Belated Christmas post

So I worked up this post around Christmas time and it never went anywhere. Did I just not hit publish? Who knows? I never claimed this was a professional, timely, organized blog. Love you guys & hope your Christmas was fabulous.

My favorite Christmas song. I have desperately tried to capture Breath of Heaven in this season. God brought Christmas into focus for our family last year. We had 2 Chinese students stay with us for most of the Christmas holiday-about 2 weeks. They didn't know Jesus and His birth story. I still can't believe God let us host them, let me try to introduce them to Jesus. Talk about humbling. We are still in contact with them. Jesus is still chasing them. I know He is.

So it is hard to top last Christmas, it was hectic and we were stretched-but it was Christ-filled. We are trying! So trying.

 Tim & 2 other wise men in our church's live nativity.

And I was sad when Tim shaved his beard.

 Here be Mary & Joseph! They were precious and did a great job. The most humble couple I know.

 

How do you get a child who is obsessed with picking his nose to stop picking his nose. He. Never. Stops.

 

This crazy-hair angel is the fav among the kid made ornaments. I'd like to think there are angels like this-wild hair, not perfect, still usable.

 

 

Max's concoction. He poured half a bag of sugar on his "cereal", which was red/green goldfish. I was kinda proud he did all this by himself. Not sure where I was when this took place. Most mischief takes place when I'm in the tub.

 
We got to the beach this year for the Largen Christmas. What a treat and a gift-just to slow down and keep the pace of beach life.



Help me Rhonda...while we were in the condo-Max & I discovered a rerun of HEHAW. I was dying. We used to watch this every week and I really haven't seen it since I was a child. Does it not seem like everyone had to have been intoxicated while filming? I remember rolling laughing at this as a child. Good stuff.



Our SS Class Christmas party is da best. Dirty Santa. This group is close to my heart. Some of our most authentic friendships have grown out of this group. While the church today does not look/is not perfect, I love this class that represents the body of Christ to me. We cook for each other when babies come, laugh together & pray together. Our class discussion goes all over the place, sometime we are not completely holy-but I like it, because it is real.

We had the chance to be part of a store for an inner city group who live in a particular apartment complex. The single mamas could come in and purchase donated toys for a very discounted amount. They were able to pick out what they thought their kids would like and be able to pay for it. One mama started crying when she walked in seeing the selection-she had 6 kids and worked full time at Target. We partnered with a church already invested in this community. To be able to stand in a circle, holding hands, praying over this event and these families/mamas/kids, it was a taste of heaven to me. No barriers/no agenda/no color-just working together to spread love. (This is Ruthie and one of the volunteer's kiddos testing the merch).

Just like other mamas, the elf is no longer cute. I really was so grumpy about getting him out. But I read an article about the Elf with a purpose/or Elf on the Shelf-Jesus style. This clicked with me and I got all about the elf again. So we had a letter the elf gave the kids on the first night that explained the gig & then had daily cards with different "assignments". My favorite was having the kids take laundry detergent packs/$5 in quarters/dryer sheets to friends doing laundry at the laundry mat. Okay, so it takes about $10 to was and dry a load of laundry at the laundry mat. I did not know this before I went in there and asked. My word. I cannot imagine. So the kids and I were a little apprehensive walking in, but my prayer was that they would see it as a blessing from God and not a blessing from our hands. And it was the coolest. One stop, I sent the big kids in to hand them out (sometimes I think kids can handle things better than adults). It was cool to watch through the window. They got hugs & Henry got to give his to a soldier who was in there. 

This is where I got my letter (from the smart mama at Crayon Marks & Tiger Stripes). And below are the cards I used. I got them from here (Kimberly Danger/Mommy Savers) & then modified some of the "assignments" and made my own cards. I got some more good ideas here.

thanks

So this little song wormed its way into my head a few years ago. And it has stuck & Mr. Happy Heart (he's below) was born out of this song and its Bible truth. A THANKFUL HEART=A HAPPY HEART. Mr. Happy Heart came to life last year for a little art demonstration for the preschool where my kiddos went/go. And this year he's coming to Henry's 1st grade class dressed up as a pilgrim in time for Thanksgiving. It is funny how things stick with kids, like the random things they remember or the things you'd wish they'd forget. But Mr. Happy Heart always comes up, the kids draw him and we talk about him when we are having a bad day. And Mr. Happy Heart helps me, something about when I thank my God for all the little/big things all around, my funk gets lifted from me.

 

And this is something that made the Thanksgiving season sweet for me last year. I got a $2 pack of cards from Michael's and wrote notes of thanks to people in my life. It was my little challenge. 8 cards, so 2 a week. We need encouragement, I need encouragement. Life if is hard, even if you have it "easy". Lift one another up, give yourself an excuse-like the month of November, to say thank you.

