TISSUE ALERT!

Brad introduced me to this song today. Seriously...bawled through it. And I told Brad, "Looking back, I can't even believe we made it through. I cry at every Christmas movie, and even some commercials. Obviously, God carried us through."



Its' amazing the strength He can give us to get through some of the hard stuff... He has certainly been a constant provider for us; through our family and friends. We are so grateful. Big Daddy Weave has teamed up with KLOVE to reach out to military families that have been nominated... you can check it out here. And don't forget to keep the separated families in your prayers!

a little something...and a super hero...

...first, a little something. Did you know the promise that "nothing is impossible with God" was given to Mary by the angel when she found out she would be Jesus' mother? I honestly think I just realized that last year. And I was reminded of that realization again this year. And astounded by God's perfect wisdom... knowing full-well that this thing we call Christmas would get all tangled up with commercialism... he tucked in a nugget of truth that we often claim throughout the year... "nothing is impossible with God." I urge you, if you are feeling a weight around you, if the hustle and bustle have lost their holly and jolly; take a quiet moment and savor the weight of that promise that was given to Mary... "For nothing is impossible with God." Luke 1:37

So, sometime Saturday, Wilson mentioned something he wanted to ask for from Santa - something rather expensive. Brad talked a bit with Wilson about Santa bringing gifts to everyone and how he can't bring everyone something expensive. By the time we got to see Santa though, Wilson had settled again on asking for a jump rope. Saturday night I talked over a few things with Brad. Wondering if somehow we were doing the wrong thing with our kids by limiting how much they get - you know some what ifs... what if they resent us when they are older because they didn't get as much as their friends? what if we are stifling their dreams by telling them Santa can't bring you everything??? I finally decided that I was letting the marketing get to me, and was able to rest well after talking to Brad.

Sunday we went out to lunch after church, and the hostess asked the boys what they wanted from Santa - Walker said a "drum and a leaf book" (yes, she looked at us the same way Santa did when he said 'leaf book), and Wilson said "a jump rope". The lady behind us said, "Wow! Your kids are easy, wanna trade?"

When we were seated Brad asked Wilson, "If you could ask Santa for anything in the whole world, what would you ask him for?" Brad and I answered first, stating things that surely Santa couldn't bring.

After much thought, Wilson answered, "A vacation."

I thought for sure he was thinking about our summer trip to Disney, so I replied,"Oh, that's cool. Where would you want to go?"

And you wanna know what that sweet boy said??? "Michigan"

My heart swells.

And here are a couple shots of Super Walker. He has referred to himself as Super Walker on multiple occasions. One time I remember clearly being at the playground, and he was quite put-off that another older boy didn't believe that he was Super Walker. We said, "Are you Super Walker?" He said, "Yes" and we replied, "Then don't worry about it!" And off he ran yelling "I am Super Walker!"

oh we had a little Christmas...

...just this past weekend...
Since we are travelling to the great north for Christmas, we decided to have the boys open their presents from us this Saturday. We didn't do all of our Christmas traditions, but we did do some... the boys wore their new pj's to bed Friday, but they didn't know we were going to do presents until Saturday morning when they woke up. Here they are, waiting to unwrap their gifts... Wilson proudly showing off his Toy Story Mania -its very similar to their favorite ride at Disney - so it makes it an extra fun game on the Wii. (we rented it before we moved, so we knew it was worth it!)

Walker got his own version of a Toy Story game - memory. He's beginning to get excited about playing games.

Walker also got some power tools. He was pretty thrilled.

And Wilson was giddy about a Nerf gun because he "has ALWAYS wanted one."

They each got three presents from us (not because there were three wise men, but because Jesus got three gifts - the wise men are not numbered in the Bible and it bothers Brad a bit when it is assumed that there were three...), but I don't have pictures of their third gifts - Wilson got a basketball, and Walker got a "Super Walker" cape. Believe me, I'll post pictures of the cape, I made it for him, and I think it is quite adorable.

