If I Were a Christmas Letter…

The time of year has arrived when I just LOVE to check the mail box every afternoon!  SOMETHING finally out numbers the bills and the unsolicited advertisements and random coupon fliers stuffing the mailbox on our front porch.  CARDS!  Real, signed, personal (and some not so personal) greeting cards!  How humbling to think that someone thought of me and my family – even for just a moment as they addressed the envelope – with love! We got our first card on Tuesday of this week, and have gotten a couple more each day.  My kids fight over who gets to check the mail, and if the envelope says “The Weavers” or “The Weaver Family” there is a mad scramble for who gets to open it!  Just another Christmas tradition that I absolutely LOVE!

*edited to add: This is my personal opinion and is not meant to bash anyone who loves or writes Christmas Letters. No throwing of flames needed.  :) *

But, inevitably, some of those cards come with the notorious “Christmas Letter.”  You know the one – the letter that touts the fabulously amazing accomplishments of the kids and tells of gloriously wonderful trips to exotic and magnificent locales – WITH PICTURES.  Tales of laureled accomplishments in the workplace and domestic bliss in the home.  I get it!  We all loved to tell our story and to brag of our endeavors – it is human nature.  And I love stories!  I just get the feeling with these types of letters that somehow, I’m not doing it right.  I don’t have a laundry list of marvelous events and spectacular triumphs to share with my Christmas Card List. Don't get me wrong - I LOVE my life and I love the time I spend with my family and the fun things we do - it's just not Christmas Card worthy, in my opinion.

My letter – if written in that vein - might tell about my kids meeting all attendance requirements at school because we finally had a “well” year!  It might tell about the trip to the City to go to Sam’s AND Target – ON THE SAME TRIP! LOL! It might mention dance, or baseball, or volleyball – but there’s no trophies or ribbons or medals. Nobody wants to read that.  And besides – isn’t that what Facebook is for? ;)

So, the Christmas letter is basically a chance to pick out and emphasize the BEST things that happened over the past year.  You see that?  The BEST things… Not the daily things.  Not the less than stellar things. Not the hurtful, sad, trying things.   During a message one time about social media, my Pastor Craig Groeschel said “We're comparing our behind the scenes with their highlight reels.”  YES!  That’s exactly it!  (He has actually said that in a few different references, but this one stood out to me.) That’s why Christmas letters make me sad.  That's why there are no Christmas letters from the Weavers.  Not like that, anyway. You get a fun card, with a picture of my family, and a message about the true Reason for this season. Merry Christmas!

But you know where we are all the same? And our “Christmas Letters” don’t matter? At the Foot of the Cross.  We all know the Christmas Story - the "Highlight Reel," but have you thought about the details? The "behind the scenes?" Instead of a highlight reel of the things the members of my family have done this past calendar year – which would surly bore you to sleep – I am going to write you THIS behind the scenes Christmas letter…

Dear Friends,

As the year 2014 comes to a close, I want to tell you about the only Christmas that really mattered.  The one that changed eternity.  The one that happened over 2000 years ago.  To a young girl, and her fiancé – who both had faith above all things to carry out an incredible mission. This is their Christmas letter...

Mary had grown up in the same village as Joseph who was several years older than she was. Perhaps they had admired one another from a distance ... perhaps Joseph had just been waiting for the darling Mary to grow up!

Mary was in the house one afternoon, maybe working on her wedding attire, or sewing towels for her new home when she sensed someone in the room with her. Conceivably, Mary looked around to see if anyone had joined her.

“And coming in, Gabriel said to her, Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” ... 

Joseph and Mary’s love story had been horribly and inexplicably interrupted. Mary is pregnant and Joseph knows that he is not the father. Joseph surely must have wondered if Mary had been violated, although she was quietly insistent that the child in her womb had been placed there by the Holy Spirit.

Did Joseph wonder if Mary was delusional? How else is it possible to explain this catastrophic turn of events? What was once lovely is now tinged with ugly. What was once anticipated is now dreaded.

Joseph apparently did not believe Mary’s story because his plan was to put her away privately. This was the kindest and most loving choice for a young man found in the throes of betrayal. He could have allowed her to be stoned before the baby was born. Or, after giving birth, he could have allowed both her and the baby to be stoned. Sending her away never to be heard from again was the ultimate loving sacrifice on Joseph’s part.

