Christmas past

 During this time of year I always remember Christmas at our home on Woodland Ave.  Back then I was just a kid and so was Kim.  Our parents were married and happy except for that one Christmas (but that's another blog).  They hadn't gone through their divorce.  The brain tumor that would dibilitate my dad hadn't happened yet and the stroke that would disable both my parents wasn't even on our radar.  At that time my parents were in great health, enjoying the season with their girls.  I have such fond memories of those times and I'm forever grateful to my parents.  When I reflect on my dad he was always the best at Christmas and on vacation.  I miss him the most at Christmas time.  He just made everything fun.  Every Christmas morning Kim and I would wait with anticipation at the top of the stairs while dad made his way downstairs first to ensure Santa had indeed been at our house.  We'd attend Christmas eve service at our church, not knowing that one day there would be a Christmas eve service that we'd walk out of in tears because Kim, mom and I couldn't get through the service without dad (after their divorce).  

My boys are now 23 and 19.  Christmas doesn't look the same as it did when they were kids but that's okay.  It doesn't make our time together any less special.  My prayer is that one day when Jay and Nick are in their fifties they too will reflect on their childhood Christmas' with fondness.  We had some stressful times but I can laugh about it now.  There was the Christmas our basement flooded.  The Christmas where we got a TON of snow and Mike had to spend the entire morning plowing snow because we were hosting that year.  There was also the Christmas Jay got sick (2007) and barfed all over.  All of those memories are pretty typical for most families.  

I'm so grateful for parents who loved me, who ensured my childhood Christmas' were special.  I'm thankful for my precious boys so that I could experience Christmas through their eyes.  This season of my life may look different but it doesn't make it less special.  

1 Peter 3:15

 "Instead you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it."

This is the verse the Lord placed on my heart in the middle of the night.  The Lord is up to something but I have no clue what.  For example weeks ago I listened to a podcast about how the Lord speaks to us through dreams.  What I ingested from that podcast really stuck with me.  I'm noticing I'm dreaming more lately and waking up with people on my heart to pray about so I'm spending time in prayer during the night.  But last night this verse from Peter woke me up.  I knew it was 1 Peter and the verses that came to me was 3:5, probably because I'm more familiar with Proverbs 3:5.  I was just off by one number so again this says to me the holy spirit is up to something so I'll write, even though I don't feel like it. 

Years ago I blogged about this verse.  What I write today will be different from what I wrote years ago but what has not changed is my unwavering belief in Christ Jesus, that He came to this earth in human form but completely God.  He came to die for our sins and rose again on the 3rd day so that we may have eternal life and not only eternal life but a relationship with God.  What was once broken, God redeemed. On a personal level I've seen God do the impossible.  I've experienced Romans 8:28.  When Mike lost his job years ago, I witnessed Mike break into pieces and watched as God rebuilt him, blessing him during the journey and using other believers as messengers to help guide us along the way.  He will fail us or abandon us (Hebrews 13:5).  That's not to say what we went through was easy but now that were on the other side of it, I'm very thankful for that hard time; "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance" James 1; 2-4.  Sometimes I wonder what it must be like to be an athiest because personally I find this world decaying so fast.  An athiest believes this life is it.  Since they believe there is no God, then we all die as rot in the ground, with no hope of anything better.  This world is full of disappointment, broken promises, death and violence.  Our minds and hearts were never meant to consume so much hate but thanks to social media, my heart is often very heavy.  When I witness a terrorist attack or learn of a young 26 year old woman who was set on fire traveling home from work on a Chicago train while bystanders watched and did nothing.  When Charlie Kirk was murdered for all of social media to witness.  When the news reports on jewish people being gunned down at the start of Hanukkah I'm reminded my only hope is in Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior.  He promises that He will wipe every tear from my eye.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain (Revelation 21:4).  How I long for that, especially the older I get.  I spent years wondering what my purpose is and the more I see the evil in the world I realize my purpose since the beginning has been to be a light in a very dark world; to love as many people as possible and point them to Jesus because He is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6).  

When it really comes down to it and if someone were wanting me to prove the existence of God and Jesus, I'd point them to Lee Strobel's book, "The Case for Christ."  And after that it really comes down to faith.  We walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).  Jesus told Thomas after his resurrection, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29).  I live in complete anticipation and again unwavering confidence that I will stand before God one day and give an account of my life (Romans 14:12).   Sure that scares me a little bit because I'm a sinner and I know how wretched I am but what scares me more is to stand before a holy God without Jesus.  It's because of the cross that I can stand before God one day, living in perfect harmony with Him for all eternity.  Thanks be to God for the greatest gift ever given, Jesus.   

Start Writing

 Gosh even as I sit here with my fingers on the keyboard I have no idea what to write.  This morning as I finished my morning prayers in the stillness of my living room with the slight glow of the lights from the Christmas tree I felt the holy spirit say to me, "start writing."  That's all I heard.  For months I've known I should start writing again but menopause has really done a number on me but it's because of menopause I know writing would provide a positive outlet for me.  I just haven't felt like writing.  I'm probably suffering a wee bit of depression (something I've never dealt with before besides when I broke my ankle in 2016) and I'm experiencing some anxiety.  I also don't feel like I have anything to offer, not like when the boys were growing up and provided me with so many humerous stories.  Plus I always knew I had my mother who would read my blog everyday (back when I blogged almost daily).  She would call me, usually in gales of laughter or tears of joy to tell me how much she enjoyed that particular blog.  These days mom has no idea where to find my blog.  On occasion I will text her a post I know she will enjoy but if you look over my blog this past year you will mostly find content with very little substance.  