After presents we went to the PX to have a little visit with Santa.

Walker asked for a drum and a "leaf book"- Santa had to look at us to find out what on earth a "leaf book" is. We are still wondering where Walker got that idea from... and hoping old Santa can locate or make a suitable one for Walker.

Wilson asked for a jump rope - which caused Santa to say, "A jump rope? Are you training for a boxing match? I am sure you will get more than just a jump rope!" Why does Santa feel the need to increase expectations and put all that pressure on himself???

We had a really fun day, and now the excitement of our trip to MI is really setting in!

Walker Goes to Airborne School

Last night we decided to head down to the Airborne school on post, and watch Santa do an Airborne jump onto the field, and then do the annual lighting of the jump tower. When we got dow there they were still letting people do the zipline out of the 30 foot tower they use to teach jumping skills in Airborne school. We asked Wilson if he wanted to do, and he wanted no part of it. When Amanda asked Walker he said "sure" like it was no big deal, so he and I got inline to do it.

Here they are getting the Harness on him in these two pictures

Here he is already to jump.

Here is the tower he jumped out of (of course I went right be hind him because no self-respecting dad is going to let his 3 year old do it by himself).

Here he is after the jump,
and of course he wanted to do it again.

Here is our little Paratrooper in action. AIRBORNE ALL THE WAY!

oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree...

...your leaves are so unchanging. Especially when they are fake. I'm just sayin.

Here's a full picture of our free tree. Poor thing was left behind at a rental property that our friends own (in Lawton). I think they gave it to me before Brad even got home. We quickly assembled it and plugged it in the day before the movers came to make sure it worked. When we got it out to decorate it; I was skeptical, it seemed tiny & sparse. But after a bit of fluffing and bending, and adorning each branch with all manner of ornaments, I'd say she looks mighty fine. And really, you can't beat that price. I got my uppercase living order yesterday (pictures of the front door to come after the rain moves on), so the cross wall is complete. Its on the stairway, straight across from the front door. I think it looks fantastic, and I love the visual reminder of Jesus' deep and personal love for each of us. He is always giving us reminders of His love...

...sometimes in the form of deep-belly-giggles during a wrestle fest.

My cup continues to overflow.

p.s. nobody was injured during wrestlefest this week.

Holiday Mail for Heroes

Hey, my sister posted a link on Facebook about a Holiday Mail program that the Red Cross is doing for service members, veterans, and their families. Cards should be mailed by Dec 7th, I think. Here is the link *click* Check out the details!

thinking...

watch out! Two posts in one day... and the second one is titled "thinking"??? Oh dear.
I guess it might be because Brad has no idea when/if he'll be home tonight.

When the boys and I were sitting down for dinner, I realized that nearly all of my Christmas decorations have been given to us. The entire village up there is made up of bits and pieces from at least 5 different people (we're having trouble remembering exactly who gave us one of them - I decided I am going to write on the boxes this year...) Then I have a few Avon figures that Mom had given to Grandma years ago, and when they downsized their 'stuff' I became the owner of them. And of course, there are some sweet handmade items from Rene, my two handsome snow-fellows, and my glittery "peace." And don't miss my "santa's cookies" plate from Barbie - and a mug to match. Treasures, each one. And our nativity. A treasured gift from Dad & Mom Lutz.

I gotta be honest, two of the stockings are store bought, and I made the other two... But I just adore that God gave us a banister to hang them on this year. Don't they look cute there?

And tonight we got another special gift to add to our Christmas decorations - a little Polar Express to go around the tree. I must say, it makes the handmade tree skirt seem painfully tiny. (Oh! Did I tell you we got that tree for free? I'll have to take a full picture of it and tell you the story later this week...) The boys were eager to get the train running tonight...

Can you tell they like it? Thanks Yaya!

