Christmas Pics

So I figured now that it is end the of January it is about time

to finally post the Christmas pictures :-)

Hayden was of course overjoyed about the build your own Lightsabre.

Evan was finally more excited about the gifts than the wrapping paper
this year. "Presents!", he would exclaim.

He was so excited about opening the gifts that his little mouth
would open really wide with excitement. This pic
really doesn't do justice to the adorable expression but it was
priceless.

He decided it more efficient to just dump it all out to get to the goods..

So the Coke is typically reserved for a very rare occasion
when his Grandmommy sneaks treats
it to him but we figured the Coke in the little ornament bottle
would be a fun stocking stuffer for him this year.
He was thrilled as you can see.

Hayden was so excited to try out his first
real bike complete with Lightning
McQueen helmet and knee pads.

So this is a totally random pic but was taken at Hayden's preschool
Christmas program. He was really into the singing and all
the motions - so cute!

Confession and Revelation...

I found myself over the past couple of years feeling something not "quite right" in this seeming rat race of a life I seem to be living as so it feels at times. My life is full of blessings but somehow I find frustration with myself in that I let heartaches and disappointments sometimes overshadow what is good in my mind. This is a confession I must make. I toyed for many months making this post but my hope is that it may speak to someone else that might stumble across this blog that was searching for the same answer.
I have prayed for resolution and peace with this. It has been a while. I wondered why I have felt this way for so long when there is so much to be thankful for. I participated in a small group study this past year on the book Walking with God by John Eldredge. I admit that most of the book seemed a bit "out there" for me but for some reason I felt like I needed to finish it. It was page 184 of the 218 pages that I finally figured out why I was supposed to read it........

" And so, whatever else might be the reasons for our disappointments, there is no question that God uses them to draw us to himself. To wean our hearts from every other perceived source of life, so that we might come to find our life in him.
This may be why every one of us bears at least one major and lingering disappointment in our life. God knows what a danger it would be for us to think we've arrived. I'm remembering a scene in The Legend of Bagger Vance, where Bagger says to Junuh, "Ain't a soul on this entire earth ain't got a burden to carry that he don't understand." It might be health. Or a relationship. It might be a child, or the fact they have no child. Everyone has a cross to bear. Everyone. It serves to remind us every day that we cannot make life work the way we want. We can't arrive. Not completely. Not yet. It we'll let it, the disappointment can be God's way of continually drawing us back to himself.
I know that I faced a choice. I can feel it down inside, and I watch it take place in my heart. I can let my disappointments define my life. Or I can let them take me back to God, to find my life in him in ways I have not yet learned. The rest remains a mystery. But this is enough to know.
And so I break the agreement that I've made, that I need this. I give this place in my heart back to you, God. Fill me with your love and your life, in this very place. "

AMEN!

The NorthPark Trains.

yes, so behind in posting!!....

On Christmas Eve we took the boys to see the North Park Trains. They loved it of course. I myself was pretty impressed with all the detail and care put into the adorable scenes.

Evan sporting his paper train hat
pointed out to Daddy
his favorite trains.

Daddy lifts Hayden up for a better view.

a sampling below of our viewings...

Backblogged......

Seriously??! - Is this really something some of us have added to a list of our required "tasks" these days...Somehow, I still feel a sense of obligation to this electronic form of communication. Yes, it is January and yes my Christmas bloggie background is still up and yes I will still be posting more Christmas pics and events through probably the middle of this month... deal with it!! .. he he...

Down the Stairs Christmas Morning..