Christmas Pictures

Here are the remaining pictures of our new knight and the kids in front of the altar on Christmas Eve.

Presents Discovered "Just what I always wanted"

ELIAS as Santa Claus in his Christmas program.



Later in the afternoon, the kids attempted opening things that were under the tree. Adam's and my thinking was that we'd buy the kids 3 presents in keeping what the wisemen brought to Jesus--and to help us think carefully about what we wanted to buy. I bought them matching Hanna Anderssen outfits for Christmas Eve, Adam bought them some beautiful picture books, and then each kid got a toy. I bought a knight suit for Elias, which he hasn't taken off, except to pee and sleep. I bought Adelaide some outfits for her Madeline dolls--including a soccer uniform. Then there were presents from aunts and uncles, cousins, grandparents, godparents, and ...
It was a bit overwhelming. Adelaide finally go the gist and began to just tear packages open and move on to the next thing. I just got stuff put away today and have made a pile of things that the kids don't play with enough to go to the Goodwill. It seems kind of sad to swap in and out every year, but as the kids get older their interests change. Elias asked for more train tracks and when he opened them from Bibi he said, "Just what I always wanted at Christmas. " It was pretty sweet. That would be the spirit to keep up. Next year, Adam and I have decided to bag the presents and put money in their newly opened college funds and stick to the stockings!

Christmas Day in the morning

Unfortunately, I didn't make it out of my pj's on Christmas Day. The bug that had been after me had truly hit. But, I made it downstairs to do stockings. Elias was immediately taken with the Pez and the gold coins in his stocking. Addie didn't really know what to make of her stocking. The grown-ups kept making comments about where Santa Ct and Santa Pa had gotten this or that, and then Elias clued in. It is kind of strange because we don't say much about Santa Claus. (I hate the whole naughty and nice stuff and the idea that only kids with money are deserving of presents.) But , having said that, it's always fun to pretend. So, we talk about St. Nicholas and how he helped the poor and now how people like to dress-up like he did. Hence, Santa Claus. Then there is popular culture: Elias was chosen to be Santa Claus for his school play and certainly that is what most people talk about. So, we don't want to spoil the kids' fun. I just don't want them to some day think Santa and Jesus are the same thing and then wonder which one is made-up--and which is not.
Back to stockings...we opened them and then the kids got to pick one present before daddy went off to work. It was quite novel because they played happily with the school bus and the alligator puzzle for hours. They didn't even realize that there were more presents to open even though they were sitting there under the tree! I climbed back into bed and my mom entertained the kids for a while. Needless to say, with one parent down for the count and the other up until 2am the night before having preached three times, dinner just didn't happen. We ended up munching on meatballs and tiramisu for dessert, instead of the roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, glazed carrots, and trifle that was planned.

Bibi arrives

On the 23rd, Bibi arrived and the kids had time to do some projects. Elias has very poor fine motor skills, so he and Bibi worked on making a pomander ball. He had to poke a clove one by one into the orange until it was thoroughly decorated and smelling good. Then both he and Addie put their heads together to build a gingerbread house. Per her usual, Adelaide stuck candy in her pockets, instead of on the house. They capped off their creative activities by building a scene from Bethlehem with the nativity dolls. Elias brought down his blocks to create a fortress so that the beast wouldn't knock it over. Didn't work, but she got to have some time in the "time-out" chair.

Sunday Night Live--From Christ Church

Believe me, I was very well-behaved. I did not have to trip or trample anyone to get a few shots of the kids. This was a really low-key pageant with the little ones as actors and the older ones as narrators.

My angel and shepherd

Here's the dynamic duo!

Pageant Preparation

Adelaide has a bevy of girls who just adore her. Yesterday they got her dressed and took her to the bathroom. They then fed her dinner at the potluck and played with her. Moving to Media has been a good deal for her!

Mary's Magnificat

I didn't get to start my new job this morning because my babysitter could not make it here. Instead, I preached at Christ Church, to a small, but hearty congregation.



We are told that Advent is about preparation.
We are told that Advent is about getting ready.
We are even told that Advent is about repentance--that is turning around.
But, today we are reminded that Advent isn't only about a smelly manger or humble shepherds following a bright star.
No, Advent is about saying yes to the joy of God.

You see, we have all the other Sundays of Advent to focus on such wily characters as John the Baptist.
We have all the other Sundays to listen to the prophet Isaiah foretell the birth of Emmanuel, God with us.
We have those three other Sundays to light our Advent candles.
But, today is Mary's day, Mary's story, Mary's song.
Today is a magnificent rendering of a young, poor, humble woman who had the courage, strength, and bravery to say yes to the joy of God.
Today, Mary's Advent "yes" changes the world.
Strangely simple.
One woman's Advent "yes' brings joy to the whole world.

