Our Christmas.

 

I hope you all had such a wonderful Christmas. Mine was absolutely perfect.

We didn't go anywhere and the main reason for that is because I just had a baby and shouldn't be going here and there however, I loved just sitting around the house watching my toddler enjoy her new gifts and running around the house with a sugar overload wearing her Christmas Jammies.

I loved snuggling with my newest Christmas gift Liya and watching Evelynne develop a deeper relationship with her.

Watching "The King is born" with my little loves remembering the memories of me watching it as a child.

I loved sitting on the couch with my husband who can finally put his big, handsome, strong arms around me for the first time in months and watching movies with our sister Ashley.

And falling deeper and deeper in love with Leon as he runs around the house being a silly daddy with Evelynne and enjoying the sweet snuggles of our precious Liya.

I haven't wrote any Christmas posts this season. It was just a crazy month of preparing and waiting and not being prepared enough. However, I feel as though there is something very special being pregnant this time of year as we celebrate the birth of our Jesus.

I thought of Mary a lot this month. An ordinary girl who was called to do the most extraordinary thing EVER!

She was pregnant with Jesus Christ our Savior for nine Months and raised Him as a Son.

Such an awesome yet, terrifying task.

A virgin.

A young unmarried woman who is engaged.

pregnant with The Son of God who came to save us all.

She could have freaked.

She could have refused.

But instead she responded

"Behold the maidservent of The Lord!

 Let it be to me according to your word."

Wow! Imagine what God has planned for you? His Daughter. He loves you just as much as He loves Mary and He has Extra ordinary plans for you as well!

Maybe He's just waiting for you to say what Mary said?

"Behold the maidservent of The Lord!

 Let it be to me according to your word."

This year as we enter the year of 2015 lets choose His extraordinary plans for our lives instead of choosing worldy comfort that only lasts for a short second. 

Lets choose to dream big.

To live Extraordinary.

And to always say "Yes" to God instead of "Not me, Lord" or "Maybe next time."

Lets have coffee.

It really has been a while since I've just poured my heart out on here.. It's been pretty chilly in December so what better place to go then out for coffee??

If we were having some Starbucks coffee together, I'd order a grande (maybe venti?) white peppermint Mocha and one of those cute little snowman cookies! Those little delights look almost too pretty to eat but they're way to delicious to resist.

I would ask how your weekend went? And if you've finished your Christmas shopping?

I would encourage you not to stress about getting everything done and making sure everything looks perfect. I would encourage you not to stress out about financial things and just do what you can.

I would tell you that even if Leon and I did have the money to go completely overboard with Evelynne for Christmas as in spending hundreds of dollars on her alone I honestly don't think we would. Leon and I have agreed to buy all of our children one thing they want, one thing they need, something to wear and something to read. I have such a desire to teach Evelynne to serve so I really want to focus on serving with her this Christmas season and every day for that matter. Even if it's just handing cookies to our neighbors.

I would tell you that I'm so excited for this new chapter in life we're in! Our season of being a family of three is coming to an end and shortly (just a couple weeks) we'll be a family of four! I feel so ready and yet, so not ready. I feel like I was much more prepared with Evelynne in fact, I had my hospital bag packed two months before Evelynne's due date and I have yet to still pack my hospital back and I'm due in two weeks... But hey, I did pack the diaper back and our house is officially baby ready! Evelynne loves putting her baby in the baby swing. I'm so excited to see her in Big sister action.

I would tell you that yesterday was one of the greatest days of my life as I got to witness my amazing husband Leon become a licensed Pastor.  I always knew I'd be a Pastors Wifey and It's been prophesied over him since he was a child. Soon he'll be able to be a Pastor at the Church full time and I will gladly kiss the police badge goodbye! I'm ready to minister as a family and speaking life into peoples lives. We're ready to pick up our crosses and follow Him whose love is captivating. I'm so excited that we'll be able to be a real family soon and Evelynne and Liya will be able to spend time with there daddy more that twenty four hours a week if that. 


I would tell you that this coming year I finally want to start my "Little Beloved" Business. I'll be starting out small and work my way up and it's so exciting. I'll be crocheting kid scarves and as the business gets bigger I'll probably add more merchandise. And to make it even more exciting I plan on using some of the money to start a ministry of blessing young moms/parents. Such as surprising an exhausted new mom with a Starbucks gift card, new parents with take out gift cards, and just randomly dropping diapers off their house. I'd also love to start a mommy group. 2015 is a good year to start! I would say now but we only have a few more weeks to go of 2014 *gasp! And honestly, these days have not been super productive.

If I were having coffee with you I would tell you that I've felt so dry lately.. Like I'm in a desert dry land. I've felt this way on and off through out my whole pregnancy and I've often wondered why? I know it's an attack of the devil however, I'm believing that it's going to cause me to have a new and even stronger hunger for Christ that will light a flame brighter than I have ever carried.. There's been a lot of worship music playing at my house because I refuse to go by the way I feel and it's much easier to stay in the presence when worship is on. I know this is only for a season and I'll come out so much stronger.

This is what I would tell you if I were having coffee with you. What would you tell me?

From my family to yours.

