THIS is the reason we gather & celebrate. In our family that means Birthday cake for Jesus, hours worth of gift giving, throwing the crumpled up wrapping paper over the stairs, and staying in our PJ's until dinner time. It's a little weird, but it's us and we love it, so it's all good.
Christmas Eve Birthday Party for Jesus (pay no attention to the giant spaghetti stain on my son's tshirt)
The matching pajama Christmas morning cuzzie-picture...look how much they've grown! (2012 above, 2013 below)
We started a new tradition this year: St. Nick sent a new nativity book in the mail for Isaac to open on Christmas morning! I have WONDERFUL memories of Santa as a child so I've been really excited to get this tradition started. Uncle Thad lent his door-bell-ringing-sleigh-bell-jingling-ho-ho-ho-ing-self to add to the fun. I wasn't sure what Isaac would do, but when he heard the noise at the door, his eyes opened WIDE and he started looking around. He found his package stuck in the door and didn't even bother to bring it up the stairs to open it. :)
Reading the Nativity Story
Stocking time!
Isaac was the Chief-Wrapping-Paper-Ribbon-Bow-Removal-Specialist this year. A piece of paper was not going to be left on a package on his watch-no sir-ee! He signed "open" for everything he saw for everybody in the room. And for a while just wandered from person to person either helping to open their gifts or to do a clean sweep once they were done. (that's my boy!). I wish I could have recorded his ooohhs & aaahhhs as he opened his stocking; his face absolute LIT UP opening all his little gifts. (In fact, the $2 toy camera from the bottom of the sock, is the one thing he has chosen to play with since!) It made this momma's heart smile to see him so full of joy on such a special day. I couldn't hug and kiss him enough that day..."Merry Christmas, sweet boy. Momma and Jesus love you SO much!"
Six sweet bamboo-babies have been matched with their forever families! Six beautiful faces that, in the coming year, will wake to daddys' smiles and fall asleep to mommas' whispers. Six precious hearts that will learn of the amazing love of their Heavenly Father that started before the first beat of their hearts in their birth mothers' womb. Six more than will know a life of promise, health, and love. I'm so very excited for them and their forever families!!
We are in the final days of formal YouCaring fundraising for these six families. As this year draws to an end, would you consider giving so that these sweet ones can be brought home? The smallest amount can be used to permanently change the life of these children. When I think of the complete strangers who gave to bring my Isaac home, I am still brought to tears...they loved my boy home in a way I could not. I am FOREVER thankful for their giving hearts! (You can give using the link to the right, or for the added tax deduction, you can give directly to Bethany Christian Services through china@bethany.org. )
Happy boy! Christmas 2013
Please continue to pray over and to share information about the remaining eight Bamboo Project children: Pray for their health & physical strength; pray for their sweet hearts to be protected; for their tenderness to be guarded by the wings of our Lord; for wisdom & compassion to fill their caregivers and foster parents; for WIDE open doors in the US and in China-that no bureaucracy would hinder their adoptions; for supernatural peace to cover their forever families as they pursue bringing their little one HOME; and most importantly, for the Lord to be glorified in the lives of these children, their forever families, and those lifting them up. Our God is the ULTIMATE Forever Father as He chose each one of us to be in His family!!
For more information about the Bamboo Project, please contact china@bethany.org
Six years ago today my pastor's sermon was titled Joseph's Christmas. At the moment, it would still be another two years before the Lord would echo "it's time" into my heart, but in looking back I can see where my Heavenly Father was already softening my heart towards adoption. How do I know? Because not only do I remember this Christmas sermon about Joseph as an adoptive dad from six years ago, I still have the notes tucked away in my Bible. ;)
I've added those meaningful notes below (and a powerful song by Mercy Me) It is my prayer that others will be moved to step out in faith & obedience (possibly in adoption??) like the Lord asked Joseph to do. The work is hard & unending. The reward is AHH-MAZING.
Merry Christmas,
Desiree & Isaac
Joseph's Christmas*
Matthew 1: 18-25; 2:1-23
God wants to do miracles in and through our lives, but miracles come with price-tags. The very process we must go through in order to receive a miracle will leave us changed forever. It lifts us to a new perspective and requires us to walk on a new path. Joseph is a model of this. he was a man of faith, or at least he became one, and thereby a true "son of Abraham". His humility and obedience played a very important part in the miracle of the Incarnation. You might think that something so close to God's heart would result in Joseph's life being easy. But the truth is it was just the opposite. By obeying God, he was drawn into a great spiritual battle which required him to take numerous steps of faith, probably for the rest of his life. Surprisingly, the miracle made his life harder, not easier. Yet it also drew him closer to God than he could ever have imagined.
