The gender reveal game

 Jill's family arrived late in the evening after driving all day long. 

They quickly raided the snacks and the 'fridge!

The next morning, we zoomed Josh's family in Arkansas so they could play the gender reveal game with us!

This is the game board that Mindy made.

Each kid took a turn popping either a balloon for a girl or a boy.

We were really hoping that the confetti wouldn't fly out on the very first balloon pick in order that each kid would get a try.  

Eli and Emeri were both asked to pick out balloons and Jason popped it for them.

Most of us were pre-guessing this baby would be a boy.

Eli is the only boy and there are 4 granddaughters, so we thought that would be good!

Would you believe we got to the last 2 balloons?!  Amazing that it wasn't 2 pink squares or 2 blue squares left but one of each!

It was decided that Hannah and Sophia would pop these at the same time.

A girl!!

Eli thought it would be ok to be the only boy.  Makes him special.

The grandkids had exchanged names for Christmas.  Mindy and Jason were getting ready to leave, so Hannah gave her gift for Baby Girl P., a sweet stuffed hedgehog and some onesies.

Kobi had to check them out!

Baby Girl P. had Claire's name, so Claire opened up her gift.

Jason captured her expression of joy!

We had to take our family photo in 2 different shifts this year.  After the Colorado kids left, the Arkansas kids would come and we'd take another photo.

Covid has pirated our get together this year!

Arg!

Good-bye to our Colorado kids!

Next time we see them, Mindy will have a little bump!!

Silent Night

When my husband hears the song "Silent Night" he almost always says "It was not a silent night."  If you think about all the throng who were in Bethlehem for the census and tax, there was probably lots of clamouring!  I can imagine all the Jewish people in the homes complaining and yammering to one another about those awful Romans and their heavy handed taxes and rule.  I think of how it is when our family talks about politics!

The night Jesus was born, I'm sure Mary would have cried or even screamed during her labor.  It would not have been silent.

******

My home is now silent.  The children and grandchildren have gone home.  I have put Christmas decorations away.   Al is back to work.

When the kids were here, it was not quiet!  It was a joyous noisy.

Mindy and Jason were the first to arrive, coming Christmas day in the afternoon.  We got the news that our daughter-in-law had been exposed to Covid-19.  Jason and Mindy didn't want to chance getting exposed so the hard decision was made that they would leave early, and the Arkansas kids would wait a extra day to come.  Since Jill's and us have had it, we weren't worried.

So we had a quiet Christmas time together, just the 4 of us.  Or, I should say, the 5 of us!  Mindy had a new picture of our grandchild.

I had a stocking for the new baby. 

We watched "Babies".  It was delightful to watch about how babies are raised in 4 different cultures.

I told them the story of the real St. Nick, who was outspoken (not silent) of his love for Christ and was tortured for that.  He was jailed, branded with hot irons and his skin pinched with pliers.  After the persecution ended, he founded orphanages and helped the poor.  For some people, Christmas is all about the jolly fat man, Santa Claus, but the real St. Nick would have been all about pointing people to Jesus Christ.

The next day was a quiet day.  Mindy worked on putting together a gender reveal board.  We did some reading.  In the evening, we went for a walk in North Newton.

Someone had some fun with these hedgeballs!  One of my grandkids used to call them hedgehogs.

Evidently, they are supposed to keep spiders and other bugs at bay.  If you place hedgeballs around the foundation of your home, or in your basement, they say critters are repelled by these.  Although this belief is widespread, some scientists debunk this notion.  I read that the wood from the osage-orange tree is the best for making archery bows!  You can also extract bright yellow dye from the wood.

Baby's Name

When our kids come home for Christmas (tonight and tomorrow), there will be a gender reveal for newest baby coming next June to Mindy and Jason.  They probably haven't come up with a name yet, and perhaps may not reveal that until the birth.

In my devotional "Our Daily Bread", I read "Here's one conversation Mary didn't have to have with Joseph..

             

              'Joseph, what should we name the baby?'"

The angels who visited Mary and then Joseph told them both what they should name the One who was coming.  

" You are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins."  Matthew 1:2.   (Luke 1:31also.)  

                             Jesus saved me!!

He would also be called Emmanuel which means, "God with us".   God came in the flesh - "diety wrapped in  swadding clothes".

That gives me such comfort.  God WITH us - with me!  I am never alone!  At times my feelings tell me I am, but He says that is not true.  And He never lies.

Other names given to Christ were "Wonderful Counselor".  He counsels me!

Mighty God - I am weak, but He is not!  

He is the King of Kings!  The nations may think they are powerful, but He is the King over them!  "The Lord is the true God; He is the living God, the eternal King."  Jeremiah 10:10

He is the Light of the World.

Everlasting Father -  He is my Abba, Daddy.  He holds me, cherishes me even more than a loving earthly father loves his child.  Forever!!

Prince of Peace - when I am filled with anxiety and fears, He tells me in His Word "Do NOT fear!" He says it 366 times in the Bible!  One for every day including leap year!  I think He knows how fearful we can be.  He IS my Peace.

Isn't this a sweet photo?  I saw it on Facebook.  It reminds me of another word for Him.  The Word.  "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us." John 1:14  

There are so many names - Comforter, Refuge, Shelter.... I would encourage you to do an Alphabet Praise list.  Use the concordance if you need help and begin to write out all the names or characteristics of God from A-Z.  

Say, "Lord, You are...."

Almighty

my Burden bearer

Caring

my Deliverer

Well, you get the point.  There are so many for each letter.! Except  X or Z maybe.

He is the Name above all names! (Phil 2:9)

Getting ready!

Tomorrow is Christmas!  And soon our kids and grandkids will be coming!  I have gotten the house ready!  The tree is up and presents wrapped.

I added a new "addition" to our grandkids' ornaments.

Lots of people do a fancy tree, but mine is filled with sentimental ornaments.

Some are from Japan where I grew up

I have snowmen from the each of the states our kids live in;

and an ornament I cross-stitched for my mother

These animals have stories behind them

I have several from friends

and from my Aunt Millie

There are several birds, because I love birds!

Some are from our family trips to the beach

and travels overseas

This represents our firstborn's first Christmas gift

And this year's ornament

"The stockings were hung by the chimney with care..."

and on the stairsteps too.  

The mantel is not big enough for all the stockings!

The house is decorated...

  Do you know the true story behind Santa?  Nicholas of Myra (Saint Nick) lived in the time of Diocletian's heaviest persecution of Christians - a time when the executioners were so tired from killing Christians that they had to take turns in their work.  Nicholas was branded with hot irons when he would not deny Christ, and then had his skin pinched with pliers.  

  After persecution ended, he spent the later part of his days founding orphanages and helping poor children.  Today we hear very little of his suffering for Christ.  It is more glamorous but less glorious to make Nicholas the prisoner only into a Santa Claus.  He went to be with the Lord in 343 AD. - Voice of the Martyrs

My mother's creche

And this one was from my childhood.

One of the ears of the horse is broken off.

The table has been extended to seat all of us.  Next year we will have to add a highchair!

I love all the cards we receive each year from around the world!

Beds and pallets have been made.

(next year we'll need a pak and play!  Our crib was broken and had to be tossed)

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!!  Perhaps yours will be noisy and chaotic, or it might be quiet.  Maybe lonely.  Remember though, you are never alone!  You needn't be.  Christ has come.  Emmanuel - Christ WITH us!