Hello Again

Wow. It's been a while since I've written. I guess you could say I've been suffering from a bit of "blogger's block." I haven't even taken any pictures this month. I kept waiting for a good snow (since it was the month of January) and one never came!! In fact we have been having 70 degree weather here lately!! Not my idea of winter weather but the kids sure have enjoyed playing outside. Soooo I guess it's time to catch you up a little in the life of the Lamberts. I will have to write bits at a time, but I will try to be better about updating.

Christmas in the City

After our Christmas at the Farm, we headed North to Illinois. Mom & Dad don't really live in a big city but there is a Super Wal-Mart 8 miles away. :) The trip there was slow going and we ended up spending the night about two hours away because it was getting late and the roads were pretty bad. We got a good deal on a hotel and got to stay in a really nice room. So after a good night's sleep, we got up in time to make it to my parent's church and even got to see the annual cantata where my dad starred as King Herod.
The Odell Christmas begins with Mom's yummy coffee cake. She makes it in the shape of a Christmas wreath and decorates it complete with sprinkles and little cherries. After that Dad reads the Christmas story and we share presents!!
I really do not do a good job of taking pictures when there are so many fun things going on. I will post the few I have, but Jessica (my sis-in-law) took a lot of good ones of our time together. If you are on her blog list, you can check them out. We all are so grateful for all our presents!!


We also got to be with our extended family which was a lot of fun and a special treat to be able to see them two months in a row!! Anna and Abree are exactly the same age and had fun together once again. The kids made some snowman cookies. It was a challenge to see if they could make a cute snowman before all the tasty candies that were supposed to be his decorations disappeared!
We left Illinois ready to be home after being gone for so many days, but so refreshed and encouraged after being with both of our families. Thank you all for the wonderful time!!

Christmas on the Farm

We are so fortunate to be able to be with both sides of the family over Christmas break. This year it was our turn to spend Christmas Day with the Lamberts. There are 24 of us when we're all together, so it always lends itself to a lot of excitement. We began our time together by celebrating a December birthday. Happy 40th Birthday, Roxie!!! (No one will ever believe she's really 40! She looks way too young.) :) Nita had a cake decorated with black roses and while we lured her downstairs under the precept of watching Jodi & Brian's wedding video, the bigger girls went to work decorating the upstairs. It was a fun start to our time together.
The Lambert Family Christmas isn't complete without our "sharing time." Usually before we open presents, the adults share what the Lord has done in their lives over the last year. Although there is a lot of grumbling, it is a treasured and valuable part of our Christmas. We are able to give God the glory for what He has done and are challenged to reflect on the changes that have taken place. It is a huge encouragement to sit around with strong believers who happen to be family members and share form our hearts. Thanks Dennis!!
After our "small" Christmas celebration, we were able to be together with all of Nita's family. This time our crowd doubled and so did our excitement! We added 6 more children to our 13! Lots of fun!!
We were thankful to be with everyone for Christmas!

The Greatest Gift

Last year we started a tradition that we have really enjoyed. I got the idea when we began getting all the extra advertisements last year for "Christmas." I wanted to think of something to help our kids realize how many things God has already given to us and not be so hungry for more "things." I had them think of things they were thankful for that cannot be bought or wrapped. They thought of things like family, friends, a warm house, I even let them add some things like warm jammies and toys. I wrote out 25 things and wrapped them up in 25 boxes and put them under the tree. It was exciting each night after family devotions to pick a "gift" to open. We would take out the slip of paper, read it and take turns thanking God for His gifts. The 25th box was the gift of Jesus.
This simple activity has been helpful even to me to remember in this time of getting and giving to give Him thanks for what He has already so generously showered upon us.
The last gift is ideally opened before we open our family presents. Since we are with extended family on Christmas Day, we skipped ahead this year and even though it wasn't the 25th, we still opened our last gift before we gave each other presents. This year along with the words "Jesus ~ the greatest gift of all," I wrapped a nativity scene that Mom gave us especially for our "gifts." It was in a box with a bow that unfolded into a manger scene. It was sweet to watch the children's excitement as they opened the "gift" and talked about what a great gift Jesus really is. They gazed at that little nativity scene as Chuck read the Christmas story.
Thank you God for your indescribable gift!

A Prayer at Christmas

This prayer is so beautiful and rich, I just had to share! I have been enjoying this amidst the excitement of this time of year. It is untitled and the author is unknown, but the words have continued to stir my heart since I first read them.

What shall I render to Thee for the gift of gifts,
Thine own dear Son, begotten, not created,
My Redeemer, proxy, surety, substitute,
His self-emptying incomprehensible,
His infinity of love beyond the heart's grasp.

Herein is wonder of wonders:
He came below to raise me above,
Was born like me that I might become like Him.

Herein is love;
When I cannot rise to Him He draws near on wings of grace,
To raise me to Himself.

Herein is power;
When Deity and humanity were infinitely apart
He united them in indissoluble unity,
The uncreated and the created.

Herein is wisdom;
When I was undone, with no will to return to Him,
And no intellect to devise recovery,
He came, God-incarnate, to save me to the uttermost,
As man to die my death,
To shed satisfying blood on my behalf,
To work out a perfect righteousness for me.

O God, take me in spirit to the watchful shepherds,
And enlarge my mind;
Let me hear good tidings of great joy,
And hearing, believe, rejoice, praise, adore
My conscience bathed in an ocean of repose,
My eyes uplifted to a reconciled Father;
Place me with ox, ass, camel, goat,
To look with them upon my Redeemer's face,
And in Him account myself delivered from sin;
Let me with Simeon clasp the new-born child to my heart,
Embrace Him with undying faith,
Exulting that He is mine and I am His.
In Him Thou hast given me so much more
That heaven can give no more.

A Puritan prayer

Why I am NOT a Photographer

Thanksgiving...finaly

I'm sad to say I forgot to break out my camera for most of our Thanksgiving trek to my parent's house. We had such a great time! The 11 hour trip there went rather smoothly.
Once we were there, I guess we were too busy to take time to pause for pictures! We did snap a few when my cousins came over for our Thanksgiving meal. One of my twin cousins, Andy had a baby on the same day as Anna. They were sooo cute together sitting in Mom's big chair. I think they were almost mesmerized by each other.

Then I had to catch Jake and Cade who are also around the same age. But Cade was too smart for his Aunt Kim (or too much like his daddy) and every time I got ready to snap the picture, he had to fix something in his nose!! They still were pretty cute.

We had a wonderful meal, but most of all we had great fellowship and a chance to testify to the many blessings given us by our Great God!