Breath of Heaven

I have traveled many moonless nights,

Cold and weary with a babe inside,

And I wonder what I’ve done.

Holy father you have come, And chosen me now to carry your son.

I am waiting in a silent prayer. I am frightened by the load I bear.

In a world as cold as stone, Must I walk this path alone?

Be with me now. Be with me now.

Breath of heaven, Hold me together,

Be forever near me, Breath of heaven.

Breath of heaven, Lighten my darkness, Pour over me your holiness,

For you are holy. Breath of heaven.

Do you wonder as you watch my face,

If a wiser one should have had my place,

But I offer all I am, For the mercy of your plan.

Help me be strong. Help me be. Help me.

Breath of heaven, Hold me together, Be forever near me,

Breath of heaven. Breath of heaven,

Lighten my darkness, Pour over me your holiness,

For you are holy.

Breath of heaven, Hold me together, Be forever near me,

Breath of heaven. Breath of heaven,

Lighten my darkness, Pour over me your holiness,

For you are holy.

Breath of heaven. Breath of heaven. Breath of heaven.

If only in my dreams

I'll be home for Christmas.

You can count on me.

Please have snow And mistletoe And presents 'neath the tree

Christmas eve will find me Where the love light gleams

I'll be home for Christmas If only in my dreams

Christmas eve will find me. Where the love light gleams.

I'll be home for Christmas

If only in my dreams

If only in my dreams

Christmas essay

There are so many stories and thoughts I'd like to share about what we've been doing this month but so little time to actually sit down and put it all on paper/blog. A picture's worth a thousand words, right? Well then, here's my visual essay of activities that have been keeping us in the Christmas spirit...


Ethan's cub scout holiday party:





Sloan's ballet practice/performance:


Angel Tree adoption party for our new friend, Moises:



In our p.j.'s and all aboard the Polar Express:



Belen Viviente de Arcos con amigos (live nativity with friends):

Let it snow

Sloan has been entertaining herself all week with indoor snowstorms. These are the first three flakes that started it all. Now there are snowflakes on almost every window and on various doors and walls throughout the house. I think it's even snowing over the fireplace. Of course Camryn and Ethan couldn't resist playing in the snow either so between the three of them, I've given up sweeping and vacuuming the snow flurries that are left behind each pair of sissors. Instead we just keep singing...

let it snow

let it snow

let it snow

Hangin out with old St. Nick

Ho Ho Ho Meeeerrry Christmas!

multi-tasking Momma

Hey, when the baby needs nurishment and the girls need school lessons, what else is a Momma to do? Just do it all at once! (much to my girls dismay) Ha/ha/ha I even made Camryn get up to take a picture because I thought it was so funny and she thought I was so wierd. Who knew the kitchen table was just the right height for doing this?!

Thanksgiving

Our feast:

Our prayer guide:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything,

by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,

present your requests to God.

Philippians 4:6

Our crafts:

Our grateful hearts:
We have much to thank the Lord for this year. We've survived many changes since last November concerning our family, our home, our friends, our education, our careers and our activities. Last year at this time, it was difficult for me to count blessings. I was very broken from losing my baby in miscariage while moving away from the comforts and security of our home and country, living so far away from family and friends that it didn't seem possible to "ever" see them again, not having any of our familiar (and necessary) household items that make our house a real home, and having everything and everyone around us so foreign.

But! last year, on Thanksgiving day, our household shipment was finally delivered into our new Spanish home and we started to rebuild our lives and start making new memories and new traditions with our new resources. Since then, we've been blessed beyond measure with a baby to join our family. We've spent all year preparing and planning his arrival and are sitting here today with this beautiful and healthy addition. We were able to spend six weeks with family, between both of our parents, this summer. We were finally able to get set up with internet and Skype so now we are able to email, call and see many of our family and friends for little to no cost. We've been making new friends all year long. The military life constantly takes dear friendships away but always with the promise of new relationships on the horizon. With none of us having nearby family, freindships have proven to be more abundant and easier than usual. We are involved with a wonderful, encouraging, bible-focused, bilingual church family that we look forward to meeting with, each Sunday. The Lord has redirected us a little on a path of public and home education. It's been an emotional and challenging year with this issue but we have been blessed with seeing results we are very happy with at this point. Travis has flourished in his new position in the medical field. He is doing what he is very good at and truly making a positive difference in many peoples lives. I am so grateful that he continues to be able to support our growing family, especially in such uncertain economic times. We have no one else but our Heavenly Father to thank for all of this. He continues to see us through the hard times and to guide our lives. I am especially grateful to be able to see beyond our daily struggles and upsets to give Him our praise at this time of Thanksgiving.

My favorite little pumpkin

... plus a few other creatues that kept following us around the base.

Medina Sedonia

This month, our Spanish adventure outing was a day spent in this quaint village of Medina Sedonia. It was also the last day with Grandma and Grandpa here. The views were awesome, the weather was pleasant, the food was good and the uphill hiking was a healthy start for my postpardom weight loss plan.

After hiking to the top of the hill, above the city, to explore the old castle ruins, we entered the Catholic cathederal and then climbed up about 100 steps, in a tiny spiral staircase, to this bell tower!
The views from the castle ruins went on for miles. This ancient city was very stratigically placed to keep the castle safe from the enemy forces.

The children had more fun watching the ants and other critters on the old stone walls. The restraunt where we ate lunch is seen right between thier heads. (the burgandy canopy area)
We were welcomed into the city by this headless Roman statue fountain.

Working our way up the city walls...

While welcoming the baby...

We learned how to do embroidery work...
We listened to stories being read aloud...

We learned to play the Cats Cradle string game...

We jumped ahead with daily piano lessons...We learned how to play Mexican Train and Chicken foot with our domineos...

We made LOTS of cookies too...

The Birth Party

We have a tradition that started with my first born and it has proven to be the perfect beginning and celebration as we've welcomed each baby into our home. We simply celebrate the baby's birth - day party with decorations, presents, cake and icecream. Grandma and Grandpa arrived less than 24 hours after Isaac and I were released from the hopsital so within just a few hours of them being here with us, we started the party.
Because Travis and Sloan had both celebrated thier birthdays the same week that Isaac was born, I spent one afternoon baking about 50 cupcakes to cover us for all three parties. Travis had the chocolate ones, Sloan had the lemon ones and there were both flavors left for Isaac's party to have some of each kind. We sang "Happy Birthday" to him but there were no candles to blow out since that part of the party he'll have to earn at his one year old party.
Isaac is #20 grandchild for my parents (and the 3rd one born in 2008) and my Mom has played a vital part in welcoming and helping in each of them. I don't think there is anything that would stop her from being involved with the beginning of each life. Not the Atlantic Ocean and not even a foriegn country! I'm still amazed that she came all this way to hand deliver her traditional, handquilted, one of a kind, baby blanket, to take over my laundry, house cleaning, meal planning, cooking and serving, and to entertain, play and teach my older children, etc., etc. She can definately run circles around me and my attempts to run a sucessful family. What a blessing for all of us! And I was doublely blessed with my Dad being here with us the whole time too. He did lots of house cleaning, yard work, errands and playing too. With all this work, they only wanted payment in the form of lots of snuggles and kisses with our new baby! Isaac was very well loved and held while they were here. They helped us so much during this transition and for that I am sooo grateful. It really means a lot to me to feel and see their love for me, my husband, my children and my tiny newborn baby. Thanks again Mom and Dad! We miss having you here with us!

Let's start from the beginning

This is what we were doing 4 weeks ago today. We are all so happy to welcome baby Isaac into our family. He completes us!