Bobbi Conner: Unplugged Play: No Batteries. No Plugs. Pure Fun.
Mary Ann Shaffer: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (Random House Reader's Circle)
Shaunti Feldhahn: For Women Only: What You Need to Know about the Inner Lives of Men
{current Bible study book}
My brother Caleb and his girlfriend Jamie welcomed their new little boy Christian Alexander early this morning! I am making due for now with photos and video via cells phones and the internet (that's why this picture is so dark- sorry!), but am super anxious to get over to the westside and see him and hold him in person. Isn't he so sweet and handsome? Congratulations Caleb + Jamie! And welcome baby Christian! I love you!
P.S. My Ten on Ten will be up tomorrow...
Our Fourth of July this year was reallly laid-back, but super fun. We spent the morning at home and after Mr. Elliot's nap (because no nap is neve a good thing...) we headed over to our friends' house for a BBQ. We ate a ton (my favorite was the grilled corn on the cob), watched the kids play for hours happily in their huge backyard, laughed a lot, took silly photos for our blogs, and just relaxed. It was so lovely!
{photos taken today, 6.16.09, on your second birthday}
Dear Mr. Elliot,
Oh, my little mister. How can you really be two already? I mean seriously. Two? These past couple of years have flown by so much faster than I ever wanted them to.
One of my biggest regrets is that I have not recorded as much of your life thus far as I did for your big sister at this age. The pictures are fewer, the letters and blog posts more sparse. Please, please do not ever think for a moment, my dear son, that it is because you are any less precious to me. That is such a fear of mine! I know it is silly- your daddy tells me all the time that boys just do not care as much about photos and scrapbooks and blog posts. But still I worry. Life has just been one crazy ride since you came along- learning to be a mama to two children, two moves (one that was across the state), starting over in a new home + town. I wish that I had had more energy, boundless reserves of energy to devote to capturing each and every amazing and beautiful part of who you were these past two years...but I haven't. And I am so very sorry. Sorry because I am a memory hoarder- I don't want to forget one single minute or day with you. And sorry because I never ever want you to question my love for you, because I do love you, so much more than I will ever know how to adequately express.
****************************
Whew. That one has been hanging over my head for about a year now. So glad to get that little bit out of the way and now on to happier things...
One of the things I love the most about you, Elliot, is how truly boy you are. I knew from the moment that I held that positive pregnancy test in my hand, that you were going to be a little boy. And I remember seeing it so clearly, even when you were a newborn. You just looked like a little man. And goodness, you smelled like one too! One of your first nights home, I remember daddy and I laughing and laughing at you, laying in your bed, burping and farting away.
But it is not just the smells and the looks, it is the passions. So very boy-like. We have never had to teach you to love cars and trucks and dirt and running and exploring like you do. It is just who you are, through and through.
I will admit it- those boy-like qualities drive me crazy sometimes. It is impossible to keep up with you. You move so quickly, and that adventurous spirit is unending...you really do exhaust me most days! But in the evening, as I snuggle with you before you go to bed, I forget all the chaos of the day and all the messes you made, and are so very thankful that God blessed my life with you. I lay you in your bed and you cuddle with your "na-na" (your favorite green blankie since you were six months old) and you ask for your cars and trucks. You always fall asleep with your cars and trucks spread out around you. I love it so much.
You are passionate and busy, but you are also so sensitive, Elliot. You have the sweetest spirit. You notice things about people, you anticipate their needs. You are thoughtful and kind-hearted. Sometimes you will hear Audrey ask me for something in another room and the next thing I know, you are there, handing her whatever it was that she wanted before I even had a chance to get it for her. I love that about you. And you are so affectionate- you still love to cuddle and I am so very glad! Please don't quit that one anytime soon, okay?
