Kids on Christmas Morning

Sarah on Christmas morning. She still believes. It is so cute. We don't make a big deal out of Santa but we let the kids believe in the fun things too of Christmas. When it is time to clear it up, then we will. But for now, the sweet innocence of a childhood fantasy is a marvel to watch. This may be the last year or maybe there will be many more. Who knows?

For a few weeks before Christmas there was a commercial for a BMW that should a kid opening his gift and going berzerk over it. He was jumping up and down and screaming because he got what he wanted. I had asked Jacob if he might do that. He said he would be happy with whatever he received. HHHmmmmm, really Jacob? If you got a pair of underwear you'd be pleased? Let's see.

Ok, so he did absolutely get what he had been so patiently asking for.

But instead of jumping up and down and screaming and going berzerk,

you know what he did? Look at the picture! He looked up and said "thank you God for this Gamecube. I love it." I LOVE THESE MOMENTS!! And then he said that he had come to realize the night before that he might not get the Gamecube and he was ok with it.

Christmas Fun

My family started a fun tradition many years ago. For Christmas Eve we have a super cool Taco dinner. Thanks Brenda. Ok, I know what you are thinking. Tacos? For Christmas Eve? I know it sounds untraditional, and I too, have reservations sometimes about it. But the past two Christmas Eve's have been so fun that I don't care what we have. And, it is now about the fun of tradition than what we eat. So, my sister Karen, her husband Bob, their kids Kyle and Shelby, and my oldest nephew Steve and his wife Kristin were here. And, good thing because I can not make tacos to save mi vida. Steve made them. Here is a pic of him cooking. I took this because of my mother. When she was alive she would occasionally take a picture of her oldest and youngest grandchild together. Lucky Steve...he would always be in it. It was the youngest that would be up for grabs. Well this one is for her. She never met Sarah. She died the day we found out Sarah was about to be. Merry Christmas Mom.

Charlotte's Web

Wow December 11 was my last post. That was long ago. I guess that I have been so preoccupied with Christmas prepping that I have neglected my blog. Or quite simply, I had nothing to say. That’s a first, :) And couple that with issues signing in to the blog and there you have it. Nothing.

As soon as school was out on Friday, we swept up the kids from school and headed right over to the movies to see the Nativity. WOWOOWOWOWW is that an amazing movie. I realize that it is indeed, a movie, but the telling of the birth of our Savior was absolutely moving. Seeing the humanness in Mary and Joseph (I am treading carefully here trying to emphasize that it is a Hollywood movie) was something that apparently I needed. It was quite a reality check for me to realize the emotions, trepidation, and questions that they must have been dealing. They were going to raise Jesus Christ.

And of course what made the entire experience wonderful was watching Jacob and Sarah captivated and fully involved in what they were watching. They both asked very thoughtful questions and raised interesting points about it.
I highly highly highly recommend seeing the movie. It puts perspective and priority into the bustle of the rush of the season.

Afterward, we sat out by the fountain and took this picture. I love looking at it because I remember Jacob taking some of his first steps right there in 1999 right after snacking on some Wetzel’s pretzels. I love memories!

I'm still alive, really I am.

Oh my gosh. I have been trying for over a week to sign into blogspot to no avail. Finally, tonight, I got in. The error message kept telling me that I would have to try back later. But then I would check out blogs of others that use blogspot. Guess what??? They had current posts. Maybe operator error.

So, let me gather all of my thoughts and pics and check back soon.

4GSBRTS

Still no word on our van. It has been four days now and the likelihood of finding it intact and useable is thin. That's ok. Really it is. It is just a van. But last night, I was in the bed listening to Lenny put the kids in their beds. It hit me that our license plate is gone. Our personalized plate that says 4GSBRTS is gone. Everything else can be replaced by that plate can not. Big deal, right? Well to me it is. It is personal and it was all about our little family.

So, Lenny's solution to it. Have another child and we will be the 5 Gisberts. What do you think? I think we should get a dog instead.

My Top Ten Reasons for Working in Kids Church

Tonight was our Children's Ministries Leaders Christmas Dinner and Party. Wheew that was a mouthful. It sounds better when Heidi says it.

My part in the whole thing was to bring candy canes which I failed to do. You see, they were in my van when it was stolen this morning. So, nix the candy canes. My other part was to compile and read a top ten list of reasons why we work with kids.

Except for one of them, these are original from me. I thoroughly enjoyed this project.

I hope you enjoy them too.

Top 10 Reasons for
Working With Kids

10. You get to make cool crafts..

9. Sometimes you get to hear great stories about their parents.
We were talking about Adam and Eve during a craft or some time like that. This girl says “oh yes I know them. They were naked in the yard and that’s what my parents like to do.” Don’t even ask me who those parents are

8. Going to see Charlotte’s Web over Christmas vacation is now required

7. You get to sing the cool praise songs
This Little Light of Mine and you get to actually blow it out on your thumb. And, who would not be changed by watching a child sing his heart out to Jesus Loves Me?

6.You get to hear the great Bible Stories told in simple, right-to-it words.
David and Goliath, he trusted in God, the shepherd boy said yes, took his slingshot, slayed the giant. End of story. God Rocks!

5. Kids inspire.
They are not limited by pride or fear of criticism. They put their ideas or comments out there out there with all the confidence in the world.

4. Kids are not bible thumpers nor are they hypocrites.

3. Kids pray with more sincerity than I do.
“God, please bless this food that my mom made. And, oh, please please let this yucky lasagna taste just good enough to swallow so I don’t get in trouble or seem like I don’t like it. Well I don’t like it but I love my mom and I don’t want her to feel bad. But God, I really hate this and can you please hellllllp me? Amen.” (this one came from my own son)

2. They teach us childlike faith.
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven
Matthew 18:1-4

1. Because we should should do everything we can to not hinder the little children coming to Jesus. And it continues in v:5 "And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

Is it kamakazee or kamakazi

Really I don't know. How do you spell it? Mi spiel chek isunt werkeen.