Christmas 2007

Yes, this is our big surprise this Christmas!

We are still quite in shock actually!

We feel blessed to know the Lord has entrusted us with another child,

but a little overwhelmed at the moment too!

I wasn't sure how to tell my family about the new baby, so as you can see, I put the test in a ziploc baggy with the words "Baby Sikorski due Aug. 2008. Merry Christmas! From: God" in the bottom of my mom's stocking. Of course, she had to dig to the bottom of her stocking instead of just getting whatever was on top, so the baggy didn't make it to the end of our stocking adventure, but it all worked out ok. We tried getting a couple of pictures of the big moment, but the pictures didn't turn out real great. Needless to say, they are excited for us. Of course, the first questions were "Is this a joke?" and then "Where are you going to put the baby?" God knows all the answers to the questions like that last one, because we surely don't know the answers yet! I just know that if God decided to give us another baby, He will gives us the means to provide for this baby!

The funny side to this story is while cooking Thanksgiving dinner, I cracked about 5 double yoked eggs, so now the joke is that we are having twins! EEeeekkk!

I guess we will find out soon enough, huh?

My dad is reading about the gold gifts as talked about in the previous post.

Caleb with his gold gift.

Noah opening his gold gift, a blanket made with lots of "elmers" by Nonnie! You will have to look in the archives under "I missed a blogging moment" to know all about "elmers"!! LOL! Sarah Joy got a special blanket too!!Alana, Austin and Bethany all got a Bible with their names imprinted on them.Daddy and Bethany being silly with a squishy ball!Jeremy with his "special" gift! Ok, I will tell you the story. I wasn't going to because this is already a long post, but here it goes anyways. Christmas 2002, my family came up to ND to spend Christmas at our house. Because they were flying, they were not able to bring alot of presents and stocking stuffers, etc, so we went all out for everyone to make it a big christmas. Well, Ski and I picked out matching pair of socks for my dad and brother. My dad loved them, my brother thinks they were the worst gift he was ever given! LOL! They are navy blue with a snowman on the side and the snowman plays music. I thought they were cute for Christmas. Anyways.......the following CHristmas, Ski got the socks back from my brother as part of his christmas.....thus the saga began. We are always trying to think of new ways to wrap these silly socks. One year, I was at my brothers house and saw the socks in a pile of stuff to go to Goodwill. I said, no way hosea!! I snatched them up and he got them AGAIN for christmas that year! Well, this past summer, I found them at his house yet again in a pile for a yardsale!! LOL! You guessed it! I got the socks, brought them back to TN and he got them again for Christmas. I bought him his favorite kind of chocolate covered cherries, cut half of the cherries out of the inside, then stuffed the socks inside! LOL! Who knows where they will end up next year! LOL!

Jeremy with his special gift from last year!

Below are our Christmas pictures from this year. I am thankful my whole family was able to come up and help us celebrate Jesus' birth! Unfortunately, we had/have the stomach bug! Eeeewww! I am spraying and wiping down everything that I can in hopes to get rid of this thing. It sure is no fun! Right now, my brother, SIL and neice have it, but my mom, dad, me, Caleb, Austin (who literally turned green), Bethany and Sarah Joy already had it.

20072006
20072006
2007 2006
Well, we will see how many of you actually read our blog! LOL!

Hope you all had a very merry Christmas!

Don't forget.......2008 can be the best year of your life

depending on where you put Christ in your life and home!

Colossians 3:11b

"but Christ is all, and in all."

The 3 gifts!

Here is a tradition that our family has started a few years ago. My parents, Brother & SIL, and us each take a gift then take turns explaining the meaning behind the gifts before we open any other gifts and after reading the Christmas Story.

