Blogapalooza! What I Learned From 2008!

I couldn't figure out how to advertise the below project, so I copied the information from a friend's site, Andy C, with permission. You can meet Andy, view his blog and read his great posts. It's very worth your time!

I will be participating in Blogapalooza! in January. The topic is 'What I Learned From 2008.' Choose a post from every month you posted in 2008. You should head over and check out how it will work. It is not too late to participate. Sign up today! -Andy.

Anywho, I (Sarah) also plan on attempting this writing project and look forward to reading all the other posts that were entered. It sounds like lots of fun! You should try it too! Hope to see, or shall I say 'read' about you there.

Gold * Frankincense * Myrrh

If you've never known a person harder to shop for during gift giving times, than let me introduce you to my husband. He is the pickiest, hardest to please, gift receiver EVER!!!! And I mean that sincerely. During past birthdays, Christmas's, or any other time of year, my husband looks at the gifts I've tried so hard to delicately purchase for him, he nods with sensitivity, careful about what not to say, and does his best to look pleased. It's only days later when I hear the truth 'Would you mind (as he rubs my shoulders from behind in effort to ease his painful words) if I exchanged the tool you gifted me and bought a Craftsmen tool instead?'

It's been like this for the past 8 years we've known one another, 5 1/2 of which we've been married. It wasn't until a friend made a great suggestion to me about fixing this problem. She suggested 'Find the magazines or catalogs that he lingers over and ask him to circle multiple items that he would find a blessing to receive as a gift, this way he won't know which item you will pick (as long as he circles multiples) and he will still be pleased. It leaves the guess work out of everything.' At last; I had my answers to satisfy my hubby in the gift giving world. He's not one who really cares or is concerned about gifts anyhow, but if he were to receive something he would definitely desire something of quality, something unique, or something precious from our kids.

This year, though I didn't do the catalog circle idea, I did notice that when we entered into a nearby Christian Bookstore my husband strayed, then repeatedly walked by a precious and richly displayed box that had the original gifts given to Jesus by the three wise men. These were Gold -The Gift given by Melchior, a king of Arabia, Frankincense - The Gift given by Balthasar, a king of Saba, and Myrrh - The Gift given by Caspar, a king from Tarsus. The genuine 23 karat gold is stored in the hand blown glass globe, which when gently shaken falls like snowflakes. The frankincense is pure and of the highest grade, and the myrrh, during Christ time was worth seven times more than it's weight in gold.

It was a pricey gift but one that knew I had to get. I desired to please him this Christmas and I knew that after my careful observations which took place at him looking upon this box, that this was the gift for him. And sure enough Jesse was shocked, and very well pleased. It was a surprise to him and he enjoyed it so. For once, I purchased a gift I knew he wouldn't ask to return or exchange and I knew I didn't have to save the receipt.

Later this evening, the best present came, when he discussed with our two young one's about the finest gifts that Christ, the baby, received upon His birth. It was a joy to watch my husband share his precious boxed items with our children and watch their faces as they were somewhat confused, yet intriqued about daddy's story regarding the presents Christ received. The delicate and precious way in which my husband handled this gift and shared the story to our kids were of more value to me than anything I could have possibly given him. I watched in joy and pride, with one semi-controlled tear running off the side of one eye, as my husband studied the history, the origional gifts that our Savior was welcomed with. For about 10-15 seconds we all were silent and I think we could all sense His presence descend upon us. These gifts of which my husband shared with our 5 and 3 year old were truly gifts meant for a king; Jesus, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Amen!

Red Letter Believers Reflection of 2008

I often check my blog roll to see what's new and interesting and then visit these blogs to see what they're up to or how God is using them. Today when I visited 'Red Letter Believers', I was greeted with an invitation to reflect on this past year; 2008. So here I am, thinking and looking back through all the twelve months and what stood/stands out to me the most. There are many things that come to mind, but of all of them some stick out more than others. Here is a list of events that have marked the year of 2008 for me:

• I decided to go back to college, only to quit before the semester was through. That was because (and this is not meant to be an excuse) my preschooler and kindergartner were often sick and interfered with my schooling. Plus being at college, while raising two small, needy ones made my mood change. I was very snappy and had little time to be spend with them, which bothered me so. In the end, and after much prayer, I quit to be there more for my children than for my education. As I see it, college can be put on hold, my kid's can not.
• Getting adjusted to my husbands work schedule. He is an operator at Dow chemical plant who works 12 hr. shifts and often works overnights one week, and then days the next, which is very hard for me to get accustomed to. The kids saw him less and less, as did I which seemed to put a strain on our marriage.
• My 5 yr. old daughter entered Kindergarten this year and barely made it as her birthday was only 2 days before the cutoff time to enter the school year. Plus she was premature, weighing 1 lb. 9 oz. and technically shouldn't even be starting in '08, as her real birthday would have been in November, not August. My husband and I worried over her so much, wondering if we made the right decision in starting her this year or waiting until next year when she turned 6. It was a hard call and my husband and I talked, prayed and got her tested prior to her starting school. Now, even this close to Christmas, I debate among myself if we made the wrong decision. I am a 'room mom' in her class and I have seen her work in comparison with the other students and she is very, very behind. I hate claiming such a thing but it's truth. I'd rather be a parent that recognizes help in which my child needs than pretend to look the other way. I spoke with the teacher and even principle and am waiting on which direction we will be taking with everything.
• Our blog. It started off in the summer of 2007 as a family means of communication for we have much family who aren't local to us, but by having a blog meant they could view photo's, get updates, etc. on our lives easily, but God changed all that. Eventually He turned our family blog into a small outreach site, which is so amazing to me, and I am so excited and blessed by this. Yes, we still add our own family tidbits but mainly we focus on the things that He would have us focus on as we type our blog entries.
• Christmas: Out of all the years of celebrating Christmas I don't think I have ever worried so much or tried so hard to purchase gifts, presents, stocking stuffers, and the like to please the one's I love. I even did my first 'Black Friday', shopping the Friday after Thanksgiving, awaking at 4 AM, to get the best deals and discounts on gifts. But as I sat watching 'A Christmas Story' with my two small children my eye's were opened to what Christmas is NOT about, but instead felt the Holy Spirit fall on me, reminding that He is the reason for the season. How did this happen in the mist of watching 'A Christmas Story'? Well, it was because my 5 year old, smart as she is to notice, asked me 'Why do they keep thinking it's about Santa?' and then my newly 3 yr. old asked 'Wew's the Jesus burtday cake?' ('Where's the Jesus Birthday cake?') What he means is that every Christmas it has been our tradition to make a 'Happy Birthday Jesus cake, buy the numbered candles (so for this year it will have 2008 on it) and the kids get so excited stopping by Krogers or HEB to pick two birthday balloons which we release and watch go up to Heaven for Jesus. This is the FIRST thing we do before we open gifts or open stockings and I love how my children adore this. After all, and as myself also being a 'Red Letter Believer' the Word of God does state: Jesus's birth is to be a celebration of hope; hope of salvation, something we all need to live the happy eternity with Christ, the one who loved us first, which is why I love Him. Happy Birthday Jesus! I hope to serve you even more in 2009!!!

