New Clothes

I can think of no better example to describe my feelings about this past year and my excitement for this new year, except to write this excerpt from C.S. Lewis's "Voyage of the Dawn Treader." Just a little background first. Eustace turned into a dragon after finding a treasure in a dragon's cave. His selfishness and greed changed him physically. He was heavy with scales. He found it was "rather dreary being a dragon." And then this happened.
"Well, as I say, I was lying awake and wondering what on earth would become of me. And then--but, mind you, it may have been all a dream. I don't know. Well, anyway, I looked up and saw the very last thing I expected: a huge lion coming slowly towards me. And one queer thing was that there was no moon last night, but there was moonlight where the lion was. So it came nearer and nearer. I was terribly afraid of it. You may think that, being a dragon, I could have knocked any lion out easily enough. But it wasn't that kind of fear. I wasn't afraid of him eating me, I was just afraid of it--if you can understand. Well, it came closer up to me and looked me in to the eyes. and I shut my eyes tight. But that wasn't any good because it told me to follow it. "
"You mean it spoke?" Said Edmund.
"I don't know. Now that you mention it, I don't think it did. But it told me all the same. And I knew I'd have to do what it told me, so I got up and followed it....And it led me into the mountains...at last we came to the top of a mountain I'd never seen before and on top of this mountain was a garden...In the middle of it there was a well....The water was as clear as anything and I thought if I could get in there and bathe it would ease the pain in my leg. But the lion told me I must undress first. Mind you, I don''t know if he said any words out loud or not. "
"So I started scratching myself and my scales began coming off all over the place. And then I scratched a little deeper and, instead of just scales coming off here and there, my whole skin started peeling off beautifully, like it does after an illness, or as if I was a banana. In a minute or two I just stepped out of it. I could see it lying there beside me, looking rather nasty. It was a most lovely feeling. So I started to go down into the well for my bathe."
"But just as I was going to put my foot into the water I looked down and saw that it was all hard and rough and wrinkled and scaly just as it had been before...So, I scratched and tore again and this under skin peeled off beautifully and out I stepped and left it lying beside the other one..."
"Well, exactly the same thing happened again. And I thought to myself, oh dear, how ever many skins have I got to take off?... So I scratched away for the third time and got off a third skin, just like the two others, and stepped out of it. But as soon as I looked at myself in the water I knew it had been no good."
"Then the lion said--but I don't know if he spoke--'You will have to let me undress you. '
I was afraid of His claws, I can tell you, but I was pretty nearly desperate now. So I just lay flat down on my back to let him do it."
"The very first tear he made was so deep that I thought it had gone right into my heart. And when he began pulling the skin off, it hurt worse than anything I've ever felt..."
Well, he peeled the beastly stuff right off--just as I thought I'd done it myself the other three times, only they hadn't hurt--and there it was lying on the grass: only ever so much thicker, and darker, and more knobbly looking than the others had been. And there was I as smooth and soft as a peeled switch and smaller that I had been. Then he caught hold of me--I didn't like that much for I was very tender underneath now that I'd no skin on--and threw me into the water. It smarted like anything but only fo a moment. After that it became pefectly delicious and as soon as I started swimming and splashing I found that all the pain had gone from my arm. And then I saw why. I'd turn into a boy again."
"After a bit the lion took me out and dressed me...in new clothes... and suddenly I was back here..."
"Makes me think it must have been a dream."
"No. It wasn't a dream," said Edmund...
"What do you think it was then?" asked Eustace.
"I think you've seen Aslan." said Edmund.

To a joyful new year.

Chism Christmas '08

The first 3 pictures are actually from the kids last day of school. It was "Christmas Dress up Day"--this was the day we had all the mishaps. Anyway, I love these pics of them.

Aaron's teacher made each one of the boys a cape with their initials on the back for Christmas

Chrismas morning

Croc boots for Alexis. I don't know--they are cuter off than on? Oh well, she likes them.

Brent and Ashlee and the boys came later that day and brought this Old School Nintendo game system . I enjoyed playing Mario brothers and remembering where all the "extra man mushrooms" were located. Aaron thought I was so "awesome" making it to level 8-3. Sam and Aaron loved to watch the adults play, but as hard as I tried, I unfortunately could not save the princess.

Aaron was my biggest fan

Aaron's new remote control car

A good Christmas.

and last, but certainly not least, The Tykster.

Joy

I have no pictures to upload because I am not at my computer, but I wanted to say Merry Christmas to everyone. As I sit here, watching Narnia on TV and enjoying the kids uncontollable excitement, I am finally tasting Christmas. Most of you who know me, know that I have trouble speaking from my heart most of the time. I am better with the written, yet hope to be better at the spoken one day. Know that when I write what I write it is truly from my heart. I have been discouraged because Christmas came too quickly this year, rather I was too busy this year to feel Christmas. Last night I sat on my couch and cried because I felt like I missed Christmas. I never really cared so much about Christmas Day, it was the build up and the preparation that I enjoyed. But tonight as I sit, I am reminded that no matter if I "felt" the spirit of Christmas or not, Jesus still came to this earth in human form. He lived, He lead, and He loved, and then made the ultimate sacrifice for us all. It is His Spirit that I crave. It is Jesus that I long to know more, to grasp how "wide and long and high and deep" is His love for us. I not only want the rescue He brings, but also to be changed in my "innermost being," by Him. I want to truly Believe, not with just lip-service, but with my life. So, that is what I am pondering tonight on this Christmas Eve. That, and just how thankful I am to be sitting here with family, lovin' the joy in my kids faces and this warm laptop on my tummy full of white chocolate pretzels.
Merry Christmas to you all!