It is impossible to even imagine Joseph’s disappointment with God and with the person whom he had loved most in the world. Mary had been his world and now he would never see her again. Did Joseph believe that the girl of his dreams had given her virginity to another man?

Joseph did not deserve this betrayal or this heartbreak. What he “deserved” was a wedding day filled with joy and the promise of young love.

Now, perhaps, Joseph’s reputation had been sullied on the streets of Nazareth and his boyhood friends were snickering behind his back.

Joseph had to face Mary’s parents and his own parents. Although he bore no guilt there was still the possibility that they would not believe him. There was no holiday frivolity for this disappointed, heartbroken young man.

Christmas, for Mary, was the challenge of understanding what the favor of God is truly all about. Mary was about to learn that being highly favored by God does not mean a life of unbroken happiness nor does it promise that all of your dreams will come true. There is a tremendous price to be paid by those who are highly favored by God; favor means, simply, that God is willing to use you.

Christmas, for Mary, was about discovering the intimacy of the Lord’s presence as never before. Mary was about to be confronted with the reality that favor happens when God places a piece of Himself into an earthly life. No longer was God a mere concept or a Divine Being who never engaged Himself in the affairs of everyday life. Because of Gabriel’s message, the presence of God Himself had invaded the life of this young girl who, prior to this moment, had nothing but Joseph on her mind.

Christmas, for Mary, was about understanding that God’s ways are so much higher than our ways. Mary was learning, like all of us must, that when Divinity invades humanity ... Divinity always wins! Christmas is a reminder that His ways are always higher and better than anything that we could ever think or imagine.

Christmas is about the Holy Spirit bringing peace and joy through a Baby Boy to the mess that we have made of planet earth. It is about the power of heaven’s reality invading one life. Christmas commences the moment a person realizes the longing that has always existed to be overshadowed by all that He is and all that He does!

Christmas has nothing to do with dancing elves, reindeer with red noses and snowmen who sing. Christmas is about an invasion! Christmas happens at the moment when heaven’s light invades the darkness of planet earth! Christmas is a time when we should all expect heaven’s entrance into our dusty, dirty worlds. Christmas is a time that reminds us all that miracles really do happen, prayers are actually answered and that heaven is just one response away. God absolutely hears your prayers. He is listening intently to your requests and loves it when a believer comes to Him boldly and unashamedly. Ask and keep on asking, seek and keep right on seeking, knock and keep on knocking! (Matthew 7:7) 

Claiming His Promises,
Betsey

(All excerpts from the YouVersion reading plan "Joy! to Your World! A Countdown to Christmas" written by Carol McLeod if Just Joy Ministries

This is one Christmas letter I am glad that was written. Can you feel the hope in this?  The Promise! He will bring us GOODNESS and LIGHT!  This is what I love about Christmas and this season of the year.  I love the pomp and circumstance, the decorations, cards, food and festivities!  I love the lights and trees and BLING!  But most importantly, and definitely above all, I love the Gift of Jesus, my Savior!  To God be the Glory. Amen. 

One Year, One Word, One Verse

As the new year approached, the talk of new year’s resolutions came up – as it always does.  My older kids seemed especially enamored of the hope and excitement that these goals can bring.  I was asked numerous times on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day what my resolutions were.  At first I just brushed them off with “I don’t know.”  Then I moved on to “I haven’t made any yet” and “I haven’t really thought about it.”  All the while I am thinking, “I can never stick to them so why bother.”

But on New Year’s Day I was reminded of something I did last year, somewhat passively and without a lot of follow through (Imagine that!).  I read this blog post from youversion and remembered choosing a word and a verse last year, but I couldn't remember what either of them were.  So you see, I hadn't put a whole lot into it. (It was “delight,” BTW…)

But this year was going to be different.  Forget resolutions.  And even the less stressful word “goal setting.”  I was going to pray, listen for God’s response, and choose one word, one verse to focus on for the year.  To get me started, I searched #verse2014 on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.  I read what people had written, thought about their words, their verses, and prayed for mine.  But, it was New Year ’s Day.  I have four kids.  HGTV had the Tournament of Roses Parade on commercial free! How quickly my focus changed…

