WHO YOU WOULD CHOOSE? and HAPPY NEW YEAR 2020!

If you wanted to try making a rum cake from scratch with a difficult recipe you never tried before, who would you choose for your helpers?  

Well, I chose these two very special helpers.  

And guess what?  

The cake turned out perfectly, and I didn't need to sample the rum during our baking time- haha!

I thought rum cake could be come a New Year's Tradition.  

Maybe the other part of that tradition will be that the little boys and I are the bakers each year.  

How funny!

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!

TAKING THE TIME TO "LISTEN"

Below is a video of what I found Jonah doing this morning after breakfast.  

One of the skills we have to have in communicating with Jonah is we constantly have to trace back to what we have been talking about.  Chances are something that Jonah heard us say caused him to think about something else, and that something else (or it may be a 2nd or 3rd leap of thought) is what he is currently trying to communicate to us.  

So at breakfast, Jonah and I were "talking" about the Grinch movie.  We finished breakfast, and I was cleaning things up.  Jonah started creating a scene in the living room by our tree.  Then I heard him singing.  When I went over to ask him what he was doing, he said something, but sadly I couldn't understand what he was saying (often our dilemma as Jonah gets more creative).  However, Jonah is getting more resourceful/determined so he proceeded to hunt down the Grinch DVD and excitedly pointed to it.  Then the light bulb went on for me.  

This is what Jonah acted out this morning:

This is the scene from the Grinch movie he was trying to recreate:

With Jonah, it always makes sense once you take the time to understand his context.  

The biggest mistakes one can make when interacting with a nonverbal person is assuming because he can't talk that he doesn't have anything to say.  From experience, we are realizing Jonah has some amazing stories to tell...if we take the time and effort to "listen".

  

WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANS TO ME

As I stated in the previous post, Andrew and I shared with the kids what Christmas means to us.  

I think this song best explains it for me.  

The message of Christmas is also the message of the cross, and both show God's love for us!

I also think this skit we watched in church on Sunday is an eye-opener to make you think about the real meaning of Christmas:

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

This was actually our annual cooking baking 2 nights before Christmas.  I was thinking the girls and I might not get to this tradition this year, but we found the time on Monday night!  Hmmm good!  Ben is in cookie heaven!

Yesterday the boys had to eat lunch by the piano bench "table" because the real table was already set for our candlelight Christmas Eve meal- filet mignon for the Lavey 5, minute steaks for the little Laveys.

Birthday Cake for Jesus!  The boys were soooo excited!  Andrew and I also shared with kids our favorite childhood Christmas memories and then what Christmas means to each us: see next post.

Off to church for our Candlelight Christmas Eve Service.  Great message about Jesus being the light of the world, and how we need to now be a light in the darkness.  

Christmas Eve family movie night- so fun watching the little boys watch the movie.  They know the lines and just giggled their way through the movie.

After the little boys were off to bed, we set up our surprise.  Five reindeer filled with each child's gifts.  I think I came up with a pretty good idea with this one!  Plus for mom: no wrapping needed.  We just placed the gifts in their boxes.  And we can use them again next year!  Even Stephen was impressed with my idea.  

We are ready for Christmas Morning!

Added bonus: Here are the boys coming down the steps on Christmas morning and discovering Santa's reindeer!

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS...except no snow

December 2019 Memories:

Lydia played a gangster in the school play- she was hilarious!

Visiting with Santa at our local Crisis Pregnancy Center Christmas party.  Jonah asked Santa for a tuba (his latest obsession).  Ben enjoyed lots of Christmas cookies!

 

The boys in our church's Christmas program.  

By the second song, Ben's shirt was untucked.

  

Jonah endorsed his own check!

Best Christmas present ever: My mom came home to have Christmas dinner at her house!

So thankful everybody home for Christmas!

Weather was so warm and beautiful today, we just had to take a hike.  

I think Elton John hiked with us...

Finally, this was the Christmas letter 

we sent out this year:

2019 has been quite a year…

January: My mom suffered a massive stroke.  It was a very scary and trying time. 

February: Continued healing and recovery for my mom.   This has been quite an emotional roller coaster for us all.  On a lighter note, we had quite a winter- LOTS OF SNOW!

March:  Andrew and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary.  Surprising because we are so young, right?

