Christmas All Year 'Round

Oh, how I love Christmas. If you know me, you KNOW I do! ( PRe CHriStMAs: "Family, I know it is Thanksgiving Day, but we should go get our tree...we want to get the BEST one!" PoST ChrIStmaS: "Family, do you think our most beautiful tree can make it through to Valentine's Day?")



Even so, more than I love Christmas, I love Christ.



This year, Todd was sharing with our little family, some of his thoughts on Christmas and what it means. Here is what I heard from this man of mine...



So many times we get all ready for Christmas with decorations, presents and celebrations...as we should. But for us (The Hedgepeths), it needs to be more than a season, or time of year... Christmas is a way of life!



-Our lives are reflections (decorations) of Christ and His love for others.



-We have the priviledge of sharing (giving presents) the love and TRUTH of Christ with a hurting and needy world.



-Daily we celebrate who Christ is and what He has done through His redemption and restoration of our lives and the lives of those around the world.



What beautiful things to ponder.

Who IS coming to dinner?

Tonight I came home from a staff meeting to find the table cleared of laundry and set, with cloth napkins and a dish of perfectly cut limes.

The table is set for six.

The lighting is low.


I asked Todd what was going on. He didn't know because Jackson is the one who did all of this.

Hmmmm...

Earlier today, I made a homemade turkey soup with egg noodles, carrots, celery, garlic...mmmm good! It had been on the stove for most of the day.


At one point, Jackson became very agitated. I asked him to tell me what he wanted. He got his talker and said, "I want dinner."


"Well buddy, it's only 2:30."

I had to run out to meetings.

I came home to this. It is really quite wonderful. I just wish he would tell us who is coming to dinner.

If you are hungry, please stop by.

The food is hot and the company is sweet!

I promise, you will be well cared for.

Friends Around My Table

Tonight, I am overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude. Thankfulness for all those friends, big and small, who have gathered around our table this year. We are so ...BLESSED!

We have had most of our family around our table this year, at one time or another.

Friends have come for visits.

Friends have gathered to be creative and to laugh and to get their fill of joy and camaraderie.

"New Friends", meeting us for the first time, have come to work on our home, to leave their fingerprints all over the place...masonry, framing, electrical, electrical and more electrical.

We are so grateful for those who have sat and shared LIFE with us. Thank you...this is such a precious gift to us.

Treasures in the Attic

Growing up in Minnesota, we did not have an attic. None of my grandparents had attics. (I do not even think we had friends who had attics.)

I would read a book, or see a movie, that had an attic in it. The attics always had a sense of discovery about them. Old trunks to be gone through, some treasure waiting to be discovered.

Oh, the romance of it all.

We had basements. They can be a bit on the scary side. Even at my own house, I would turn the light off at the bottom of the stairs and take the stairs two at a time...outrunning whatever might be chasing me! (That is so funny to me to think about now.)

Well, this house has an attic. Oh how glorious! I had toys in one corner, Christmas decorations in another, bins of baby clothes, a few treasures and a bit of...mmm...stuff (can't bring myself to say "junk"). Well, all that "stuff" had to come down to the main level due to renovations.

Our little house has become smaller and smaller as we have brought bin after bin down! We have turned Jackson's room into a storage room of sorts.


I have already gone through my treasures and given things away, sold a few things, and then put the rest into Jackson's room. The longer it stays in there, the more I want to go through it and whittle my "keep pile" down a little bit more.


What happens when our house is finished? I will want to use some of these treasures to decorate and "clutter" our new space!


We have talked, and dreamed, about what each room should look like. Any evening you can hear...



"The family room could look like this!"


"I think Jackson would like that."


But, we have never discussed the attic. I definitely need to be able to move some things back into that space. We will have easy access through a little door in Ashley's room. We have already called it "The Door to Narnia."





What treasures should be in there? What stories will be told by those who have the joy of discovering these things of old? How exciting to imagine...

...how exciting to have my house back!

Sound of Angels

Summer has quickly turned to Fall, and with that, Fall has quickly brought some chilly weather.

Oh, the colors are vibrant, the smells are intoxicating and the crunch of leaves beneath my feet...exhilarating.

It's the red nose in the morning, sticking out from beneath the two comforters, down duvet and one quilt that bring hesitation to my day.

So, you can imagine my excitement when I heard the sweet sound of angels this morning, rrrhhmmm, I mean the sweet sound of nail guns, in the hands of roofers this morning! Yes. Our roof is going on today! It is a beautiful day! (warmer outside than in, HVAC is next).


We are so grateful.

Not to be Out Done...

My little "Munchkin" just loves Jane.

She also loves anything creative, crafty, artsy...

So, when she heard what Leslie and I were doing, she wanted to do a bra too! I went to TJMaxx and bought another bra and she "had at it."

I have to tell you. She brings some serious competition. I am so proud of her, in so many ways. She loves doing stuff like this, but really, it is her way to honor Jane. It is something, that as a young lady, she can do and know that it matters.

