Still here

Well here we are Wed night!!! The kids are still on the mend! Abbie, Caid and Lola have done great on the meds and you can totally tell a huge difference!! Caid isn't going to bed crying cause his ear hurts and they are once again ALL sleeping through the night!! Which I am giving much of that credit to the meds! Having all 4 kids sick at once sucks!!! AND I AM TIRED!! Zeke is still working out his kinks.. He is on straight penicillin 4 times a day. But we are still dealing with the rash! So anyways. I guess I have had time on my hands but not a whole lot of energy!! So going to keep this short but wanted to give you an update!!! :)
Thanks for all your prayers! :)

Well it was a sucess....BUT

We had such a great Christmas!!! My kids were weary though they had been fighting colds the whole week....BUT we made it!!! The kids were up at 4:40am I was up at 3!!!! Trying to wait!!!! So I found my cousin online and talked to her for about 45 minutes while I was waiting!!!LOL!!! It was tons of fun!!!! Because I had not slept that night I was tired and still recovering from my tooth stuff so I was VERY tired Christmas day!!! Zeke and Lola were as well! SOOOOOOO we came home a day earlier than planned I was so tired the kids were tired and I think everyone just needed their own beds!! Zeke wakes up this morning with a HUGE sand papery rash all over him........ so what does that mean! We headed to the dr. and 5 hours later!!!! we left with the diagnosis of Scarlet Fever!!! :( Which is basicly from a complication of Strep throat. Which he has as well. We have actually never had strep thoat ever...... so I didn't really know what the signs were much less scarlet fever!!! So YAY for Christmas Vacation!!!!! :)

Well I hope you all have a fabulous rest of your Christmas Vacation!!!! LOTS OF LOVE TO YOU ALL!!!!!

Looking forward to Celebrating 2011!!!!

DONT THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS!!!!

Well we have had a week of fun and drama her at the Isaacson home leading up to this morning.... (I am awake...at 3:22a.m. waiting for my kids to get up but I know that isn't going to happen till about atleast 5am!! We came up to my Mom's house like we do every year...and we came a little early this year. I started off my Christmas Extravaganga Week visiting a friend that I haven't seen in maybe 12 or 13 years.?? I think!!! Although we have re-connected on fb and she is a loyal follower of my blog and may I mention she lives like 20 minutes away from my mom and had for about 3 years!!!I know.. I totally suck!! BUT.... my friend Jeana and I worked at a camp called Lake Retreat which is in Washington and I started going there I think in the summer of `96 and worked every summer until 99' Jeana had/has such an encouraging heart and love for people and it is awesome when you see her 12 + years later and she has 3 kids and a husband.... some peeps just stay stay the same... (with a little age though... as we all have.. I think become better!!!!) And as I think with Jeana!!! So here's a shout of to you my friend!!!!! :)

Then the next day we headed to meet Aunt Judy and Uncle Brad for a "Build a Bear" extravaganga!!! OH boy and it was!!! The kids have such a blast in there I am not sure what exactly it is that they think is so awesome about it BUT LOVED LOVED IT!!!! It was such a blessing from them to my kids. And what a great Christmas memory. So here is my Shout out to AUNT JUDY AND UNCLE BRAD!!!!!! :) Thanks Guys!!!!

On the way home from the build a bear extravaganga I stopped into a dental office just to see if they maybe had time to see me.. cause I have been having this REALLY REALLY bad toothache!!! So this place was like a four season dental office.. I said.. well I have my four kids here with me too.. and they said NO problem.. we have a childs room and let me tell you!!!!! IT WAS LIKE A TOY STORE!!! They had a HUGE HUGE flat screen TV in there with a XBOX and toys and a snack bar!!  So they watched Toy Story 3 had cookies and water and I watched them from a screen in my room!!! CRAZINESS...... But it was AWESOME!! So anyways... long story short... I had to get one of my wisdom teeth pulled because it was compacted in there...So I had to come back the next day. And did..... while I was at the dentist getting my tooth pulled.... my other fabulous sister in law through a Happy Birthday Jesus Party and my kids had a great time!!!!! They were of course very excited to tell me about the "goodie bags" I mean what party wouldn't be complete without goodie bags" and that they did crafts and that the candy cane story they learned. SO here is a HUGE shout out to Sherilyn.. who through a ROCKIN BDAY PARTY!!!! After I got my tooth out I felt SOOOOO much better in like an instant. The Dentist asked if he could keep my tooth...cause there was something really cool about it... the roots were all curled under which I guess is uncommon... and I said.. will you give me a kickback...or a discount and HE DID!!!! Hey it saved me a $100 bucks!!!!..
After this party... we headed to the airport at 7pm at night to pick up MY SISTER!!!!! We haven't seen her since last feb. and we were ALLLLLLL so excited to see here. We made Christmas signs and took them to the airport.... I told her that it was to late for us to go to the airport and she was mad about that.. so she was greatly surprised to see us ALL there!!! She was crying!!! which in turned we all ended up with some happy tears!!! :) The kids have really missed her!

 Then that brings us to CHRISTMAS EVE!!! OK... here is another shout of for my FABULOUS HOSTESS Sherilyn!!! Dude.. she rocked the snacks and taco soup at this party and it rocked... BUT I ROCKED THE JUST DANCE 2 competition!!!!! LOL!!!!!!! While the girls played the dance competition... (abbie,me,Sherilyn and Charity) JOSH and the kids played mario kart!!! I had a really good time doing that!! And we attempted to bring "just a little Christmas Cheer" to my Buh-hum-bug of a BROTHER!!!! He seriously must be adopted or something!!! :) We also opened some Christmas Eve presents... and we got our Christmas PJ's that my mom buys the kids every year!!! :) Which is what I have pictured!

Anyways.. well I have probably bore you with alot of details.. but HEY I HAVE TIME!!!! LOL!!!   MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!! I HOPE IT IS THE BEST ONE YET!!!!

