All things family-related. My husband and me, the children we made, the grandbebes that thrill us now. Our whole great big, loud, messy family. Love! *sigh…
Dave, Tara, Hunter-Magoo and Stormie left DIA last night headed for Taiwan. Due to the time change and length of the flight, they are pretty much losing the entire last day of the year, but will experience New Years multiple times as they cross varios time zones. I am not sure how that works. I just know they are currently flying far, far away.
This is Hunter’s first international trip and he has been preparing for some time, getting that passport ready and deciding what he will say to “the nations.” He was born for this!
Dave, Tara and Stormie will be leading worship (and some speaking/teaching) at missionary and young adult training conferences for people from all over Asia with the Christian Missionary Alliance group. They start in Taiwan and will spend the last several days in Japan before getting back in mid-January.
Agreement.
The kids travel the world. I stay home and pray. That is our agreement. And this particular trip, I feel led to pray that the love of God will be increased in their hearts, that they will be motivated by that kind of love – that John 3.16 love for the world and that their ministry will pour from hearts filled with love for the people they will come in contact with. You can pray these things over my kids, too, if you’d like, in agreement, because where two or moreagree…
Isaiah 12.5 Sing to the LORD for He has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world.
Psalm 96 …Say among the nations…
Matthew 5 You are the salt of the earth…You are the light of the world
And may that same love that has made the truth of John 3.16 the great hope and central truth of everything be in you.
Two days after Christmas, eight years ago, Stephanie married Tristan. The scene was Boulder Valley, with thousands and thousands of sparkling white lights, both inside the church and looking out over the Valley. An upside-down white Christmas tree (you kinda had to be there) with a sunburst of draped lighting marked the central floor for lovers dancing. Burgandy and winter white, food-laden tables and glittery woodland centerpieces. Lots of shimmery candles and traveling guests. It was beautiful and rich, it was Old World and modern. Stacks of cheesecakes instead of the usual bridal cake was the perfect compliment. Steph was dazzling, Tristan handsome. We could not have dreamed a better son-in-law for our little girl. He was the first to “join” us, but who can remember life before him?
8 Years and 3 kids later…
What I loved most about the day they were married? Tristan singing to Stephanie and watching her melt with adoration of him. What I love the most since? How they grow as a family and I still see Stephanie looking at Tristan the same way. They are cute, creative, interdependent, sufficient, lovely and unique. They are our kids and they’ve given us 3 of the 5 grandbebes. We are blessed!
Happy Anniversary, Tristan and Stephanie. Happy Anniversary and Love to the Kelley Family!
Oh, sure. Everybody is just enjoying their Christmas Eve. But how will they feel tomorrow, I wonder, if I refuse to allow the festivities to proceed until the Baby Jesus has been found and returned to His birth stable? Uh-huh. Then they’ll understand the importance.
Update for those behind on the story: The Baby Jesus from the (unbreakable-kid-version) Nativity set came up missing sometime during the Rhoades family Christmas dinner last weekend. There was a sighting (by Hunter) in the bedroom formerly known as Tredessa’s or Zach’s old room. But tips on His whereabouts have not yet panned out.
“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all year.” Charles Dickens
I have a whole blog category called “Keep Christmas” inspired by this very quote. Keep: to continue, maintain, look after, maintain possession of. Provide and nourish it. Maintain, preserve and enjoy it. And what are we keeping anyway? The Christ Mass, the worship of Jesus Christ. Of course I will Keep Christmas. With all my heart!
The PJ Party
Of all our social engagements during the festive holidays, there is none so important nor more desirous for which to be invited than the PJ Party with the Grandbebes. The Little Prince himself called for this royal celebration this year, already having deemed it a most regal tradition.
This year’s soiree included “Ice” skating at The Orchard where Gemma promptly fell on her “buns” and did not like skating at all after that, telling every stranger who cared to engage her, “I can’t skate anymore, I am too little,” while Averi went at it as if she were born on ice and Guini fell if anyone skated past her within a 20-foot radius, presumably the wind itself knocking the little featherweight down. But she would laugh hilariously and get right back up and the boys? Well they were boys!. Then there was Taco Bell and these 5 can put away the chips and Nacho Cheese like nobody’s business.
Dave had the 2 little girls while I drove Gavin, Hunter and Guini home. We decided to sing Christmas carols at the top of our lungs, in between theologiocal discussions about how God could be everywhere at once and what God looks like and how God was right there in the car blessing Hunter and holding his hand that very second. Somewhere between “Let it Snow” and “Jingle Bells,” just after the kids had happily spotted the giant star atop the Christmas tree at the Brighton City Hall as we passed, Guini, moved by the true meaning of Christmas, led out a strong, rousing rendition of “Oh no, You never let go.” Yes. The Matt Redman song. And they worshipped their little heads off.
Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You
Then…
The annual Reindeer prints: footprint for the head, 2 hand prints for the antlers, the forefinger for eyes and a thumbprint for the nose. These were created to take home for mommys and daddys – a reminder of how much they have grown since last year. Colorful paint and water flew in every direction, but voila! Art!