You are still not talking very much, which worries me at times. At your 21 month appointment a few months ago, your sweet doctor reassured me and said that they would reevaluate you at your two year well-child. Part of me says not to fear- you are a boy, you are focusing all your energy on moving, Audrey talks for you most of the time, it will be okay. But there is a part of me that wonders if there is something more serious going on. Thankfully you make every effort to communicate with us that you know how- you are extremely interactive and you do try to talk. So for now we are just taking it one day at a time. Encouraging you to vocalize your thoughts and needs and wants. Being patient and sensitive when you can't. I think that the hardest part of all is just the ache that I have to know you more- to hear what is really going on in that little head of yours. I feel like there is a huge part of who you are that we are just missing out on because you cannot tell us.
But even with the speech delays, I know that you are brilliant, just by watching you play. The way your cars are meticiously lined up, ready to hit the road. The tall towers that you build with blocks. The amazing way you have ten times more coordination than I have ever had when it comes to kicking soccer balls. The little games you make up outside...
One of my favorite things about you, Mr. Elliot is that you are just bursting with joy. True, you have your moments (you are quite dramatic and have quite a temper...). But the majority of the time you are smiling and giggling and doing silly things to make everyone around you laugh. You adore being tickled and tickling others. You love to dance and to do the "sumo walk" (taught to you by your cousin Griff). You love making crazy car noises and playing chase. You are truly one of the happiest kids I know.
You are still pretty little, weight wise. I am not sure how much you weigh or how tall you are as of today, but at your last doctor's appointment you were 22 pounds. You are wearing size 12-18 month clothes and size 5 shoes. Still hard to believe that you were nine pounds when you were born! Audrey was about this same size at two though and she is fine now at almost four, so I'm not worried. Although I do wish you would be a bit more adventurous with your appetite...
Some of your favorite things right now: granola bars; pestering your sister; your na-na; cars + trucks; your toy dog from Uncle Bryant; Grandpa Doug; bananas; playing outside; wearing your boots; taking books off of bookshelves; making cookies; pretzals; chocolate; playing with Parker + Griffin; taking naps; giving hugs + kisses; chicken nuggets + french fries; reading about cars + trucks; pushing your bear in Audrey's toy stroller; going on walks; taking baths; being held; climbing; running; going up + down stairs; dry cereal; and exploring.
Some things you are not so fond of: vegetables; being bossed around by your big sister; watching tv or dvds; cheese; strangers; the nusery at church; sitting in your high chair to eat; and being told "no".
My dear little man, I am so grateful for you! I am so glad that God blessed our family with you two years ago. Where would we be without your silly little giggle? Your mischivious grin? Your curiousity about everything? Your sweet, sweet spirit? I can't wait to see not only what this next year has in store for you, but also to see who God is creating you to be, Mr. Elliot. You are so amazing and I love you so much!
One little request though...Can you please stop growing so quickly? I am okay with you being two, but please don't change too much more. Not yet anyway. I'm not ready!
I love you forever and ever mister mister! Happy Birthday!
Love, Mama
early mornings + coffee
theology lover + long walks
introvert + dreamer
amazing conversationalist + quiet observer
book collector + organizer
patient + kind
adoring father + loving husband
world traveler + adventurous spirit
NPR + The Office
generous + thoughtful
goofy + sarcastic
Christ follower + seeker of truth
road trips + mix cds
passionate + gifted listener
the love of my life
Happy Birthday, Erik! I love you!
xo
I've always wanted to have a fireplace mantel. A little place to create happy displays that change depending on the season and what I love at the moment. Two dear friends of mine (Nancy + Misha) are amazingly beautiful and creative homemakers and I have always admired how they make their mantels so lovely. Family photos, flowers, art, books, vases...almost every time I am in their homes, their mantels look a little different. And I love it.
I have my own mantel now. And I am very selective about what goes up there. I get annoyed when my sweet husband, coming in the door from work, tosses his keys and wallet and phone on the mantle. I just want it to be my own beautiful little corner. No clutter. Just peaceful and simple beauty. Right now the left side of my mantel holds what you see above. I am starting to collect letters- the A is from Anthropology and the E is an old letterpress letter that I got this last weekend. A peonie that has not blossomed yet is in the little vase and the old floral frog (also a find from the weekend) is waiting for an inspiring quote to be placed in it.
