My Overthinking

Philly Area mom, Life forever changed by adoption

Christmas tidbits

The kiddos have been enjoying their advent gifts each day–they’ve gotten light up lollipops, hair barrettes, fun post-it notes, little animals that grow in water, those washclothes that come in a little square that transform in the bath, a little sword, nightlights…lots of goodies so far! Funny what a little present will do to motivate them to get up in the morning and get dressed fast!

Grammy came for a visit Monday and was brave enough (or crazy enough) to make a gingerbread house with them. We should have learned from last year that this is an extremely messy and frustrating craft idea. This year, after some chaos (both she and I were breaking a sweat), we got the thing to stay together using a hot glue gun (the most essential tool for any mother of young children). We both breathed a sigh of relief when that was over.



We also made this cool Christmas tree the other day. You add “magic water”–who really knows what that stuff is, probably deadly chemicals…or maybe just plain water but they charge us too much for it by calling it magic–and watch the Christmas tree grow. I admit that I was pretty amazed by it myself.



One more tidbit–a good Ashlyn quote. They recently learned the Batman version of Jingle Bells–why do all mothers hate this version? I mean, it’s really not that bad. It certainly could be worse. Anyway, Ashlyn was convinced that a boy in her class made it up. Right. So, she asked the other day: “Are the words ‘the joker got away’ or ‘the joker plays ballet’?”


And how about this super cute hair clip? Found it with a similar Santa one at Wegman’s for only $4 for the set! So cute!

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the ugliest tree in the world and then our tree…of course


As usual, I had fun making a little montage of our Christmas tree hunt from Saturday. What you don’t really “get” from the video is the real story of the day. The place we’ve gone for the last several years to cut down our tree–local place and really nice trees–raised their prices to $9 a foot. The idea of spending $70 on a tree that would be in our house for only 4 weeks and then thrown away just sorta seemed wrong. So, Mark found a farm online that didn’t seem too far away (estimated 30 min.) that had a coupon for $5 a foot. Score! Well, we got lost trying to find out and ended up all over the place. Took twice as long if not more to get there. When we got there, we saw why their trees were $5 a foot (see the picture of the ugliest tree in the world for proof). So, back in the car we went and headed back to the local farm after we stopped at some little convenience store to load the kids up with sugar so they wouldn’t be too mad that we had to try another place. They rallied and we had fun…despite the freezing cold weather and light rain…and despite the $66 price tag (ouch). At least the rain soon turned to a thrilling early snow to get us in the Christmas spirit. And, I admit, hearing the kids chant “here comes the tree!” at the top of their lungs made every cent of that $66 tree worth it.

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Biblical Femininity

A Vision of the Biblically Feminine Wife
adapted from a Family Life Conference
She is a woman in awe of her Creator, worshipping Him as the One to whom she looks for life itself.

She is a woman of chastity, pure, full of light.

She lives for a purpose bigger than what she wants right now.

She lives in meekness, trusting that everything will work towards God’s glory.

She is a woman of rest, not demanding at all.

She uses her wisdom and cunning, her feminine soul to call forth truth and beauty in her husband and in people around her everyday.

She acknowledges what she wants, and she embraces and lives with the pain of not getting all that she wants.

She gives up the demand to live for herself and control others in order to live hoping in God and in submission to her husband.

She trusts in Christ alone when she is lonely to fill her emotional needs and enjoys the companionship and fellowship of her husband all the while recognizing that it is only a reflection of how Christ can fill her.

She need not revile, need not threaten–much like Jesus did not revile or threaten but was quiet, entrusting Himself to the Father.

She says to her husband, “I don’t need to make you, shape you, nag you, nor change you. Neither do I need to rescue you from your mistakes like I would a toddler, for I honor you as one in whom the Holy Spirit dwells and works.”

She is vulnerable, opening her heart to people she loves, and is not afraid to speak what is true.

She moves toward her husband, children, and people not to get life from them but to be a blessing to them.

She prays, knowing He alone is the Source of Life and change in people’s hearts. She does battle through prayer and obedience for others’ souls, especially for her husband and children.

She’s a woman who is gentle and at peace, not controlled by her environment or passing situations, for her life is anchored in Christ who is unchanging.

She uses her femininity to draw forth goodness and grace from people around her, all for His glory and good pleasure.

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over the river and through the woods

to our house they came! Thanksgiving dinner was served to 16–13 of whom spent the night at our house…a house, mind you, that only has 1 1/4 bathrooms (we only count the powder room as a 1/4 bath rather than a 1/2 bath. It literally is only 2 ft x 4 ft. but complete with a sink and toilet). It was a fool–I actually typed that and meant to type “full”…ironic, perhaps…so, it was a full house indeed. I’m actually quite amazed that we didn’t have more mishaps or broken things…just a forgotten pumpkin pie (had to run to Wegman’s to get one an hour before dinner because Mom left her wonderful homemade one in the frig at home…sad), a broken toilet, and some other toileting issues…oh my. It was a lot of fun—we were particularly excited to learn that my sister’s homemade cheese rolls weren’t her only bun in the oven! Erin is having her third baby in June–Bohdan will be a little over 4 and Audrey will be just 2 when Hamson baby #3 arrives. This summer will be a fun one assuming that we have 2 new babies in the family then (come on, Lydia!).

Here’s Mom sadly picking out a store made pumpkin pie.

This pic of the kids table sorta sums it up–Evan refusing his picture, Drew playing pirates, Abby hamming it up…

Friday shopping with the girls didn’t disappoint either. Though only my parents actually shopped at Target before the sun was up, we all got loads of good deals and hit bunches of stores. And, it was really fun this year to bring Ashlyn along with the ladies. She even got her gifts for her brothers.
We are completely in the Christmas spirit here now. The music has been playing this weekend, and some decos are out. Our Christmas socks are on, courtesy of my mom (Drew insisted on wearing a pair). The advent calendars from Nanma and Granddaddy are all set up and enticing the children who are more than a little bit anxious for Tuesday to arrive.
Goodbye, fall. We loved you, but we’re ready for Christmas time now.




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