Advent.

Advent comes from the Latin word meaning "coming" and represents season of expectant waiting and celebration of the Nativity of Jesus Christ. It is the period of time immediately before Christmas. Caleb and I decided that we would use an advent calendar to keep focused on our faith. Behind each door there is a verse about the coming of our Savior. Caleb worked very hard to get them on these tiny little cards. We'd love to share them with anyone who would be interested in using them for their own advent calendar. They are on 4 pdf pages- all you have to do is print and cut. Let us know if you're interested and we'd be happy to share. Merry Christmas!

Update:  Many of you have requested the Advent cards so we have placed them online for you to download.  There are 4 .pdf files that contain the cards.  All you'll need to do is have them printed (we would recommend online at Fedex Kinkos using one of their nice card stocks) and then cut them. The links for each .PDF are below.  Right click (or Control Click for Mac users) on each link below to download them to your Desktop.

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Thanksgiving weekend.

Ingredients for a great Thanksgiving Weekend:

Turkey.

Hang out time with family.

Nap.

Pics with Santa.

Everybody's doing it.

Paper Project.

Anyone that knows me knows that I love paper. And now I have a new love- stamps! And they happened to be on sale at Hobby Lobby so I decided to make some Thanksgiving cards. It was fun and each one is a little different. 

All you need:

Plain note cards & envelopes

Ink (I picked gold, even though I am more of a silver person)

Stamps (I had to go for the birds)

What else I love about stamps is that they are so versatile- cards, gift tags, books, etc. Just give them a try!

Africa Art.

A great friend our ours, Mary Emma Hawthorne had an art opening at the Conduit Gallery last Saturday night. Her art was based on a recent mission trip that her and her husband Matt took to Africa. What's cool is that while they were their they were able to visit their Compassion child that they had been supporting for some time. Her are is a reflection of her experience there and will be on display at the Conduit Gallery in Dallas through December 23rd. Go check it out.

Wedding.

Charlotte attended her first wedding last weekend-Jennifer & Johnathan got married (friends from our home group). Hooray for falling asleep before the ceremony began! 

Charlotte gets her energy out before the ceremony begins.

Extreme close-up.

Jennifer & Johnathan.

The happy couple.

He Holds All Things.

My family lost my dad (Chip Carruth) on August 20th, 2008.

I've cried a few times, and I've wept once.  By weeping, I mean the wall of grief that comes out of no where in the middle of the night and just smacks you.  It lasted for about a minute and Aina woke up to weep with me.  I imagine this is the type of grief that struck Jesus upon hearing of the death of Lazarus.

It was during this grief that God taught me.  He reminded me that everything that is, that exists, that is felt...all of it....it is all for pointing us to our immeasurable need for Christ in our lives.  He uses it all.  And he is sovereign over it all.

Colossians 1:17 - "He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn among the dead, so that in everything He might have supremacy."

I had the sincere pleasure of working with my Dad for the last decade.  I spent more time with my Dad in the last ten years than most people would spend with theirs in a lifetime.  Working, talking, laughing, discussing, arguing, encouraging, discouraging.  This was our daily routine.

And so it is very difficult for me to be angry.  I'm just not.  I'm actually pleased.  I'm pleased with how much time I was able to spend with my Dad.  I'm pleased in the way that he went - coming off of a golf course, sudden, and with no suffering.  I'm pleased that I was able to be with him as he died, to hold him, to pray blessings over him as he passed.  And while my prayers of healing did not bring his body back to life...the Lord knew the events of that day before time began, and that he is sovereign over it all - even my Dad's soul.  I know that God is in control of it - and that yes, it was for my own good (as well as other's).

Romans: 8:28 - "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose..."

My dad is with Jesus.  Worshiping his creator like he always wanted to here on Earth.  I couldn't want for anything more for him.

Yellow

8 rows from Coldplay

Coldplay concert.

B.Y.O.B. (Bring Your Own Beard)

Aina: Your beard is getting thick.

Caleb: I know. Is that your way of saying it is so awesome?

Aina: No.

Caleb: Yes it is. You love it. (Stroking his beard).

Aina: No.

Caleb: Yeah...you love it. (Continuing to stroke his beard).

I don't know what it is with guys and facial hair. Caleb grows a beard bi-annually, every summer and winter. He claims he gets more respect when he has a beard and feels that he must have one for any upcoming trip...but, I don't know if I am fan. Sometimes people don't even recognize him! Charlotte is a little unsure about the beard. All I know is when he eventually shaves it, I get happy. It also provides a smorgasbord of creepy mustache pictures (will post later. Bottom line Caleb- I love you no matter what!

Election night.

So, Caleb surprised us with these matching shirts to describe our political sentiments. I wear this shirt cautiously, I don't like to offend people that are put off by bathroom humor. So here on election night (Caleb's Superbowl) we are decked out.

I voted today. I was thanking God on the way up to the booth that we can even have a voice in who leads our country. Although, Caleb keeps telling me that my vote doesn't count in Texas:)

And a huge congratulations to President-Elect Barack Obama. How amazing is it that 50 years ago people of color were using separate facilities (schools, bathrooms, restaurants) simply because the color of their skin? It's crazy to think how far this country has come (and still has so far to go). I can only hope and pray that somehow this is a reflection of some kind of acceptance, tolerance, maybe love even...that God has opened our eyes to...

I pray blessings of wisdom, discernment, and protection upon him. And I pray that he would advocate life- in war and in the unborn and in the quality of life for the people our country and abroad.

To my die-hard conservative friends...take a deep breath...it will be okay. I pray that you are not waking up grumbling in despair on the wrong side of the bed...not that you can't be disappointed that your candidate didn't win...you should care (to a point). It's just that what an amazing opportunity you have to share where your peace comes from regardless of the political tides of our country. 

Side note: I have come to realize that peace does not come from who is leading our country in the office of president, but rather from the Perfect Sovereignty and Supremacy of God in the affairs of this world.

Charlotte's Web.

Our Halloween began early when we went to see Papa. 

Charlotte wasn't ready to be a spider yet, so she just wore a tutu.

Then Charlotte began to turn into a spider and talked to a dog dressed up like a pirate.

Back to the tutu for the crazy hat parade.

Finally, Charlotte's web. Caleb as Wilbur, Aina as Fern, and Charlotte as Charlotte. Would have gone over better with Beckett and Ella in the mix.

Charlotte and Espen (a.k.a. Puppy/Birthday boy) at his party.

The night wasn't over yet. We went to another party and stayed out until 1:00a.m. You did good little one! Thanks for letting mommy & daddy have fun.