Our Tree

I posted earlier this month about how all of us went and cut down our own Christmas tree. Since that day everything has changed and honestly I haven't really even taken a moment to enjoy the tree. I actually neglected it and let it run out of water within the first 4 days of it being in our home. The tree symbolized something to me, it symbolized a life we were living one day that was shattered the very next. Sometimes, scratch that...Most of the time I do not understand Gods plan for us. If I had my way I would be able to have more than 2 years worth of Christmas trees in one home, but that ISN'T God's plan for us at this point. While it is a wonderful home that we have appreciated for the past year and a half, it is our time to move on. The house we are moving into isn't as pretty to look at on the inside as this one, but regardless God provided it for us through some very dear people that we are getting to know better every day and love even more! They have helped us out so many times in the last year and a half, they have been a sounding board, an encouragement, dinner hosts at just the needed time, and all in all just wonderful, caring, godly people. We are thankful that God has brought such a wonderful support group to us in this trying time, we wouldn't even consider staying in the area if we didn't have you. I could start listing names, but then I would forget someone and I wouldn't want to do that. Because you aren't forgotten. Sure, maybe this human brain forgets here and there, but God doesn't. God doesn't forget a thing! And for that, I am thankful. You see, when we wake up in the morning no matter where we have been laying our head, we thank the Lord for the day He has given to us and ask Him to help us live the day according to what He would have for us. In that lies the difference between possibly making a very bad decision and a godly one. It isn't anything of us ourselves, it is God. This may not make much sense as it is almost midnight, but one thing is clear as a bell to me. When we are no longer able to wake up in this pretty house that works fairly well for our living needs and we instead wake in a mobile home that is much smaller, that isn't going to matter. We can still serve God and continue to teach our children to do the same. We can still be used by God without our loyal 4 legged companions by our side (thought they are deeply missed!) We can still choose to 'take the high road' as Mr. W keeps encouraging us to do. You see, what hit me tonight is that it isn't about how nice of a house you live in or where you lay your head at night that enables you to serve God according to His will. It is your choice...choose Him!

So, with that wonderfully profound (not so much) thought that just flows too freely at midnight. I took some time today to enjoy our tree. You see when we get home from Christmas with family we will not be able to. We will be painting, packing, hauling, sorting, tossing, trimming, arranging, and all of the other things that go with packing & leaving one house only to fix up and move into another.

This is the ornament that I gave to Jason on our first married Christmas...it was bought at a store that isn't in business anymore....but it says "Our First Christmas Together" On the back it has 2002 written. I thought it was fitting because our decor for the wedding was Precious Moments and the guy had brown hair and the girl has blond... This is and ornament that my Grandma Jeanne gave me back in 1994, I think. It says my name on it...I was a dog lover even then!
Another precious moments, I had a difficult time finding a "baby's 1st Christmas" ornament for AG in 2006. The only one I was able to find was this Caucasian/Blondie Precious Moment which is very cute...just doesn't relate well to our daughter!

I decided to have one engraved for EEs first Christmas last year.

These old gold ball ornaments came from my Grandpa and Grandma Norgaards home, I am not sure how I ended up with them but I have chosen to use burgundy paint and write each family members name on one. So far we have J, A, AG, E, Meshach, & Nema Jaylee. Have a ways to go before using all 20 of them! One day I am going to come up with a clever way to include our 4 babies that we will one day meet in glory. Since they were so young we do not know their gender, and did not name them. But it seems so non personal to just write a date...still pondering that one!

The beautiful gifts under the tree

Laying under and looking up

The Ornament I chose for J this year...

The ornament I got him in 2006

EEs 2008 ornament, fitting since his adoption theme was Cowboy. If you want to get a smile out of him ask him about Cowboy E....

AGs for '08, rather fitting since she is in Princess mode right now!

My favorite one this year...kind of silly since it was in a package of 4 of $0.97 back in 2004! The place it was on our tree had air movement from the fan and it just so slightly shifted back and forth to glitter and sparkle for the last few weeks. The one part of the tree that made my feel weak in the knees EVERY time I looked at it.

Our beautiful, perfect, worth all the work of hauling two 2 year olds through 2 feet (or more) of snow!

My splendor

Honestly, the most important thing to remember this year is that while we are 'uprooted' we still have each other. I think back to 3 years ago and it was just Jays, myself, and Meshach (aka Pooky). It seemed as if everyone was against us and we were being uprooted then too. While having my husband was enough, we both still longed for the day that we would here little footsteps or tiny voices in the morning. WE HAVE THAT NOW! And while it is no secret that I would love to have 2-4 more children, I have my AG and my EE and who could ask for more...right now! I thank the Lord for the wonderful family He is building. An awesome godly husband, and two kids who amaze me every single day.

One little AG story before signing off for a few days:

Tonight J came home from work and offered to take us out for supper (as I said before, awesome husband) to help save time in preparation for going East River early tomorrow morning (there are two 6 o'clocks in ONE day??? Who knew!) We made a quick stop by the 'new' house so he could show me my stocking stuffer...one of those shower heads that are suppose to feel like rain...so excited! And he shoveled the walk for all the wonderful people that are helping us get it ready to live in. Then we took a drive by some PWETY CWISMIS WITES (AG=pretty Christmas lights) on our way to the Pizza.Ranch. Our new family fav, the kids love it, there are things for EE to eat and I can have that yummy greasy chicken! All for $2 more than what we would spend at the golden arches. On our way home AG was talking a mile a minute...guess that apple doesn't far from the tree...and we hear:

"for...God...so...wubbed...da...woryd...dat...He...dave...His...debotten...Son...eberasting...wife...John tree....sixtween....yaaayy!"

In case you don't speak AG, it is her from of John 3:16! You see for the past several months every night before the kids go to bed we go through word by word John 3:16 with the kids and have them repeat after us. Apparently it is sticking...

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not parish but have everlasting life." John 3:16 (punctuation left out)

I'd say she does fairly well for a 2 year old!

MERRY CHRISTMAS