Nighttime Thoughts

I just had to take a minute tonight and say hi to blog-world. I really wanted to get some Christmas pictures posted (wait till you see how sweet Shane and I looked on Christmas morning) but was distracted by this post. Love it. And love Him.

Since Shane and I have been trading a sickness back-and-forth the past few days, I'm not feeling too well, either. So while it's 9:25, I'm already in bed. I plan to log off and spend some time with the God who came to be one of us. Emmanuel. What a delightful way to slip off to sleep.

Sweet dreams, friends.

It's beginning to feel alot like...

And it looks a lot like Christmas, too! We're in Illinois to be with Shane's family all week. There is a good layer of snow on the ground and it was snowing more when we woke up this morning. Silas and I watched from inside as Shane sledded (Is that really how you put sled in past tense?) down the hill onto the lake behind his mom's house. Luther and Augustine thought it was great. It was about the funniest thing I had ever seen. One time Auggie jumped on Shane's back as Shane shot down the hill. I was laughing so hard Silas didn't know what to think. I just wish I had it on video!
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Sunday night we opened presents with my parents over Skype. I am grateful to live in an age where Papa can read the Christmas story for us all to hear and then Nana and Papa can watch their grandson tear the wrapping paper off his first Christmas presents. Even from thousands of miles away. Honestly. We're blessed.

Here's wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas week!

The News Today

After so many days of not blogging, I'm anxious to keep everyone up with our most current news...Silas has cut his first tooth! I noticed it coming through on our way home from Kansas City last Wednesday. He hadn't slept well while we were there and I just assumed it was due to so many different places of sleep on the trip. But now I think it was because his little gums were hurting. I attempted to photograph his tooth tonight after he fell asleep. He didn't wake up at all, but I never got a very good picture. But hopefully this will give you the idea...

I finally finished unpacking tonight from our trip...5 days after getting home. No excuses. I just haven't taken time to do it.

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It is snowy and icy here tonight. A great evening to stay inside and drink cocoa. Neither of which we ended up doing. Well, Silas and I stayed in. But Shane braved the frightful weather and took Luther and Auggie on walks. They loved him for it. I did, too. He is the best dad to both Silas and our pups. So while he was out walking I decided to make us a delightful chocolatey drink. Unfortunately it ended up bubbling over the pan, leaving the room smelling slightly scorched. And then neither of us particularly liked the specialty flavor we had picked out. So we ate chocolate caramel treats given to us by some friends instead. And they were delightful.

Old News

When I was little we lived in a small town in the Philippines. The internet was still years in coming and we didn't even have our own phone. With grandparents an ocean away, staying in touch was important, but so much harder than it is today. We used to get air letters (any missionaries remember those from the 80's?) every few weeks from my grandmother. I still have a pile of them in her old sewing basket. By the time we wrote our letters and they made it to the mailbox, everything written was old news. But sometimes even old news is good news. Like today. Get ready. What follows is our "old" news from last week. We had a whirlwind of a trip to Bolivar, Springfield, and Kansas City. Sixteen hundred miles, lots of hugs, several dear conversations, and numerous pictures later, we finally got home to a waiting Luther and Augustine.

We started the weekend seeing Vince and Alisa on one of their last days in Springfield. They were packing up their house as we arrived. So glad we got to hug their necks and share dinner before they drove away. And very soon we will see them holding their sweet one!


Silas loved getting to meet my other friend Alisa. We had such a fun afternoon together, as you'll see in the video. Silas thought their puppy was hilarious.




My sweet friend Lindsey came to meet Silas, too. I'm thankful she made the drive to see us. Silas needed to experience that joy!

Our dear friends Ted and Shanna opened their home to us while we were in Bolivar. We were encouraged, challenged, and edified by being with them. Just wish we had more time for more conversation. Our kids had such fun "playing" together.

We spent Sunday with friends from Springfield. Angie Wilson cooked for us (love that potato soup!) and the Alvarez' let us spend the night in their home. I was so grateful that everyone was so kind to do what was easiest for Silas. Doesn't he just look so happy to be meeting all his new friends?

And then, one of the sweetest days of all...we went to my grandparents' in Kansas City. Silas met great-Nana and great-Papa for the first time. Their home is one of my favorite places to be. I have been anxious to take Silas there since he was born. We played Scrabble (Silas slept), watched the snow, talked, played, and ate delicious meals. Cousins Noah and Josiah came over with Aunt Lisa one evening. Silas just loved the boys.