Then hot chocolate for all and we got in our jammies and pulled the couch close to the TV for watching Sprout and Elf while munching on popcorn.
The Party lasts all night and into the morning.
At exactly 6:13 this morning, I heard the rumble of small feet tear through the house and shrieks of naughty glee and giggles pierced the sweet sleep I so longingly clung to. Capt’n Crunch Christmas Cereal, helping Poppa wrap presents and place them under the tree and early morning screenings of the classics: Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and Frosty the Snowman, our very own film festival! They are making tents of blankets and Baby Jesus is missing. We have sent out a search party, but Gemma announces from the top of the stairs, in that particularly little-lamb voice of hers, “I can’t find Baby Jesus, Poppa. I don’t know where He is?…”
Sandy-the-Dog endures being placed in swaddling clothes, but does enjoy the crumbs and treats the grandbebes leave around the house.
Hunter informs me before leaving that we did not do the PJ Party “correctly” because there were no balloons and cake. He believes with all his heart that a PJ Party must have balloons and cake. {you try, right?}
“Two more ‘sleeps’ until Christmas,” the measurement Gavin and Hunter give to any upcoming event for which they can hardly wait.
Christmas is, after all, coming. In only 2 more sleeps!
Three nights before Christmas and all over town, there is much to be done and so many sounds…
1. Christmas with my family is pretty loud.
“Christmas at our house was like a Donny and Marie TV Special” (who said that?).
That cracks me up because it is like that for us, too. Rare is the quiet tree-lit silent night, or a room full of heavenly peace for pondering and reflecting. Even now, as I write this (on Monday night to be posted on Tuesday), it is late. And yet, the rooms are brightly shining and daughters have materials and supplies spread everywhere, working on Christmas projects and finishing last-minute gifts. They tease and cajole. They drink coffee and break out into song, filling the air with movie quotes and remembrances in a thoroughly unpredictable rhythm. Just now they are singing selections from the musical “Oklahoma,” for what reason, I do not know. I’d like to tell them to go to their rooms and get to sleep, but am reminded they are here now by choice, a gift to me, something I treasure. Let the madness remain.
2. I really do not like to shop. But at this point, I have no choice.
I power-shopped for more than 10 hours Monday. {sigh} I organized each person’s list according to every different retail establishment I would need to hit. I mapped out a plan, gathered coupons and those “free money” cards I have collected from said establishments (like $10 off a $25 purchase at JCP, $10 off any purchase at Kohls!) into a folder. I made sure to have my Starbucks giftcards for needed strength (did you know there is a company-wide shortage of caramel due to the popularity of the new Caramel Brulee Latte??!?) and most importantly, dedicated myself to having a good hair day because when you are going from morning to night, not having to worry about hair in imperative. Then I told Dave: this isn’t a pleasure trip, you know. The objective is to cross things off my list: quickly.
Several of my girls have asked for vintage/antique-type things so I added 3 thrift stores to my list, all within a short get-it-done radius. When we arrived at the first one and I leapt from the car with notebook and pen in hand and started bounding toward the door at break-neck speed, Dave commented, “There. See, honey? This store was created just for you.” For the big sign at the entrance read: ARC Thrift Store ~ Shopping with a Purpose.
Yes, I am a purpose-driven shopper.
3. I will continue to complain about the weather.
It was too stinking hot. It didn’t feel like Christmas with the weather in the 50’s, which is seriously impeding my glorious songs of old. But today, the temp has dropped! Here is what I want: Maybe the low 40’s with some big pretty snowflakes falling, but not on the streets-just along the sides so everything looks pretty and children can build men…and women. And just cool enough so you can wear the cute hat and adorable scarf set some one has given you (along with the coordinating fingerless gloves), but you don’t really need bulky coats. You know-cool enough that you’d look all New-England-wintry and Christmas-card-ish if you made a quick stop and took a few spins around the ice-skating rink while you were bustling about shopping, but not so cold no one can recognize you due to the outerwear overkill when, if you should fall, you would not, in fact, be able to get back up. Is this really too much to ask for???
Three movies that are not usually considered Christmas movies, but have great Christmas scenes in them:
[1] Funny Farm with Chevy Chase. [2] About a Boy with Hugh Grant and [3] While You Were Sleeping with Sandra Bullock (omygosh, I LOVE this movie!).
Three nights before Christmas, 3 French Hens, Three Wise Men, and three wishes from me to you: peace, joy and love!
pictured: DP, Tara and Hunter’s tree farm adventure a couple of weeks ago.
“Christmastime is a festive time – a time of parties and presents and songs that we all love, except for Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, which I for one got tired of in approximately 1958, and which now causes me to dislocate my forefinger stabbing the car-radio button. I prefer traditional Christmas carols, such as Ding Dong Merrily on High. I am not making this carol up. The lyrics are:
“Ding dong merrily on high!”
