Christmas 2013 - Elf Games, Candlelight, Broken Relationships

This is the second Christmas for our three youngest to be with us. Last year this time their birth certificates listed different names and their future was still un-certain.

This year they are FOREVER Brodocks and with each passing day I love them more and more.

As I watch them grow and embrace life I marvel at the mercy of our Heavenly Father… that He would choose for us to be their family…that He would pluck them from the fire and give them a life of grace! May they never take that for granted… nor that we would either!

Christmas Eve we had a quiet candlelight dinner at home. Josh and Emma came over… it was really nice. We read a passage from Andrew Muray’s Humility.

After we ate we commenced to the living-room to play some elf games (Minute to Win It), drink hot cocoa in new Christmas mugs from Olivia, open a few gifts and watch a movie.

This is my favorite elf… he takes games seriously!

And this is our pregnant elf who is willing to do most anything if there is a challenge to it, good thing she married a game playing elf!

Christmas morning was cooooold, which is part of the beauty of the day!

We had homemade biscuits and sausage and gravy.

This guy loaded up on the manly man stuff! Lots of camo, a slingshot, a BB gun, a coonskin cap, work boots, a compass… he’s ready.

Sweet Cherish was SURPRISED to get her own tablet! She’s a thinker and I know she will use this!!!

Can a girl have enough babies?

And the big girl in the background got hot pink boxing gloves!

It was beautiful to watch her play in the morning sun rays and hear her talk to herself about being a “good mommy”… we talk about that a lot!

These Two!!!

It has been so funny to watch their relationship grow. Olivia has never had a younger brother until now. He pushes every button she has… and then makes her laugh.

Christmas Day Dinner

We had a few friends over and enjoyed some lasagna and a relaxed afternoon.

I made these little guys for each place setting from some twigs, rosemary and hot glue.

Not everything about this Christmas was joyous. There are still strained and broken relationships, I guess that is just a part of life we all have to deal with. The important part is to live at peace as much as it depends on us (me) - Romans 12. And to remember that we can not change people or make them love us. If we have tried to resolve each situation and the other side is not willing then we can be blameless and find peace while we pray and wait. There is no time for anger and self-pity.

Meanwhile there IS much beauty around us. Beauty that has come from God’s mercy and in that I WILL rejoice and remember.

Christmas, Redemption and Adoption

Christmas is all about the Redemption work of Christ. As I sat in worship today I looked at these 3 souls and rejoiced in how the Almighty picked them up out of wickedness and placed them in a Covenant keeping home.

Not by our doing, nor their doing, but by His grace alone. He did the same for me…picked me up out of wickedness and saved me, not by my choosing, but His.

Just 2 years ago we did not know these children. Their life looked so very different…very. different. This Christmas they take communion… and pray…

and REJOICE in God’s goodness, in His mercy to His people.

We celebrate that God Himself would leave heaven to come in a humble, lowly form of a baby, who needed an earthly father, to save, to redeem, to adopt us.

THIS is why we remember, why we celebrate, why we REJOICE!

The Names of Jesus Paper Chain for Christmas

Such a simple project, but a special project.

A few strips of colorful paper and a list of names to copy.

Reminding them to use a capital letter…

and to be neat.

While they copy the names and tape the chain together

we discuss what the names mean and how Jesus came to fulfill the law…

and to be our Redeemer…

our Mediator…

our Good Shepherd.

I love paper chains, but I REALLY love these!!!

Yes, they will get packed away next week, but next year when we pull them out the kids will be excited and say, “I remember when we made these!”

Mom, YOU are the memory maker!

