Just Fooling Around

Since the leaves don't actually fall in Santa Barbara until mid-winter, we have to wait a long time to rake up a big pile and jump in, or carve your name, or just simply take a quick nap.

The REASON!

Jesus is truly "The Reason for the Season!"
I love this magical time of year.
May the SPIRIT of Christmas
enter your heart,
and stay there
forever!

Seth's FIVE!

How did that happen? Seth, you incredible kid! What can I say? Seth is an absolute joy; so energetic and full of intensity and spontaneity. It's rarely a dull moment when Seth's around, that's for sure! His creativity and blossoming new skills seem to catch me off guard nearly every day. And I absolutely LOVE that when he offers a kiss or a huge hug, you can almost feel a part of his heart reaching out in love to you.




Sethy, my Sethy!

Warriors at heart

So the kids are one-quarter "Viking." Danish, that is. But when Billy's November homework project was to decorate a doll that was dressed in clothing from an ancestral country, we had to scour the pedigree charts for something fierce and exciting. We did a little online research on the pillaging and conquering habits of the Danish Vikings, and they fit the bill perfectly. In fact, Seth commented: "The reason we like Star Wars and swords and stuff is because we are a quarter Viking!"

Happy Halloween!

Halloween has been a blast this year! Hayrides, pumpkin cobbler, jack-o-lantern carving, costume parades, & candy. Somehow kids bring the spark back into every holiday!



I remember singing this song as a kid, and now it's a Halloween favorite around here:

Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate
The first one said, “Oh my, it’s getting late”
The second one said, “There are witches in the air”
The third one said, “But we don’t care”
The fourth one said, “Let’s run and run and run”
The fifth one said, “Isn’t Halloween fun?”
Then ooooh went the wind
And OUT went the lights
And the five little pumpkins rolled quickly out of sight!

Happy Billy Day!

Happy Birthday, Honey! You sure are cute, then & now!

Wise Words

A few weeks ago, out of the blue, Grace announced: "Jesus loves me!" He sure does. And if she grows up deeply feeling and understanding that love, she will have discovered the secret to true peace & joy! Tonight while I was laying her down, she told me (in Gracie terminology) all about how we are happy when we follow Jesus. How does she know all this stuff already? And, more importantly, how can I get her to remember it and live by it forever?!

She dozed off after we sang:

"I’m trying to be like Jesus;
I’m following in his ways.
I’m trying to love as he did, in all that I do and say.
At times I am tempted to make a wrong choice,
But I try to listen as the still small voice whispers,

Love one another as Jesus loves you.
Try to show kindness in all that you do.
Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought,
For these are the things Jesus taught."

It was a priceless moment.