I've got love like the ocean

Christmas Vacation!

We stayed in the sunshine state for Christmas but we decided to call it vacation anyway, to make it more exciting. The FSPs are easy to please. The two 6-day weekends in a row were wonderfully relaxing. The snow our families got over the holidays made us homesick, but we tried to make the best of our 70 degree days. Pity us. We deserve it. (I think this summer will be extra hot as my comeuppance.) Our vacation mini-pictorial:

We worked in the yard... Judah was a BIG help =)

We played on the front walk...

practicing our pouncing...

...which we're still perfecting.

We read book after book...

...and successfully avoided the paparazzi =)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Elves in the village

This week we headed even further south to St. Augustine's "Winter Wonderland" with the O'Sullivans. There was a snow machine, so now we can sympathize with those of you who shoveled your driveways this morning. Or not, as I need to go close the shades right now because it is too hot sitting in the sun!

Judah had a great time, as always, hanging out with best bud Will.

Both boys were fascinated with the Elf Village.

"You first."

"No, you first. I insist."

The elves' workshop was a big hit with the boys.

Judah was just wishing they had a cobbler's.

The other elves were intimidated by Judah's mad woodworking skills.

And when you tire of making toys, there is always the Nutcracker ballet to practice...

"Will-- Arabesque! Arabesque!... Focus!"

(Photos courtesy of Beth, since I am a slacker and conveniently forget the camera all the time. Thanks Beth!)

Facial "hair"

Since Judah will, in all probability, have absolutely no capacity to grow a decent beard, we're on the hunt for alternatives early. Maybe it will help him avoid the awkwardness of middle school years where being baby-faced is not yet an asset in getting the girls...

You can definitely see the Pendleton in him in this next picture. Specifically the Mike Pendleton, which does give him a little hope for a nice goatee someday =)

"I've done just fine so far with hardly any hair, thank you very much!"

We can't leave Forrest out.

Maybe the FSP guys should just wear hats instead...

"I will save you, my princess!"

It isn't Christmas without...

John Denver and the Muppets of course! I'm serious, I look forward to "piggy pudding" all year =) (If you have no idea what I am talking about, listen to "We wish you a Merry Christmas" closely.) This album is so fun, sweet, sincere, and heartwarming. It is everything I love about the holiday season in an hour of listening.

I'm always hunting for great new Christmas-time traditions, so now that you know mine, what is your favorite thing to do during the holidays???

WELCOME CALEB!!!

We are so excited to be able to welcome Caleb Everett into the world to make it a little sweeter! Congratulations to Shawn, Elaine, and all the grandparents who are visiting =) This is a little belated, since he will be a week old tomorrow, so maybe I should say "Happy 1 week birthday!" We love you little man and are so glad you are here! What a wonderful God we serve. You are a living answer to prayer, baby Caleb.

On the Pendleton front, we had our first adoption disappointment yesterday. Our profile (the picture book that introduces us to birthfamilies) was sent to Missouri and Indiana to be looked at by birthmoms. Both decided on different families, whom we are very happy for. Most of all we are glad that those babies are going to be adopted by families that really want them and will love them so much. We are still disappointed for ourselves though. In theory, we want God's timing in bringing us our baby, but in practice it is harder to be patient and stay encouraged. I'm not sure what the cosmic hold-up is =) Forrest keeps reminding me how narrow our perspective is, and with that in mind I am glad that I am not in charge all the time. I'm ready to hold our baby, but I will be ready still when God is ready too.

Just do it!

A couple weeks ago in our church fellowship group, the leader for the week brought up the verse from James 1 that says "Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit the widows and orphans in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." Right before that James is talking about how we need to be doers of the God's word, not only hearers.

I feel like I so often go around in a haze. I hold the reality of the pain and suffering in the world at arm's length and fill the space between it and my heart with talk radio and internet tv and worry about getting to all of my errands. WAKE UP SHANNON! There are real people with real pain all around you! When I try to look openly at the problems in my community, much less around the world, I quickly get completely overwhelmed. But man, if you have to see real pain to see real joy, then isn't it worth it? And shouldn't I stop steeping in my feeling of powerlessness and actually do what I can?

What is it that God has been knocking on your door about but that you have put off because you are too busy/tired/distracted/behind on the laundry/(insert favorite excuse)? ...and what are you going to do about it?