What's on your mantel or favorite shelf right now?
P.S. I went back and forth- "mantel" or "mantle"?
We are seriously overwhelmed with the whole moving process right now. Actually overwhelmed would be an understatement...
Miss you all and can't wait to catch up....
I'll be back soon!
xo
{Self-portrait by Miss Audrey Mae- late April 2009- 3 1/2 years old}
A recent conversation overheard between my sweet girl and her daddy (comments inside parenthesis mine).
Audrey: "Daddy, will you come dance with me?"
Erik: "How about in a little while? I am really tired right now." (he had just gotten home from work)
Audrey: "But Daddy! I need a prince to dance with, and you're a prince!" (melt my heart)
Erik: "Okay, (he told me his heart was melting too!), let's go dance!"
Audrey: "Turn on Frank." (as in Frank Sinatra)
I love that she loves dancing with her daddy. And how cute is it that she loves dancing to "Frank"? I have a feeling someday they will be dancing to him together when she gets married. Love that.
P.S. Thank you so much for all the thoughtful comments about our new home and how God has blessed us. I promise to share more before and after pictures once we get settled!
Remember that new home I told you about? Our move was delayed a bit- some plumbing and furnace issues that needed to be fixed, and a new bigger window put in the kids' room. But we are now in the process of moving in! It will probably take a good couple of weeks to actually really get in- the next two weekends are really busy for us, so we are just doing what we can on the weekdays. But I wanted to at least share a few little peeks of our new place and share how God has truly answered our prayers in providing this home for us.
- hardwood floors: We have always wanted a house with hardwood floors. We just really love how they look.
- the cutest kitchen ever: True we will be living without a dishwasher, but I think it is worth the sacrifice to be able to cook and hang out in such a happy, sunny space! I think every woman needs a kitchen that they want to be in. And I am in love with the retro refrigerator- that really works! (The door in the kitchen leads to the backyard.)
- a fenced-in backyard: I have prayed and prayed for a fenced in backyard for the kids to play in and we have one!I also love the brick patio- perfect for the new grill I promised Erik for Father's Day + his birthday in June.
- a great location in town: Not only will we be living in town, but we will be literally 1/2 a block from a great park (another thing I prayed for!) and only three and a half blocks from my sister! I could not have asked or dreamed of a better location.
- a sunny house: Our current basement apartment gets quite a bit of sun for being in the basement, but it is still definitely lacking. Which not only means that we have to have lights on most of the time, but it also makes it really hard to take photos without the flash on- they always end up with this weird orangish tint. I can't wait to take pictures in our new home!
- a cozy home: Erik and I are thankful for each and every home that God has provided for us over the years. Each one was such a blessing and we did our best to make them all cozy and welcoming. But this is the first home that we will have that we truly feel is us. A place that when we walk in (without it even being decorated yet) feels like home and is cozy and warm. And that is such a great feeling!
- great storage spaces: Tons of cupboards in the kitchen. Nice closets and shelves and a good sized garage. I am so inspired to get really organized!
- a small home: I am not sure how the house is going to work long-term for our family- it is super small and as the kids get older, it might be difficult. But for now, I feel like it is the perfect size. I really, really want to be intentional about how we live and what we bring into our home. And a small space definitely helps with that!
I am sure that I could think of more, but Mr. Elliot is currently hammering walls and furniture and I better go before he destroys something...
xo
Got my first cold in two months.
Had two Orange Dream Machine smoothies from Jamba Juice. So awesome.
Celebrated this sweet boy's fourth birthday. Still can't believe he is four already.
Enjoyed the sun! I can't wait until summer is officially here. It is going to be three straight months of bliss.
Loved laying in the sun with my kids + books on my new thrifted quilt (see photo). Totally worth begging Erik for on our little holiday a couple of weeks ago.
