How amazing is our Creator!

Wow! We are with my family in Florida this week and having a wonderful time! Hope to blog about our time here but I am totally moved to glorify my God at this time!
I am so thankful to have been able to view the amazing work of our God in the wee hours of the morning this morning.  It was the total lunar eclipse during the winter solstice. It was absolutely amazing. Felt so moved to praise our God! He is indescribable. I got to view this rare sight on my Bday with a few of my favorite people in the world, which made this bday tops on the list of most exciting bdays!  Kevin, Madi, Mom, Heather and I stayed up to marvel at this amazing sight. It was so cool to be able to experience that with Madi. Hopefully it will be something she never forgets.  The moon was amazing in its fullness. We walked out Mom and Dad's front door, looked up and there it was. It was like God created the perfect show for our viewing. I was so thankful to be here and be able to enjoy the eclipse. If we would have been home we would have not been able to see it because of the weather. It was beautiful as the shadow of the earth eventually blocked the direct light from the sun. It created a beautiful reddish tint on the moon.  In addition to the eclipse, the stars were so bright and shining. The sky was perfectly clear and my parents live away from most city lights so the stars were bright and beautiful. I am so thankful to worship my Creator, the creator of all the earth. How blessed I am to be a daughter of the Most High. Thank you God for the ways you continue to amaze me!

Psalm 147:4 (New International Version, ©2010)

⁴ He determines the number of the stars
   and calls them each by name.

Psalm 136:9 (New International Version, ©2010)

⁹ the moon and stars to govern the night;
            His love endures forever.

Psalm 8:3 (New International Version, ©2010)

³ When I consider your heavens,
   the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
   which you have set in place,


Hope I can post some pics soon! It was amazing.

Finally Finished and Ready to Enjoy Christmas!

Wow! It has been a whirlwind. Thank the Lord for the strength, energy and endurance for helping me do all I have had to do in order to finish all the last minute things to get ready for Christmas. It may sound silly but I have talked to God many times this past week about helping me to accomplish everything I need to accomplish. HE IS FAITHFUL even through the small requests. I am ever so thankful for my precious, wonderful, amazing husband for being so supportive and patient with me even when I am acting in a tizzy. I love him! I am also thankful for my sweet babies for being so patient with me this week while I have been glued to the computer trying to finish up their Shutterfly books. It takes forever to do 3 at a time!
I feel like a heavy burden is lifted off of my shoulders! I can now enjoy the rest of the Christmas season. Don't get me wrong. I still have lots of packing and wrapping to get done but at least the girls can help me. They love to wrap presents.
We will be leaving on Friday morning to go to FL to spend a week with my mom, dad, sisters, niece, nephews and the rest of the family. I am so excited to be able to spend time with them. The girls are thrilled to see their cousins. They have never met my new nephew Audi, so it will be fun. I do dread the L O N G drive down there with three precious children. And did I mention Mya is potty training? HUMMM! How many potty breaks will we take? :) We will just have to laugh!  Once we get there it is all about relaxing and spending quality family time! I can't wait. Then of course, we can look forward to getting back here and waiting on the BIG man to come ; )  Well, I better go to bed. NITE!

Madison's book 2010

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Zoe's book 2010

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Our Family Photos 2010

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Mya Avery's Photo Book

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A Turning Point in the Jourdan Household

I have a lot of catching up to do. Since Thanksgiving it has not stopped. We have been doing lots of fun festive holiday things. The thing I want to blog about today is the conversation we had with Madi last night.

   So far in my life there are two conversations with my children that I want to delay as long as I can to preserve their childlike innocence. They are  explaining sexual intercourse and Santa's existence.  I know they are two extremely different conversations and one is obviously much more important and heavier than the other but the fact that the conversation is taking place only means my oldest baby is maturing.

Madi has asked us the past few years the normal question, "Is there really such thing as Santa?" Of course Kevin  and I have not wanted to deliberately lie to her asked, "Well, what do you think?" She says, "Yes, I believe." So with a sigh of relief we say, "Good!" 

Well, her questions have started coming a little more frequently this year and Kevin and I were hoping we could get through one more Christmas with her believing. Unfortunately, that is not going to happen! 

Last night she came down stairs after being in bed for quite a while and sat on the stairs. She looked puzzled and I could tell she had something on her mind. She said she couldn't sleep and that she kept thinking about Santa Claus and whether he was real or not. I looked and Kevin and we knew that we had to tell her the truth. Ahhh! I dreaded this day.   :(  She came down and sat in my lap next to Kevin on the couch and we talked. We asked her if she REALLY wanted to know and she said yes. She said she wanted to believe and she knows she should believe, it is just so hard. She has a few friends that have told her that Santa isn't real and she just can't stop thinking about the whole thing.  I wanted to cry. I hated for her to lose the joy and excitement of the "magic " of Christmas.  I had some strange butterflies in my tummy as I listened to her. Then Kevin told her that He was Santa and I told her that is why I believe in Santa. :)  Because I believe in her daddy. Suddenly, a moment of clarity came upon her face as she finally understood the song "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus".  She has always asked me to turn off that song because it really bothered her that a mommy would do such a thing behind her husband's back. When it would come on she would say, "Where was the Daddy?" or  "Would you kiss Santa Mommy?" I would always say, "That's really strange!" Then quickly change the subject.

Kevin explained to her the importance of keeping it a secret and not spoiling it for her sisters or any of her friends. She understood and was excited to hear her daddy call her "our little elf". She had lots of questions about how it all went down and when we set out all the gifts and stuff. Then it hit her that mommy and daddy bought ALL the gifts and that's why Santa couldn't bring poor children gifts. That was always hard to explain in years past. Now she understands and wants to ask for less so that we can give more  to others that don't have much. She has such a sweet and giving heart. Maybe this new chapter in our life although sad at first to close the old one, will open up more opportunities to teach Madi and eventually Zoe and Mya about giving more to others and not getting so caught up in wanting so much when we are blessed with everything we need. Hope you all have a wonderful time sharing special moments with your family during this holiday season.