family – Page 11 – The Bless Your Heart Blog

Christmas Cards

LOVE

CHRISTMAS CARDS!

I love receiving them and seeing everyone’s cute families and hearing the lastest and greatest in their lives. We have a lot of friends throughout the Midwest that we don’t get to see or talk to near enough, so when the cards start pouring in, it’s fun to reflect on where we’ve been with them and what they’re up to now.

I like to send Christmas cards, too! Every year, we attempt to set a limit (those things aren’t cheap, especially once you add postage!) and every year we always order more! I think next year, I’m just going to order 250 and be done with it! Ha!

This year, we couldn’t decide on a favorite……so I printed five different versions. Ahem. You’ve seen all the pictures here and here, thanks to the lovely Stormie. Below are the five cards we sent out – which one is your favorite?

This one is cute of the rest of the fam... — This one is cute of the rest of the fam…

This one was Wrexy's favorite... — This one was Wrexy’s favorite…

I ADORE this one! I just wish you could see Wryder's face better... — I ADORE this one! I just wish you could see Wryder’s face better…

This is probably my favorite, though... — This is probably my favorite, though…

This one didn't make the cut, but it's funny! — This one didn’t make the cut, but it’s funny!

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Light Lookin’

Tonight was such a good night, in my book. Sawyer has been dying to go look at Christmas lights so when everyone woke up from nap, we got Wryder fed, threw some cookies in the oven and headed to town!

Someone was quite proud of her sprinkling... — Someone was quite proud of her sprinkling…

Mom wasn't paying attention on this one... — Mom wasn’t paying attention on this one…

I’m not sure what spurred it on, but little miss was insistent upon cookies and hot chocolate while we went light looking…and that was right up everyone’s alley!

Holyoke has quite a few houses with good lights so we paraded up and down the streets with our snacks, Sirius Christmas tunes and a light falling snow – could it get any better?!

We tried to go look at lights last year on Christmas night. We had had such a wonderful day celebrating with just the three of us and we decided that if we wanted to see lights, we better go that night before people started taking them down. So we loaded up and headed to town. It had snowed off and on for days and as we were driving into town, we met up with a black cow. Someone’s cattle had gotten out and were all over the road. Wrex slammed on the brakes as soon as he saw it but with oncoming traffic, we ended up not being able to go anywhere except right into the side of the cow.

It was incredibly scary for me. I don’t do well with surprises, especially unpleasant ones and hitting a cow is a pretty dangerous thing. We smacked it hard enough that it went 50 feet or so, the air bags popped out, ambulances were dispatched (the county rule if airbags pop)…it was not a fun experience. BUT…the Lord was so incredibly gracious and good to us. None of us had a scratch on us or were even sore the next day. Our neighbors (whom we love like family) left their family Christmas celebration and picked us up, drove Sawyer to the one house out here in the sticks that had lights and then took us to their house and fed us supper. Jesus in the flesh, those people.

Wrex’s truck was smoked; the radiator was almost in the cab. It was only a 2011 so it wasn’t totaled, but there was like $14,000 in damage.

Very thankful tonight turned out differently. We made it home safely, ate some soup and then we all curled up to watch The Sound of Music.

We have MUCH to celebrate this Christmas. We have a Father that sent His Son to earth over 2,000 years ago so that we may live with Him eternally. We have a God that protects us and looks out for us and spares us. We have a warm house and food in our pantry and gifts under our tree. We have two healthy, compassionate children who love to spend time with us and whom we love to spend time with. We have daddy all to ourselves for 14 out of the next 16 days – a daddy who has a job that he loves and that loves him back.

We are a blessed people, no doubt about it. Praying your night has been as enjoyable as ours!

Never in a Million Years

Yesterday, you got to revel in the complete preciousness of Sawyer and Wryder. Today? The whole family! Stormie took soooo many – it was hard to choose just a few to showcase here but these are my faves – enjoy!

Honestly, that last one might be fave because it’s just sooooooo Wrex! I chickened out using it for our Christmas card because I didn’t want to offend anyone. 😉 If Wryder was looking at that camera, you might’ve had to shield your eyes opening your envelope.