Showed off our new home to a few dear friends + family. Still not ready for move-in quite yet (hopefully in the next week or so), but it was so fun to finally be able to share it with some people and not just talk about it!
Spent quite a bit of time napping (see aforementioned cold). Thank you so much, dear husband. We actually took turns- Erik is sick too.
Fell back in love with my camera. It has been sorely neglected lately, but the love is coming back. Now to start posting those pictures...
Listened to this lovely album by Joshua Radin for the first time. Pretty much my new favorite.
Celebrated the arrival of a dear friends new baby: welcome sweet Miles Quinn! I can't wait to meet you.
Ate way too much chocolate. I think I'm addicted.
Got so excited about some spring break plans for next year!
Was thrilled + proud to hear about this sweet friend's amazing news. Still so excited for you!
Enjoyed hanging out with my sister + her new (as of last month) fiance Bryant while they were visiting from school.
Had a little bit of an emotional breakdown. Sick, tired, too much going on. You know how it goes...
Finally watched Slumdog Millionare. Really, really liked it.
Loved watching my kids play outside. It is their favorite place to be. They get so dirty and so happy!
Cried for a dear friend who is just going through a lot right now.
Felt guilty because I am so incredibly behind on emailing right now. So very sorry if I owe you one.
Giggled so many, many times at my cute kids and their crazy antics and funny things they say. Being a mama is the best thing ever.
Trusted God.
Contemplated starting to pack for our move.
Forgot to turn my cell phone off of silent. Sorry, Mom. I'll call soon!
Wore my pjs and no make-up all day on Sunday. Should really do that more often. It felt good.
Got great advice from my husband. He really is brilliant. And super cute.
Decided I really need to blog more often. I miss it.
My cute, sweet sister-in-law Kelsey is on Wheel of Fortune tonight! I haven't watched the show in years, but you better believe I am watching it tonight with the whole family! I can't tell you whether she wins or not, you just have to watch it for yourself...
In Christ Alone
In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand
In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt of life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
'til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand
{My favorite hymn + such a perfect song to sing today on Easter. I know I posted it a couple of years ago, but I thought that it was definitely worth posting again!}
Listen to it here.
Last weekend was beyond amazing! Did you know that I got to meet up with three very dear blogging friends? I can't wait to share all about it- hopefully this weekend? Until then, check out my lovely friends' posts about it:
{photo credits found here}
There is this little slip of paper tucked up on the driver's side window shade of my car. I got it in a fortune cookie about six months ago. It says,
"When the flowers bloom, so will great joy in your life."
Today our sweet little house closed! Technically it is not "our" house- we will be renting it from Erik's parents- but still, it will be our home. I am so excited to move in and create happy new memories there. To fill the walls with Elliot + Audrey's giggles, the smell of freshly baked bread + chocolate-chip cookies, Frank Sinatra + Iron and Wine + The Weepies (of course), art projects galore, kisses, friends + family, and as cheesy as it sounds, lots of love.
And I think that it especially lovely that it all happened today- on the first day of spring. I guess my fortune was right after all.
...to be moving in here!
I can't wait to share all the details with you. God is so good!
P.S. Please excuse the dark photo (it was taken with a camera phone) and the little bird (I hid the house number).
This little tag has been circulating around facebook for awhile now, and after finally getting around to doing it today, I decided to share it here as well!
...Sorry that it has taken me a little longer to get back from my little internet break than I expected. Life. It is so busy.
...Thankful for crockpot recipes + diet Coke.
...Wishing that my kids could just have one week where they were 100 % healthy- it has been one long fall + winter, my friends.
...Loving the Weepies...but what else is new?
...Still in shock that my little sister is going to be on Wheel of Fortune! Go Kels!
...So excited to be planning a little holiday away with my love.
..Extremely grateful for tax refunds.
...Becoming a little bit addicted to making poladroids- so happy that the program is now available to everyone, not just mac users.
...Feeling guilty for being such a tardy friend- late birthday presents, forgotten emails, no blog comments, promised packages that never got there...the list goes on and on.
