Our First Christmas Together

(Our First Christmas Tree)

The cue was the sound of the golf ball bouncing on the floor. We asked my brother if he could wake us up when the boys awoke on Christmas morning. Rob and I wanted to see the little cuties open their Christmas presents. We couldn't wait to see the joy and excitement on Ezra's face. So as soon as we heard the golf ball bounce across the floor above us we jumped out of bed with our video camera ready. It's so fun watching youngens opening gifts. Ezra shows his excitement by flapping his wings and boy oh boy were his arms a-flappin.

We had a yummy brunch and then Rob and I made some of his Christmas favorites-Candy Cane Cookies. It was a fun morning but my heart was missing my parents. I guess this showed on my face because my brother said "It's different isn't it?" I had so much to be thankful for right there in front of me. I have a wonderful hubby, a brother and sister in-law that have taken us in, two cute little nephews, parents that love me........ The list goes on and I was still choosing to have a pity party.

In the middle of throwing my pity party for one ,I chose to have my quiet time. Why didn't I start my day off this way I don't know and I regret it. It went something like this.......

"There once was a Christmas card titled "If Christ Had Not Come". The card pictured a minister falling asleep in his study on Christmas morning and then dreaming of a world into which Jesus had never come.

In his dream, he saw himself walking through his house, but as he looked, he saw no stockings hung on the chimney, no Christmas tree, no wreaths of holly, and no Christ to comfort and gladden hearts or to save us. He then walked onto the street outside, but there was no church with its spire pointing toward heaven.

The minister dreamed that the doorbell rang and that a messenger asked him to visit a friend's poor dying mother. He reached her home and as his friend sat and wept, he said "I have something here that will comfort you. " He opened his Bible to look for a familiar promise, but it ended with Malachi. There was no gospel and no promise of hope and salvation and all he could do was bow his head and weep with his friend and his mother in bitter despair.

Finally he realized that Christ had not come, and burst into tears, weeping bitterly in his sorrowful dream."

Yep, no more pity party for me. I am glad and rejoice today, because He has come. "I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10-11)

Do you see what I see? You can.....

If you would like to take a peek of what our eyes have been observing this Christmas season you must visit http://www.familyofblacks.com/

The video is a must see. Get your sugar cookies and egg nog and enjoy. This is just a few snippets of the fun that goes on in the Black house. We had the privilege of being a part of that fun this year.What a blessing it is to live in the Black home. Our favorite Christmas present this year.....a warm home provided by my brother and his family. Oh what fun it is to reside with a fun, filled family.

Through a child's eye

Rob and I have decided that God has us here for the time being because there have been no other opened doors. So, we are planting our roots here until the Lord directs us elsewhere.

One of my roots is planted at Sunny Side Elementary in a kindergarten class as a teacher's aide. I have been with these kindergartners for a week now and am loving it. I just love being with kids. Kids help my perspective of life and I was needing a new perspective.

Last week we took the students to a movie for a little Chistmas cheer. There's just something about watching a movie with a theater full of kids that makes it oh, so much better. Sitting next to me was a small, quiet boy whom I have only heard say one or two words. I noticed that he was not watching the movie. He would look at the floor then the ceiling and then get on his knees and look toward the back of the theater. I leaned over and asked him if he was ok. He just looked at me and smiled. I then asked him if he had ever been to a movie and he just shook his head no. I couldn't believe it. The little guy was so in awe of his surroundings because he had never been to a movie theater. He wanted to know where that movie was coming from and how in the world was it appearing on the big screen.

Now when I think of my circumstances and get the least bit sad or disappointed I think of that little boy and the sparkle in his eye. Am I caught in awe of my surroundings? Do people see a sparkle in my eye when I view my new circumstances? Oh, how I desire to be in awe of God's daily wonder for I know where that movie is coming from. I may not know the next scene but I know who's behind the projector.

Basement Dwellers

Well, Rob and I hit our 2 months of being married. What a crazy couple of two months but God is revealing His, new mercies everyday.