This one is entitled...

"Got the Ta-Tas Covered!"

(She just thinks that Janes car magnet "save the ta-tas" is so funny! I guess to an 11 year old it is funny!)

Bras for the Cause

Yes! I am serious.

Recently, I was at the hospital when I spotted a hot pink and black flier..."Bras for the Cause!" It caught my attention. It said, "Design and create an 'art bra' to help raise awareness about breast cancer."

Say no more...you had me at "art"!

So, I got to spend an incredible day with my friend Leslie, in her art room, creating a bra in honor of Jane. (This art room is wonderful!!! In December 2008 I gave you a peek into Tammi's art room. No wonder these friends are so inspired!!!)

We had gathered supplies and a bra and came together with ideas. A late entry into our ideas was "Boobs of Steel". It just clicked and we went crazy. We laughed and giggled and created. We think we have a winner here! You tell me...

If you live in Union County, please go to Carolinas Medical Center-Union on Thursday, October 22 from 7 am-5 pm and Friday, October 23 from 7 am - 12 pm to vote for our bra! (Yes! It is a competition.) For more information on this fund raiser, visit www.tickledpink4breastcancer.com.

Happy Birthday, Baby

Today we send birthday wishes to our sweet girl in Africa...Baby turns three today! It's hard to believe.

This adoption journey has been so long. It is one thing to go through the process of paperwork, home studies, interviews, etc. and then wait for a baby to be born. It is an entirely different thing to KNOW your baby and then wait those same years. In the meantime, she is growing, bonding with her family that cares for her and the world turns...we wait.

We would have loved to have had these last three years. I would have loved to hug her, cuddle her, bathe her, diaper her and sing lullabies to her. (I'm pretty sure I could still do that...she just will take up a bit more space in my arms.)

What I know is this...the Lord placed this little girl in our hearts. We love her in a way that is indescribable.

We continue to wait.

We have no idea what the Lord is up to. These things we do know...

-He is in control.

-He knows what is going on.

-We need to walk out in all the things He has called us to do...mentoring young leaders, lead a YWAM work, raise our children in the ways of God, etc.

-He who called us is faithful.

-He will complete what He started.

-We will continue to serve, with JOY, no matter the outcome.

-He is trustworthy.

These days we pray for a resolution. We also ask for the Lord to continue to guard all hearts involved. Yes. We are still pursuing Baby. We covet your prayers.

Please join with us, as we celebrate this beautiful life and all that God has in store.

"Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you."

-Jeremiah 1:5 (The Message)

Happy Birthday Baby!

Plain Jane

If you have been out at all lately, you will have seen pink EVERYWHERE! Pink ribbons on people, cars sporting the magnet "save the ta-tas!", pink Kitchen Aid mixers at Target, etc.

FYI...it is Breast Cancer Awareness month.

In recent years, I have not needed a calendar month to bring me to an awareness of breast cancer. I have dear friends, who's diagnosis of breast cancer have brought an awareness to me. The most recent "awareness" came five weeks ago, when my sweet, precious friend Jane was diagnosed with bc.

I love Jane so much...there are no words. Her and her husband David are terrific friends.

She is amazing, hysterically funny, generous, a straight talker, a great listener, particular, knowledgable...a true and forever friend.

With that, I introduce a new blog to you...www.nothingplainaboutjane.blogspot.com.

Here you can follow Jane's journey, know how to pray for her, write notes of encouragement and pray some more. Thanks friends!

Paris! Mi' Amour

Hubs has been in Norway all week. Oh, the perks of missionary life! Seriously, he was teaching in the Discipleship Training School there. He just loves time with students. From the sounds of it, he has been refreshed!

Another highlight of it all, is spending time with life long friends, Runar and Alice Byberg!

They pioneered the base in Skien, Norway. (One of the most beautiful places in the world!!!) And are the base leaders there.

Runar did his DTS in Hawaii, while Todd was staffing. After his military service, Runar moved to NYC to work with us there. That is where we forged such deep, deep friendship. Oh, the stories.

I am so grateful for Todd to have had this time away.

As we are preparing for his return, I received an e-mail from him, stating that "if all goes well in Paris...blah, blah, blah." I totally zoned out after that. Paris!? Without me!? Well, he will most likely spend all his time in the airport...getting glimpses of Paris from the window of an airplane.

Still...Paris...mmm

What a difference a day makes!

View from my kitchen window this morning!

Tarps are gone and the sun is shining! It's a brand new day!

The tresses arrived!

Clyde was happy to deliver!

The view from my front porch!

The troops arrived from Charlotte. Thanks Lester, Stephen, Dale, Rollo, Rob and Marcus!

...and Nashville. Thanks Josh!

The crane operator was catching a nap...gotcha!!!

What a glorious sight!

The view from my kitchen window this evening!

My little neighbor, 12, was out ALL day, sitting here...watching what God was doing, through the action of the saints. Our postman, Mike, stopped by. His comment, "There is still some good in this world."

Yes Mike, there is.

We are grateful!