Anticipation

"Best Birthday Ever"

"The Best Birthday Ever", is how Eli described today! He thought it went pretty well! He was so excited this morning when his brothers were on a 2-hour delay for fog. He thought that was a perfect beginning and surely they would want to play a game with him. Like, Go Fish! (and they did).

When he found out the delay had turned to a cancellation, things just got better! He was so excited. We decided to move our Birthday celebration to lunchtime instead of having to wait for dinner! We had pizza and then of course cake and ice cream!

This year Eli said I should surprise him with the cake

(instead of him picking what he wanted).

I'd say he looks pretty pleased with Frosty.

He said he loved it!

He also enjoyed his Buckeye Wallet!
(beware, he may ask you for a business card to fill it up)

He, and his brothers, enjoyed his Parking Garage.

and all three helped Daddy put it together

So my littlest man is now a Big 5 year old! It's so hard to believe. I remember his first Christmas, just days home from the hospital. He enjoyed all the festivities in his bouncer chair near the tree totally oblivious to the craziness 2 big brothers were making around him.

Eli is a special little guy. It's hard watching him grow up and yet I am so proud. He is a smart, kind caring little guy and he loves people! He can bring a smile to any ones face and genuinely loves to make people laugh! We are blessed beyond measure to have Eli in our family and we are excited to see all the Jesus has in store for our 5 year old little man in the year ahead!

Happy Birthday Elijah Wesley!

We love you and are so proud of the man you are becoming!

4 No More

It is official - Eli is no longer 4!

Today he is BIG, he is a Whole Hand of numbers!

He's no longer the young little boy, but officially of school age(he was a little frusterated to realize he would not be going today, or even after Christmas break).

He has arrived.

He's growing so much.

He can dress himself with ease and usually even matches!

He still likes to be a cowboy,

but he rides his (bear) horse, "silver", so much better now that he is big.

He is still adventurous but now can climb to new heights!

He's still that lovable little guy who loves to dress up with a tie!

and talk on the phone...

But somehow today - it's different! He's big, he's

5!

(more to come later on today about his BIG day)

Mary

Yesterday, our Pastor's sermon was from Luke 1:26-38 about Mary and when she was told by the angel, Gabriel that she would have a baby. I have heard this passage preached on before, but this message was different. He described Mary as Philip Yancy does, "the first person to accept Jesus Christ on His terms no matter what cost." Let me see if I can explain.

Luke 1:26-38
"In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28And he came to her and said, "Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!"
29But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."
34And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?"
35And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy— the Son of God. 36And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37For nothing will be impossible with God."
38And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her."

This story doesn't seem all that "amazing" to us in the 21st century. After all millions of teenage girls are becoming pregnant yearly in our society. It has become the norm. It's not a big thing for a young girl to become pregnant or even to become a mother.

First of all, let me give a little historical background to help us understand what is going on here. Mary would probably have been between 10-13 years old. In Jewish law during those times young girls would have been "engaged" as early as 10 years old and married around 12 or 13. So she was very young. Again, the Jewish tradition was so that the Father and the Groom had an agreement between themselves and there was a price set and once money had exchanged hands the deed was good. The Father gave the Groom his word that his daughter was pure and a virgin. Again in those days if a girl/woman would to become pregnant and not be married, she would be stoned to death.

Again, in our society, this story doesn't seem that weird. Young girls are becoming pregnant in nearly every community in our nation - some because it is the "in" thing to do. It is not out of the norm at all.

So now to the passage when Gabriel visits Mary. Remember how young she is and then think of the message Gabriel gives her. Gabriel greets her as, "O favored one". He tells her, she is going to have a baby, but this seems impossible to Mary, she is a virgin. Gabriel tells her that the baby will be God's son. Gabriel goes on to tell her how he will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. How he will be from the line of David and his kingdom will reign forever and will never end!

Mary has to be confused at this point. Her mind has to be running through what her family and friends will say - what will happen to her. She could be killed as a result of this pregnancy. Instead of all that though, she replies, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?"

