Reindeer Candy Cane

Did you know the first Candy Cane was originally used as a Pacifier to soothe crying babies?  Later, a German Choirmaster decided to bend the sugar sticks into the shape of a shepherd’s staff and each tot was handed one as they entered the cathedral during the Christmas pageant in hopes of keeping them quite.  Hundreds of years later, a candy maker from Indiana decided to improve on the idea by tying the treats in with the real meaning of Christmas. 

The legend of the Candy Cane is just one of many stories in the ADVENTure of Chirstmas by Lisa Whechel.  It is chalk full of fun crafts, stories, and etc…to help children find Jesus in many of our Holiday Traditions.  

 So, we’ve been making these fun little Reindeer Candy Canes for our friends on our street!  As I was sharing the story with the girls I pointed out that the red stripes remind us about the blood of Jesus and how he died on the cross for us.  I thought this would be easy for them to understand especially since they love singing the song, “Nothing But the Blood of Jesus.”

 However, I didn’t realize that Isabella had taken this so literally.  So when Elianna started screaming that the peppermint was burning her mouth Isabella told me, 

“Mom, get it out of her mouth!  It’s the blood!  

The blood is burning her!! She doesn’t like the blood…get it out!!”

 Awwh…from the mouth of babes! Too funny!  I got a big kick out of it and couldn’t help but wonder what God must think of all of this?!! 

**The pic above is one I pulled from the internet. I will update later with our pics!

Family Christmas Pictures

So Tim just finished shooting our family Christmas portraits to send out to family and friends. It was so much fun doing it in our own house. Good-bye JC Penny's :)

As we narrowed it down to the one we'll actually send out, here are a few that didn't make the cut! :)

It's amazing what you go through for one good picture.  I have a new found respect for photographers. :)  Good luck Tim!

Window Talk

Thanksgiving Fun

This was our first year to take the kids to the Thanksgiving Parade downtown. As you can see, the kids had a blast! 

Instead of having to wake up early and rush the kids out the door, we decided to rent a hotel room to avoid the morning madness.  The girls were so excited and couldn't wait to get to the hotel after dinner.  They had a blast staying up late and watching their movies on Tim's laptop. Though we were up early so that we could find a good place to sit it was stress free.  We even had time to grab a little breakfast together before our busy day began.  

The best part was that the parade passed right in front of our hotel so all we had to do was walk out and take a seat...perfect view for the kids ! No drama, no parking, no rushing, etc... It was definitely worth it!  We hope to make this a new little family tradition! 

Here are a few pics of the our time together:

Afterwards, we went to Oma and Opa’s House for Thanksgiving Lunch and had a great time hanging out with the family.

Stomping Grounds Playland

The kids and I just got back from a new place that opened up in Sugarland called Stomping Grounds Playland. It's off of Williams Trace right next door to Michael's in the First Colony Commons Shopping Center.

The girls got to run wild and they even had a little tot section for Cash to play in! Moms get to gab and watch the kids play while sipping coffee in the lounge area. I even saw one mom with her computer! Apparently she's been there before because she got there when most of the other moms were rounding up the kids to go home, so she had the whole place to herself!

If you're thinking about grabbing lunch there it can be a bit expensive, but they did have some reasonably priced snacks and other kiddy foods.

It was a great afternoon. My crew had a blast and crashed as soon as we got home!

This place is definitely worth checking out!

Where Are All the Spiritual Leaders and Why Aren't More of Them Speaking Out?

I follow Voddie Baucham's Blog quite a bit. I first heard of Voddie when he came to teach at an on campus bible study called Quest at Houston Baptist University. He's also taught at the College of Biblical studies and is currently a church planter for the Family Integrated Church in Spring, Texas.

He is an awesome teacher of the word and as far as I know, one of the only spiritual leaders really speaking out as we try to make sense of our candidates, the election process and where God is in all of it.

When you have time, you should really check out his blog. He shares his concerns regarding both parties and why he cannot support either one. Tim actually posted a youtube clip of his interview on Fox news a couple of weeks ago.

I have included some of his post below regarding his concerns in each party. They are very thought provoking. I love his passion for the word and his desire to uphold the truth even when not popular with the culture (sadly to say this includes many Christians).

