Making a List and Checking it Twice.. or maybe Three Times!

We still do the Santa thing with Chloe every year. She's 7 years-old. And please don't write me a long list of reasons why doing "Santa" with her every year is wrong. We do it. She likes it. That's it.

So - I was telling her on Sunday afternoon that if she didn't finish her list for Santa that night, that it wouldn't get to the North Pole on time, because Monday was the DEADLINE! So - in a mad dash, she took off to her room to find the list and finish it.

This list cracks me up! I just HAD to post it. But PLEASE don't tell her I shared it with you... she would be devastated (and embarrassed) at some of her items. This is just too precious not to pass along! Oh - and I'm going to spell the items EXACTLY like she did. Here we go...

1. Violin
2. DS (this would be Nintendo DS)
3. Gum (yeah, that's right - the girl wants gum!)
4. High School Musical 2 (the DVD)
5. Hannah Montana Sell Phone (this is actually a 'play' phone)
6. Lipe Stick (Lip Stick)
7. A TV (umm.. not!)
8. Gres Shull (I'm still not sure what this is!)
9. Gutar (that would be guitar and she's still upset that Santa forgot that last year!)
10. Movies
11. Gitakstick Swet Pants (this would be gymnastic sweat pants!)
12. A Sled
13. The Simpson's Movie (umm... another not!)
14. Shrimp (what can I say - the girl has quality taste!)
15. Choocklet (this would be chocolate! Ahh - just like her mom! Shrimp and chocolate!)
16. Kids Cooking Set
17. Dresses
18. A Sell Phone ("cell" phone... this would be a real one. NO?)
19. Braselet ("bracelet")
20. A cat (might I add that even though she knows her daddy is allergic to cats, she still wants one and says she will keep it in her room!)
21. Games for DS (that's if Santa gets her the DS, otherwise, these are pretty pointless!)
22. Poop Corn (yep - you heard it! My daughter wants "poop" corn. I'm actually hoping this is popcorn!)
23. A puppy
24. Peja's (Pajamas)
25. Games for WII
26. Bells (??)
27. Pool (now you've gone too far!)
28. Cards (she clarified this as being "playing" cards)
29. World Puzzle (actually something she saw at Wal*Mart)

Okay - there are some things on this list that are do-able, some that are NOT do-able and others that are just down right not going to happen. Gotta love this imagination, though!

Christmas Traditions!

Every family has them - - those silly Christmas traditions that make the holidays so special! We have our own... and I thought I would share some of them with you today.

• Ever since I was a little girl, we have always driven around on Christmas Eve to look at all the Christmas lights in our city. I remember as a girl - it was magical - the way the city looked all "done up" in rainbow colored lights! My husband and I have carried that tradition into our family as well, however, we added a little twist to it. We look at lights through local neighborhoods with the WINDOWS DOWN. I know, it's typically freezing out - but not when you come fully equipped with blankets, mittens, hats, scarves and hot chocolate in thermos containers! It's still so cool and I get just as excited about this tradition as I did when I was a little girl!
• I'm not exactly sure how this one got started, but for the past 6 years or so, after the passing of my father-in-law, my husband, my daughter and I stay the night at my mother-in-law's on December 23. We wake up on Christmas Eve and then enjoy a breakfast together before we split up to do last minute shopping, baking etc. It's a lot of fun. We stay up really late and eat and drink hot chocolate. It's a real highlight of my Christmas holiday!
• Every year I hand write a letter to each member of my immediate family... my husband, my daughter, my mom and my dad, and place them in the Christmas tree. In the letter, I tell them how much they mean to me and for all the things I'm thankful for that year. Even before opening stockings, I have them open the letters and read them. It's just a nice way to reflect on what's truly important!
• Since my daughter was about 4, we have been making a birthday cake for Jesus on Christmas Eve. On Christmas afternoon, after dinner, we sing Happy Birthday to Jesus as a family. What a really neat way to celebrate the true meaning... Christ's birth. I have to say - this one is my daughters favorite! (oh, did I mention, she gets to pick out the cake flavor and frosting?)
• On Christmas night, sometimes (not every year, so does that count as a tradition?) we go see a movie. It really depends on what's out that particular year. This year it looks like it might be Alvin and the Chipmunks - although I've received mixed reviews.

