Weather and pics

We had some great times with family over Christmas.  We played outside a lot.  Here is a picture from some soccer on Thursday before Christmas.  It was quite chilly about 20 degrees and cloudy and windy.

Suzanne bought me a Huskers shirt for Christmas!  So, you can see a rivalry coming with Nebraska joining the big ten next year.

We had a boys versus girls gingerbread house competition, which came out as a tie.

 7 kids in the house, need a good game of marshmallow dodgeball!

 And of course some "calm" games of cards - Super Uno - and Scum.

 We went bowling in Edgar, NE.  First time for the Hershbergers.  Everybody had a great time and did good!

This is only 5 days after the first soccer picture.  The Hershbergers are on their way back to Ohio.  The sun finally comes out, the temperature goes up to 50 something.  The girls and I played some ball at lunch.  Notice the short sleeves and flipflops.

And today?  We are headed to single digits into Friday, New Years Eve.  Going for an annual run, and it's going to be about 4 degrees, 20 mph winds, and 100% chance of precipitation.  Blessings to all!

Merry Christmas

Peace, hope, love, joy!

Double in 3, 2, 1...

The population of our house is going to double in about an hour.  We are ready for the slaughter onslaught:)  The three girls who normally live here all got sick on Wednesday morning, and seemed out of it all day.  Now the house is scrubbed, disinfected, and laundried in preparation for Suzanne's Sister and family.  For the next several days, there will be an extra 6 of us here.  Lots of hugs and love and energy and hot drinks and games and Christmas cheer.
Merry Christmas to you and your kin,
The Nolts

Do you know how to be a sibling?

Tonight, we are taking our girls to the hospital where we will be delivering our next baby girl and having them take a siblings class.  They will learn how to hold and take good (safe) care of a baby sibling.  We will also get a tour of the hospital.  We are all really looking forward to this!
As you pastors may know, nothing escapes spiritual application... How do we take care of new brothers and sisters in Christ?  Do they need special care?  Do older siblings need to be taught how to take care of the new "babies"?
In honor of Kevin Wilder - Discipleship!

Do you have time for Christmas?

Suzanne and I have made the comment that it would be nice to have at least a foot dusting of snow.  Most people around here would prefer the dryness that we have had so far:)  There is something about snow that feels like Christmas.  Here is the funny thing.  Those who don't want snow are probably more right in their ideas.  It is doubtful that there was much snow on that first Christmas Advent.
Oh well!  The real questions should be whether we have time for Christmas.  And what really is Christmas, anyway?  Is it a holiday in December?  Is it a day off from work?  Is it a time to get together with family and eat a ton of food and exchange presents?  Is it a time to give money to charities (like MCC or the Heifer project or Crisis pregnancy centers) instead of buying that latest gizmo for our loved one?  Is it a time for singing carols?  Is it a time to exercise that family tradition?
Actually all the above can help us celebrate Christmas.  But they can also stress us out and keep us from observing the Christ, the Messiah, come to earth, God with us.
Take a moment.  Take another one.  Can you spare another one?