Until I was utterly inspired by a commercial I saw!  Not as powerful as the Dodge Ram Trucks  “Thank a Farmer” spot from last year’s Super Bowl, but a great way to start the year nevertheless!  I saw a commercial for the search engine from Microsoft, BING.  With the Sarah Bareilles song “Brave” in the background, here is what I saw:

I believe God can speak to us in many different ways. Sometimes, it is through music and TV commercials.  I left like I had been hit upon the side of my head.  I want to be brave!  I may be a lot of things – loud, opinionated, boisterous – but brave is not a word I would use to describe myself.  I tend towards the non-confrontational, especially with people I don’t know as the outcome may not work out the way I want it to.  I keep things inside just to keep peace.  I don’t go out on many limbs, figuring the safe and known are way better than the scary and unknown.  But this year, I want to be brave!

I prayed, watched the video 10 more times, and downloaded the song.  Set it as my ringtone, even!  Then, I searched for the word “brave” in the Bible.  It’s in there!  About 20 times – depending on the translation. I started reading through the verses, and a lot of them had to do with battle.  While I liked that sentiment, it was exactly what I was looking for to go with the mood of my word and the inspiration I had received.  But then I read this one:

“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.”

Yes!  That was it!  EXACTLY!  THAT is how I want 2014 to be!  THAT is my #verse2014.  1 Corinthians 16:13 NJKV.  The version matters here because it uses the word BRAVE.  That’s my word!  That’s my charge for 2014.

So, I do the thing I know I am comfortable with, and I got creative.  I made this Flipagram and immediately posted it to my social media accounts.  I made a cover photo for Facebook and a new profile picture.  I want to be reminded of it daily so I can be BRAVE!  I was to see it so I don’t forget that it’s what God wants for me!  Sarah B says she wants to see me be brave!  I want to see me be brave!

As I see other people share their word or their verse I think about how their word might work for me.  I see several that are about listening, or being still, or love.  I see ones that seem to be about correcting an action or an attitude.  I see ones that are simply inspirational.  And it makes me love mine even more.  I see mine as a call to action.  A charge.  A defining moment for my life.  Will you help me?  Will you push me to be brave?  Will you show me when I need to be brave?

Britt chose a word, too.  His word is trust.  And his verse is Proverbs 11:28.  He shared it with me in several translations: 

Trust in your money and down you go! But the godly flourish like leaves in spring. New Living Translation
He who trusts in his riches will wither but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf. Revised Standard Version
He that trusteth in his riches shall fall : but the righteous shall flourish as a branch. King James Version
Whoso is confident in his wealth he falleth, And as a leaf, the righteous flourish. Young’s Literal Translation
A life devoted to things is a dead life, a stump; a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree. The Message
Those who depend on their wealth will fall like the leaves of autumn, but the righteous will prosper like the leaves of summer. Good News Translation 

I loved what our pastor, Craig Groeschel, said about the word God has for you.  It might not be what you thought it was.  He said his was Rest.  He said he doesn’t want to rest!  He wanted it to be something like conquer, or some other strong word.  Really, ANY word but rest!  Britt said he wanted his to be warrior!  But God gave him trust.  I thought mine would be something softer, like pray, or believe.  God gave me BRAVE.

So, what about you?  Do you have a word for 2014?  What is it?  We would love to hear about it!  And we would love to pray for you and help you live out your word for 2014. Share it with us!

Survival.

DreamWeaverPrints

I have been writing this post for 2 days.  I can’t seem to find the right words.  We have been in “survival mode” around here for a couple of weeks.  Mainly due to birthday/end of school/church/dance/t-ball/other activities, compounded by the fact that we are still not 100% settled in to the new digs, and just the day to day life of being a large family.  I really want to come out of survival mode.  I want the last few boxes unpacked (we're at the point where daily we don't miss the stuff that's not unpacked, but when you go to look for something specific - like envelopes - they're still packed).  I want the kids immersed in their summer.  I want Finn to go to bed on his own and sleep all night (another post all in itself), and I want the DVR at less than 60%.  But after this horrific week in Oklahoma, none of that matters.  At all.  We are so blessed – BEYOND MEASURE – by the fact that we have a home, warm beds, and all our comforts around us.  So many don’t.