Now, imagine with me, Mary in the early stages of a 1st century pregnancy.
There are no quick read pregnancy tests.
There are no foul tasting prenatal vitamins.
There are no midwife appointments to keep.
Instead, Mary wakes up wondering why the porridge she ate yesterday morning suddenly makes her want to gag.
She can't understand the foul taste in her mouth or why three hours after waking up she feels like she needs a short nap.
But then, oh then, an angel appears to her and says, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God."
And then all becomes clear--at least as clear as something like this can be made clear.
A virgin. A pregnancy. An unwed mother-to-be.
A long journey to come.
And the news that she is carrying the Messiah of the world.
Clear is a funny word in Mary's case.

But, this is where we encounter Mary today.
We encounter her in the joy of saying yes to God.
You see, soon after she learns of her pregnancy she learns that her older cousin, who has been unable to have kids, is now pregnant.
She rejoices in this good news and is excited to have a close family member in the same boat.
Especially an older, wiser woman who is farther along than she.
You can imagine the questions:
Does the upset stomach ever get better?
How tight are these robes going to get anyway?
Do you have funny looking veins, too?
Luke's gospel narrative tells us that the joy is so evident in the meeting of these two women that the baby in Elizabeth's womb leaps for joy upon hearing Mary's voice.
Joy in the womb and joy outside of the womb.
Joy abounds.

I have a confession to make.
Since you've never met me, you have no idea what I normally look like.
But, I must say that liturgical vestments are quite forgiving on coffee-hour donuts and pregnancies.
Now Mary's pregnancy and mine are remarkably different.
I'm not a virgin. or poor. or as humble as i should be.
I'm married.
I've got two other kids.
And pregnancy nausea is the bane of my existence.
I guess I'm sort of brave to be welcoming a third child, though.
But, what we do share is this inner joy.
Despite the fact that when they were trying to hand out free journals at my Ob's office, I joked, "This is my third, there will be no journaling here."
There is still joy and wonder.
Wonder about the baby's hair--blond like its brother or brown like its sister.
Temperament? calm like its sister or off the wall busy like its brother?
But, unlike Mary and her Magnificat, I'm afraid a lot of my joy and wonder has been focused inward on my baby, or maybe even our baby, but not all of God's babies.

In this modern era, baby showers have become pretty big deals.
You can walk into a store like Target or Babies R us and then get handed this laser gun.
You then proceed to check everything you think your new baby will need.
And, believe me, the corporations try to make you believe that even the wipes that you use on your baby's bottom need to be warmed.
Nothing but the best for your baby, right?
You may spend long hours debating cloth or disposable diapers.
Shall I breastfeed or bottlefeed?
Should we use pacifiers or not?
Of course, pregnancy creates a somewhat inward focus, but sometimes it can get out of hand.

But, in Mary's case, there is a stark contrast.
The pregnancy she carries is not all about her.
It's not all about that she wants.
In fact, Mary's pregnancy is all about saying yes to joy and justice for the world.
Mary knows that even while her son is still inside her, the world has already been radically reclaimed.
Listen to what she says:
My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden,
For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm:
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and exalted those of low degree.
He has filled the hungry with good things;
and the rich He has sent empty away.
He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy;
As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to His posterity forever.
You see, the child who is still only in her womb has already changed history.
Because he kicks and sucks and leaps inside her, the mighty have been cast down from their thrones.
Because he sits in darkness inside her, the rich have been sent away empty.
And even better, the lowly have been exalted and the hungry have been filled with good things.
And, so it is because Mary said yes to the joy of the world.
Real joy because there is justice.
Her little baby brings a new way of being in this world.
Not more egocentrism, but less.
Not more grabbing of resources, but sharing of resources.
Not mine only, but ours for the sake of the world.

A while back it became in vogue to say, "It takes a whole village to raise a child."
But, I think we Americans really don't know what that means.
Take plane travel: You get your seat.
You fret the whole time if your child might cry or misbehave.
I remember one flight when my son threw up all over himself in his carseat on the plane and then proceeded to whimper and cry for the rest of the flight.
There was very little compassion for him--or me.
Instead, the flight attendant came back and said why don't you try rocking him?
When, in fact, he was way beyond the age or size to be rocked let alone that the aisle was too small for me to stand up and rock him anyway.
He just kept saying" All done" until we actually landed.
The next day I discovered he had a double ear infection and, of course, the altitude must have been killing him!
But, clearly on that flight, the kid was my kid, not ours.

