The Core Four

This weekend I spent some time with people that I have come to love very much and have missed over the past few months. Yes, they were my fellow TEPSE students...."The Core Four". We went through most of the two years together. We laughed together, cried together, got mad at each other, studied together, looked out for each other....became family in a way that few people understand. We are all doing different things now and looking back we would all say we were thankful for the time we had been given. We learned so much from each other and watched the others ones change. Looking back to where we were and who we were, and who we are now, how Christ has changed us, is amazing. Its neat to be apart of that in someone's life....but now we are separated, but it was time...time to move on, to learn new lessons and to draw closer to our Lord....away from each other. Getting back together really was like old times....simply wonderful. It makes me long for eternity, where I will see the fruit of their service and where we will spend forever worshiping our God together....no more separation. What a day that will be!

Tur-duck-en

Duck+ Hen+ Turkey

Siblings

Adam, Ashlyn, Sarah, and myself all went to an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party earlier this week. Without a doubt, my siblings are some of the funnest people ever. With them around there is never a dull moment and the other night was no exception.

The short but so very sweet story of Christmas

Who (Christ Jesus), being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took on the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men..."
Philippians 2:6-7

An email I got from my sister last year....

Dear valued customer,

This is a confirmation e-mail, please confirm whether or not you would like to be added to our e-mail updates list. Please respond to this e-mail, our company is a gift wrapping service, we are aware of the fact that you live in Michigan, but we know that you will be coming home for Christmas, we are here to help, Thanks,

Santa Stop

Give it to me before it goes under the tree. (thats our motto)

SS

Isn't she lovely?

My dear sister and friend, who is sitting across the table from me at Panera and reading a book while I do internet-catch-up.

Christmas Baking

On Sunday, my three youngest siblings and myself went grocery shopping and then made a bunch of Christmas goodies. Among the treats were fudge, peppermint bark, and some other things that will not be mentioned here for the sake of surprise on Christmas. I love baking, but I love spending time with my siblings even more....waking up with them next to me, the hugs, the laughs, the spats, watching movies....its all wonderful in there own way...my brothers and sisters, not the candy, that is!

Family and Friends

Layers to T-Shirts

Friday, the day that I headed to Georgia for Christmas, it snowed about 1o inches in Michigan. Between packing, I went for a walk out on the railroad tracks. (See right) The snow completely covered the tracks....so pretty and so much fun. Granted, the snow gets old quickly, but when it first comes down like that, I LOVE it. By the time I got back to the house, I was soaking and my hair was frozen.
Later that night, after some delay, I landed in Atlanta, where the temperature was a very pleasant 68 degrees. Since then, it has cooled down some, but it will be in the 70's by Christmas. I, for one, am very happy about that, and am not dreaming of a white Christmas...I will take the t-shirt weather, thank you!

Snow and Lights

Earlier this week their was no snow on the ground, but it snowed Tuesday night. Snow makes everything look beautiful! Last night, a friend drove around to look at Christmas lights in the snow. We stopped and bought hot drinks and then just enjoyed the beauty! Makes me understand the desire behind "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas..." The house below was one of the most decked out house I have ever seen. Made me wonder what their electric bill is like...

Happy Birthday Jesus

Last night was the final AWANA until the New Year. We ended early, all the groups came together, including the youth and adults, and we all sang Happy Birthday to Jesus. Afterwards, there was cake, ice cream and gifts.

For our lesson in Cubbies, we talked about giving....how the Father gave us the Son and how the wise men realized that a little baby was very special and showed it by bringing Him precious gifts. For an activity, the Cubbies decorated sugar cookies to give to their parents. I must admit, I was a little wary going into it, but they did a great job and mostly confined the extra icing to their fingers and not everything else!

Below they are playing their favorite game. I call it the "Train Game". They take turns leading each other around the lines in the gym, making up where they are, like a jungle or the beach. They talk about all the animals and of course they end up getting chased my some not-so-friendly bears. All the while, some of them chant "Chugga, chugga, chew, chew!"

