Preparing for Advent

Ever since the kids were little, Matt and I have looked for more ways to keep Christ in Christmas and not focus so much on the other stuff.
Our traditions start with us putting up the tree on Thanksgiving day...it gives the kids something to do while I am cooking (I help too, but we really let them do most of the decorating).
Then, at the beginning of December we read all the Christmas stories, some even related to Christ's birth.
On Christmas Eve we bake cookies for Santa, get carrots for the reindeer and set them out.
We also bake a cake for Jesus.
Then on Christmas day we get up, see that Santa and the reindeer have eaten their food, and we read the note from Santa...telling the kids Merry Christmas and not to forget that it's Jesus' birthday!
We open presents, read about Jesus' birth and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus. Knowing there is no greater gift that we can give Him, than ourselves. I don't know if this message is taken yet...but we are certainly working on it.
But, we have never actually prepared for the Advent season before.
This year is different and I am so excited. I want the kids to know and love Jesus, I want the whole season to mean something to them! Not for it to be just about one day (even though that one day is SO important)!
 Let's take Christmas apart and learn everything we can about what leads up to that day.
We have two ways we are doing that this year.
First, we are reading  The ADVENTure of Christmas by Lisa Whelchel.
This book starts out by explaining what Advent is. In case you are wondering, Advent means "to come" and is talking about Jesus' coming to earth as a baby on Christmas day. The season of Advent is ALL about looking forward to celebrating the day when our almighty God stepped into history as a human being.
The book goes on to tell you how the Christmas tree came about and so many more traditions for the things that we do at Christmas...not going to tell you more...are you curious? Buy the book :)
I am so excited!! I get to celebrate and look forward to this amazing day and I am learning too!
Second, we are reading the book The Advent Jesse tree by Dean Meador Lambert. This book was introduced to me by some wonderful friends and I am so thankful to know about it!
If you are looking for ways to celebrate this advent season, I would highly recommend both books. The kids are excited about learning more about the advent season too! They can't wait until December 1st!
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." Luke 2:14

House Hunting

Matt and I have been looking at houses for what seems like forever. Whenever we are bored, or when we were looking at specific locations, we would look at the houses there.
Now we know where we are going and it's time to get serious.
So, a few weeks ago we "really" started looking, making lists, checking them twice, three times, four, five...
Then, it happened.
I fell in love with the perfect house!
So, I did what an logical person would do in my situation, I showed my husband the house I have to have...then I sent off an inquiry email to the realtor.
The next day I looked to see if the house was still there, it was so wonderful I was sure it would be snapped up...but no, it was still there.
So this began the beginning of a wonderful relationship with a fabulous realtor in South Charlotte.
She gave me all the information I could want about this house and wanted more info about us and our situation, which I quite happily gave her...which she in turn generated two separate lists of houses that she thought we would like...with over 40 homes between the two lists.
Over the past few weeks we have been in contact with this realtor almost on a daily basis. Asking more questions on the houses she has given us and her asking how things are going etc...
Last week we finally narrowed the list down to 14. Over this past weekend we narrowed it down to 7. Yesterday we labeled them #1-7, starting with our favorite.
I do have to say that my number one is not Matt's, but every time he comes up with one he seems to like better, I give him the reasons why my house is better...he always agrees. Not because he is that agreeable, but because the house is that great.
As of today, it is still there. The owners have decided to rent/sale, which ever comes first.
I am praying that in 19 days it is still there, so I can walk through it and see if it is as wonderful as the pictures portray it to be.
I am quite thankful for this wonderful realtor that God has provided us with. She is amazing and I already feel like she has gone above and beyond the norm of most Realtors. We did inquire about some other houses with other Realtors and they were not helpful at all...which is another reason why I know she is amazing!

Life is fragile, handle with care

Today I am reminded of how fragile life is and how blessed we are.

One of my friends' friends is in hospice care. She has 2 children, ages 10 and almost 12. I am heartbroken. This is one of those situations that you think life is not fair. And, it's not. But, we are not guaranteed tomorrow.  Live as if it is your last day here, because it very well could be.

I want to have no regrets, I want my children and husband to know how much I love them. I want to spend more time with them, playing, making memories and leaving no room for regrets. I want them to know that they are more important than the "other" things we tend to get busy with.

This is a reminder to live life fully, making the most of every opportunity, living with no regrets.

"Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life." Jude 1:21

"Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." Ephesians 5:15-16

Children's Choir

The kids are in Children's Choir at Church. They practice every Sunday night from 5-6:15pm. They love it! Kayla's in the oldest group and Elijah is in the youngest group. Kayla's group sings in the service once a month. Elijah's group hasn't sang yet...but will be singing on December 4th...he's a little nervous.

Anyway, Kayla's group sang last week in Church, she really enjoys it. She is usually smiling as she sings!