Gifts of Gold
When Jesus was born, gold was even more valuable than it is today. It was a gift that was fit for a king or someone of the highest regard. What a great symbol it was for Jesus to receive such an offering from the wise men, as he is indeed the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Not only did the gold gift signify Jesus' kingly position, but in their book, Gifts for the King, (published by Priscilla and Aquilla Ministries and available at house2house.org), Bill and Leah Miller suggest that the gold may also have helped Mary and Joseph escape Bethlehem. It may have paid for the family's expenses and protection while they traveled secretly to Egypt to flee King Herod.
This Christmas, explain to your children how the wise men's gift of gold was significant to Jesus and his family. Then give each child her own "gold" gift. The present should be something of great importance to suggest how valuable your child is to your family.
Gold gifts often end up being our most expensive presents. For example, a gold gift might be the bicycle a child has been dreaming about, the CD player she has been saving for, or a piece of jewelry that seems appropriate. For an extra treat, wrap the "gold" gift in shiny gold paper with iridescent gold bows or ribbons.
Gifts of Frankincense
Frankincense is a white resin or sap taken from the wounds of a tree found in East Africa and Southern Arabia. Today, frankincense is known for its antiseptic, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. No wonder people in ancient times begged for it. It was probably one of the ancient world's first "cure-all" medicines, healing everything from infections to headaches. Surely Mary and Joseph could use the gift of frankincense with a new baby around.
Frankincense was also a sacred substance. In Exodus 30:34-37, God specifically requests that frankincense be used as sacred incense in his Temple and forbids the Israelites to use frankincense for anything besides his religious purposes. God commanded the Israelites to place frankincense in front of the Tent of Meeting to scent the place where he had promised to meet with them.
Years after that temple was destroyed, God sent his own Son, Jesus, to be a symbolic "Tent of Meeting" for all people. How appropriate, then, that the wise men brought frankincense as a gift for Mary's baby. Jesus had become our Emmanuel: God with us.
With that in mind, your child's "frankincense" gift should correspond with the way he "meets" with God. For example, you could give your child a new study Bible, a devotional book, a journal, or worship CD as a frankincense gift. A younger child might enjoy a Christian video or CD of children's praise songs. Eventually, your children will be able to identify the ways they most enjoy spending time with God and will be able to suggest future ideas for their frankincense gifts. As a symbolic touch, decorate frankincense presents with bright white paper and bows to represent the sacred white incense that Jesus received.
Gifts of Myrrh
Like frankincense, myrrh is also a resin taken from a special tree; however, rather than being white, myrrh is a dark, earthy color and has a rich aroma. In ancient times myrrh was used to scent anointing oils, perfumes, and embalming liquids. Today you can still find myrrh added to some soaps, oils, and lotions.
Miller notes that myrrh was more costly than gold or frankincense because it was needed for the sacred embalming process before a person's burial. Still, it seems strange to offer an embalming liquid as a gift to celebrate a baby's birth. But when you consider that Jesus was born to eventually die for our sins, the symbolism behind the treasured gift of myrrh becomes easier to understand. John 19:39-40 confirms that Nicodemus did, in fact, anoint Jesus with myrrh as part of his burial preparation.
I am not, however, suggesting that you give your child a gift suitable for her funeral. Instead, remind your children that even though Jesus started out as a little baby, he was sent to die on the cross to take the punishment for each of our sins. Then, as a family, be thankful for Jesus' sacrifice.
For a "myrrh" gift, present each child with something to "anoint" her body. For instance, you might give scented bath soaps, perfume or cologne, lotion, or shampoo. For younger children, choose colorful bath bubbles or playful tub soaps. To stretch your options a little farther, consider buying combs, hair products, comfy towels, or even make-up if it's age appropriate. If you look hard enough, you might even find something made with real myrrh. Wrap the myrrh gift with earth-toned paper to represent myrrh's rich dark color.
The Real Gift
With a little creativity, these three gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh will help remind your children that Jesus is our King of kings, our Emmanuel, and our Sacrificial Lamb. When the extended family arrives bearing even more gifts, your children will already be focused on Christ and be able to receive additional presents gratefully and graciously. They might even enjoy telling other relatives about their "wise men"gifts.
Have fun with this approach. Your kids might not get it at first, but as the years go by, it will become a treasured family tradition; it has for us. No matter how many gifts come flooding through your door, the three gifts will help your whole family remember that the most important gift given on that first blessed Christmas came not from the wise men, but from God: the gift of his Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Happy Birthday to Grandma Ski!!