April: We hosted a German exchange student for 2 weeks, and we had so much fun.  Impressively, she survived living with our crazy family!

May: Jonah had surgery to remove his thyroid because medication was not controlling his Grave's disease. 

June: Ben celebrated his 9th birthday!  My mom moved from the rehab facility to a nursing home.  She has made an amazing recovery considering the severity of her stroke.  We are so proud of her and my dad's hard work and dedication to each other.  What a lesson in what love can do!

July: Andrew and the three older kids went on a mission trip with our church.  This was something we always wanted to do as a family.  The trip was a very meaningful experience for all.

August:  We had a fun summer with lots of swimming and visiting parks for the boys!

September: Jonah celebrated his 9th birthday.  Abigail started her last year of college, Stephen is  in his 2nd year of college, Lydia started her junior year of high school, and the boys started 3rd grade.

October: Most unusual, there was a snow storm on Halloween!  This made trick or treating interesting.

November: Again unusually snowy cold days in early November.  Does this mean a loong cold winter in store for us?

December: As we reflect on this past year, 2019 has been a challenging year for many reasons.  However, we are so grateful for all the Lord has helped and guided us through this most interesting year.  It has been a time  of realizing the importance of faith, hope and love in our lives: 

                   Faith: 1 Corinthians 2:5 That your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the                                                                         power of God.

                   Hope: Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so                                                                that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

                   Love: 1 John 4:16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God                                                             is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

 

God's Blessings to you this Christmas and in the New Year!

Love, Andrew and Mary, Abigail, Stephen, Lydia, Ben, and Jonah

HAVE A GOOD CHRISTMAS LAUGH!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Our pastor shared the following quote in church today.  I thought it was very intriguing and will make me examine how I spend my time each day.

“There are two days in my calendar: This day and that Day.”― Martin Luther

O CHRISTMAS TREE

Today we did our annual visit to the Christmas tree farm.  This year we actually had all 5 kids with us.  The past couple of years one or two of them have been off at college.  Nice to have the whole gang participate today!

Posing in Santa's sleigh.  Our fearless leader (ahem, always needs to be in charge) Ben took on the responsibility of Rudolph!

Feeding the sheep in the barn

Off for a ride in the wagon out to the field.  

It was blustery, cold, rainy, and muddy- but fun!  

Lydia found our perfect tree.  

The little boys "helped" cut it down.

Below is summary of something I found online that gives a Christian meaning to the many "things" of Christmas.  I love decorating for the holidays.  I thought these explanations would be good for the boys and I as we enjoy those pretty decorations- 

a good way to remember the real reason we celebrate Christmas!  

CHRISTMAS TREE remains green all year round, showing the everlasting hope of mankind. The needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of our prayers that always reach God.

STAR: The Bethlehem star was the sign of promises long ago. God promised to send a Savior to deliver the world. The bright star pointed to the fulfillment of that promise—God’s only Son had been born!”

CANDLE symbolizes that Jesus, God’s Son, is the light of the world. When we see this light remember the One who overcomes the darkness.”

WREATH reveals the endless nature of God’s love. Real love never ceases. Nothing can stop God’s amazing love.”

SANTA symbolizes the generosity and good will we show to others because God has given us His very special Son. 

CANDY CANE represents the shepherd’s staff. The crook on the staff rescues sheep who have strayed from the flock. God never gives up on people who wander from Him.”

ANGELS shouted the glorious news of the Savior’s birth. These heavenly messengers sang ‘Glory to God in the highest! Peace and good will to everyone on earth!’”

GIFTS: God deeply loves people, so He gave them His most precious gift—Jesus, His only Son. When the wise men arrived in Bethlehem, they bowed before the Child and presented gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. This is why we give gifts to others each Christmas.”

Click HERE for complete version of "Teach Children the Real Meaning of Christmas"

IT'S ALL HOW YOU FRAME IT

This year we celebrated our Thanksgiving dinner in the community room at my mom's nursing home.  It was actually our turn to host the gang at our house, but we thought it might be easier to bring the party to my mom since our house isn't set up that great for her wheelchair.  

I'm sure none of us expected at last year's Thanksgiving that this year we would be eating at a nursing home.  

However, as I sat and looked around the room full of family and friends enjoying the yummy food everyone brought, I realized it's all how you frame it.  