And these little jars are made this year for your Thanksgiving gathering. They are 5.5"x3" and $15. How it goes...everyone fills out a card, listing what they are thankful for & after the meal, you pass the jar around & everyone takes a card out & reads it. We always try to match up the "thanks" to the "thanker". It is a simple tradition that we have done for years. I have a limited number, so when they are sold up-no mas until next year. I can ship for $5 or local pick-up. Email me if ya need one! sarah@largendesign.com

see-ya betta fish

So fishy fish was struggling these past few days-I knew he was about to bite it, but I didn't even have the energy to buy a new one and do the fish switch-out thing. I needed a break from fish maintenance. We had him for 2 years. I am not an animal nurturer/keeper. My people are enough for me. But there were actual tears for this fish-real 5 & 7 year old emotion. And this is how we paid tribute to him. I suggested we draw a picture of him, because burying him in the cemetery as Henry suggested was not doable. Henry had tears in his eyes as he was drawing this picture.
And Max (2) was asking about fishy fish and Ruthie just kept yelling Fishy fish is dead over and over, 2" from his face.

biased chick flick review

For whatever reason this movie has pulled me out of my blogger drought. The perfect escape for this mama avoiding the back-to-school flurry of weird emotions. This emotion is confusing to hubby, I thought it was summer you didn't like, I thought you said you liked the routine of the school year. I just need a moment to process it all or NOT and just watch a movie like this. If you heart Mr. Darcy, worth your time.

So Baby Ruth started K5 today. She did not want me to walk her to her classroom, and en route to school she suggested that maybe I could rest while she and Henry were away today. She knows her mama. She is SOOO itching to read (sometimes she tricks me into thinking she can-but is just a good guesser), to figure it all out-YOU GO GIRL. I was NOT this way.

Can't count the tears shed over Jane Austen books/movies (really more the movies, if I'm being honest). The perfect formula of it all. Watch it, sistas. But don't your man watch it-it'll wear them out.

things messing with me

Doesn't this song get you? Tears every time. This song has been following me these past few months. I was telling someone the other day.....I feel like God has stirred up a tornado in me & I don't know what to do with it. I have been having trouble sleeping at night and crying at the drop of a hat.

It all started with my sweet Chinese Christmas house guests. I got to be a part of His plan. I got a glimpse of what is possible when you choose radical obedience. Okay, for me having 2 Chinese students stay with me off/on for 3 weeks during the Christmas holidays was radical. Not for some. Baby steps. God is a patient with me. I want more, more of Him. Truly, I could coast. I could almost be content/happy planning my kids birthday parties, house projects, doing invites, maintaining this blog, graphic design & making pretty things. But God gave me a taste of what it means to be obedient and say YES when everything in your logical mind says NO. I was able to share my heart with these girls, God allowed me to be very honest & see them with His eyes.  I don't know where they are in their thoughts about God/Jesus, & I have to be ok with us being part of the puzzle. We get to celebrate Caroline's birthday tonight. Such kind and precious girls. They are so brave to experience ALL new things...



I've been talking to a friend about being part of a ministry. I'm scared. I don't feel equipped (although, I SHOULD, because I am a Bible study queen. I cannot count how many bible study books I have on my shelf). It will be messy, and interrupt our flow. But Tim's on board & supportive. He's a good one. This ministry opportunity was not my idea, it involves teenagers & not sure if I like teenagers. With all that God has been showing me this past year, not sure how I can say no.

I've been prompted to cut back on my graphic design work and I have NEVER felt the need to do this (well, except when the babies have come). I felt like God was saying, you gotta clear your plate some to allow more room for my work. Again all these baby steps for me seem so tiny compared to others. But in this moment, in my small world/brain-they seem big.

art party RUTHIE=5

 

So this crazy thing is 5. Ruthie is our fun-maker. Hope you have a Ruthie in your household. She prefers to wear mismatched socks. Her mission is to keep Max happy & entertained. We can get cracked up at the same stuff. She remembers the words to all songs. She remembers names. Almost everyone is her best friend.

We had a painting party at Easely Amused. It made me miss my friend Bridget (moved to Austin)-her sister taught the class, a version of Bridget.

 

 Rice krispy paint brushes. Warning: don't do these if you are rushed. And they never looks as pretty as the pinterest pictures. If you are okay with this, proceed. Here is are steps here. I did them 2 days in advance, so they were bricks on a stick. Each kid who took one, I warned them not to break a tooth.

These pretzel rods were easier.

 My produce palette. Foam board with holes cut out for the glass containers I had. You could use any size bowls/containers for this. This one was easy-peasy. I used an Xacto knife to cut the foam board.

 The poster on the right was a school project a few weeks prior-it got put to use.

 The start of the mermaid.

 Henry going rogue and doing some kinda robot/creature.

 Loved seeing the mamas with their daughters. It was really hard not to get involved with the girls' paintings. We were trying to have self-control and not snatch away that brush & 

tame miss mermaid's hair.

 Ruthie and cousin Elizabeth.

 Ruthie & Caroline Reed. Ruthie started crying yesterday when we talked about the day when these 2 would be going to different schools. Ruthie can't get enough of CR and little Meredith.

 Most of my decor was tin cans, rainbow duct tape, skinny balloons and anything colorful I had in the house. I tend to re-use & re-purpose.

  I got cupcakes from Crumb. They were so yummy. Yummy enough that I did not offer the extras to the adults. I needed to take the rest home.

 Our fun intructor-Amy.

 Meredith & Ruthie.

 Max getting in on the action.

My dad & Ruthie. R is not really into "smiling" for pictures.

Everyone with their pretty mermaids. Lots of Marge Simpson hair.

 Tim & Max.

As good as family pictures get.