(Something something something)
I don’t know the rest, because I never got past the first line without cracking up. This song used to absolutely slay me and my boyhood friends when we sang it in St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Armonk, N.Y. And no wonder: It is a well-known axiom of music, discovered in 1783 by Mozart (this was Herb Mozart), that “there is no such thing as a bad song that has ‘ding dong’ in the title.” Other examples are Ding Dong the Witch is Dead and Shama Lama Ding Dong, which is not to be confused with Rama Lama Ding Dong, also an excellent song…”
-A classic from Dave Barry’s column in 2004. You may read the rest, which is titled, “Who Named these Guys Wise Men?”, here.
Amy Jo and Damon welcomed Piper Johanna 6 days ahead of schedule.
Yeah! Baby Piper, due to arrive on Christmas Eve, arrived at 3:15 on Friday. Good tidings of great joy for Amy Jo and Damon, who were unable to join us for a little Christmas Merriment last night, but were having their own fa-la-la-la-la rejoicing! We (the “3rd Thursdays”, see above and please note the cute reindeer ornament I am wearing made by Chloe and Cody-so cute!) got to talk to new mommy on speaker phone and wish her merry merry times with Baby Girl, who is blond and, at least in this picture, looks just like her daddy. Welcome little Piper (I have a strong urge to call you Pipi ~ will your mama kill me??)!
Stormie was a Secret Santa at Work
She made an ornament from wire and old buttons and put chocolate under glass. Cute, eh?
“Christmas is coming, Christmas won’t wait. The presents need wrapping. I cannot be late!”– by me, actually, just this second. Destined to be a classic Christmas quote, I am certain.
I am pretty proud of all my girls. Not only do they go all out thinking of the most perfect gifts to give for Christmas, each of them is spending hours and hours creating handmade presents for the family. And these gifts are not just popsicle-stick napkin holders, no. We are talking heirloom quality stuff. One daughter is giving her sister something she spent working 160 hours on. Steph and Stormie have had weekly “Project Mondays” for weeks, both working on unique and thoughtful gifts.
I am just so impressed at what resourceful and loving women they have become, my “little women.”
Steph’s Tree.
Stephanie’s domestic creativity showed up on her Christmas tree this year. I’ll let her explain it to you:
Here is my tree:
My colors are white, silver, teal, purple, and black. My main inspiration was the ‘un-Christmas’ decor from Anthropologie*
I didn’t use most of my old ornaments this year. I found things around the house to use and re-use/re-purpose for the decorations.
The big flowers are made out of white tissue paper from the dollar store and old unwanted sewing patterns.
The garlands are made from $1.00 worth of string and yarn from the thrift store. Stormie and I finger knitted each one – there is about 175 ft of it….I think:)
The little white flowers are made from white plastic grocery sacks and white pipe cleaners.
The ‘star’ on top is made from old black paper with writing ( I think it was a report of some kind) that I got for $1 from the flea market. I didn’t want to do a traditional star – just something that would stand out.
This last photo is of Guini and Gemma inside the Anthropologie* store in Cherry Creek – LOVE their tissue paper poms!
Thanks for the peek inside the Kelley-Christmas household, Stephanie. And for being such a thoughtful gift-giver.
See Hunter? He is fourth from the right on the back row, his little blond head bowed-praying for all he is worth!
It was truly apparent, and not just because the Little Prince belongs to me, but because it is true: the kid has the market on musical talent at his pre-school. And when they did “The Little Drummer Boy,” Hunter led out on that coffee can “drum,” never ever missing that first beat. Truly, all the other little kids followed his lead. He told me, “I drummed “pa-rum pum pum pum,’ but the other kids drummed pa-rum-a-do-do,’ like that.” He knew he was good.
The grandbebes make ornaments for the keepsake tree.
Cardboard hats and felt, glue and glitter, and voila! Note to Averi: Though quite pretty, it is actually not a cookie.
Gavin is a dedicated artiste. He loves the Martha Stewart super-fine glitter as much as I do (90% off the last week of January 09…jealous?).
Bad news/good tidings of comfort and great, great joy!
Dave’s book didn’t make the top three in the competition (we now find 10 more votes would have put him there!!), but we got good news that outshone some silly competition. It is kind of private, but suffice it to say, we are rejoicing and dancing merrily because of a health scare one of us had that is now not as scary and looking really good, in fact. Thank-You, God for mercy, for healing…
The grandbebes will not stand still for pictures. Will not. C’est impossible.
We tried sitting, standing, and stacking, we clapped our hands and said their names as brightly and joyously as possible. We threatened, cajoled, bribed and shrugged our shoulders in hopelessness. These five are in charge of the universe and all the best-laid plans are a fantasy, because they are a combined, insurmountable energy-force and you best just get out of the way. And certainly don’t believe they will all behave as requested. Goodness, no. Just line them up, let them go crazy and hope for the best. (I wasn’t supposed to be in this shot, but Guini wouldn’t let go and when Guini wants to give love, that is when you will receive it – it is all on her timetable!)
God willing and the creek don’t rise, I will get my Christmas cards out say…next Tuesday???
