twas the week before christmas

this christmas marks our first with children. it's hard to believe that in a few weeks, i will have been a father for 12 months... but we have to get through christmas first.
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last saturday, we went as a family to a tree farm. if you're one for a plastic look-alike in the corner of your living room, you may not understand this experience. the place we go to get our tree each year also has real reindeer and a gift shop where you can sit by the fire and drink some hot cocoa after playing paul bunyan. and the experience is so much more fun with two children... even if it involves whining in climbing the hill and spilled hot chocolate. but we got the tree home safe and sound, all decorated in the corner of our living room.
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last sunday was week two for an invite to a birthday party... for sonja. poor alex has been left out, but that's not because she's unloved. she's just in different circles. but while sarah has taken sonja to her parties, alex and i have had some fun. last sunday involved watching dumbo and going to starbuck's for some hot chocolate. her bright little smile pours out "i'm loved and am loving it." our prayer is that she understands that, as she gets older, she is loved not only by us, but by Jesus as well.
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on the way to starbuck's she explained that in 'real' golf, they use swingers to hit the ball into the little whole. as we turned the corner from that short conversation, we spied a hawk, to which she intelligently pointed out that "hawks eat small mammals." i'm sure they eat other types of small animals too, but i thought it was cute.
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in our small group on monday, we talked about forgiveness... not necessarily asking for it, but also for giving it. asking can be hard, but giving is very difficult, especially when the one you're forgiving doesn't believe there is a reason they needed to be forgiven. my debts have been paid. why should you still owe me?
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tuesday was a trek through a winter storm warning to watch sonja sing a few christmas songs to families of her classmates. what bright little children! sitting in her classroom that night made me realize that these types of things were something i hadn't thought of in raising children. growing up i couldn't wait for a children's choir to be over so the real music could begin. but now that i have children of my own, it's a completely different experience.
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thursday... ah, thursday. yes, this was the day we decided to finally sit down and get our online christmas shopping done. most websites posted "tomorrow at noon is the last day to submit your order if you'd like to receive by december 24th." yikes! that's tomorrow! so needless to say, we were up until around 2:30 trying to get it all done. i just hope it all makes it in time, or we could have a couple of disappointed halflings!
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last night we watched the polar express. i had heard mixed reviews, but after seeing i thought it was a well-presented movie. i can't say it made me a 'believer' though... probably because i know the Truth.
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and today... i'll probably blog more about this later tonight, but today is the girls' birthday party. tomorrow they will be 5. it's an exciting time in the bates household as we prepare for a big celebration with family and friends. i can't wait!
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so those are the anecdotes for the week.
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spiritual significance has been stifled by work, planning a birthday, and budget woes this past week. my focus has honestly been elsewhere. i haven't stopped loving God, but i've definitely been ignoring Him. and when that happens, the ability to serve is lost. and during christmas, people need the Love i can point them to... but i have been selfish. in realizing this brokenness, i'm feeling open to change.
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read www.jaredemerick.blogspot.com. when God speaks, act. don't hesitate.