All of this to say. Sometimes, I just can't help but feel overwhelmed by how much love and support we have in our lives. The hodge-podge look of our house is really a tribute to that love - often expressed in a little something here or there. I don't think I could ever wish for a more pulled-together-looking house, because I would lose the charm of all the pieces we've collected along the way. Maybe I will never have a signature style in our home decor, but I think that's ok with me.

On a night when I have no idea about when/if my husband will be home tonight; I feel peace. Not just a glittery word hung in our dining room, but deep, abiding peace. I'm reminded of the many, many ways that God has provided for us during much more difficult nights. God is so very good. He provides enough, every single time. And often more.

Julie recently asked me if we were doing "Dear Army Family" again. After talking with my friend at Fort Sill, we've determined that perhaps we can give it a go again next year. In the meantime, I want to encourage you to send a card to a family you know with a deployed soldier - even if it is someone you barely know - or a friend of a friend's son. Maybe you can pass it on to a mutual contact that can get it to who needs it most. The main purpose last year was to convey that our military families are not forgotten and their sacrifice is not unnoticed especially at this time of year. If you do not know a single solitary person with a deployed soldier (marine, airmen, or sailor) then send it to me. I am sure there are a few ladies at this PWOC with a deployed spouse.

And if you can do more than a card... Sears has a program to provide gift cards to military families. They will divide the donations they receive evenly between 20,000 families. Military families do not make that much money. Its true, Brad and I have been tremendously blessed in the last few years. Sometimes I think God has mulitiplied our finances somewhere, because on paper it doesn't always seem to add up. I will tell you this though, when we moved, I finally filled out the paperwork for the federal free & reduced lunch program, thinking maybe Wilson would get 'reduced' lunch... no, he qualifies for free lunch. So, yes, military families often pinch pennies, and even with combat pay, things can get tight during a deployment - whether its the desire to travel to see family, or if its been another long, hard day and its just easier to go out to eat even if it costs more, etc. It adds up. I thought this was a great way to give back. Click here to find out more.

Thanksgiving weekend...

...really was a good one. Brad took some pictures of the boys and I making cookies on Saturday... they were both pretty into it... we used some of our train-shaped-cookie-cutters to go with our movie night choice - The Polar Express.

We only did a single batch, so it didn't take too long to make these. And we didn't have food coloring for the frosting, so that went super fast too. And now... they are all gone.

Here's a picture from our Thanksgiving day walk. (I told you he's into those ears right now). The boys collected some pretty leaves to make a table runner for our dinner.Walker was especially thrilled with this "big, yellow leaf!!!"

Wilson is back to school, and Brad is back to work. Everyone is healthy!

We are now beginning to count down the days to our Christmas trip to MI. There are a few people that are really, r-e-a-l-l-y hoping for snow!

Can you believe its already December? The advent season came quickly this year!

It's Thanksgiving!!!

So, its only proper that we wish you a very Happy day! Look how big the boys look by their turkey this year! Oh my! (and yes, he has a thing for the mickey ears right now).
We have a laid-back day in the works. Hopefully the turkey is pretty well-thawed by now. We'll watch the parade, eat some snacks, then have our big meal. I am so thankful to be celebrating with Brad this year. Even though he has been home for nearly 6 months now, I am overwhelmed again just to be together. However you spend the day, I hope it is joyful and praise-filled.



Psalm 100
A psalm. For giving thanks.

1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.

2 Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.

3 Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.

5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.

round here...

...we're getting ready for Thanksgiving tomorrow! I hope that big turkey is thawing correctly (well, technically its a pretty small turkey). Yesterday we had to run over to the commissary. This is Walker after he got dressed and was "ready to go." =)

And after our trip to the commissary, we did a little baking. I have some of the best kitchen help in the world... And cutest.

He was so excited! This little apron set was the best dollar I have ever spent, I think...

And here they are, mixing up some dough. I will admit, they beg for a lot of samples; and I can't for the life of me figure out where they would get that idea from... hmm.

