Merry Birthday!

This is my little girl, Kendall.
Isn't she cute?
Tomorrow, December 23rd, she turns THREE years old.

Because she arrived nearly two weeks late, she's got one of those awkward too-close-to-Christmas-stress-mommy-out birthdays. 
Eventually, her birthday celebration will have to be distanced from Christmas festivities- already, it's proving to be icky...it's just a busy time for EVERYONE, and I really want Kendall to feel like she's a priority on her special day.
This year we're keeping things low key and relatively blended- but it will be the last year we do it this way.  Maybe we'll celebrate her half-birthday, maybe we'll celebrate a couple weeks early, we'll get it figured out. 

I'm so excited to celebrate this girl tomorrow. 
She has been the greatest blessing of a child I could ever imagine- patient with her brother, sleeps like a champ, loves to help, entertains us with her singing and dancing.  She has more personality than that petite body can hold, so it spills out and leaves a trail of sparkles everywhere.  

God knew we needed her, and she has brought so much joy to our family.
Happy birthday to my sweet Bug-Bug, Kendall Mendall!

Blessed Assurance

Well, [long exhale here]...

Last Sunday, we were part of a worldwide candlelight vigil for parents who have lost children.  Less than a week later, twenty more sets of parents were violently inducted into that horrible club.

I've had some time to process the events of last Friday, though I'm not anywhere close to reconciling this horrific act with a peaceful spirit.  The two are diametrically opposed.  I know that others are trying to do the same, and we're all failing miserably.  I've seen posts insinuating that this was somehow God's will or that it happened because we've removed God from the schools, yadda yadda.  People, this is JUST NOT TRUE.  It was NOT God's will for these precious children to die in such a tragic way.  I fully believe His heart is broken over this, just as it was when His Son died a brutal death on the cross.  And, without embarking on a political commentary here, God is as present in the schools as He has ever been.  Just because children aren't rallied together to pray doesn't mean that God has fled and left school children to fend for themselves.  It's just not so. 

As we ALL struggle to restore our faith in humanity, and more importantly, lean into our faith in God, it's important to remember what is TRUE, what is CERTAIN.  A message from Bayside Church's pastor resonated with me, so I'll share this excerpt with you:

I am certain that this senseless act breaks the heart of God because…
  • I am certain that God understands what it means to lose a son
  • I am certain that every one of today’s victims was precious to God
  • I am certain that God is near to the brokenhearted
  • I am certain that no life is ever devoid of meaning no matter how short
  • I am certain that Jesus meant it when He said, “Let the little children come to me”
  • I am certain that life is precious and that every day with your kids is a gift
  • I am certain that America needs to rediscover a reverence for life
  • I am certain that a day is coming when suffering will cease and God will reign
  • I am certain that when anyone closes their eyes here for the last time and wakes up in the arms of Jesus – they will be more alive than they have ever been. 

I have seen the effects of losing a child first-hand, and it introduces an element of fear in me that I can't even describe.  I don't know how I would cope had it been my own child caught in the line of fire.  Honestly, I can't even allow myself to think about it too hard.  My heart aches for the community of Newtown, as reports of daily funerals trickle in.  All I can do is pray that the PEACE that passes all understanding descends on them and that the nearness of God makes itself overwhelmingly apparent.  I know you are praying that with me.

The Light of Remembrance

Our family will be again participating in the upcoming Worldwide Candle Lighting, an annual hour of remembrance for all children who have died, at any age, from any cause. 

Started by The Compassionate Friends and now in it's 16th year, it takes place the second Sunday of December, this year on Dec. 9th.  Around the world, candles are lit from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm in each time zone, creating a wave of light circling the globe. 

Perhaps the timing of this event has something to do with the busy holiday season - the Christmas parties, parades, the toy and gift advertisements, Santas at the mall, the plans for family gatherings and holiday vacations - a time that is family-focused, and can bring the absence of a child (or, in my case, a sibling) into sharper focus.  In the midst of all that, it seems a good time to pause, reflect, take stock of things that matter, let a light join many others in remembrance, and with the strength of that collective surge of support, go on through the holidays.

