Bring on the snow!

We've been having snowfall off and on during the last week. It's been very cold but there hasn't been any accumulation until yesterday. It started before dark and we ended up with four to five inches! The kids had a two hour late start which meant Aiden wouldn't have school. I got Aiden and Izzy bundled up so they could play outside. They asked for stuff to make a snowman and, thanks to my mom, I have a snowman kit in the coat closet just waiting to be used! They were out there for a little bit and then came in asking for help. Being the great mom I am, I budled up and we made a great snowman together. They were done being cold by the time I grabbed the camera so we have no account of there presence... But they DID help! A lot! No lies.

It was fun! And when Ben gets home tomorrow he'll get to see some snow, even if the rest is melted by then.:)

Ohhhh, Africa...

If you weren't quick enough to catch my funny post, you better read it.

I've added two more blogs to my list. One is Andrew and Aimee Jo's Uganda blog and the other is that of my dear husband. He is a little disappointed in himself for giving in but he swears it is only to communicate while he's on his trip to Togo, Africa with his brothers. I'm very excited for him. He's gotten all his shots and is applying for his visa. He'll go to Switzerland first to meet up with Andy and then the two of them will head to Togo together. They're going to have such a great time. They'll get to hang out with Tracey and the boys and, I think, the three of them (Brian, Ben and Andy) are going on Safari together. Ben will be gone two weeks in February. We'll miss him but we'll be having fun of our own, too!

Anal

I love being anal. Maybe it's even close to obsessive/compulsive... Really it's like a hobby! I love a clean sheet of paper. Don't fold it! IF you fold it you should only fold it in one direction, and you know which direction that is, and you better have a book to put it in so it doesn't get wrinkly. Then when you get home, assuming you did that out of desperation, you would recopy it into a neat notebook so that you can find the information when needed!

I don't like using two different pens on the same paper. I may have piles on my counter but they're straightened and square with the tiles. I haven' t done it in this house yet, but, I have organized my closet by sleeve length and color. (the first, then the second.) If you scrapbook with me, don't ask my honest opinion! I can always find something that doesn't suit me. It tortures me to look at my first scrapbooks.

I have a hard time being a good mom. I'd rather show them the right way to do it than have them learn by trial and error. It's hard to let them help me cook. I do actually do both of those things but I have to try hard. I also am better about always having to be right. I actually like letting my kids say something completely untrue and leaving it alone. Like, "This isn't the way to the church!" I just say, "okay." Or, "Those aren't your pants, they're dads." "Okay" (But what are they really saying?)

It's kind of funny, though, because I'm not like Bree on Desperate Housewives who irons her pillow cases and who's house is spotless. It's more of an ebb and flow. I can't keep up on my laundry for anything! BUT, when I put clothes away, I re-sort their drawers and take out things that are old or don't fit. I like things organized and want a spot for everything. I'm perfectly fine with throwing things away. I have a tub for saving special things of the kids' (papers and such), but if it starts getting full I'll go through and throw other less important things away. Both Ben and I love a spotless house but do we always do what it takes to maintain it? Not necessarily. That's why I just like to say being anal is my hobby! Is there anything anal you'd like to share that I would appreciate? Julia? Cheryl?

We have seen his glory!

Sorry I didn't post immediately, but Malak exists and we know all about him!!!

Tara and Eric got there referral on Monday, the 21st, and are awaiting a court date to be granted custody of Malak Kidu Silvestri.

We are all so thankful that their waiting is nearing an end and hope to meet that precious baby very soon.

Thank you, God!

Baby, come home!

Pray for Malak, today. He needs his mommy and daddy and they need him...

Open your hearts and your minds...

In Aiden's stocking Santa brought a small little case filled with words for creating poetry. My brother, Ryan, and I took upon ourselves to create three pieces for future enjoyment. Open your eyes and take in such eloquence, such deliciousness.

Taste and see that the Lord is good.

Amen and Amen.

They're right!

Caffe Vanilla Frappuccino

Smooth and sweet, you fit in to almost any crowd. No one would suspect you of being a coffee tweaker!

What Flavor Frappuccino Are You?

Check it out!

First cruise down and check out some pictures from Christmas at the Woods house.

Then, check out the new blog I started that's just my photography pics. I only have the most recent shoot on there but I will continue to add to it. There's a link now on the side for Jen's Photography.

Christmas Pix

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

I'm thinking about the part of the song that goes like this...(In a loud, beautiful, yet obnoxious voice) "Rejoice, Rejoice..."

Tomorrow school starts back up again. It's a good thing.

I'm not saying this in a "Oh, my goodness, when will they ever go back to school" way. It's a "this has been pleasant and enjoyable but I'd like my routine back" way.

Sorry it's been so long since I posted. I guess I was spending quality time with my children, my husband, my family, and other close friends...

We had a fantastic break. We started off our holiday with our Christmas "dinner" and play/ Christmas service the Sunday before Christmas at our church. It was great. Then we left from the building to drive straight to our good friends, Aaron and Chelan's, new house. Monday we headed to my parents house to spend Christmas with them and Ryan and Jessica. It's pretty special for my kids to have cousins to be with. India must "count" already because my kids actually said, "We want to stay here and play with our cousins!" Ben and I went to the Christmas Eve service at East County and Ben was able to see those who were there since he would be heading to Bellingham before the next Sunday. We had a great time being with our families. We were able to spend time with Ben's mom and Art. We got together with friends, too. Ben took the train back up to Bellingham Saturday and the lids and I traveled back on Sunday after attending East County. Aaron and Chelan caravaned back with me and they stayed at our house for New Years. We were very thankful they were able to do that. We took our first trip to Mt Baker. Although we all say we had a fun time, there were way more tears and coldness than smiles! We were playing in the snow for a total of about 45 minutes. Maybe. Then it was dark. It took longer than we expected to get to an open area for sledding so we drove for a total of about 4 hours and then only 45 minutes of playing/crying... There were wipe outs and frozen feet and faces and hands. There was getting bundled and unbundling and stripping and warming and starving people. Thank you Lord for good attitudes!

The rest of this week was spent being together, staying up later and sleeping in, a little. Our friends Brent and Lewis were able to give us a surprise visit and were at our house for two nights this weekend. It was so great to have them here and I know it meant so much to Ben. They were able to worship with us this morning and hear Ben preach.

(Just a side note: we know some really great people. We have been so blessed by the many, many people that God has brought into our lives. He always, always continues to surround us with amazing, caring, loving people. I am who I am because of all of you and so many others. To my Texas people and my Vancouver people and my Portland people and my Bellingham people and my scattered people, I am thankful for you. No one is more blessed than me to be a part of all of your lives.)

Well, life continues on tomorrow. Our good life. I am praying that God will continue to bless us this year with more than we could ask or imagine. Blessings on all of you.