ADAM (1 Corinthians 15:45)
ADVOCATE (1 John 2:1)
ALMIGHTY (Revelation 1:8)
ALPHA AND OMEGA (Revelation 1:8)
AMEN (Revelation 3:14)
APOSTLE OF OUR PROFESSION (Hebrews 3:1)
ARM OF THE LORD (Isaiah 51:9)
AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH (Hebrews 12:2)
AUTHOR OF ETERNAL SALVATION (Hebrews 5:9)
BEGINNING OF CREATION OF GOD (Revelation 3:14)
BELOVED SON (Matthew 12:18)
BLESSED AND ONLY POTENTATE (1 Timothy 6:15)
BRANCH (Isaiah 4:2)
BREAD OF LIFE (John 6:32)
CAPTAIN OF SALVATION (Hebrews 2:10)
CHIEF SHEPHERD (1 Peter 5:4)
CHRIST OF GOD (Luke 9:20)
CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL (Luke 2:25)
CORNERSTONE (Psalm 118:22)
COUNSELLOR (Isaiah 9:6)
CREATOR (John 1:3)
DAYSPRING (Luke 1:78)
DELIVERER (Romans 11:26)
DESIRE OF THE NATIONS (Haggai 2:7)
DOOR (John 10:7)
ELECT OF GOD (Isaiah 42:1)
EVERLASTING FATHER (Isaiah 9:6)
FAITHFUL WITNESS (Revelation 1:5)
FIRST AND LAST (Revelation 1:17)
FIRST BEGOTTEN (Revelation 1:5)
FORERUNNER (Hebrews 6:20)
GLORY OF THE LORD (Isaiah 40:5)
GOD (Isaiah 40:3)
GOD BLESSED (Romans 9:5)
GOOD SHEPHERD (John 10:11)
GOVERNOR (Matthew 2:6)
GREAT HIGH PRIEST (Hebrews 4:14)
HEAD OF THE CHURCH (Ephesians 1:22)
HEIR OF ALL THINGS (Hebrews 1:2)
HOLY CHILD (Acts 4:27)
HOLY ONE (Acts 3:14)
HOLY ONE OF GOD (Mark 1:24)
HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL (Isaiah 41:14)
HORN OF SALVATION (Luke 1:69)
I AM (John 8:58)
IMAGE OF GOD (2 Corinthians 4:4)
IMMANUEL (Isaiah 7:14)
JEHOVAH (Isaiah 26:4)
JESUS (Matthew 1:21)
JESUS OF NAZARETH (Matthew 21:11)
JUDGE OF ISRAEL (Micah 5:1)
THE JUST ONE (Acts 7:52)
KING (Zechariah 9:9)
KING OF THE AGES (1 Timothy 1:17)
KING OF THE JEWS (Matthew 2:2)
KING OF KINGS (1 Timothy 6:15)
KING OF SAINTS (Revelation 15:3)
LAWGIVER (Isaiah 33:22)
LAMB (Revelation 13:8)
LAMB OF GOD (John 1:29)
LEADER AND COMMANDER (Isaiah 55:4)
THE LIFE (John 14:6)
LIGHT OF THE WORLD (John 8:12)
LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH (Revelation 5:5)
LORD OF ALL (Acts 10:36)
LORD OF GLORY (1 Corinthians 2:8)
LORD OF LORDS (1 Timothy 6:15)
LORD OF OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS (Jeremiah 23:6)
MAN OF SORROWS (Isaiah 53:3)
MEDIATOR (1 Timothy 2:5)
MESSENGER OF THE COVENANT (Malachi 3:1)
MESSIAH (Daniel 9:25)
MIGHTY GOD (Isaiah 9:6)
MIGHTY ONE (Isaiah 60:16)
MORNING STAR (Revelation 22:16)
NAZARENE (Matthew 2:23)
ONLY BEGOTTEN SON (John 1:18)
OUR PASSOVER (1 Corinthians 5:7)
PRINCE OF LIFE (Acts 3:15)
PRINCE OF KINGS (Revelation 1:5)
PRINCE OF PEACE (Isaiah 9:6)
PROPHET (Luke 24:19)
REDEEMER (Job 19:25)
RESURRECTION AND LIFE (John 11:25)
ROCK (1 Corinthians 10:4)
ROOT OF DAVID (Revelation 22:16)
ROSE OF SHARON (Song of Songs 2:1)
SAVIOR (Luke 2:11)
SEED OF WOMAN (Genesis 3:15)
SHEPHERD AND BISHOP OF SOULS (1 Peter 2:25)
SHILOH (Genesis 49:10)
SON OF THE BLESSED (Mark 14:61)
SON OF DAVID (Matthew 1:1)
SON OF GOD (Matthew 2:15)
SON OF THE HIGHEST(Luke 1:32)
SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (Malachi 4:2)
TRUE LIGHT (John 1:9)
TRUE VINE (John 15:1)
TRUTH (John 1:14)
WITNESS (Isaiah 55:4)
WORD (John 1:1)
WORD OF GOD (Revelation 19:13)

