books

These are the books I've read/listened to this Fall.

Walking with God Through Pain and Suffering by Timothy Keller

Totally one of the best books I've ever read. Actually, I listened to and read this book simultaneously. It's deep and I need all the concentration help I can get. I can listen longer than I can read it. But it's incredible. It's been on queue to read for over a year. I think everyone should read it because it gives you perspective for yourself when you're walking through pain and suffering and also for those around you. 

A Grace Disguised by Jerry Sittser
I listened to this book early in September mostly because it had come up a lot in different places in life. It's was a good listen and had some tidbits of knowledge that were interesting and helpful. I guess the biggest nugget I got from this was that you can't compare anything in life, especially loss. Loss is loss. And yours is not bigger or more important than others.

Breathe: Making Room for Sabbath by Priscilla Shirer
I just finished this. If you are having issues with margin and breathing space in your life right now in any regards, GET THIS BOOK! It couldn't have come at a more perfect time. It's actually a journal/bible study. It has a few videos to go with it that you can download for a just a few dollars on Lifeway. Well worth your time. This is a keeper for me as a reference. I loved it. If you happen to get this as a gift from me, please don't be offended. Know that I want you to see the freedom that I see in it.

The Best Yes by Lysa TerKeurst

Although I've never been a super huge Lysa Terkeust fan, I really, really liked this book. For me at least, it goes hand-in-hand with Breathe. It helps you use your "yes" and "no" in the most responsible way to free you up for the most important things in life that are yours - not everyone else's. It is practical and gives you great thought processes for decision making. I just finished this - it's an easy read. 

Faith and the Modern Family by Craig Jutila

I read this book in the late Summer. This book was great in just thinking about parenting in the current culture, what your kids are dealing with in this age of technology and how to intentionally set goals and a vision for your family. It was a relatively easy read with lots of great practical thinking. Good for parents with little kids through big.

A Praying Life by Paul Miller

Our Monday night bible study read this book this semester. Not one of my favorites, but definitely one that has some good thoughts and practical tips about prayer. If not for the accountability of reading it with a group, I may not have finished this one.

december round up

So, to catch up on the month. 

Ben's birthday was December 3rd. Ben and I went to Pittsburgh for they day on the 2nd. We had breakfast and coffee in the Strip District, went to Market Square, putzed around Pittsburgh for the day. We ended the day with a bunch of my family at Church Brew Works for dinner. It was a really fun day.

On his actual birthday, his parents came over and we had dinner at Texas Roadhouse. And, as always, one of Doh's delicious cakes!

After a long Summer and Fall of building for the Kozels, they finally moved into their new house. The kids had pizza as the first official dinner in the house.

While the guys took a breather in the garage.

Ken and Joanna signed the papers and, just like that, the house is theirs!

We even snacked on some Larry the Cable Guy chips in between trips to the basement.

These lovely leaders caroled at our house for Ben's birthday. So sweet!

We've watched all the great Christmas movies:

The Christmas Story

Elf

The Grinch that Stole Christmas

White Christmas (Ben and I watched that one at the theatre)

Home Along (a gazillion times and I have a new appreciation for it)

Christmas Vacation (my all time favorite!)
The Bishop's Wife

After their first viewing of The Christmas Story we had hot cocoa with marshmallows.

Sophie lost a top front tooth. The other one is loose but she waits until they are practically falling out of her head before she and Ben battle it out. This tooth was hanging by a thread and fell out while she cried about it in front of the mirror. She didn't even touch it. (In the New Year Sophie we are starting to fix that crazy cross bite she has).

We've done some baking. This is a special recipe Ben learned about while listening to Mike & Mike on ESPN radio. The name is semi-inappropriate but involves a layer of chocolate chip cookies, a layer of Oreos, topped off with brownies - WOW!

Sophie drew this sweet picture of her with her friends:

Sophie, Madison, Lily & Ellie

The fun thing is that I love their mama's so much!

After the New Year painting begins. I LOATHE picking paint colors.

The kids have made a few gifts this year. They were very excited to give these gifts and were really good about actually picking out, painting and wrapping.

We made chocolate chip cookies for Uncle Jim.

Ben was on kid duty one Monday night while I went out with some friends. Caleb and Ben have spent zero time together and Caleb snuggled up and took quite a nap! Ben texted us this picture making sure it was ok for him to be napping.

Sophie with baked spaghetti one night for dinner. I have no idea why we took this.

My sister moved a couple of weeks ago. Ben, Daniel, Alex, Nick, BA & Rusty helped with the big move. We are very, very grateful for their help!

This is going back to after Thanksgiving when we put the tree up. You know, by the time Christmas rolls around I'm really ready to take the tree down. I mean, a tree in the living room. It's lovely and all but I'm about over it. Ben and I agreed on January 2nd.