I am so thankful for these photos. They are the first official family photos we’ve had done with kiddos and I love that Stormie captured this season of our life. Even more so, I’m thankful for my little family. Never in a million years did I dream I’d be this blessed. Never in a million years did I expect to have a husband as wonderful and kind and patient and forgiving and gracious and loving as Wrex. Never in a million years did I think I’d have kids as sweet and kind and smart and cute and compassionate as these two little loves. Never in a million years did I think I’d be this divinely happy to share my life and my time and my resources and my energy with such wonderful beings. Never in a million years would I have really believed that this kind of love existed. But I assure you – it does.

I have delighted in Him and He has given me the desires of my heart. I am forever grateful…forever singing His praises…forever turning my gift back to Him…forever…for a million years plus forever…

Cute Toots

Man, I’ve got cute kids! I mean, I’m sure I’m a weeeeee bit biased, but these guys are just melt-your-heart preciousness! These pics are from a family photo shoot that the lovely Stormie did for us at Thanksgiving. I ADORE them….

So. In. LOVE…with the pictures…and with these kids. I am a blessed momma.

Share with me which one is YOUR favorite or else I might print them all!

Double the Fun

So, we got a fun phone call yesterday! My sister (who is technically my sister-in-law…but I’m not a big fan of that term, especially regarding her) called to tell us some “interesting news.” Wrex and I had discussed previously that we kinda felt that one of the siblings would make a baby announcement during Christmas. It just felt like it was time, ya know? So when she called yesterday, we immediately said, “You’re pregnant?!?!?” To which she replied…

“Well, yes…………..but with twins!!”

JAW.DROPPED.

1421136_10101600507921262_1719378867_o — Big sister Breckyn

YAY!!!!!!! There is no family history of twins on either side so this was a huge shocker to everyone – but a great shocker, I might add!

We are just thrilled beyond belief for them! We have several friends back in Denver with twins so we’re a little familiar with that reality… It was pretty much our only topic of conversation for the rest of the night – ha!

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

Their quiver is getting full! And so are our hearts…yay for babies!

Tree Time

Before we left for Denver, a certain little girl pleaded to put up the Christmas tree. She was quite convincing, so despite the extra work, we did just that!

Daddy has no problem setting the tree up…

But he’s not a fan of “fluffing” the branches…

Our house doesn’t have just a ton of open space, so our tall skinny tree fits perfectly!

DSCF0814 — Seeing this everyday makes me smile.

I’m kind of a traditionalist when it comes to Christmas; I like traditional colors and ornaments that mean something or were passed down or tell a story.

Our tree is full of Wrex and I’s ornaments from when we were younger, along with ones for the kids and ones we got when we were first married, etc. I LOVE the rich history that is hanging on that tree!

My favorite ornament of Wrexy's...a little hereford calf! — My favorite ornament of Wrexy’s – a little Hereford calf!

We went a little more woodsy this year and added this tree branch garland. We made this for a friend’s wedding this summer and re-used it as part of our Christmas decor.

We collected branches and then Wrex cut them into disks, drilled holes and then threaded twine through them. I really like how rustic and organic they look.

garland — We might be seeing this at MOPS meeting soon…

I’ve never owned a tree skirt. I always end up finding something fun (fake snow, felt, etc.) and making due. This year, I grabbed a couple of burlap feed sacks from the stash I have that is still BEGGING to be made into curtains. (I’ll get to that…in all of my spare time, ya know. HA!) I wrapped them around the base and voila! Cute enough for me!

I love this time of year and all that it represents. Let us not forget that if we make it about anything other than Jesus the Christ, then it is not Christmas. He IS the reason we celebrate and decorate and give and feast! Merry Christmas, friends!

Keep an eye out for a full living room tour this week!

Pa Rum Pum Pum Pum

This video is making it’s way across the web and may I just say – AH-MAY-ZING. Those cats are talented! Gifted! Anointed! It’s incredible. Goosegump inducing awesomeness. Watch it, would ya?

The lyrics of this old favorite caught me and flat jostled me upon hearing them; moved me in a way they never have before.

