Feminine Appeal

I recently finished reading Feminine Appeal: Seven Virtues of a Godly Wife and Mother, by Carolyn Mahaney. Mahaney's writing cuts through the confusion surrounding men's and women's roles, and, with great clarity, paints a beautiful picture of what God intends for women to be. She writes in depth about a passage in the Bible, Titus chapter two, which lists seven virtues of a godly woman, virtues in which women are to be trained: loving their husbands, loving their children, self-control, purity, working in the home, kindness, and submission. Mahaney examines each virtue, sharing real life stories and drawing out fresh applications. The bottom line of each virtue, as Mahaney writes, is to make the Gospel, the message of Jesus Christ, attractive to those who do not believe. A great book on an important topic.

Teddy's First Birthday

Teddy's first birthday was just before Christmas (when we couldn't load pictures to the computer!). He had a ball opening his birthday presents...

Playing on his new rocking horse from Grandma Maggie...

Singing "Happy Birthday" and eating loads of chocolate cake with our friends the Liechty's.

We have had you for only one short year, yet we cannot imagine life without you!

Happy Birthday Teddy Dean!

Schmidt Family Christmas

We have had difficulty loading pictures onto our computer over the past couple weeks, but we finally found a solution. Now we can share some of our Christmas pictures! Above is a picture of our family in front of the church Christmas tree last Sunday morning. Our boys are in their adorable matching Christmas outfits from Grandma Patti.

Auntie Lyndsay sent the boys some Christmas pancake molds. We enjoyed a delicious breakfast Christmas "Eve" morning of snowflakes, elves, and snowmen. Calvin was tickled pink to be eating snowmen for breakfast. I think this will turn into a yearly tradition. Thank you Dan and Lyndsay!

This is after the Christmas Eve candlelight service. Sitting in church on Monday night made me think of last year's candlelight service in Minnesota: Holding my tiny, five-day-old Teddy Dean, marveling at his sweet face and tiny hands, while singing about Jesus' birth.

New toys!

Christmas Day at Scott and Marcie's house...The Kids' Table.

Christmas was fun and special this year. But it was different, as well. Family in Minnesota, Seattle, and Houston, we missed you!

Calvin, the defender of truth

Two days before Christmas, Calvin and I went to Target to buy treats for mommies stocking. As the lady checked us out she asked Calvin if Santa Claus was going to bring him presents. He replied, "Santa Claus is not real." She said, "No, he is real and he will bring you presents." Calvin responded, "He is not real!" I told the teller that we told Calvin the truth about Santa Claus, she looked at me like I was the worst parent in the world. Calvin has told a few people, "The lady said there is a Santa Claus and I told her he is not real!"

The speaking truth part is there, we just need to make sure the love part is there. I am very proud of my boy's stand for truth.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas family and friends! We are enjoying our first Christmas in Kentucky. As Kim and I crept into Calvin's room to place his stocking at the foot of his bed, he sat right up and shouted, "Is it time for presents?" (Good thing we have told him the truth about Santa Claus)

Our morning started at 7:00 am with stockings. Then we had a wonderful breakfast. Calvin asked to be excused and stood by his presents patiently waiting until Dad and Mom and Teddy finished eating. When we finally arrived in the living room he was shaking with excitement.

Both Calvin and Teddy Dean loved all of their gifts. Kim and I were the recipient of many wonderful gifts as well. Oh yeah, Calvin is not good at surprises. He whispered to mommy last night as they snuggled in his bed, "I got you Jelly Bellies in your stocking."

After gifts and a nap (for daddy and Teddy Dean) we went for a walk. It is almost 50 degrees and sunny today so this was a wonderful family time. We are getting ready for afternoon naps (yeah!) and then we are off to our friends' home, Scott and Marcie.

As we exchange gifts today, we are remembering the greatest gift ever given: Jesus Christ.

Merry Christmas to all, we miss and love all of you dearly.

$.84 of Joy

Ken is not the only one sneaking a treat here and there...

A package of three Ferrero Rocher chocolates, $0.84.

Sitting alone in the van to eat them, priceless.

$.79 of joy

This morning as I returned from the seminary I passed the Krispy Kreme store just minutes from my home. I had just enough change to have one steaming hot iced donut. Mmmmm, it's the little things...

Preschool Christmas Party

We had a fun time at the church Christmas party for families of preschoolers on Sunday night. As I thought, it was a riot. I played Christmas carols and sang to a fidgety group. The whole time, there was something of a low roar, as all the kids talked, screamed, cried, etc. Pastor Jeff read the Christmas story after that and remarked, "Tough crowd. Kind of like preaching at a nursing home." Very true. The kids enjoyed decorating Christmas cookies. Here is a picture of Calvin with his Sunday School teacher, Miss Becky.

Here are some of Calvin's friends from Sunday School, also enjoying decorating their cookies.

Pictures of Our New Home

Here are a few pictures of our new home, decorated for Christmas.

(This one was taken in November.)

Away In A Manger

A couple days ago, Calvin and I worked together to put out our nativity scene. I was so impressed with the care he was taking with each piece, and how interested he was with the whole thing. Since he so enjoyed it, I decided to take the risk of displaying it within reach. Here you can see both Calvin and Teddy examining the manger.


For an hour or more, Calvin played happily by the manger, looking at the baby Jesus and singing, "Away In A Manger." I was in the kitchen, smiling as I listened to him play in the other room. How precious, I thought.