DEFINING

You know this weekend was once again a major reality check for my life!!!!WE GOT A NEW CAR!!!! HAHAHA!!! DON’T I WISH!!!! But when you get a new windshield put in your car because it has been cracked and only was getting worse (like air was coming through) it was time to get it done…. So we had some in savings and it was definitely a need to get done thing so we did!!! Then… my car has been acting really bad like the steering wheel was shaking and everything and I had told Jon about it numerous times but you know how that goes sometimes…. So we were at our friend’s house the Gulletts the other night and I was talking to them about it. So Don and Jon go out and look at the car and really all I heard from the conversation when they came back was CHA$$ CHING$$$ CHA$$$ CHING$$$ CHA$$ CHING$$$. I knew that it was getting bad and once Jon realized that I wasn’t “just joking” I know he saw the $$$ signs too…. Soooo I had an appointment at Les Schwab set for this Saturday but then Jon said I should just cancel it and we will deal with it in January. So after we had talked with Don, Jon said that we needed to get that appointment back so I called them at 8am that morning…. (TRUE STORY) and said I made an appointment for today then I canceled it last night can you help save my marriage and give me back that appointment” So anyways… they saw us!!!! This STORY GOES ON AND ON AND ON!!!!! Until about 5pm and $600+ dollars later!!! BUT here is the great thing! We had the money!!! We don’t have any money left!!! LOL!!!! But we had the money to pay for what we needed just in time for what we needed. God’s provision in our family’s life for the end of 2009 to 2010 has been UNDESCRIBABLE!!!! To even see how these lessons have been teaching my kids is crazy… I think I may have told this story but I tell it all the time to peeps… but I am going to tell it again……. All of us were sitting in the parking lot of the Albany Library last year around November ish (I think) we had just parked to go in to the library and I really was kind of anxious about some bills we had to pay. So I just thought you know this is a good time to just take a moment and pray… we had like $630 in bills due by that Monday and had none of it…. So I just told the kids hey guys let’s just pray.... we are a little short and just need to pray that we would just trust God to help us through and give us faith in this time.  And that is exactly what we did. Abbie was old enough to know get it. After we prayed we said AMEN and went on with our day. So the next morning as I was going through mail… which I had put off and off cause I didn’t want to face the reality until after my weekend was over…. My kids were at the table eating breakfast and I had sat right down next to them and started opening the mail. I opened that one piece of mail that I just KNEW was going to tell me something bad and what was in the envelope was a re-imbursement check for $686!!!!! I JUST STARTED BALLING MY EYES OUT AND MY KIDS STARTED FREAKING OUT RIGHT AWAY… Abbie asked “Is this a good cry or a bad cry? Trying to compose myself I said Abbie… LOOK at this… I showed her the check and she said…”See God provided” And I think she tells the story as much as I do sometimes! I have a more than a DOZEN of those stories….How people came around our family and the best ones where the ones that just didn’t say anything. I remember sitting at my hair dressers who is also a close friend of mine I sold her my treadmill and traded some hair services for part of it… and she was shampoo my hair and I was crying through the whole entire shampoo. And she just gave me a hug and then we went to pick a color! It makes me teary right now just thinking of where we were and where we have come….. those couple of months seemed like a freaking lifetime!!!!! And I often re-visit and re-evaluate how I don’t EVER want to be there again! It has been a lifestyle change for sure!!!!  You know during those times I really don’t think there was a day that went by when I didn’t cry about something Good and Bad…. The lesson God taught me during that season was in one word would be“DEFINING”

And Thank you for blessing my 2010!!!My loyal readers you have been with me on this journey and Thank You for your prayers….helps…and most of all your friendships. You guys don’t know what it

A quote from a FRIEND

Let me tell you about my friend Ronda from High School.. I met Ronda in 1996-97 during my senior year of high school. One of my best friends at the time was Matt Scammell (And I would still consider him a best friend of mine to this day) Well when you have a guy best friend you can tend to make "friends" with some of his "friends" you know like get on the good side! Like I would have any say in it anyways!!! But Ronda was  "interested" in Matt and my other friend Kimi was interested in his brother.  SO THE CIRCLE BEGINS!!! It was rather amusing at times. Anyways. SO THAT is how I meet Ronda. Through Matt. So how should I say this.. their romance was........... FLEETING............. I think they "got to know you" longer than they dated.. which the dating part I think lasted like a week or something crazy like that... anyways... they broke up. And I actually liked Ronda and we started hanging out a lot more. Her dad was a pastor as well in the same town. And you know what that means!!!!! :) We did church stuff.....we did not so churchy stuff!! (hehehehe) So through all these years I haven't stayed super close with Ronda (Cause #1 I really suck at that) But we reconnected on facebook about 3 or 4 years ago and it is awesome to talk to her here and there about life, struggles and kids. And it's not the normal man life is crazy it is the good stuff that we email back and forth.I probably haven't seen her or talked to her via phone or anything in 10+ years.  You know it's like she is the same girl I met in High School except married with 3 kids now!! (OH and by the way She married one of Matt's Best friends!!! :) Just had to throw that in there) Anyhow she had this quote on her facebook this morning and I thought it was a good thought!

"A friendship which can cease to be was never genuine." - Saint Jerome- "Thankful for the ones I still call friends after all these years. And evaluating if I am still trying to hold onto the ones that were never genuine."

I am not good at keeping up for sure... but I am thankful for the friends I have met over the years, and how God has used each of them in different times and seasons in my life! :)  

This is kinda a random blog.... but I liked her comment today and hey it's my blog anyway!

Peace out Peeps

 

Tis the Season to be Jolly.....