My Charlie Brown Christmas Tree

One Shoe, Two Shoe

Yes, you are reading it correctly, it says 13 degrees. That was the temperature on my way to work this morning. I talked to my mom last night and the high there yesterday had been 79. My older brother is also in the Bahamas this week where the temperature stays at an even 75-80. Normally I would be very jealous, as I do not like to be cold, but there is just something so nice about being freezing, being all bundled up in hats, mittens, scarves, and jackets, and then going into a nice warm building, wrapping up in a blanket, and sitting by the fire to warm up. Yes, it makes the cold worth it! But I do hope that 79 degrees sticks around at least till I get to Georgia this weekend! Cold in Michigan is expected. Cold in Georgia is not.



Well, with the cold comes any enemy of mine that likes to make a fool at of me. ICE. Because of my extreme, ummm, *gracefulness* we do not get along to well. Last week I was innocently walking into the house from my car, when out of nowhere and without warning, I ended up on my rear end. Thankfully, to my knowledge, no one saw the incident. So today, I wore two pairs of shoes. Tennis shoes to walk in and heels to put on at work. The system works quite nicely.

Soon-to-be-Man

My youngest brother, Andrew Tyler, turned nine yesterday. Hard to believe that is already been nine years since he was born....
I had just turned eleven the morning he came into the world. A few months earlier, we had found out that the newest little addition to our family was a boy. A BOY! After four consecutive girls with one older brother, we were all thrilled at the prospect of a younger brother. The name hunt was on. My mom had liked the name Tyler, but could not think of another name that she liked to go along with it. A few days before, we had been watching "Raggedy Anne and Andy on Ice" Raggedy Anne referred to her brother as "Andrew". It was decided then that Andrew would be the name for the baby. We have never shorted his name to Andy, though.
One morning I woke up to discover a family friend on the couch and the other kids watching cartoons. Shortly after that, we got a phone call that our baby brother, Andrew Tyler was born. When it came time for his delivery, his cord delivered first. If he delivered that way, he would have suffocated. The doctor quickly preformed an emergency C-section and saved Andrew's life.
As soon as I saw the little guy, he became the object of my highest affection and my favorite "thing" to play with. Many times we wrapped him up tightly in a blanket and he became the baby wherever our adventures took us that day, whether out west in the 1800's or to the Nile River back in the times of Pharaoh, where Andrew became baby Moses.
As he got older and chubbier, he became even more of a dear. He was often my "Security Blanket", sitting on my hip in new places with new people when I was unsure of what to say or do.
He loved to talk and would wait for ten minutes to be able to get his thought in, even if the conversation had already switched topic three times. If he did not feel like he had your full attention, he would take both of his hands, put them on your checks, pull your face up close to his, and say "What I wanted to say was...."
He also loved movies. He would watch the same one over. and over. and over. Among some of his favorites were, Finding Nemo and Ice Age. All of the parts were his favorites and he could quote whole movies, which made for great entertainment. He informed me the other day that he did such things when he was in preschool and is too busy to do them now.
Since he could talk he has always said. the. funniest. things. He reads well, but often people who do, mispronounce things. Drew is no exception to that rule. You should hear him at Mexican restaurants. One time he was talking to me about one of our sisters who will remain nameless, and said, "Oh Kathleen, you know her! She is not the brightest light bulb or the sharpest tool in the shed!"
Andrew is also one of the most sensitive people I know...in a good way. He can tell when people are hurting and what will put a smile on their face again. He knows how to make you feel loved. He has a heart and way with people that I envy.
Hard to believe my little boy is growing into a young man. Every time I see him he is a little taller, skinnier, and his voice is a little deeper. He is constantly changing, and not just physically. I look forward to seeing where he will go, what he will do, he who will be, but I also love to watch the process. And, I love him, my little-soon-to-be-man, Drew.