We wish you the Merriest Christmas ever!

Enjoy your day with family and  friends. sipping on hot cocoa or coffee (like muwah) and enjoy the loved ones around you!!

And let us not forget as always to pray for the loved ones that don't know yet that they are loved.

And most importantly lets Give Jesus a major shout out!! Without Him days would just be days, breathes wouldn't be worth it, and lives would be stolen. But God gave His only begotten Son to die for us so that we may have life! And have it abundantly and a life worth living for Jesus!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

My baby girl at Christmas last year. My oh my how time has flown.

 

Peppermint Icecream cake. Yum Yum!

Okay so the question today on TGBTL link up is What is your go to recipe? .. Is it sad to say that  the first thing that came to mind was desert??

Don't get me wrong! I'm a healthy eater. I'm just a healthy eater with a wild side.

So, I thought I would post a recent invention for a Christmas desert that I love! Like really love! Like I'd eat the whole cake in one sitting love.

Ingredients:
Peppermint stick Ice cream.
Oreo cookies.
2 tubs Whip cream.
one box of Brownie mix.


1)  Mix the ice cream you will be using with some whip cream.. As much as you like. For me the creamier it is the better.

2) Put plastic wrap inside 2 cake pans. Enough where it's covered and no ice cream can stick to the pan.

3)  Fill the pan up with Ice cream and cover with plastic wrap. Then you want to freeze it for a day or so.

4)   After it's  done being in the freezer. Make the brownies and let it sit until it's cool.

5). Empty the one Ice cream pan on a plate, put the brownie in the middle and then put the other Ice cream on top.

(Helpful hint) Make sure the brownie is shaped the same size as the ice cream circle so it's not uneven)

6) Spread the whip cream on the top. Add oreo's, chocolate and whatever else you think would taste great with it.


My friend and I enjoyed this cake with a great cup of peppermint coffee!! Our babies were a fan too!


If you try this I'd love to hear what you think of it!!! It's now one of my favorites!!

Santa Clause.

 So, I have been asked lately considering it's Christmas time if  Leon and I were going to teach Evelynne to believe in Santa Clause. Now Leon and I both grew up without believing in Santa. And we both don't feel like we missed out on a exciting Christmas  tradition. Yes, my parents had Santa Clause decor around the house (That honestly would creep me out a bit!) But they were always teaching us kids that Jesus was the real reason for the season. In fact on a majority of our gifts they would put "Love Jesus" to remind  us of His true gift.

Now, hear me out when I say I have NOTHING against parents who teach their kids to believe in Santa. Nothing at all. You are a great mama if you  encourage your child to believe in Santa  and you are a great mama if you don't. Now with that being said..


For us, the choice has really come down to our relationship with Evelynne. We have and will always want her to know that we will teach her the truth. And that  the true meaning of Christmas is not about a white bearded man who lives in the south pole and loves cookies.

But the true meaning of Christmas is the celebration of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Who has come into the world to heal the sick, raise the dead, to bring joy and life  into this world once again.

Who sacrificed Himself on the cross for us so that we may have everlasting life in His Magnificent presence. For Leon and I we believe that's magical enough. And that Jesus should have ALL the Glory at Christmas and every day for that matter. And not have to share it with a man of imagination.

Of course we'll teach her about Santa and how he came from St Nick and the beautiful history behind that.

Some may think we're taking the fun out of Christmas for Evelynne by taking Santa  from a child’s Christmas experience, but Leon and I  don’t see or feel  that way at all! In fact, if taking Santa away from Christmas takes away the “experience” of it, then why  are we really celebrating Christmas  anyway? What is the real meaning of Christmas to you?

We believe Jesus is forever the real reason for the season. And we want our daughter to know this her whole life. Not just when she's to old to believe in Santa.

A humble Christmas

This Christmas is going to be a bit different for me.. To be honest if you were to look at my house right now you would think I didn't even celebrate it. I do have a Christmas candle holder on my table and decorations going down my stair landing. But that's it. Why? The list can go on but I'll share a few of them with you.

It's really hard at the moment to decorate for Christmas and to be motivated to do so knowing I will be starting to pack, sell and get ready to move by May. May first is our moving date so starting Jan 1st is when Leon and I will really have to start getting ready. We're already looking for places and It's so overwhelming sometimes.

And with Leon working almost 24/7 doing a very physical job it's hard to get all the way up in the attic to get our Christmas tree which we have no room for at the moment because where we are right now is cramped.

When it comes to gifts. Leon and I just can't afford it this year. For Evelynne's Birthday Party that Money came from babysitting, my business and yard sales alone. With us moving we need to save every bit we can. And we made the decision before we were even married that if there ever is a time we can't afford Christmas presents we wouldn't stress about it.  It is what it is. And this year will be one of those years that we will find a way to bless people that money can't buy. I believe homemade gifts are better than store bought anyways.  And making them will create great memories in itself.

So yes! to all of  those who haven't seen a Christmas tree or decorations on this blog. I do celebrate Christmas. It's my favorite holiday.. We will just be having a very humble Christmas and who knows it just may turn out to be the best Christmas ever! We'll see :)