So, this weekend as we observe Christmas from Joseph's point of view, we'll soon find that his example calls us to a deeper, more dangerous walk with God, but one which also promises us far greater intimacy with Him. Sure, there's a price to pay for miracles, but for those who long to be closer to God it's a small price compared to the 'surpassing value of knowing...Him' (Php 3:8-10)
God required Joseph to take a step of obedience that would be misunderstood by others (vs 18-21).
Nazareth was a small, mountain village of around 350 people (mostly related to one another).
Mary was pregnant and people would soon discover.
Be sending 'her away secretly" (v19) Joseph would give her a certificate of divorce and she would go to her relative Elizabeth in the 'hill country' of Judea (Lk 1:39, 56). Mary spent three months there.
The angel told him to marry her (v 20).
Either Joseph would be suspected to be the father, or he would be considered a fool for marrying an unfaithful woman.
Later they would have at least six children together (Mt 13:55, 56).
Us: God will ask us to take steps of faith which seem unreasonable and may embarrass us.
When the miracle did arrive it was different than he expected (vs 24,25).
Joseph and Mary had undoubtedly prayed for Messiah to come since they were children.
They had been taught he would be a descendant of David and would become a powerful king. Certainly neither expected the Incarnation.
Us: God answers with miracles that are according to His plan, not ours (as opposed to making a list of what you want and praying it into existence)
The miracle taught Joseph deeper insights into God's Word (vs 22, 23).
How many times had Joseph heard Isaiah 7:14, but never understood its true prophetic meaning? Now he watched as his virgin wife gave birth to a child conceived by the Holy Spirit.
Now he learned how literally the name, "Immanuel" was to be taken. He watched the birth of God's Son.
Us: We discover God means His promises far more literally than we take them, and afterward we discover clear promises hidden in the Word we never saw before (we read with new eyes).
Joseph discovered that miracles might be fiercely opposed by the very people you would expect to welcome them (2:1-8)
Miracles are disturbing. Some very religious people, even religious leaders, may express surprising levels of hostility when you would have thought they would have been glad to see God move.
Herod and the temple leaders were being told their Messiah was born.
Miracles reveal the profound difference between religion and relationship with God.
When God shows up the hidden attitudes of the heart are exposed.
Nazareth (Lk 4:14-16. 24, 28-30).
Us: When we try to walk in faith or when a miracle takes place in our life some family, friends or even fellow-church goers may become angry or distant.
Joseph also found the miracle was joyfully received by people he would not have expected to do so (2:1, 2, 9-19).
Magi are wise men or astrologers who interpret dreams or messages from the gods (Da 1:20; 2:27; 5:15)
Astronomical observations told them of the birth of the great Jewish Messiah.
Daniel and Ezekiel (and others) had lived and written as a captive of the Babylonians and the Persians.
The Chinese reported a star that appeared and then disappeared in 4 B.C. (E.E. Ellis, The New Bible Dictionary, Eerdmans, under "magi," p. 765, 766).
The magi traveled nearly 900 miles to worship Him (vs 2, 11).
Us: We should avoid judging people by "externals". There are "light-seekers" (Jn 3:21) all over the earth. Some people will surprise us.
Joseph was drawn into a series of events that did not end with the miracle. He had to take further steps in order to preserve what God had given him (2:13-23)
Jesus was born within the shadow of the Herodium (a massive hilltop fortress Herod built near Bethlehem)
Herod "the Great" died in 4 B.C.
Us: Receiving a miracle and keeping the miracle are two different things. The enemy will try to take away what God has given (v 16), but God will help us preserve His gift. In a sense, once we receive a miracle, the process starts all over.
Questions
Name a miracle you have personally seen take place (any size).
Has God ever done a miracle in your own life? What changes did it bring?
In what ways can you relate what Joseph went through?
