Sushi

Have I mentioned how much Emma loves sushi? She LOVES it!! I got some especially for her the other night and she ate it up!!




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shine.

Our family was watching "The Nativity" the other night when I realized.... My girls have a heart for justice. When they saw the images on the screen- actors portraying women being sold and exchanged for taxes.... children being murdered in the streets for the sake of power, their hearts screamed out. Tears spilled. They know, as children.

This year our CFL theme for the season has been "Shine". We kicked it off with our annual event, Soup for the Soul, where many of the humanitarian efforts we contribute to as a church where highlighted. A few of the them where: writing a letter on behalf of a wrongly imprisoned Pakistani women, our many city outreaches, the now annual Ecuador trip to assist in Christmas parties for some of the poorest of the poor, the trips to Rancho Santa Marta, an orphanage in Mexico and even supporting a company from Cambodia that is made up of exploited women rescued out of human trafficking.

It seems like the world is a very large, very crazy place.... so much wrong to right. Yet, here we are- doing something. And my kids also get to be a part of it. And in the coming years, they will get to participate even more. But I love that they SO WANT to be a part of it.

Which brings me to yet another one of Jewel's songs that I have been loving and humming and praying this year, from her Christmas album. Hands. I love the part that says "I won't be made useless, I won't be idle with despair, I will gather myself around my faith for light does the darkness most fear" (much of the world may be big and bad- but guess who has overcome the world?? That's right, Jesus!) And I love the part that says "We'll fight, not out of spite for someone must stand up for what's right- Where there's a man that has no voice, there ours shall go singing" (Like that lady in Pakistan, the world spoke up and it may make a difference of life or death) You know how I love songs and lyrics.... so here it is :)

Hands

If I could tell the world just one thing
It would be that we're all OK
And not to worry 'cause worry is wasteful
And useless in times like these

I won't be made useless
I won't be idle with despair
I will gather myself around my faith
For light does the darkness most fear

Poverty stole your golden shoes
It didn't steal your laughter
And heartache came to visit me
But I knew it wasn't ever after

We'll fight, not out of spite
For someone must stand up for what's right
'Cause where there's a man who has no voice
There ours shall go singing

My hands are small I know
But they're not yours, they are my own
I am never broken
In the end only kindness matters

I will get down on my knees, and I will pray
I will get down on my knees, and I will pray
I will get down on my knees, and I will pray

We are never broken
We are God's eyes

God's hands
God's mind
We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's heart
We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's eyes
We are God's hands
We are God's hands

SHINE. (And they even let me paint the walls! :) )

music speaks

A few years back I got the Jewel Christmas album. It's pretty mellow, nice for a quiet evening of relaxation or background music while crafting.

This year, a few of the songs have really touched my heart. This one below- so beautiful. I love the part that says "

so take my hand and knowing

with it i also give my heart

wanting never to be separate again". And the part that says "

if you were flame i'd allow myself to be consumed completely, were you wind i would wish you pass through me". I love it because it reminds me of our relationship with Jesus... and how when we give our hearts to him, we give completely, and we are never separate again. Isn't that an amazing thing to remember at Christmas?? His gift of life to us.... that is what we are celebrating! :)

"Face Of Love"

until tonight
my heart was just half full
i'd never known the fruit which fed the soul
but now i see what may put to rest my longing

for i have seen, the face of love
the grace of god, the face of love

in silence i feared my heart
would remain words unheard
inside a separateness of skin
but now i know that the skin just veils the soul

for i have seen, the face of love
the grace of god, the face of love

so take my hand and knowing
with it i also give my heart
wanting never to be separate again
let eternity begin

if you were flame
i'd allow myself to be consumed completely
were you wind i would wish you pass through me
but now i know that the skin just veils the soul

for i have seen, the face of love
the grace of god, the face of love

tree trimming

This year the girls decorated 100% of the ornaments on the tree.... My only job was the lights and ribbon.... then, I sat back and let them go at it. As you can see, they did an amazing job of not putting all of the ornaments on the bottom front of the tree :) I will post a finished product later! :) :)