Some other highlights from December include:

• Ben went to a Steeler's game and a Penguin's game
• The kids' holiday program at school which left a lot to be desired
• Dinner with the Kings, Lutyens and Daniel (the area YL staff) to celebrate another great year
• Ben went to DC for 3 days to visit our friend John
• Ted playing basketball (I really can't say much good about it right now, so I'll just move on)
• lots of family game playing

christmas 2014

We had a lovely Christmas. Aside from a small detour with Ted getting strep throat, it was really, really great. Just like Thanksgiving, both of our family's were all home. Twice in a year is pretty impressive. 

Monday night we watched Elf and slept "under the tree" (in the living room) with the tree lights on. We tried this a few years ago and it was a disaster. So we decided to give it a whirl this year again. Everyone made it except Ben - he went upstairs about 4am because he was on an air mattress on the floor which isn't awesome for his back. We all might have been secretly thankful because he was snoring quite a bit!

We traditionally open presents as a family on Christmas Eve morning and then go to New Martinsville after Ben plays at both Christmas Eve Services. Ted woke up sick Christmas Eve morning. I suspected strep. He opened presents from the couch and then we hit up urgent care. He did indeed have strep so we got 24 hours of antibiotics in him before traveling. The kids and I stayed home all Christmas Eve. Ben led worship and came home to eat Chinese with us.

Sophie gave Ben a picture of me from our wedding. She found it in some box somewhere and wrapped it up for him. Hilarious!

Ted got my old iPhone to use as an iPod. Sophie got an easel. We are taking them snow tubing after the New Year and also got them coupons for many fun family adventures and dates with to do with us. It was a fun gift and one we can spread out. I'm excited about it. They were thrilled with it.

We traveled over the river and through the woods to get to New Martinsville on a rainy Christmas morning. They stayed in their pj's so it would be the same as if they were actually waking up at Doh & John Pap's like we usually do.

 

Sophie got a "spa set" from Ted that included various lotions, bath and hand soaps, a loofah and sleep mask. Big hit.

Isaac was there when we got there. It's always fun to have a baby around on Christmas morning!

Ted got spy glasses - one of his favorite gifts. A 9 year old's dream gift.

 

Headbands and boots - the girl was in heaven.

 

 One of my favorite traditions is that my family comes to have Christmas lunch with Ben's family. We've done it every year we've been married. I think the only year we haven't was the year Ted was born and we didn't go home at all. It's a lovely tradition that I know a lot of family's couldn't or wouldn't do. I'm glad we do.

Henry (and his parents) came after lunch. So we helped him open his presents. These babies are so fun!

The dad's put together the new toys and they all played for awhile.

Then Ted videoed Isaac and showed it to him. It was hilarious for everyone involved.

 I love this picture!

In the mid-afternoon we transition to my parent's house and the Slider family Christmas.

My brother made 10 pounds of (really big) shrimp in his cooker thing. We did this last year too and it is awesome! It's officially tradition.

Aunt Belinda got Sophie this sweet dress.

The grandkids played Left, Right, Center with quarters. Uncle Charlie and Uncle Todd sweetened the pot with $5 each. Sophie walked away with $15. So glad we are teaching them to gamble young.

The grandkids minus Reed. He didn't come because of our germs, which I totally understand.

My siblings:
Jay, Sara, me, Belinda, Charlie

Our cousins came out, too. We grew up with them. Love them so much!

Brandi, Sara, me, Charlie & Jeremy

I spent a little time with Reed the day after Christmas. He's pretty cool.

 

We went out to Aunt Did's store and Sophie picked out a new jewel for her bracelet. She paid for half with her gambling winnings.

 

And then she hung out with my brothers fox or some other sort of animal that's been hanging in his room forever.

Now that Sophie has new boots, we have a totally matching outfit. She thinks it's the coolest ever. 

We went to see my Pennsylvania family yesterday. The kids had a gift exchange and got this sack race game. It was a beautiful 60 degree day which was so great to play outside.

 The big kicks played Ted's new Battleship game.

 We are home for the day and Ben made some cookies he meant to make before Christmas. Not that anyone needs anymore junk. I'm eating nothing but salad for about a month.

It was really a fun Christmas. Everyone got really thoughtful gifts. I'm taking Ben to a festival in Pittsburgh and Courtney and Andy are going too. My parents are doing some fun adventures with the kids. My in-laws are taking the kids to see the play Willy Wonka in Morgantown next week. The kids gave each grandparent a gift card to their favorite restaurant to take them on dates sometime in the neat future.  We got a few games that we can play together as a family. 

I really loved the time we got to spend with each of our families. We did play a lot of Trivia Crack this week, too. You know, quality family time playing each other on your phones.  Merry Christmas!