In contrast, when I used to travel in Tanzania on long bus rides, we would have all kinds of children and roosters and anything else on the bus with us.
Moms would put babies on their laps, but when they got too fussy somebody else would grab them and take them for a while.
At first, I thought these were other family members.
I later learned that they were just fellow passengers trying to make the ride easier on the mom, the child, and everyone else on the bus.
This child didn't belong to one individual mother and family, but to the greater collective community.
When Mary says yes to God, she says yes to losing control of her body, her will, and her own self-fulfillment.
But Mary's yes, brings -mishpat-justice to the world in the form of a tiny, male, baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.
Mary's yes is magnificent.
Mary's yes is a joyful song.
Mary's yes changed the world forever and proclaimed the greatness of the Lord.

Let it Snow!

Well, we are snowed in here in Media. What a nice surprise. I walked to Trader Joe's to pick-up some groceries and mail our Christmas cards. Then Adam took the kids sledding, but it was a little too exciting. Adelaide's hands were so red and raw when they came in that she screamed for about 15 minutes. Then she kept saying, "Daddy got me all wet." I've got my sermon all done for tomorrow, but who knows if the babysitter will make it or whether I will be able to make it out tomorrow. The show will go on here, regardless. I guess I may end up preaching here!

I have been listening to the kids talk about Christmas over the past few days. The other day, Adelaide saw a Santa Claus on a rooftop of a building. She pointed him out by saying, "St. Nicholas" and then she said, "He's got his laundry." Of course, she was referring to his sack of toys. Elias started his quiet time off by saying he was going to make a present for St. Nicholas. I asked him what he was making and he said, " A sword." Of course!

I have been a bit under the weather for this week, but it's just a cold virus. So, sorry for the lack of posts. I'll get back to it when I feel better. Happy shoveling to all you East Coasters!

Our Pennsylvania House

Addie refers to our home as our "Pennsylvania House." Here are some pictures in the Christmas mood!

Advent 3 (Rose Sunday)

Well, Adam was truly pretty in pink this past Sunday. The church was decked out with pink roses for altar flowers and matching pink vestments all around. I did the children's sermon on John the Baptist and we spent a lot of time talking about a "brood of vipers." At the peace, newcomers were officially welcomed and then after the liturgy there was a reception for the newcomers. They had us quickly say our names and one thing about ourselves. I'm afraid Elias overshadowed me as he grabbed the microphone and said "I'm Elias. I like to fight and dress-up." I could only add that I had the shortest commute to church of anyone I knew.

After the reception, the kids had their second rehearsal for the pageant. Adelaide is going to be an angel and it wll be a stitch. Elias is a shepherd and has already started to wear a bathrobe on his head with a bucket on top to hold it in place.

I also got out what was left of my Christmas decorations. It seemed I purged a lot since we moved. I finally found the kids' nativity set and it has been really neat to see them play with it and tell the story. Elias, in keeping with his death theme, wanted to know whether angels died. Adelaide just likes to come over and knock down what he has arranged. Although, she gets quite a bit. Yesterday, I heard bits of "Fear not" coming out of her mouth.

I also got the outside of the house looking as festive as possible. There is not a single outlet on the outside of the perimeter of the house so I can't put up my blowup Frostys this year. Oh, well, the wreaths and garland will have to suffice. (Now I wish I could post pictures, but I can't find my adapter. Yes, I truly feel like my brain is on vacation.)

Making Music

Today was the last session we had of music class for Adelaide. She has absolutely loved her class and requests the CD every time we get in the car. I must say it would be hard to gauge her enthusiasm during class: she often sits in my lap looking a bit shy and somewhat mesmerized. However, as soon as we depart she talks about her teachers and one day was thrilled to see her teacher at Trader Joe's.

These days Adelaide has been cracking us up. The other night I came into the kitchen and breathed a weary sigh. She said, "Tired, Mommy?" Today Adam was coughing and she said, "You Ok, Daddy?" But, my recent favorite comment was when I told her I washed her sheet and her special monkey and she said, "Good job, Mommy." It's nice to be validated by your two year old.

Adelaide takes the money and runs

Today is the celebration of the feast of St. Nicholas. Now that Elias is in preschool he has started to be aware of Santa Claus--especially because he is supposed to be Santa in his class "play." He also is going to be a shepherd in the Christmas pageant and his sister has a starring role as an angel. In any event, things can get confusing around here. Yesterday, Elias told me he didn't want to be Santa, but he wanted to be a shepherd. I promised him that Santa and the shepherd would not be in the same "play."

So today we gave homage to St. Nick, 4th century bishop of Smyrna. We had friends over and we read a book about St. Nicholas and then we made St. Nick cookies. While the cookies were baking, the kids colored pictures of the kindly saint. Meanwhile, in keeping with the tradition of St. Nick, I stuffed the kids' shoes with chocolate gold coins and clementines. When it was time for everyone to leave, there was a smattering of debris across the threshold. It appears that a little girl discovered the shoes and managed to eat all the chocolate coins while the other kids were nicely coloring in pictures. Luckily, I had other chocolates hidden away and sent everyone off remembering the goodness of old St. Nick.

The Gangs All Here