Harding Haps

Happy 2008! It's already February and I'm just now entering for the New Year. Obviously this isn't super high on my priority list. Let's see...Where to start. Our Christmas was great. Chris had to head to work Christmas eve but we celebrated early and had a blast. Chris' sister Sarah was up for Christmas and it was fun to see them. Chris came home on the 27th and we headed to Soldotna for the New Year. We stayed with our friends the Burcham's and had such a great time. We were down there for three nights. We had a fondue party for New Years and Donna also had a chocolate fountain. So FUN! We played Guitar Hero, and a trivia game on the playstation and then some cards. We didn't go to bed before 1am while we were there. My birthday and my dad's birthday were the second week of January. I went to the Bear Tooth Grill for dinner and had Fish Tacos then when Chris came home I went to see 27 Dresses. Very fun. The boys got me a precious moment and a very cool ice cream maker. School is in full swing and so are winter lessons. The boys have been snowboarding a couple times a week and swimming starts this Tuesday. I was watching them snowboard and decided to take lessons too. So, Rob and I are taking lessons. The first lesson was brutal on my tush. But, the next one was way more fun and less brutal on my body. I'm a bit afraid to get speed so I need to work on that. I figure that as these boys get bigger I've got to keep up with them and try to be the "cool" mom. It's also good for me to get outside. It's been cold here and I just want to hole up inside. The boys bought a XBOX 360 with their Christmas money so we've been addicted to guitar hero. It's so fun. Our whole family likes to play. I never thought my children would know the words and like Cherry Pie, Rock you like a Hurricane, Slow Ride, Hit me with your Best Shot. CRAZY!!!!! The baby just woke up from his nap, better sign off. Later.

Breath of Heaven

Christmas time is just a few days away and I find myself nowhere near where I'd hoped to be prepared wise. I had high aspirations of making Christmas Stockings for my boys or at least getting one up of Aden, making cinnamon rolls with my mom for school teachers, having all my shopping done. Literally I'm having a hard enough time getting my laundry done and the other household chores without being scary tired momma by the end of the night. I love Christmas. I love the music, the smells, the decorations. I love how my boys anticipate what is going to be under the tree. I love that they want to buy gifts for all their friends (even though they can't.) I love that we celebrate Christ in my home not santa. We don't have a lot of snow outside. Barely enough to cover the grass and it makes me sad. I love white Christmas'. In the midst of the blur which has been December I have been able to listen to one of my favorite Christmas songs which is Breath of Heaven. I have the Amy Grant version. This song has touched my soul this year. If you've never heard it take the time and listen. The first verse is about Mary carrying Jesus. But the rest of the song touches my heart. It's my prayer right now. Merry Christmas.

I have traveled, many moonless nights,

Cold and weary, with a babe inside,

And I wonder, what I've done,

Holy Father, you have come

chosen my now, to carry your son.

I am waiting, in a silent prayer,

I am frightened, by the load I bear,

in a world as cold as stone,

Must I walk this path alone?

Be with me now, be with me now.

Breath of Heaven, hold me together

be forever near me, Breath of Heaven

Breath of Heaven, lighten my darkness

Pour over me your holiness, for you are holy

Breath of Heaven

Do you wonder, as you watch my face,

if a wiser one, should have had my place,

But I offer all I am,

For the mercy of your plan

Help me be strong, Help me be, Help me

Breath of Heaven, hold me together

Be forever near me, Breath of Heaven

Breath of Heaven, lighten my darkness

Pour over me your holiness, for you are holy

Breath of Heaven

His mercies are new every morning.

So much is going on around here. I'm finding it hard to find time to write. Brayden turned 5 on November 17th with a raging Dog Party. He had a bunch of friends come over and we played fetch, bobbed for doughnuts, and had a treasure hunt. They had a ball. The next week was Thanksgiving. My mom was in Colorado so Chris and I hosted dinner at our house. There were 9 of us including the baby. We had a great time visiting and eating. Now we are in the Christmas rush. I'm not in the shopping mode at all. Chris says that's good because I won't overdo it which I have the tendency to do. Life is a bit overwhelming for me right now. I just keep on praying and the Lord keeps pulling me through! I'm so thankful that his mercies are new each morning.



Lamentations 3:20-33 (The Message)

It's a Good Thing to Hope for Help from God. I'll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness, the taste of ashes, the poison I've swallowed. I remember it all—oh, how well I remember—the feeling of hitting the bottom. But there's one other thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on hope: God's loyal love couldn't have run out, his merciful love couldn't have dried up. They're created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! I'm sticking with God (I say it over and over). He's all I've got left. God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks. It's a good thing to quietly hope, quietly hope for help from God. It's a good thing when you're young to stick it out through the hard times. When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence. Bow in prayer. Don't ask questions: Wait for hope to appear. Don't run from trouble. Take it full-face. The "worst" is never the worst.

The Worship of an Ordinary Day

At bible study today we talked about the worship of an ordinary day. I so needed to hear this. In the midst of my being mama, wife, friend, sister I so forget to take time and worship my maker for the ability to be all of those things at once. How blessed I am by my prince, Chris, and my three beautiful prince jr's Caden, Brayden and Aden. I'm blessed by the beautiful blanket of snow covering my yard, and the thoughts of Thanksgiving which is so close.

I thank you God for this most amazing day,

for the leaping greenly spirits of trees,

and for the blue dream of sky

and for everything which is natural,

which is infinite, which is YES. -e.e. cummings