Gabriel tells her that the Holy Spirit will come upon her and the power of the Most High will overshadow her. He goes on to tell her about her Aunt Elizabeth, (the barren one) who is right now 6 months pregnant and how nothing is impossible with God.

And what is her response? "Sorry Gabriel, I can't do it. I could be killed! My dad already paid the deed! I'm going to marry Joseph! I will be disgraced!

NO, she simply says, "May it be to me as you have said."

She trusted God! She had a faith relationship with Him. The Lord needed her to be a ready and willing recipient of the Will of God. She trusted Him. She had childlike faith - Faith on God's terms, not her own. She didn't have excuses when everything she knew told her this could be very bad for her. She had childlike faith - Faith that says, yes it may not make complete sense to me, but Jesus is calling and I am willing to do whatever He calls me to do.

Are you that willing? Do you have that kind of faith! The Bible says we are to have faith like a child. Not questioning and making excuses or even making our own terms.

"OK God, I'll do what you want, if you promise to give me this".

No, faith that says, "God, I may not understand completely, but I trust you and have faith that you will go before me!"

Lord, I want that kind of faith. Help me to say "yes" to you, no matter what the circumstances around me may seem. Give me faith to simply say, "whatever you want, I will do it."

Lights

Last night we loaded up the kids and went to the local square to walk around and see the lights. We knew that Maddie would love the "tivity" or "activity" (as Eli calls it), so we positioned ourselves so that we would end our walk at the Nativity scene!

All four kids enjoyed the lights and all the pretty colors!

From decorated trees...

to playing toy soldier (I wish the quality of the picture were better, because it really was so funny to see all 4 of them being soldiers. The big tall one on the far left is still a kid at heart.)

Santa was lit up - my kids know that Santa is not real, however they also enjoy him!

and Frosty the Snowman, well that is one of Maddie's favorite!

and this next picture is...

well it was suppose to be the Nativity, and even Maddie's expression when she saw it, it was priceless. She was all grins! But my batteries in my camera died at that moment and so I didn't get the climax!

After those lights we went to another local town where there were lights in the park and all different displays, the kids enjoyed all the lights and enjoyed seeing them on our journey!

Then tonight our Advent reading was about the outside lights and how we are to be lights for Jesus year round.

We also practiced the kids song for Ney church tomorrow, which talks about letting your light shine!

I love it when teachable moments just fall into place!

We are learning how to let our lights shine for Jesus around here, I hope you are enjoying the Christmas lights too!

School Program

Let me just tell you that I LOVE our Christian School!

It's not because they have elaborate Christmas programs, or even because they are such awesome quality - it's the message. I know you could probably go to many other local schools and have a very quality lights and music and dancing and drama, but I wouldn't trade it.

The title of the boys Program this year was, "The Present is the Future". You couldn't hear all the words and Ron had a hard time following because the kids weren't mic'd, but the message was fantastic!

The present - the gift that we get at Christmas time is a future with God! What an amazing message. The boys learned 7 songs to go with that theme and I have heard Maddie and Eli singing them too. I know the younger 2 don't know exactly what they are singing, but I am pretty sure it is pleasing to their Heavenly Father, and I'm so thankful that Ronnie and Nathaniel are learning the true message of Christmas, even at school.

So I am pleased that my boys are singing, learning, dancing, and doing all things for Jesus! So thankful for Christian Education!

Birthday Party

This year at our Ney Church our Annual Christmas Party was a Birthday Party for Jesus! We began our evening together by caroling to some shut ins in town! The kids all enjoyed this and sang so much more than last year!

Then we gathered in the church basement and enjoyed some yummy food!

After eating I snapped a quick picture of the kids before we headed upstairs for a movie, "The Very First Noel".

Then back downstairs for some fun Christmas Birthday Party games, like Garland Limbo, Snowball Toss and Candy Relay!

Some, enjoyed observing!

We finished our evening with a Birthday Cake for Jesus!

It was a fun evening with our focus on the Guest of Honor - JESUS!

