Merry Christmas!

Go Huskies!

The University of Washington is playing in the MAACO Bowl Game this afternoon, so the Collier clan is proudly rockin' their purple and gold, packing up the car, and heading into Seattle to watch the game with the funcles. The boys will be sipping on beers and loudly cheering for their favorite college team, and as they have their eyes glued to the television screen, my eyes will be glued to the cutie baby sportin' his mini game-day attire and world's most adorable football leg warmers. Because isn't that what Bowl Games are all about, anyways? 

Parker's First Game

I Ache

I sit near my fireplace this evening as Parker peacefully naps a few feet away in our bedroom. Reflecting upon today's tragic school shooting - our nation's second deadliest massacre - the videos & images on CNN, the President's heartfelt and tearful response, and the gut-wrentching newspaper articles replaying eyewitness accounts. Accounts of a story that no teacher, parent, school administrator, volunteer, community member, or child should ever ever ever have to see.  

Like many others today, as a mother, a community member, and an educator, I find myself completely heartbroken and overwhelmed by today’s breaking news. And while our nation mourns the loss of twenty innocent children and six adult educators, I find myself stunned to learn that twenty innocent children across the globe in China also lost their young lives today as they walked onto their school grounds.

I do not have the words to express my emotions this evening. So instead, I sit & listen. cry. pray. reflect and sing the sadly relevant lyrics to one of my favorite worship songs ... 

"Ache" by Jesse Butterworth

Holy Spirit come, Undo what weve done, And soften this hard soil 

Holy Spirit stir, Come and turn this dirt, In to something beautiful

Jesus, I ache for Your children, Lord, my heart breaks for the many

That don't know Your love, Jesus I plead for this city

Come and redeem the many, Who are far from home

And make Your glory known! 

Holy Spirit come, Undo what weve done, And tend this dying vine

Holy Spirit stir, Make this hardened dirt, Explode again in life

We will prepare the way of the Lord

We will declare the name of the Lord

We'll set our hands to work for the Lord

We'll take our stand and follow You Lord

Jesus, I ache for Your children, Lord, my heart breaks for the many

That don't know Your love, Jesus I plead for this city

I'm down on my knees for the many, Make Your glory known in this city

Come and redeem the many, Who are far from home

And make Your glory known!

Doctor Daddy

Park had to get a few shots at the doctor's office today. Never fun for mom or baby. Thankfully, the handsome man rockin' his white coat in the exam room was our very favorite physician - daddy.

Hunting for a Tree

Movin' parents.

Movin' baby.

A rare moment of stillness for all.

 Our sweet friends Kim & Ty were in town for the weekend!

Our first itty bitty family Christmas tree.

Traveling to the Motherland

My boys and I recently arrived home from our two and a half week road trip, visiting sweet friends and family all around Washington and Oregon. That’s right, daddio took two weeks off - his first break since Parkerman joined the clan! We had a fabulous time living out of our suitcases, and soaking up the sunshine of Eastern Washington, then the snow and icicles of Central Oregon. Yet before I dive into the details, let me first paint you a little picture…Driving around with a wee one for more than an afternoon outing to the grocery store looks a little something like this [if you simply remove the man’s best friend from the front seat & insert a wailing baby in the ever-so-crowded backseat.]

Thankfully Jordan’s car finally died, after investing one too many pennies into it over the last couple of years, which means we got to break into our non-existent piggy banks, travel down the road to our local used car lot on the last day of the month, and spend more money than we’ve ever made in our collective lives to purchase a larger, newer and safer vehicle. Welcome to the family, Hyundai Santa Fe. You most definitely cost us more than we have ever earned in our combined fifty-two years on this planet, so it’s safe to say we’ll be keeping you in the family for.ever.

Parker's car. We'll just keep it til he's old enough to drive.

But I digress...

On the [never-ending] road.

Jordan and I were both over the moon excited to venture over the mountains and show Parker around the motherland of Yakima. While in town, Jordan gave a brief presentation at PNWU then we visited my favorite middle school kiddos, drove through our old neighborhood, bundled up the baby and walked to my favorite local coffeeshop with Jess and her baby, enjoyed fine dining and diaper blowouts with our previous landlords at the Country Club, crashed our old Bible Study group and passed Parker around to some of our favorite friends. We spent a late night at the Cherry household cuddled up to the fireplace, with hot beverages in hand and good conversations filling the room. The next morning Jordan jumped out of bed at 5:30am to play basketball, we went back to the middle school to attend AVID class and say goodbye to the staff and students, then finished off our visit at our favorite lunch spot. Did I mention we were only in town for 24 hours? We pulled out of Yakima and onto highway 97 with stuffed bellies and full hearts. On to the next adventure...

FMS - one of mom's favorite places, visiting some of her very favorite people!

We spent the next eight days relaxing, hot tubbing, card playing, baby carrying, movie watching, book reading, wine drinking, dinner making, story telling, & tax-free Christmas shopping at our home away from home in SunRiver with my favorites representing FOUR generations. Not too shabby...

After being held, snuggled, sung to, rocked, and played with for eight days straight, it is safe to say Captain Droolface is loved. Very, very well loved.