The kids and I headed out to our churches Christmas performance on last Saturday night. This weekend was the "Christmas Musical" weekend for our church so we opted to go on Saturday and make Sunday just a lazy day. The performance was AMAZING.. complete with a fabulous drum line. It rocked. The kids and I left early we dressed all up and had some extra time so we drove around some neighborhoods looking at the lights listening to our Christmas radio station and the kids all singing and judging the houses...Then headed over to the Church the three younger ones had classes they went to and Abbie went with me into the performance. As I was sitting there kinda thinking about the night, I was thinking man.. there will be a time where maybe my kids won't think this is cool!! Driving around and checking out lights listening to Christmas music for 31 days straight!!! BUT... I am enjoying these little moments I have now... Cause they are fun!!! 

SOOO in other news... We are not officially CRIBLESS!!!! We are out of the Crib. Lola has officially made it to her new big girl bed!!!!!!!!! Can I get a HALLELUJAH AMEN!!!!!  It is just kinda weird... when they are ready... they will let you know!!! 

Well peeps.. no major news to share.. which isn't a BAD THING!!! :) 

Have a great week peeps!!! :)  

First Married Christmas Married

So as I was packing the kids back into the car tonight as we were leaving the BIG CITY JUNCTION CITY LIGHT PARADE!!! I was thinking back to my first married Christmas. I was about 3 month preggers with Abbie SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO sick with morning sickness like 24/7, we lived in the ghetto in good ol' Santa Paula...we were also sooooooooooooooooooooooo poor like most newlyweds are.... I LOVE LOVE LOVE CHRISTMAS.. I always have!!!! I was always the one that got up at 3am to wake up my parents for Christmas!!! LOVE LOVE CHRISTMAS. Christmas for Jon wasn't as important for him as for me but whatever. So being SOOOO poor!!!! We opted for a Christmas Tree instead of presents for each other. Just a note... Christmas trees in Cali.. are SUPER expensive!!! They are so much cheaper here it is INSANE!!! So anyways. I found a tree on clearance at Target for $19.99. And we had NO money for lights so we strung popcorn and made a popcorn garland and that was it for our tree that year.. I remember sitting on the couch crying/running to the bathroom to throw up back to crying!!! :) My Grandma sent us a gift card to the Olive Garden so once we got our tree up and popcorn strung and tears shed we went out for our "Christmas" dinner. We did have a good time.

So I was thinking that year at the time... I was sooo sad.. we couldn't have "THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS" but looking back now almost 10 years later I think it was my FAVORITE CHRISTMAS EVER!!!!!! And I was thinking back to this year how this year SUCKED! but looking back and seeing how this "YEAR THAT SUCKED" has brought my family to a place that I never would have imagined! This year made us a "family" We had to stick together all or none!!! Through sickness and health, rich or poor, we made it. We had each other and faith (which some days lacked...but God is FAITHFUL ALWAYS ALWAYS)   and that is what got us through!!! So we keep on going.... Life keeps going... SO DON'T MISS IT! :)

Peace out Peeps! :)

Kelsey

Fa La La La La La La...

I HEART CHRISTMAS TIME!!!!!

I have always loved Christmas time and LOVE LOVE it even more with the kiddies. Although the hussle and bussle of life during Christmas time sometimes get overwhelming. I am SOO looking forward to Christmas Break and having the kids home, my sister is visiting... going to my parents and my other sister is having a HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS party which I think will be a super fun! I am looking forward to spending the time with the fam! :) It has been great seeing friends here and there. I know everyone is super busy this time of year. But I had a great time with a friend last sunday. We went shopping and had dinner ALL BY OURSELVES! It was nice! :) Things around our household have been quiet. Well compared to last week it has been nice! :) Lola has a staph infection in her EAR!!!! of all places... How the heck that happens I have no idea... Although staph ran rapid when we lived in Albany.. we haven't had any issues since moving here till now. SO we are thankful that is is less but praying Lolie will get better soon. We had a great Christmukkah. It was a great time with the kiddies each night and on Day 8 we did a "big" gift. Abbie got a new (MUCH NEEDED) bible. And I must say it is one of the coolest bibles I have seen in FOREVER!  Caiden got a winter Jacket (MUCH NEEDED) and the babies got Pillow pets. (NOT REALLY NEEDED.. BUT THEY LOVED IT)  :0)

We cut out our internet ONCE again... so I have it on my phone but it is limited. So my blogging might not be up to par. Getting our internet service out in the middle of no where is nuts.. and paying almost $80 a month for what little we got..was not worth it.

SOO.. this weekend kicks off our CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES!!! :) Headed to the BIG O Town of JUNCTION CITY tomorrow to watch the "Light Parade" and then...WAIT FOR IT!!!!! we go to SPRINGFIELD!!!! For their Christmas Parade! :0) I know.. THAT'S HOW WE ROLL!!! DONT BE HATERS!!!!

Anyways..
Peace out Peeps....

Kels

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOLA

LOLA TURNED 2

We had a fun weekend celebrating Lola's Birthday this weekend. 

It is hard to believe that my BABY is TWO!! Man times FLEW by.... I mean FLEW FLEW!!!!

I will say though that it is nice to get out of the "BABY" stages and we are moving on.. I will say I am NOT looking forward to the "TWO"s.. They are not fun!  But I am excited for this new year with Lolie and so blessed by this unexpected blessing that God gave us TWO years ago! :) 

