Everybody needs an Elf and chicken pox for Christmas! December 28, 2007

Wow, what a Christmas holiday season this has been!  On Wednesday the 19th Jonathan was diagnosed with chicken pox!  Not only did he have them, they think that he broke his toe and that he has the beginnings of a Bakers cyst on the back of his knee.  This was all after the night before we had taken him to an urgent care facility only to have the doctor there prescribe an adult dosage of medicine meant to treat herpes, that fortunately the pharmacist caught before filling!  Jesus does look out for us ALL the time!

Needless to say we didn’t do anything until we saw the pediatrician the next day.  He has had a mild outbreak thankfully!  When he was 3 weeks old he had the pox (4 bumps), this might be why it was mild.  Oh and did I mention that that was only because my father broke out with shingles (adult pox) on Christmas Eve and gave the pox to Jordan when Jonathan was only a week old.  That was a crazy year, cause I had Jonathan the day before my anniversary and was in the hospital on my 9th anniversary, only to come home and have a daughter break out (severely) when my newborn was only a few days old.  Needless to say, I didn’t have an anniversary celebration until February!  Oh well!

 I am now awaiting the “any day” appearance of the pox on Nathan, might I mention, just in time for my anniversary, this time my 19th! (December 31)  I think this time I will have the opportunity to celebrate because I have people who love me and will risk the pox by staying with a “bumpy” kid!

On the bright side though, I think that I have just enjoyed the best holiday with the Hobbs family, in a really long time!  The siblings and spouses are finally at a GREAT place and we really have had fun!  God is good!  I know that He gets the credit. 

We also got to share our Christmas with Chris,”our surrogate son” (that’s what John calls him)!  I had an ELF help me Christmas Eve and I think he had as much fun as I did putting gifts under the tree.  Santa brought him lots of goodies too and what a true joy to “give rather then receive”. 

This has been a crazy, fun, busy, full, and pox filled holiday and for all of it, I am truly thankful!  Jesus intends for us to enjoy one another during this time of year but also every day of the year.  I intend to make 2008 just as fabulous as it can be and I know that it is a year of “new beginnings” and I look forward to all that it brings, even if it requires oatmeal baths and pox galore!  Pray with me that Nate has a mild outbreak too!

Hot date! December 14, 2007

I am going on a date!  Yes, you heard me right.  I have a hot date with a fine looking man.  I just sprung it on the kids that I won’t be home tonight because I am going out.  Now I know this seems like not such a big deal, but I haven’t been on a date in a really long time.  Every time I have made a plan to go out with this guy, either I didn’t have the money or one of the kids had something to go and do that night, or better yet John and I had a church meeting.  I didn’t want to have to date the “pastor”, I wanted to date this guy!  Did I mention that he was HOT?!

 Now before you get your panties in a wad, I am talking about my very best friend in the world (I still love you Cindy), he is also the pastor of my church, but he also happens to be my husband!  We love to date one another and we are creatures of habit.  We usually go get something to eat and then take in a movie.  But I truly don’t remember the last time we saw a movie together.  I am so excited that we are going to get to go.   Dark theater and popcorn, here I come!

Yesterday, my daughter was telling me that one of the kids that she goes to school with asked her “which parent do you live with, your mom or your dad?”.  She said the girl was really surprised when she told them that she lived with both.  What a sad thing!  Jordan said that the majority of the kids that she knows at school live with one or the other and not both.  I quickly reminded her that she needs to be really thankful that her momma and daddy love one another and are still together.  I am also really thankful, that I have a man who loves me unconditionally and isn’t going anywhere.  We really are pretty passionate about each other and I couldn’t ask for anything more!  As a matter of fact we are celebrating our 19th wedding anniversary on December 31st! 

The reason we are still together is Jesus!  He is our rock, and we have built our “home” on the rock!  Are you building your “home” on the rock?  If not you should be, He is the key to life!

 Anyway, did I mention I was going on a date with a really HOT guy?  Well I am…jealous?!

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (sing along everybody) December 11, 2007

I have had way too much to do in recent days, and I haven’t had a moment to even read my email, pay bills, wrap Christmas presents, or let alone write a blog.  I shouldn’t be doing it now but I needed a “me” moment.

So far this week I have taken a sick child to the doctor only to find strep throat, filled a prescription, gone to the chiropractor, wrapped way too many presents for my children, paid bills, balanced the checkbook, checked and answered my 377 emails, read all my messages and comments on myspace, accepted new myspace friends, fed my children, done laundry, and now I blog.  Why is it that we never seem to have enough hours in the day?!

Christmas is my very favorite time of year.  I love everything about it.  I love the trees, the lights, the bows, the decorations, the ornaments on my tree, the many lit candles, the mall Santa with the bad breath, the excited kids with tons of “Santa questions”, the smell of the tree, and let’s not forget the presents!  I enjoy the worldly part of Christmas with as much enthusiasm as the next person, well maybe a whole lot more then Chris. 

I also love the fact that it is a time to celebrate Jesus!  He is why we get to have all the wonderful things that make up the holiday season.  It does, however, make me wonder about how He celebrates His birthday.  I mean let’s think about it, we have cake, candles, balloons, streamers, fancy paper plates that support our theme, sing happy birthday, have some special meal, and of course, presents.  Do you think that God gets his angels together with clear instructions on which part of the golden road to line with streamers and balloons?  How about the party theme, is He having Ninja Turtles again this year or is it possible He is having Transformers, since they seem to be back…kickin’ it old school?!  What kind of cake do you think He is eating, yellow with chocolate icing, or maybe He likes lemon cake with lemon icing?  And let’s just talk about whether He is able to blow out the thousands of candles?  Oh yeah, He does command the wind, guess that won’t be a problem.  Do you think He is having steak for dinner, that would be my choice?  How about the heavenly choir, do they sing Happy Birthday in four part harmony?   And can you imagine the kinds of presents God gives?! 

Sounds kind of silly doesn’t it?  When you think about Jesus celebrating His birthday that way, it seems a bit extreme.  Makes you stop and wonder about how we celebrate His birthday doesn’t it?  I mean we line the yard and porch railings with lights and garland.  We light up a tree and hang even more lights and lots of ornaments.  We eat many “special” meals and cake doesn’t have a chance around all the Christmas candies and cookies! 

I don’t think that Jesus minds us celebrating the way that we do, I think that what bothers Him is that we tend to be so busy “doing” all the decorating and eating that we really do forget what it is all about.  I am guilty!  I love the Christmas season because of all the things that I listed but I love Him, for whom we celebrate. 

Take the time to remember Him this year.  Make the time to remember Him this year.  It shouldn’t just be a passing thought, we should be intentional in our remembrance of Him.  I will and so should all of you!