On a Whim

It's been especially hard to get into the Christmas spirit this year. Last week it was in the 60's here in CO and there's only been ONE speakable snowfall. Not to mention my lame holiday decorations this year. Our Christmas tree amounts to a 3 ft fake with about 10 ornaments....enough said. I attempted to bribe myself early with some Black Friday shopping, daily Christmas tunes on the radio, trial of several varieties of Christmas cookies, and review of Jesus' true Christmas story in depth. But nothing really seems to be working. However, it is here. Christmas is nearly a week away. I will need to wrap up my shopping for the kiddos (hardly extravagant thanks to everyone who chooses to SPOIL our kids), and put the finishing touches on my Christmas card. Oh wait, correction: start my Christmas card! The delay and excuses on getting a family pic for a card are surmountable. I'd like one of everyone cheerfully smiling, however will settle for everyone at least looking in the same direction. On a whim, we decided to book an appointment for a little help in this department. The below pic is the chosen family pic of the year! Believe me when I say, for a before lunch, pre-nap shot, this is extremely "happy!" Guess it also helped put a little pep in my Christmas prep! For today anyway. I have been learning at church and reflecting on Christ's birth alot lately. I am surprised even as a faithful Follower how much I am misled about that story. I guess God is daily helping me to prepare my heart for the celebration of Christmas in these ways! Merry Christmas!

Thanksgiving week

We are blessed and so thankful for all the ways God has worked in our lives and provided for us this last year. Funny as it may seem, I feel I had little chance to actually sit and reflect on all I am thankful for. On second thought, this is really not that uncommon these days. However, I know from past experience as I begin to profess big and small things I am grateful for the list quickly expands exponentially. This year is no different. Our Thanksgiving week was filled with people we love. We stayed overnight at camp with family, ate turkey in Denver, trialed Black Friday, ate, and visited family in Denver, Longmont, and Brighton over the weekend and ate some more. Here's a few pics from along the way. This is the Unrein family piling in for a quick pic together after stuffing ourselves with turkey (except Uncle Chad and fiance Jenna--but they are pictured below!) Daddy (Uncle D) is entertaining with a few loaded down horsie rides for the kiddos. Outdoor fun on our Longmont visit included 2 nephews and a niece riding ONE skateboard through a small cement bowl. It was very tricky getting everyone's feet off the ground at once and staying upright. Good times. Mommy and E-man soaking in the 60+ degree sun while sipping Great Grandpa's special cinnamon tea! What a great crew! All the cousins in one place looking in one direction. Amazing. From left to right: Drew (~6), Kai (3), Addie (18 mo), Isaac (3), Eli (5 mo), and Ella (18 mo).

At Invesco Field

A few weeks ago, Derrick and I had the privilege to attend a fundraising banquet for FCA w/guest speaker, Bobby Bowden at Invesco Field in Denver. For those of you not up-to-date on football trivia, Bobby Bowden was a long-time Florida State football coach. He has been coaching for 58 yrs and has been partnered with Fellowship of Christian Athletes since 1960 to impact the lives of young athletes for Christ. His message was spiritually challenging and powerful and obviously rooted in a deep relationship with the Lord Jesus. Derrick and I helped with registration and book sales/book signing. We were also able to have our own SK8 Ministry table with information about reaching kids in the rebellious skateboard culture and the needs of our ministry through FCA. This is us posing by the Broncos "fireplace" in the VIP conference section of Invesco Field. The west view was inside the stadium and the east view was downtown Denver lit up at night. Very sh-na-zee!!! Derrick and I, literally the only 2 people in Invesco Field (outside of our camera man)! Cool. Behind us on the HUGE screen, FCA staff pics/bios were running as well as inside on the conference room TVs. Cool. FCA is hoping to make this an annual event, so stay tuned for next years event!

Addie-18 mo.

Addalyn is 18 months. This was just too cute not to share. Her newest tricks are a few more words.....favorite being "baby." She LOVES to dance. Simon Says is her newest shake shake. She no longer takes a bottle or sits in a high chair and now qualifies for timeouts. She follows multi-step directions SOOOO well. She prefers Elmo when Kai is not dominating the TV with Thomas the train. She is constantly nurturing Eli...petting his head, talking to him, playing with him, and handing him toys to grab. She is our sweet and sassy all in ONE.