O Christmas Tree

I started this post last Sunday and realized I need to get it finished before we leave for Jersey tomorrow. We went to get a tree last Saturday (13th) and Tennyson had more fun running around and "helping" us choose the perfect tree. Here are a few photos to document this memory-making day.

I love the look on Tennyson's face

We caught one!

Mommy, this jingles if you shake it!

Tennyson "helping"
The finished tree - in red & silver ornaments

Christmas Devotional - Day 3

We Three Kings

We Three Kings is a manly Christmas song, for it speaks not of virgins, angels, or shepherds, but of a quest. It is Lord of the Rings with gifts and a star. The story of the 3 kings even has several ingredients of a classic Fantasy novel. It has mysterious wise men who read ancient texts and watched for the coming of the chosen one. Then, when the signs were right they set off on their quest, braving great distance, burning deserts, and an evil king. All the time following the trail of a mysterious star. The stuff of epics for sure. There's even an epic sized battle at the end of the book.
Of course they weren't kings. And we don't even know for sure there were three of them. One legend claims there were twelve. And, despite Christmas pageants everywhere, they were definitely NOT there at the manger. He was probably around 2 years old when the arrived. Ironically enough, this song was written for a Christmas pageant in NYC in 1857. History has assigned them names in the middle ages: Melchoir, King of Arabia, who brought gold; Gaspar, King of Tarsus, whom brought myrrh; and Balthasar, King of Ethiopia, whom brought frankincense. But those are probably fictional.
So what can we learn from these unnumbered, unnamed, vaguely titled men? Much. These foreigners recognized the signs of the birth of the Messiah when the Jewish priests did not. Those whose job it was to watch were caught sleeping. They were so busy trying to be God's servants they forgot about serving God. These wise men weren't quite the rocks and stones crying out, but in some Jewish eyes, they might have been close. Jesus would later warn about the importance of watching and waiting.
Their quest also speaks to the preciousness of the Gospel. Those men journeyed as they did not to conquer, but to be conquered, not to gain earthly treasure, but to give treasure. Theirs was a quest to worship the king of kings. Unknown to them, their worship began not when they found the Christ, but when they first began to watch for his coming. Like any good quest, they were drawn, not pushed on their journey. Drawn to find the child. Drawn like the shepherds before them and the countless numbers after them. Drawn not just by the light of a mysterious star in the Bethlehem sky, but by He who is the light of the world. He who is still leading, still proceeding, still guiding to that perfect light..

~Tom Bates

Christmas Devotional - Day 2

What Child is This?

Written to the tune “Greensleeves," What Child is This is not only one of the most melodically beautiful Christmas Carols, but, if some stories are to be believed, it is also historically rich with violent irony involving a betrayed queen and a crucified savior.
Anne Boleyn was a popular queen and the second wife of Henry VIII. He began his affair with her while still married to his first wife Catherine of Aragon (and after having an affair with Anne's sister Mary). Anne at first spurned Henry's advances. It was during that phase of their relationship he allegedly wrote the lyrics for Greensleeves “alas my love you do me wrong to cast me out discourteously," etc. He would put the words to a popular melody of the time. Henry would create his own church, divorce Catherine, marry Anne, then eventually accuse her of adultery and treason. Anne would be executed for her crimes. (The unfortunate second of six in the the divorced, beheaded, etc.)Brought to trial on lies and trumped up charges, she was betrayed by one who claimed to love her and executed as public spectacle.
It would be to that same lovely 16th century melody that William Dix would use for his words in 1865. Aside from the standard Christmas scenes of shepherds, angels and donkeys Dix also jolts the senses. “Swords, nails shall pierce him through the cross be borne for me and you” Swords? Nails? Crosses? Where's my baby Jesus who doesn't cry? No wonder we rarely see these words in our modern hymnals. It runs against the “peace on earth and good will toward men” sterilized Christmas. Crucifixion, at least in my book, does not fall into the peace and good will category.
But of course it does speak to the heart of the issue and the real reason Jesus was born in the first place. He was born to die. Swords, nails, crosses, the whole deal. The Lamb who was slain from the foundation of the world. Brought to trial on lies and trumped up charges. Betrayed by one who claimed to love him. Executed as public spectacle. Only to rise 3 days later. All for us. There is no melody sweeter. Hail Hail the word made flesh the babe the son of Mary.