Those are some of my family traditions. There's more - and every year we add a couple new ones. I'm interested in what other family traditions YOU might have... please share and Merry CHRISTmas!!!

Speechless!

I cannot recall a time when I was more speechless than I was this past Saturday, December 15. In fact, I was not only speechless, I was typeless. I wanted to blog about this Saturday night, but the words just wouldn't come. They didn't come. They still won't come. All I can say is that God did a phenomenal work through Crossroads Community Church this past weekend!! He was truly lifted high through the efforts of our amazing volunteers to bring food to a hurting community. I've never been a witness to such selfless love and dedication! It was by far one of the biggest moments of my life.

To the Project Share leaders who embraced the vision from the early days of planning... THANK YOU.

To the 450+ volunteers who showed up, in the freezing temperatures, to serve our God and our community... THANK YOU.

To the agencies who partnered with us to make this vision... this dream of helping hurting families a reality... THANK YOU.

To the God who loves us & who blesses us beyond measure... THANK YOU.

If you missed Project Share, you can see the amazing video here.

Because No One Should Be Left Out...

Blogs I Read

I have been asked by some what blogs I read on a consistent basis. Seems now-a-days, everybody's blogging... here are some of my favorite that I follow pretty consistently..

Steven Furtick - Lead Pastor of Elevation Church in Charlotte, N.C. He is ONE of the COOLEST guys I've encountered in blogsphere!

Perry Noble - Senior Pastor of NewSpring Church in Anderson, S.C. - see the theme - the Carolina dudes rock out!

Sherry Moorhead - Sherry is the Director of Volunteers at NewSpring Church in Anderson, S.C. - I would like to meet this person who has direction over 2,000+ volunteers week in and week out! Wow - she's incredible!

Kem Meyer - Kem is the Communications Director for Granger Community Church in Granger, IN. I met her once. Well - okay, I didn't actually MEET her, but I SAW her at the conference I attended in Granger last month. It was so cool. It was like seeing a celebrity walk into a room. She seems way cool!

Mark Waltz - Mark is way cool, too and is a staff pastor for Granger Community Church. I got to listen to his story a bit during my Granger conference experience last month. This guy has the guest experience nailed down!

Tim Stevens - Gotta love this guy! He's one creative dude! His role is the Executive Pastor for Granger Community Church. Got to listen to him at my Granger conference last month, too. He co-lead the session I attended on Volunteerism with Mark Waltz.

Kathy Guy - She is the Director of Community at Granger. Aren't these titles so extraordinaire? Love her blog name, too... Because Relationships Matter. Isn't that what it's all about?

Scott Hodge - Scott is the Lead Pastor for the Orchard Church in Aurora, IL. I love to read his posts! This guy is so passionate about what he does - LOVE that!

Mark Batterson - Mark is the author of one of my favorite books, "In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day". Haven't read it you say? Go pick it up! Now. Do it. Mark is the Lead Pastor for National Community Church in Washington D.C. Yep - it's called the theater church! Why? Check it out for yourself!

Who are we serving?

This has to be the best blog entry I've read in a long time! Brilliant!

I'm always talking about customer service on this blog... but this one knocks it out of the park as far as I'm concerned!

Who are we serving? Who is our customer? Great questions for the church to ponder.

It's SNOWING, It's SNOWING!

OK - so I just had to share in my excitement!!!! It's snowing!!!!! I have been indoors cleaning closets out and I just noticed that our pond is completely white!!!! I am so excited.

I remember when I was kid I thought snow was magic. There's just something about that first snowfall that IS still truly magic to me.

Gotta go - - gotta run outside with my daughter to relish in this moment...