...Dying for a long, long night of uniterrupted sleep.
...Really loving The James Challenge- does anyone else want to join me?
...Dreaming of moving to town into a house with hardwood floors, sunny. spaces, and a fenced in backyard- haven't found it yet, but I am dreaming + praying + hoping.
...Wondering why Mr. Elliot has been so very grumpy + clingy the last few days.
...Ready to reread an amazing book I just read: A Thousand Splendid Suns. It was so good.
...Seriously regreting the extreme lack of picture-taking + memory-recording that has been going on around here lately. Oh, well.
...In love love love with the adorable drawings Audrey has been doing lately. They just make my heart melt. Especially the cute little people.
...Giggling because Audrey just told me that her and Elliot "are going to the beach and the dentist"...interesting combination...
...Happy with my new haircut. Really it is just a trim (four inches!), but I am determined to wear my hair down more now that it is healthy again and I am really starting to like it!
...Wishing I could have all of you dear friends over for a playdate. Wouldn't that be so fun?
...Loving late night talks with my husband.
...Embarassed that my house is so stinkin' messy all the time. So frustrating.
...Constantly inspired by this amazing girl.
...Creating via prompts from here.
...Thinking I should probably get off the internet- dinner is almost ready.
...Hoping that all of you are having a happy Monday!
xo
{image via Apartment Therapy}
I know, I know! Geesh, I have been gone for awhile, haven't I? January has just been one crazy month.
First, I just want to thank you all so much for your kind words, thoughts, and prayers in regards to my last post. We headed back to Portland two weekends ago to attend a special service honoring Sabrina. It was very hard and sad for all of us, but her service was so beautiful. You could truly sense God's presence with us, and it felt so peaceful and hopeful, despite the immense sadness. We were also blessed to be able to see many of our dearest friends from Bellingham who drove down for the service. It was so difficult to be brought together under such tragic circumstances, but so wonderful to all be in one place again for the first time in nearly two years.
It is exactly one month ago today that Sabrina died and I have to say that it has seriously one of the hardest things I have ever gone through. It feels strange to say that- I mean, I didn't lose my own child, or even someone in my own family. But to see people I love so very much in so much pain + heartache was really, really difficult. I hurt for them so much; I still do. And as I told Nancy last week, dear friends share not only a special bond with each other, but also with each other's children. And I loved Sabrina from the moment I heard that she was coming, just I love Abraham and Nancy's other two children. I am so sad that we will never get a chance to know her. So sad.
I have been doing so much better emotionally since her service though. But at times it has felt strange and wrong to go back to normal life, and the things of normal life, such as blogging. Is that crazy? I don't know. I have wanted to blog- I have so much to write about! But I just haven't felt motivated yet. Add to that the guilt I feel for being incredibly behind on emails and commenting on all of your lovely blogs and how crazy messy and unorganized my house is right now... I am just a little bit overwhelmed right now!
So I am taking a little internet break- from tomorrow, Sunday, January 25th to Sunday, February 1. I just need some time to get caught up on life without the distraction of the internet. I need to immerse myself in real life right now. That means no blogging, no emailing, no facebooking, nothing! If you need to get in touch with me between now and then, feel free to call- I am not taking a phone break :) I hope you all understand.
Then, on Monday, February 2, I will be back in this little space! I am really excited about February. I feel like it is really my "new year", since I feel like January has kind of bit shot. So be prepared for an update on our lives, lots of little projects in the works, and of course that giveaway I promised way back in November...
Until then...
xo andi
{photo via a picture is worth a thousand words}
Where do I begin? I certainly didn't plan on taking a little blogging break this last week. But life has a way of taking you down paths you don't expect, and the past ten days have definitely been unexpected.
Early last week I was caught up in all the last-minute preparations of getting ready for Christmas. Baking cookies, wrapping gifts, cleaning house. We were stuck at home because there was so much snow, but I didn't mind. I was feeling ten times more rested and at peace with the season than last year (a very deliberate choice on my part, which I hope to write more about later) and was so excited to spend Christmas at home with my family.