Here are some pictures we took last week:

"Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises." Psalm 46:6

Hair Cuts

This is our last week with with our car and we are getting on the plane in 22 days...so I was trying to be productive this week. On Tuesday I took the kids to get there hair cut for the last time in Singapore....or at least it's Kayla's last time...Elijah's  might need to be cut one more time...we'll wait and see. We have taken them to The Little Red Dot the whole time we have been in Singapore and have always had good results...the kids love it because they ALWAYS get a sucker when they are finished ;) It used to be named Fantastic Sam's and I had gotten the recommendation from a friend in Nairobi who lived in Singapore before she lived in Nairobi (it really is a small world!!). The kids stylists have changed over the years...but it's been nice going to the same location, because they always know what to expect.

Today I went and got my hair cut for the last time in Singapore. You can always tell when I get my hair cut because it is the only time it is straight!!! I have gone to the same stylist for the 3 years we've been here and I really like her! Her name is Angie at Janzten Salon at Centrepoint Mall. I tell her what I want and she does it. If I'm not sure what I want then she makes suggestions. She is very quick, I am in and out in an hour...but she spends at least 30-40 minutes just drying my hair straight! She is always making comments that make me laugh...today she told me she was making my hair big and sexy! So funny! If she thinks this is big then she should have seen my hair in high school :) Angie was also recommended from my friend in Nairobi...hopefully I can pass her name on to other people. I am thankful that I've been able to have the same stylist and that she's not moved on to another location!

Hard Rock Cafe

On Sunday, we took our "last" trip to Hard Rock Cafe'. This has been one of our favorite places to eat while in Singapore...but one of our most expensive options, so we don't eat there very often.

Here are some pictures from our first two trips to Hard Rock in November 2008 and January 2009:

I tried to make the pictures bigger, but then they were too fuzzy. Haven't the kids grown so much???

Pictures from our last trip to Hard Rock Cafe'. Sunday, November 20, 2011:

Trying on Hats...having fun...

Decided not to buy the hats...but we enjoyed our food and our time at  Hard Rock :)

"Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things." Psalm 107:8-9

Temporary Quarters

Welcome to our new home...Great World City serviced apartments...
Come in, take a load off, can I get you a cup of coffee? No? Well, let the tour begin....

When you step into the apartment you step into the dining area, to your immediate left is the office area and to your right is the living room. Ignore the mess, we hadn't quite settled in yet when I took the pictures.

This is the master bedroom, it has a chair with an Ottoman and a TV in the room. Kayla is headed to check out the master bathroom.

The TV is situated on the vanity...please ignore the suitcase sitting in front of it.

The office area...which is currently our school area.Also the office area.

The kitchen...the kids are making sure we brought all our food from Regency Park ;)

Elijah's room, which is now Kayla's room. Yep, we've been here 6 days and they've already changed rooms :)

Kayla's room which is now Elijah's room.

The living room, yep, that's my Yankee Candle burning on the table...trying to make it look and smell like home!

The TV cabinet in the living room...Kayla and Elijah's rooms are right next to it.

Just another view, the doorway leads to the guest bathroom and the opposite that the kitchen.

Elijah playing on the playground.

Kayla and Elijah playing.

The small washer and dryer...

The inside of the washer!!

The inside of the dryer...twice the size of the washer.

Where you put the detergent...can you figure out which whole it goes in??

The top of the washer.

And...the top of the dryer...it's so fun trying to learn how to use all the new gadgets ;)
I am thankful that we are staying in a place that is so easy to be in. The housekeeper comes in three days a week to clean, change sheets and towels etc...our apartment is attached to a mall, we can get pretty much anything we need there...which will come in handy very soon. We have sold our car and will be car-less starting Monday...so, it is very convenient that we are attached to the mall.

Our temporary home

Yesterday we set up our Christmas tree.

It doesn't matter that it's 90 degrees outside and doesn't feel like Christmas.

It doesn't matter that it was only November 19.
It doesn't matter that it's the smallest Christmas tree ever.

It doesn't matter that we are in temporary housing.
It doesn't matter that we won't be here for Christmas.
What matters is making the most of our situation and making this "temporary house" our home, for as long as we are here.
That reminds me of Carrie Underwood's song "Temporary Home:"
"This is my temporary home
It's not where I belong.
Windows and rooms that I'm passin' through.
This is just a stop, on the way to where I'm going.
I'm not afraid because I know this is my
Temporary Home."

This is our temporary home, just a stop to where we are going...the only thing I am sure of, is that our final destination is Heaven.
I plan to enjoy my time here...making the most of every opportunity...with the candles burning and the Christmas music blaring from my little MP3 player, we decorated for Christmas and had so much fun!

"Jesus replied, 'If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.'" John 14:23