r

Talk about PURE CRAZINESS

Well I am about ready to call this week a wash!!! :)
Monday was soooo nice Jon stayed home an extra day and it was so nice.. I got to rake the yard FINALLY which is like a freakin 30 day process with all these trees. Put up Christmas lights which HONESTLY took me like 7 hrs to put up 2 strands!!!!! BUT.. I was just out there doodling around by myself. Jon had an eye on the kids so i was OFF duty... They of course pop up every once in a while which is fun! Abbie came up on the roof with me to hang lights. IT was so nice!!! So tuesday I get up early feeling READY for the week.. (Cause the kids didn't have school monday either) Tuesday came and it was a disaster!!!! Looked myself out.. had not gas... left my purse in the house so I didn't have my wallet. had lolie in her pj's looking like an orphan and didn't have a jacket for Zeke for school. So anyways. I waited in the parking lot of the boy's school for about an hr. waiting for Jon to get there to give me a key!!! Then headed back!! It was just one of those days.... just little little frustrating things that just added up to put me over the edge! I spent most the day in tears!!! So last night when we were at Awana the kids were playing in the foyer and Zeke fell down. Well for those of you who know Zeke, know that is a MULTIPLE DAILY OCCURRENCE!!! He falls ALL THE TIME.. the kid was born with two left feet!!!! He did take a pretty hard fall and i will admit it was a hard hit. It took the breathe out of him and he was a little disorientated and walked around like a drunk for a little bit. But eventually seemed to be doing okay. He went to his little awana class and seemed to be ok. We got home around 9pm and he started throwing up about 9:30 which put a red flag in my head!!!! So I called my good friend Kim who we share a Doctor with.. (and I haven't talked to her in probably 9 or more months!!!... Gotta love those friends!!!LOL) and I called her kinda in a panic at 10:30p.m at night looking for our Dr. On Call number.. told her the symptoms and then she told me yes I needed to call. So I called the Doctor told me yes I needed to get to the ER right away! Well at this time I kinda start flipping out a little... Well not "kinda" I WAS! Jon is gone on his way to Portland for the rest of the week. He left right after church that night. All the other kids were in bed...so I of course called my mom.. she was on her way. Then I talked to Jon and he had turned around. He was in Salem so he would be able to get her sooner than my mom and dad. So I waited for him to come home.. Then off to the ER. Well long story short. He is OK! The doctor ran some test and everything came back normal the only thing that had them worried was the vomiting. And for you of those out there if your kid vomits after a fall... Take them in! :)

So IT IS ALMOST FRIDAY!!!!! WHEW!!!! ANYONE ELSE TIRED?????

*I didn't proof read.. I am to tired.. so i hope it makes sense!! :)

We Inturupt this Christmukkah for a special announcment

OK So today I just wanted to share a little story. My Caiden is my most "sensative" kids not really emotionally but he "feels" others if that makes sense. He wants to make sure everyone is cared for and He has ALWAYS been like this..like from birth! So a couple of months ago his pre-school teacher had been diagnosed with Cancer. And she has been going through chemo and still teaching. She is an amazing women.. always so thankful for each day and always Thanking Jesus for His unending faithfullness. Basicly I think she is just plain RAD! So through this fight of hers it has also become a fight of ours!! We are cheerleading her through it!!! Caid includes her in his prayers every night all on his own thought. She had LONG LONG LONG hair like past her butt. Last week she chopped it all off as her hair was just starting to clup out and fall out. So Caid came home and said he wanted to cut his hair so she wouldn't feel bad about losing her hair. So he decided on the "mohawk" he said so that when she goes bald they can be matching! :) It was a proud MAMA moment!!! How kids teach you compassion and faith for others!!!

TEAM MISS CHRISTI!!! :)

Happy CHRISTmukkah DAY ONE.

Hanukkah Blessing for First night at Sundown.

* Recited on the first night only

"Baruch ata Ado-nai, Elo-heinu Melech ha'olam, She'hecheyanu, vekiyemanu vehigi'anu laz'man hazeh"

"Blessed are You,God the King of the universe, Who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season.

After reciting the blessings and lighting the candles, the following paragraphs should recited or sung.

"Ha'Neiros halalu anachnu madlikin al hanisim ve'al hanifla'os, ve'al hat'shu'os ve'al hamilchamos, sh'asisa la'avoseinu bayamim hahem baz'man hazeh, al yedei kohaneicha hakedoshim. Vechol sh'monas yemei Chanukah, haneiros halalu kodesh hem. Ve'ein lanu reshus le'hishtamesh ba'hem, eh'la lir'osam bilvad, ke'dei le'hodos u'lehalel leshimcha hagadol al nisecha ve'al nifle'osecha ve'al yeshu'oshecha."

These lights we kindle upon the miracles, the wonders, the salvation of Jesus Christ, and the battles which you performed for our forefathers in those days at this season. During all eight days of Chanukah these lights are sacred, and we are not permitted to make ordinary use of them, but to look at them in order to express thanks and praise to Your great Name for Your miracles, Your wonders and Your salvation through Jesus Christ.

"Ma'oz tzur yeshu'asi
Lecha na'eh leshabe'ach
Tikone bais tefilasi
Ve'sham todah nezabe'ach
Le'es Tachin Mabe'ach
Mitzar ham'nabe'ach
Az egmor beshir mizmor
Chanukas hamizbe'ach."

O mighty Rock of my salvation,
to praise You is a delight.
Restore my house of prayer
and there we will bring a thanksgiving offering.
When You will have prepared the slaughter
for the blaspheming foe,
Then I shall complete with a song of hymn
the dedication of the Alter.


Thank You God for the blessing of JESUS on this first day of Hanukkah.

SHALOM Peeps!

CHRISTmukkah IS HERE!!!

Okay Peeps... so here is the deal... CHRISTmukkah is starting here in our fam... in which we celebrate JESUS OUR LIGHT! :) So the next 8 days of post will be CHRISTMUKKAH related! So if you are not interested.. skip my blog for the next week! :) I won't be offended! :0)
So I have been "Celebrating" Christmukkah for the last 6 or 7 years. But I have kinda stepped up my game a little bit every year. Learning more and more about Hanukkah. So here is kinda of a lengthy explanation of a little bit of "Hanakkuah" or my CHRISTmukkah"! Some of it is a little wordy.. so u can just scan through it if you want. But is is kinda long.. so if you make it through CONGRATS!!! :)


Always being mindful that JESUS is the reason for the Season!!!
SHALOM PEEPS! :)



Hanukkah Means Rededication to the Lord"

