Sandies for Life

A while back I had asked for prayer for our family as me made some major decisions. The life of a coach is always interesting. In December, our head coach at Amarillo High became the district Athletic Director. Eric was hired by Coach Thiessen for his first job as a coach and followed Thiessen here. Along with all of the coaching families on staff, we were concerned about what this would mean for our future with a new head coach coming in. Every time this happens, there are many possible outcomes, some which are great and some that can be devastating. We fell some where in between for several weeks. At the end of this whole hiring process, we are proud and thankful to let everyone know what we are Sandies for life. Eric will be keeping his job at Amarillo High and we plan on staying here indefinitely. I'm trusting God and that He sees the future and that Amarillo is where our girls will flourish. I'm very thankful that I don't have to keep the house picked up and spotless in order to sell it and thankful that we will remain right across the street from Mali's elementary school that she will attend.

Jesus, Jammies and Donut Stop

Last Wednesday was "wear your pajamas" to school day! Mali enjoyed wearing her new jammies and slippers from Nana and Grandpa. She received SOOO many compliments and questions every where we went about where her boots came from and she replied "they came from Dalhart from my Nana and Grandpa". That morning, we also went to meet with one of the children's pastors at our church to discuss Mali's decision and future baptism. Of course, the not usually shy Mali clammed up and when she was asked if she had heard any stories about Jesus replied "no". That girl! When we got in the car, she told me "I was just kidding" and then shared with me that she wanted to be baptized because she wanted everyone to know that she had asked Jesus into her heart. We are still going to take the decision "slow" but every day she is asking me if today is the day that she gets to be baptized. It makes me wonder if this is the child like faith that Jesus wants us all to have. Yes, she may not know all the answers to who Jesus is or even stories about Him, but she KNOWS Jesus. Isn't child like faith supposed to be simple? Won't she spend the rest of her life learning about who Jesus really is, and through each circumstance learn a new character trait about who He is to her then? I know that I certainly have! This week in BSF, we both learned about how Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Mali and I have had some wonderful talks about Jesus because of this. She is able to really identify with this "name" of Jesus. We have talked about why Jesus died on the cross for us and if he was scared and how He wanted to obey his dad and how much he loved us by doing this and how it was God's great plan from the beginning. I really love and treasure the simple moments when we have these precious, eternal conversations...and they have been really frequent lately! I love this and know that these conversations push me into God's word more and more! I need to have His truth fresh on my mind to be able to answer her!
After our meeting and our little trip to see the baptistry, Mali, Eleri and I went to the Donut Stop and indulged in some yummy donuts. Mali had two pink with sprinkles donuts and Eleri certainly indulged in her choice of 10 donut holes!
And, aren't Mali's eyes beautiful in this picture? I didn't even do any photoshop editing for this one! Lately her eyes have just sparkled and been so brilliant!

Prayer

I just wanted to ask for prayer as our family begins making big decisions. That God will lay out His plan before us and that we would obey. And that the plan would be clear and would work at according to what God has for us!

If you come to my house...

-The toilet paper roll will be on the counter. It is supposed to be right there. Let Eleri in the bathroom for 2 seconds and you will quickly see why.
-You probably will not have a place to sit. Mali's stuffed animals will probably be having a picnic, slumber party or some other party.
-You will be locked in. I always lock and deadbolt the doors, it is just a "mom" habit.
-You will probably kick or trip on a toy. Just beware is all I can say.
-The dishes will be in the sink.
-The beds will not be made
-Mali will be wearing dress up clothes and will change at least four times while you are here.
-All I have to offer for snacks or drinks are puffs and diluted apple juice. (Unless you count the Dr. Pepper, but that is precious and will only be shared with friends who are getting little sleep as well!;))
-Someone will cry at some point
...and lastly, if you come to my house don't go in Mali's room!

I would NOT trade this stage and absolutely love it, I just have to laugh at how our home is!