A week to go

It has been a crazy few weeks. The little side business that my friend Becca and I are running has been quite the hot item for Christmas gifts. WE had to make over 50 plaques in 2 weeks. so here I am now-- no wrapped presents under the tree, no Christmas cards out yet, no christmas cookies for my neighbors made, and I have missed just about every Christmas special there is--where are you Christmas? I am determined to make this weekend and next week a great one. We had Christmas parties at the kid's school today and it was quite the adventure. Eli had some sort of allergic reaction on the way to Aaron's party at 10:30. He was itching and crying all the way there. I just prayed--it was all I could do. I prayed God would "lead Eli beside quiet waters and restore his physical body as well as his little spirit," because momma had to teach arts and crafts and I couldn't bear to see Eli miserable--not to mention the kids probably would be a little distracted. Well, the Lord answered. I put Eli in a chair with a book, and I didn't hear a peep or see a scratch the entire craft. I took Eli to the chiropractor in between parties, and then we were off to Alexis' party. Aaron was playing with a buddy and a matchbox car on the floor, when a friend grabbed me and told me Aaron was bleeding. I turned around to see Aaron's face and hands covered in blood--no tears, just blood. I rushed over to see what had happened. Apparently he was trying to "flip" his car and it flipped right between his eyes and gave him a hole in the head. Literally, a hole! We got him some peroxide and a butterfly bandaid--and I think it will be okay. A matchbox car!? What in the world! When we got back to the party I gave a very hungry Eli some apple slices. He must have been pretty hungry because he stuffed one whole in his mouth and I turned around to see him choking. He choked for a solid half a minute before he got it all out. Needless to say, I was a bit frazzled when I left. But, we are all in one piece, except for that little hole of course.
I leave you with something I wanted to write down and remember. Remember, this is somewhat of a journal for me to reflect on later. The other day Alexis came home from school and let me know that there was no such thing as Santa Claus," isn't that right mom? " I knew this was coming, because Lexi has always asked many questions. She never could wrap her little mind around the idea of a big fat man jumping down a small chimney to deliver millions of presents to little girls and boys all over the world in one night, not to mention on a sleigh led by flying reindeers. She thinks too much. Wonder where she gets that? Anyway, I stared at her for a couple seconds and knew at that moment I could not lie to her. I said, "you're right." She clapped her hands and said "I knew it!" I asked her if she was upset. "No, mom, Christmas is about Jesus. I am just glad He was born." I cried for months when I LET myself believe there was no Santa, and I was like 20, okay maybe 11. Here is this 6 year old telling her mom that Christmas is about Jesus, not Santa. I was the sad one, so was Kevin. Will she still be excited about Christmas? Will she ruin it for everyone else? We are the ones with the hang ups. Not Lexi. She knows who to celebrate. She knows who the world needs. Maybe she will actually always enjoy Christmas? Maybe she will be like the kid in Polar Express and always hear the bell. Not to worry, all of you who's children are exposed to Alexis' new secret. She promises to keep it. Aaron is not yet ready for the news either.
Here'is a recent pic of the kiddos. Merry Christmas if I don't post again before then.


Here is one of the many plaques we made. I really like this one and thought it was appropriate for the post.

Pictures and food for thought

Eli and his new truck


Aaron and Uncle Ryan



Grandmommy and Eli

Alyssa and her family

Me and Kevin

me and the kids, Lexi got tickled

the family

Kevin and Eli

me and Aaron

I went to the mall today for the first time in a long time. Aaron needed new school shoes so we decided to go to Stride Rite in the mall. As I was walking around with Aaron and strolling Eli, I took notice of all the other moms walking around with their kids, and one thing really struck me--something that I never really thought of before now. I was walking through Penney's to get to the car and as I was walking through the aisles I came upon a 3 year old little girl, sitting in the middle of the aisle with a few toys around her. As I passed, I noticed her mom at the jewelry counter, talking on her cell phone. Her little girl was just sitting there having a conversation with her mommy, thinking she was listening, while her mom was having another conversation totally distracted away from her daughter. Now, I say this in full conviction, knowing I have spent a lot of time on my cell phone. I think just about every mom with a child I saw today had their cell phone glued to their ear, and I felt sad when I left. I just wonder how our need for immediate distraction, interaction, whatever you call it, will play out in our kids when they get older? How will it manifest itself in their lives? Think about it. I left my cell phone in the car accidentally today when I went in to the mall, and I listened to my son as he chatted my ear off, and let him stop at every little thing he wanted to see. I enjoyed Aaron. He enjoyed my attention. I think I'd like to accidentally leave my phone in the car more often.