St. Nick

My daughter believes in Santa Claus.  A tragedy I’m sure.  I don’t know how this could have happened.   

We were at the mall a few days ago,  and Grace asked to see Santa.  I almost didn’t know what to say, I was so surprised by her question.  

Santa has never been an issue in our house.  I never believed in Santa.  I always have explained to my kids that it is mom and dad who buy them presents because we love them.  No way was I gonna give a big red stranger get the credit.  Of course I’ve explained the tradition behind Santa Claus, but my kids know that its all just a story.  At least I thought they knew.   

Blake has never sat on a Santa’s lap.  But on Monday, Grace did.  She climbed up onto the lap of a stranger dressed in a costume (although his beard was very real and nice) and told him she wanted a Nintendo DS and a hamster. 

Grace walked away from the scene with a big grin and announced that Santa was real afterall.  

Grace last summer on a pony ride with a Santa look-alike. I "forgot" to take any pictures of her on Santa's lap.

My son and I exchanged flabbergasted looks.  For a moment I was tongue tied while Blake gave her a hundered reasons why Santa could not possibly be real.  You know the ususal proof: “What about houses with no fireplaces?”

Yet, she was determined to believe.  I smiled down at her, not wanting to crush her spirit, and told her I’m glad she finally got to meet Santa. 

 

Did you believe in Santa when you were young?  Do your children (current or future) believe in Santa?

 

Oops!

I goofed.

If anyone wrote down that recipe for chocolate- molasses lace cookies, you will want to go back and edit it!  I forgot to include the amount of flour in the ingredient list, and the amount listed for molasses is wrong!

SO. The recipe takes 2/3 cup all-purpose flour, and 1/4 cup molasses.

I edited it down below too.

(Thanks Mom!)

 

Merry Christmas 2008! (our Christmas letter)

Dear Loved Ones,

Our prayer is that this letter finds you healthy, happy and whole. This is the Ellison family’s first ever Christmas letter!  We wanted to take a moment to share our year-in-review with all those we treasure in our hearts.

2008 was a whirlwind of play dates, appointments, and sharing meals with family and friends. Andrew is enrolled for college again, Blake has discovered Monopoly, Grace can read, and I cut off (almost) all my hair!   You can say it: “What was she thinking?”  In other news, the kids cannot wait to meet their new pets – they both asked for hamsters for Christmas.

In May, we were blessed with a trip to Florida. We were able to visit with many of my Floridian family members. Blake and Grace spent time with my Grandpa Roney – an experience that beats sitting on Santa’s lap any day. This trip was also our first visit to Disney World.

In June, we spent some quality time with my brother Kevin and his wife Angie while they were in town from Wisconsin.  Also, our June included  a day trip to the Toledo Zoo, and a swimming class for the kids.

August brought our annual camping trip with friends at the Pinery Provincial Park in Ontario. Fresh air is good for families. J We ate more s’mores than is probably legal in Canada.

Andrew and I celebrated our 9^th anniversary on September 11^th. We are so blessed to have each other and to know the miracle of marriage.  Andrew is working for Saturn, and he tied for top salesperson in his store for 2007. Andrew also teaches middle school kids at church once a month. 

Blake turned eight on September 17^th.  He is excelling in third grade, and enjoys being on the student council. Blake played T-Ball in the spring and spent five whole days on his own at summer camp with kids from our church.  He is also looking like quite the smarty-pants these days in his first pair of glasses.

Grace just turned five on November 30^th.  She is learning all about what it means to be a Kinder-gartner. I get to help in Grace’s class every other week and see her in action as a student.  She is a cuddly, creative girl with a great sense of humor.

As for me, I have finished 19 credits so far toward my nursing degree.  My mom has been a great support, watching the kids often while I was in class. And I love my Wednesday nights, when I volunteer with the teenagers at our church.

Next year we will enter a new stage in our lives: the kids will both be in school all day.  Imagine the possibilities for Mom! Most likely that means I will be enrolling in a few extra classes. Our house in Detroit is up for sale and we are excited to move on to our next home, wherever that may be!

In 2009, we hope to continue growing in love and pressing on towards Christ’s calling for our lives. We would love to hear from you!

Warm Wishes,

        AMY

 

 

Today

Today, I am done with my semester – I have no assignments or tests nagging my mind.  It’s a feeling of pure freedom.

Yesterday, we met with a man who will make our house sell – of this I am sure. We are short-selling, which means we sell it for whatetver we can get for it, and the bank agrees to take the loss.  We walk away with no profit,  but no loss except a black mark that will be on our credit for two years.  

