Category: Totally Tatum

I think the hardest thing about being a parent is not wanting to see your child suffer. This feeling of wanting to take on the pain must be what God feels for us, His children. He took upon the pain of sin and gives us the freedom from being bound to our own sin, but He cannot remove all struggle and suffering because we still live in a fallen world. ALSO, we must also learn and grow from our struggles so that we can produce character.  “and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” (Romans 5:4)

Oh may it be.

You see, my sweet girl experiences struggles through her incessant coughing, her constantly running nose, her other not to mention issues that are in her body. Plus she gets boo-boos constantly. Daily. She experiences injustice from friends, and sometimes she is even the instigator of this which is hard to hear. But, it’s all part of her journey of growing and learning….experiencing. KNOWING that there is something wrong. We all have this sinful nature in us and we all have sinful bodies (that get sick!). What is the answer to all of this? What could it be? It’s a NEED we all have. A NEED for a savior to be free from this sin. We need forgiveness; a way to be forgiven and live in glorious gratitude of this freedom. 

I’m here for you, Tot. I’m here to pick you up, encourage you, be your biggest cheerleader. I cannot remove any of it, but I can guide you through. You know what will happen? You’ll become a more compassionate, strong, loving girl because you’ve been there done that. 

You are my favorite person to be with in how much joy you bring me; You become my teacher by watching you grow and learn. I learn how much God loves me by how much I love you. 

This year, I would get there an hour early. Why? Because the line winds around the park multiple times. Mom and Tot would meet me when the train boards. So, I made friends with my line mates, had great conversations (especially with a nice legal immigrant mommy who just moved her from the Middle East), and enjoyed being first in line for the first train. It also was not cold this year (although I was dressed for snow ha!)

Here they come!

On board and ready!

We had to take a picture with the “nosey” train!

We always enjoy our train park experience. It lights up our Christmas. 

First we find out that we only have 6 more days till Christmas!

Well, what do you know! We get to find a way to bless a child this year on Compassion International. 

We go through the gifts. There were so many choices from providing medical care all the way to purchasing a goat for a small business. 

Tatum wanted to help with children needing medical care. 

Tatum got into her SAVE envelope and pulled out $5. I ended up giving the rest.

 

Bless them. 

Last year we delivered to Jean across the street. We decided to repeat this again.

She called later and oohed and aahed for the treats. It was so fun to make her day. 

How do you get your eyes of yourself? How do you get out of the idea of getting and taking? 

Well, you focus on others and giving out! It is amazing how much this cures the tendency to be “all about me!!!”

Starting Monday, December 17th, we launched our 12 days.

Why does the idea of being cheerful help the giving process? I like this thought: Remember where it came from. James reminds us, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights …” (James 1:17). Every blessing we have, including money, is from God.

So, none of what we have is really our own. 

What will Day 1 hold?

Who will be the lucky 5? We’ll find out at the end of the day. 

It’s become a tradition by buying Trader Joe’s Gingerbread house and transforming from box to house in *%^& minutes flat. Ha!

Year one, we had tears and frustration because she wanted to eat it more than build it.

The second year, I totally messed up the frosting as it turned to hardened glue and there was not much rejoicing. 

I refused to be denied this year as I bought that darn kit again to tackle it with my full monty. Tatum couldn’t wait to just lick up the mess we make. 

There it is! Ok, now I’m going to READ the directions this year with my glasses. You must whip the egg whites FIRST.

THEN THEN THEN add the lemon juice and sugar.

Tatum made sure I was doing it right and each time I went to lick my fingers, she absconded me and said, NO FAIR MOMMY!! Eek I’ve been caught. 

OK, let this dry now.

Now we wait for it to set and dry so we can decorate.

And now the BEST part. One gummy for the house, one for me.

After we decorated it was ready for display.

I think we are getting better at this every year. I am going to keep trying since this frosting decorator thing-a-mig that they give you is not as friendly as the house! 

They look pretty happy on that house not realizing how much glue frosting they need to just keep standing.  Oh the joy of the holiday decorating!