Today's verse was John 1:10-18 too good not to publish in it's entirety from the NIV translation:
"He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' " From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.
The Advent calendar said we were to get our tree tonight, but SN II had tickets to Disney on Ice! So, Pants, Bumpa, SNII and I went to see Disney on Ice - the Princesses. It was a very sweet evening, the skating was great and the stories were all so cute. Jasmine, Mulan (Pants' favorite part: Mu Shu!!), Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, and the Little Mermaid took up the first half. Bless his heart, Bumpa kept asking, "Which one is this?" It was fun talking to Pants on my left and Bumpa on my right. The second half was the Cinderella story which was beautifully told on skates. It was a late night, but well worth it. Thanks SN II for making our fun night possible!
Day 13
Our reading today was Mark 1:1-11
Pants really lucked out today and was picked up from school early to go Christmas Tree shopping. She and her daddy brought home a beautiful tree who is temporarily named, "Tree-Tree." I'm thinking that name will stick. I'm not sure when the tradition of naming our trees started, but it has stuck.
We went on to make da lefse and krumkake. It's was a great afternoon and Pants is an amazing lefse flipper. She caught on so quickly and was a great helper in the kitchen. There were Christmas songs on the radio, lots of banter in the kitchen, friends stopping over, and plenty of "Christmas Cheer" *wink*wink*
The day ended with a pizza dinner and rehearsal for Pants' Christmas program at church on Sunday. Put 100+ pre-K through 5th grade on a stage and watch the show. I saw impromptu sword fights, kids turned completely around, kids bobbing and weaving as they sang, girls braiding hair, kids copying the conductor, and of course the usual nose picker and dress lifter -got to have at least one of those in every program ... it was hilarious, but expected, of a rehearsal. They got quite the talking to at the end and we went home exhausted.
Day 14
St. Lucia Day! A Swedish tradition to be sure, but we had some real fun this morning. Pants woke up and was able to open a present or two. She received a St. Lucia gown that her Alpha Grandma (aka Memaw) had sewn, a pretty red sash for it and a crown of candles for her head. The best part was Felicity received a St. Lucia outfit as well!
Pants, Bumpa, and I got dressed, piled in the car and headed out to our friend's St. Lucia Breakfast party ... a full on Swedish smorgasbord. Herring, potato sausage, risgrot (Pants found the almond in her serving and received a beautiful poinsettia plant, bar of chocolate and pretty little Lucia ornament as her prize!), cookies, lefse, julekake, the works! Our friends, Shelly, and her family have been hosting this party for upwards of 20 years - it was wonderful and a great new tradition. Pictures soon!
We came home, relaxed and spent the early afternoon decorating the tree. I forget how fun that is to pull out each ornament and tell the story. Where we got it. Why we got it. Why we love it. A memory that goes with each one. It's something I continually forget about until the time we decorate the tree. This year I made a batch of cookies while Pants decorated. She came running into the kitchen with each ornament and a "Mom! Look at this one!" or "Mom! It's your FAVORITE!" or "Mom! It's our ornament from Lutsen!" Her joy and excitement was enough to bring me to tears more than once. Christmas through a childs eyes... is there anything better? I took some snaps of particularly sentimental, fun, or important ornaments. Would love to hear from you what your favorite ornaments are?
Our reading today was Mark 1:1-11
Pants really lucked out today and was picked up from school early to go Christmas Tree shopping. She and her daddy brought home a beautiful tree who is temporarily named, "Tree-Tree." I'm thinking that name will stick. I'm not sure when the tradition of naming our trees started, but it has stuck.
We went on to make da lefse and krumkake. It's was a great afternoon and Pants is an amazing lefse flipper. She caught on so quickly and was a great helper in the kitchen. There were Christmas songs on the radio, lots of banter in the kitchen, friends stopping over, and plenty of "Christmas Cheer" *wink*wink*
The day ended with a pizza dinner and rehearsal for Pants' Christmas program at church on Sunday. Put 100+ pre-K through 5th grade on a stage and watch the show. I saw impromptu sword fights, kids turned completely around, kids bobbing and weaving as they sang, girls braiding hair, kids copying the conductor, and of course the usual nose picker and dress lifter -got to have at least one of those in every program ... it was hilarious, but expected, of a rehearsal. They got quite the talking to at the end and we went home exhausted.
Day 14
St. Lucia Day! A Swedish tradition to be sure, but we had some real fun this morning. Pants woke up and was able to open a present or two. She received a St. Lucia gown that her Alpha Grandma (aka Memaw) had sewn, a pretty red sash for it and a crown of candles for her head. The best part was Felicity received a St. Lucia outfit as well!
Pants, Bumpa, and I got dressed, piled in the car and headed out to our friend's St. Lucia Breakfast party ... a full on Swedish smorgasbord. Herring, potato sausage, risgrot (Pants found the almond in her serving and received a beautiful poinsettia plant, bar of chocolate and pretty little Lucia ornament as her prize!), cookies, lefse, julekake, the works! Our friends, Shelly, and her family have been hosting this party for upwards of 20 years - it was wonderful and a great new tradition. Pictures soon!
We came home, relaxed and spent the early afternoon decorating the tree. I forget how fun that is to pull out each ornament and tell the story. Where we got it. Why we got it. Why we love it. A memory that goes with each one. It's something I continually forget about until the time we decorate the tree. This year I made a batch of cookies while Pants decorated. She came running into the kitchen with each ornament and a "Mom! Look at this one!" or "Mom! It's your FAVORITE!" or "Mom! It's our ornament from Lutsen!" Her joy and excitement was enough to bring me to tears more than once. Christmas through a childs eyes... is there anything better? I took some snaps of particularly sentimental, fun, or important ornaments. Would love to hear from you what your favorite ornaments are?
I tried to post the slideshows as before, but must be having an ID 10 T problem. Here is a link.
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