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Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Christmas Around The World
I loved having the kids participate in "Christmas Around The World" again this year at school. The students learn how other countries celebrate the season. We looked at these Christmas trees from around the world. I thought they were so pretty I would post them on here! I might even steal some ideas from these pictures for our own Christmas tree next year! Ha!
The Capitol Christmas tree in Washington, D.C., is decorated with 3,000 ornaments that are made by U.S. schoolchildren.
The world's largest Christmas tree display is in Italy. It is composed of about 500 lights connected by 40,000 feet of wire!
Christmas in Tokyo.
Christmas in Czech Republic.
Venice is home to the tallest glass tree in the world!
Christmas in Moscow.
The largest Christmas tree in Europe.
Christmas in Germany.
Christmas in Paris...this department store draws more visitors than the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower!
Christmas in Rome.
Christmas in Madrid.
Christmas in London.
Christmas in Frankfurt.
The Capitol Christmas tree in Washington, D.C., is decorated with 3,000 ornaments that are made by U.S. schoolchildren.
The world's largest Christmas tree display is in Italy. It is composed of about 500 lights connected by 40,000 feet of wire!
Christmas in Tokyo.
Christmas in Czech Republic.
Venice is home to the tallest glass tree in the world!
Christmas in Moscow.
The largest Christmas tree in Europe.
Christmas in Germany.
Christmas in Paris...this department store draws more visitors than the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower!
Christmas in Rome.
Christmas in Madrid.
Christmas in London.
Christmas in Frankfurt.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
We Wish You A Merry Christmas...
Growing up, I always loved helping prepare and mail our family Christmas cards! It was fun for us as kids to put the special Christmas stamps on the cards. Then, Kerri and I would enjoy "playing post office" by sorting them into two stacks by reading the mailing addresses...those cards that were being sent "in town" or "out of town". I don't even think you have to sort them these days! Kerri, isn't that a fun memory? Then, we would drive to the post office and mail them, knowing we were sending our loved ones some Christmas cheer!
Yesterday, we mailed our Christmas cards! Before heading to the post office, I told Ansley some of the people the cards were being sent to and that we were sending the cards to wish them a "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year"! In a way, when we are sending cards, we are "declaring" the good news that Christmas is coming and we are anticipating it! Don't you love getting cards in the mail and with each one feeling like it's one day closer to Christmas?
Can you imagine the angels declaring the greatest news of all...Christ had been born? What an announcement! Did you realize we got a "message" declaring that Christ had come? It's the best Christmas card I've ever received! It's in Luke 2:10-14:
"And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord! And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!'"
Yesterday, we mailed our Christmas cards! Before heading to the post office, I told Ansley some of the people the cards were being sent to and that we were sending the cards to wish them a "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year"! In a way, when we are sending cards, we are "declaring" the good news that Christmas is coming and we are anticipating it! Don't you love getting cards in the mail and with each one feeling like it's one day closer to Christmas?
Can you imagine the angels declaring the greatest news of all...Christ had been born? What an announcement! Did you realize we got a "message" declaring that Christ had come? It's the best Christmas card I've ever received! It's in Luke 2:10-14:
"And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord! And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!'"
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Christmas Challenge
I've just started reading the book, He's Been Faithful by Carol Cymbala (Jim Cymbala's wife) and I can't put it down. It's filled with stories of trusting God to do what only He can do. I love it! This year, God's been teaching me a lot about obeying Him and His leading, and being willing to step out of my comfort zone and pray for people when He prompts me. I must admit, I oftentimes do not do a very good job of following through with His gentle nudges. However, when I have, the miracles and blessings abound and He proves to me once again that HE IS FAITHFUL!
A few weeks ago, I found out that the lady that teaches across the hall from me was having her observation by our principal that day. I could tell she was nervous and anxious. I knew the Lord was telling me to go over to her room and pray with her about the observation before her day began. I was nervous but I obeyed. Later that day, she came up to me and shared how she had been in her room that morning feeling such a lack of peace but the moment after I prayed with her the burden of nervousness just melted off of her! A few days later, she left a card on my desk. In it she shared what a blessing my prayer was to her. She said that at church that Sunday they were asked to stand and share where they had encountered Jesus that week and she said she told them in her classroom when I prayed with her she saw Jesus being lived out....Glory to God!