With all the busyness of the season, I once again forgot to blog about another birthday!! *sigh!* A very happy birthday to Grandma Ski, whose birthday was on the 15th.

Grandma Ski as a baby
Grandma Ski with her mom, dad and sisters
Grandma Ski all grown up with a family of her own!
Grandma Ski with her grown up family.
Grandma Ski with Caleb, Austin, Alana, Bethany & Noah in the summer of 2004

Grandma Ski with Grandpa Ski, Ski and Sarah Joy.

We hope you have a wonderful day! We love you and miss you!

Alana sang in church......

Alana sang with her children's choir in church last night. Enjoy!!

Happy birthday to Ski!!!!!!

Ok, so it's not that I forgot Ski's birthday.......I just forgot to post about it on here!

Eeekk.....how could I forget such a thing?

Well, his birthday was the 9th, which was Sunday.

So, he got to spend his whole day in church. What better place, right?

We took him out to eat for lunch at Mandarin House, a local chinese restaurant,

before going to our nursing home service.

To MY Ski....

I love you! I am grateful for another year the Lord has given you on this earth.

You are an amazing man for which your whole family is thankful for.

Colossians 3:15
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts,
to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

1. Thou shalt not leave "Christ" out of Christmas.

2. Thou shalt not value thy gifts by their cost, for many shall signify love that is more blessed and beautiful than silver and gold.

3. Thou shalt give thyself with thy gifts. Thy love, thy personality, and thy service shall increase the value of thy gifts a hundred fold and he that receiveth them shall treasure them forever.

4. Thou shall not let Santa Claus take the place of Christ, lest Christmas should become a fairy tale, rather than a sublime reality in the spiritual realm.

5. Thou shalt not burden thy servants, the salespersons, the mail carrier and the merchants. They all shall have thy consideration.

6. Thou shalt not neglect the Church. Its Christmas services are planned to help spiritualise the Christmas season for thee, thy family and thy friends.

7. Thou shalt not neglect the needy. Let they bountiful blessings be shared with the many who will go hungry and cold unless thou art generous at Christmas.

8. Thou shalt be as a little child. Christmas is the day of the Christ Child; not until thou have become in spirit as a little child art thou ready to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

9. Thou shalt prepare thy soul for Christmas. Verily most of us spend much time and money getting gifts ready, but few seconds in preparing our souls.

10. Thou shalt give thy heart to Christ. Let thy Christmas list have Christ in thy heart at the top as thy gift to Him this Christmas.

Author Unknown

Christmas 2006

Luke 2:11
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Twas the month before Christmas*

*When all through our land,*

*Not a Christian was praying*

*Nor taking a stand.*

*See the PC Police had taken away,*

*The reason for Christmas - no one could say.*

*The children were told by their schools not to sing,*

*About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.*

*It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say*

*December 25th is just a 'Holiday'.*

*Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit*

*Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!*

*CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod*

*Something was changing, something quite odd! *

*Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa*

*In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda*

*As Targets were hanging their trees upside down*

*At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.*

*At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears*

*You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.*

*Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty*

*Are words that were used to intimidate me.*

*Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen, on Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton!*

*At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter*

*To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter*

*And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith*

*Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace*

*The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded*

*The reason for the season, stopped before it started*

*So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Treeʼ*

*Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.*

*Choose your words carefully, choose what you say*

***Shout **MERRY CHRISTMAS*** ***not Happy Holiday

Alana as Clara Barton and some catching up to do!! *sigh*

Today was Alana's big day in History. She has to give an oral character presentation along with a couple of her classmates. The teacher broke it up over 3 days! Alana did a great job despite the fact that she left her worksheet home and only took to school a print out from Wikipedia on Clara Barton! Yikes! I got to school to help her get her outfit on and she asks "Am I supposed to read all of this"? *SHOCK* So, being the good mommy that I am, I went through highlighting all the stuff she needs to say. All she cared about was passing out bandaids and red crosses that she made!