The loss is unimaginable.  Not only of homes, businesses, cars, and physical “stuff,” but of lives, memories, dreams and plans.  Their entire lives turned upside down in a matter of moments.  Torn, literally, to shreds.  As I watched the news and weather coverage on Monday afternoon via the internet from my office 70 miles to the north, I knew this was a bad one.  One like we hadn’t seen in a long time.  We were pretty sure it wouldn’t come this far north, but soon after The Big One “roped out” after destroying Moore, I had Nana the Wonder Sitter go check the Big Dream Weaver kids out of school.  To get them home to our house where we have a basement.  Since apparently, underground was the one way to survive this atrocity.  Luckily, it never got much beyond rain here where we are.  

I was glued to the TV/internet for the next 24 hours.  I literally woke up the next morning in my bed with tears in my eyes.  Those poor families.  Entire neighborhoods.  Communities.  SCHOOLS! Wiped away as if they were tinker toys in a child’s playroom.  And it’s not just Moore on Monday.  But Carney, Shawnee and others on Sunday.  There are smaller communities on the front end of this monster from Monday like Newcastle.  SO MUCH DESTRUCTION for this crazy spring weather.  I know we are PROUD to be Oklahomans and we are STRONG and we rise together when times are tough.  We will pull up by our boot straps and REBUILD.  And I know, “This ain’t our first rodeo.”  But it still hurts.  Shakes us to the core.  Overwhelms the senses.

The out pouring of love and support on EVERY level has been outstanding.  There are so many relief items being donated that they are trying to find places to house it all.  They ask for 1,000 volunteers in a particular location to make something happen, and 2,000 show up.  The list of celebrity and large corporation donations grows hourly.  Local businesses are providing services such as funerals, food, reduced price or free rentals for housing.  EVERYONE is offering money, food, water, Gatorade, plastic bins, gloves, shovels, man power to get to the victims who need it most.  THIS is what it is to be Oklahoman.  This huge outpouring of love and comfort is why I am proud to be born and raised here.  In the homeland.  Where, even if your home is blown away by an EF5 tornado, you still call the land we belong to GRAND!

Here are a couple of things that have really touched me over the last few days that I wanted to share.  A video or two, a photo comparison, and some essays.  And a link to some free images you can use for your facebook/twitter/instagram/whatever to show your support and love for our great state.

Rally Moore Oklahoma- answers WHY we live here

(even if it is “Tornado Alley”)

  Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert "Over You" - The Voice



Moore tornado: A personal note from Damon Lane
What was I thinking?

'This Will Probably Come to Define Us'

Interactive: Moore tornado before and after images

Dream Weaver Prints FREEBIES – images you can use and share.

WE ARE OKLAHOMA!
It takes more than wind to break our stride…

Found on Facebook

Friday – in tweets!

It’s been one of THOSE weeks.  So busy, so crazy, so tiring.  I am going to recap our progress, successes, failures, and regressions in 140 characters or less in each statement.  Twitter style.  I hope you like it!

*Went on a field trip to the Oklahoma Aquarium with Jake's kindergarten class.  Wild & crazy as expected! Jake was afraid of the shark tube.

*Lara's 4th & 5th grade choir gave a spring concert. It was in preparation for TriState. The choir sang 3 songs and each solo/duet/trio sang.

*Lara finished up her leaps and turns dance class in preparation for try outs!

*Emma's Greyhound volleyball team is 10-2 for the season.  Tournament play starts this weekend, but she will miss it and is mad.

*My nephew Peter got married to the most AMAZING girl, Nicole.  It was a beautiful outdoor wedding & we were so glad we got to be there!

*We moved. Into a different house. Across town. 6 people. 5 beds. 2 couches, 2 futons, 4 recliners & a ton of CRAP. WE'RE NEVER MOVING AGAIN!

* Jake's Greyhound T-ball team had their season opener. "They" don't keep score.  "We" do.  They did great! Jake is an excellent first baseman

* Finn's crib converted to a toddler bed in the new house. 4 nights ago. He's doing great - only got lost and ended up in Jake's room once.

* Lara's school choir competed at TriState Music Festival in Enid. Her choir got a "II."  HER TRIO GOT A "I" and were THRILLED!  So proud.