We have moved into the "family of blacks" house. WOWZERS, what a blessing they have been to us. My brother and another friend of his moved us out of our apartment last Thursday. We found out on Tuesday that we had to be out by Thursday. The carpet cleaners were actually helping us move so they could start their cleaning. Most of our stuff was moved to storage and the rest we have with us in the basement of my brother's house, where we are now calling our home. Yep, that's right "You, Me and Holly". :)

Blessings from living with the Black family........

*My brother went out on Saturday morning and bought a table top Christmas tree to surprise Rob and me. We were also surprised to find on the next day that it had been topped with a blue ribbon beer can. It is just perfect for our humble abode. We are grateful for our cute, little tree because our ghetto lamp was tossed in the move.

*It's been so fun for me to be around my brother and his family again or for the first time. Since Vince has been married we have had great distances between our homes. I am cherishing this time.

*What a treat to see my husband playing with our two little nephews. It's such good practice for us both. My nephews know me now and that makes me smile.

*What a beautiful picture of marriage we are seeing in my brother and sister in-law.

His Promises

This week has been a tough week. There's a lot I could get stressed about if I chose to. Our address has changed 3 times in the last week. Yep, it's true. We were going to move out of our apartment and then came a snow storm. We then decided to just stay in the apartment. Then someone came along and wanted our apartment and we thought of the money we could save so we decided to pack up and move to my brother's house. Well, then the people decided they didn't want the apartment. We had just about everything packed and ready to go. We were disappointed but realized that God had other plans. You see when you are praying about things you know everything that happens is an answer to that prayer in some way. Whether it be a "yes" or a big fat "NO". Well today we got another call from our apartment manager and she said someone wanted to move in by this Thursday(yes 2 days from now). YIKES!!! The good news is we're already packed and ready. In the midst of all this shifting of boxes Rob and I are both looking for jobs. It's been a wee bit stressful. We are trusting the Lord but sometimes it's just nice to hear from God in a BAM, SHABANG type of way. Well........ Rob and I were in the car the other day-just after one of my many break downs of the week-when I spotted a rainbow in the sky. A rainbow????? A rainbow in December, in below freezing temperatures? WHAT? It wasn't raining, hadn't been raining and there was no sun to be found. HHHMMMM....I don't know. What I do know is that I needed to see that rainbow and God knew it too. That rainbow was screaming "HOLLY, remember who I am. I am the "I am". I am your creator, your potter. I am your Savior and Lord. I am the one who holds you in the palm of my hand and will take care of you. I am the one who keeps His promises."

You know it's cold when???

I've never experienced cold like the North Dokota cold I'm experiencing at the present. YIKES!!!!

You know it's cold when.....
The first below zero day we had I walked outside and the juice in my eyes froze. What a scarey thing. I have learned my lesson. Now when I go outside I look like a freak or that I'm flirting with everyone I encounter.

You know it's cold when.....
HA! HA! HA!
Rob and I went to Wal-mart yesterday and when we walked outside we realized we couldn't find our car. There we were walking around the parking lot with our cart, freezing!!!!! Our ears started turning red, our eyeball juice was hardening and I was laughing my head off. I was laughing so hard I was having a hard time controlling our cart over the icy parking lot. We got so cold that we had to go back into the store to warm up before we continued our search of the missing car. Yes, not only did we find our car but we found good humor in our not so pleasant weather conditions.

It's Begining to Look a lot Like Christmas

*

Today
our ghetto light finally
bit the dust. We were lying in
bed and it fell right over on top of
us. We weren't quite ready to part with the
lamp so Rob dug out his green, duct tape and
saved the day. My hero!!! I noticed that my cute
hero was digging around in the tool box still and
wondered what he was up to. He was in search for
some red, electrical tape to juice up our already,
some what decorated lamp. We laughed and thought
"hey what a creative Christmas dec-oration".
You see Rob and I are living among boxes,
ready to move at a moments notice and will have no
Christmas decorations at all this year. We are realizing
that the more simple life has allowed us to find more
peace this Christmas season. We are enjoying this
Holiday season. We have much to be thankful for. We
are thanking God for broken lamps and His peace. We
have never
found so
much joy
in a Christmas
decoration.

How Could I Ask for More

What a week of celebrations. Rob and I have so much to be thankful for.

