Our Thank You Christmas Post

Christmas day at the Bower household was very relaxing and joyful. I never expected to enjoy a white Christmas in Portland, but this year was the year with a snow storm that shut down the entire valley for little over a week. It was not until Dec 27th that things were settling back to norm. And now that we are experiencing normal Portland weather - 40's and rain is kinda nice. I put together an album with comments to share our day with you. Please scroll through and enjoy!

Smiling #2

Ian's Smiling

(8 weeks old)

Grocery Shopping for Christmas

Our local Trader Joe's got some new kid size grocery carts and boy did Jadon have a ball! We did not have difficulty entertaining him while shopping. The trick is now how get him to leave the grocery cart once we are done without a protest?

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

I really do not have much say in the matter, but hey! If we are going to get "unprecendented snow fall" (at least 8 inches!) and the "worst weather in more than a decade" I might as well and try to find the silver lining - At least Jadon is enjoying it and I do not have to attempt to conquer a 750 foot hill to get to work!

(Quotes taken from local news)

Peanut Butter Crackers

A White Christmas in Portland ?!?!

Merry Christmas Ian Style

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

The artic blast has visited the Portland area and boy was it cold! Jadon didn't seem to mind though cause we had to drag him kicking back into the house.

The school's have been closed for the last three days, so I am enjoying some help with the boys - I am actually completing tasks! We have traveled around Portland with chains on the car because of all the hills, the roads being iced over, and the lack of snow removal equipment by the counties here. And because the artic blast visited us twice, Jadon and mom went out to build a snowman.

Purify me with hyssop,
and I shall be clean;
Wash me,
and I shall be whiter than snow.
Psalms 51:7

Jonah was a Prophet

Ian is almost 7 weeks old and mom, Jadon, and Ian are finally falling into a do-able schedule and enjoying time together. Ian has finally determined his schedule for feedings and Jadon has found something that holds his attention during that time. I went through special toys, books, cars, motorcycles.... the only thing that seems to consistently work is a Veggie Tales video of the story of Jonah. Will had purchased it on a wim, in exchange for some clothing that I had previously purchased at a second hand store. When I sit down to nurse, Jadon points at the TV and says "Jonah pleeze" and then sits down next to me & Ian.

Tonsils anyone?

Now, I thought I knew the story of Jonah. I mean he is the prophet that God told to go to Nineveh and when he decided to go the other way, he ended up in the belly of a big fish for 3 days and nights, right? Well, yeah, that is the general story. What I didn't realize until watching the Veggie Tales version over and over and over and over.... again, is that Jonah didn't get it. Our God is a God of compassion and mercy and loves bringing people to himself. He uses backwards and broken people like myself and Jonah to deliver that message of mercy to others. When the Ninevites believed and repented (partly because Jonah was in a big fish and lived!) Jonah was mad! He did not feel that the Ninevites deserved God's compassion and mercy, which is why he did not want to deliver God's word to the Ninevites. And I must confess, I have been there. I have been angry and resentful when certain individuals in my life found the Lord and received His grace - in my book, they definitely did not deserve it, and hey, I wasn't going to show it to them, so why should God!

Christmas Tree Shopping

Very humbling to be watching a "children's" video and learn God's truths. Jonah is a story of God showing compassion and mercy to people that were not chosen as his own. The lessons for me have been to:

1. Show compassion and mercy to everyone
2. Do not put God in a box and tell Him what I will and will not allow

It's interesting, because I wonder what is sinking into Jadon's heart and mind as he watches it. But, understanding and wisdom will come in due time. Will and I are fostering familiarity and knowledge of where to find truth, that way when he has questions, he knows where to find the answers.

Who do you know who you feel does not deserve God's compassion and mercy? Is that who God has been placing on your heart to deliver the message of the Christmas to? The angels announced Jesus birth to the shepherds by saying "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord..."Luke 2:10 - 11.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Arigato Narumi Yada

My Grandmother's great niece sent a present. It is this really cool truck with a tank that has a whale shark in it (you know it is cool when dad wants to open the box). It is from the Aquarium in Osaka that we had visited with them while we were in Japan in 1997. Jadon really likes his new truck. He can point to truck and whale at the same time! Narumi, if you see this blog, please leave a comment so that I can contact you.

Thank you