The kids enjoyed playing in the snow a few weeks ago when we got the big snowfall.
Lydia Rassi Christmas – the girls got nightgowns for themselves and their dolls. The boys got doctor outfits
Unfortunately, I did not get any pictures of the Kaiser or Kieser Christmas’s.
Jerry Kaiser Christmas
We’re an exciting bunch. : )
Christmas Eve with the Rassi’s
Christmas with our family
I have sat down a few times to put pictures and words to the last few weeks of our lives, but something always comes up. For those of you curious about our family members affected by the tornado. They are doing as well as they can be. They are beginning the process of trying to find their new “normal” and deciding what is next for their families. Please keep them in your prayers.
As for us, we’ve covered a lot of ground during the past few weeks. I will try to briefly recap it as I again, don’t have much time, but would like to remember it in the future. =)
We enjoyed picking out our tree from Dad’s tree farm again this year. The older two were a little more opinionated about which tree we chose. We don’t do a ton of Christmas decorating due to time constraints and a curious toddler and baby, but we do enjoy decorating the two trees together. Kate was a great help this year and actually, I did the lights and she did almost everything else. Lincoln and Creighton helped too, but their interest faded much quicker than Kate’s.
Here’s some real life for ya….sometimes I look at messes like this and don’t even know where to begin.
This boy is a constant source of entertainment. He keeps me hopping from the minute he wakes up from the minute he goes to sleep. You never know what he may do or so and while he is a handful, he is so funny. Just the other night he prayed, “Thank you, Lord, for baby Jocelyn, and thank you that I can poop.” He has listened to his Cars and Finding Nemo books on CD so many times that he can quote it word for word and does over and over.
I had a birthday somewhere in there and Mike and I were able to go out for dinner. The kids took our picture.
Anya loves Jocie, BUT if Grandpa is holding Jocie, she gets jealous and has to be held, too.
“Helping” (ha) Aunt Lisa make Christmas cookies
A couple misc snapshots
We enjoyed a family dinner at Culver’s and then the Festival of Lights. Dinner was a complete zoo and we soon remembered why we don’t eat out much. ; ) I actually had to say, “Don’t put ketchup up your nose.” ??!!
Pictures before the Christmas program at church. The kids all sang great and I have some videos and pictures, but we have a number of foster children in our church right now and out of respect for their families, I do not want to post them here. If you want to see them, I’d be glad to show you. I totally could do the “just one picture” post again with this set of pictures, but instead, I’ll share the one we got with everyone looking.
Grandma R invited the kiddos over to decorate a gingerbread house. They loved it!
And lastly, Creighton’s first trip to the dentist. He did remarkably well for being a cross between Dennis the Menace and Curious George. =)
I think we can all agree that this week has been one we weren’t expecting to have. I said this on facebook already, but for those of you that do not have that, I wanted to put it on here as well. I could never possibly express our thankfulness to everyone who has prayed for and provided donations for our family members, Kevin and Jolynn, Jason and Ellie, and Brian and Janis, who have been greatly affected by the tornado devastation. While we have moments of feeling completely devastated as we watch them go thru this, we are beyond grateful that their lives were spared and the support we have felt from all of you, friend and stranger alike, has been completely humbling. So, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you. God has been so good to us.
I was given the opportunity to be a drop off point for those wishing to donate to those who have lost so much. I was not prepared to see love and generosity like I have seen in the past week. It’s been stunning and overwhelming and amazing and truly touching. As I expressed my thanks to people time and again they would say, “This is nothing” or “What else can I do” or “They would do it for me". I have watched those who lost much if not everything rise up and say, “we’re alive, God is good” and “I’m so glad we weren’t here” and “I’m thankful for this and this and this.” I pray if I was ever in this situation that I would handle it half as well. God has been so good to us.
I’m so thankful for each and every volunteer, for the firefighters and other emergency personnel who have worked tirelessly to help. Thank you again for every prayer uttered, for every item or dollar donated, for every offer of help…..we just cannot say thank you enough. We’re very blessed to be surrounded by such amazing people, know that you have made a difference. Please keep praying. God has been so good to us.
Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
