Humbled by the Decisions

We are continuing to research countries and seeking God's will where Baby #3 is. As things get complicated, and paths are narrowed, I am humbled by the heaviness of the decision we are making and the great need to hear God's voice directing us.

I mean, we are looking around the globe for a child. Really?! It is humbling that we are even allowed to do such a thing. And then there is the factor of gender, age, etc. Who am I to have preferences in this?

There is a mix of excitement, confusion, anxiousness and handfuls of "what are we doing??"
I do enjoy being in this place :)

Merry He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named-Mas

I know this must be an old complaint, but my goodness, are you continuing to notice the lack of the word Christmas these days??

I think it was 2 years ago when Target and Walmart and other stores decided to advertise Holiday Trees instead of Christmas trees and the like, but they have gone back on that. They do use the word Christmas in their advertising.

But there may not be a return on this one. I watch the Food Network often and they have Holiday cookies and Holiday decorations.

We had a Holiday Party in our home the other day. Sales people don't even say anything anymore as you leave the store.

So I was thinking about this and it reminded me of Lord Voldemort in Harry Potter. The wizards and witches are so scared of him that they do not even speak his name. When they talk of him they call him "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named"

Interesting. . . . Are we so fearful of Christ's name that we can't even speak His name anymore? A different take on why we have to use the word Holiday now instead of Christmas.

Isn't that just how Satan would have it?

A Norman Rockwell Afternoon

There was a chill in the air and the fireplace was ablaze. Nat King Cole was singing The First Noel. West and I were having a wonderful time decorating our gingerbread houses.
West did a great job. I gave him a tube of royal icing (which should have warning labels like that of superglue -- It is edible cement) and bowls of candies. It wasn't until he completed his creation that he began gobbling candy.
We may have found West a career in this. He was good at it.

And here is my creation. Not bad for a first time. I know I have another Christmas tradition to add to the list. This was a lot of fun.

The Off Button

So Creed is throwing a fit about something. He is really good at this.

I try to distract him by giving him a toy which he promptly throws across the room.

I try to threaten him with a time-out if he doesn't stop - to which he replies "yeah tata. yeah tata" (which in his 2 year old speak can be translated to mean 'yeah time-out -bring it on mom'

So then I try a comforting and distracting strategy. I start singing a song to help him forget his irritation.

He stops crying, walks up to me, takes his pointy finger and presses it on my knee and exclaims "off, Mommy, off"

I've just been turned "off" by my 2 year old.

Creed now uses this feature on mommy often when he gets tired of her singing and talking.

Funny story-Name this TV reference

I missed telling you this story. This one is about Matt who had surgery this summer for a benign tumor behind his ear.

So, I waited in the waiting room for word from the nurse about how Matt was doing. Everything went well during surgery but the hospital was full and they could not move him to a regular room from the recovery room. I had to wait until he was in a regular room to see and talk to him.

After waiting about 2 hours, I went to the nurses station to ask about him getting a regular room. Still none available, but they allowed me to talk to him on the phone while in the recovery room. Our conversation went something like this:

"Hi, hon. How are you feeling?"

Matt thru slurred, slow speech "I'm okay. I'm thirsty. Really thirsty.

"hmmm. . . let me see if I can get someone to get you some water. They may not let you have any yet. Let me find out"

"My face feels funny. They gave me this little button. I can push the button. Oh here is someone. (to this someone) I'm thirsty. " the rambling continued for a few seconds.

Finally, I get in a word saying " well, I hope to see you soon. They are trying to get you a room"

Matt says "yeah. I know. The beds are all full. They know how to take a reservation. They just don't know how to HOLD a reservation."

I interrupt, smiling, laughing.

Then Matt continues "and holding the reservation is the most important part. Anyone can take a reservation"

Hilarious if you are an avid fan of this TV show. Any one take a guess on who Matt was quoting in his dazed, drugged-up state?