Answered Prayer

Every night since we started doing the manual labor on the house, I prayed that the Lord would sustain me physically so that I could accomplish what I've needed to do.
He did that.  It was quite amazing that through all of that manual labor, very little sleep, and poor nutrition, I did not get sick and was always able to get out of bed and put in another day of hard work.
Well, the Lord sustained me all the way through Christmas.
This morning I woke up with a sore throat, pounding head, and runny nose.  Some would think I was crazy to be grateful to be sick today.  But I know that it was a blessing from the Lord that I was able to stay healthy through building our house, the move, and through Christmas.
The Lord knows me and answers my prayers.

Christmas Eve Festivities

We spent this morning getting the house clean for Christmas.  Jeremy and the boys shot trap with some friends.

At five we had dinner with Grandma and Grandpa Slack and the Bryans.  It was a great night with delicious food!

Brayden is so fancy.

After dinner we had our Christmas Eve program.  It was really nice.  Many of the kids played the piano or sang.

Jacob asked me why he didn't get to play the piano, so we put him on the program.  He was so excited until he figured out that he didn't know how to play.

Then he was sad.

Grandpa read the Christmas story out of Luke 2.

Then we acted out the nativity.  A favorite part of Christmas, for sure.

Jennifer made a yummy dessert.

Then Grandpa told the story of Sally and we were on our way home.

We all got new pajamas to wear to bed.  We hurried to our beds so that Santa could come.

Downtown Tradition

Every year we drive to downtown Indianapolis to see the lights on the circle.  We stop at the South Bend Chocolate Company and get delicious hot chocolate.  We met Grandma and Grandpa Slack and the Bryans.

 While we were walking around the circle, Santa stopped by on his red Harley!  The kids took a picture with him and gave him their letters. He had a special pouch just for that.

It was nice to do a little celebrating with people we love and keep a fun tradition.

Office

Today my sister Jennifer came to rescue me from the boxes in my house. We had a goal to get the office into working order. I should have taken a before  and after shot.  We sorted through boxes, arranged, and re-arranged furniture, went shopping for a beautiful new chair, (thanks for the family Christmas present and housewarming gift all in one!  And thanks for great finds on clearance!) and hung diplomas and paintings on the walls.

Now the room is exactly what I wanted it to be:  a refuge, an office, a reading room, and a piano room.  It is so nice to be able to close the doors and have some quiet. I think it is beautiful.

We had to really rush to get it done before Jeremy got home to surprise him. In fact, we were hanging diplomas as he drove down the driveway. (We had to adjust a few nails after he got home.)

The chair is so comfortable. We will love it for years and years.  We were so happy to find a place for the beautiful tiffany lamp from Grandma Alice, Jeremy's grandma.

Unexpected memories

This morning I cut Brayden's, David's and Rachel's hair.  Now my children do not look like neglected ragamuffins.  Quite a pile of hair.  Haircuts were way overdue.

Looking good!

I invited my friend  Sarah over since she has a natural eye for interior decorating.  Unfortunately she did not quite make the turn on our driveway.  This made for some creative work.

 Brayden and I drove the 4-wheeler out and tried to find a spot to hook onto the car.  We could not find a spot in the back, but found a spot in the front.  We used the winch and it pretty much just pulled the 4 wheeler closer to the van.  The van was stuck pretty good.  Then we couldn't get the hook off the front of the car and the 4 wheeler got stuck in reverse.

I decided this must be a job for the suburban, so I walked to the old house, got some tools, and tried in vain to find a place to hook the chains to.  During which, Brayden and I got wet and muddy.

Pretty soon Lance rolled up, bringing boots for his kids so they could get out and head to the nice warm house.  He spent a great deal of time trying to find somewhere to hook the chain onto their van.   I called Jeremy and he came home for work.  The rest of us went inside to dry off and get warm.
With Jeremy and Lance working together, they were able to pull the van out of the mud.

The kids had fun together.

Sarah helped me hang some pictures and decide the layout of the furniture.
After they left, I had to go and pick up the shower doors and vanity mirrors.
As soon as I drove into the driveway, I was followed by some of the youth I had invited over.  Today did not go as planned.  Oh well.
I was recently released as a Sunday School Teacher for 16-17 year olds.  I have taught that class for 11/2 years and loved it.  I wanted to have a chance to show them my appreciation outside of church and just talk to them about their lives, so I decided to have a party.  (I know I am crazy since we just moved in, but I love these kids!)
I really enjoyed hosting my first party in the new house.  It was great to catch up on the lives of the youth.

Andrew, Sarah, Josh, Kayla, Noelle

We played guesstures, one of my all time favorite games.  The boys slayed the girls.  (Because they had the secret weapon of my husband on their team.)

Sarah, Caitlin, Kierstyn, Katelyn, and Derrik

We had a fun night. My kids loved snacking on the treats that the guests brought.

Day 2 of moving

Yesterday at church, my friend Masako offered her army of boys to come and help me move more stuff out of the old house and into the new.  Quite an impressive army.

While they were moving things, Masako was vacuuming and cleaning what was left behind.  They were amazing and I was incredibly grateful!!!
Thank goodness for our attic (someday destined to be the bonus room.)
Tonight Jeremy worked on our closet so that we might be able to hang up our piles of clothes that engulf our bedroom.  It looks like the closet threw up.  I don't think we'll be able to live like this for long.

Early Christmas

It's always interesting the first morning in  a new house.  I went to take a shower and had no hot water.  Somehow the breaker must have been tripped last night for the water heater.  So thankfully we had a spare house with hot water not to far away. Robyn and I rushed down there to get clean.  We did not make it to church on time, but everyone was dressed properly and with matching dress shoes.  Quite an accomplishment for the morning after a move.

After church we let the kids unwrap an early Christmas present.  We gave them all a barstool. (and yes, I wrapped them in sheets.  Necessity is the mother of invention.)

 They were all excited about it and they each helped put their own together.

We really enjoyed having Aunt Robyn around. The kids have really warmed up to her and want to be right by her side when she is here.
I cut Jeremy and Jacob's hair tonight.  Jacob took a shower and while he was in there, he slipped and his toe went under the drain, pulling his toenail off the toenail bed.  There was a lot of screaming and a lot of blood.  Unfortunately, I hadn't moved over the first aid kit yet, so I had to call Grandma for a rescue.  (Jeremy was at an Eagle Court of Honor.)  Grandma and Grandpa came over to help out.

 I ended up rocking my traumatized boy to sleep.  It was actually quite wonderful to hold my boy and rock.  Something I have not been able to do for way too long.  Boy is it nice to be able to enjoy the house instead of just work in it.  I'm not sure I've ever appreciated sitting down quite so much.