If we would not have the holiday of Hanukkah, we would not have SALVATION! If God would have allowed success to the “Tyrant” of 165 BCE by the name of Antiochus Epiphanes, all Jews would have been annihilated off the face of the earth! But God, in His grace and mercy, interceded because of His promise to the forefathers, Avraham, Yitzchak and Ya'akov. Therefore, “when the fullness of time was come God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Torah.” (Galatians 4:4) The promised Messiah came to the Jewish people and to the rededicated Temple to become the Redeemer of all mankind who will receive Him. The attempt to destroy all the Jews by Antiochus was an attempt by Satan to stop the coming of Messiah. Even as the Holocaust was an effort by Satan to prevent the formation of the State of Israel, thus preventing Messiah’s return to Zion. So, without Hanukkah there would be no salvation, because there would be no Savior born to the Jews! When the world by-and-large is busy preaching a Jewishless Messiah in December, we also have the opportunity to exhort with great patience and instruction the Jewish people about the Good News of the Jewish Messiah.

Often we are told that Hanukkah is not a Biblical festival, commanded by God, therefore it is not important for Israel to celebrate it. Our response must come from both, a historical and a Brit Chadashah perspective. At the time of the great victory of the Jews over Antiochus Epiphanes in 165 BCE, the Temple was cleaned of the satanic image of Antiochus — at which all Jews were being forced to bow down or die — and rededicated to God. As a matter of Scriptural truth, which the Brit Chadashah bore witness two centuries later, the Shechinah, or Presence of God, returned to the Holy of Holies and stayed there until the death of Yeshua upon the Roman execution cross.

When the Temple was rededicated the Macabee family led the nation in the observance of Sukkot, according to the historical account found in the Apocryphal - Non-Scriptural - but historic book of II Macabees 10:6-9. And so, the holiday referred to as Rededication, as it was later surnamed, was actually the observance out of season of the Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot. According to the historical account the Menorah was re-lit in the Temple with only enough kosher oil for one day. The miracle was that it lasted seven more days - through the eight day holiday of Sukkot.

But, how about Christmas? One might have logically concluded that December 25 used to be a pagan holiday, but now we celebrate it unto the Lord in honor of Yeshua’s birth. But the problem with this is that God asked us not to be a stumbling block for the Jews. In Deuteronomy 12:29-32 God instructs Israel that they are not to worship Him as the nations worship their false gods. The Holy One commands, “You shall not behave thus towards the Lord your God.” In verse 30 He states, “... do not inquire about their gods, saying, ‘how do these nations serve their gods, that I may do likewise?’“ God does not want Jews to worship Him on pagan days or in pagan ways, because Moses (Torah) is read in Synagogues in every city every Shabbat. This is why the apostles decided that Gentiles, who converted from their pagan ways to Torah true Judaism, should not either. In Acts 15:28, the Spirit of God writes, through the apostles, “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us...” Plainly then, God does not want the Ekklesia, His Bride, to use customs and rites that the heathen used — even though they might be well intentioned.

So many Christians take stumbling the Jews lightly, but Yeshua doesn’t. In Revelation 2:14-16, we see that Yeshua is coming back to make war with the Congregation of Pergamum for placing stumbling blocks before the children of Israel. He is returning in wrath to them. At the time of Hanukkah, in 165 BCE, December 25 was celebrated as the birth of the sun-god Jupiter, but it was Jupiter that the Maccabees sought to cleanse the Holy of Holies from. When they succeeded they established the holiday. Hanukkah stands in opposition to paganism, not in favor of Judaism being expressed through pagan days and customs. The Menorah is a light glowing in protest to Jupiter and his day. The saying at Hanukkah, “Nes Gadol Hayah Sham” — “A great miracle happened there” — is in reference to the Presence of God in His rededicated Temple.

Yet, Messianic believers know that the fulfillment of the Hanukkah miracle was not that God’s Presence dwelt in the replica of the Temple from heaven, a replica built of stones with human hands, but that God’s Presence dwelt in human flesh in David’s Greater Son — Yeshua, the Messiah of Israel. Now we can say with the deepest understanding “A GREAT MIRACLE HAPPENED THERE” — for God is now present among His people in a new Temple, which is the Messiah Himself.

How can we then celebrate the holiday? We could tell the story of Sukkot — the glorious King has come to us in His humble Sukkah to fellowship with man. But there is one aspect of the ‘out of season Sukkot’ — Hanukkah — which is unique, the lighting of the Hanukkah Menorah. Even though great lights were burning on huge pedestals to completely enlighten Jerusalem on Sukkot, this feature has been lost to Sukkot, but retained in Hanukkah. It was at the Feast of Sukkot that Yeshua said, “I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.”

John 1:4 tells us that in Yeshua was life, and that it is the life of Yeshua which enlightens our own lives, that without Him we live out our lives in dark fear and striving against one another. On the Menorah this symbolism is born out beautifully. The Shammash, or servant candle, represents the light of Messiah. It is the ninth candle and represents God the Servant Messiah. When that great light touches our darkened lives, we become lights too, and Yeshua said to us, “YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.” In Matthew 5:14-16, He said that we were to share the light, letting our lives shine before all people through the good we can do in His Name. John 10:21-22 tells us that the Messiah came to His Temple at Hanukkah and proclaimed that He was the Light of the Menorah.

Proclaiming Messiah to the Jew first and also to the Gentile is the reason we live and endure. We announce through the Festival of Lights that God is present with us — IMMANUEL — Yeshua the Messiah of Israel. The question we must deal with is “Does my life reflect that light of the Service Candle?"

This Hanukkah, we dare not to shrink from proclaiming Messiah, even as Moses raised up the despised and rejected serpent upon a pole in the wilderness, so that the people of Israel looked up to it and were healed — that was a type and symbol of our Messiah, that although we have - as a nation - looked up to Him upon that Roman cross with abhorrence despising the One who claims to be our King — it is to that despised and abhorred One that every Jewish person needs to look for the healing that leads to life, not just temporary as in the wilderness of Sinai, but to life eternal! As Yeshua is with the nation, so may He be with every Jew as we reflect the light of God’s Holy Presence that shines so brightly from the Hanukkiah at this time of year!