Just Thursday, I was at the doctor's office and a man in the waiting room was sharing his family struggles aloud to another man who was waiting. I couldn't help but overhear them talking. I wasn't personally invited into the conversation but that didn't matter because my heart was being pulled towards his story. This man needed someone to listen to him and feel his hurt. He shared that his father is severely sick with Alzhiemers and for the last three years I found out that he has spent every night away from his own family and over at his parents house to be a helpmate to his mother and father. My heart was moved at the love and care this gentleman was showing his parents who desperately need him during this painful time. After the man who was listening to him was called back to see the doctor, I felt a burning inside of me to go over and pray with this man about his situation. I wish I could tell you that I obeyed God and followed through with His promptings but instead I thought of a million excuses why I shouldn't. I am sad to say that I did not obey. I did find out his name and have been praying for his family but that's not what I know God asked me to do...He wanted me to be "Jesus" in the flesh to this man. To show Him that Emmanuel is with us. So, I left challenged that next time the promptings came I would pray for strength to step out in faith.
This book is challenging me to do just that. Remember when Moses shrank back from doing what the Lord asked of him because he felt inadequate? Then, the Lord told him that his brother Aaron could instead become His spokesman.
Cymbala says, "If you really want God to use you, then you have to be willing to follow Him into uncomfortable places and to do things you simply can't do on a natural level. Sometimes the greatest things that happen in our lives involve doing things that at the very time we dread." God give us the strength to obey your voice and see lives changed!
A few weeks ago, I found out that the lady that teaches across the hall from me was having her observation by our principal that day. I could tell she was nervous and anxious. I knew the Lord was telling me to go over to her room and pray with her about the observation before her day began. I was nervous but I obeyed. Later that day, she came up to me and shared how she had been in her room that morning feeling such a lack of peace but the moment after I prayed with her the burden of nervousness just melted off of her! A few days later, she left a card on my desk. In it she shared what a blessing my prayer was to her. She said that at church that Sunday they were asked to stand and share where they had encountered Jesus that week and she said she told them in her classroom when I prayed with her she saw Jesus being lived out....Glory to God!
Just Thursday, I was at the doctor's office and a man in the waiting room was sharing his family struggles aloud to another man who was waiting. I couldn't help but overhear them talking. I wasn't personally invited into the conversation but that didn't matter because my heart was being pulled towards his story. This man needed someone to listen to him and feel his hurt. He shared that his father is severely sick with Alzhiemers and for the last three years I found out that he has spent every night away from his own family and over at his parents house to be a helpmate to his mother and father. My heart was moved at the love and care this gentleman was showing his parents who desperately need him during this painful time. After the man who was listening to him was called back to see the doctor, I felt a burning inside of me to go over and pray with this man about his situation. I wish I could tell you that I obeyed God and followed through with His promptings but instead I thought of a million excuses why I shouldn't. I am sad to say that I did not obey. I did find out his name and have been praying for his family but that's not what I know God asked me to do...He wanted me to be "Jesus" in the flesh to this man. To show Him that Emmanuel is with us. So, I left challenged that next time the promptings came I would pray for strength to step out in faith.
This book is challenging me to do just that. Remember when Moses shrank back from doing what the Lord asked of him because he felt inadequate? Then, the Lord told him that his brother Aaron could instead become His spokesman.
Cymbala says, "If you really want God to use you, then you have to be willing to follow Him into uncomfortable places and to do things you simply can't do on a natural level. Sometimes the greatest things that happen in our lives involve doing things that at the very time we dread." God give us the strength to obey your voice and see lives changed!