The community room at the nursing home is beautiful and BIG.  The little kids had room to play the fun games my mom had organized.  We were so proud of how my mom took on the role of hostess by planning activities for the kids and the adults.  

Of course, we wish the stroke had never happened.  We wish she could be living at home with my dad.  

But as I get older (Sorry Lord, I'm so slow to catch on), I'm realizing true thanksgiving isn't just being thankful for the good and easy in life.  It's being thankful for the bits of good you can find in the midst of a difficult situation.  That is when we have the opportunity to truly praise the Lord- when we trust Him enough during  a time that is not going according to our plan.  

So did we have Thanksgiving dinner in a nursing home?  OR did we have Thanksgiving dinner in a beautiful facility the Lord has provided to help my mom and dad at this time in their lives?

I guess it's all how you frame it...

Here are a few photos from our dinner 

"GOSPEL IN COLORS" CURRICULUM: REVIEW LESSON

Click HERE for explanation of the 5 gospel colors.

I made these flashcards to use each week.

This is the picture bible we use with the boys.  We love it because of the way it is written and the cute and colorful illustrations.  

Plus it offers a Bible story videos also. 

Click HERE for The Beginners Bible information.

WEEK SIX: REVIEW

1. Bible Story- 
Plan of Salvation, various Scriptures
Click HERE for ABC's of Salvation lesson

2. Songs-

Wordless Book song- use each week

Jesus is my Super Hero song

Jesus is the Great Good News song

O Happy Day song

3. Covered by the Cross game-

Click HERE for Covered by the Cross game

4. Craft-

Click HERE for Butterfly craft

The boys will color the butterfly using black, red, white, yellow and green.

5. Object lesson- 

Click HERE for Salvation Cups object lesson

6. Book-

Click HERE for A Birthday Party for Jesus book

7. Talk Through Plan of Salvation and Pray 

NOTE: Only if child seems ready.  If not ready, that's ok.  

God has a special timetable for each us.  

Click HERE for Salvation for Kids Step by Step

8. CELEBRATE!  Use the story or song about the Lost Sheep parable to let the boys know how excited and happy the Lord (and us) is that they have accepted Jesus as their Savior!

 

Story of the Parable of the Lost Sheep

The Lost Sheep song

"GOSPEL IN COLORS" CURRICULUM: GREEN

Click HERE for explanation of the 5 gospel colors.

I made these flashcards to use each week.

This is the picture bible we use with the boys.  We love it because of the way it is written and the cute and colorful illustrations.  

Plus it offers a Bible story videos also. 

Click HERE for The Beginners Bible information.

WEEK FIVE: GREEN

1. Bible Story- 
Fruits of the Spirit, Galations 2:22-25 
and 2 Peter 3:18
Note: The Beginners Bible does not have this story.  
You could use this link to explain fruits of the spirit:
Click HERE for Fruits of the Spirit lesson

2. Songs-

Wordless Book song- use each week

Fruit of the Spirit song

The B-I-B-L-E song

Love the Lord song

3. Gospel Color Worksheet- 

Color green space for this week

I made this worksheet to fill in each week.

4. Fruit of the Spirit game-

Click HERE for Fruit of the Spirit game

5. Craft-

The boys will glue the fruits of the spirit on the tree branches.  The Bible, church, and prayer pictures will be glued down by the roots.  This shows how we can grow our relationship in the Lord in order to produce fruit.

6. Academics-

a. Online Lesson

Click HERE for Starfall color green lesson

Note: I am a member of Starfall.  Best $35/year I could spend for the boys!

b. Song: 

I chose this series of color songs because it also works on learning how to spell color name

c. Choose which object is green activity.  

You could make up your own activity using objects around the house.  However, I use "Circle Time Activity Center" software.  I did not buy this, it was given to me as a gift.  Very nice to use and looks like it only costs $19.99?

Click HERE for information on this Circle Time software

d. Color Green worksheet

Click HERE for worksheet

7. Object lesson- Jonah loves ranch dip.  So we are going to make a small amount of homemade ranch dip.  Then we are going to talk about how we can keep adding the ingredients in order to make more dip so that we never run out.  This is to show that we have to work on growing our faith by continuing to read the Bible, pray, and go to church.

8. Book-

Click HERE for Gus Grows a Plant book

9. Prayer. 

Boys pray if they want to, and then I close in prayer.