Motorbike Mom!

We are almost 3 weeks in with our visit from my mom in town from the US, so that would explain my lack of keeping up with blogging.

Family visits are so amazing it is almost un-real.  Mom and I were walking through the local Thai market the other day and it was so weird to think "my mom is with me here!"  How many times have I been to this crazy market and thought about how it would be if she or others from home could experience this.

We have been keeping so busy with birthday parties, Christmas cooking, Christmas parties, sightseeing, getting in a few shopping trips, and of course keeping up with 3 fun girls!

As I reflect on these last couple of weeks and see my moms heart to be here with us, I think the best part is her willingness to travel for a painful 24 hours to be outside of her comfort zone and away from her family for the 1st time in her life on Christmas.  As we were Skyping with family on Christmas Eve, it dawned on me that this was her first time away and I very clearly remember my first Christmas away from what a "normal" Christmas was for me.  So this is more memorable for my mom than I think we even realized before her coming here.

Now is the day to reflect on the year that is ending and looking ahead at the year to come.  It is a great time of life to reflect and refresh on life.  Taking a page from a friends blog idea I decided to ask our family what are the highlights of 2012, and here is what we came up with...

This is my wonderful life as a traveling mother!

Happy New Year 2013!

From Miraculous to Magical?

On Friday night our Advent calendar had us watching a Christmas movie and eating a salty bowl of popcorn. The 2 kids movies that I had available were Ice Age Christmas and A Charlie Brown Christmas.  After watching both short movies with the girls I realized you couldn't get any more different ideas about the meaning of Christmas.

First was Ice Age Christmas, which is a very cute movie and Hope really loves Scrat and his acorn.  Throughout the movie they refer to the magic of Christmas and believing in the magic of Santa.  

Second comes A Charlie Brown Christmas with the famous Charlie Brown searching for the true meaning of Christmas.  Then Linus explains to Charlie Brown using lines quoted from scripture:

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, 

keeping watch over their flocks at night.  

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory 

of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  

But the angel said to them, 

"Do not be afraid, 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.  This will be a sign to you.  

You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying 

in a manger."  

Suddenly a great company of heavenly host 

appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace 

to men on whom his favor rests."  

~ Luke 2 v.8-14

There are so many miracles surrounding the birth of Jesus, Christ the Lord...

     A pregnant virgin, an angel of the Lord appeared, heavenly host appearing, wise men being led by a star and traveling many many miles, and even the situation in which Jesus was born.  We tend to glamorize the idea of the 'manger', but really it was the lowest form of a crib that we wouldn't even imagine putting our child into today.  

It is so wonderful to see our 5 year old truly excited about Christmas because it is the time when we celebrate Jesus' birthday.   Of course there is excitement about presents, she's a kid after all and loves gifts.  The important part to us as parents is for her to understand that ALL of our gifts come from God and not from anything 'magical'.  And she truly gets it and has genuine excitement for all that the Christmas season has in store!

So, how do we change back from magical to miraculous?  Take time this Christmas season to rediscover all the miracles that surround the birthday of Jesus.  How His life relates to your life and the relationship we have with the Son of God!

Beginning of Advent

For the past couple of years, of course since having children, I have been wanting to "do" an advent calendar for the kids.  Well, finally this year I actually got one made before December 1st.  After getting some inspiration from online (yes, Pinterest), and looking at the supplies I already had on hand this is what I came up with...

Advent means a time of preparation and expectant waiting.  This is our time to prepare our home and our hearts to celebrate the birth of 

Jesus, The Savior of the world!  

I'm really looking forward to this special time with our family rediscovering for myself and helping our girls understand 

the many miracles that surround Jesus' birth.