Tuesday 5: Facebook and ovens

1. We've spent some time in the Emergency Room in the last week with various kid's sicknesses getting out of control. Issy on Friday night and George on Saturday night. Bronchitis for both of them, plus a side of ear infection and wheezing for George. This is one. nasty. virus. I am extremely thankful for modern medicine this week, because they were very ill. With some cough syrup with codeine, some meds to open their lungs, they both seem to be on the mend now. Now, however, Isaac has it. I am trying desperately to reign it in. If you are the praying type, prayers would be appreciated.

2. I decided to go off Facebook for Advent. It has been good. Mostly. Since I stay at home and have children who all need to talk to me when I get on the phone, contact with friends and family back in Kansas and Wisconsin is mostly done via Facebook.  It isn't Facebook stalking, it isn't friending people just to have a bunch of Facebook friends, it is just connecting with people in a silly or meaningful way that I would have a hard time doing otherwise. I miss that. I don't miss the drama (which I am pretty good about not getting sucked into, but on occasion...) and I don't miss the "news" (I kind of want to forget that Donald Trump might actually be a serious contender for President) but I do miss my acutal, people-i-miss-talking-to, friends.

3. I am not sure how we have blasted through December, but here we are, halfway through. 10 days until Christmas. It has been a real doozy.

4. I cleaned my oven today. I don't think I have ever cleaned my oven unless we were moving (although actually, one of my friends cleaned the oven in our first Kansas house before we moved...) but I don't think I have ever thought, "Hey, I'll clean the oven." It was actually a little chilly in the house and my main motivation was to make it warmer. And, in fairness, I have a self cleaning oven, so I just pushed the button and endured the smoke from pizza toppings put directly on the rack. But! I actually wiped out the soot afterwards. I found out the inside of my oven is blue. Isn't that random? And fun? And more you needed to know?

5. When I reflect on how we got here, specifically, to our community in Colorado, I am in awe of the way God moved things so that we would be here. It was truly God working directly in our lives and perhaps, a testimony for another day. But I am even more in awe of the way we have been welcomed. When we moved, I never imagined being embraced in friendships the way that we have been. It has been such a blessing. When we are with our friends, my heart is always so full. This year, I think I am most grateful for the beautiful friendships I have made.