tony Reinke

She Walks, She Talks, She Plays Games

There have been times we have thought she said, "Hi!" or "Bye!", but I think we have to declare "tag" as her first word.  Crazy, I know, but she must have said it 20 times tonight.

A Knox Celebration--October 27, 2011

 ...the 6th year since the day of his birth. I can't count the number of time I added up the years and subtracted birth year from current year and then checked the other kids I know his age just to make sure that he really would be 6 this year.  Eventually, I had to accept that it was true. He would be 6. It has been 4.5 years and another birthday was going to come and go.
   It seems a bit odd to say that I wasn't particularly up to it since it probably isn't really on anyone's bucket list to celebrate the birthday of a child they have buried, but I was feeling rather weary of it all.  I have a feeling that it really wasn't any more so than any other year, but since this year, this 6th birthday year, was the one I was facing, it seemed particularly difficult.
    I, eventually, went to bed the night before(though really the morning of) feeling very heavy of heart and mulling many events and emotions over and over.  I certainly didn't awake in the morning feeling light of heart.  I'd be lying to say otherwise, but I did wake up singing Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken, and was a bit comforted.

Here are the lyrics for anyone that isn't familiar with them or that needs to be reminded:

Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken

1. Jesus, I my cross have taken,
All to leave and follow Thee.
Destitute, despised, forsaken,
Thou from hence my all shall be.
Perish every fond ambition,
All I’ve sought or hoped or known.
Yet how rich is my condition!
God and heaven are still my own.

2. Let the world despise and leave me,
They have left my Savior, too.
Human hearts and looks deceive me;
Thou art not, like them, untrue.
O while Thou dost smile upon me,
God of wisdom, love, and might,
Foes may hate and friends disown me,
Show Thy face and all is bright.

3. Man may trouble and distress me,
’Twill but drive me to Thy breast.
Life with trials hard may press me;
Heaven will bring me sweeter rest.
Oh, ’tis not in grief to harm me
While Thy love is left to me;
Oh, ’twere not in joy to charm me,
Were that joy unmixed with Thee.

4. Go, then, earthly fame and treasure,
Come disaster, scorn and pain
In Thy service, pain is pleasure,
With Thy favor, loss is gain
I have called Thee Abba Father,
I have stayed my heart on Thee
Storms may howl, and clouds may gather;
All must work for good to me.

5. Soul, then know thy full salvation
Rise o’er sin and fear and care
Joy to find in every station,
Something still to do or bear.
Think what Spirit dwells within thee,
Think what Father’s smiles are thine,
Think that Jesus died to win thee,
Child of heaven, canst thou repine.

6. Haste thee on from grace to glory,
Armed by faith, and winged by prayer.
Heaven’s eternal days before thee,
God’s own hand shall guide us there.
Soon shall close thy earthly mission,
Soon shall pass thy pilgrim days,
Hope shall change to glad fruition,
Faith to sight, and prayer to praise.

   It seems that I post the same pictures over and over each year.  We just all look a bit older, and I guess our number has grown. ;-) There is a bit of comfort in consistency and a feeling of being able to carry on.  Anne Michal thanked me at the end of the day for making it a "pretty good day."  Seeing them being able to smile makes it all worth while.

 Balloons ready to go....When we went to the party store, a soldier walked out as we were walking in.  Anne Michal happened to notice his name tag...KNOX.
 
 Creed with his balloon.  He stays pretty confused.  He waffled between thinking we were celebrating Knox the dog(what he calls Knox's stuffed dog) and wanting to know when Knox was going to show up.


Trying to get Janey Kate to hold a balloon.  We finally tied it to her belt loop.

 Emma getting ready to let go.

Jack watching as it

 soars...
 
As usual, we had Sonic though I was really wondering what possessed me to have Sonic and not Chik Fil A the day I went into labor with him.

 The cake.  I made this one and Elizabeth decorated it.  She only lets us use these kind of sprinkles for his birthday cake.

After eating the cake Knox style(as in the video), the kids ran around and played. Elizabeth, Emma, and Creed all played Hide and Seek.  Janey Kate walked and walked and walked some more only stopping to try to put anything and everything in her mouth.  Jack and Anne Michal played a bit of baseball.

Looking forward to our reunion with Knoxie.