A Year In Review - Part 4

It has been a year since any posts were made to this Alexander Family blog. That is not by accident, but an intentional decision. Over the past twelve months, we have walked some very dark days. The choice was made to 'circle the wagons' so to speak. We made the decision to look inward as individuals, as a couple, as parents, as a family, and as friends. And in doing so, some things had to give. This blog being one of them.

We have learned much over the past year. But in the learning, there has been much pain and grief. We surrendered to the work of Jesus in us; sometimes willingly, often times not. But this I know, we are followers of a gracious and redeeming God. A God that can turn our mourning into dancing. A God that makes beauty out of brokenness. A God that breathes life into death.

I believe that there are years for pruning and years for flowering. You can't have one without the other. This year has been a year of pruning for us. And the thing about pruning...it's painful. We are hopeful for those flowers that are sure to be on the horizon. And in the waiting, in the pruning, we choose Jesus, we choose each other, and we choose to trust.

A Year In Review - Part 3

It has been a year since any posts were made to this Alexander Family blog. That is not by accident, but an intentional decision. Over the past twelve months, we have walked some very dark days. The choice was made to 'circle the wagons' so to speak. We made the decision to look inward as individuals, as a couple, as parents, as a family, and as friends. And in doing so, some things had to give. This blog being one of them.

We have learned much over the past year. But in the learning, there has been much pain and grief. We surrendered to the work of Jesus in us; sometimes willingly, often times not. But this I know, we are followers of a gracious and redeeming God. A God that can turn our mourning into dancing. A God that makes beauty out of brokenness. A God that breathes life into death.

I believe that there are years for pruning and years for flowering. You can't have one without the other. This year has been a year of pruning for us. And the thing about pruning...it's painful. We are hopeful for those flowers that are sure to be on the horizon. And in the waiting, in the pruning, we choose Jesus, we choose each other, and we choose to trust.

Nativity

There are lots of nativities out in the world and blog land these days. I love me a nativity set. I love that it is something tangible that represents the birth of a Savior. I know a lot of people that have multiple nativities. But I am the owner of only one. Not a fancy shmancy nativity, but one that is just precious to me and holds a special place in my heart. It was given to me by my dear friend, LaRue Skaggs, Christmas 2003, when we left the first church where Ryan was on staff in Texas.



It is a teeny, tiny little set with an angel, baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, four wisemen, and three animals. I just love it! It has been through several moves as well as a four year old boy, so it has seen better days. But look on the bright side for these particular stable animals, since they no longer have their ears, they don't have to hear baby Jesus crying...




Mary, specifically, was on my heart a lot through the Christmas holiday. I spent a lot of time thinking about the birth of Jesus from her point of view and where her heart must have been through all of the unknowns. I guess because it was on my mind a lot, it got transfered on to the kids. We talked as the days of Christmas got closer about Mary and what she would be doing right now. We had a lot of these conversations, "it's getting close", "they are traveling now to Bethlehem", "the baby Jesus is almost here".

I want my kids to know that these aren't just stories but real people that lived before us. A real Savior that was born in a stable to a virgin named Mary and an earthly father named Joseph... But you just never know if the things you're saying stick with them or go in one ear and out the other.

Well, I think my boy got it. The day before Christmas Eve, he was playing with the baby Jesus in the nativity set, and he looks up at me and says, "Mommy, the baby Jesus is almost to Bethland." That's right buddy! He is almost there. It won't be long now.

Christmas with the Grandparents

Since Ryan's parents are out of state, they sent there gifts to the kids before Christmas. All of them were wrapped, put under the tree and were opened on Christmas morning. We got to skype with them on Christmas day, so they could see their purchases, and their grandchildren, in action.

And we even got in a game of Scattegories with them over skype. And guess who kicked some Scattegorie booty?! Considering having all competitions over skype from here on out.

My parents braved the winter wonderland and drove over from East TN the day after Christmas for dinner and the opening festivities. We ate and then got to the matter at hand.

Here is Papa with the calendar that we gave them.









And if we could just have a moment of silence for the following two "gifts". Lord, help us!