Longings of Christmas

I read a devotional from www.crosswalk.com on Monday, and it was just too awesome not to share.  This particular devotion was from the Girlfriends in God entitled "Longings of Christmas."  It was written by Gwen Smith. 

The key verse was "Better one handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and striving after the wind."  Ecclesiastes 4:6(ESV)  

Christmas is such a JOYOUS, BUSY, and EXPENSIVE time of the year.  Can I get and "amen!"?  There is a story about a family who is going through a tough financial time and they cannot afford to buy their children the very pricey things on their wishlists.  The father has been talking with is seven-year-old son about their spending limitations this year, in hopes that it will diminish his son's expectations of Christmas.  Nevertheless, his son is determined to get a very expensive electronic toy.  The boy talks about it non-stop for several weeks, and finally has an epiphany, and exclaims to his father that he does not have to worry about the cost of the toy, because he has decided to ask Santa for it.  

I know several times in my life I have longed for something like this little boy.  I cannot stop thinking about it.  The problem is that the "things" I long for are just "things."  King Solomon referred to this in the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes as "chasing after the wind."  I am hoping that I am not alone in this, and that some of you can relate exactly to this.  

During Christmas, especially, longings can distract our contentment.  So, this year, I choose to want to want Christ more.  I want to be completely satisfied in him.  I don't want to be hindered or distracted by all the "things" of the holiday.  I want the attention to be His, and I want to focus on being His.  

There is an old hymn written by Charles Wesley that is perfect for setting our longings during this season and year round on Him.  

"Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus"

Come, Thou long expected Jesus.  Born to set Thy people free.  From our fears and sins release us.  Let us find our rest in Thee.  

Israel's strength and consolation.  Hope of all the earth Thou dear.  Desire of every nation.  Joy of every longing heart.  

Born Thy people to deliver.  Born a Child and yet a King.  Born to reign in us forever.  Now Thy gracious Kingdom bring.  

By Thine own eternal Spirit, rule in all our hearts alone.  By Thine all sufficient merit, raise us to Thy glorious throne.  

The last line of the devotion reads like this " The purposed love-mission of Jesus wrapping Himself in flesh and clothing Himself in humanity was for us to be reconciled to the loving heart of God the Father.  Hope came as a babe in a manger and will be returning soon to take us home.  Now THAT is something to long for!!!!"

My prayer for you this Christmas season is that your longings will be heavenly and eternal, not fleeting and temporary.  Merry CHRISTmas!!

Bathtime Cutie

Here are some pics of our little man just after his bath.  He was just smiling and cooing.  He really loves bathtime!   I especially love his chins.

Holiday in the Park

Last night we had the pleasure of attending Holiday in the Park at Six Flags in Arlington.  Oh what fun it was.  If you have never been, you must put it on your things to see list.  Hudson had a blast.  Jack was a little trooper and took in all the beautiful lights and then he fell fast asleep.  Hudson rode a couple rides in Looney Tune land and was most impressed with the model train exhibit and riding the large steam locomotive that went around the park.  He talked about it the whole way home and then passed out the minute his head hit the pillow.  Nana and Big Daddy treated us to this AWESOME event, and we are so thankful.  Nana and I enjoyed some FABULOUS hot chocolate as we left the park.  When we asked what the secret was to their delicious hot chocolate, they told us that they used eagle brand milk, instead of water.  YIKES!!!  Definitely not on weight watchers, but well worth it!  : ) Here are some pictures from our super fun visit.

Mommy, Nana, and Passed-out Jack

Daddy, Hudson, & Big Daddy checking out the model train exhibit.

The train exhibit, complete with Thomas.

Hudson riding the big rig in Looney Tune land.

Daddy and Hudson watching the ENGINES!!

Christmas Jack

I just had to share some pictures of our Christmas cutie!  Jack is doing awesome!  We are officially sleeping through the night, and he just smiles and coos all the time.  We are so blessed with 2 amazing boys.  Thank you God!!

