Every year, we go see the same Santa at Macy’s downtown.
We go there because they don’t charge you to go sit on Santa’s lap and you can take your own photos. They take everyone’s photos there but they don’t force you to purchase their photos.
We’ve never purchased their photos. The ones I take have always turned out great… till this year because THEY took the PERFECT photo. Both Brian and I agreed to buy just ONE photo for our scrapbook:
I KNOW, RIGHT???
Paxton walked straight up to Santa and said, “Hi Anta! HI!” and Chance just hugged him like a long-time friend.
My boys have come a long way since this photo two years ago:
When I look at this photo, I feel like nothing could ever go wrong in the world.
The last time I ever took a photo with Santa was when I was 19. In hindsight… that’s kinda weird.
Our beloved Christmas Angel was brutally de-crowned by our 2-year old this year.
She’s been with us for TEN years… since Brian and my first Christmas together.
Dear Christmas Angel… thanks for all the good times. For watching over us and keeping us *somewhat* safe all these years. But it was obvious it was time for you to go back to worshiping God in Heaven. We replaced you with a unbreakable $12 star. It’s not the same, but it’ll last us through the next few toddler years. We’ll miss you. ~ Love, Brian & Jenni
Christmas is my favorite holiday. Everything about it sings “JOY”. But in all honesty… it’s a mixed bag for me.
I celebrate and practice new traditions we have created as a family unit. I love watching my boys eyes light up at the sight of the Christmas tree. I love listening to my husband talk to my boys about the TRUE reason for this season. I am delighted at what we, as a family, have become. I soak in the blessing of being a wife to an amazingly loving and handsome man and a mother to two very smart and vivacious boys.
So how is it possible to be sad in those same moments?
I’m saddened that my mother has chosen not to be a part of our lives. I mourn the lost Christmases of my childhood… what it COULD have been. I remember and regret the 3 Christmases I stole from my husband and first-born son in my narcissistic selfishness. I feel the loss of friends that are no longer friends because they believe I don’t deserve grace or second chances.
I think feeling both good and bad is actually good. We have to know we are only getting filled to be emptied again. I’m still working on recognizing that consistently. What’s good in all this reflection is that in my very real and fleshly confliction, I’m reminded that I am exactly WHY God sent Jesus here so many years ago. JESUS, the manger King, who came to save and reclaim the lost. He came for YOU AND ME.
The people Jesus rebuked were not “those people” we don’t want to be associated with. The ones my Jesus rebuked were the Pharisaical judgers, the ones who claimed there’s only enough Heavenly real estate for the law followers. Do not be worried about what THOSE people think of you, my friend, because they will lose their crowns soon enough (just like my poor angel).
But in this season, dine with who Jesus dined with: prostitutes, the sick, the homeless, the lonely, the adulterers/adulteresses, the thieves, the poor, the forgotten, the broken… the repentant sinner. Because this is where you will reclaim your crown.
What girl doesn’t love adding to her shoe collection?
Well… here’s an amazing way to not only benefit yourself but needy children all over the world.
Watch this video:
This Christmas, our family purchased three pairs of shoes from Toms Shoes. What that means is, our investment in the three shoes for our family has also provided for THREE pairs to needy children. That’s SIX pairs of shoes, for you who are not so quick with the math. One-for-One.
To be completely honest, though Chance and I are rockin’ out our shoes, this style of shoe is TOTALLY not Brian… however, he’s wearing it anyway because he loves the cause behind it. I believe he’ll grow to love the way they look because they are SO comfortable.
The best part of all this is the conversations Chance and I have had about REAL life. I’ve shown Chance MANY of the Tom’s Shoes videos and his questions break my heart. It’s amazing HOW much a 4-year-old understands and how much compassion their hearts have. When the shoes showed up at our doorstep, Chance’s first reaction wasn’t, “YAY! I got new shoes!!!”… it was, “MOM! THREE KIDS GOT NEW SHOES THAT DIDN’T HAVE SHOES BEFORE!!!” Then, he grabbed his piggy bank and said, “I want to buy another pair for them!”
