A Place in Heaven

Drew has spent several months praying for so many during his bedtime prayers. Most of those for whom he has been praying were/are afflicted with cancer. He has been so faithful, on his own, to remember each one, every night. In November, we explained how one of those friends he was praying for had graduated to Heaven. It was the first experience we had with trying to explain this in relation to someone he knew, to help his four-year-old brain conceptualize our/his friend dying on earth and living in Heaven with Jesus forever.

In the last week, we lost another friend to cancer. However, once again, we are comforted by her being in the presence of her King. However, it was once again time to attempt explaining to Drew. With one discussion like this under our belt in recent history, we tried to be a little more specific with our explanation. It seemed that perhaps that helped a little.

Fast forward to last night, when it was once again time for bedtime prayers. When listing all the names he was going to remember in his prayers, he asked if he could pray for the two friends mentioned above. We affirmed his desire to do that; however, we reminded him that it is the families of those two friends who need our prayers now and that our friends are in heaven, so they have been healed completely. He was in need of further explanation, so we reviewed the concept of them not being on earth anymore and our not seeing them again until we are in Heaven.

Then came the statement that melted my heart, and my tears fell: "Daddy, is cancer a place in Heaven?"

Oh, sweet precious Andrew. It is so hard to explain these things... these are not things that are easy for Daddy and Mommy to know the words that are perfect. It is so important that we share all these things with you, even when we know the news will hurt and cause your heart to be sad for a little while.

My tears, my melted heart... they were a result of his strong desire to think, to consider, all the things being discussed... his attempt at grasping two very abstract concepts... his desire to understand why it was their time to go to Heaven.

In the meantime, just a reminder that we are so grateful for what each of these two special ladies was to our family over the years, and that we are thankful for the years the Lord did give them on this Earth... our lives, including the lives of our children, have been enriched because of them.

COLDness

Yep, I'm a spoiled Florida girl. Yep, I know that northern folk have it way worse. Yep, I know I should have been thankful for temps in the 30s - uh, NOT! I live in Naples- almost as far stinkin' south as you can get in the continental United States. And, we have had some bone-chillin' weather here - more than I believe to be our fair share - for several weeks in December.

Just look at some of this nastiness...after cleaning my windshield with my Kitchenaid Spatula - ha ha.



My sweet baby boy bundled up to go to Drew's Christmas Chapel...


Um... hello - white grass killing stuff, a.k.a. frost!

Getting Ready for Christmas

David is the lead when it comes to putting up the Christmas tree in our house and decorating it. I help, but he loves to take on that task. He didn't have Christmas trees in his house when he was growing up, so ever since we were married, it has been a super big deal to him. I am thankful my husband wants to help in this regard. I enjoy decorating the tree, but it's nice to have some of the Christmas items on our list spread out so that one person is not responsible for everything leading up to the holiday.

This year, both boys helped, as Brad is now old enough to help and enjoy the fun. We began a tradition of Drew placing the star when he was younger, so now we are adjusting the tradition to allow both boys to have an opportunity for placing the star.


Drew and Daddy hanging the bead garland.


Bradley excited to have bins to push around the living room!


Drew adding very special ornaments to the tree. We have ornaments my mom made when I was a baby & toddler, ornaments from my late godmother's collection, and ornaments I made when Drew was a baby. All are child safe and of great sentimental value.


Drew's moment to place the star.


Brad's first star-placing experience - he's a natural!


B exploring all the new 'toys' on the tree (ornaments).


In awe over the shiny star on the top! I just love that chubby little hand!

Our Little Shepherd Boy

Drew's class presented their Christmas program in Chapel on Dec. 16th. Each student had a part to play in the program, and they performed in front of all the elementary and preschool students and staff. If you ask me, I think it is pretty impressive for a bunch of four-year-olds! The teacher narrated the Christmas story straight out of the Bible as each student played his or her part.

Here is a photo from before the program - true to form, my little ham is perhaps getting rid of some pre-stage jitters!

This picture collage created with Smilebox

Brotherly Love

Drew's chalk drawing on the sidewalk of "me and my Bradley."

What to Do with Christmas Photo Cards...

... once Christmas is long gone?

You want to keep them for the keepsakes they are, but where do you keep them so that you will eventually revisit them?

This idea was adapted from another mom who shared what she did with hers a few years ago. She keeps the photos and includes them in her weekly planning calendar that hangs on her family's refrigerator. Her family then spends that week praying for the family whose photo appears.

I don't use a weekly calendar method, nor do I have my calendar on my refrigerator. Instead, I cut out the photos, tape/glue them to card stock, write the family name under the photo, and thread them on to two binder rings. We flip to the next card each day. They hang on my calendar, right near my desk, where we all see the family for that day. The idea is that we individually, and corporately, pray for that family as much as possible in our prayer times that day. Now, some days go by, and I (or we) haven't been as faithful as originally intended. Then, we just leave that family up for another day, so that we are sure they have a full day during which their family is covered in prayer. Once Christmas is over, I look forward to making many more beautiful additions.