Brag Letters

Well, Christmas is over and New Year's is around the corner. That means we all have a tad bit more time left to shoot out those late Christmas cards. Aunt Gloria, I totally had yours addressed, stamped, and everything--it just DID NOT get in the mail :/ It's coming though. It is. Because I still have roughly a week to get it out.

Does ettiquete allow for "New Years" cards to trickle in throughout the month of January? I don't know...

Did anyone get any brag letters? Did anyone send out any brag letters? I don't think brag letters are in vogue anymore, at least not for my age demographic. We have different sorts of brag letters--less talking, more showing (i.e. facebook, blogs, perfectly composed Christmas pictures--see last week's post).

My parents still get brag letters. They never sent any. Unless you're the Duggers, large families don't usually facilitate great brag letters. There's always that stray hair, that black sheep--that one episode that will totally throw off the perfect groove. You just can't hide things in big families.

Growing up, we always enjoyed receiving the brag letters. Usually a long revelry of mocking and ridiculing would ensue. It would make us feel better about ourselves.

Anyways, one of my friends (who wishes to remain anonymous) sent out her own version of a brag letter. I loved it. It really gave me something to think about--hope you guys enjoy it like I did.

*****

Hi everyone,

This year God has truly blessed our household. My husband who is perfect in every way, even his hair stays in place while playing tennis at the club (The Ritz Club of course), just got a promotion that gave us a six-figure income. Hawaii, here we come!!

Our four children were head of their class—again. One is the school president, the other is head of the cheerleading squad, one helps the principal make important decisions and the youngest has been chosen to be the valedictorian for the senior class even though he is a freshman-he is just too smart for his young years. 

And don’t forget Fido. He won every competition we entered him in this year. Best Groomed Dog was one that we were most proud of. Oh me? Yes, I still fit into my wedding dress of 25 years ago (size 1) and I receive many invitations to share my wonderful life and all that God has showered us with—and it is a lot, I am sure part of the reason is because we tithe 30% to our church and I did buy one of those hankies from the faith healer who travels through town. 

God is so pleased with us. He can be with you also, just give me a call and for $500 I will come and speak to your club or organization. I hope all you are Merry like I am Merry.

 Love and kisses,

Junie

 Jingle bells, Jingle bells

A Christmas letter from Paul 

Hi everyone,

I am sending this letter to encourage all of you to continue to follow Jesus. I am currently with James, Barnabas and Stephanas. We have had quite a time on the road. You would think there was a death sentence on our head.

In each town we seem to be a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men.We are weak and put to shame everywhere we go. At this very hour we hunger and thirst. Our clothes stink and nothing matches. We are homeless and the locals are throwing rocks at us. But we still find labor and are blessed each night with some bread.

This last year I was three times beaten with rods: I was once stoned: I suffered three shipwrecks and was left bobbing in the ocean night and day. I thank the Lord that Barnabas is a good swimmer.  While on our journeys we faced danger from robbers, our own nation, the Gentiles, false brothers, the city life and the wilderness. We often went without food and were exposed to the cold with little to cover ourselves from its bitterness. 

 One time the king was about to seize me but some friends threw me over the wall in a basket—that was a wild ride! James was laughing the whole time while we were fleeing from the king’s horsemen.

 Running out of ink to write with so we will leave you with this exhortation.When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.

Merry Christmas. My love is with you all, in union with the Messiah Yeshua. Stephanas is writing this for me because my eyesight was damaged this year from the beatings.

Yours always in the faith, 

Paul

Jingle All the Way

Wordful Wednesday: Our Christmas Photos

I've already confessed that I label my children, so hopefully this isn't a huge shocker to those lucky people that receive our Christmas cards. (For the record, I apologize if you didn't get one and want one. I really would like to receive requests for Christmas cards. It would boost my self-esteem and be totally worth the extra postage).

Anyways, I love our Christmas pictures for this year. We didn't even have to tell Coco what her sign said for her to cooperate to the fullest. She really is such a little stinker ham. 

And Chaucer? Well, he just had to stand there looking angelic. We couldn't really get him to look at the camera because it was such a big deal for him to hold the sign. He felt pretty special.

He then started to mess up the lettering---causing me to rethink the labels.

Coco gave us so much material it was hard for me to choose. See what I mean?

We took a few family photos too, but didn't send them out. I figured people would rather gawk at my audacious children rather than the ones where we look all composed...except Coco. Again.

In retrospect, I kinda sorta wish I could have had this be our Christmas card. I still can't get over how amazing it is. I am one lucky mama.

So...who wants a Christmas card??

A Different Look At The Nativity

Have you ever wondered about the swaddling clothes that Mary used to wrap baby Jesus? I wonder where she got them--did her mom give them to her? Were they used by other babies and then passed down to Mary? Did she choose the fabric and make them herself in typical nesting fashion?


A new baby always requires a multitude of blankets. Babies need to be kept warm. They need to feel snug and secure. They need the comfort of something soft and the reminder that they are held--supported by someone. We swaddle them so that even when we're not holding them they feel as if they are held.

And the angel said unto them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people: 11for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. 12And this is the sign unto you: Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger. 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased.

