Christmas Time Again!

I love Christmas. I love being with family. I love presents :) - both giving and getting. I LOVE being with my baybas (Lauren and Jake Jake turn 1 yrs old tomorrow). Below are their pictures one year ago TOMORROW!


























And my baybas as of late:
























Now, actually, they have so much more hair than in these pictures.... I need some updated photos.. I have some; they just need to be scanned in.

Dan has been saying all week long how much he hates Christmas. He hates feeling obligated to buy presents, he hates all of the chaos, he hates the holiday traffic, he hates spending $$$, he hates having to go to 8 million Christmas parties.

OH MY GOODNESS - I forgot mention. I went to my first bar! Well, in the US. I've been clubbing and to bars in Germany (what's not a pub there?). Emily (Dan's cousin) and Matt (family/childhood friend) wanted to go out after holiday hooplah on Christmas Eve - so Dan and I met them and Bridget at a bar in Mishawaka. Scary. A fight broke out and everything. The fight included the bar owner and his girlfriend. He slammed her into the door and then she proceeded to break everything in the back room. We heard glass breaking for a good length of time (maybe 3-7 min). I didn't drink anything - just Pepsi :). Although, I was carded. We shared so many good stories and memories, it was great. At Midnight, we were asked to leave, b/c the bar was closing - so we went to IHOP until about 2 am. I think that was one of the funnest nights I've had in a long, long time :).

I don't care what Dan thinks of Christmas - I love it :)!


*Pay no attention to the dates on the pictures... I rarely set it to the correct date. The wee baby photos were taken on 12-26-05 and the later ones were taken in August after our trip to Washington D.C. to visit my mom and dad.

There is something that God has been asking me to do for a long time, and I keep saying, "no" - somewhat from fear, mostly to sort some things out. But everytime I say no, it hits me that I just disobeyed God. So I return to him humbly and tell him how sorry I am and ask for His forgiveness. And what I feel him saying is, "OK, but I still want you to do this". And then I say, "no - I just can't, Abba". It turns into a vicious cycle. I was so sick of disobeying that I just stopped talking with God about it. And when He would bring it up, I would change the subject. But He's brought it up again. And it's time I said, "Yes, Lord". I've been so stupid and foolish for having said no in the first place. I remember telling myself in the past, "I will never tell God 'no' - not ever, no matter how hard it is to say 'yes'". And when I found myself in that situation, what did I do? I said, "no". Mulled it over, yes. Took it into great consideration, yes. But then decided the risk was just too great - regardless of how much God whispered to my heart, "you need to just trust me". I'm tired of it, and I truly believe that it has robbed me of peace. Not all of my peace and joy - but a good chunk of it. And I am going to claim it back. I want to honor God. I don't want there to be a single thing wedged between me and God. Even if it means doing what's hard, just because He's asking me.

Pray for the Lord to give me strength.

I always have so many great ideas for blogs throughout the week, and then I get to this point: At my computer with not a single idea simmering, waiting to burst out. I need a notebook or something ...

My HH* who is just amazing bought me a Christmas present that is just too much. So we're sharing it. He got me one of those video iPods. All I got him was a ping pong table (although he seems pretty excited about it). I am telling you what - I love it (the iPod). I have been listening to worship music and Bible on CD everywhere. I even downloaded a movie & an episode of The Office that I missed and was so sure I'd never ever be able to see. I listen to the Dirty Dancing Soundtrack (a personal fave - but I can only handle so much of it). AND I LOVE THE PODCASTS. Mostly because: THEY'RE FREE!!! My favorites are: German Grammer, Joyce Meyer, Youth Specialties (for youth leaders), Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, Old Time Radio Shows, and I can't remember the few others I keep tabs on. Joyce Meyer is my absolute favorite. I am always finding myself mumbling (and sometimes shouting) "Amen!" - You realize that "Amen" means "I Beleive", right? I love saying that, too, though .... just as a personal declaration to a particular statement .... "I believe!!"

God could NOT have given me a more wonderful, precious, amazing, handsome, awe-inspiring husband. Well, I know God can certainly do anything - but I just can't imagine it. Dan shows me so much love every day. I only pray that I show him at least half as much. He is just amazing. Everyday he surprises me with another side of his personality and character. I'm always just staring at him in amazement, because I just think to myself, "are we sure this is my husband?? how could I be so lucky??" But God is good! All the time!!!

Horatio is being precious as ever, of course. Always mischevious, but uses his cuteness to ellude the truth. He got a battery operated mouse for Christmas. I haven't been able to put the batteries in yet, but I know he's just going to freak out when I get it working.

Are you wondering how everyone already knows what they're getting for Christmas? It's because we've already gotten them for Christmas. Since we go home to Indiana for Christmas, we try to have our personal Hartstein family Christmas here in Iowa, since this is our home. But we have a pretty busy next couple of weeks on our hands - so we had Christmas on Katie Starkey's birthday - December 1st! I love Christmas :) I'm making most of my presents this year. Although ... I need to start assembling them!

First.. I should probably go to bed. Have a good night!!

Keep Loving Jesus!

*HH = Handsome Husband