Christmas with the Schraders

We are enjoying our Christmas time with my family at my parents house. 

Our gift to Mom and Dad was a calendar with our family pictures from the fall and with everyone's personal picture on the date of their birthday. 

 

Our theme this year at church for Christmas was the Advent Conspiracy.  It consists of four ideas-Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More, Love All.  At our own home we had already been talking and implementing these ideas this season.  How awesome to come to the grandparents and have our theme reinforced by a story from grandpa. 

Many of you may know about the blizzard in South Dakota that took place in October.  The link below provided a farmer's view of the tragedy.  My parents had found out about a family in South Dakota that had lost 70% of their herd in the blizzard.  This family was in desperate need of help so my dad and mom decided that this year each grandchild would receive $20 less in their stocking and the combined money would be sent to this family specifically to buy Christmas presents for their kids.  The kids are showing their stockings that their cash comes in from the grandparents.  It was awesome to hear them share the story of how they sent money to the family and to watch all 8 grandchildren respond gratefully.  My parents are probably the most generous people I know and I am thankful for their example from all of them.  I also included a link for the Advent Conspiracy if you want to check it out. 

 

Advent Conspiracy 



Rancher Details "Gut Wrenching Pain of Cattle Loss"

 

Finally, we were able to worship and participate in the Christmas program at Camp Creek Church, the church I grew up attending.  It was a nice finish to our Christmas season to sing hymns and hear the Scripture that reminds us of the truth of Christmas.

Eric had to head back home Sunday afternoon, the kids and I are here until Tuesday.  Happy New Year!



Merry Christmas 2013 from the Nordberg Family

This picture was taken this Fall at the Schrader farm

Lucas is 14, Caroline is now 16

Anna is 10 and Andrew is 12

We had a wonderful vacation in July to Tennessee where we attended the Answers in Genesis Family Conference.  We also were able to tour the Creation Museum in Kentucky.  

These were taken before we went for a hike up the Smokey Mountains.  It was very late in the day and the waterfall was very far away.  Let's just say, I really thought we were going to be eaten by a bear at dusk.  

In April, Caroline, Andrew & Anna were in the CYT production of Charlotte's Web.  We love Christian Youth Theater and all four kids have participated in shows, camp, classes and as Teen helpers.  This fall Anna was in Willy Wonka, Caroline was in High School Musical and Lucas assisted with the 5-7 year olds.  I am the Area Coordinator for the West side.  As always, we have terrific support from all of the grandparents who attend the shows!

Lucas played for the Wichita Defenders last year and now both boys are playing for the homeschool basketball team.  We attended the Homeschool Basketball Nationals in March where teams come from all over the country to compete in Springfield, MO.  Eric is also helping to coach this year.  We are thankful for the opportunity to compete in sports and be on a team with some great kids.

I just love this picture so I had to include it.  Caroline and Lucas attended this formal last May.  Some of the CYT parents put it on for all the kids to enjoy.

 We are in our second year of competing in Bible Quizzing at Midland Ministries.  We drive to St. Joe, MO once a month for 6 months to quiz.  My nieces also quiz and my brother coaches so it is really a fun time.  Grammie and Granddad are faithful spectators.  Lucas even qualified last year to attend the National Quiz in Wisconsin.

Here is what Andrew was doing all fall.  This was his last year of playing football on Maize Jr. Red.  In four years they lost 2 games and went undefeated the last two years.  He is #21 and he loves to tackle.

We have gone to pick out a real Christmas tree at the Tree farm for the last three years and it is becoming one of my favorite traditions.  My kids especially love when I quote Christmas vacation to them the entire time we are there :)

Caroline has been taking sewing lessons from Grandma Valerie and made this bag as her first project.  Both girls love to go to Grandma's to make cards also.  Glad she is crafty since I have two crafty girls and I am not crafty at all!

These are just a few of the things that have kept us busy in 2013.  One of my goals for 2014 is to keep up with the blog.  So if you are interested feel free to subscribe.  Even though many of you are far away or even close, I know we do not get to see you very often.  But know that we think of you and love each and every one of you.  May 2014 be a blessed year full of God's glory and grace.  

The Nordbergs

Secret keeper

www.secretkeepergirl.com

Last night I had the privilege of attending a secret keeper girl conference with Anna who is 9.  It was a wonderful night of fun and encouragement.  But the best part was the emphasis on looking to God's word to tell us what true beauty is.  Our daughters can never hear enough that they are loved and beautiful simply because they are a princess of the King.  Check out the website and if you have the chance to go, take it!

Tuesdays Unwrapped

I just got home from a lunch with my son.  The only reason we out to lunch was because we were meeting some friends.  They went to the restaurant on the other side of town.  Then I got home and realized I totally forgot the awards breakfast at school this morning for my other son.  So as I fight the urge to spiral into the "I am the worst mother for forgetting" and the "If only I was more organized, this wouldn't happen" mode, I need to stop and reflect.  Reflect on the moments and the unwrappings. 