Reindeer Cookies and Christmas Plate
Reindeer cookies are quite fun to make and eat! However, it's even more fun when you have a cute Christmas dish to put them on. I always grew up having fun Christmas dishes that we only got to use during the holidays. So, we bought Ansley her first holiday plate. Right now, she just enjoys baby food off of it but one day that will be replaced with something MUCH BETTER!! Shh, she doesn't know just how good sweets are yet!
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
O Christmas Tree...
Every year one of my favorite childhood Christmas traditions was getting to decorate my tree that went in my bedroom! Kerri and I would always spend a long time carefully unpacking each of our own special ornaments we had handmade at school and then beg Mom to help us put the lights on our individual trees so we could get busy decorating! We loved being able to go to bed that night beaming with pride at our handiwork and watching the colored lights glow in our ordinarily dark rooms. To us as young children, this meant that Christmas had come!
Last year when I was pregnant with Ansley, my Mom and Kerri, knowing I wanted to follow in the footsteps of our old family tradition, gave me an early Christmas present for Ansley. It was a "Baby Girl" tree and vintage baby ornaments! I hated to pack it away last year but I knew as I did that in just 11 months I would be pulling it out for my eighth month old baby girl to see for the first time!
This year, I decorated the tree while Ansley was napping and went ahead and plugged in the tree while she was still asleep. I even got crafty and made a little pink tree skirt out of toile scrapbook paper to make it extra girly! Then...I waited. As soon as I heard her make a little peep right around her wake-up time, I ran upstairs and cracked open the door. She stirred around a little while in her crib and then pulled up to a standing position. I am not joking...her face literally "lit up" when she saw the sparkling lights! She smiled, cooed, and held her arms up for me to lift her out of the crib. During her nap...Christmas had come!
Last year when I was pregnant with Ansley, my Mom and Kerri, knowing I wanted to follow in the footsteps of our old family tradition, gave me an early Christmas present for Ansley. It was a "Baby Girl" tree and vintage baby ornaments! I hated to pack it away last year but I knew as I did that in just 11 months I would be pulling it out for my eighth month old baby girl to see for the first time!
This year, I decorated the tree while Ansley was napping and went ahead and plugged in the tree while she was still asleep. I even got crafty and made a little pink tree skirt out of toile scrapbook paper to make it extra girly! Then...I waited. As soon as I heard her make a little peep right around her wake-up time, I ran upstairs and cracked open the door. She stirred around a little while in her crib and then pulled up to a standing position. I am not joking...her face literally "lit up" when she saw the sparkling lights! She smiled, cooed, and held her arms up for me to lift her out of the crib. During her nap...Christmas had come!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Trimming The Tree...
Tonight, we decorated our Christmas tree. As a bedtime story, we read The Pine Tree Parable. I've had this book since I was little and I have always loved reading it to my students each year. This year I was excited to share it with my little one!
This year, since Ansley is very mobile and curious, we decided to only put one tree up instead of two and to put our tree in the dining room instead of in the living room. This way, all three of us can enjoy our tree without having to worry too much about our little explorer getting too close to it (she never goes into the dining room). As I type this, I am now thinking...yeah she never goes into the dining room because there is nothing exciting in the dining room...until now! Ha! Only time will tell how curious she will be about the tree!
This year, since Ansley is very mobile and curious, we decided to only put one tree up instead of two and to put our tree in the dining room instead of in the living room. This way, all three of us can enjoy our tree without having to worry too much about our little explorer getting too close to it (she never goes into the dining room). As I type this, I am now thinking...yeah she never goes into the dining room because there is nothing exciting in the dining room...until now! Ha! Only time will tell how curious she will be about the tree!
Monday, December 7, 2009
Deck The Halls
This past weekend, we shared one of our most favorite Christmas traditions with Ansley! We decorated our home for Christmas and set up our nativity. Since Jon had to work this weekend, I (with lots of "help" from Ansley) decorated the house. We had fun unpacking all the goodies, dancing to Christmas music, and I loved watching Ansley squeal at the sparkling lights and the jingle of bells! As we set up our nativity, we read the story Joy to the World: The Story of Christmas which retells the birth of Jesus. As we read it, Ansley loved watching all the pieces come together to create the nativity.