We'll light a candle for Derek, in gratitude for the light that he was and will always be in our lives, also remembering with a special prayer the many other moms and dads who are in this world without a child, brothers and sisters who have lost a comrade in life.  If you'd like to join in, just light a candle Sunday at 7:00 pm and be a part of the wave!  As it moves around the world, it is sure to be a spectacular show of light and love from heaven's view that no Disney parade or TSO concert can match!  

(hat tip to Deez Central for this original post.)

If you'll be participating in this simple gesture, we'd love to know about it.  Let us know who you'll be remembering with your candle. 

Teach Your Children Well

I spent many years as an elementary school teacher.
After putting in hours, days, months of imparting knowledge to these little ones, I can't tell you how appreciative I was when parents went the extra mile to reinforce concepts at home.  Conversely, it was so frustrating when parents left e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g up to me. 

Now, Sunday School operates in a different system altogether.  Unlike grade school, I feel as if I am/should be my child's primary teacher when it comes to our faith.  I trust Kendall's teachers, but I don't drop her off on Sunday mornings expecting her to glean her spiritual lesson for the week and "close the book" until the following Sunday.  I know far too many people- adults- that practice their Christian walk on a weekly-check-in basis.  You'll see them at church, but you'll never hear Jesus' name uttered in conversation thoughout the week.  (Well, you might...)

We want to model for our children what walking with Jesus daily looks like.  And bringing that down to a three-year-old's level of understanding is sometimes a challenge.  I try to make it a point to pray with her multiple times a day, not just at the dinner table, not just at bedtime.  Some days, like today, I fail miserably.  Lately, we've had problems with whining and moping, so quick prayers asking Jesus to "help change our attitude" have been teachable moments (ohhhh, Lawwwd...we've had a lot of these lately!).  In this Christmas season, spending time in the Word has been natural.  The Awana program at our church provides a more structured lesson midweek, and Kendall enjoys seeing her friends. 

When we started attending Bethel, we noticed that Kendall's Sunday School lessons were always summarized in a coloring page which she proudly awarded to us after church.  I began collecting them and assembled a binder full, which we read on a regular basis.  Not only does it display Kendall's artwork, but it continually reinforces what she knows about God.  We love it...and Kendall looks forward to adding a page in her book every week!

This mama is always looking for new ideas.  How are you helping your kiddos walk with Jesus daily?  Creative ideas? 

Scary Reindeer!

Last year, Kendall received a plush Rudolph doll. 
Well, it didn't go over so well.
She burst into tears every time she saw it.
I chalked it up to the two-year-old crazies and put it back in the box of decorations.

This year, we came across it as we were decorating the tree, and Kendall was pretty interested. 
"Great!  Last year was just a fluke", I thought. 
As the night wore on, her little imagination slowly broke her down.
Yes...this was the same scary reindeer that traumatized her last year, and she hadn't forgotten.

Now, poor Rudolph is again relegated to spending the Christmas season in hiding.
If, by chance, a certain little brother finds him in the toybox and sets him free, you'll find Kendall wincing and whining in the other room.
I'm interested to see if watching the Rudolph movie on TV will change her opinion of our resident reindeer.
For now, Rudolph better steer clear of this girl:

Our Nativity is Better Than Yours

Our toys often get mixed up.  I found all of the above friends hanging out with baby Jesus today.
Just in case you missed it, that IS a koala appearing with the angel.
Also, the lesser-famous attendees at the birth of Jesus:
The chimpanzee
The flamingo
The crossing guard (for all the flamingos, apparently)
The zookeeper
AND the small child in a wheelchair.
(Because the "good news of great joy shall be for ALL the people"...including the disabled.)

Oh, and our nativity has a ferris wheel.  So, yeah.  Best nativity ever.