Christmas with Family

On Saturday, after Ron returned from Wilmore we loaded up and went to my Grandparents (My Dad's parents) for Christmas. It was fun to have everyone together.

I love this picture of Uncle Jay and Nathaniel.

It's cool to be like your Uncle Jay!

We opened lots of gifts from Granny and Gramps!

Maddie snuggled with her fun big cousin, Terra!

All the girls enjoyed being together!

Here Gramps got to enjoy both the new girls!

And my Mom was pretty excited to have all 10 of her grand kids together for the first time!

It was a fun time together with family!

Visiting Grandma

Last week Ron and I took Eli and Maddie on some visitations. One of the people we visited was my Grandma Donna (Mom's mom). She has been in assisted living for a little while now. Grandma seems to really be doing well there. She is suffering from Alzheimer's and I'm pretty sure she didn't know us. Despite that fact, she loved Eli and Maddie and I was so excited that they took well to her. They talked to her, sang to her, answered questions and followed her as she showed them all the Christmas decorations in the lobby! It was a fun time for all 3 of them and I am so thankful for opportunities like this!It's so good to be near my Grandparents during this time! I don't want to regret it later by not taking advantage of the time I have near them!

So thankful too that my kids love to be involved in our ministry! Eli was asked to sing at every place we visited and it wasn't until the final place that he claimed he was just too tired! They both did good! So thankful they love ministry and can be involved with their Daddy and I.

Christmas Play

This year all 4 of our children were in the Christmas Play at our Farmer Church. They were all pretty excited to see what their parts would be. Honestly most of the mom's were thinking we should videotape for AFV, but the performance last Sunday evening went very smoothly and we probably wouldn't have won any money!

Maddie got to be an angel. He daddy thought that was very fitting and once she realized she got a pretty costume, she was sold on the part!

Eli was a Donkey for the 2nd time and was pretty excited himself. Below he is pictures with his buddy Owen, the cow!

Ronnie was both a Wise man and the Inn keeper and Nathaniel was a Shepherd!

Maddie brought me her halo about halfway through the play - she didn't like that part of the costume!

The boys were too quick after it was over, so I missed a picture of the four of them together, but it was a fun time and a good opportunity for the kids to share the true meaning of Christmas!

We did have a fun fellowship time afterwards. Maddie wanted to sit with the big kids! Here she is with Wendy

a fun evening for everyone!

We are so thankful for opportunities to point others to the True Meaning of CHRISTmas!

Coppedge Cousins

Tuesday evening I took the kids and we headed to Pap and Grandma Neff's! Everyone was pretty excited. Our Coppedge Cousins were there and we couldn't want to spend some time with them.

Of course no visit to Grandma's is complete without a story - and a Christmas Story makes it even better.

Grandma even had her nativities out so we watched the Christmas story unfold...

and were even given permission for a closer look.

Pap even read some Christmas Stories (that's Eli behind the book).

Maddie read Lucy about the Princesses

(It's so fun to see these 2 together and remember they were born 3 weeks apart on 2 different continents)

"Lucy Maid"

(as Maddie calls her)

and "Elsie James"

(again, Maddie's names)

To be perfectly honest, I was really wanting to get my hands on these 2!

Meet Chloe Catherine and Sophie Anne

Everyone wanted a turn to hold one.

and if we weren't lucky enough to be holding, we were watching someone else hold!

My sis has her hands full! I offered to lighten her load some, but she didn't seem interested in my offer! :)

"look Mom, I'm holding the baby"

I was surprised at how different they are. Both so adorable.

Sophie and Chloe

Sophie with lighter skin, lighter curly hair and just so different from her darker complected and darker haired twin, Chloe! And yet both so perfect and adorable! What a Blessing!

The Coppedge Sisters

Below, Lucy holding Sophie

and Elsie Jayne holding Chloe

4 Beautiful Coppedge Sisters!

A perfectly wonderful time with Cousins!

It was a Blessing to finally meet these 2 cuties and so fun to be together with cousins for the day! So thankful that it worked out!