Joy To The World...The Lord Has Come! The best part is...He is coming again!
Joy To The World...The Lord Has Come! The best part is...He is coming again!
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Has it really been 5 years?
It's hard to believe that five years ago yesterday at four o'clock on a beautiful December afternoon, Jon and I committed our lives to one another in marriage!
Have you ever seen the movie, Groundhog Day? In the movie, the guy keeps re-living the same day over and over again. Jon and I always say that if we had to pick a "Groundhog Day" to live over and over again, it would be our wedding day hands- down. Why? We were surrounded by our closest friends and family in a gorgeous church and there we pledged to be God's gift to one another forever. The "theme" we chose for our wedding was "The Gift". We wanted the celebration to focus on the gift of life, love, and commitment we were giving to one another for a lifetime and to serve as a reminder of the most precious gift we have ever received, eternal life in Jesus Christ.
It is no coincidence that our family vision is to "give life". We want to give life to one another as marriage partners, to our children, to our family, to our co-workers, to our workplaces, to our neighbors, to our friends, to ministries that bless and serve others, and to those who have not yet discovered the power and joy of having new life in Christ.
Do Jon and I always do a great job in fulfilling our vision? Honestly, my answer would be "not nearly enough" but we've grown leaps and bounds in five short years. In thinking yesterday about why we celebrate anniversaries, I was led to think of it as a time to reflect and ask ourselves the following question, "So, how are we doing on fulfilling our family vision?" Isn't that what a marriage partnership is truly all about? Yes, of course it is having someone by your side to laugh with, spend time with, travel with, make a home with, have children with, having someone to witness your life, but oh it's so much more really. I was reminded yesterday that it's about making sure you are doing more together for the Lord than you could have done apart to fulfill your vision...ultimately God's vision.
So, why do I share this with you here on our family blog? Because many of you who are reading this were witnesses to our vows five years ago. I'm asking you to continue to encourage us in our endeavor to fulfill the vision God has laid before us as a family. In sharing our dreams and goals with one another last night over dinner, we are excited about what the future holds! There is work to be done, seeds to be sown, love to be shared, and lives to be changed and it's up to us. Jon, I love you and praise God for the wonderful husband and father that you are. I am so blessed. Friends and family, I love you because you have loved us, supported us, prayed for us, and encouraged us!
Jon took me to The Melting Pot for fondue last night! It was marvelous....quiet, romantic, and oh-so-delicious! Here are some pictures of us celebrating...
Have you ever seen the movie, Groundhog Day? In the movie, the guy keeps re-living the same day over and over again. Jon and I always say that if we had to pick a "Groundhog Day" to live over and over again, it would be our wedding day hands- down. Why? We were surrounded by our closest friends and family in a gorgeous church and there we pledged to be God's gift to one another forever. The "theme" we chose for our wedding was "The Gift". We wanted the celebration to focus on the gift of life, love, and commitment we were giving to one another for a lifetime and to serve as a reminder of the most precious gift we have ever received, eternal life in Jesus Christ.
It is no coincidence that our family vision is to "give life". We want to give life to one another as marriage partners, to our children, to our family, to our co-workers, to our workplaces, to our neighbors, to our friends, to ministries that bless and serve others, and to those who have not yet discovered the power and joy of having new life in Christ.
Do Jon and I always do a great job in fulfilling our vision? Honestly, my answer would be "not nearly enough" but we've grown leaps and bounds in five short years. In thinking yesterday about why we celebrate anniversaries, I was led to think of it as a time to reflect and ask ourselves the following question, "So, how are we doing on fulfilling our family vision?" Isn't that what a marriage partnership is truly all about? Yes, of course it is having someone by your side to laugh with, spend time with, travel with, make a home with, have children with, having someone to witness your life, but oh it's so much more really. I was reminded yesterday that it's about making sure you are doing more together for the Lord than you could have done apart to fulfill your vision...ultimately God's vision.
