Today is my wedding day! Thirty-two years ago I married a very remarkable man, and I knew at the time I was in for quite a ride. In fact, I remember telling Douglas when we were engaged, something like, “I don’t know where you are going. All I know is I want to go too.”
In the three decades of our marriage, our lives have had some ups and downs, but our marriage never has. If there is one predominant characteristic I had to identify in my husband, it would be steadfastness. He is loyal, he is steady, he is dependable, rock solid; a man of his word, and a man of the Word. That’s what I saw at the beginning, and that’s why I said yes.
When I reflect on my gracious pastor, husband, and friend, I am still amazed at God’s kindness to me. And I still feel the same way about him as I did then: Wait up! I’m coming too!
The Christmas scene at our house was really something this year. My husband’s sweet family came into town on the 21st, and they were here partying at the hotel, and meeting the twins through their baptism on the 23rd. We had a great time eating together, pool partying together (not me – don’t worry!), and doing the first ever sibling grab bag gift exchange with the fifteen minute, fifteen dollar rule.  Three of my husband’s siblings (the ones without kids) pitched in together to get one big gift for each family. Before I tell, I should show you 
Yes, that’s right. What you see in our windows from left to right: our Christmas tree, our retro bulb wreath hanging above the cooler full of pop and in front of a table full of groceries, and, in our third window, the static sparks flying off the heads of children in our new indoor bouncy castle. The result of so much partying? Well, for one thing a lot of our gifts are still in a garbage bag in our bedroom. 
From Spurgeon’s morning entry for December 25:
“Let us to-day go down to Bethlehem, and in company with wondering shepherds and adoring Magi, let us see Him who was born King of the Jews, for we by faith can claim an interest in Him, and can sing, ‘Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.’ Jesus is Jehovah incarnate, our Lord and our God, and yet our brother and friend; let us adore and admire. ”
And some snippets from his evening entry for Christmas Day:
“What the patriarch [referring to Job 1:5] did early in the morning, after the family festivities, it will be well for the believer to do for himself ere he rests tonight….This is the best ending of a Christmas-day — to wash anew in the cleansing fountain. Believer, come to this sacrifice continually; if it be so good to-night, it is good every night. To live at the altar is the privilege of the royal priesthood.”
Freely give. With the high feast of Christmas just around the corner, I thought I would write a little “heads up” to all of us women who are working so hard to make it a glorious celebration. We have shopped for the gifts. We’ve wrapped them all (or we will soon). We’ve put time, effort, thought, money, and energy into this thing called Christmas, and we are starting to get tired now, and we haven’t even started making the pies. And, let me tell you, if you are tired, you become an easy target for stumbling. So here are my tips for staying cheerful and joyful in the midst of many duties and much serving at Christmas.
Get your rest! You mothers of young ones especially. Put your feet up and count your blessings. Catch a few z’s when you can. That last push can really be exhausting as well as exhilarating, so watch yourself. If you get too worn out or too excited, you may come Continue reading ‘Freely You Have Received’
When it comes to shopping for the kids for Christmas, most moms are concerned that they spend a pretty equal amount on each of the kids so that they won’t look like they are playing favorites. I used to think this was a lot of fuss and bother until I had my own children and then I understood it differently. And really, the principle isn’t that we keep track to the penny; rather, it’s that we do not stumble our children. Jealousy and rivalry are the enemies of the kind of camaraderie you want to cultivate among your children. So parents should do all in their power to strengthen sibling friendships. After all, sibling rivalry is a stock phrase, and we’re all familiar with it. What we have to realize is that the kids are fighting for Mom and Dad’s approval and attention. If one is getting more than the other, or is perceived as getting more, it’s a set-up for trouble.
How do you raise children to be friends with their siblings and not competitors and rivals? The obvious place to begin is with your own parenting. Do you play favorites? Do you point out the strengths of one child to the other? Do you criticize one child and praise the other? If you do, then you can’t be surprised that your sons don’t get along or that your Continue reading ‘Wise Eyes’
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