Random photos

Some randomness from the week before Christmas

More gappy smiles from Rachel  (shot at f1.8 to maximize holiday bokeh for anyone who cares about the technical specs)

Molly loves spaghetti

Spotted at Target.....Herbie!

More tree (shot at f20 to maximize the star effect on the light...again if you care about technical stuff...and you know who you are)

School's Out!

Let the pre-Christmas festivities begin.  Aaron began the week with part one of his pre-Christmas tour of friends' homes.  So it was just Rachel and I as we headed out for a day of fun.  Stop #1 - breakfast at Dunkin' Donuts, followed by a stop at Kohl's to pick out a new Christmas dress.

Then it was off to the mall, but not before we stopped at Toys 'r us.  There we met a man shopping while holding his pomeranian named Romeo.  Romeo was cute and friendly and I sure was absolutely thrilled to be out in the middle of Toys 'r us 6 days before Christmas!  Off to the mall where you can wander around and take in the decorations.

Or visit an entire store filled with Legos

Or the candy store that happens to be filled to the brim with stuffed animals.

Next stop....Daddy's office to pick him up for lunch.

After lunch with Daddy it was back to the mall to look around some more.  There we waved at Santa and voted for our favorite gingerbread house.

Lots to see at the Disney store.  Who doesn't love Beaker?!?!?!

Back to Brownsburg to pick up Aaron and get him ready for stop #2 of his tour.  Then off to Chuck E Cheese for a birthday party.

Happy 6th Birthday Hayden!!

All I want for Christmas.....

We came home from Illinois minus one top tooth. :)

Almost done...

One more day of school until Christmas break!  Aaron came home with an award today.  This one is for music.  I asked him what specifically he got it for.  "I don't know....I got all 100% and was the best in the class on the guitar"  Good enough for me. :)  Way to go Aaron!

Forgotten

There's a wonderful person in my church who, through her experiences with a loved one and homelessness, has been growing a ministry to the homeless called "The Forgotten".  Melissa inspires me with her compassion and courage.  She has worked and built relationships with some of the homeless citizens of Indianapolis.  I had not had any 1st hand experience serving with this ministry when she asked me if I would go with them as they took some hot food and coats, blankets, and other supplies down to the camps.  By camps, I mean settlements of individuals living in tents, under tarps, and in makeshift shacks along the White River.  I really wasn't sure what I was getting into.  I have to admit I had some preconceived notions that those people were probably in that situation because they chose to be and surely they could find something better if the really wanted to.  After several hours of spending time with these individuals, my perspective was shifted.  I can't fully articulate exactly what I felt after leaving, but I think the crux of it was this.  Sometimes it's not up to us to worry with the why's and how's.  Sometimes we need to leave our comfort zone and see people how I'm sure Jesus sees them.  Valuable and special human beings who are loved by the Creator.  People who have immediate needs such as food and shelter and (during this cold Indiana December) warmth.  We just need to go and do something.  Homelessness is a vast and complicated issue, it can't be solved by one trip to the river with several pots of chili and an armful of blankets, but for today this is what I think all of us can cling to....

•  For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,  I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'   "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'   --Matthew 25:35-36,40

Time to sing

Tonight was Rachel's 1st grade Christmas program at school...make that holiday program.  Rachel had a special part holding the light for the 6th night of Hannukah. :)

Lots of fun. Rachel did a great job.  We had lots of girls in Christmasey dresses trimmed with fur, the required kid spinning around and acting up in the background, and to top it off, at the very end a dog came running through the gym and got everyone off track! :)  Fun times!

Yo...Christmas Tree

The 2011 Hackney tree is up.  Aaron and I made a quick run to Wal-mart for some new lights to brighten up the tree.  He picked out the LED icicle lights.  When we got them out of the box I thought they would have stretched out a bit more.  So this is what we ended up with.

Sitting on the couch & enjoying the decorated house together, Dusty says, "those lights make it look like Rambo."  Note to self....time to get more LED lights.