Christmas with the Severns Family!

Here are our Christmas pics! It was a great morning!

In a week

Kaelyn and Elyse are turning 2 in exactly a week...actually as I'm writing this its getting very close to the exactly in a week time! It really does feel like it snuck up on me even though I was very good with all of my family at reminding them at the beginning of December how close their birthdays follow Christmas. I really don't want it to get lost in the holiday business and I almost did it myself! Realized today it was a week away and got to the store to pick up invites, we are keeping it small this year with just our families and two friends who are like extended family. I think it will be nice and fun and not to overwhelming or crazy. But I have to admit I'm curious to see how future years will play out as they become more and more aware. I have a feeling for us the "holiday season" won't be over until January 4th! (our theme is Curious George :)

Merry Christmas!

I love this picture because it makes me feel the humanity of the moment and wonder at the millions of things running through the new parents minds. It also makes me unable to comprehend all that God can do and to be amazed by His unending, boundless and overwhelming love for us! I pray we all feel that love from God and towards our families today. Merry Christmas!

The Birth of Jesus

1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register.

4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ^[a] the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Happy Christmas Eve!

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
by Clement Clarke Moore
or Henry Livingston

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."

1st annual Christmas Breakfast

Nikki and I , along with Tisha when she lived here and now whenever she's in town, have carved pumpkins and dyed Easter eggs together for the past 13 years or so. We had not done anything at Christmas time because it always just seems so busy and we each have other family traditions. But now with the addition of kiddos and gifts for them we've decided to start a Christmas Breakfast tradition complete with the required wardrobe of Christmas pajamas for all! :) (next year that includes you Nathan!) We had a lot of fun as you can see from the pics.

Warm and Thankful

I'm presently listening to the sound recording of the book "Little Heathens", which is the story of a family and their lives on a farm in Iowa during the Great Depression. It has made me particularly grateful the last few days as we have been experiencing a cold snap here in Washington. To be able to get up and flip on the heat, turn on the hot water, and go to the bathroom inside truly is something I'm feeling thankful for!

The realization that though I have these wonderful commodities not everyone does hit home for me today during our Parent-Tot. Julia, our "teacher" said that she stopped at the "Tent City" which is not far from where we have our class to see if they needed anything, (I love love this about her, she doesn't just think wow they must be cold she stops to help!) anyway they said they were in need of blankets and batteries and she will be bringing them back a supply. It was startling to realize that without knowing it I was driving by this homeless community twice a week. I'm going to try tomorrow contact the church that is hosting them to see how I, and hopefully our church can help. But for today it is giving much to be thankful for as I think of how blessed and cared for I am and how thankful and grateful I am for God's care of me and my family.

You Know It's Bad When...

...there is so much clean laundry piling up on the couch that you start eyeing the playpen as your laundry basket!

We have been sick. Since Wednesday night someone has been throwing up or having diarrhea constantly (thankfully I am not included in that). It's sad. But since I haven't been sick I have been trying to keep up on the laundry and doing a good job until it comes to folding a putting it away - hence the playpen-laundry basket!

Prayer

Today our lunch time prayer was...

Thank you for the food, help us to love each other, help us to make it to nap time! Amen!

Suburbia

During this afternoon nap time Andy & I are hustling around to get the house 'Christmasy'. I decorated the tree and the rest of the downstairs portion of the house while Andy worked on the lights outside. I realized it was time to start dinner so I finished up my task and headed out to check on his progress. It was starting to get dark by this time and the lights he had put up were on! They looked spectacular on our big two story house! I admired all the neighbors light as I headed back into the house through the garage. As I was passing by the minivan parked inside I realized we are just another of the millions of families that make up suburban America. At times the thought of that 'mold' disgusts me but not today. Maybe it's the lights or the Christmas season I don't know, but whatever it is today I am proud.

When all the Fake Crap is Burnt Away

There's a verse in the New Testament (If I take the time to look it up, I may not blog) that talks about going through fire and the fire burns away all that was not real in the first place and you are left with what is real (possibly the worst paraphrase ever!). These last few weeks have been horrible with my dad as sick as he is. It is hard to focus on anything else, including school, being a good mother, cleaning - all the things I HAVE TO DO. I keep thinking of this verse, because I am so aware of who I really am. When all is sailing along hunky-dory, it is easy to be a good wife, student, mother, citizen. When times are tough - not so easy. I have had several moments in the last couple of weeks where I have stepped back and gotten an objective view of myself - It's pitiful.
Here are a couple of examples:
Someone stole my laundry basket and I seriously considered leaving a note on the laundry room door that said, "To whoever stole my laundry basket - F U!"
I actually caught myself saying this one to my one and two year olds - "Stop your Goddamn fighting!" What a contradiction!
The worst moment of the whole week was when I yelled - yep, yelled - at a cop who gave me a warning for a parking ticket. She was actually driving away and I yelled some smart-ass comment and she stopped her car and treating me very much like an armed criminal (seriously, she was MAD) gave me a ticket.
I am praying every day now, not just for my father, but that God helps me (PLEASE GOD!) to have the grace to be a good student, wife, mother, and well, citizen - even in the worst of times.

Little Princess

The other day we were out at the base family Christmas party. It was held in one of the hangars to accommodate all the people. In the middle of lunch Abigail said she had to go pee so I took her and followed all the signs to the restrooms. As we got closer I realize the 'restrooms' were port-a-potty's and decided not to say anything with the hope that she would go with the flow. Well we stepped in and she looks at the 'toilet' and said "No, mama". I hoped that maybe taking her into the handicap one would help (more room). Nope. So I asked a few people and there was no other bathrooms. So I took her back and told her if she wouldn't go in the 'restrooms' she would have to wait. She did a very good job. Eventually, we decided under the circumstances we better head for the car. On our way we saw a building and I took her in for the real restroom. When we walked in and entered the stall she went over and looked inside the toilet and said, "Oh, that's better.", and started to take down her pants!

Cute.

Juan calls a crescent moon a "banana moon".
Pretty cute.