Kid’s Hand-Prints for Holiday Wall Decor

I’ve seen something similar to this floating around Pinterest.

I used a piece of heavy weight fabric and some acrylic paint.

I had all the kids that still live at home make their hand-print.

To re-do it I’d put the palms closer together.

finger paint christmas

I used a black marker and marked the date, I also lightly wrote the child’s name on his/her print.

I hot-glued it to an old banged-up frame that had no glass or backing.

This is hanging near the kitchen table and I plan on hanging it every year from Thanksgiving through New Years.

A Special Dinner Party

We have a couple of friends that we are especially close to.

We try to get get together a few times during the year, but it doesn’t always work out. We all have houses full and busy lives… and this year 2 of us had daughters get married so life has been a bit CraZy!

Olivia devised a menu and a serving plan. Her two closest friends came along side to help her and to serve us. These three girls worked their tail ends off for us.

We gathered at Kelly’s beautiful home. Our 18 children gathered downstairs with a movie and pizzas… and cookies… and LOTS of giggles.

We were greeted with bacon wrapped-stuffed mushrooms, roasted pita-chips with pears and brie and chocolate-mint truffles.

These were my favorites!

There was an amazing French onion soup for the second course.

Then this fabulous salad!

Fourth course: Roasted pears with brie and pistachios.

Olivia would ask for a little person to come help do a few little things, like garnish the plates.

Fifth Course: Chicken Marcella, whipped potatoes, gravy and roasted brussel sprouts.

Dessert: Chocolate cheesecake with chocolate-mint crust.

It was a very relaxing meal, with some of the best food I’ve ever had!

But the best part was the company and conversation.

How to Make Re-Usable Wooden Place-cards

These place-cards are great for dinner parties.

Because they are made with chalkboard paint they are re-usable.

Cut a hardwood tree branch at about 1/8 or 1/4 thick with a miter saw.

Make sure they are dry before you paint them.

Sand one side if you want to, but that is not necessary.

Use chalkboard paint (a quart goes a long way) and a small craft brush to paint on two coats, letting each coat dry completely.

I made these, tied them together, added chalk and they made a nice gift for friends who practice a lot of hospitality.

These were for a Christmas dinner party so I just tied a string on and hot glued a couple acorns on and slipped a small piece of greenery in. All can be removed for other occasions.

Home Strings - Make them Want to Come Home

Don’t miss the 2014 Ultimate Homemaking Bundle on sale this week only!

It isn’t the the gifts under the tree that will bind your child’s heart to you, nor will those gifts stir the fondest memories when they are older.

Extravagance at the expense of sincere communication will not instill a desire to trust and confide in you.

Bling can never replace fellowship. And there is nothing sweeter than having true, sincere, lifelong fellowship with your children.

What will draw them to you is a spirit of joy.

Moms are the key factor in creating an atmosphere of cheerfulness in the home.

She is the one that leads the way into a calm peaceful home.

Mom is the buffer of all things harsh and ugly, untruthful.

She must set the pace of speaking a kind word when others are negative. She needs to be honest teaching others to respond kindly.

Her hands must be diligent in making the home a place that people WANT to be, where the naked are clothes and the hungry are fed.

Her arms welcoming… comforting…full.

Being a homemaker is serious business. It doesn’t just happen… YOU have to make it happen.

Home is what everyone works for…goes to at the end of the day.

Some of us have home strings that tug hard at Christmas time. That is because there was someone that once made a HOME and pleasant memories that were imprinted deep in our soul.

You want to drive everyone, even your children away from you and your home?