Then on Christmas eve it all came crashing down. Late in the afternoon, we got the news that some of our very dearest friends had lost their sweet daughter Sabrina Margot, three weeks before my friend Nancy was due. To say we were devastated would be an understatement. Our hearts ached for their loss and we spent Christmas in a fog, torn between wanting to embrace the joy of the Christmas celebration with Audrey and Elliot and the rest of our family, and wanting so desperately to be in Portland with our friends.
We were already planning on being on the westside on the weekend to see my family for Christmas, so we rearranged plans a little and after a quick overnight stop at my dad's, we went to be with our friends and their children for two days. We knew we couldn't magically make everything all better. We knew that doing dishes and letting our kids play together and listening and talking and praying and hugging could only do so much. But when your friends are hurting, you do what you can. Everything you can.
We got home late on Monday night and I still feel like I am processing it all, still working through my emotions from our time with them. How do I put into words the depth of love we feel for them? The depth of pain we have shared with them during this time? How do I find a way to express the overwhelming sense of God's peace and grace and comfort we felt in their home from the moment we stepped through the front door? The incredible strength and beauty that we have seen in our friends as they walk through this tragedy? The remarkable way they have parented their sweet children through this? The courage with which our friends have clung to each other and clung to Christ? How to I express how even in the midst of this heartbreaking experience I have witnessed God at work and His beauty in spite of the pain?
I haven't been able to find the words yet. All I know is that in spite of the immense grief I feel and all the questions that have yet to be answered, God is still God. He is still good. I don't question Him or His love or His grace. I question why, but I don't question who He is. That has never changed. If anything, I have experienced more of God's grace, peace, and love this last week than I ever have before.
So, my dear friends, that is where my heart has been this last week. Heartbroken over the loss of a sweet little girl I never got the chance to get to know, filled with sadness for the pain that a family I love so much is overwhelmed with right now. I am hoping to be back in this little space more in the coming weeks, but for now I just wanted to say hello and let you know where I've been.
xo andi
{photo via Flickr}
{picking up where yesterday's post left off...Part II of the Christmas story from The Jesus Storybook Bible}
THE LIGHT OF THE WHOLE WORLD
(The story of the shepherds, from Luke 2)
That same night, in amongst the other stars, suddenly a bright new star appeared. Of all the stars in the dark vaulted heavens, this one shone clearer. It blazed in the night and made the other stars look pale beside it.
God put it there when his baby Son was born- to be like a spotlight. Shining on him. Lighting up the darkness. Showing people the way to him.
You see, God was like a new daddy- he couldn't keep the good news to himself. He'd been waiting all these long years for this moment, and now he wanted to tell everyone.
So he pulled out all the stops. He'd sent an angel to tell Mary the good news. He'd put a special star in the sky to show where his boy was. And now he was going to send a big choir of angels to sing his happy song to the world: He's here! He's come! Go and see him. My little Boy.
Now where would you send your splendid choir? To a big concert hall maybe? Or a palace perhaps? God sent his to a little hillside, outside a little town, in the middle of the night. He sent all those angels to sing for a raggedy old bunch of shepherds watching their sheep outside Bethlehem.
In those days, remember, people used to laugh at shepherds and say they were smelly and call them other rude names (which I can't possibly mention here). You see, people thought shepherds were nobodies, just scruffy old riff-raff.
But God must have thought shepherds were very important indeed, because they're the ones he chose to tell the good news to first.
That night some shepherds were out in the open fields, warming themselves by a campfire, when suddenly the sheep darted. They were frightened by something. The olive trees rustled. What was that...A wing beat?
They turned around. Standing in front of them was a huge warrior of light, blazing in the darkness. "Don't be afraid of me!" the bright shining man said. "I haven't come to hurt you. I've come to bring you happy news for everyone everywhere. Today, in David's town, in Bethlehem, God's Son has been born! You can go and see him. He is sleeping in a manager."