So, why do I share this with you here on our family blog? Because many of you who are reading this were witnesses to our vows five years ago. I'm asking you to continue to encourage us in our endeavor to fulfill the vision God has laid before us as a family. In sharing our dreams and goals with one another last night over dinner, we are excited about what the future holds! There is work to be done, seeds to be sown, love to be shared, and lives to be changed and it's up to us. Jon, I love you and praise God for the wonderful husband and father that you are. I am so blessed. Friends and family, I love you because you have loved us, supported us, prayed for us, and encouraged us!
Jon took me to The Melting Pot for fondue last night! It was marvelous....quiet, romantic, and oh-so-delicious! Here are some pictures of us celebrating...
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Run, Run, Run As Fast As You Can...
You Can't Catch Me I'm The Gingerbread Man!
Continuing with our Christmas traditions, tonight we read The Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett. This is a new tradition for us. Since Ansley loves books, I knew she would enjoy this cute and different version of The Gingerbread Man! It's filled with lots of fun words, rhymes and colorful pictures! Then, we (really "I") decorated gingerbread cookies. I know Ansley is young for a lot of these traditions but hey you gotta start somewhere and heck she loves anything new (and messy)! She basically watched me decorate the cookies because if she gets near one, it is sure to wind up in her mouth and mommy doesn't allow table food yet. So, tonight the book reading was for Ansley and the cookies were for Jon and I!
Our little gingerbread family...if you look closely Ansley's has a little hairbow!
Ansley is happy to be staying up late and watching mommy decorate!
"Hmm I wonder what this icing tastes like?"
Checking out the gingerbread house in the book.
Getting ready to read The Gingerbread Baby!
Continuing with our Christmas traditions, tonight we read The Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett. This is a new tradition for us. Since Ansley loves books, I knew she would enjoy this cute and different version of The Gingerbread Man! It's filled with lots of fun words, rhymes and colorful pictures! Then, we (really "I") decorated gingerbread cookies. I know Ansley is young for a lot of these traditions but hey you gotta start somewhere and heck she loves anything new (and messy)! She basically watched me decorate the cookies because if she gets near one, it is sure to wind up in her mouth and mommy doesn't allow table food yet. So, tonight the book reading was for Ansley and the cookies were for Jon and I!
Our little gingerbread family...if you look closely Ansley's has a little hairbow!
Ansley is happy to be staying up late and watching mommy decorate!
"Hmm I wonder what this icing tastes like?"
Checking out the gingerbread house in the book.
Getting ready to read The Gingerbread Baby!
Happy Holiday Homecoming, Greenfields!
Today, was a very special day for our family! This evening around six o'clock, we welcomed Jon's twin sister Rachel, her husband Nathan, and our 19 month old nephew Noah here to America for Christmas! Their home is overseas in Jordan. We were so thrilled to see them. We have not seen them since last Christmas and this was the first time they had ever met Ansley. We were sad that Jon had to work tonight and was unable to join us for their holiday homecoming. We will make up for it though with lots of fun days and nights spending time together as a family in the next few weeks! Ansley and Noah enjoyed getting acquainted and I'm sure they will have lots of catching up to do over the holidays! Noah especially loved Jon's parents dog, Lacy! Richard, Leslie and their kids came over to share in the homecoming as well. The cousins all had fun playing together. Welcome to Alabama, Greenfield family...we sure have missed you and cannot wait to share the holidays with you and make lots of memories together!
The cousins (Noah, Josiah, Caleb, Ansley, Maleah and Jace)
Jace checking out Ansley.
Ansley meets sweet Noah!
Noah loved holding onto Lainey's finger and quickly made friends with Lacy, the dog!
Ansley meets Uncle Nathan!
The cousins (Noah, Josiah, Caleb, Ansley, Maleah and Jace)
Jace checking out Ansley.
Ansley meets sweet Noah!
Noah loved holding onto Lainey's finger and quickly made friends with Lacy, the dog!
Ansley meets Uncle Nathan!
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