A baby in a blanket. Tidings of great joy literally found with the birth of this infant. The irony is beautiful and consistent throughout the Bible. The king that comes to save the world does not lead a war or conquer kingdoms. He doesn't "draw" from his cabinet of decorated leaders and warriors for conference. No, this king is swaddled as a baby and still in full glory. The weak shall shame the strong.

This Christmas there are some really special babies who, like baby Jesus, bring us hope and joy. Unlike Jesus, they are not able to save us from our sins, pay our debts, and reward us with life we do not deserve. But they point to Him all the same.

One of the babies that came this Christmas season is named Avery. She was born six weeks early and had serious heart complications. I cannot even fathom the hell my friends have been in as they have had to endure the complete inability to "fix" her. Even the doctors didn't know if it could be done.

She was out of everyone's hands...except God's. The prayer, the agony, the waiting for answers that everyone who know's Avery's family has experienced--is torturous.

And yet...

Avery's birth reminds us of the Nativity in a way that is so poignant that sometimes I don't know how I could have missed it all these years. Of course the Nativity can be represented in the ceramic figures displayed on the mantel. Yes, it's depicted on painted ornaments and sung in carols; but when do we FEEL the full force of this joyous occasion?

I think we truly feel it in that moment of birth. That moment when we hold our newly swaddled infant in our arms and cannot comprehend the love and joy this tiny person elicits from us. Oh, to be Mary. How did she swaddle her infant--how did she rock him and what lullabies did she use?

Who needs the swaddling? Who needs the sense of security--the feeling of being held? Who needs the lullabies to soothe and comfort a "fuss," a hurt, a loss, a diagnosis, a death, a fear?

We do. We need the comfort and joy of Christ---and I'll tell you what, we especially need it when something goes wrong. When something so wonderful as birth goes awry with complications, we need to be swaddled too. 

There were good tidings of great joy when Avery came into the world. There were also tears of great sadness and fear that she would not be here long. But then there were more good tidings--even better tidings announced when her heart started performing and with what would have only taken a miracle, was performed with a miracle. In just the few weeks she's been here, Avery has pointed people towards Christ. 

She's shown us that we are all vulnerable, weak babes who need a Father. We need--we want to be held and swaddled, protected from this impossible trajectory of a life without him.

This year I have a living example of the Nativity. She's in the ICU and will be there for a while. She is surrounded by family and friends who share the good news both of Avery's birth and Christ's life. 

I read a brilliant Nativity devotional a few weeks ago and this post is largely inspired by what I read in it. One of the things the author, Jill Carattini said about Christmas is that we get "to remember our fragility, our dependency, and the great reversal of the kingdom of God: For God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong."

Wordful Wednesday: The Most Wonderful Photo Of The Year

I don't know why we do it. Why we have no problem handing our children over to a strange man in a costume every year at Christmas.

Little wonder that they never "cooperate" for the photo. But we kinda like that too, don't we?

I did.

We went to a Christmas party for our apartment community and they had a Santa there. He was an awesome Santa--I could totally believe he's the real one.

But that didn't matter to my kids. Coco wouldn't touch him with a ten foot pole. She hid under a table and steered clear of the big man in the red coat.

I was sure that Chaucer would love him. I thought they'd be kindred spirits--seeing as Chaucer will probably be a Santa Claus one day. Boy was I wrong.

Santa was really nice and cooperated "with" Chaucer. We got the most wonderful photo I've taken all year. Seriously, this is a gem.

And I need your help. It NEEDS a brilliant caption. It's the kind of photo that should be floating around in the humor section of Pinterest. So tell me, what would does this photo say to you?

Wordful Wednesday: What It Is To Build A Leaf Pile

When we came home from our Thanksgiving break Coco was delighted to find that Autumn had really done it's job in our neighborhood. And the maintenance guys had not.

 Leaves were everywhere--covering the playground, the sidewalk, and our doorsteps. So I figured it was time I teach Coco what it is to build a leaf pile.

Some of our methods were unconventional.



We don't own a rake--but we made do.



Most of our neighbors were still in hibernation/vacation so we built that one by ourselves.

But the next day--oh boy. We really started something.



We could not believe how quickly our pile grew!



It was so cute to see all the kids, ages 0-11, constructing a massive leaf pile.

 

 

Seriously? It doesn't get more basic or old school than that, now does it?

 

 

These are the kind of days I want my kids to remember. These are the kind of days I want to cherish.

Fascinating Friday: Our Free Christmas Tree...Or Branch.

So...we don't have a whole lot of room in our apartment. And we don't have a lot of money. We decided to think outside of the box this year for our Christmas tree.

Coco and I went outside and scavenged around for a branch. We found a nice, scraggly one and plucked all of the leaves off.

We had a fun little family decorating party. Christmas music, cookies, the works.

I let the kids play with non-breakable Christmas decor while Matt and I figured out how to hang the thing.

We just screwed three hooks into the ceiling and then suspended the thing with some yarn. Not very fancy, but the yarn matches our curtains so it's all good. 

After the kids went to bed I hung a bunch of ornaments on it.

And positioned Mr. Elf.

We love it! I might just leave the branch up all year and change out decor seasonally, what do you think?

Sorry for the yellowness of the pics...There are only two windows in my living room so it makes for a difficult place to photograph.