Later in the day, Calvin was alone for a while as I tended to Teddy. I came into the living room to find the nativity pieces strewn about, and the manger grass and shrubs smashed into the carpet. My two-year-old was not so trustworthy after all.


The nativity is now safely displayed above the TV armoire. The three wise men journeying on camels toward Bethlehem are the only pieces within reach.


I guess any hands-on manger activity will need to wait for a couple years. For now, we will talk about the nativity and admire from a distance.

Random thoughts...

• I just ran out of my supply of Caribou Sumatra Decaf that Pat G. sent down in November. I love Caribou, nothing compares down here.
• I love bagels. For those of you who know me, this is amazing. I do not know what happened.
• The Green Bay Packers are having a great season. The beauty of it is that I still have no expectations of them.
• Baseball is in sad shape.
• I am studying the book of Genesis. I am more and more persuaded that the point of this book is to tell us who God is and who humanity is and what that means. It was not written to determine how many days creation entailed and to give us an age for the earth.
• I am also studying the theme of worship. Worship is about engaging with God in the way that He reveals pleases Him.
• I am excited about Christmas this year. We are having friends over for Christmas Eve from my work and our church. This is going to be a wonderful time of singing Christmas carols and reading the story of the birth of Jesus.
• I have been home the last two days and been in charge of discipline for Calvin. It is a tiring job. He is in a rebellious stage and needs constant discipline. It is starting to work, his heart is softening and he is obeying more. I am more thankful for Kimberly and all her hard work as I have taken on the role of main disciplinarian.
• We have great friends. Everywhere we go, God places amazing people in our lives that give generously of their time and talents. The body of Christ is called to minister to one another. I only hope that my family will be a blessing to others as others have been a great blessing to us.
• I like the weather in Louisville. It is cool now, but not cold. We have yet to have snow. This is a very good thing.
• I do want snow on Christmas Eve...then I want it to melt quickly.
• That is it for now...

Christmas At Ninth & O Baptist

The past couple weeks have been an exciting time of attending Christmas events at our church, Ninth & O Baptist. Two weeks ago, the Sunday evening service was "Family Night and Christmas Cookies." All the children went to the worship service with their parents; there were no children's activities or nursery. The service was brief, with a few people sharing their faith stories of how God has worked in their lives, and the children's choirs singing. Afterwards, everyone mingled in the worship center, where tables of Christmas cookies were set out. My boys loved it...the cookies especially, but also playing with all the kids and hearing the music.

Then, last Friday night, our Sunday School class had a Christmas party at church with the senior adult class. We had a wonderful dinner. Calvin and Teddy each had two helpings of sweet potato casserole. It was nice to meet some more of the seniors at church. We've met so few at this point. The seniors doted on all the children in our group. Anyway, it was just a great night, tons of fun. Calvin made a new friend named Gracie; they chased one another around and fought "monsters" hiding around the Christmas tree.

On Sunday evening, the church's choir and orchestra performed a concert entitled, "Love's Pure Light." It was fabulous! If they had done the same concert three nights in a row, I would have been there every night. The songs and narrations helped me set my heart on Jesus during this Christmas season. They sang about Jesus being Emmanuel, God with us. Ever since the concert, I have been meditating on Emmanuel, God becoming flesh and making his dwelling among us.

This coming Sunday, we will attend yet another party at church, this time for all the families of preschoolers. That should be a riot. I will be leading the group in Christmas carols

Teddy Dean is definitely related to his daddy

Well, Teddy Dean has proven that he is related to his daddy. He is a major carnivore. He loves sausage, fried chicken, hamburger, turkey, pepperoni, etc. If it is meat he will devour it.

WOW!

Today is one of those days I have been dreaming about since I knew that I would be living in Louisville. It is December 11th and the temperature is 66 degrees! Kim and the boys went for a play date in the park with some friends and did not even think about putting on a jacket.

Thoughts On Moving

Well, we are moved into our new home, a house in Louisville that we are renting from some acquaintances. Our move has had its stressful moments, but we are safe and sound and somewhat settled in.

Even though we are unorganized, have a Green Bay Packers blanket covering one window (Ken doesn't mind), empty boxes strewn about the back entry, and all the wall hangings piled up in our bedroom, we are enjoying the house and feel very blessed by what God has provided.

The first big blessing is that we have three bedrooms. Teddy is sleeping in his own room for the first time, which means Ken and I have our own room again! No more sneaking in and out of our bedroom (which didn't really keep Ted from waking anyway). Everyone is sleeping much better with this arrangement.

The house has mostly wood floors, which is fun for the boys. Calvin calls it our "wood home"; he has been busy racing all his cars. The boys are loving the extra space to play and chase each other.

We are enjoying how quiet the house is compared to our apartment. This is also making for better sleeping for everyone. Ahhhh....

And, one more wonderful thing...no cigarette smoke from neighbors.

Here are some of my opinions about moving in general:

• When the kitchen is unpacked, it feels like home.


• In-town moves are tons easier than out-of-state moves.


• When there are more urgent family and household needs than can possibly be tackled immediately, take Carolyn Mahaney's advice to focus on food and clothing. I will add to that beds and garbage removal. Very important.


• The children adjust easier than I do. I guess I'm 28 and unflexible.


• Being without a telephone for a few days is challenging. But payphones do still exist and work quite well.

Please email us to get our new address.