Countdown to Christmas

Hudson has had such a blast counting down the days to Christmas with an AWESOME advent calendar that his Mima made him.  Everyday he gets to open a really cool car box and pick an ornament that corresponds with the date.  Then he hangs it on the day on his calendar.  Every ornament is something special.  The past few have been an engine, a cement mixer, and a dump truck.  He thought that was SO COOL!!  The final ornament is the nativity, the true meaning of Christmas.  This is going to be such an awesome thing to share with the boys each year.  Thank you Mima for such a special gift!

"Here is number 4!"

"I can do it all by myself."

We Love Nana!!

To say the least, it has been a very trying week.  Jack has had some serious issues with colic and formula.  Nana came to the rescue, and we are so thankful.  She came out and helped me through a couple of sleepless nights, listened to me when I felt like I was losing my mind, and loved on and played with the boys.  We are so thankful for all of our grandparents (Big Daddy, Grandaddy & Mima, Mimi & Papa) and our NANA!!  We love you!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUDSON!!

Our sweet boy Hudson celebrated his 2nd birthday today.  Where has the time gone.  I just can't believe he is two.  He is such an incredible ball of energy and just brings such sheer joy to our lives.  We are truly blessed and thankful that God has given us the opportunity to raise him.  Here are some pictures from his birthday invitation.  He had a "construction" party.  It was SO.... much fun.  Thank you God for Hudson!!

"Hear Bell???"

Surprisingly,  Hudson had another hilarious thing to say today.  As I have mentioned in previous blogs, Hudson is "NUTS" about The Polar Express.  He has the entire movie memorized.  I am not kidding.  He is especially fond of the scene when the little boy receives one of  Santa's bells as the first gift of Christmas.  Well... we started decorating the tree yesterday, and Hudson was loving every minute of it.  He would pick up every ball ornament, hold it to his ear, and say "hear bell?"  followed by "don't hear anything."  He was just sure that every ball ornament was a bell.  What a trip...  :)

Tagged: Top 8

A friend of mine recently tagged me with my "top 8" lists.  I have never been tagged before, so here goes nothing.....

8  TV SHOWS I LOVE TO WATCH:

"This one is tricky, as I don't get to watch much tv."

1.  College Football

2.  Diners, Drive-ins, & Dives

3.  Semi-homemade with Sandra Lee

4.  24

5.  College Basketball

6. HGTV

7. "umm " "?????"

8. ????

8 FAVORITE RESTAURANTS:

1.  Saltgrass

2.  Pappaduex's

3.  On the Border

4.  P.F. Changs

5.  Olive Garden

6.  Chick-Fil-A

7.  Chili's

8.  Carraba's

8 THINGS THAT HAPPENED TODAY:

1.  Completed my first ever Gingerbread train with Hudson's help. ("Definitely not as easy as they look.")

2.  Said "goodbye" to my Daddy and Stepmom (aka. Mima and Grandaddy)  : (

3.  Put up more Christmas decorations

4. Vacuumed and did laundry

5.  Wrote some reports for work

6.  Loved on my boys

7.  Changed a zillion diapers

8.  Drank some hot chocolate and put my feet up (at 9:30 pm)

8 THINGS I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO:

1.  Watching Hudson on Christmas morning, and throughout the Christmas holidays.

2.  Thanksgiving with my family.

3.  After Thanksgiving sales!!!!

4.  Watching our sweet Jack grow.

5. Watching Hudson and Jack become buddies.

6.  Christmas with my family.

7.  Having Hudson potty-trained.

8.  Getting back in shape and loosing the baby weight.

8 THINGS ON MY WISHLIST:

1.  Going back to Hawaii with my family.

2.  A diamond and sapphire anniversary band

3.   A new coffee pot

4.  A date with my husband

5.  Starbuck's gift card

6.  Consistently sleeping through the night

7.  A treadmill or exercise bike

8.  A "girls-only" shopping trip in NYC

8 PEOPLE I TAG:

1.  Darlene G.

2.  Courtney

3. Jenn Bankhead

4.  Kristen

5.  Alberta

6.  Mom

7.  Janice

8.  ?????

