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The fullness of time

Because of my introduction to Ann Voskamp and reading her blog aholyexperience.com, I feel as though this Christmas the blinder on my eyes have been yanked off. Ashamedly, I have thought little about Advent and the waiting of the King in years past. I've watched as the candles have been lit on Sunday mornings in the church service and at the moment thought about the meaning of each.. But this year has been different. Through this season I have  contemplated what it must have been like for God's people in the OT as they knew the promised one was to come-but they waited in the midst of God's silence-hoping, yearning, desiring, to see it become "the fullness of time". Oh what joy they must have felt when the heard it proclaimed that "Christ was born in Bethlehem". What prophesies from old must have ran through their minds. They were expecting this day but they just didn't know when it would come. I can imagine a family who had studied the scriptures-  hung on to the promises of the prophets for generations-what they must of felt when they realized their redeemer was here. Earth changed that day and nothing has ever been the same. Our God put on flesh and came to be near to us so his great rescue mission could be accomplished. While my mind has been in this place-thinking of what it would of been like to celebrate Christ's birth... I think of another advent that all believers are currently in.. The waiting of the return of our King. The same one who humbly came all those years ago and was laid in the manger... will come again to complete his mission.  He will come for his bride and make all this new! The earth once again will never been the same. What a glorious story we get to be apart of-this redemptive love story of our creator. So as you think this Advent season of Christ birth- and place yourself in that story-and think how they must of felt.. .Don't forget you are in the second Advent story-rejoice and long for the day when " the fullness of time" comes and Christ will return and reign forever.

The Unfolding of time

Isn't it funny how quickly we forget things? My girls are only 17 months apart and it feels as if its been forever since Riley kate was doing the things Hadley is now. I remember feeling this way the first week we had Hadi home. It was like I was a newbie all over again. I understand why my mom who hasn't had a baby in 27 years can't remember things like -"do you feed them fruit or veggies first?" While, I'm sure in twenty years I won't really care what solid food I started my girls on at 6 months- there will be some "small" things I would like to remember. There have been moments in the past few months that I have watched videos of Riley Kate when she was Hadley's age and actually ached to spend that day with her again. I can't believe how quickly both of them are growing up. I heard a speaker once say-The unfolding of time seems so odd to us because we are meant to be eternal creatures. We once were to live forever -before sin entered the world. I feel this.. I feed the oddity that comes with my girls growing and changing-moving from one season to another. Because I am the sentimental type, (which my girls probably might not even value) every now and then I am going to record the random-nothing-exciting events of our day. I stated at the beginning of the blog that this is mainly record keeping for our family-so I am aware that the next part will bore some if not all-my apologies in advance  :)
My dear girls,
    Today is December 13, 2011. Its a rainy, cold Tuesday and we haven't even gotten out of our PJs. You both woke up this morning around 8:30. We watched our morning show-Patty Cake (of course) and had breakfast. This morning you both had cereal and a banana. Riley Kate -you told mommy when you woke up that you had a dream about Patty Cake and daddy shut the door to the fridge because thats where she lived -(I dunno -it was your dream ). Hadi when you woke up this morning we cuddles a long time before you were ready to get down and play  ( I love when that happens) Mommy cleaned some this morning and you girls played well together-which doesn't always happen. You played well until, Hadley started stealing Mary from Riley's manger scene she was creating with her "little people set". We had a talk and unfortunately a spanking because there was pushing involved. Aunt Ashley and baby Madison came over for a play date. Aunt Ashley brought over two Christmas pillowcase dresses she made for all three of you. We tried them on and you looked so sweet! Riley you have played doctor, pretended to talk on your cell phone, and put your baby down for a nap today. Hadley you have pushed your bus, played with babies, and taken one step (no more), and played with your little red monster. You all loved having Baby Madison over and the three of you did well together. Riley we read one of your 25 (not exaggerating) library books we checked out- "Madeline" a few times today.You really like that book. You had a grilled cheese for lunch with a side of yogurt and have been napping for almost 3 hours. Daddy will be home soon!

Passing moments I don't want to forget #1

As we were reading the story of the birth of Christ before Riley's nap today we began talking about how Jesus came to rescue us.. I could see she was puzzled and didn't exactly know what rescued was.. so off my cuff I tried to think of an explanation that a two year old would grasp.. I choose to use the illustration of  her falling down the steps and mommy catching her..thats kind of like rescuing. I then told her that we all need to be rescued -that mommy does, daddy does, she does, and everyone is the world needs to be rescued from sin. She asked "catched?" I said yes we all need to be "catched" (excuse the bad grammar-she's two :)) Then with a twinkle in her eye she said "mommy catchup like for my chicken..." Guess we will revisit that truth a little later :)