My Redeember Lives

Incredible video about the relationship between a father's love for his son....and God's relationship with us.

Dear God,

Why do things seem to go such the wrong way sometimes? And why can't I be like one of those other strong enough wives, mother's, or friend's that appear to have it all together? And at least if they don't, it's not obvious like when I drove into our closed garage door for the whole neighborhood to hear?! It's the common 'Why me?' question that I've asked myself many times this week alone, yet each time I find myself feeling selfish in my questioning of this.

The last two weeks I have just wanted to give up; throw in the towel, buy some invisible spray paint, like on one of those Sponge Bob episodes, and disappear from it all. I don't know how many more things that can go wrong this month before I just lose it all!

For starters my husband and I can't seem to get along, even when we try our best. Our constant fighting is putting a strain on everything and I don't know how or why we got off track, my 5 yr. old is getting picked on at school and has decided she hates Kindergarten, which breaks my heart, and makes me want to punch the little kids who are teasing her right in the face (shame on me, I know), my 3 yr. old son has had a temp. of over 103 for 3 days now and, though he's been on two different antibiotics he still can't seem to shake his illness and by now knows how to administer his own breathing treatments. I'm sure I angered my daughters teacher because I promised to volunteer this week at the school, but had to cancel due to his illness which now has spread into my illness and I fear is making it's nasty way into my daughter's bedroom. To make matters worse we've received a third letter from our Home Owner's Association, that if we don't repaint our house, they will take legal action against us. This, by the way, has got to be a complete misunderstanding as we've only owned this house for 3 yrs. and it's always been this paint color....we are still trying to figure things out but the HOA hasn't returned our calls. And when they finally did, it was on my cell phone and I was pulling into the driveway of our home. Not fully paying attention, I tried to explain our side of things, and in doing so I accidentally drove right into the closed driveway of our garage. What kind of person does that??? And what kind of quick lie can I muster up to tell my husband about why our garage door is somehow inverted? All this and we are still fighting with the insurance company to get repairs done on our home and get our fence replaced from Hurricane Ike.....I don't know how much more I can take. I feel 'spent' as I hold my sick son now at 4AM. I dread what worries I will be slapped with tomorrow and how I can find the strength to conquer them.

I'm certain that if I were to meet your son Job, from the Bible, he would look me straight in the eye and say 'Sister, you have no idea what hardships really are do you?' Then I would have to straighten myself up, take a deep breath, and (as I've had to do time and time again) learn to cast all my worries upon You because I know You care for me. 1st Peter 5:7 Yet in my flesh all I want to do is run away from it all, sobbing the whole way, which I know wouldn't do me or anyone else any good.

God, I am weak. I sometimes can not handle the roles You have given me and I'm sorry that I often let You down. I don't know how to do it all and I'm asking that you please lift some of these burdens from me or at least make me a stronger woman so I can handle the strain in a better, well mannered way, (instead of yelling through the truck window like I did at the lady at Walgreen's who carelessly plunged her cart right into my side door.) I don't want to be a bad example of someone who serves You, yet often times I admit I lack self control and lose my cool. I am so, so sorry Jesus and I pray you forgive me. There are days I feel so unworthy and wish I could just climb up in your lap like a little girl longing for your big, strong arms to hold and console me while I sob my worries away. That is how I feel today; right now.

Christ please help me to remember what this time of year is about; Your birth and help me to behave better so that other's can witness the peace and contentment in me (no matter what the situation is) in order so that they may desire to know You.

I love you Lord!! Thank you in advance for the constant work you are doing in me, just an ordinary mom, living the ordinary life.

Your humbled daughter,

~ Sarah Cecilia

Snow in Houston????

Yup, believe it or not we got snow in Houston tonight. The current temperature is 32 degrees and before we knew it there was a slight snow that later turned to a full blown snow. Just for fun, though the kids were already in bed, I just had to show them. They were so excited, so I snapped a very quick photo of daddy holding Hannah and little Jesse next to the car to show the snow on it's window. "Wow!" is what came from the mouth of Hannah and little Jesse, well what can I say? He wanted to stay outside and play. Not gonna happen! Then once they were inside their bedrooms they couldn't help but stare out the bedroom windows. What a sweet treat that God gave our kids. It's the simple things of Christmas that make it so much fun. Thank you God for making our kids night!