Christmas 2009

We left in the afternoon of Christmas Adam (Dec. 23) and headed over to the Grand Rapids, MI area. Around 6:30 p.m. we arrived in Hudsonville where we spent a few hours with Aunt Kelli and cousins Caleb and Hannah. Gift opening began that night with gifts that Aunt Kelli had brought back from her trip to OK. The girls had gifts from Gramma and Papa Bill, Uncle Kirk and Aunt Tamra, and from Aunt Kelli and kids. It was fun BUT UNFORTUNATELY I DIDN'T HAVE MY CAMERA AND AUNT KELLI TOOK ALL THE PICS.

Christmas Eve we attended Christmas Eve service at the church Kevin grew up in as a child. We went with Grandpa Sheck, Uncle Jim and his family, Aunt Kerri and her family, and Uncle Paul.

After the service we went over to Uncle Jim and Aunt Sunde's house for chili, pie and games. Cousins Jimmy and Christina joined us. Unfortunately Uncle Tom and family weren't able to make it due to the very icy roads.

Christmas Day the girls woke up to finding stockings filled by Santa. Thankfully this year they were more thrilled about being with family then opening gifts. Sofia actually slept until 10 a.m. that morning and was in no hurry to check her stocking. We had a fun-filled day with most of the family coming over to Grandpa's for a ham dinner and gift opening.

After-dinner activities included lots of game playing and for some...a winter's nap. Sofia "taught" her uncles Glen, Bruce, Paul, and cousins Aaron and Ben how to play Creatures & Features. Selah enjoyed playing with cousins Jordyn and Hayley.

Late Christmas night we made the 4 hour trek back to Illinois. Saturday morning the girls woke to find the gifts Santa left at our house. Sofia couldn't believe she really got a Barbie doll. It was fun watching the girls play together with their new toys. They also had a special time of eating pancakes on the couch and watching a Christmas show.

More than anything this Christmas we enjoyed being able to share with our girls the true meaning of Christmas. It is a gift to us to see them act out the Nativity during their own play time and to gain a step of understanding in knowing that Christmas is a time for us to celebrate the birth of Christ!!!

"Edith Bunker" Practice Session

First piano lessons, then maybe voice lessons will come later.

Sofia's 1st Piano Recital

We're proud of our little girl!

Making Disciples - Sometimes Humiliating, Always Humbling

This commercial is hilarious, but it also packs a poignant punch. The clueless guy with the huge stain had no chance of being heard by his interviewer because the stain on his shirt spoke volumes.

About fifteen years ago, I went golfing with a guy who the Lord had brought into my life to help disciple. To make a long story short, I ended up using a lot of really nasty words at the foursome behind us that really dishonored the Lord. Thankfully, the guy I was with, was far enough along in his walk with the Lord to pray with me, forgive me, and to this day still loves the Lord, and me! But, oh, how humiliating!

I wonder if we Christians, who are called to be disciples of Christ, and commissioned to make disciples of Christ, couldn't learn a lesson from the shirt-stained guy in the commercial? I wonder if the reason our witness for the Lord, and efforts in discipleship fall on suspecting deaf ears, really has nothing do with other people being deaf after all? Perhaps those we are seeking to disciple hear just fine, but perhaps our lives are filled with unchecked stains of sin which speak volumes above anything that we might try to teach others?

The way I see it is that we have two options really. We can give up on our commission, and many have, or we can evaluate ourselves humbly and seek God's grace to train us to renounce ungodliness and worldliness and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age (Titus 2:12).

The evaluation process is truly humbling, and never really ends on this side of heaven, but it is the most rewarding course.

The belly's growing!

Between Thanksgiving, Christmas and the New Year, many waistbands expand. Mine is not an exception. But thankfully it is because of Baby Sheck #3!!!

Tomorrow marks week 17. Unbelievable. Baby Sheck #3 didn't let me forget, however, that he/she is growing and making themselves comfortable in my belly. From week #6 to week #15 I experienced morning sickness every afternoon and evening. Some evenings were really bad. A couple of times I struggled trying to take care of the girls and prepare dinner for the family so by 4:30 I was calling Kevin to come home. Can I just say that I have a most amazing husband.

Then poof! Last Monday I woke up with this new energy and have yet to experience nauseousness. Oh it is a wonderful feeling. I've also noticed this week that my regular size clothing is beginning to get a little snug. No doubt come January I will be moving onto maternity clothes.

But for now I am enjoying the belly expanison...a wonderful reminder of the miracle that is taking place in my body. God is knitting together our child.

We look forward to our child arriving around Memorial Day Weekend.

Is Santa real or fake?

According to Sofia we believe in the fake Santa. I guess this means that she knows he isn't really real but he used to be real because he helped people know that they should give gifts. You see, Santa Claus, or St. Nick, was a man who desired to show people love. He desired to show love just as God did by giving us a gift...the greatest gift of all...His Son Jesus Christ. So St. Nick began to give gifts to show love.

The belief in Santa continues to be magical in our household even if he is fake (but she really does believe he is real). This past Monday night we took the girls to see Santa. Selah actually wasn't scared this year and went right up to Santa and said, "Merry Christmas". Sofia on the other hand was nervous to see Santa. Her reason was that she had been naughty that day (no arguments from mommy).

At dinner time Sofia had shared that she wanted to tell Santa she wanted a Barbi for Christmas. But when Santa asked what she wanted, she just kept saying, "I don't know." Finally Santa asked, "Would you like a Barbi?" WOW!!! How did he know? Maybe Santa is real.

Here is a pic of the girls sitting on Santa's lap.

Then they snapped this pic while the girls were giving their hugs.
And then Santa called mommy and daddy over for a family pic.

P.S. Santa pics are free at Bass Pro.

Winter Play

When you live somewhere cold it is so much easier to accept when there is snow. Of course, this comes from a stay-at-home mom who doesn't have to get out and shovel or drive on precarious roads.

Snow decorates the outside with a beautiful white blanket. So lovely to look at and so lovely to enjoy when the wind isn't blowing. Yes, when the wind isn't blowing. Yesterday was one of those nice snow days when the temps were around 34 degrees, the snow was lightly falling, and the wind wasn't blowing (at least it was this way for a couple of hours in the morning). And when it's like this....that means WINTER PLAY.

I bundled the girls up in their snow suits and we headed out for about an hour. They had so much fun and I loved seeing them enjoy making snow angels and having snowball fights.

After a walk around the subdivision we headed to the beach. I was surprised to see five swans swimming across the lake. Maybe they were getting one last swim in before the lake totally freezes. The lake's edges are already beginning to do so.

Snow fun!!!

Gift of (Learning) Music

We as parents don't necessarily know whether or not our girls have the gift of music but we do know that we can give them the gift of learning music.

Sofia began piano lessons the second week of September. Now just three months later, she played in her first piano recital.

I've attached a couple of pictures (and will try to post a video later).

This is Sofia at her very first lesson with Mrs. Hibdon. Mrs. Hibdon by the way is the most talented piano player and teacher. She teaches 65 students each week, is organized, patient, and fun. Mrs. Hibdon has a great love for the Lord and for music and seeks to pass both loves on to her students.

The recital was held at The Piano Co., a local piano store that has a Java Cafe' attached that served as the concert hall. On borrow is a 9 ft. Sauter piano worth $250,000 that the students were allowed to use for the recital.