Happy Birthday!

Today is Matt's 27th birthday. As I write this my mature 27 year old husband is playing Mario Carts on the Wii he got for Christmas/birthday. =) Boys never do grow up, do they?

We don't have anything special planned for the day. Here in a bit we'll go to lunch at Red Robin, one of his favorite restaurants. Then we're heading to Columbia, where we'll meet Becca for coffee and some time to chat. Eventually, we'll head up north to my parents house for the night. We're going to watch my youngest sister's basketball game tonight. Matt is thrilled, lol.

But tomorrow, tomorrow Matt will check off one of the things on his bucket list, his list of things to do before he dies. We, along with my youngest sister, will be making a day trip to Lawrence, Kansas. We have tickets to the KU vs. Colorado basketball game that afternoon. Both Matt and Becca (my sister) are huge KU fans. I wouldn't classify myself as a fan, but I do enjoy watching them play. They are a very scrappy team, who understand the meaning of hustle. Even though they start a junior, a sophomore and three freshman, they have surprised everyone with their talent and success. So it won't be misery for me to tag along! If we can find our camera, we'll take pictures!

Snow Days!!

So the past two days have been snow days here in the Saint Louis area. I had to work on Tuesday, but I had today off, and I loved it! It was snowing heavily when I went to bed, and I woke up to a beautiful winter wonder land! I love winter because I love snow. Until now, its just been cold and ugly, and I have not enjoyed it. But snow makes all the cold worth it. It is so amazing, how each unique flake is formed and gently drifts to the ground. But my favorite part of snow is the breathtaking (and blinding) beauty of it laying on the ground with the sun making it all sparkly. Our God is a beautiful creator. I also love to play in the snow and then come inside to hot chocolate and warm cookies out of the oven. However, we didn't play in the snow today, 1-we don't have appropriate snow attire, 2-my mom wasn't here to make us cookies. I have decided I will have to look for snow attire on sale in the coming month or so, along with a good sled or two!

I wanted to take pictures of our snow day, but our camera is MIA. Now that we no longer live in Europe, we find few things to take pictures of....

Well...

Its been a while since I've last written something, but honestly, there's not been much happening in our lives to write about.

This past weekend we were home for the entire weekend, so I decided we'd finally do some painting. I have been wanting to get rid of our builders paint for quite some time, but couldn't decide how to paint. We have a very open floor plan, our dining room, kitchen and living room are all one open room. Plus we have all vaulted ceilings. But I finally picked some colors and we ventured out painting. I really like the way it all turned out, it would probably be a bit too colorful for many, but we feel like it really fits our personalities. We still have second coats to do on all areas but the kitchen, but Matt declared today a day of rest. He's been sick with a cold/sinus infection since Tuesday, and he really does need the rest. I will just deal with my house continuing to be in disarray until Tuesday. We're hoping to finish up Monday night, so I can put things back to normal and clean Tuesday on my day off.

Matt has successfully kicked off all of his new programs for the kids. Today was the second Sunday with the programming, and the kids and volunteers really seem to love it. It is such a blessing to see kids having fun worshipping God and loving adults investing in their lives through small groups.

We had thought about sending out a Christmas card/update letter just to let everyone know how we're faring. However, I was worried it would be lost amongst the many cards people receive. So I think I am going to do an early Valentine's card/update letter...it should be fun! I will hopefully get it written this week so we can get it mailed out! Nothing too special, just a cute picture of us (maybe--if you're lucky!) and a quick note to let you know we're doing okay.

Christmas Reflections

Let's be honest, Christmas this year was very bittersweet for us. I love Christmas because I love spending extra time with people, especially my family and close friends. Yes, the shopping and gift things are fun (for the most part!), for me, Christmas is about time with those you love. For us, those we love, was incomplete without Eli, Isaac, and Micah. So although there were a fair share of tears, there was also plenty of smiles, laughing and celebrating.

Remembering and celebrating the birthday of Jesus was different for us this year. I felt on some level like I could begin to relate to the feelings God must have experienced in sending his only child to earth. I think about the difficult emotions we have experienced in giving up our only children to go to a place where we know they are loved perfectly and completely. Where they are able to live a perfect life, to be free of sin and the burdens of this world. Yet no matter how perfect of a place I know they are in, it doesn't take away the pain of our separation. The pain and sorrow are unreal. Then I think about what it must have been like for God. To give up your child to go to a place where you knew they would be kind of loved by a few, but mostly an outcast--rejected, scorned, hated, and murdered. I cannot imagine the dispair of such a separation, the heartbreak and pain, and the love involved in such a gift. This Christmas as we have dealt with the painful separation from our children, we were able to see and appreciate the gift God gave us in Jesus, in a whole new way. What a beautiful, amazing, selfless gift he gave to us.

For God so LOVED the WORLD that he gave his ONE and ONLY SON.......