If God would give you anything you asked for what would it be?
c 2007. MCDG by C. Stevens Schell. Northwest Church in Federal Way, WA (*re-printed with permission)
The Annual Aunties & Cousins Holiday Adventure started quite by accident last year. My sister-in-law & I needed something to do with the kids and ended our conversation with "Let's meet up in Seattle and see what happens"...thus the adventure! We had a great time last year with a 4, 2 1/2, 2year & 4month old (You can re-read about that HERE). This year we offered the kids "I wonder where the Monorail goes?" (they don't know it only has one stop!) and they were THRILLED to see the same carousel & Macy's star that made last year so much fun.
Excited to be on the Monorail!
The other half of "Aunties & Cousins"
My niece Magdalene
We found the Holiday Carousel!
We found a GIANT snow globe and some hot mini donuts! How fun is that?!
Cousin Vaughn
Cousin Magdalene
He certainly doesn't have a sweet-tooth, but he does love him some hot mini-donuts. You can't have mine Momma
Cousin Zane kicking back
This one is for you Gramma!
We found the gingerbread houses and the reindeer on Candy Cane Lane. It was cool afternoon but a fun one. These are the memories that the kids will remember...when EVERY year they went on a holiday adventure with their mom, their auntie and their cousin(s). That's good stuff.
We are having fun enjoying all that the Christmas season has to offer. I'm happy to say that it has not been rushed or stressful. The schedule has fallen nicely to allow everything to happen peacefully and with much joy. I know the holidays aren't peaceful or joyful for many people, so I am especially thankful for this time that we have together to enjoy the littlest of things that make this season great.
10. Wrap presents:
Bow & tag distribution specialist
Doing a good job wrapping Uncle Thad's present all by himself
11. Drink hot chocolate:
THIS...will happen again next year!
12. Watch The Sound of Music:
I felt a bit cheated in TheSound of Music department this year so we plugged in the REAL version and snuggled in for a good show. Isaac LOVED the (in his words) "rain, jump, dance" song. ?? It took me a few minutes to figure out what he was talking/signing about, but when I did we watched "I Am Sixteen Going On Seventeen" four times! :)
13. Bake Christmas goodies:
We've had pumpkin bread & cake batter fudge coming out of our ears! Isaac was a WONDERFUL dump-then-stir-er. There were a couple of stir-then-dumps, but we got it all figured out.
14. Read Christmas stories:
Rumor has it Santa sent a new Nativity book in the mail with a special letter; it should arrive on Christmas morning!
15. Snow!
It was just an inch and a week too early, but I'll take it!!
16. The Second Annual Aunties & Cousins Holiday Adventure
A full post is coming, but here is a peak...
2.Decorate The House (This was more of a just-Mommy project, but lots of fun just the same.)
Breakable ornaments up top. Wooden ornaments in the middle. Touchable ornaments on the bottom.
('tis a little sparse on the bottom)
The nativity story on teeny-tiny scrolls. Isn't that fun?!
3.Fall Asleep On The Floor While Sorting Momma's Christmas Cards & Listening To Bing Crosby On The Record Player
Wasn't an original item on the list, but it may be an annual tradition!
4. See Christmas Lights
He didn't care for the lights this year as much as last BUT he did like Momma dancing in the front seat to Christmas music turned up LOUD!
5.Watch Christmas Movies
Pirates Booty. CHECK Feet up. CHECK Buddy the Elf. CHECK
6.See The Nutcracker
(Cousin Magdalene was a mouse in her ballet class production! She did EXCELLENT!!)
7. Go To A Christmas Music Show
Gramma came with us to the Seattle Symphony for the Tiny Tots Holiday Show!
Silly boy!
8.Make Christmas Crafts
It's our feet! (get it?!)
9. "Adopt" Kids For Christmas Toy Drive
This will be an important tradition in our family. Every year our church supports nearly 600 local children in making sure they receive gifts at Christmas. Why? Because of The Gift we received at Christmas, Jesus. Isaac & I choose the names several weeks ago and "just happened" to pick an Isaac and a Desiree! So off to the store we went and prayerfully picked several gifts for our Christmas Kids. Isaac picked his gift (I knew it was perfect because he wouldn't put it down!) and then got to go through the sacrificial process of giving it away back at the church. He did not care for that...which was as close to the toy-drive goal as you can get with a three year old! We will continue to pray for Christmas-Isaac and Christmas-Desiree and for the absolute miracle of the season to FILL their hearts.
Still 10days left until the BIG day and lots more to see & enjoy...
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