Our family has dedicated to always having a pair of Tom’s in our rotation of wear. We figure by the time ours wear out, another child’s has LONG been worn out. We’d love for you to join us in Tom’s amazing movement. If you choose to purchase a pair before January 31st, 2010… you can use THIS $5 discount code:
Our church, Church at Bethany, is raising money a different way for Christmas this year. In fact, the money we’re raising isn’t even FOR our church… but ALL of the proceeds will go toward the helping homeless children in our community and towards aiding children in orphanages.
If you’re in the Portland area, and are planning on getting a tree for Christmas this year… please consider purchasing it from us. Your money will go to those in greater need. There’s no BETTER way to get a Christmas tree this year!
Below is the press release I pulled from Matt’s blogsite.
PRESS RELEASE
Church! at Bethany, a 3-year old church that meets at the Stoller Middle School, is selling Christmas Trees For Kids.
100% of the proceeds will go to help children. 50% will go to the Beaverton School District Homeless Student Fund and 50% will go to Children of the Nations, which is a Seattle based organization that works in Africa to care for orphaned children.
The sale will take place at 16260 NW Bronson Rd Beaverton, on November 28th, 29th and December 5th, 6th, 12th, and 13th
Hours of operation are Saturdays 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Sundays 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
Trees are available starting at $25.
Donations are accepted and can be made online here!
It’s mid-October and all the talk shows are already talking about what to get your loved ones for Christmas.
Apparently, it’s NOT too early to talk about this… so lets:
Brian and I have been talking, praying and preparing for THIS year… the Christmas Chance turned three… because we knew it would be the first year he would really start to grasp the concept of Christmas.
We’ve already been in constant dialogue this past year with Chance about the children we sponsor through Compassion International. He is really starting to understand not all children can JUST “have a snack” when they’re hungry and drink water when they’re thirsty. Now… does that stop him from whining when he wants it? Not really… but it’s a starting point, right?
Chance had an amazing birthday. His friends got him a bajillion toys so we feel like he’s covered in the toy area right now. We want to give him everything he wants… doesn’t every parent???… but we want for our kids to understand the gospel of Christ more than the gospel of consumerism. We want them to love people MORE than they love stuff.
Most of all, we want them to know what it really looks and feels like to fully worship Christ.
We decided instead of loading him with gifts, we would purchase a much SMALLER amount of gifts (maybe 2… oh GASP!!) and those gifts would be relational gifts. This means, these gifts will be games or activity objects he can do with us or others. And his gifts to others will be things he’s made, painted, colored, etc.
The rest of the money we “save” will be distributed to the charities we support.
We’re also going to ask our family to write a check to these charities as well instead of buying us physical gifts. I’m guessing this will be pretty tough for some of my family members since they actually enjoy the activity of shopping and the “hunt” for that perfect gift.
The goal is to sit down with Chance (and Paxton… though I doubt he’ll understand any of it) and share with him the real deal on Christmas – JESUS!
Within my family, this idea originally began with my sister, Helen. About 4 years ago, she asked that the money we spend on her for Christmas be donated to her charity of choice OR towards her upcoming mission trip. So, that’s what we did. Look how much I learn from my baby sister
This, OBVIOUSLY, isn’t a new idea. Yesterday, Matt and I went to Imago Dei to check out the Advent Conspiracy. We’ve decided to support this concept and campaign at Church! at Bethany every year from this point on.
Check out this promo video from Imago Dei we’ll be using this upcoming weekend:
It blows my mind that $450,000,000,000 (BILLION) is spent in the United States for Christmas when it would only take 10 billion to remedy the clean water situation in the whole world.
Am I saying don’t buy Christmas gifts??? ABSOLUTELY NOT. Our economy needs you to shop and to spend money. What I’m saying is buy a relational gift, or sponsor a child (you can click on the banner I have up on the left), or clean a widows gutters.
My in-laws are taking our family to Eagle Crest for a week the day after Christmas for our gift. This is brilliant because it gives us family time together.
PRESS RELEASE
