Blessings and Raindrops

seeking joy in the midst of the ordinary

snow days…

We got hit with a big snowstorm Thursday night and Friday morning. This is the most snow I remember getting here in NW Arkansas in a long time {I still can’t believe we’ve lived here for almost 10 years – that is just crazy!}.

The snow is so pretty and the boys absolutely love it. To be honest, I am not a fan of all the work it takes to get dressed to go outside {and then, the inevitable potty breaks needed right after we finally get all of their gear on} BUT it is pretty magical and fun. I’ve been obnoxious on instagram with snow pictures the past few days but I don’t want to forget all of these moments. {I still don’t have my computer back – I am starting to get overwhelmed with how many pictures are on my camera that will need to be downloaded and organized…!!} for now… a few snow day photos…

We’ve spent a LOT of time in front of the fire lately…I just love a cozy fire!

Watching the snow fall the first night of the big storm … awestruck.

Using their tractors and dump trucks to “make a road” in the snow…

My view…first thing yesterday morning. Beautiful!

We went sledding at my sister-in-law’s house yesterday. It was the boy’s first time and they LOVED it. Nathan went down the hill about fifty times… he cracked up every time. Ben took a little while to warm up to the whole thing but eventually decided he loved it, especially when he went down with his cousin, Drew. They were cold and exhausted afterward…but, oh so happy…

Stay warm, friends!

our hope is in Him.

As I sit gazing out the window at the miraculous display of wintery white flakes falling softly, silently to the ground, I am still. Resting in the goodness of the Keeper of the storehouse of all of this snow.

God has been working in my heart in a new way over the past couple of days. I have received His grace. I can sense His presence in this place.

He knows. He sees.

He knows the hurt and the longing.

He knows how I ache for my daughter to be here giggling with her brothers as we set up the Christmas train around the tree.

 He knows how much it hurts to hang the ornaments on the tree. He knows that it reminds me that I am another day closer to the day.

He sees how much it hurts to lug out the heavy totes stuffed with lights and ribbon and sparkly, shiny décor. He knows that it all reminds me that she isn’t here. She isn’t here for this celebration.

He knows.

The time is near. And, she isn’t here, God. We have been waiting for the miracle and we are running out of time… twenty days.

Frantic prayers. Pleading. Tears. Aching. Despair…

Yet, He is here. He whispers in the quiet. He embraces the weary. He catches the tears.

He does not work this way. I don’t need to assign a deadline for His miracle. The miracle is coming. It is coming and, truly, it has already come. In twenty days, we celebrate, we rejoice, in the miracle. The miracle of His birth. The rescuer. The One who came to save. He humbled Himself and left the majesty of Heaven to come here to earth. To come close. To be near.

We will celebrate. If she is here under our roof or if she is across the ocean, we will celebrate. We can trust Him to be near. To hold her close. She is His. She was always His.

Our Hope is in Him. And, that is a beautiful reason to celebrate.

 

is justice worth it?

 
 
A friend sent this video and I watched and cried. Listening to these words that echo the cry of my heart reminded me that I am not alone in this fight.
 
The fight for justice is long and hard and can feel defeating. But, it is worth it. It is worth every tear of thanksgiving and joy in the mountain-top moments and worth every tear of sorrow during the long walk through the valley.
 
I will never stop fighting. Never. No matter how many days are spent praying, emailing, writing, calling, pleading…No matter how weary I am from the fight. I will never stop fighting. Our daughter is WORTH it.  

Advent begins.

We had a wonderful family Thanksgiving and have enjoyed the long weekend together making memories. I have so many photos to share…someday, hopefully soon, I will have my computer back and I can finally get caught up on photos!

In the meantime, I thought I’d share a couple of new Christmas / Advent traditions that we will be trying out this year.

First, I’m excited to start a Jesse Tree tradition. I have seen so many versions of this tree and decided to go with this printable ornament and scripture reference version. {I just looked and it’s on sale right now for $1.25!!}

What is the Jesse Tree?

The Jesse tree represents Jesus’ family tree. The name is taken from Isaiah 11:1, in which Jesus is referred to as a shoot coming up from the stump of Jesse, the father of David. The ornaments on the Jesse tree tell of Jesus’ ancestors, and of the events leading to Jesus’ birth. {source}

OUT OF THE STUMP OF DAVID’S FAMILY WILL GROW A SHOOT — YES, A BRANCH BEARING FRUIT FROM THE OLD ROOT…
IN THAT DAY THE HEIR TO DAVID’S THRONE WILL BE A BANNER OF SALVATION TO ALL THE WORLD. THE NATIONS WILL RALLY TO HIM,
AND THE LAND WHERE HE LIVES WILL BE A GLORIOUS PLACE. {Isaiah 11:1,10}

I’m also reading Ann Voskamp’s “The Greatest Gift” – which is essentially a Jesse Tree Advent devotional. For the whole family Jesse Tree, we are using the Jesus Storybook Bible to tell the stories that correlate with each day’s ornament…a little more appropriate for two 3-year olds. 🙂

We are also going to put a spin on the Elf on the Shelf tradition. I love, love, love the alternative idea of “kindness elves“… read about it HERE on the Imagination Tree blog.

I just love this idea because the whole elf-is-watching thing is creepy and counter to the true celebration of Christmas – Love. Grace. Forgiveness. Hope.

This “kindness elf” will likely make his appearance in the morning… I just need to get myself in gear to come up with some ideas. Would love to hear any ideas from anyone else doing something similar!

I hope you all are having a peaceful, hope-filled first day of Advent. I’m off to make some apple cider and decorate our tree. I can hear the boys jumping on their beds upstairs instead of napping, so I think it’s time to bring down the lights and get started.

Blessings to you all!