This little drummer boy is heading out to see the King; the King of Kings, in fact. He sees those around him gathering up the finest gifts they can find for this new born babe. But he? He has no gift. He has nothing to give that is worthy of this royalty.

I am a poor boy, too – pa rum pum pum pum

I have no gift to bring – pa rum pum pum pum

That’s fit to give the King – pa rum pum pum pum

I kind of chuckled because I feel his pain. I get that – we are in the same boat, my drumming friend. There is so much I want to do and so much I want to give and so much I want to give towards, but it’s hard right now. In this season of ThanksGIVING, I want to open my hands wide and pour out blessing after blessing after blessing to honor Him but I find myself short. What can I give? What can I bestow that would honor the King in a way He deserves? Even if I was a millionaire, what could I lavish Him with that would be worthy enough? What could I heap upon Him that would beat in line with His heart?

Shall I play for you – pa rum pum pum pum –

on my drum?

I played my drum for Him – pa rum pum pum pum

I played my best for Him – pa rum pum pum pum

In those moments, the Lord spoke to me and showed me how I can give gifts to Him using what I do have; gifts that are worthy of a King, gifts that would still truly honor Him.

Speak kindly to your husband and your kids. (This season of life can get crazy. Boundary testing and sleep training and diaper changing and shoe tieing all on top of the holidays – don’t let it rule you. These people are your biggest blessing; let your words make them know that.)

Be patient with them. (No one is going to do things exactly as you would do them. Your husband trusts this home to you and is willing to help when needed, so show him some grace. Your kids are only little once. They’re still learning how to do things and how not to do things. Show them some grace.)

Enjoy them. (My second best gift to you is under your roof. Take delight in them. Their differences, their similarities, their quirks and their ticks. Press into those hugs and be quick to make memories.)

Spend quality time with them. (Time is ticking by, isn’t it? Let the dishes rot in the sink. Let the floors be covered in crumbs. Let the laundry go and resort to mismatched clothes. Play more dress up. Play more farm. Play more games. Read more books. Leave a legacy of the fear of the Lord, not a legacy of cleanliness.)

Spend quality time with Me. (Oh! I have much to show and teach you. About you. About Me. I long to be with you even more than you long to be with your family. Hard to fathom, yes? But it’s true. Keep carving out chunks for me and I promise to keep meeting you like I did today, too.)

Tell them what I’ve done for you. (I’ve saved you from so much and am saving you still! I don’t want mediocrity for you. I don’t want survival for you. I want life and life abundantly for you!)

These are gifts that will definitely delight Me.

Then He smiled at me – pa rum pum pum pum

Me and my drum – pa rum pum pum pum

Six simple gifts that will genuinely bless His heart and bring honor to His name. Isn’t that my goal after all? I have much to be thankful for, much to sing His praises about…and much to give in return. Happy Thanksgiving, friends! May your heart beat in line with the King of Kings and may you lift up thanks to Him today.

Pa rum pum pum pum…

Those People

The Phipps family is heading to Denver to celebrate Thanksgiving with our family in the faith and we are soooooo excited! We’ve made a few quick trips now and then but this time we’re going to have four solid days with some really solid people. Wrex has to work Friday in Wyoming – HUGE BUMMER. In an effort to save money, we’re only taking one vehicle which leaves me transportation-less on Friday. So? I put out the all-call on Facebook and we were humbled and blessed to have so many friends respond with offers for us to borrow their cars/trucks/vans.

The first friend to reply is such a dandy. When I called her back, she said she’d leave the carseats in and that we could borrow the vehicle all weekend if we needed. She said, “Heck, come in, eat a meal and have a party at my house if you want – I don’t care!” She and her husband are THOSE people. You know, the ones that send you home with way more than you came with…the ones who feed your kid snack after snack and drink after drink and let them take the cup home…the ones who upgrade their things and bless people with the earlier version instead of selling it for a little pocket money. They are those people who really get what our stuff is all about and Who it really belongs to.