Monday was Rob's big 30th birthday. What a young whipper snapper. I "tried" to make his favorite-Grandpa's Chocolate Chip Cake- but it just wasn't the same I'm afraid. We stopped for a moment and thanked God for his Grandpa and all the good memories Rob has of him. Rob wanted to go out for Thai food on his birthday but the closest Thai food around is 6 hours from here. :( We decided to drive to Bismark and enjoy a nice theater and restaurant. It was a nice, little get away.

Wednesday night we attended a Thanksgiving service at church. I was overwhelmed with the thought of how much I have to be thankful for. There was a time during the service where people could get up and share testimonies of thanks. There was one sharing that really altered my thinking. A man in the church said he was thankful for "waiting". WOW!!! Rob and I are in the middle of a huge WAITING right now and we haven't been all that thankful. The man went on to explain that when he's waiting he knows the Lord is working and he is not.

Yesterday was a fun filled comfortable day. Vince and Kirsten exercised hospitality by inviting us and about 8 other people over for a yummy, yummy meal. It was a great time of fellowship. It was hard not being able to be with my parents yesterday but I'm thankful that we could be with some of my family on my favorite holiday of the year. Oh, how could I ask for more?

No Tricks but What a Treat

What a treat it was for me to spend Halloween with my brother and his family. I'm having so much fun with Ezra(Elmo) and Asher(lobster boy). I had the privilege to tromp around in the snow and go door to door with the cuties. What a joy this time is for me.

A lot of firsts

Anyone that knows my brother knows his favorite holiday is Halloween. Vince and Kirsten have made it an anual tradition to have a pumpkin, carving bash and Rob and I were one of the lucky, invited couples. I think this pumpkin, carving experience was our first joint, effort project. I highly recommend this project to all couples. There were many lessons learned in carving a pumpkin together. I think the outcome was a sucess. It was a fun night had by all.
(Notice the snow surrounding Vince's and our pumpkin on the steps. WHAT??? Snow on Halloween? That's a first for me.)

Indescribable

Rob and I traveled to the mountains for our honeymoon. WOW!!!!! Talk about God's splendor. We rented a cabin for a week and enjoyed every minute of it. We woke up every morning to a breath taking view of the Smokies. Most of our days were spent in the small town of Gatlinburg. We did all of the tourist things.....hard rock cafe, I-max movies, sky view mountain ride but one day......... WOAH! Every day we would venture down the mountain from our cabin and take a left but the last day of our honey moon we decided to take a right and see what we could find. By pure accident we came upon color, beauty, GOD. Around every curve was another surprise or "OH, WOW". Rob and I were in total awe of God's creation. His finger prints were everywhere. As we were climbing the mountain Chris Tomlin's "Indescrible" was playing on the CD player. How perfect that moment was. What if we wouldn't have made that right hand turn? What else am I missing out on in this life God has granted me? I'm going to be taking more right hand turns.

"Indescribable"

From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea
Creation's revealing Your majesty
From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring
Every creature unique in the song that it sings
All exclaiming

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God

Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night
None can fathom

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
You are amazing God

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
Incomparable, unchangeable
You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same
You are amazing God
You are amazing God
Incomparable, Unchangeable,
You see the depths of my heart and you love me the same.
You are amazing God

First Comes Love Then Comes......

What a fun day Rob and I had. We had loved ones and family come in from all over the world. I was blessed to see friends from every season of my life. We worshipped, laughed, cried, said hellos and then good byes. God made His Grand entrance and graced us with His presence. I don't think we could have asked for more. If you would like to see more pictures you can click here http://www.photoreflect.com/scripts/prsm.dll?eventthumbs?event=0E9C001M

Live Laugh Love

Well, there it is. We've promised to live, laugh and love infront of the whole world. It's not so easy to live, laugh and love all the time. We're trying. We're learning that in order to live we have to be able to laugh at ourselves and each other. We're learning that in order to live we have to love each other. The whole live, laugh and love thing was just a theme we stole for our wedding day but we've decided it's a good theme to live by.

"For to me, to LIVE is Christ" Phil. 1:21
"For the time will come when you will LAUGH with joy" Luke 6:21
"Let all that you do be done in LOVE" 1 Cor. 16:14