~Tom Bates

Christmas Devotional - Day 1

*My husband was in charge of leading the faculty and staff's morning devotions last week, and appropriately he chose a different Christmas hymn for each day. If you aren't familiar with the lyrics they can be found at cyberhymnal.org. I couldn't make it through one of them without tearing up. He's such a gifted teacher and I'll think you'll see why....*

O' Little Town of Bethlehem

I grow more convinced that much of our view of the events surrounding Christmas come not from Scripture, but from the hymns. “O' little town of Bethlehem how still we see thee lie above thy deep and dreamless streets the silent stars go by." Still? Dreamless maybe, but not still. This was census time. The streets were probably full of late arrivals, who, like Mary and Joseph were looking for a place to spend the night. Doors were being knocked on, windows shouted to, people and animals moved through the streets.
The night was anything but peaceful and silent for Mary and Joseph. Childbirth never is. Assuming of course that Jesus, in the words of Harry Chaplin “came into the world in the usual way.” No, there was pain, fear, and ultimately cries limitless joy. There was also all the smells and discomforts that came with spending the night, and giving birth in a stable.
The shepherds, who no doubt were hoping for a quiet night free from predators and wandering sheep, were the ones who had their world really shaken. Angels, lights, and heavenly hosts proclaiming messianic births were definitely not on the evenings agenda, but then miraculous doings rarely are.
I think our images of a tranquil evening in a sleepy little town have more to do with the promise of “peace on earth, Good will to men” than is does with Bethlehem being quiet that night. Even more so it has to do with the peace that comes not from Jesus being born in Bethlehem, but with us being born again in Him. When God imparts to Human hearts the wonders of His heaven. It is the peace of a life in Christ that brings to mind those tranquil feelings and images more so than the reality of a still, quiet Bethlehem.

~Tom Bates

A Little Help Eating My Breakfast

Decorations & A Christmas Parade

This is first year ever that I didn't decorate the Saturday after Thanksgiving. I don't know if I just wasn't a Christmasy mood or if I was just procrastinating because we happen to have one active and curious little boy. So.....I finally got around to it last week. I figured I'd do everything but the tree, see how Tennyson does, and amazingly enough he's been very good. Tom and I just love seeing his little face light up when we turn on the lights. He just gets so excited! So I guess we're off to get a tree tomorrow.

The village my parents bought me some years ago

Isn't Tennyson's little stocking adorable?

Tennyson's playing with the lights

I'm sure he was untangling them for me.

At the Christmas parade last Friday (12.5)

The Blue Ridge Christian School float took 2nd place in the Religious category

A reindeer on a motorcycle

The nice lady who offered to take our picture couldn't work the fancy camera. Oh well, at least we have it for memory's sake.

This is pretty much how Tennyson's face looked the entire time. I just wondered what he thought of it all?
The JMU Color Guard

And so it begins.....again

*A few posts ago I mentioned that there was "talk" of expanding our family, but....well... it was more than talk. After some more thought I decided to blog about our fertility issues for those of you that are willing to pray for us.*

Today marks Day One of our possibly long journey to get pregnant again. We've been trying for months, with no luck. It's been a little disappointing, but no where near what I was feeling when we were trying with Tennyson. The fact, that we have our dear, sweet, little boy makes this second "attempt" so much easier. Who has time to be stressed or depressed while chasing him around?!?!

So here's the monthly routine: I take medroxyprogesterone for 10 days, on day 21 I go to my doctor's office to get blood drawn, if/when I get my period I take clomiphene (clomid) from days 5-9. If I don't get my period by day 32 and the test is negative we have to reevaluate the dosages and begin again the next month. This is what we did before to get pregnant, and let me tell you, it was a loooonnnggg six months.

I realize that probably 90% of my friends have no idea what it's like have trouble getting pregnant, and for that they should be thankful. For those of you that can relate to fertility issues, I hope you find comfort in knowing you have options and you are not alone.

Thanks in advance to anyone who is willing to pray for Tom and I as we begin this challenging journey once again. What a longed for and cherished baby he or she will be.