Who reads this stuff?!

So, I am taking a poll here. I want to know who reads this darn blog?! The reason is this. I got a note from someone who said, " I love reading your blog." And I was so thrilled to know that she even knew about it and was keeping up with us back here in Indiana. So... if you read this blog, just leave me a little comment like, "Hi" or "I do" or "It's me." It would be really great to know who's checkin' up on us. I love it! Have a wonderful day.

Four Years ago on the 20th!

Because we got married on December 20th, it always seems that our Wedding Anniversary is something that gets put on the back burner because of Christmas. Well... this year I wanted to make sure that that didn't happen. As the planning would go with a 5 month old and a 2.5 year old making something special happen can be a challenge. First challenge... I wanted a peaceful dinner (no kids). So I thought a nice dinner in front of the fireplace and MAYBE our wonderful friend and neighbor would watch the kids for a couple of hours. Plan set, calendar booked, invitation made for C, shopping for the dinner done. Yah! WELL, the plan took a turn when our neighbor called and her son had had a fever of over 100 for two and a half days and no sign of it breaking. Being the gem that she is, she was still willing to watch the kids. I love her too much to put that on her with 4 kids of her own and one being sick. So, what to do, what to do??? Plan 2, Little G can stay with us and Big G can go with another friend. OK... we got it. Well, Little G is very hard to cook with now a days as she is very active and grabs at everything. So the yummy dinner I planned was not turning out the way I had planned (such is life huh?!) Well, we found someone to take Little G and the Anniversary dinner I had planned turned out just like I had dreamed. C and I enjoyed our dinner, cake, gifts and adult talk with no interruptions. It was so great to connect. After times like this, I am reminded again why I married this wonderful man. We looked to the next year of marriage with a renewed love and compassion for one another's lives. He as a pastor and I as a mom. We both agreed we need to do times like this once a month to just "be" and listen (uninterrupted) to one another and share our prayers, hopes and dreams. It is such a gift! Happy Anniversary Honey ~ Love you! You are such a blessing! Thanks to our friends too for taking the kids! What a gift you all are!

We Wish You A Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas 2007!

The excitement is brewing around the Contreras' House today as Christmas Eve is here today. There are gifts under the tree for friends and family and Big G keeps asking if he can open them. The count today is 5 times in the past 2 hours! He is about ready to crawl out of his skin with joy! Mickey Mouse Christmas is on in the living room, the smell of coffee is flowing around the house, Gracie is down for her morning nap, the last minute grocery list is on the counter for C (God bless this man, he is always doing a grocery run for his forgetful wife) and the spirit of Christmas is truly in the air today. Big G opened his final advent door today and pulled out Jesus. One of the goals this year was to focus on what Christmas is really about and today was fruit of a goal. Gabriel knows that the season is about Jesus. He loves the presents and Santa thoughts (which I love too), but he knows that tonight we will sing Happy Birthday to Jesus with our friends. It brings me so much peace and joy to see Big G loving the Holidays and enjoying the true meaning. Thanks Aunt Angie for the Advent calendar - such a great gift that we will enjoy year after year.

Come Closer to Christmas

This week at my MOPS group we had a wonderful woman come and share about coming Closer to Christmas. Her name is Jane Rubietta. www.JaneRubietta.com and she shared a very special message that challenged me this week. She presented us with 4 "Be Challenges" and they are to: Be Trim (cut out all the non-essentials), Be Realistic (AMEN!), Be Quiet (I'll really have to try on this one) and Be Grateful (ouch!... that one always gets me). She left us with a homework assignment that I have been working on in my head since last Thursday and the task was to make a Wish List this holiday. The list should focus on: "What are your deepest longings this holiday season?" Here are a few that I have come up with and am working on these upcoming weeks.

• That my children will KNOW the true meaning of Christmas and that I would be one of the models for that truth.
  
• That I enjoy the process of Christmas and not just want to "get it all done!"
• That through the process of the holiday we would make lasting memories and create family traditions.

That's all the I have come up with so far, but if you'd like to be challenged like I was, I invite you to join me in the process and share your thoughts with me.

Merry Christmas and May you sense God's love and peace this season!

Frosty the Snowman

It's a winter wonderland here in Indiana. To the left is a picture of C mowing the lawn (a view from our back deck) just this past Sunday and two days later here is the view of our back deck - frosty the snowman and snow angels! Ya just never know about the weather back here! C and G are out shoveling the drive and sidewalks as I type this. We have been getting some beautiful snowfalls these past few days. So beautiful, I am just staying home and not going out in it. It looks better from the living room window than the car windows (in my opinion). Thus, I have been doing online shopping today!!!