Merry Christmas!

At our house anyway! We decided to do Christmas a day early since we'll be traveling most of the day tomorrow. We read the Christmas story and then opened gifts. Of all the things the boys got to open, they like their flashlights the best. Gator told us that he can help Daddy look for ticks now. Ahhh, the joy of the season (when will the ticks die?). Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Thank you Jesus for coming to save us!

And the winner is...

Aren't they cute?! The crying picture was the first one that we took, and this one was the next to last one we took. Glad we got a cute one, you just can't see how pretty their eyes are. Maybe next year we'll have more luck.

In other news, Gator got to go to school today! I know that he's missed it (we've all been sick). Hopefully, Bull will be able to attend on Thursday. I am glad that they are well enough to go back to school. I'm praying that 2008 will be a healthier year for all of us!

Warning: more serious than normal...

I hope that this rings true with someone out there! I know that I can't be alone in my struggle to balance all the "stuff " in my life. Let's be encouraged! We can do what needs to be done and have a vibrant wonderful relationship with our Lord, our spouses and our kids. That's what matters anyway!

Part of a recent journal entry:

Hello. My name is Christie. It's been 7 days since my last quiet time...

Somedays I am horribly apathetic about my life. My goals are getting the house clean, the laundry done and dinner on the table. IT SHOULD NOT BE SO! I have one of the most precious and meaningful jobs on the planet - raising the next generation of Christ-followers. And yet I reduce it to laundry, cooking and cleaning. The trick is that to raise a Christ-follower, I have to BE a Christ-follower. But I am a Christ-forsaker in many senses.

I forsake Him so I can:
-empty the dishwasher or fold that last load of clothes.
-write my never-ending to-do list for tomorrow.
-have the company of electronic media and celebrities I can't relate to.

I forsake Him when:
-I yell at my kids instead of being gentle with my words and kind with my actions.
-I rely on my Psychology degree or a parenting book instead of His Word and counsel.
-I try to do it on my own without His strength.
-I ignore, badger or complain to my husband instead of respecting him with my time and attention or encouraging him with a word fitly spoken. (Please don't let him go to the corner of our roof! ::smiling::)
-I turn off the alarm clock that beckons me out of bed and instead roll over and go back to sleep.

When will I figure out that if I put Him first all other things will pale in comparison, yet shine so much brighter because of time spent with the lover of my soul?

Forgive me for forsaking and neglecting You, for being too busy "serving" and not loving and knowing You. You are the only way I will have the abundant life and not just the accomplished-I've-checked-everything-off-my-list life. Help me to prioritize and focus my attention on what matters!

This is us...

...trying to get a Christmas card picture:









We finally got a great one. I'll post it later!

Go Gators!

Congratulations to the young Tim Tebow, 2007 Heisman Trophy winner! And the first sophomore to ever do so. He follows in the footsteps of other Gators Steve Spurrier and Danny Wuerrfel. It's great to be a Florida Gator!

Christmas trees!

We broke down and bought a fake tree this year, even though it goes against all I believe. We have only one place in our living room that we can put a tree. And because of the armoire being bolted to the wall (safety first!), we can't move it over to make room. So, we got a fake tree. The boys have a tree in their room for the first time too. Gator had a wonderful time helping us decorate the tree. Bull wasn't interested.

Behold, Ratzilla!

This beast was living in our backyard and eating from our bird feeder. We set traps for him and he is no longer with us. For those of you who don't know, I have an issue with rodents. We had them in Tennessee (little field mice) inside our house. I am still creeped out by them. This rat could have eaten five of the little ones we had in TN. See this blog for a few laughs.