The importance of all Jewish holidays which God gave must find their significance not only in looking backward at what God had done, but also in looking forward to what God will do, how He will fulfill His Holy Days. In the case of Sukkot, we find that it is the celebration of God with us, in Messiah reigning upon David’s throne in the Millennial Kingdom. Zechariah 14:16 says: “And it shall come to pass, that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Sukkot.” We also ascertain from Scripture that Yeshua, at His first coming, was born at Sukkot when is His birthday party for those who received Him in faith and repentance, but in the same time we look ahead at His second coming when all Israel will enter into the greater meaning of the High Holy Days including Sukkot.

God has called the Jews to observe the feast of Sukkot and has called the Messianic believers to magnify its meaning in His Son - for all the holidays are shadows of Messiah. The historical truth is that Hanukkah is Sukkot so, through a New Covenant principle, enunciated in II Timothy 4:1,2, by Paul, at Hanukkah we have a perfect opportunity to preach the Word concerning Messiah out of season, even as we do in season during the High Holy Days.

Shabbat joy, peace and blessings! Shabbat Shalom!

It's begining to look a lot like CHRISTMAS!!! :)

So after our fun filled weekend at the beach we headed back home Saturday. We have a fabulous tree farm in Albany that we have gone to every year since we moved there.. and WE LOVE IT!!!! We love the whole experience of taking the wagon out to the farm and of course giving my 2,3,4 and 8 year old a turn at the CHRISTMAS TREE SAW!!! To cut down our PERFECT TREE!!!! Then after it is all cut and loaded back on the wagon we go in for some hot cocoa and cookies! :) I HEART CHRISTMAS TIME!!! PLUS our 7 1/2 ft tree cost us 20 BUCKS!!! :) So that kicked off our Christmas Decorating weekend and it was jammed packed!! We got our tree up with lights on Saturday but we were all so tired and decided to get the other stuff done sunday. So we woke up sunday.. gathered some greenery around the yard to make some Christmas wreaths!! AND can I just say... THIS WAS FUN!!! I made like 10!!!! :) Then after our wreaths were made, we got the Christmas box out with all of our tree decorations and took them out one by one and one kid at a time decorated the tree and they had a blast! Had some more hot chocolate then everyone tooks naps! When everyone woke up we ended the Christmas Prep time with making some good old Christmas Sugar cookies!!!! It was a fun day! :) So excited for Christmas!!!

Today we woke up and our job was to hang lights and rake leaves! And can I just say that for me to say that we have a lot of leaves would be a HUGE UNDERSTATEMENT!!!! SERIOUSLY we have sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo many leaves!!! It is going to take us till next fall to clean all these up!!! :)

So I was out today from about 9am - 3pm! Hanging lights and raking!! Jon was home today so that was awesome So it was so nice to be outside just working away! :) Anyways. Ok.. So I think I got you caught up!!! :)



Peace out Peeps!!!

WHEW!!! FUN TIMES!!!!!!

Ok so hold on to your hats.. got a lot of catching up to do
So last year we went to Lincoln City on Oregon's Coast. There is not a whole lot to do there... but there is.... MIDNIGHT MADNESS!!!!!!! This is almost as cool as my "Christmas" I am like a little kid!!! :) Looking for the best sale! The BEST thing about the the outlets there is there were no crowds!!!! My mom and I left about 9:30 and we got back around 3. Then headed back out for round 2 at 8 and got back at noon!! :) Then I headed BACK OUT again for ROUND 3 at about 3ish... :) Aside from the thrill of it all shopping. This time is really special for me, to spend with my mom. It is one of those "mother/daughter times" we have a beat.. and we dance to it for sure!!! :)

In other news. My kids had a blast searching out "treasures" along the beach with my dad and Jon. They had a blast. My dad points out and gives a lesson to each item they pick up!!!! It is pretty funny! IT was such a great THANKSGIVING!! So much to be thankful for this year. Seeing God's constant provision in our lives even when things still get tight sometimes. He is FAITHFUL FAITHFUL ALWAYS ALWAYS!!! Lots and LOTS to be thankful for!

My pics are not downloading.. so I will have to post them later!! :)
Peace out Peeps!!!

THANKSGIVING!

Well this year we have SOOO much to be Thankful for!!! And that is NO JOKE! This year more than ever I have never seen God's provision in our life so radical! Sometimes day by day. It was a pretty low year for us but although most days in the earlier part of the year were filled with tears. It brought Jon and the kids and I all closer together! And that is WHAT I AM SOO THANKFUL for.. Through "better or WORSE" this journey of up and downs. valley and hills. So Thankful for everyone I mean EVERYONE!!! who has come along side our family in ways that some don't even know! So Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope you guys are blessed this year!!! :)

KID LIFE!

So a big shout out to my peeps who have been praying for me and my group on Wednesday nights. It has been such a HUGE blessing to me. To be working back with girls again. This group that I have rocks. So I took a couple of pics tonight.. So for those of you who are praying for us a little visual!!! THANKS TO YOU PEEPS!! It means alot to me!! For your support! :)

My Grandma's

Well growing up we moved ALOT!!! about every 4 years or so. I think the longest we stayed somewhere was Idaho. My dad's mom, my Grandma Howery lived with us for most of my life and she was kinda like my "best friend" growing up. When we moved she moved. She always had her little apartment right down stairs. with a kitchen and the whole set up at every house we were at. So i would go crawl in bed with her in the morning. Or if I got scared I would be in her bed. She made us special breakfast on our Birthday at "her house" each of us kids were really excited about that. She was also an "older" Grandma but that didn't slow her down by any means. When we moved to Idaho she had started in the beginning stages of Alzheimer's that was hard on the whole family. And it became so much of a risk to keep her at the house that we had to put her in a home where she could be monitored 24-7. My mom pretty much had the duty while she lived at our house and it just got to be to much. She would run away.. she tried to cook which almost started a fire... and so on and on.. So we put her in a care house which was SOOO hard on my Dad and me. I was super close to my Grandma and it was hard but I totally got it. It just wasn't working at the house her dementia had set in alot! So I faithfully visited her 3- 4 times a week. Brought donuts in on Sundays played there games with them did makeovers with ladies. And as you know in Alzheimer's they just completely lose it.. So she had no idea who I was. I was some different lady that came in every time I came in although her most famous one was that I was married to her boyfriend!!! LOL Anyways. So in 1998 my grandma passed away. And it was such a blessing she had lived with this disease for so long and it just seemed to be miserable. My Grandma was not my Grandma for many many years. I was at Bible School when she passed away.

