Christmas 2011

A reflection of Christmas 2011 through pictures...

Our Jesse Tree...a new Advent tradition

ICE at Opryland Hotel

Christmas morning at home before going to SC

An annual SC Christmas tradition...

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adding handprints to Mimi's tablecloth.

Cousins

Warm enough for fishing with Papa...

 a walk through the woods...

climbing trees...

and enjoying being together.

Welcoming 2012 with the kids' new trampoline

As we celebrated Christmas, we all couldn't help but think of what may be ahead for us in 2012.

A new series of Hallmark ornaments.   Praying a new set of hands will be hanging it on our tree in 2012!

Just around the corner

"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."

Isaiah 9:2

When we moved to Nashville in 2009, we started the tradition of going to the Opryland Hotel to see the Christmas lights. This year we went to see the ICE exhibit at Opryland, featuring the characters from Madagascar. We bundled up in the provided blue parkas and ventured into the sub-freezing zones. It was quite amazing to see the characters and scenes chiseled in ice. By the time we reached the "ice slides" I was frozen and left the sliding to the rest of the family!

As we neared the end, I braced myself for the unavoidable and overwhelming "gift shop" that awaited just around the corner beyond the exit. However, when we entered, I was stunned to see this:

Beautiful Christmas music was playing and it took me a few seconds to orient to the display before me. Tears stung my eyes and time stood still for a few moments. Instead of the chaos of a gift shop, I was surrounded by ice figures depicting the miracle and beauty of Christ.  

I am not sure exactly what it was that caught me off guard. Perhaps it was seeing a display of the things of God in an unexpected setting. Maybe it was experiencing peace when I fully expected chaos. However, just around the corner, when I least expected, I found a a gift of Presence that I will not soon forget.

Katie and I in our lovely blue parkas!



Waiting for Christmas by Thom

I love the Christmas Season!! I love the colder weather, the lights, the music, and the season of advent as we prepare for the coming of Christ. I even love the big gaudy plastic or inflatable yard decorations. I love sitting at home with a fire ablaze, the lights off except those on the tree, and James Taylor Christmas on in the background. I love wrapping gifts and watching Katie and David as they express such joy and delight as they open their presents. I love watching Linus Van Pelt explain Christmas to Charlie Brown from Luke 2:8-14. I even love seeing the heart transformation of the Grinch atop Mount Crumpit, perched with all the toys and his faithful dog Max high above Whoville.

 

But this year something doesn’t seem quite right. Amidst the joyful celebration there is an ever-present unrest. Although Lori and I are very early in the adoption process, I am aware that part of our family, the portion known now only to God, will not be celebrating Christmas with us. As we wrap presents and cook cookies, decorate the house and share in the joy of the season, I find myself thinking of an unknown orphanage somewhere in the Congo where a girl, or a boy, or siblings spend another Christmas.

More than any season before, I understand the expectant waiting of advent. The Israelites waited 400 years for a message from God, the church awaits the return of Christ, and we wait for the miracle God will do within our family through the process of adoption. So this year with new understanding and meaning, 

Come, Lord Jesus. 

Come quickly. 

We await the miracle of your birth.

   “the people walking in darkness have seen a great light”                                                                 Isaiah 9:2

Christmas Traditions: Now and Then

Each year we decorate our home for Christmas the weekend after Thanksgiving weekend due to family travel. On Saturday, Thom began sorting through our decorations and strung lights on the trees outside. The weather was very mild and we headed out to the Franklin Christmas parade. After the parade we stopped in Sweet CeCees for yogurt before browsing the shops on Main Street.

Last night before bedtime, we introduced the kids to a new tradition, the Jesse Tree. During Thanksgiving, I was scrambling for an advent devotion to do with our children. I had given some thought to it earlier, but let it fall to the bottom of the "to do list." But as I watched the kids look through the "Black Friday" ads and become somewhat overwhelmed with "stuff," I desired to have something to help us focus on Christ each day. Thankfully I ran across the idea for the Jesse Tree on another adoptive mom's blog. We are a week behind, but are enjoying this time together. (And it helps David keep track of "how many more days until Christmas!)

After church today, we decorated our Christmas tree. As we hung ornaments on the tree, we talked about Christmas "now and then."

Though we did have a brief discussion about how Christmas is different now for children compared to the past, we mostly talked about Christmas traditions "then": when our adoptive child(ren) come home. Our discussion began when we hung stockings on the mantle and one of us noted we will have to buy new stockings when our family grows. We briefly debated whether we would buy new ones, but decided we will keep the ones we have for our children and Thom and I will add new ones for us.

For now, we have a small nativity I purchased in Uganda this summer. It sits in the center of our mantle.

 Throughout our decorating, we talked about our adoption, especially with Katie, who really "gets it." We wondered if our child(ren) will be with us this time next year or if we will still be waiting. We thought about ornaments we will add while we wait. We pondered about how we will introduce/explain Western traditions of Christmas, especially the "guy in the red suit," and changes we will choose to make. What a special time with our children!

After decorating the tree, we moved on to David's favorite Christmas activity: decorating cookies. He is serious about decorating and has been since he was 3! We had a lot of fun together!

The finished products

So thankful for time to make and cherish our family traditions!