Goodbye 2014

Dear 2014, 

You were a kind year to us filled with rest and good memories.  While the world around us seemed to be swirling with sad stories of sick children, dying moms, struggling widows, tired families, God gave us a kind period of safety and sweetness.  Yesterday, the boys and I filled the long-empty birdfeeder with seeds and spilled half of the remaining bag on the driveway.  I watched little hands scrunch handfuls of seeds and joyfully pour them into the top of the feeder and thought that this is what I have always wanted to do, sit on the driveway and fill birdfeeders with my children.  I am so, so grateful to be here as I recall all the prayers God answered to allow me to have this moment.  I do know these moments (and any others) are not ultimately about me and my comfort but they are gifts from the Giver who loves us.  I know this was not a good year for everyone and if that is you as you read this please know our lives are not always like this and you are not alone.  I am praying God will give you a season of rest but even more that He would be your rest and peace in the crazy.  

Thank you, 2014.  You have been a good year.

Krissi

While sitting with the boys in a tire shop waiting for a tire repair, a stranger walked up to me and handed me four tickets to a basketball game.  His kindness gave us a fun night in Littlejohn as the boys danced and cheered for the Tigers.  I thought it might be a disaster but the kids had fun and Brooks and I did too.

Clean Shave

My husband shaved his head this week.  It's been a crazy week, folks.

Old Friends

E got to play with an old friend this week.  I think Elijah still hearts Emma.

The Good News of Great Joy...

One night last week I stayed up late spending too much time on Facebook reading articles about violence and protests, a blogpost written by a dying mom, and a status update telling friends that a loved unborn baby girl will probably pass away minutes after she is born.  Turning the lights off downstairs to go to bed, my heart was heavy and sad at the brokenness of the world and praying about these sad, hard things to my loving Father.  On my way to the stairs, I walked past this little scene and it was so pretty, I caught my breath.  Light in the darkness.  A kind reminder from the One who loves me that He know about all of these awful things and He brings light to our darkness.  Isn't this Christmas?  Light in the darkness.  Jesus is our good news of great joy in a sucky, sucky, sinful world.   The King of Kings became a nobody little baby marked for death to save ungrateful, ugly-hearted, self-filled, sinners like me.  What wondrous love is this!

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.

- Luke 2:10-12

Missed It

I've owned three cars that have crossed over the 100,000 mile threshold.  Last week, even though I was determined to watch it roll over, Brooks and I looked down in the Walmart parking lot and saw this.  We missed it by one mile.  

Nailed It

Last year, my sister gave my family this cake pop kit featuring a troop of perfectly formed and super-cute cake and chocolate penguins.  I put it in the back of the pantry because there were too many steps to make these and just reading the directions made me tired.  The three-year-old found this box last week and asked and asked to make penguins.  So, because I love him, and because I am crazy, I told him we could.  In fact, I told him we could make them for the cookie reception after his Christmas program.  So, after two hours of work, this was the result...

Ha!  I hate penguins.

The Edge

Friday night cake picnic on the living room floor while watching Monsters, Inc.  The Williams family lives on the edge, folks.

Guilty

She may look cute but don't let this fool you.  This little 14 pounds of trouble chewed up half a box of Kleenex and left it on our bedroom floor.  I think she had some assistance from a little boy who left the box of tissues in her reach.

Bee-Bot

Have you seen this inflatable Christmas robot at Walmart?  We see it every time we go.  In fact, the littlest starts talking about the "bee-bot" when we pull into the parking lot.  It is going to be a sad day in the Williams house when they put away the Christmas Robot.  

Going on a Tree Hunt

With a week left until Christmas we finally made it to the Christmas tree farm to pick out our tree.  Brooks and I decided years ago that it was best for our marriage to use an artificial tree but the little tree that fit well in our old house looked too small under the high ceiling in our new playroom.  Doesn't that sound so uppity?  The boys are old enough to enjoy the tree farm so with a decision to roll with the punches no matter what happens and hope in a new tree stand that promises a straight tree every time, we decided to go to the tree farm.

Daddy led the way while little boys played in the big field of trees.

Looking for the right tree.

On a Wednesday afternoon, we were the only customers at the tree farm.  The owner kept telling us to let the boys run around... and they did.

Cheering Daddy on while he cuts down our tree.

Enjoying the December afternoon sun

Watching the tree bailer

It actually was really fun and being the only ones at the farm really helped.  There were no tears and the tree was straight after the first attempt.  Praise Jesus, for real!

The crazy-tall nine footer we chose sans ornaments.  This will be known as The Year of the Giant Tree.

Christmas Show

E's school had a Christmas program this week.  I watched myself become one of those moms who wave and make funny faces at her child while filming every expression.  I realized halfway through the program what I was doing and put down my camera so I could enjoy my little boy.  

Post-show cookies and Christmas cheer

Tree Lights

Take Two

Trying again to get some "happy face" photos in front of the door.  None of these made it to the Christmas card but still all cute!

Tree

These boys are all into looking at Christmas light and decorations this year, especially the youngest.  Many houses on our street decorated for the season.  We hear Simon shouting, "Tree!! Tree!!" when he sees the neighborhood Christmas lights.  

Last week, while waiting for the Christmas parade, we walked to the playground passing a city Christmas tree on the way.  The boys had to stop and explore it.  I had to stop and get a few pictures of these cuties. 

 Even as I type this, Simon is trying to crawl on my lap and touch the screen shouting, "Tree!!"