Hallelujah!!!

Tonight we had a Hallelujah party. I always feel a bit mean about the children missing out on Halloween but it's not consistent with our beliefs to celebrate it. This year we decided to have a Hallelujah party where we praised God for Jesus, the light of the world. We made Pumpkin Soup (we had to read the book, of course) which we ate with crusty tiger bread and cheese for all the dairy types. Then, because our oven is broken atm, we feasted on refrigerator cake. We read scriptures about Jesus being the light of the world and talked about how tomorrow is All Saints Day, so we talked about missionaries and martyrs, particularly the need to remember to pray for those who are out there on the front line. Our dear friend Jennifer is currently working as a missionary in Thailand so we will think of her particularly tomorrow. After the meal and meditations the children carved pumpkins with crucifixes and 'joyful' faces. We played apple bobbing and marshmallow fishing and then roasted marshmallows. We ended the evening with hot chocolate all around. Yummy. It was a great evening and I'm sure the children will remember it and ask for another next year. I shall have to get thinking of some new games.

The thing that saddens me is that I'd love to do something similar at church but there is no will for it. In fact, I wonder how many children were at Halloween parties or out trick or treating. That fear may be totally unjust but most people think we're mean for telling the children that Santa isn't real so I wonder if they think we're just as odd for opting out of Halloween. I guess there might be conversation after coffee tomorrow and then we'll see.

Hallelujah to our risen Lord.

Christmas Consumerism

Well it's that time of year again. Apparently the Christmas decorations are already up in The Mall. Cue crowded shops, spending frenzy and overloaded credit cards. And why are we doing this? To celebrate the birth of a child in a dirty, smelly stable, who lived several years of his adult life with 'nowhere to lay his head', and ended it on a cross to pay for the all the hideous sins of humanity. Hmmm. Makes a lot of sense doesn't it?! If you feel like answering NO to this question, please check out the following links and think about doing Christmas another way this year. I can't say we'll be totally 'buy nothing' but we are seeking a simpler, more intentional celebration.

www.buynothingchristmas.org
www.simpleliving.org
www.wwjbmovie.com

Jo
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Hello again

Hello again. Sorry I haven't been blogging for a while but I've been rather overwhelmed for the last few months. All my boys are now a year older and a new baby is on the horizon. I am 12 weeks pregnant and am just coming to the end of a period of nausea and tiredness. I didn't quite expect that baby no. 4 would come quite so soon after no.3 but, having got over the surprise we are now delighted, although wondering how we will afford a bigger car and if we can move house should the baby be a girl. We are sure, however, that those details will merge into insignificance when we meet our little one; God knows what we need and has them in hand. I hope to get back to blogging more regularly soon, but for now I will leave you with our news and say goodnight.
Jo
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Painting with Will

Had to share this pic of Will enjoying the washable canvas he received for his birthday. What a great gift idea; he had a lovely time experimenting with the brushes.

Jo

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Summer 09 Photos

Will's Birthday

Well last Wednesday my little chap had his first birthday. It was a close call as to whether or not he'd be well enough to celebrate but in the end he was fairly chipper. I was so excited and was up until 3am on the morning of his birthday decorating the family room and wrapping presents. We bought him a Myriad stacking rainbow and a pushalong duck with flappy feet from Treeblocks. I also made him a lovely birthday crown, which he was not too impressed with having to wear, a family of knitted sheep, a felt cube and a bedtime bag. Later he received a new carset (horror of horrors it cost £105 - I nearly passed out from having to part with the cash but apparently we have buckle crunch and so a less expensive one would be dangerous) and a huge array of wonderful unique and handmade gifts from friends and family. We had a lovely party in the evening with friends from church; unfortunately our families live too far away to make it easy to attend such events. He loved the attention and had a super day, not at all phased by any of it.

I can't believe that a year has passed since he first entered our physical world. Of course he lived in our hearts long before that day, but it was so momentous meeting him in the flesh for the first time, especially when we had lived with the shadow of chromosomal abnormality in the preceeding months. When I think that we could have lost him if I'd had the amniocentesis, and he was perfectly healthy after all, not that we would have loved him less had he not been healthy. It's been a fantastic first year. I always worry that you won't have enough love for another child, yet somehow love seems to stretch to encompass the new bundle without thinning elsewhere. He is such a fantastic chap; he is funny and loving and adventurous and a little bit mischievous and I am soooooooooo proud of him. My darling boy.

Jo

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Catching Up

Haven't posted for ages but just a quick note to let you know that we are all alive and well, or wellish at least; William has a throat infection atm. He's being very brave bless him although we are all rather stir crazy at having to stay indoors. If it's not the weather it's a poorly child. Mind, he's not really been ill at all since he's been born so it's a rarity for him to be so under the weather. It's his birthday next week. My wee little one will be 1. I can't believe it. I have been crafting apace to make him some lovely gifts, as well as a weeny Myriad order you understand.

We haven't done much since my last post, although we attended Keswick Convention and got rather wet camping in the rain. It was brilliant, though, and really got us back on track with our Christian lives after sliding a bit recently.

Anyway, enough for now.

Jo