"Is Santa real?"

Several months ago, Emma Grace asked me if Santa Claus was real or not. A little surprised by her question, I responded the best way I knew how: " Why don't you go ask Daddy about that?" wink.
David was able to redirect her thoughts in another direction, and she didn't ask again. Until today.

"Mommy, is Santa real, or is he just pretend?"
"Well... do you want to know what is reeeally special and Very, Very Real? Baby Jesus was born in a manager on the very first Christmas ever! And all the animals in the barn watched as Mary and Joseph snuggled the King! Up in the sky, a very beautiful star sparkled bright, and..."
"Um, mommy, I already know that. But I was just wondering if Santa was real, remember? How about if Santa is real, you can just say 'true' and if Santa is just pretend, you can say 'not true'? Okay?"
"Hmmmm. Let's talk to daddy about your question when he gets home, okay, Baby?"

Wubs shrugged and skipped out of the room. David and I had previously discussed this 'scenario'-that is, the possibility of Emma Grace pursuing an answer about Santa. So, when Daddy gets home, 'our plan' is to talk about Saint Nicholas, and how much he loved Jesus. He gave to those in need, but he never wanted any recognition. He knew that everything he had was a blessing from the Lord, and he gave gifts in secret so he wouldn't recieve praise that didn't belong to him. We read a great article about the story of Saint Nicholas' life and we want to share the real reason why the tradition of 'Santa' got started. Saint Nick was a slender man with a white beard, who feared the Lord and delighted in Truth. And on occasion, he did wear red robes!

Our family Christmas traditions won't change too much... even if the truth about Santa is revealed. We always make a birthday cake for Jesus, and David reads the Christmas story aloud to us every year. We'll still enjoy stockings filled with treats and three presents that are only put under the tree after the girls go to sleep on Christmas Eve.

I hope Wubs won't be too sad! She has such a tender heart. I'll post an update after we have the big talk!

"Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking in anything."- James 1:4

Our Prayer Journal

Almost two years ago, I started a prayer journal. Every week, I date the top of the page "Week of _____". On one side of the page I write "praises" and on the back, I write "prayer requests". Originally, I started this journal so I wouldn't forget the prayer requests of our friends and family. If I told someone, "We'll be praying for you!"- I wanted to be faithful to that commitment and not forget about their prayer request after our conversation had ended. (That gives you a little glimpse into this mommy's ability to remember things! wink! I have to write myself notes constantly!) Along with my Bible, I use my prayer journal during my quiet time each day. Before I pray, I can reread the prayer requests for the week, and reflect on the praises.

This prayer journal has been such a great tool. It has kept such an amazing record of the Lord's faithfulness throughout each year! (If you've never kept a journal, I encourage you to start this habit! It only takes me a few minutes each day- I usually just record a bulletin point or two each day...and that one page starts to really fill up by the end of a week! Years from now, I'd love for our girls to look back over the prayers and praises we've recorded for them.) Today, I looked back to my entries last November and my heart was filled with thanksgiving. God has certainly stretched us and drawn us closer to Him over the last twelve months! In John 15, Jesus says, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." I can rejoice as I look back at the trials and the discomfort I have felt at times throughout this past year, because God has been busy cutting away at my pride, my idols, my areas of complacency, and put simply- my sinful nature. (Whew- and God still has a LONG way to go with my pruning! But He is so loving and I know He'll never turn away from me and all my weeds!) And oh my goodness- I rejoiced at the blessings we've recieved this year!

ps- Nana sent our girls some new jammies and they were thrilled! We took a few pictures with 'pretend' hot chocolate. I love the first picture of Wubs blowing on her pretend drink to cool it off!
"For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us."- Psalm 103:11-12

My yuckiest mommy moment yet...

If someone asked you, "What is the grossest thing you've experienced since becoming a mother?", what would you say? Would it be hard to decide? Today I experienced my yuckiest mommy moment to date. And it all happened in a Wal-Mart restroom. (Yep, you'll need to prepare yourself for this. I don't recommend snacking while reading my story. wink!)

I'm sure you can only imagine how CrAzY the isles of Wal-Mart are today, the day before Thanksgiving Eve. I only had a few things to pick up- just pumpkin pie supplies and mayonaise for left over turkey sandwiches! Wubs and Bella spotted some soft peppermint sticks (Bob's Old Fashioned Peppermint Sticks- yummy!) . We all agreed that at only $0.88 a box, we needed to add them to our cart.

We paid for our items and I gave each of the girls a peppermint stick to enjoy. I decided we better make a quick stop in the restroom before heading home. The bathroom was just about as exciting as the rest of the store- it was full! Thankfully, the line wasn't long and the three of us all squished into a stall. It was pretty tight inside that stall- one five year old, one three year old, one pregnant mommy, a pocketbook, and two bags of groceries.

When we were 'all done', Emma Grace offered to flush the potty for us. However, since the bathrooms were being used so frequently, it was apparent that a cleaning team had not had the opportunity to wipe things down for quite some time. "Why don't you let mommy do it this time, okay? And then we'll all go wash our hands with soap." As I had my back turned so I could fiddle with the toilet handle, Emma Grace let out an "EWWWW!" I whizzed around to see Bella innocently licking her last little piece of peppermint stick and then pop it into her mouth to crunch it up.

I was afraid to ask, but I did it. "Wubs, why did you just say 'eww'?"
"Because Bella dropped her peppermint stick on the floor and then she licked it and ate it!"

Please, PLEASE tell me that I'm not the only mommy that manages to continually top her Top Ten Yuckiest Mommy Moments list. I'd love to hear your story. It would be theraputic. wink!

"God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please Him."- Ecclesiastes 2:26