I am homeschooling my son for the first time this year.  It is a joy to have moments alone with him such as our lunch today.  He is 12 and I look forward to my days spent with him.  My other children are thriving at their school.  They have teachers who love them and who are there to really teach.  When my kids were little I read to them all the time.  I bought them fun little workbooks and we played a lot of board games.  I always felt I should have done more, but looking back now, I know that the games we played and the time we spent reading together were blessings and that my children learned and are the students they are today because of that time.  I was so blessed to be able to stay at home their whole lives.  Not everyone has that privilege-and now more than ever I see it for what it is-a job, a way of life but also a privilege.  I would do some things different, I would try to enjoy the stage more when my kids were 5 and under (all 4 fell in that category at the same time by the way) but God is faithful to use the little things I did, to make them the boys and girls they are today.  Don't stop now doing the little things.  Don't stop now looking for the joys.  Now is the time to and be thankful.  I am here when they come home from school.  Yes, I forgot the awards breakfast but at least I had the option to be able to go.  Grateful that in the midst of my imperfection, He continues to shine.

Tuesdays unwrapped

http://www.chattingatthesky.com/2011/11/29/tuesdays-unwrapped/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ChattingAtTheSky+%28chatting+at+the+sky%29


This is a great link to help us reflect on the things that make us thankful.  I am trying this out to see if I am doing it right.  Will add more later.

I can't wait for spring.  I try not to complain too much but I really don't like winter or cold or snow.  I just keep thinking about summer and it being hot.  I would take 50 days of it being over 100 instead of just one day below 20.  One of the best things about spring is the grass and flowers.  Everything turns green, the flowers bloom, it is so beautiful.  Have you ever thought about what happens eventually to those flowers and grass.  Isaiah 40 tells us that the grass withers and the flower fades.  Every fall the grass dies and the flowers stop blooming.  Is. 40 tells us that people are like that too.  All of us are here for only a season and we will pass away.  Do you know what this chapter of the Bible says is the one thing that will last forever?  It is the word of God.  God's word stands forever.  Everything around us is fleeting and fading except God's word.  So then, if this is true, why do I invest so little of my time in the one thing that will last.  Sure I read my Bible every day and I do studies and I even try to memorize a little.  But the truth is that my thoughts and my schedule are consumed by a million other things than God's word.  I really, truly believe that this passage refers to God's word that He has given us in the Bible.  But I believe it goes even deeper than that.  I believe God still speaks to His children today through His Holy Spirit.  I believe that when God speaks something to you and you know it is Him that you can stand on it.  Remembering that God never speaks anything to us that is contrary with what His written word says. 
This being said I must confess that I have not stood on God's written word or His spoken word to me.  I have really lost some of that unwavering faith I had at one point.  God has spoken some things to me that have not come to pass the way I thought they would and I think at some point I stopped listening and believing.  If you can relate to me then I would encourage you and myself to take some time and listen and repent.  God's word does stand forever.  If God said it we can know it will happen.  But His ways are not our ways, they are so much higher.  I have to be able to stand without knowing exactly how or when His word will come to pass.  I trust my Father's heart.  I want my life to reflect that trust.  This spring remember the flowers are only going to be around for a little while, but God's word will be around forever.

Do Hard things

I bought my niece a book for her birthday called Do Hard Things by Alex & Brett Harris.  I was attracted to this book because it advertised itself as a "teenage rebellion against low expectations."  The premise of the book is that being a teenager isn't a pass to be lazy and waste your life.  These are years that are to be used as serving God and doing things that are hard, uncomfortable, or just not always fun.  I purchased a copy for our family and I have been very convicted by this book.  It has made me realize just how few hard things I do in my daily life.  I have really settled into a lifestyle of comfort and ease in the last couple of years.  Many times I think I deserve to live an "easy" life, now don't get me wrong, not everything in my life is easy, but I am comfortable.  I don't talk to people that are out of my comfort zone.  I have not really taken on anything challenging in the last two years.  I often let things slip by in my children's behavior because I don't want to take the time and effort to first discipline then deal with the repercussions.  With my husband going to school  and my health issues last year, we really just went into survival mode.  I realize that may have been a season but I believe God is bringing us out of that season.  My health is much better and I have learned that you have to serve God and live life even if you don't always "feel" great.  Eric is almost done with school and we will be able to close that chapter and move on to the next.  I am ready to start doing some hard things.  I wanted to share with you the list I made this morning in the hopes that it will encourage some of you.  These are the hard things that I want to start doing.
1. Training my children-making this my priority, being consistent, setting definite goals then making a plan how to reach those goals.
2.  Prayer-I seriously lack in this area.  I want to rise early and simply spend time in prayer, not just Bible study but talking and listening to God.
3.  Reaching out to others-talking to strangers, reaching outside my group at church, fulfilling the Great commission where I am at. 
4.  Being faithful in the little things-keeping up with chores and responsibilities around the house even when I don't feel like it.
5.  Exercise-I believe that i need to be in shape and healthy to do the work God has called me to do. 

This is where God is calling me to start.  I want to be faithful to follow Him.