Being that we moved so much we never lived near my mom's mom, my Grandma Clark. We would visit her in California about once a year. And for those couple of years we were back in Cali. we were there for Christmas and Thanksgiving. But I don't remember being there a lot. It wasn't until I had Abbie that I started getting to "know" my Grandma. My Grandpa had passed away shortly before Jon and I got married. And as WE ALL know.. I got preggers right after that.. So Abbie came along pretty quick. I had such a great relationship with my Grandma Howery and that relationship was so important to me. I wanted to have that same thing for my kids that I had. Being around grandparents but even cooler a GREAT GRANDMA. My Grandma Clark was and is the only Grandparent I had at that time. So I lived in Ventura, CA and my Grandma lived in Long Beach so it was about a 2hr drive.. on a good day! :) (gotta love the LA traffic) So I would try to come out about 2 times a month. We both had Disneyland Passes so that is mostly what we did. We had some special times out at the Resort where just "us girls" went (US meaning my grandma, me and Abbie) and of course do some shopping. I didn't have these kinds of times with my Grandma growing up so I was so blessed to have those times with her as an adult and with Abbie!

My Grandma moved last month into a Retirement Center. (Not one like my Grandma Howery's) like a College dorm for OLD PEOPLE!!! LOL! Anyways, after 60 years of being in that house in Lakewood,CA she made the move! I haven't been there yet but I am looking forward to be able to visit. But she seems to be having a great time at her new house. Involved with KICKBALL and everything (LOL)

Last night my parents got in from being in California for almost a month!!! I was so glad they are BACK!! But they brought alot of stuff cause my grandma had to downsize in a MAJOR WAY!! She brought alot of pictures.. alot of photo books that I had made for her along the years that I totally forgot about. I bought my Grandma some "golden mickey ears" on one of our special trips to Disneyland. That I had personalized for her and Abbie, and hers says "G.G" Talk about a flood of memories.. So I was looking through all of these treasures that she stored and kept CRYING MY EYES OUT!! And I am just one of 7 grand kids and 10 great grand kids. All these "treasures"

I am so thankful for her! :) And I can't wait to go see her new bachelorette pad! :)

I CAN'T HARDLY WAIT

So Thanksgiving is coming up and I CAN HARDLY WAIT!!!!! It is probably my 2nd favorite time of year.. (ok ok.. I will admit it is because of the shopping.. but whatever!!) Last year we went to the coast with my parents to celebrate thanksgiving and then we did Midnight Madness.. (Can I just say there is nothing more BONDIFING (if that's a word) than shopping with your mom till 5 am in the morning.. IT TOTALLY ROCKED!!! I like to hold all the bags even if they are not mine just to make me feel better about my shopping experience! ANYHOW!!! I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!! I am also looking forward to just going and having some family time. We will leave the Wednesday of Thanksgiving week and come home Monday! :) And on the way home we will stop in A-TOWN at the Christmas Tree farm to pick up our Christmas Tree! I must say I love going to that place every year!

We put up our Christmas lights up last night mainly because it was a dry weekend.. (don't worry we are not going to plug them in until after thanksgiving peeps.) But all the lights that fit our house last year..barely cover our house now!!!
Anyways.. I hope this week goes by fast!!!!! I am ready for a little vaca!!! Plus it will be nice cause my parents have been in cali for almost a month! So it will be nice to hang with them!

Churches vs Bars

Ok.. so I am going to attempt to get this thought out. So hopefully it will make sense.
So I worked in the nursery today at church..(CAUSE EVERYONE KNOW I LOVE BABIES SO MUCH... ya right..) Abbie wanted to volunteer in the nursery but she is to young so she has to be occupied by an adult. So lucky me I am the adult! It was very awkward cause everyone has "OBVIOUSLY" worked the nursery before and had their rocker chairs. So whatev... Abbie was having a fabulous time.. so I just kinda followed her lead. Another note was that Mom's Group that I attended was super hard to meet someone as well.. So I told Jon that I wasn't going to go back and he said I need to try it again. well I went 3 more times. And it kinda got worse!! Ok.. so I am totally admitting... that I am not the most sensitive person when it comes to stuff like that. I am totally fine sitting there by myself. OK so brace yourself. I am not really looking for friends. As you all know I had this revelation like a year ago... (now let me explain this for the sake of that sounding bad) You know. I was thinking today... (not that I was a big bar hopper or anything) but the people I would meet on a "NIGHT OUT" are WAY THE HECK more friendlier than sometimes people at church. Why is that. I have no idea. You know.. then I was thinking a little bit about Jesus life. You know talk about LONELY!!! and getting the BRUSH off!!! You know He always just spoke the truth, He took comfort in his own father's will and guidance while here on earth.
You know and that's what I was thinking.. not in a screw you all kinda way. But THIS IS THE LIFE GOD gave me.. AND THIS IS WHO HE HAS MADE ME TO BE. So start living with ME! It's all about HIM.. NOTHING about US.. and EVERYTHING we do is KINGDOM work! Cause when we start living IN and WITH JESUS life just seems more clear. The drama the cliques the OH did I mention the DRAMA just goes by the waste side.


