sweet little boy

This sweet little boy shares a room with our Paulina.  We've not met him but we've been praying for him for over a year.  He is months away from being transferred to an adult mental institution and needs a family.  Please join us in praying for him!  Here he is, rubbing Paulina's back.  Melt my heart. 

For more information check out these two blogs of mama's who've brought their daughters home from this same room. 

http://danielandabbysoldhouse.blogspot.com/

http://orbitofthemooneys.blogspot.com/

a good word from a friend

Go this message from a sweet friend this morning. 

"So we do not lose heart  Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.  For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.  For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Merry Christmas

We had a great low-key Christmas Eve & Christmas Day.  We make homemade pizzas and open jammies, we sleep in (actually this year they didn't wake up until 8!), we open stockings, make breakfast, read the Christmas story over our meal, and open gifts.  We have several traditions we are trying to stick to and our biggest is that our kids only have one gift to open Christmas morning, and it is from us.  All other gifts are given either in the days before or after (or at grandparents houses).  We loved watching them this year learn more of the story of Christ and watching their excitement grow over celebrating His goodness and the gift we receive through His birth.  I love that they don't get overwhelmed with crazy excitement over what they are "getting" for Christmas but instead we have a relaxing morning in which they receive and are thankful and enjoy a gift as well as remembering and acknowledge the gift of Christ and His love that gives us all reason to celebrate. 

 

Christmas pj's

looking like dad

 

thinking about these stockings :)

Simeon opening his stocking...shin guards & batman slippers.  He was happy.

Anna was so cute this year.  Lots of Elmo in her stocking & she loved it!

Madeline was so excited to get a new cup in her stocking.  She had been wanting one to take to school, as well as an ice pack.  She was thrilled!

Daddy & Madeline opened Paulina's stocking...can't wait until next year!

Anna got a purse that she carries around now regularly!

Simeon got a basketball goal...he has been loving it!

And Madeline got an art desk made by our friend, Josh Hall.  It is so great & she crafts every day!

Getting ready to play in the little snow we had...Anna doesn't like the cold!  Madeline loves it!

Seriously the cutest.

 

Anna got this fun chair from her Podge & musical toys from her Nana.  She loves them both!

Madeline & Simeon got new lego sets which they love.  Simeon is a whiz at putting them together!  It is so fun to watch.  And of course Anna can't be left out of the fun!

Anna pretty much believes Elijah is her personal play doll. 

This girl cracks us up all the time.  Here she is dressed in her swimsuit top, Simeon's shorts, and underwear underneath. 

Ren makes our home so cheerful!  My kiddos love, love, love her.  And so do we!

random photo memories of 2012

these last weeks have flown by!  we really enjoyed our Christmas & family time.

photo overload from November & December...

 

 Anna at the library...she thinks she is big.

 

Making our own Christmas cards...Madeline & Simeon loved it!

 

One cutie pie little boy.

 

Hanging our stockings this year was so fun...can't wait until our 8th stocking holder is home!

 

 Anna really loves Elijah!

 

These 4 sweeties make our home so fun.  Crazy.  But fun. 

 

 Christmas crafting...we made wreaths, ornaments, gingerbread houses, and had a blast.  Madeline especially could craft all.day.long.

 

 Every year we head to Tim's & then check out the lights.  Anna was very interested in the camels this year and we let them all ride the ponies-which they loved!

 

 A little Wii fun.

 

 A great kids pic...they love cooperating with smiles!

 

 Anna has been giving me this sweet face whenever I say, smile.  I love it!

 

 Good daddy.

 Getting geared up for some Christmas baking.

 

 Madeline is super creative and imaginative in her play time.  She can take any doll, toy, or random piece of paper & play for hours.  I love watching her little heart & mind play out. 

 

 These two were cracking me up this day.  They are Jedi warriors in case you can't tell.

 

 Madeline had a pre-school Christmas program and it was great.  She dressed up and sang several songs with her class.  She loves singing and is pretty much precious.

 

 Norah & Hazel go to pre-school with Madeline & our families are friends.  It is so fun to watch them play together & have so much fun. 

 

 My sneaky, sneaky girl. 

 

 These two are good friends...they definitely have their moments but they do love each other!

 

 These three having a meeting of some sorts. 

 

Andrew can make Anna laugh anytime!  She loves his crazy-ness!  We all do. 

 

Her Name

Since we first knew of our daughter we have known what her name would be.  We've saved it for a while.  Mostly because we wanted to iron out a few wrinkles in the process but also because her name is very special to us.

Paulina

For starters, her first name.  We are asked often if we will change her given name, Paulina, and we will not.  We didn't ever really consider it.  We fell in love with her and she has always been Paulina to us.  It just seems to fit.  We are fairly big on name meanings around our house so when I went to look it up I was a bit surprised.  I figured it came from the name Paul, which it does, but I had no idea they both actually mean, little or small.

How interested to think that when Saul was converted he began to be called small.  In a strange way this was incredibly encouraging & comforting to me.  Her name, like the apostle Paul, means small.  Yet it no way does that seem to be attached to size, personality, ability, or any other outward appearance.  Instead, it seems to point to humility.  And to being seen as small in the eyes of the world, but not in the eyes of her Creator.  It gives a recognition to the vastness and greatness of God and our place in light of Him.  Small.  A life that directs others away from oneself, and points to the goodness and glory of God.  I pray this for every day of her life and look forward with great longing to see these truths play out through her.

"He must become greater, I must become less."  
John 3:30

And now, her middle name.  