Mommy's Socks

Well... Our sweet little Hudson had us rolling again today.  My Dad and Stepmom were in town this weekend (because we had Hudson's b-day party).  I will post more on that later.  So, since we had help, we decided to put up the Christmas tree and other decorations.  This was a great idea because I have no idea how we would have done it with Mark, myself, a toddler and an infant.  : )  Anyway, as I was getting in the Christmas spirit, I put on a pair of Christmas socks.  They were red sweater material, complete with Santa and Mrs.  Clause (very cute).  I guess that is what you wear when you become a mom.  Hudson really liked them.  Later on we were eating dinner and Hudson was admiring the stockings hanging by the fireplace.  He looked at everyone at the dinner table and said "Mommy's socks."  It was hilarious.  He thought Mommy's socks were hanging from the fireplace.  I guess he thinks I have REALLY BIG foot.  Kids are the best!!! 

Say What?!?!?

YIKES! Sorry it has been so long since my last blog.  It has been one crazy week.  I started back to work this week on very little sleep and very much caffeine.  The first day was difficult, but the next day was easier.  I am only working two days a week, and right now, my clientele is so low, that I am barely doing that (sigh...)  Anyway, I knew at the beginning of the week what I wanted to blog about, but now, it is 5:15 am on Friday, and I just got Jack back down to sleep, as well as Hudson (sigh again...), so grab another cup of coffee and here we go.  

In my relatively short time as a mommy, I have learned that so many wonderful, beautiful, and HILARIOUS things can come from the mouth of babes.  I have also learned that along with that, some pretty funny things can come from the mouth of mommies.  So, here are just a few of those things I thought I would never say, and those things I dearly LOVE to hear.  Enjoy!

Things I Never Thought I Would Say:

1.  "Yes, your engines can watch you while you eat."

2.  "Please stop sticking chicken up your nose."

3.  "We can't eat the furniture."

4.  "Engines are not for eating."

5.  "Look!  A backhoe loader, a digger, and excavator!  (Oh yes, I now know my construction equipment well)"

6.  "Please don't pee-pee on the carpet."

7.  "Please stop running your cars, engines (you fill in the blank) on the wall."

8.  "Crayons are for paper only."   (Loved the white crayon on the brown walls.)

Things I LOVE To Hear:

1. "God made trees, birds, clouds...."  (The list just goes on.  Thank you Carla and FBCA Children's Ministry)

2.  "It's a GREAT DAY!!"  (always said with such enthusiasm)

3.  "Have pizza party watch Polar Express on engine blanket?"

4.  "Kiss Jack's toesies"

5.  "I yuv you."

6.  "Daddy working hard."

7.  Say pears (prayers) for Nana, Big Daddy, Grandaddy, Mema, Papa, Mimi."

8.  "Mmm... more beans please."  In response to his first M&M.

Fun With Two

A Look At Month 2 with 2

As I was looking through some recent pics of Jack on iphoto, and I was able to compare a picture of Hudson in his second month, with Jack in his second month.  I thought it would be fun to do a comparison each month and let everyone see how much they favor each other.  I think they both look very much like their Daddy, and you can definitely tell that they are brothers.  You be the judge... 

Jack's 2nd Month

Hudson's 2nd month

PIZZA PARTY!!!

We have started a new "tradition" in our family, so I thought I would share.  Hudson thinks it is SO... MUCH FUN!!  We love watching him get so excited.  Every Friday or sometimes Thursday night (depending on Daddy's work schedule), we have a pizza party at our house.  Sometimes we order pizza, but most of the time, I make it (this helps with the "budget").  Then, we spread out Hudson's big Thomas the Tank Engine blanket and eat pizza and watch a movie.  Hudson's favorite movie right now is The Polar Express.  So for about the past 5 Fridays in a row we have watched that.  We are little sick of it, but Hudson is not.  I am sure by Christmas, we will have the entire movie memorized.  Now, almost every night when I put Hudson to bed he says, "Have pizza party on Thomas blanket and watch Polar Express?"  So we have started teaching Hudson the days of the week, so that he will know how many days until the pizza party.  This has been so much fun for our family, and I hope that it will be a sweet memory for many years to come.  

