The Twelve Days of Vacation- Day 3

On the third day of vacation my Savior gave to me, His Son for eternity. Thank You God for Your son, for the sacrifice You gave for me, for all mankind.

On the third day of vacation my family gave to me:

• gifts under the tree
• a delicious dinner
• games and movies
• and a day filled with fun & beautiful memories

Rob snuck out last night after our Santa run and left a little something on the door of the house we're trying to buy. Then he took me for a ride to "see something." He's so sweet!

Can you see the bow on the door? How about a closer view?

My kids were so sweet to me. From their own money earned at work and babysitting (Dad helped Matthew out with $ since he doesn't yet have a job) they gave me wonderful gifts.

Robert- a lighthouse calendar that he just happened to point out to me the other day & I admired- sneaky boy :)

Barbara- a snowman cup/plate/bowl, a wonderful fragrance oil diffuser, and peanut butter cups :)

Matthew- a book that is perfect for me!- God Grew Tired of Us by John Dau one of the "Lost Boys" from Sudan

Rob- two books that are also perfect for me as they are topics I'm very interested in- darfur diaries & First They Killed My Father and a stocking full of chocolate candy :)

But what made me even happier was the generosity I saw in my kids for each other this year. They gave each other great gifts that were thought out and took in mind each other's interests & likes. That made me happier than anything. I sure do love my kids!

Some of us took a short Christmas day nap after staying up late and getting up earlier. We talked to my momma & pop today too. Boy did I miss them, but I'm trying to stay focused on what I have to be thankful for, and that is so much!!!!!!!! Then together, we all did little parts to help cook a yummy Christmas dinner- a roasted chicken, Rob's delicious mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, and rolls. We all helped with clean up (including Samson who got to "clean up" the remains of the bird), watched an episode of Rob's Hogan's Heroes video he got from the boys, then had pumpkin pie & cookies while we played games. Now it's time to get some sleep. I hope to put up some pictures via Slide maybe tomorrow, we'll see.

It's been a wonderful Christmas, and for that I'm very thankful. This year, it has been much harder to get in the spirit and enjoy the month, but the joy of today did come and I have enjoyed being with four of the people I love most in this world.

I'm thinking today of some children I know who have hurt in their lives, for whom this Christmas might not have been so good, for certain adults who are hurting today. God, please be with them; encourage them and send someone who can show them Your love. Thank You for helping me to love even when it's hard. You amaze me with the way Your love can come in even when you don't notice it and how it can erase hurt and hard feelings. For that I am very, very thankful most of all as I don't want to go around with hard feelings and anger.

Father, be with those who don't have family at all, those whose family are far away and who might be homesick, those who are serving our nation in dangerous places and their families who must spend another holiday without their loved one. Help those homeless right here in our community Lord. Send them a warm place and food for today and a "light in the darkness." God, please be with the millions of people all over the world who are not in safe places because of wars and riots and persecution. Help me to be as aware as possible of all these hurting people and to find some way to help in some small way that would bring You glory and hearts to their eternal home.

Merry Christmas Jesus!

Rebekah :)

Merry Christmas

Thank you God for sending us your son! No gift on earth can compare to the ultimate gift you gave and the price you paid for us.

With a grateful heart this Christmas day,
Rebekah :)

The Twelve Days of Vacation- Day 2

On the second day of Christmas vacation my family gave to me:

• lots & lots of laughing
• baking pumpkin pies & cookies
• wrapping up our presents
• snuggling with our dog
• chili & baked potatoes
• chatting with my momma & sister
• and making me ha-a-a-ppy. :)

Today was another nice day. I woke up early, but not too early, did some blogging and played sudoku online until the family started getting up. Ate a healthy breakfast, made gifts for my godson, Noah, & his sister, Autumn, ran errands with Rob, braved Walmart one last time, chatted online with my momma & sister, wrapped presents, baked cookies and helped cook supper. Now we're watching Prince Caspian. Robert worked today so he's just now getting to wrap his presents.

In a little while, Rob & I are going on a "Santa run" to leave something to surprise some kids in the morning, and then we're coming home to get in bed before Santa comes here. ;) Oh, and that reminds me, I've been following one of my favorite blogs today too- Santa's blog.

But, most of all, I'm thankful for the first Christmas gift that was given so many years ago. How that single gift changed the world and my life.

Merry Christmas!