Paulina Katherine

Paulina's middle name will be Katherine, after Andrew's mama.  She is such an incredible godly woman.  We both look up to her and admire her character and passion for Jesus.  She follows the Lord with her whole heart and leads others by example.  She loves her family so well and makes sacrifices for our good over her own.  She gives generously, prays fervently, and cares deeply.  Her faith is steady and genuine.  I strive myself to be like her.  To love Jesus like her, to love my husband like her, to love my children like her, & to love others like her.  She is full of compassion and grace.  We pray Paulina's life will do as her Gram's does; draw others more into Christ's presence, convict others of sin and righteousness, and give glory to the Lord in every day.  We love you, Gram!

brill family Christmas

So it's here & time & we are excited.

Been sitting on some Scripture these last weeks that speak to the attitudes of my heart.

"You will make known to me the paths of life.  In your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forever."  Psalm 16:11

What am I characterized by?  Is it joy?  Do I exude the fullness of joy that comes from walking and being led by Christ?  Or is it more of complaining and as if I am living barely scraping by?  This very encourages me so much...the promises are enormous.  He will make known to me the paths of life.  In His presence is fullness of joy.  At His right hand are pleasures forever.  I desire to experience the fullness of joy that comes from being in His presence.  I long to be characterized by joy that points directly to Christ.  Not happiness or false cheerfulness, but joy that is rooted in faithfully trusting and walking with Jesus.

It makes me smile to think about.  I am praying that as we enter into this Christmas season our family will be more and more characterized by joy and by lives that reflect the fullness of Christ.

On that note, we're trying to be intentional about our Christmas season every year.  First off, I decided this year that I wanted to get done with my shopping before December 1st.  I honestly didn't think I could do it.  The day after Thanksgiving I was way off from my goal but got motivated, made a list, and went to work!  I'd say I pretty much got it done before December 1!  Andrew & I like to take a date night in December to do some shopping for our kids stockings, and I have a few straggling things to finish, but overall, I'm done!  Such a good, good feeling.  My hope and prayer is that I will have a little bit less stress and more time to focus with my family on Christ during this advent season.  

We've also been doing regular advent devotionals with our kids.  Andrew's mom gave us a few years back a Jesse Tree.  It represents the genealogy of Jesus and the daily ornaments and Scripture tell the story of God's salvation plan from creation on.  We have a special 3 foot tree that we set up and put lights on and then each night we take out the next ornament, read the Scripture and talk about what the ornament represents.  The Jesse Tree comes with lots of Scripture you can use but we have pared it down for our kids.  

One of our goals is that our kids would be very familiar with the Christmas story and the people in it.  So we have divided up the Bible stories of Christmas in the Jesus Storybook Bible and we read one a night.  Then we talk about the different people, who they were, what they did or said, why it mattered.  After a few readings they really have been catching on and it is great to watch their little minds expand and learn and ask good questions.

Lastly, we pick one memory verse for the month of December and introduce them to one new Christmas hymn.  This year we are memorizing Matthew 1:21, 

"She will bear a Son, you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."  

And our hymn is Come Thou Long Expected Jesus.  We have it on a cd and sing it with them during our devotions.  

One thing Andrew has been saying as we've been talking about the birth of Christ is that so often we spend Christmas time very reflective of a past action, a baby being born.  Obviously, that is good and right but he has pointed out that the birth of Christ fulfilled a deep, long, expectant waiting time for all those before Christ.  A promised hope come true.  His birth now leads us to redemption and to our own deep and expectant waiting time; waiting for His return, for a promised hope that will someday come true.  Our hope is that we will instill in our family the excited anticipation of His birth, that we would celebrate that, and that it would push us onward towards excited anticipation of His return.  

       Come, thou long expected Jesus, 

 born to set thy people free; 
 from our fears and sins release us, 
 let us find our rest in thee.  
 Israel's strength and consolation, 
 hope of all the earth thou art; 
 dear desire of every nation, 
 joy of every longing heart.

 Born thy people to deliver, 
 born a child and yet a King, 
 born to reign in us forever, 
 now thy gracious kingdom bring. 
 By thine own eternal spirit 
 rule in all our hearts alone; 
 by thine all sufficient merit, 
 raise us to thy glorious throne.

Madeline's 5th

Five years ago, almost four weeks before my due date, little Madeline made her way into our world.  She was 6 pounds 2 ounces and just precious.  There is nothing that can compare to or explain the first moments of being a mama.  The first holding, the first realizing she is yours, the first tears that fall all over you, her, and her daddy.  These five years have gone so slowly and so quickly...long, slow days but fast moving years.  I can't believe I have a five year.  Everyday is adventurous with Madeline.  She has such a big, tender heart.  She is a good giver.  Whenever it is anyone's birthday she spends hours wrapping up gifts from all over the house in all her blankets and ties bows on each.  Then she spends hours making crafts and cards and spelling out crazy long notes for them.  She is sensitive and kind.  She loves her brother and sisters well.  She plays with them and serves them and asks forgiveness from them when she wrongs them and forgives them when they wrong her.  She has a HUGE imagination and is incredibly creative.  She wanted to make a guitar the other day and patiently and creatively made on with very little help from me.  She started pre-school this year and is loving it.  She tells stories and makes new friends.  She prays for her teachers & friends on the way to school and thinks of ways to love well while she is there.  She is learning so much so fast.  She loves Jesus and is asking more and more about Him each day.  She memorizes verses better than most and loves to read Bible stories.  She has a beautiful smile and a heart that exceeds even that.  We love this little gal like crazy.  So blessed to be her mama and so thankful to be a part of her life.

Madeline really wanted to "ball" for her birthday party.  So we invited several little girl friends over and set up a room to get their hair done, nails done, and pick out a dress to go to the ball!  We played very girly music and they danced and twirled their little hearts out.  It was really cute to watch them all!  Their little faces just lit up as they got all dolled up.  It was a great insight into the ways our daughters desire to know they are significant and beautiful and a great challenge to pray and pursue them to the end that they find all their significance and beauty in Christ.