Today we're going to bake our pumpkin pie and make some dinner rolls.

Brad's at work right now. This morning he said he thinks he might have strep; so I am praying that he can get his meds this a.m. if he does. Or that he feels better, if its not the dreaded strep.

Hope your Thanksgiving prep is fun-filled =)

overheard {again}

I told you I have the gift of overhearing.

Yesterday we got out our nativity sets. (Since Wilson has the week off, we are doing a little bit of decorating each day. And a little bit of baking each day.) I always like to put the Nativity set out first thing. We have a few... this year the Little People set is in Walker's room and the Playmobil set is in Wilson's room.

While I was folding laundry in my room, I could hear Walker scolding baby Jesus in his room. "Bad, baby Jesus!" ...in a very. stern. voice, mind you.

Followed by a compassionate tone, "Oh, you were hungry? That's why you did that?"

hmmm....

overheard...

yesterday afternoon, we had a meeting with Wilson's new speech teacher. Like most special ed. meetings there was a bit of paperwork to sign. The principal was attempting to make small talk with Walker while we waited for Wilson's teacher to arrive. Wilson was with his teacher so while we said "hi" to him, and Walker hugged him, I heard Wil's teacher whispering to the principal...

"He's a dream come true!"

I was sure that was what I heard, (I have a gift of overhearing) but thankfully the principal insisted that Mrs. T. share her remarks with us. She said he is the kind of student a teacher hopes for. He is doing great academically, but he is getting many rewards for good behavior too! We were thrilled for that little update.

its beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

...everywhere you go.

Maybe there's no snow, and maybe its not Thanksgiving yet, but thanks to marketing geniuses everywhere... you can't miss it. For some, this time of year brings a bit of tension. The joy of celebrating and the stress of buying. Choosing the right gift at the right price... Sometimes you find the right gift at the wrong price... or the right price only yields the wrong gift. You know? I don't believe that is the way God wants us to celebrate. Deep down, you don't believe it either. But somehow, those crazy-good-marketing-geniuses get to us. Every year.

Take a minute and watch this... please. If you don't have a minute (and 53 seconds) now, come back later and watch it... please!


I pray for wisdom as we make gift-giving decisions. I pray for a Christmas season that is enjoyable and pleasant; with treasured memories and lots of laughs.

I read a blog a week or two ago that had a Christmas list on it. I was inspired to make my own list, and I hope you find time to do it too. You can print it on pretty paper, or just jot it down in a place that you'll look at it often. Remind yourself of what is important; and don't get suckered by the ad campaigns... I think Satan likes it too much when we do.

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people."

Luke 2:10

Experience victory this Christmas season, by celebrating freely! Do not be afraid!

p.s. here's my list...
1. Be thankful.
2. Enjoy the moments.
3. Connect with family; near and far.
4. Decorate simply and meaningfully.
5. Choose to be a blessing.
6. Sing Christmas carols with the boys.
7. Marvel at Christmas lights.
8. Give to strangers, the ones that need the most.
9. Bake lots of treats to give away.
10. Celebrate Jesus. All of His gifts, His great love.
11. Treasure time together.
12. Drink hot cocoa. With whip cream on top.
13. Give gifts that build relationships.
14. Give a few secret gifts.
15. Encourage others to make their own list.

seriously...

I just turned the Christmas music on the TV this morning for the first time (we've been listening to a few CDs in the car for awhile now).

And you want to know what the fourth song was?

Grown Up Christmas List by Amy Grant.

You remember how I feel about her and her Christmas songs, right?

this weekend... in review...

I got my sewing machine up and humming. She's a good girl, and bounced right back into action. Here is a before... and after... a little valance, nothing too fancy. I made a little dishmat to match, because I nearly-almost-always have a dish towel by my sink, loaded with the latest & greatest random assortment of plasticware that was dripping wet when I unloaded the dishwasher (or the pots & pans from dinner that shouldn't take up valuable dishwasher space...as documented above.)

