As some of you may have noticed, we haven't mailed out Christmas cards yet. Hopefully that'll be soon!...yes, we do love you!! and despite getting some quick pics the first weekend in December, I failed to put a card order together sooner. That's me this month --- feeling a little ragged with so many mental balls floating in the air and yet praying that celebrating the radical gift of Jesus is where my heart dwells. Still, there is much to be done, and homeschooling continues strong amidst preparations for Christmas. Yet like all of you, things just came to heart-felt halt, last Friday and I'm just deeply, deeply saddened. A friend was recently describing how she feels like she cries about a lot lately - having earnestly prayed that God would break her heart for what breaks His. Isn't that so true as followers?... don't you feel that sensitivity in your soul to people around you and things you hear of -- be it tragedy or joyous celebrations? That's how I feel these past several days, just weighted with the reminder of how absolutely precious life is, how short it truly can be, and the hope we have in Christ. What a birth, the miracle of all, to be thinking of and celebrating next week.... because even if there's a sadness in our hearts, His hope is the hinge, that pivotal Truth that changes everything in life and death - and is the indelible joy in our hearts when we believe. We love you and love celebrating Christmas for this reason!
We just grabbed our camera and went to our favorite neighboring town, historic Oakland, OR and tried to snap a few pics before the kids burned out. That lasted literally about ten minutes before Logan slipped and fell in the mud and got absolutely covered - we're talkin', gotta strip him down to a diaper before we can put him back in the car - covered in mud. :) In the cards we ordered, there's a big, wet stripe of water he must have brushed up against on his shirt --- awesome. haha :) Despite that, I just loved getting out as a family and enjoying the morning playing around on these old antique tractors and checking out the box cars of trains right behind the commons area where we were. As a total added blessing, a friend happened to be getting in her car right as we were taking pics, and offered to snap one of us as a family & also took that one of Ken & I. Thanks Crystal C! :) You rock!!
1 comment:
Beautiful, beautiful family pictures. I love all of them! The red in all your hair just pops :). And it's funny how sometimes the shortest time periods, craziest mud stories, etc. accompany great pictures. You'll always hold good (and funny) memories when you look at those pictures!
And I am with you about your response to the tragedy this past week. So heartbreaking and just overwhelmingly sad - especially as a mama. I think you're right - to let your heart break for what break's God's + firmly plant yourself in His hope and joy is really the only way that makes any sense.
Love you five and hopefully will see you soon!
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