I am going to try to blog more and by that I mean put some effort into it.  If my writing seems kind of old and depressing it's because it is but I do have so much good that's going on in my life right now.  John and Judy have been our house guests since Dec. 12 and I am loving my time with them.  I never could have foreseen this new relationship which is just another reason why I love God so much and love how He works.  He is in the business to redeem and restore.  Mike's work schedule is ridiculous once again so John, Judy and I have had a lot of time to spend together, just the three of us.  It's been a joy to get to know Judy more and see how in love she is with John and vice versa.  

Jay and Hannah have settled into their new home and everytime I go over the home just feels more cozy.  It was a year ago today that Jay walked away from a long term relationship and in my devotional book I had written, "Lord, please heal Jay's heart."  Here we are a year later - an answer to prayer.  

As 2025 wraps up and 2026 is just beginning I commit to blogging more.  It may not be pretty at times but I can promise it will be written with raw emotions, honesty and humility.  

Merry Christmas

We celebrated Christmas early this year.  Jay and Hannah are headed to Florida for Christmas so we got everyone together on Dec. 14 and it was such a wonderful day.  To be honest I kind of enjoyed doing it this way this year.  It frees up Mike and I to do what we want for the rest of the season and the boys also.  Nick and Rylan can spend time with her family on Christmas and Jay and Hannah will be laying on a beach in sunny FL.  All that matters is that we are together some time during the season and that's what we did yesterday.  John and Judy flew in on Dec. 12 and are staying with us at our house through Dec. 18 when they will leave to visit Judy's family in IN.  I am enjoying having them minus their mean dog - just saying.  Ha!  

These four kids have my heart.  What a delight it is to be a part of your adult childrens lives.  

                                               Three generations of Siebert men!  

My momma.  It isn't easier for her or us to get her here but we get it done and are so thankful she is still able to make the trip and spend the afternoon with her family.  

These girls!  If I would have had a crystal ball all those years ago when I was raising my boys and if I could have seen how they would turn out and the amazing women they brought into our family I  probably would have relaxed a lot more.  That's not how it works though.  It sure is a testament to God's faithfulness though.  

Yesterday was beautiful in so many ways.  There was a lot of laughter.  It was wonderful having everyone together under one roof.  Extended family is the best and I'm very thankful.  
 

December Happenings

Hunting season is in full swing for Nick.  He has killed two doe's.  He was laid off all last week and he hunted the entire week.  He loved it.  He's back to work today for who knows how long.  He works outside and the weather is bitterly cold.  

I have to admit I really hate these pictures but hunting is important to Nick and he loves it.  Rylan went with him last week but I don't think she loved it.  It was terribly cold.  She said next year she'll go with him earlier in the season when it's not so cold.  

On Friday night me, Kim and Lauren went to a Christmas market to celebrate Lauren's birthday.  We had a great time but it was bitterly cold.  I've lived in Illinois my whole life so I'm use to the cold but the older I get the more I dislike the cold - just saying.  
 

The print

 Several weeks ago mom went on a shopping field trip with Luther Oaks.  She came across this print and I'm sure it reminded her of her grandparents farm.  On the day she bought it she asked the van driver to drive by her grandsons home so she could give it to him.  Bless that driver's heart, he agreed.  Then mom asked a CNA to deliver the print to Jay.  The kind CNA knocked on Jay's door and Jay happily went out to the van to thank his nana.  Such a sweet moment!  Jay loved the print and got it hung in his new home this week.  My hope is everytime he looks at that print he'll be reminded of his nana's thoughfulness and the kindness of others to make it special for Jay and mom.  

Happy 18th Birthday, Lauren

 Lauren celebrated her 18th birthday on Dec. 3.  I kind of had to pinch myself that she's 18.  It seems like only yesterday she was a little peanut in the NICU.  She is truly one of our families greatest blessings.  Her faith is inspiring and she's just a joy to be around.  I am a boy mom and having my precious niece is a gift.  I am excited to see what the Lord has in store for her in the years in the come.  

Happy Thanksgiving

These pictures are in no particular order and after I downloaded them I realized I didn't have any pictures of Lauren and Kim but I assure you they were with us.  In fact Lauren helped me decorate my mantle this year.  Rylan helped me with my tree and Hannah helped me with my table centerpiece.  I'll post pictures of them later this week.  For the second year in a row we celebrated thanksgiving Saturday, the day after Black Friday.  It works out better that way so the boys can do their own thing with their girls on Thanksgiving.  However, this year we were hit with a major snow storm - like 6-8 inches of snow.  Thankfully everyone made it here and back safely.  

My mom loved cuddling with Steve's dog.  He would just sit on her lap and mom loved it.  

Uncle Steve and his dog! John and Judy could not join us as they remained in Florida but they will be with us for Christmas.  

Two of my favorite girls.  I just love this picture of them.  Frame worthy for sure! 

My yearly picture of Mike and the turkey.  He fried two turkeys this year and they did not disappoint. 

 This picture just made me laugh.  Rylan was decorating the top of the tree from the cat walk and Nick was helping below.