Behind the angel they saw a strange glowing cloud- except it wasn't a cloud, it was angels...troops and troops of angels, armed with light! And they were singing a beautiful song: "Glory to God! To God be Fame and Honor and all our Hoorays!"
Then as quickly as they appeared, the angels left.
The shepherds stamped out their fire, left their sheep, raced down the grassy hill, through the gates of Bethlehem, down the narrow cobble streets, through a courtyard, down some step, step, steps, past an inn, round a corner, through a hedge, until, at last, they reached...a tumbledown stable.
They caught their breath. Then quietly, they tiptoed inside.
They knelt on the dirt floor. They had heard about this Promised Child and now he was here. Heaven's Son. The Maker of the Stars. A baby sleeping in his mother's arms.
This baby would be like that bright star shining in the sky that night. A Light to light up the whole world. Chasing away darkness. Helping people to see.
And the darker the night got, the brighter the star would shine.
{photo via Flickr}
{I have been reading many different versions of the Christmas story to Audrey and Elliot this year, but I think one of my favorites is taken from The Jesus Storybook Bible. Although it was written with children in mind, reading about Jesus' birth from this translation has been so encouraging to me, a thirty year old adult! Over the next three days, I am going to be sharing the Christmas story from this lovely little book and I hope that it gives you a fresh perspective of not only Jesus and His birth, but of who He really is and everything He has done for us.}
HE'S HERE!
(The Nativity, from Luke 1-2)
Everything was ready. The moment God had been waiting for was here at last! God was coming to help his people, just as he promised in the beginning.
But how would he come? What would he be like? What would he do?
Mountains would have bowed down. Seas would have roared. Trees would have clapped thier hands. But the earth held its breath. As silent as snow falling, he came in. And when no one was looking, in the darkness, he came.
There was a young girl who was engaged to a man named Joseph. (Joseph was the great-great-great-great-great-grandson of King David.)
One morning, this girl was minding her own business when, suddenly, a great warrior of light appeared- right there, in her bedroom. He was Gabriel and he was an angel, a special messenger from heaven.
When she saw the tall shining man standing there, Mary was frightened.
"You don't need to be scared," Gabriel said. "God is very happy with you!"
Mary looked around to see if perhaps he was talking to someone else.
"Mary," Gabriel said, and he laughed with such gladness that Mary's eyes filled with sudden tears.
"Mary, you're going to have a baby. A little boy. You will call him Jesus. He is God's own Son. He's the One! He's the Rescuer!"
The God who flung planets into space and kept them whirling around and around, the God who made the universe with just a word, the one who could do anything at all- was making himself small. And coming down... as a baby.
Wait. God was sending a baby to rescue the world?
"But it's too wonderful!" Mary said and felt her heart beating hard. "How can it be true?"
"Is anything too wonderful for God?" Gabriel said.
So Mary trusted God more than what her eyes could see. And she believed. "I am God's servant," she said. "Whatever God says, I will do."
Sure enough, it was just as the angel had said. Nine months later, Mary was almost ready to have her baby.
Now, Mary and Joseph had to take a trip to Bethlehem, the town King David was from. But when they reached the little town, they found every room was full. Every bed was taken.
"Go away!" the innkeepers told them. "There isn't any place for you."
Where would they stay? Soon Mary's baby would come.
They couldn't find anywhere except an old, tumbledown stable. So they stayed where the cows and the donkeys and the horses stayed.
And there, in the stable, amongst the chickens and the donkeys and the cows, in the quiet of the night, God gave the world his wonderful gift. The baby that would change the world was born. His baby Son.
Mary and Joseph wrapped him up to keep him warm. They made a soft bed of straw and used the animals' feeding trough as his cradle. And they gazed in wonder at God's Great Gift, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manager.
Mary and Joseph named him Jesus, "Emmanuel"- which means "God has come to live with us."
Because, of course, he had.