When our house was listed for $78K, I didn’t even bother packing; nobody was looking at us.  Now, newly listed at $59K, I have a feeling we’ll be getting some calls.   Which means I can’t sit around doing nothing about my house situation anymore.  I am going to start packing and actively looking for a rental home.   I am just hoping to stay in our house until the school year is over so that the move will be less stressful on the kids.  You can pray for that – if you are a praying person.  

So things have been set in motion over here. We will not be in this house come fall.   We feel like it is in our best interest to rent a home for a little while.  We are praying to find a nice 3 bedroom house in Royal Oak for under $950 a month.   You can pray for that too.

 

My Favorite Christmas Cookie

for angie

Image from of Better Homes and Gardens Community Cookbook Dessert Recipes

Makes 3 dozen Sandwich Cookies

recipe by Better Homes and Gardens

2/3 cup butter

2 cups quick-cooking rolled oats

1 cup sugar

2/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup molasses

1/4 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 teaspoon salt

1  11.5-ounce package milk chocolate pieces (2 cups)

1)Preheat oven to 375.  Line baking sheets with parchment paper (or foil, but parchment is easier.) Set aside.

2)In a medium saucepan, melt the butter.  Stir in oats, sugar, flour, molasses, milk, vanilla, and salt.

3) Drop by rounded teaspoonfulls, 3 inches apart, onto the prepared baking sheets.  With floured fingertips, press down until the dough is very thin.

4)Bake in the 375 degree oven for 5 to 7 minutes or until the cookies are lacy and golden.  Cool completely, about 15 inutes.  Peel the parchment away from the cookies.

5)In a medium saucepan, melt the chocolate pieces over low heat, stirring constantly.  Spread about 1 teaspoon of the melted chocolate on the bottoms of half the cookies.  Top with the unfrosted cookies.

These are my very favorite cookies for the holidays. 

If you try them, please let me know how you liked them!

 

Mic. Check: “Testing, 1,2,3″

Back to life. 

My semester is wrapping up this week.  Words cannot express how happy that makes me.  I am ready for a break. 

My mind and fingers are already beginning to feel a little bloggy again. 

Today I will simply leave you with a nugget to chew on:

Phillipians 4:11-13

11I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.  – Paul

The secret of being content.  hmm.

 

i am wondering

if i will ever be a regular blogger again.

 

no spring chicken

 

I must be aging.  I’ve heard that’s what happens.  You always feel a young 18 on the inside, even when the outside tells a different story.

 

 

This fact of life first hit me a few weeks ago on a Sunday morning.  I was just sitting down in church when I turned around to see a young lady I didn’t recognize sitting a couple rows behind me.  I got up and walked over to her, offering her a smile and a handshake, and introducing myself.  She told me her name, but then gave me this quizzical look.  After a pause she said, “I thought this is where the young people were supposed to sit…”

I just about died. Reading it still makes me laugh.  “It is where the young people sit,” I wanted to say, “that’s why I am sitting here.”  But instead, I offered that I sit there because I volunteer with the young people…

Then, yesterday brought jab to my vanity number two. I had Jury Duty. 

After making my way through an almost impossible downtown, I got through security check, waited in a forever long line, and finally found a seat in a tiny room packed with too many people.  After a few minutes the empty seat beside me was filled by a stylish woman who I guessed to be around my age.  She took off her coat, let out a big sigh and took a visual scan of the others in the room.  She leaned over to me and said hello.  Then she mentions how weird she feels because she is quite obviously the youngest person in the room. (my paraphrasing) 

What?! What about me? I’m young! I’m young!  oh man.  laughing again.

Turns out she was indeed (a measly) three years younger than me.

Guess I should be researching retirement homes soon. . .

Oi.

 

How He Loves

I’ve had zero time to blog lately – but my grades are good, so I’m not complaining. Until I’m back, here’s a great song to keep you company.

If you have time, this song is worth looking up on itunes. 

How He Loves.  by John Mark Mcmillan 

Verse 1:
He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realise just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

Pre-Chorus:
And oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us so

Chorus 1:
Yeah, He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.

Verse 2:
We are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
So Heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss,
And the heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way…

Chorus 2:
He loves us,
Oh how He loves us . . .

 

How Thoughtful

 

“Just to warn everyone,” he said.

 

The Idea

 

 

The Execution.

 

The Content

 

And so it is perfectly clear, the last word in his thoughtful note is supposed to be spelled:

P-E-R-I-O-D.

Consider yourselves warned.