This house we live in? It’s the Lord’s. The car I drive? It’s the Lord’s. The car I borrow? Also the Lord’s. The paycheck my husband draws? The Lord’s. These kids of mine? The Lord’s. The clothes in my closet and the shoes on my feet? The Lord’s. The animals in our pasture? The Lord’s. He’s allowing me to borrow them, to care for them and to use them for His glory.

Every. single. thing. we. “own.” is the Lord’s. They are not ours. When we regard them as His, we tend to hold them a little more loosely; we don’t put our hope in them, we don’t idolize them, we don’t hold them with selfish ambition. When we know that these things were provided by THE Provider, we gain a mindset that acknowledges His provision. It’s an understanding that pushes out that orphan mentality that makes us snatch up our stuff, hold it close to our chest and shelter it from outsiders; the mentality that tries to convince us that we better not lend them out because “what if?” What if something happens and they are damaged? What if something happens and they aren’t repairable? It’s the mentality that tells us that the Lord will never provide again; it’s the mentality that puts the something above the someone.

But, when our faith isn’t in an object, a funny thing happens. When we release our grasp on these “things” and share them more freely…when we are willing to open our hands to give them away…

our hands are now open and ripe for the receiving of the blessing that lies in giving. When our fists are so tightly clenched around our stuff…stuff that moth and rust will destroy or that thieves can steal …we can’t possibly receive any of the blessings and goodness of the Lord; our hands just can’t contain it.

He is a giver. He doesn’t withhold good things from His kids – why should we withhold our things from our fellow brothers and sisters? He will provide. He always has. He always will. And sometimes that provision comes in the form of our being willing to share what we have been given with others.

Thank you, sweet friends, for living a life with hands wide open. I pray the Lord blesses you; blesses you with His presence, His goodness and His grace…and with even more for you to give away.

That’s My Girl

I had gotten a few Christmas things out of storage this week for a MOPS event we had downtown, one of which was a little, rustic Christmas tree. I have a set of two and the smallest one wound up in the house, thanks to Sawyer. This girl LOVES “decker-ing” (decorating) and she loves Christmas – where EVER does she get those passions from?! Ahem. Needless to say, this little tree has provided lots of entertainment.

Last night, we plugged it and she went to town decker-ing it.

She decided to make the little tree, little brother’s tree and had the idea to use his toys to adorn the branches. Genius.

I particularly love the pacifier…

Daddy even helped her make a star for the top…because every good tree has to have a star on top. Just ask her; she’ll tell ya.

She was quite proud of the finished product, as was I!

She’s the sweetest little thing, that girl. People keep asking her what she wants for Christmas and all she keeps saying is, “All of us family together!” That’s my girl…

We’ve Got it Good

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but Wrex is a really great dad. He loves his kiddos and he loves to bring home surprises and give them good gifts! (Remember the rabbit?) Tonight was no exception. As he was driving home from the sale barn, he stopped at the appliance store and brought this home…

Is there anything better in a kid’s world than a huge cardboard box?! I think not! He got out the razor blade and went to town cutting windows and a door…

We got out the crayons and markers and started making it cute! We put shutters on the windows…

and planted flowers by the entrance…

Daddy even made her a key!

She decided she wanted it to be restaurant that she would call “Sawyer’s” so we wrote that on the door…

and we moved the play kitchen in from the toy room so she could get those orders out!

Wryder got to help cook a little bit, but he had to stay out of the kitchen for tonight. 🙂 I’m sure once the new wears off he might get invited in…

She had a grand ole time and Wrex and I “ate” until we our “devit” cards were maxed out!!

I’m so blessed to have such a thoughtful, caring husband. It delights my soul to know that he thinks of us during his day-to-day activities…enough so to go out of his way to haul a huge box home just to make his little girl smile. He’s a keeper, that one…just ask Sawyer.

As we were eating our real supper tonight, she saved her green beans for last. Wrex said, “Eat ’em up so you’ll get big and strong,” to which she replied with a quivering lip, “I don’t want to get big because then I won’t fit on your lap!”

Oh, honey, trust me – you’ll always fit on daddy’s lap…he’ll make room for you, no matter how big you get. He’s got it bad for you, sweet girl…and we? We’ve got it good…