I don't know if you can tell from the pics, but I picked a fabric to coordinate with our curtains in the dining room (that used to be in our last two living rooms). This picture was taken just before dinner...Koka always waits nearby in case someone drops some food on the floor!

This afternoon we went for a walk on the old-abandoned street we found adjacent to our neighborhood.

And I had to take a picture of the boys with all the colorful leaves surrounding them. I kept remarking about how wonderful it smelled on our walk. Weird, huh? It did smell delightful though.

This is what the boys have been doing with the majority of their free time. Playing with the legos they bought with their garage sale loot. Walker gets rather frustrated with them, but Wilson has been pretty patient building Walker various vehicles and what-not. (Which is abruptly followed with Walker groaning because pieces fall off and then Wilson usually gets sick of rebuilding... and we are still working out the kinks...but you can see in the picture, they are enjoying themselves...)

And I just had to share this. We've recently discovered that Walker is very literal. "Put your shoes by the front door..." I said after a trip to the playground. Later I noticed, he had indeed...

We have had a good weekend. God has been teaching me so much about His faithfulness, and also about how well He knows my heart. Remember we drove through this post on our way north this summer? And when we drove through, we only saw a smidgen of post, and all I could think was "Wow! Its so big!" But God reminded me this was where He wanted us. And I settled myself in with the thought that it would just be different... that I might not run into people I know as often as I did at Fort Sill (I rarely went to the commissary there without seeing a friend or two...) But funny thing, this week I went to Story Time at the Library with Walker on Tuesday - and Thursday at PWOC the lady sitting next to me had been at Story Time with us! And then in the class I picked, there was another military spouse that we had met at the first church we tried out. God knew my heart, and He reminded me that He can arrange encounters even in bigger places!

Oh, and we want back to "The Big Church" last night, because Brad had to work today. And we liked it again. Wilson got a hand-written post card in the mail from one of the teachers in his department. Once again, God reveals that He knows my doubting heart. And while its a bit humbling, its also so encouraging. He is so good. All the time.

little {big} things

There are a couple of things that I might have forgotten to mention about this place... they might seem little to you; but they are big to me...and I am so grateful that our Father knows the difference between the two =)

1. We have a mailbox at the end of our driveway. We have the same address for mail & deliveries!
2. At the neighborhood office there is a small fitness room, attached to it is a children's playroom. So I can go up there and workout, while Walker plays - in view! For free!!
3. Wilson gets out of school an hour and fifteen minutes early every Tuesday.
4. Oh, another thing about his school... they have a drop-off line. A teacher along with a few safety-patrol members help the kids out of the car. Yesterday, the gym teacher was helping and said, "Be careful, Wilson." And my heart lept because she already knows his name!
5. There IS space to leave my sewing table out in the computer nook (now I just have to use it)!

I continue to marvel at the details God has taken care of in getting our family here and settled. I don't think I mentioned the careful timing of our arrival. The week we came the post was preparing to demo an older neighborhood. The day we signed our lease one of the leasing agents told Brad that they were moving 20 families later in the week and that there wouldn't be any available houses. Then we found out that they changed the rank banding for our neighborhood effective 1 November. (which means Brad's rank would no longer be allowed to move in here). It has been a blessing to see Him take care of the big things, and the little things. As we adjust to our new schedule, it reminds me that He will continue to be faithful.

I'm not sure why at times, His hand is unmistakable; and at other times its hard to distinguish. I talked to Him about it. He just reminded me that whether I see Him clearly or not, He is. So if you are on a foggy path right now, know that He is with you. If your future is uncertain, know that He is in it. If you are waiting for something from Him, know that He is waiting too; for the right time, because His timing is perfect. He is holding you. Whether you 'feel' it or not, His hands are wrapped around you.

