Merry Christmas

It is this time of year that I think will always be the time that sticks out in mind from my childhood. My siblings and I saw much more than most kids our age did when we grow up. But this time of year always seemed to be the time of quietness and unselfishness. I think about this and think that there are tons of kids out there right now who suffer and are lonely and may never know that our Christ is the reason we live. I long for the time when my kids who are small will desire and grow to love our Jesus. I think about my family and how much my siblings and I love each other and how this year I won't celebrate Christmas with them. How I will miss my whole family and how I will desire to be with them, but I am so excited to teach and show Lydia and Seth that Christmas is about so much more than just gifts, but it is about the Savior who came as a baby to suffer the consequence that we fully deserve but that Christ was the biggest gift we could have ever gotten. I am hoping that they will love and desire to know about our Christ of Christmas. I also desire that they will desire to keep the relationship they have with each other. I know siblings fight , but I also know that my siblings are the best. I love you guys so much and I am sad to miss Christmas with you but I just want to say that I could never ask for better siblings than you. I am also thankful for my siblings that I have slowly gained over the past few years. Who knew that I would get my wish to be a big sister, you guys are amazing. Dad and mom I look forward to the time when we will be together again, because with out you guys I couldn't have all of my amazing siblings and I wouldn't have the knowledge I have if it weren't for you, that goes for both sets of my parents. I am super excited for starting our own traditions here with my awesome hubby and sharing it with our amazing kids. Merry Christmas from the Leinewebers!!

Christmas is upon us

I feel like the second half of this year has flown by. This past week Nana (aka Joels mom) came in town for a few days. We sure were a busy crew. Friday night we went to the opening night of Christmas town at the creation museum. Saturday I had a meeting in the morning and then our friends Josh and Laura got married in the evening, I will just make a side note here, if you are buying stuff on clearance make sure it fits before you leave the store. I bought Lydia some tights from there Saturday morning that said they were for 2 to 4 year olds and since she already is small I figured this was great, until I opened it and turns out they were for 4 to 6 year olds. So I had to make a trip out again right before the wedding to find tights that fit her. Ok moving on Sunday was our easy day then we had our Christmas party for Joels work. We road the fairy across the Ohio river and that was lydias favorite part although the rest of us were anticipating how many ways we could die riding on the fairy a very funny conversation if you ask me, Lydia even got to help Nana make Christmas cookies. Now that nana is gone Lydia asks every day if we can go to Nanas house for morrow which is Lydia talk for tomorrow. So I have to continue to explain that we can't just drive to her house in one day like we could to her friends house. But we are looking forward to going and visiting them at the end of the month. Seth has decided to help learn what discipline really looks like, he is very strong willed and a big trouble maker, but he can and is the sweetes little guy. He runs around the house yelling Daddy and pointing as if he sees Joel all through out the house. He gives random hugs and kisses and boy does he love his sister. I hope they always have a close bond.

In a nut shell

It has been a very long time since I have blogged so this might be a long one, but here it is. We had what felt like a long fall. Between sickness and other things going on we stayed cooped up in our house for awhile. But we have all been well for awhile so that is such a blessing from God. In October I excepted a position in our church as a nursery coordinator and the great thing is I do most of it from home. So that is a fun new exciting but mostly growing experience. Seth has his 15 month checkup and he was is little just like Lydia was and is. He has finally gotten his 4 front teeth in and one back molar but it looks like more are on their way. Lydia continues to develop vocabulary and I have been homeschooling her now for about 3 months. I hadn't used any curriculum but just little lessons plans I have put together here and there. I am looking at starting her curriculum the beginning of January because I feel like she would do well with it, but she has developed her numbers, some of her alphabet, colors, and shapes. She looks forward to the time we (her and mommy) get to spend time together. Seth and Lydia both love to read so we spend a good portion of our day reading it is amazing. Joel still remains busy at work and I am continually thankful for his job that he can enjoy. This Thanksgiving I was able to host and cook. My parents and my Aunt and Uncle came down on their 4 week journey through some of the states to see various children of theirs. I learned how to cook a big turkey and things to and not to do. I made pies and even stuffing which turned out was pretty good but over all it was neat to spend that time with my family. We started some new traditions in our house. We went and picked out our Christmas tree and even put up decorations outside. I tried my hand at some decorations for Christmas outside with the help of my amazing little girl. So now we look forward to Christmas to celebrate Christ and what He has done on the cross and to teach our kiddos what the true meaning of Christmas is. Hopefully I won't go months again without blogging.

Fall season

Well our fall season hasn't started off the best way, but we are spending some family time together confined to our home, except for our small trip to church this morning. Just a little disclaimer those of you who knew we were all sick we all aren't contagious anymore do to strong anti biotics that we all have been on. But as of this afternoon I am able to breathe the best I have breathed in over a month and Joel doesn't sound like base tenor anymore. But onto why I am posting. Last year I tried a butternut squash pie for the first time and it was amazing. So I have a renewed vigor to bake and maybe even try a chili with butternut squash in it. But I am at a loss. I love fall season and how it forces you sometimes to stay in more, so I am looking for some recipes. Melissa, I know that you bake and cook a lot so I am looking forward to some of your recipes. If any one else out there has a fall recipe to share I would love to try to make it, I also like how some of you make you recipes and change them up a bit. Maybe I will take some pictures and blog about all the recipes I want to try. All this once I don't feel like I am drowning on my own fluid anymore. Thanks for the recipes a head of time.

What God is teaching me

Where to begin. This month sure has had it's down for us. First starting with my parents. Please pray for them, they need Christ more now than ever as the new casting crowns song says. We went to visit them and saw God work even in the smallest of things. On our way back home about fours from home our amazing neighbors called us to tell us that there was water running out of our garage. Sigh, turns out the cold water line to our washer busted while we were gone. But our amazing neighbors called the water company and they turned off our water. So we have been steadily trying to get it fixed and finding out that only God truly knows what you need and when you need it. But let's back up about a month ago and Bam Joel breaks his nose playing ultimate frisbee (google that if you don't know what it is). So while we are in the midst of our basement saga, the amazing Dr tells us Joel needs to have some surgery to help him breath again. So now Joel has his surgery and God uses our awesome Dr to almost fully correct Joels nose. But once again God took care of me by bringing Joels parents here to help me help Joel recover. Mom and dad Leineweber you will never know how much I appreciate you and am thankful for you. So now that Joel is almost two weeks recovered from his surgery and his parents have gone home to Virginia and as we face new trials in our lives God still remains faithful even Down to something as small as the water company not charging us for the water that poured out of our basement. So as I titled this I thought about the new lessons God has taught me. One, He brings trials in our lives when He needs to teach me something and He through these trials shows me just how faithful he is when we rely on him, because I definitely needed His strength although I tried to use my own. Two, is that through theses trials we can witness to our amazing neighbors who watched out for us in our time of need. Three, God will continue to provide for you even in the worst of times. So thank you Lord for trials and thank you for protecting me through them

Happy birthday Rick Leineweber

Tomorrow we celebrate a lot of things. But I want to say Happy Birthday to my awesome father in law. I am so thankful for you and you and moms amzing example to us about what a marriage looks like. I am looking forward to the rest of time I can get to know you.

Betsy Leineweber

I just wanted to say Happy Birthday Betsy Leineweber. Her birthday was the 13th of August but I have been feeling a little overwhelmed by stuff. I just wanted to say thank you Mom for being such An amazing mother In law. You inspire me with so many things and I am so thankful to have you in my life. Thank you for celebrating your birthday with us. We love you.