Peace out PEEPS! :)

Visit from OLD FRIENDS!! :)

So today my friend Krissy and her kiddies came for a visit. It was SOOO nice to see them!!! Been a bit crazy around here the last couple of weeks so it was nice to have her here for a visit and to just chit chat! :) We made MY FAMOUS (well not really my famous) but we make them every years. They are cocoa rice krispie balls with pretzels and marshmellows. They are yummy and the kids seems to have fun making them! :)



HEY... about this pic... I AM NOT SAYING ANYTHING!!!

Operation Christmas!

Operations Christmas. I think is my new favorite thing! This was super cool to experience not just a "lesson" for my kids but I think it was a bigger lesson for me! It was very cool to have the kids go through the store and carefully pick their gifts for the kids they choose. It was awesome! So if you haven't done your shoebox yet. Please please do! It will be a blessing to other but you will be shocked how much it will bless you! :)

Zeke's First Day of Preschool!

So I am a little bit behind on blogging.. so you get a bunch tonight! (LUCKY YOU)

So Zeke started preschool on Tuesday, and HE LOVED IT!!!! So here is a pic of #3 on his special day! :)

I might not be cut out for this "MOM" thing!

Ok so yesterday was one of those days where I was looking at my house and life and saying REALLY!!!! Obviously my no kid/no marriage plan didn't really work out!! So you know how you have a job and you have a satisfaction of saying "I did that" or you accomplish a goal that you had been working on for a long time and your boss is stoked with the outcome! Well that doesn't happen when your a stay at home mom!!! YES YES... I get it... one day you will see the outcome!!! But sometimes that day to day CHAOS just goes unnoticed and I wonder.. So I am making a difference... I just blew up at my kids and I have to be going to mom hell or something! But then you get that glimmer of hope! We were all out in the yard yesterday blowing our leaves (WHICH IS A JOKE IN ITSELF) And everyone working and laughing........ bring a smile and a reminder that this is what all the CHAOS is worth in the end! AND ALSO on another note......... of being cut out to be a mom!!! Why do mom's always have to talk about their kids?? I mean I totally get it.. Most of the time I blog about my kids the going on of life so forth!!! But really? You know the conversations about Turkey Drives and the DRAMA OF WHERE TO SHOP FOR THE TURKEY!!! or Potty Training your kid.......... well you know.... MAYBE HE ISN'T READY??? SO STOP STRESSING YOURSELF OUT ALREADY!!!!!! I mean really it is just weird sometimes to listen to people and what stresses them out............I told Jon last night I don't think i was cut out to be a "MOM" you know where can I go to talk to someone and I don't have to hear these random dumb things. So Jon told me to join a singles group!!!! (I THOUGHT THAT IDEA WAS AWESOME)

But at the end of the day I wouldn't want to be anywhere else, with anyone else. I deep DEEP DEEP down inside LOVE the CHAOS and would be lost without it! And they will all be grown way to fast!!!! SO I will continue to enjoy the days God has blessed me with!!

But I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS THOUGHT THIS!!!!! :P

PEACE OUT PEEPS!!!
ENJOY YOUR KIDDIES TODAY!

Skate Parties and stuffy stuff!

SO tonight Caid had a Skate Bday Party for his bestest little girl friend at his school. It was a lot of fun! Man but it brought so many memories of Jr High and Skate Bday parties!!! And here I am with my 2 oldest teaching them how to skate!!!! It was bitter sweet!!!

So here are some pics of our fun night! :)







On another note. I have been buying Lola some dress up outfits.. catching the sales with halloween for the past couple of days. So I found this little ballerina outfit this afternoon for $1.99. So I decided to go ahead and give it to her today. I already have 3 dress up outfits already wrapped for Christmas. SHE WAS SOOOOOOOOOOO EXCITED!!!! After having the 2 boys I forgot how much fun it is to have a girly girl!!! I got Zeke a Darth Vader outfit for next year too...

Zekers starts school TUESDAY!!!

So.. I have just started realizing that Zeke introduces himself as "Zekers" MY WHOLE family.. and those who know him well for some reason have picked up on this name since birth! And have pretty much called him this since day one. I am not even sure if he knows his real name?? So we went to meet his teacher on Thursday and she said.. What is your name and he said "Zekers" and she said Oh Hi Zekers and then asked me.. "is that how you would like these labeled"... so we are going to have to work on that!!! I mean it might be cute now.. but give it till the 3rd grade!!! LOL! Anyways.. So Zeke starts school on Tuesday! AND HE CAN HARDLY WAIT!!!! He has had his back pack at the door since Thursday afternoon! He is going to go two days a week Tue/Thurs. Same school as Caid is going so that will be awesome!

Anyhow... looking forward to the laid back weekend. with NO PLANS!! YAY!!! What are we going to do!!! We will find something that's for sure!!!

Peace out Peeps!

Zeke's Party

So I didn't have time to edit some cool pics... but I hope to get to it.. But I wanted to post some pics of the Zeke's little bday party! It was actually I think one of my favorite parties.. (Cause you know.. it is all about me anyways!!!) It was probably one of the most laid back parties. We didn't really have an agenda or anything. And it was nice cause I got to visit with our friends. Which RARELY happens at our parties cause there is just so much to do. So it was really nice. Our friends the Kinney's , Leeanne and her girls and my sister in law and my niece and nephew came for the special occasion! Besides the flat tire that I got on my way to pick up Abbie from school and that Zeke's original bday cake said "Happy 15 Zeck" (Thank Goodness Sherilyn was here to watch the kiddies while I was gone fixing the tire and the CAKE) It was a very pleasant and enjoyable time!!! And I had a good time!!!! Well atleast I had a great time! :)

THE PARTY GROUP!



Zeke and his MONSTER cake!




Zeke's Cinnamon Roll Breakfast