I will sing of the lovingkindness of the LORD forever; to all generations I will make known Your faithfulness with my mouth.

You have a strong arm; Your hand is mighty, Your right hand is exalted. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Lovingkindness and truth go before You.

Psalm 89:1, 13-14

more on the weekend...

well, actually, I took this picture tonight. They have on their Christmas pj's from last year, this weekend, I bought the fabric for this year's pj's... I'm gonna have to get started on them pretty quick =) And Wilson got his own room... it still needs a lot of work, but its a start. He's sleeping on the sofa sleeper for the time being... Tonight he said, "I wish I was still sleeping on my top bunk." I told him he could if he wanted to... Brad and I talked last night and said we wouldn't care if he went back to his room, and we used the other room as a play room. We'll see... (those are the curtains that were in our office in Lawton, and in our dining room at Fort Sill...)

And I FINALLY used some uppercase living that I bought in the summer of 2008... maybe this is why Wilson feels like he has to stay in his own room... hmmm...

I liked it so much that I had to make sure I had just the right place for it... I really adore that stuff...

We tried out two churches this weekend. One church offers a Saturday night service, so we thought we should try it out because we knew Brad would have a crazy schedule, so we thought perhaps we would be able to attend together as a family more often... Of course, you might guess that a church that offers a Saturday night service is a BIG church. And it is. But I gotta tell you, Brad and I feasted on the Word of God Saturday night. There were a number of things I liked about the church, most importantly that the Pastor brought The Word. Prior to the sermon there was an invitation to pray over the pastor and his family. The pastor spoke directly about the tragedy at Fort Hood and prayed specifically for military families all around the world, with compassion and sincerity. And there were baptisms. I love watching baptisms. The boys both liked their classes. Walker had 30 minutes of "Preschool Worship" before his playtime. And Wilson's group had a Bible story and worship as well. They have an indoor playground. He skipped to the car after church. Honsetly, a huge part of me didn't even want to give the place a chance. I am not a big fan of razzle-dazzle at the church, and I would think by most definitions, this place has a lot of razzle-dazzle. But surprisingly, there was a lot of substance. And tons of opportunities to get involved... So we'll be praying about it.

Sunday morning we went to the contemporary protestant chapel service on post. The boys stayed with us for the first few worship songs, then they are dismissed to their classes during the meet & greet time. It was sweet because the youth praise team led the music this week. A drummer, keyboard, a bass guitar (or two), and a couple of vocalists. They did a great job, and I was so thrilled to see that there was a big investment in the youth. I liked the idea of looking around and knowing that everyone else was military. I love that we live in a country that allows for the military members to practice their faith freely. The boys both liked their classes again; and there was a boy from Wilson's school in his class. I think as much as I was skeptical about the mega-church, I was hopeful about the chapel. I just thought it would be great to plug in right here on post... I gotta tell you though, the sermon lacked. And that is all I can say about that without being harsh. The chaplains rotate who preaches each week, so I know it could be totally different the next time. Brad and I talked about it later, and he said that the hard thing for him is that he would always feel like he was at work. That the chaplain would always be "Sir" instead of a pastor. We will continue to pray about this as well...

(I might not have mentioned this, but after our experience last Sunday we decided to try out churches based on their regular service first, and then if it seems to be a fit; we'll try out the Sunday school/Bible study options. So that is what we are doing.)

week end...

...it was a good one.

Brad is officially at work today. He hadn't a clue what to expect this morning, if you are on Facebook, you might've noticed he had some serious PT this a.m. He came home for a quick shower and was off. I just got a text from him a bit ago that they were sending him to some camp for 24 hours, and that he would call when he got a chance. While Brad still works for the Army, it is a big deal to start at a new place. Many of you know the grief he got at his last place after being diagnosed with asthma and all the problems that brought about... And while it was hard to walk through that mess with Brad, we both know that God was victorious. I can't begin to fully understand what its like for Brad to start at a new place; which means explaining my take on it would be shoddy at best. But I can say that its a challenge. So would you mind praying this week for Brad as he begins to figure this place out? Pray that he would be listening to the voice of Truth, and that Satan wouldn't be allowed to even whisper words of doubt into his ear...

