Zapata Falls

There were so many options for our last day. We will definitely need to come back to see the San Luis valley with the stations of the Cross, Fort Morgan gun fights and more mountain drives. Today we chose the falls, although most of us were leery. Mom and Dad (due to the hike and walk in ice cold mountain water) and Leah (because we still might fall off a mountain.) Luke… well he’s not leery of anything except has serious cravings for Cartoon network! K packed a great lunch and cold water. We started the ½ mile walk at a angle of almost 180 degrees up. Thank goodness for park benches and walking sticks. It actually wasn’t that bad… not knowing exactly how much more makes us scared. When we arrived at the water bed, we found the ice cold water exhilarating! Leah started to cry, we think because the canyon was so narrow, but she willing held our hands through the water and over many rocks. We were then rewarded with the most amazing waterfall in such a beautiful canyon opening. The sunlight filtered in and we were just thrilled! The way back was so much easier and Leah was able to tell a daycare group that it wasn’t scary at all. (The daycare kids were about 4, but each had an adult and many were carried in piggy back by young adults that defiantly earned their pay that day). When we arrived at the water bed… she wanted to go right back. There were so many people and our experience was so breathtaking, we didn’t dare, but spent some time wading through small outlets and going off the trail a bit. Lunch tasted so good and after some ice cream and gift shopping we returned back to the cabin. No deer this late in the afternoon.

Sunday School XMAS program

The best part of the weekend was the Sunday School Christmas program. Leah placed some of the "Savior's Nations" flags around the alter rail (you can see that it is round!) Luke was Joseph and a proud one at that! He had to go early with his Pastor Dad, as Mom might run too late (with 2 cousins coming too!) The program was so sweet, bring tears to my eyes. I was so proud of each and every one of them. I guess I am starting to love the whole congregation! (still have probably 60% of the names to learn though!). The pictures are taken from my usual front row spot and I LOVE looking up at the cross and stained glass above.

Baking cousins

I was ambitious this weekend... maybe a little too ambitious! If you are family and these show up on the goody table... be cautious, more flour than dough was used. Of course most ended up on their clothes, hair, the floor and curtains!

Prayers

Our traditional night time prayers are "Jesus loves me" with a twist.

Jesus loves me this I know
For the bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong
They are weak, but he is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves Leah,
Yes, Jesus loves Luke,
Yes, Jesus loves Mom and Dad.... (many others we love can and are added in this line)
For the bible tells me so.
THANKS FOR THE CROSS!!!!!

Tonight though Luke added:

And please God, help my Mom understand that just because I fight with Leah...it doesn't mean I don't love her! OK -- message received! It doesn't mean I will learn to like the fighting though!!!

Merry Christmas

Tradition in our home, places the nativity with an empty manager. After Christmas eve services, Christ is placed in his lowly manager. This is true at our new church as well. I love nativities and have collected quite a few. Some of my favorites are a small Fontanini set that I am slowly collecting, a Guatemalan nativity that E brought home from a mission trip and a new Jim Shore that we just recieved this year. .

Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday to CHRIST THE KING! May the JOY and PEACE of Christmas be with you all!

Christmas Tradition

We normally spend Christmas Eve at my in laws. This started when Luke was a little guy and my in laws wanted to spend Christmas morning with him....(not having his mother bring him over at almost noon when she is awake enough to shower and travel!) It has been wonderful-- cheese, crackers and wine after Christmas eve candle light services and waking up to see what Santa brought while still in my pajamas (although I have to keep dodging my father-in-law's camera). This year Ed needs to preach Christmas AM so we won't arrive until afternoon. I will miss spending the night and making Christmas morning easy! It started me thinking about our traditions we will always continue. One is the 7 day nativity that we will start on Thursday.
If you have young children....I highly recommend the story and nativity. Both of the kids love it! Leah's preschool pageant used the story as their program. (Be sure to see post below).

Traditions

Traditions start one year at a time. For years - I have wanted to have a tradition of taking a / my little girl to a Nutcracker Ballet. The yearning started with my almost 15 year old niece. However, it just never happened, and then Luke was born. Luke just isn't the type of boy that could appreciate the culture of dance and ballet. Finally, I had my daughter. Now she is 5 and into all things girly and dance. Her gymnastics class is with a dance studio that put on a community performance. Leah has been excited for weeks. We invited aunt C and cousin J, and then we had a wonderful surprise visit from long time Des Moines friends, so C and T came as well. All day long, Leah was so sure it was time to leave and she sat spellbound until she quickly realized this performance differed from Barbie's movie version, and even the Mikhail Baryshnikov's version that she loves. Her disappointment did not last long! This was live and we knew some of the dancers and I had such JOY watching my girl's eyes sparkle with fascination at what the dancers could do, the costumes, the music and the THRILL! Hopefully, a new tradition has started!