Alana (Clara Barton), Abigail (Alma Loius Alcott) and Jordan (Laura Ingells Wilder).

Katlin (Laura Ingells Wilder), Joseph (Miles Standish) and Stephen (Noah Webster).
Katlin (Laura Ingells Wilder), Abigail (Loisa May Alcott), Alana (Clara Barton) and Jordan (Laura Ingells WIlder).

Jordan (Laura Ingells Wilder), Leah (Pocahontas),

Christian (Thomas Jefferson) and Ryan (Squanto).
The whole gang from today. We had alot of fun. Many thanks to Mrs. Ruwersma for allowing the parents to join in on the fun!
On a lazy Sunday afternoon, I found Austin sleeping like this. He is listening to Christmas music on his radio, and the reception wasn't good, so I told him to keep moving it around until you find a place where the music comes in good and keep it there. Well, apparantly, it was good on top of that computer monitor! LOL!
Sarah Joy enjoys Oreo cookies!!!
This is Bethany after their Academy Christmas program. She was dressed as an angel, see her glow?? lol! She had a robe on too, and when Noah saw the kindergarteners walk in he said "Look mom. There are the indians!"
Here is Alana with her big present on her belly as I described it to Noah.
Somehow we missed getting pictures of the boys after their program, so I thought I would include this on from Mission Conference with Dr. Charles Keen.

Proverbs 7:1
My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.

Happy Birthday Mom!!

Today is my mother's birthday

so I thought I would do a picture tribute to her in celebration of her life!

This is my mother as a baby!

My mom and dad before they were my mom and dad!

I think this picture was taken in 1966.

Mom, Dad, me holding "little" Mikey, Allison (my now SIL), and my brother, Jeremy, holding our late but still loved dog, Toni.

My mom at my high school graduation. She was in tears because I was the valadictorian, but of course, I was the only one in my graduation class, so maybe that wasn't why she was crying. *giggle*

Me, Dad, Jeremy and Mom at Jeremy's wedding, 1994

Baby Caleb, me, Dad and Mom after a very long, tiring night of labor!!! 1997

Nonnie with baby Austin, 1998
Christmas, 1998, Nonnie with Austin

Nonnie, Caleb (4th birthday party) and me, 2001

Me, Nonnie, Bethany and Alana, Easter 2004

Mom and Dad, Christmas 2005

Mom's family (minus Sarah Joy): Dad, Jeremy, Allison, Ashton,

Amy, Ski, Caleb, Austin, Alana, Bethany & Noah

Christmas 2005

Christmas 2006

The whole gang now, including Sarah Joy!

Christmas 2006

Easter 2007, Nonnie with Sarah Joy.

Easter 2007.

Nonnie, Papa, Caleb, Austin, Alana, Bethany, Noah & Sarah Joy

Me and Mom being silly, which is really what we do best,

but it doesn't get caught on camera too often! She was showing me how actresses pose for pictures to make themselves look skinny. We were trying it out. I think it worked, don't you? July 2007

Nonnie with Alana and Caleb finging sea shells on Hilton Head Island, 2007

Nonnie and Sarah Joy, who looks much happier

than the last picture of her with Nonnie!

After we got back to mom and dad's from Hilton Head, mom made Alana and Bethany each a birthday cake. We rushed in and had a party super fast thinking we were leaving the next morning, but little did we know we would be there another 2 weeks thanks to the transmission in our van going kaput!
Mom helping me decorate for Christmas!
Thanksgiving 2007


Mom, you have lived such a wonderful life. I am thankful to be your daughter. The Lord has richly blessed you with a rewarding life. I hope you have an extra special day today and may the Lord bless you with MANY more years to come!

I love you!

Proverbs 31:28

Her children arise up, and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praiseth her.