Friday, April 18, 2008
Barack Obama: A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
Barack Obama is the most pro-abortion candidate ever to run for President. He could not even bring himself to vote for the Born Alive Infant Protection Act which would have protected children born ...
http://www.voddiebaucham.org/vbm/Blog/Entries/2008/4/18_A_Wolf_in_Sheep’s_Clothing.html

Saturday, August 30, 2008
Did McCain Make a Pro-Family VP Pick?
Conservatives are all aglow as John McCain pulled off an apparent coup d’état this week by naming Sarah Palin as his choice for Vice President. Bob Unruh, writing for the conservative Christian web...
http://www.voddiebaucham.org/vbm/Blog/Entries/2008/8/30_Did_McCain_Make_a_Pro-Family_Pick____.html

Monday, September 1, 2008
The Evangelical Two-Step
It has been interesting watching evangelicals sing and dance their way around the news of Sarah Palin’s pregnant seventeen year-old daughter. Step One: Use the Bible to motivate and mobilize the Ev...
http://www.voddiebaucham.org/vbm/Blog/Entries/2008/9/1_The_Evangelical_Two-Step.html

Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Framing the Abortion Debate
I believe Christian Conservatives are treading in dangerous waters with the way many are spinning the Palin pregnancy issue. The emphasis on the daughter’s “choice” to have the baby is presented as...
http://www.voddiebaucham.org/vbm/Blog/Entries/2008/9/2_The_Continuing_Collapse_of_Education_2.html

Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Waking up the Sheeple
The past several days have been incredibly revealing. I have received numerous emails, phone calls, and interview requests since my August 30th post on John McCain’s VP pick. I have even earned the...
http://www.voddiebaucham.org/vbm/Blog/Entries/2008/9/3_Waking_up_the_Sheeple.html

Tuesday, September 9, 2008
What if Palin was a...
The Sarah Palin controversy continues to rage on among complimentarians (there’s virtually no debate among mainstream evangelicals). There are articles flying everywhere on one side of the issue or... http://www.voddiebaucham.org/vbm/Blog/Entries/2008/9/9_None_of_The_Above.html

Wednesday, September 10, 2008 A Spoonful of Sugar  I found this on the web and couldn’t help but cringe. Many on the left are using this statement to demonstrate the confusing nature of Evangelical support for McCain simply because of his VP pick. 

http://www.voddiebaucham.org/vbm/Blog/Entries/2008/9/10_A_Spoonful_of_Sugar.htm

Thursday, September 11, 2008
How Evangelicals Could Win an Election and Lose the Culture
There has been a great deal of speculation as to the effect of the Palin nomination on female voters. While few expected the hoards of Hillary supporters to flock to Palin (due to the abortion issu...
http://www.voddiebaucham.org/vbm/Blog/Entries/2008/9/11_How_Evangelicals_Could_Win_an_Election_and_Lose_the_Culture.html

Monday, September 15, 2008
Was the P31 Woman a Career Gal?
Recently I have heard the Proverbs 31 reference over and over in support of “women pursuing careers” in politics, or otherwise. Let me say that I have never argued that a woman cannot or should not...
http://www.voddiebaucham.org/vbm/Blog/Entries/2008/9/15_Was_the_P31_Woman_a_Career_Gal.html

Thursday, September 25, 2008
Voddie Baucham on CNN
A few weeks ago I had the privilege of appearing on CNN. I was told that I would be discussing my original blog on the Governor Palin pick. However, the interviewer chose to turn the show into a di...
http://www.voddiebaucham.org/vbm/Blog/Entries/2008/9/25_Voddie_Baucham_on_CNN.html

Thursday, October 2, 2008
No Comment!
As a result of recent articles in The Tennesseean and The L.A. Times I have decided not to talk to the print media about the Palin issue. Both articles represent what is wrong in American journalis...
http://www.voddiebaucham.org/vbm/Blog/Entries/2008/10/2_No_Comment!.html

His most recent post, "The Culture of Death...and its Candidate" really makes one stop and think. Check out the post and videos below. After viewing, it compelled me to research further Margaret Sanger and the role she has played, as Voddie puts it, in our "culture of death."

The Culture of Death... and its Candidate

As I have noted a number of times, I simply cannot comprehend why Christians (of any color) can support BarackObama. As Robert George of Princeton University noted recently, “Barack Obama is the m...

http://www.voddiebaucham.org/vbm/Blog/Entries/2008/10/17_The_Culture_of_Death..._and_its_Candidate.html

My Little Man

My little man in his first guayabera!

Fireproof

Tim and I went to see Fireproof tonight. It was so good to get out to the theater and to be pleased with the $34 we spent! Below is the trailer, but I highly recommend the movie. There's something for all couples in this movie, regardless of what stage you're at in your relationship!