The Caswell Family 2008

Okay, so yesterday we attempted the impossible.... A family photo, with all four family members present.  It was a disaster, so of course, I thought I would share it with you.  Jack was fabulous and ready to strike a pose at any moment, Hudson however had a different agenda.  He screamed from the minute we started the photos until we got in the car to go home.  He had a few moments where the tears and snot stopped, but not many.  Our very dear friend Bev White (whom Hudson affectionately calls "Bee") was taking the pictures for us at her house.  Bee's husband (whom Hudson affectionately calls "Dude") is one of Hudson's most favorite people on the planet.  Since we were at Bee and Dude's house, Hudson was only interested in playing with Dude and nothing else.  Bee was very patient with all of us.  In the end, we got some GREAT pics of Jack, but not too many with Hudson.  I am sharing some of the drama that unfolded in the following pictures.  : )

Trick or Treat

Well, this year's Halloween experience was so much fun!!!  Hudson had a blast, and rightly so, because he was Thomas the Tank Engine (his favorite thing on the planet).  Jack was a "friendly ghost".  (Big brother calls him that.)  We got to dress the boys up twice because our church had their fall festival on the Wednesday before Halloween, and it was a blast.  We took Hudson last year, but he wasn't even walking, and didn't know what to think of it.  This year we could not keep up with him.  He ran around saying "wear Thomas costume and get candy."  On the way home from the festival he said repeatedly "That was so fun!!"  When we told him he was going to get to put on his costume again on Friday and get candy, he was just beside himself.  So, on Friday we hit the streets of our neighborhood with Thomas and the friendly ghost.  Jack slept through both events, but Hudson LOVED IT!!  We gave him his first piece of candy mid-way through the trick-or-treating.  It was a Twix.  After his first bite, he said, with great delight, "CANDY!", and then continued on his hunt for more.   We are just so blessed, and had such an incredible time as a family during all the fall/Halloween festivities.  Here are few pics from both nights.   

This I Know

Okay,  so my son Hudson is quite the verbal little fellow, and today he had me rolling, so I had to share.  I was changing his diaper, and he has a bad little diaper rash, bless his heart.  Anyway, as I was wiping, he was getting very upset, and I was calmly telling him, "I know, it's almost over."  Well, he started repeating what I was saying, and then started quoting "Jesus Loves Me."  He said, "I know, I know, this I know, for the bible tells me so."  It was awesome!!!  I will post more later about our trick-or-treating, and first taste of candy.  But, right now I have a screaming baby to take care of.  : )

BLESSED WITH BOYS

I'm back, and with pictures!!  I am afraid that this blogging might become an addiction.  What fun!!  Anyway, as most of you know, I am know the mommy of two precious boys, and have always been blessed with an amazing, Godly husband.  So, know, I am officially in a house full of boys.  At first I wasn't sure if I would be crazy about this idea, but know I know it is just as God intended.  I am so blessed by all three of my boys.  God is so good and knows exactly what we need, and when we need it.  So, below are some bragging pics of my AWESOME boys!!

My First Blog

Okay... So here goes nothing!!  I have officially entered the blog world.  I am a little unsure about what I am doing, but I really wanted to have a convenient way for all our sweet friends and family to keep up with our crazy life.  I have so enjoyed keeping up with friends and family through their blogs, so I have taken the plunge.  My goal is to post a blog at least once a week.  I think that is a good goal considering I am a mother of two under two.  I will even try to get really "techie" and post pictures as well.  Things are a little "CRAZY" in our world right now, but I have told myself I just have to take it one day at a time.  Jack and Hudson are both growing like weeds.  Hudson is a little under the weather right now, and it has been a little difficult keeping his germs away from baby brother.  He has been so precious with Jack, and we are so thankful.  Jack has started to make some longer stretches at night, but still has his nights were he likes to chow down a lot.  I am getting ready to return to work two days a week, and Mark is extremely busy with seminary and youth ministry.  We are really loving being a family of four, and thank all of you for your prayers and support along the way.  That's all for now, but stay tuned for more in the coming weeks.  : )