* Emma's double dutch (jump rope) squad is touring the local schools today.  She is SO GOOD! Catches a basketball and dribbles while jumping!

* Team Mercy Miracles Marches for Babies in OKC tomorrow.  As of this writing, Finn is $24 short of his goal. Click the banner to donate.

* Finn and his siblings are super excited for the March for Babies tomorrow!  We have our banner ready!

* 8:00 in the morning we will gather at the Myriad Gardens in OKC with Mercy Miracles and the March of Dimes to MARCH FOR BABIES! Come see us!

* Who doesn't love babies?  Help make happy endings for Moms & Babies by donating to March of Dimes - $24 to go! marchforbabies.org/finnweaversays

* So thankful that @FinnWeaverSays is a Mercy Miracle!  We're marching with them tomorrow in OKC! @marchofdimes @MarchForBabies 

*$24 to go for Finn's goal with Team Mercy Miracles. That's 6 people with $4 each! Donate here: marchforbabies.org/finnweaversays & march w/us tomorrow!

SEE YOU TOMORROW!

Guest Blogger: One and a Half

Hello!  It’s Finn.  I took over Mommy’s blog and I’m here to tell you all about me today – since it is my half birthday!  I am 18 months old TODAY!  I have 10 teeth (4 on top, 6 on bottom) with 2 more (top) on the way.  I weigh just about 20 pounds, and I am 30 inches tall.  I am walking ALL OVER the place – mastered that about a week ago.  I still don’t have any “words,” but I love to babble and tell stories!  I like to point, shake my head, and count other people’s teeth.  I can clap – I’ve done it like 5 times in my whole life.  I think that’s enough.  I always wake up happy and smiley and ready to play – even if the light is too bright in my room to really open my eyes very wide!  I think it’s funny to shake my head back and forth, and I still can crawl like greased lighting to get away from you!  I like o wave, too.  Not at any predictable time, and usually at nothing in particular, but I do it!  Daddy says it is a "dainty" wave.  What does that mean?  I like to watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Sofia the First as well as Jake and the Neverland Pirates on Disney Channel.  My favorite foods are whatever everyone else is eating!  I love pudding, Puffs snacks, and milk.  And Squeezy Food!  That’s what Mom and Dad call the purees in the pouches that are made for toddlers.  I drink out of a sippy cup, but only if it has a soft spout.  Mommy tires to trick me with those ones with the hard spout, but I just throw them back at her.  I love to climb on anything and everything – my climbing toy, fireplace hearth, couch, bed, chairs, things I shouldn’t – and I am even getting good at getting myself out of sticky situations!  I love being in a big family – Jake is the best big brother I could ever ask for, and Emma and Lara are great babysitters – most of the time.

Here are a few pictures of me on my Half Birthday – ALWAYS on the move!  Mommy says that is why I am so skinny!

For my Half Birthday, I would like to ask my friends to help me make my fundraising goal for the March of Dimes Oklahoma City March for Babies.  I am marching with the Mercy Miracles team, and I have set a fundraising goal of $126.00.  The march is on May 4, so I have about a month to reach my goal!  (Along with my parents and siblings, I am still serving as the Ambassador Family for the Stillwater March for Babies in September, but I wanted to be a part of this team as well.)  I am a Mercy Miracle, having graduated from the 12 week NICU course in 2011.  I am so grateful for the nurses, practitioners, doctors, therapists and other staff that made my visit bearable and taught my parents how to be preemie parents.  They, along with the research funded by the March of Dimes, saved my life.  I would not be here today if not for ALL of them, and I want to show my support. 

So, here’s my ½ birthday WISH LIST:

• 1 person to donate $126.00
• 2 people to donate $63.00 each
• 3 people to donate $42.00 each
• 4 people to donate $31.50 each
• 6 people to donate $21.00 each
• 8 people to donate $15.75 each
• 12 people to donate $10.50 each

Click on my MERCY MIRACLES FINN WEAVER SAYS page to make your donation!  And you can join the Facebook event as well.  We would love to see you on the 4^th at Myriad Gardens in Oklahoma City and have you March for Babies with us!  Be sure and let me Mommy know if you have ANY questions - and keep watching "The Early Adventures of Finn" Facebook and my Twitter for more updates!  Let's CRUSH this!