O Holy Night

Night #1 of Christmas:
The first celebration of Christmas this season was our little family Christmas. We ordered Jason's Deli and watched Elf as we opened presents from each other and from Grammie. I read Luke 2, about Jesus' birth and why we celebrate Christmas. We got some great clothes from Grammie and Eric got some special gifts from his girls. Mali's big gift from Grammie were pink Legos. Eleri's big gift was a Busytown play center that she has really enjoyed and especially enjoyed watching Daddy assemble. Eleri was fascinated with the drill. Eleri also got a talking tea set that both girls have enjoyed playing with. Grammie got the girls lots of other great things including clothes. We got the girls hooded bath towels. Mali got a TAG reading system, Tinkerbell book, fleece dress pajamas, and a Dance Me Daddy Book to go along with her favorite song about her daddy. We got Eleri a walker/riding car that she has enjoyed, although I think she prefers to hold onto our fingers and walk around.
This was also the first time that we celebrated Santa coming. It was Christmas Eve Eve, but Mali didn't know the difference. She left out milk, cookies and a note to Santa. Santa came and filled the girls' stocking that night. Eric and I were both really tired from our trip to the cabin and it was hard to stay up to wait for Mali to fall asleep so we could load the stockings. The next morning, Mali awakened to open her stocking and dragged Eric out of bed to watch.

The Best Decision Ever

This past Sunday, December 20th, Mali prayed and asked Jesus into her heart. It has been a decision in the making, but she has told us several times that she had already asked Jesus to live in her heart. After talking with some of our friends, we decided that we were not going to hinder Mali from asking Jesus into her heart if that is what she was going to do. We also believe that choosing to walk with Jesus is a life long decision and some times a moment by moment choice, that this initial decision is so important but that throughout her life Mali will have to choose to serve the Lord. I did write Mali a personal letter of the details that took place that night, it was a sweet night as Eric, Mali, me and Eleri all gathered together at the cabin in Cuchara and prayed together amidst the beautiful Christmas lights glistening off of the snow. Jesus has washed Mali white as snow!!! In the coming months, she will take a baptism class at church and eventually will be baptized. I am sooo thrilled that she has made this decision and have been praying and greatly anticipating this day since I found out I was pregnant with her. I wanted to share scripture that we have read and believe as Mali has made this decision.
"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." John 1:12-13
"Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." John 17:3
"Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call." Acts 2:38-39
"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 8:9-13


This decision of Mali's is solely by the grace of God. I'm so thankful that God has allowed her to make this initial decision and that He has allowed us to lead her to this decision. BSF (Bible Study Fellowship), The Clubhouse (Hillside's children's program), and all of the godly people that God's has placed in her life have led to this decision. I'm also thankful that she has made this decision despite all the wrong choices that I've made as a parent.

What Christmas Means...

This is what Mali drew that Christmas means to her. I have to admit, I was relieved that it didn't mean presents or candy. I'm curious about when they worked on these at preschool and wonder if it was around the time we bought our new tree or were decorating it. At any rate, Christmas trees are some what less materialistic, granted Mali didn't draw her family like a few of the other kids (specifically boys...only the boys drew their families, maybe they were all sitting together or maybe they are just mama's boys!;)). So, this made me think, what does Christmas mean to me and what do I hope to teach Mali and Eleri about the meaning of Christmas? Last night, we were able to go to Chris Tomlin's Glory in the Highest Christmas tour. Louie Giglio spoke and he pointed out that we have these expectations that Christmas be so great, but really it is crazy. We all have craziness at Christmas....from hurt to major problems. AND, the very first Christmas was very crazy! Louie pointed out that Mary was probably praying one thing "God, please don't let this baby come tonight, please let him wait until we get back home." But when DID God chose for Him to come....at the peak of craziness. That is what the meaning of Christmas is...that we need a Savior to save us from the craziness and that God sent Jesus as just that. Surely I can help Mali and Eleri see that I am in desperate need of a Savior. That daily I fail and that I hurt and that I just can't do it all on my own and that I'm in desperate need of Immanuel....God with me, to enable me and to help me through the craziness and to bring glory and honor to Him!