Rebekah :)

The Twelve Days of Vacation- Day 1

Okay, so call me silly, but this is what my insomniac brain came up with at midnight when it didn't want to go to sleep. Work with me people. :)

On the first day of Christmas vacation my family gave to me, a day of shopping & decorating the tree & being silly (well that's a given in our family isn't it?).

So here it goes in reverse order because that's how the pictures loaded:

1. Being Silly

Robert was laughing so hard he made himself cry. The picture below is bad, but you can see he & I were cracking up laughing. That's why the picture is bad, I was shaking with laughter and couldn't hold still. Want to know why? Look below.

Jessica bought the kids (or the boys? I don't remember) these giant jawbreakers on a stick. Robert's been working on his for a few days, but last night he got well, ummm, "creative." When we looked at this picture, he & I busted out laughing!

2. Decorating the tree

This month has been an absolutely crazy month. At least one of us has had at least one thing or more every single night this month, and we couldn't decorate the tree because on any given night one or two of us (or more) were gone. You know me, silly about our tradition, I didn't want to decorate it and not have everyone here, so we just kept putting it off thinking we'd find a day to do it. I guess I'm going to have to get over that one soon as in the near future, I won't have all the kids here. Hmmmm, I'll do my Scarlett O'Hara imitation now- "I'll think about that tomorrow."

We finally decorated the tree thanks to Rob going and finding the ornaments. And so that Robert knows I am trying to be an honest person, he's not really hanging an ornament here, but posing since he did his ornaments before I got the camera out and I was whining about it. :) :) :)

3. Shopping

We had told the kids we didn't think we'd be able to do Christmas gifts this year. It really bothered me, so Rob & I kept a little cash back hidden in the event we went overdrawn to put in the bank, but if not to use for Christmas. Happily I got paid early & we didn't go belly-up at the bank, so Monday night after I got off work, Rob & I went out on a date, got some dinner, and did a little shopping. It's a "light" Christmas, but I'm thankful for something to give my kids. I didn't think we'd be able to, and I know many who can't, so I'm very grateful. And the really neat thing is the two older ones went out and bought gifts for everyone in the house with their own work $. Awww, they make me so proud. So I gave Matthew some $ to buy gifts too, didn't want him to feel left out.

Today's shopping consisted of:

• Grocery run to Save-a-Lot with Barbara Rose


• Walmart with the "B" to finish the groceries, to buy her some pants (long story, short- she's been going around in one pair of capris & one pair of jeans with holes in both hips & the crotch & having to wear shorts under them so she didn't show off her "parts". So one way or another, if I have to use my birthday/Christmas $ to pay for them, she had to have them. B did some shopping she needed to finish, and I snuck in some small stocking items while she wasn't looking. :)
• After unloading & putting away all the food, fixing a quick supper of mini pizzas, Matthew & I took off again to meet Robert at the mall and all three get our hair cut. Robert joined us in the haircutting adventure when he got off work. While M & I waited on R to finish, we went to Waldenbooks- big mistake. I came out with "one more thing" for the kids, something for Rob (shhh, don't tell) and some books for me. So what if I can't pay the electric bill this month, we'll use candles to read our books. It all works out, right? :)
• Robert needed ideas for the B's gifts, so he asked me if I'd keep him company while he shopped for her. So we went "around" and got her gifts from him & I bought her something else she needs, but I can't say here as I'm putting it under the tree.
• Then we came home at 9:30. Whew! I was tired. Then Rob & the kids & I decorated the tree. Mostly I watched and took some silly photos. We watched "It's a Wonderful Life" while we decorated, talked, behaved silly-ily, and Robert ate.

So that is the tale of my first day of Christmas vacation.

Thanks God for such a nice day with my children and Rob.

Thanks for enough- enough $ for what we need a little of what we want sometimes, but not so much $ we wouldn't appreciate it. Enough food (we have plenty of that and never go hungry- been there, done that), enough time (maybe wish for more, but we always make everything work out the way it needs to), enough love (boy do we have that), enough good to be content, enough bad to help us appreciate the good, enough sleep to feel better & function like a half-human :), enough time with my family to keep me going.

Most of all, let me not forget to be thankful for You. You are enough to get me through. Through hard times, through health problems & silly woman hormones, through exhaustion, through work stress & disappointments, through life, through it all, and hopefully someday, through the gates of heaven.

It is really true- You are MORE THAN ENOUGH- in so many ways. Thank You for YOU! Let me not forget the true reason for these special days. Help me to stay focused on You through it all.

Happy Birthday Jesus. Merry Christmas world. Merry Christmas family! Merry Christmas friends!

Love to all,

Rebekah :)