It was amazing to have Christmas with my family and time off together over break. We've had some good family time, great visits with wonderful friends, productive time around the house, a fun New Year's celebration... and now reality hits today with Brian back to school, getting the kids ready to go back tomorrow, and me going down for another treatment tomorrow as well (only 5 more!!!!)
Sunset on 2017
Sunrise to start our new year!
As we say goodbye to 2017 (yea!) and HELLO to 2018, the message in my Bible reading and also my Facebook feed over and over is one of pairing TRUST and HOPE together.
This makes total sense to me... the only reason that I have the HOPE that I have is that I can rest in the TRUTH that God loves me, that God is good, and that God has this all worked out on my behalf--eternally and I believe even here on this earth. He's got a purpose for all things. Good, bad and hard. The hardest part of HOPE is to rest in that TRUTH and find peace with the process.
Psalm 31:19 & 24 tell me, "How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of meno on those who take refuge in you... Be strong and take heart, all you who HOPE in the Lord." That is me! I will be strong and take heart (be comforted) because I hope... because I have someone trustworth to hope in. I can see joy, and wonder, and healing because of hope.
Psalm 71:14 will be my theme verse for 2018...
But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.
Looking at my bald head and the scars across my chest yesterday, I just wondered... how did this happen? Life is so weird. It is so good, so hard and so mixed all the time. As we prepare our home and hearts for Christmas this year, I have felt like I'm taking a back seat to the 'normal.' Still getting the gifts, planning the meals, and even getting to participate in many of the holiday festivities, but in a weird way I feel removed from it. Emmy said a couple days ago that she didn't "feel happy" like she usually does this time of year... and I feel the same. As we talked through it a bit, we realized that the weekly trips to Stanford, the loss of 'normal' and excitement as I am tired and they can't predict how I'll be feeling from day to day, and I think just the 'fog' of cancer in general that penetrates our daily life... is dampening the 'happy' feelings. But on the flipside, it generates a joy that is so deep and profound, it's hard not to be thankful. Thankful that I am here to celebrate Christmas, that we caught it, that it's treatable, that we have hope for my healthy future. Thankful that there is more to this life than just surviving. Thankful for all the blessings, and friendships, and support, and help, and love. Thankful that we are celebrating a Savior that is more than just a Christmas story, but one that loves and gives and comforts and gives meaning and purpose to this weird life.
I was given a tip from a dear friend at the beginning of this cancer journey to take lots of pictures. For those of you who know me well, this was not a tall task. But it has proven hard to remember! I just wanted to use this opportunity to share some of the happenings around here as of late... not only to share all the wonderful things that are going on, but that I can also look back and be reminded that I am here, I am able to enjoy my children, my home and our blessings in this life... thank you, Lord!
Zeke received the honor of being named Sonora El's Student of the Month for November! It was wonderful to be able to attend the board meeting and hear the amazing comments from his teachers throughout the years...
All three of these amazing kiddos were recognized for their hard work and academic accomplishments this month. Both Em & Zeke made the Superintendent's List with 4.0's and Ethan exceeded his Accelerated Reading Goal and made Super Reader! Proud of them and their efforts!
Bill and my hubby are hard at work with LOTS of house projects... garages being worked on inside and out, electrical panels changed out, a new HVAC system (we have air conditioning now!!!), and the beginnings of our solar panels!!!
Fun with Emmy's holiday band recital and both Ethan and Emmy in our church's kids Christmas play, "Jingle Bell Beach"
Annual Gingerbread House decorating with friends!
Taking care to capture the moments in my heart even more so than in my camera. It's the most wonderful time of the year and I pray I never lose sight of that and all these amazing realities... weird life and all.
Finally, grades are done and posted, class parties are done, and school is out for a couple weeks. Now we can think about Christmas--yea!!!!
Here's some pictures from the last month to catch up a little bit...
Ethan turned 3!!!
We got to go to Legoland as a family to celebrate! Super fun and he loves being a 'big boy'--potty trained and all!
My cousin Danielle got married to my new cousin Darius over Veteran's Day weekend. We were blessed to be a part of the celebration and loved spending time with my family.
The kiddos enjoying the after wedding brunch and the wonderful weather at Aunt Karen's and Uncle Phil's
I finally got my couch!!! I've been eyeing this one for about 6 years now... and we are soooooo happy with it!
My cousin Melissa and her adorable boys came up for a visit while her hubby was on a work trip. LOVED spending time with some of my favorite people. This isn't t the best picture from the entire weekend, but it's the only one that I have of all of them together. Love this crew (and the missing one, too!)
Ethan is ready for Christmas--3D glasses and all! :)
I got to help in Zeke's class this week with Christmas parties and Gingerbread House making. This was Zeke's masterpiece in process.
Lastly, but definitely not least, Emmy has started to read!
From left-right: Richard & Pamela (holding Ethan), Emmy, Zeke, Peggy & Jerry, Bill & April, Kirsten & Brian
We were very blessed this year to be able to celebrate Christmas day with all of our parents for the first time EVER!!!! It was such a great time--and I relished every moment of the kids getting all the attention and gifts from loving grandparents, eating an awesome spread of food with everyone pitching in to make it yummy and our special time around the dinner table sharing what God has done in each our lives over the past year. I thank God that he has given me parents and in-laws who care about one another and that He made it possible to share this meaningful time together!
The day before Christmas included a visit to Santa's Workshop where the kids got to tell their final wishes to Santa! So fun to see them (the older two, at least) climb right on Santa's lap and smile for pictures. Once Mom and Dad got in the mix, Ethan was happy, too... great family photo op! Merry Christmas, 2010!
*What's even better is that our Sonora Santa this year is a dear friend that used to work at the high school with Brian! Mike also came to our house as Santa for Zeke's first Christmas back in 2004! So cool that the City of Sonora recognizes a great Santa when they see one! =)
Brian went with a great group of guys to the 49'er football game today, so the kids and I took advantage of the day at home between church and Awana to make our Christmas goodies for our teachers, co-workers and neighbors. I got this idea from a MOPS friend (thank you, Holly!) a couple of years ago, and I still can't get over how simple and absolutely delicious these tasty little morsels are.
Ingredients:
Directions:
Utilizing a highly selective group of quality control experts and assembly line workers, peel rolos, line up the pretzels on cookie sheets, and place a rolo on each one.
We used a double layer of wax paper under the pretzels this year to help them not stick with 'sweat' so much to the cookie sheets, and it really worked well.
Warm oven to 200 degrees and use to soften the rolos. Mine were perfect after about 8 minutes today.
Pull them out of the oven and quickly(so they don't start to harden back up), but gently, push a nut into the center of each rolo... and THAT'S IT! I used pecans today, but I've also had good results with almonds and cashews.
Let them cool for about an hour or so you don't mush them up.
The best parts about this for me, besides the eating, of course, is that my kids can do almost everything themselves and there is virtually no clean up! So awesome!
I'll post pictures after we get them all packaged up, too! The kids and I worked together to design some fun labels for their gift tags--it'll be fun to share them here!