God has obviously gone before us in this move. He has shown His hand in so many ways, and I trust fully that He will do the same for Brad at work this week. I don't know how, but I trust He will make it evident.

I'll probably post more this evening about the rest of the weekend... you know, since I'll have the place to myself after the boys are in bed.

Thank you prayer warriors!

we got some new stuff for the house...

...our very own flag...finally. I have always wanted a flag to hang on my house, this post actually installed the brackets on every house, so all we had to do was go buy one. ...and a new sofa! I said it was just about time too... we got a matching armchair, but I didn't take a picture of it. Its the exact same color as the sofa-sleeper that mom and I recovered a couple years ago... We had walked around the Lazy Boy store and weren't really settled on anything, then I saw this one peeking out from the back... it was on clearance along with the chair. Brad and I both like simple, and casual, so it was perfect for us...

It is a little weird to sit on the sofa and not sink into it... You should totally come try it out!

wishing

Star light, star bright

first star I see tonight.

I wish I may, I wish I might

Have this wish, I wish tonight.

I guess I didn't realize I knew that whole poem until the other night. It has been getting warm here during the day, and then cooling off beautifully at night. The upstairs is a bit stuffy in the evenings, so we open all the windows up here before bedtime.

The other night, the boys' windows were open and their light was off. Walker came running out of his room to tell Wilson "That first star is out tonight." Then they both ran back in there to look at it. I was only half-paying-attention to what they were discussing in their room while star gazing.

A few minutes later, Walker ran out of the room and said, "I told that first star that I want that other pizza set!" And, man, was he excited about it!

Brad and I just laughed. Neither of us has really ever promoted 'wishing on a star,' but I think Winnie the Pooh and Dora have... Now I have to figure out what "that other pizza set" is...it just might be a good Christmas idea ;)

soup's on!

Remember last year, when we had our "joy" jars out? Well, tonight we officially kicked off our 09 Joy Campaign =) Every time that we have soup for dinner, we'll add money to our JOY jars. Then any money that we collect, we will give to World Vision. Eating soup for dinner is a bit cheaper than an average meal, so the money saved will go in the jars. It helps the boys (and us) connect giving to sacrificing. We'll have soup a few times a week through mid-December. (an added bonus, is that most soups are super easy to cook, so it takes a bit of pressure off during an often busy time of year!) Here are the guys adding some change to the jars, while Brad is looking through the catalog. It was sweet tonight because I explained to the boys that I didn't have any cash in my grocery envelope to add to the jars, because of just moving... but that I would add it later, once we get the envelopes back on track. Wilson piped up,"I have some money to give!" And he ran and got his little old piggy bank. I think both Brad and I had tears in our eyes.

We looked through the gift catalog and talked about what kinds of things we might like to spend on our money on this year. It was cute to hear their ideas...

and on an unrelated note... Brad has been busily hanging things around the house this week... and you can see the pilgrims replaced the Jack-O-Lanterns on the top of the hutch...

Wilson's {2nd} First day of school

Here are the guys this morning before we took Wilson to school... ...we were met by the school counselor and given a tour of the building before we met Wilson's teacher. The cafeteria/auditorium is HUGE! Which means Wilson won't be eating lunch in his classroom anymore. They have a 'special' every day. Music, Art, PE, and Spanish... Spanish is 2x a week. Here was Wilson in his classroom before we left this morning.

We are eager to hear how his day goes...

In other news, Brad is off this week. Hallelujah! His work schedule will start next week. We are still looking for a church. The one yesterday didn't work for us. I might not have mentioned this, Georgia is beautiful. We are pretty much mesmerized by all the trees...everywhere. Love it!