Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas dear friends and family!

I pray that your Christmas has been a blessed day so far.  

We are enjoying a restful day at my parent's house.  Our day began with us sending off my brother, Chris, very early in the morning.  He came out East last week and helped Steve and I begin our move by helping us load up and get to NC...we sure do appreciate his muscles and are thankful for the time we got to spend with him this holiday.  It's a bummer that he had to travel home today, but we sure did enjoy our time with him.  


We exchanged our gifts with him last night since he had to head to the airport before the sun was up.  He really hooked the girls up...the older girls are each enjoying their very own Nook Color and Gracia is mostly happy with her singing monkey...although she does give it a concerned, quizzical look sometimes :)  Chris, you really are a great Uncle and we all love you very much...thank you so much for your help and the gifts!


We all went back to sleep after Uncle Chris left and woke up at a more decent hour for presents.  It is so fun watching the kids open gifts on Christmas morning.  I love it!  Some of the highlights are (other than the Nooks):


Isabella's new calligraphy set...complete with her own wax seal~
Parcheesi...one of Sophia's favorite games~
A new necklace from Steve...made by a talented friend in PA...I love it Becky!  And if you think you might be interested in some of her beautiful jewelry, go here
Steve got a nice leather journal for songwriting from his sweet daughters~
Some gift cards that will be very nice when we get to Texas~
Pictures of the G girls for Oma and Opa~
And my mom got an iPad from my dad...she actually got teary eyed when she opened it~


I still have so much to do for Christmas.  In all honesty, our December was so crazy trying to get ready to move that we didn't do much to get ready for Christmas until we got to NC...a full 3 days before the holiday.  In some ways, I feel like we missed out on a lot of the fun of getting ready for Christmas.  We did enjoy a Christmas concert at a our church a few weeks ago and some other gatherings here and there...but we have been so overwhelmed with "the move" that many of our regular Christmas activities and preparations went by the wayside.  All that to say that I have not made any toffee and it doesn't look like I will this year.  I have things that still need to go into the mail to family...next week.  And early on I realized that there would be no Gonzales Christmas card this year...but I am hopeful for a New Year's update from Texas :)


As I reflect on how this Christmas is so different, it does give me a chance to ponder what is important and why.  Yes, I miss making toffee and sending it to those who love it and I miss baking cookies with my kids (although Steve did get in a sugar cookie session with the girls one day ;).  Instead of decorating my home for Christmas, I packed it up.  I missed picking out thoughtful gifts and I really missed sending out Christmas cards.  I really value these traditions and fun times, but ultimately they are not as important as the loves in my life.


My husband and our girls...they are my treasures.  My parents and my brother...they are a blessing in my life.  My in laws and extended family...although we are far apart, you are much loved and we miss you.  Dear friends who are near and far...how thankful we are that God has intertwined our lives.  I watched my big girls open their gifts and enjoyed their excitement...I watched our new baby and was overcome with the blessing of her.  


Today, I am thinking of a dear friend whose dad lost his battle with cancer last night...an hour before Christmas arrived.  I grieve for them and with them...I wish I could just hug them.   


Today, I am thankful for the improved reports of another friend who was recently diagnosed with cancer...his entire family is dear to us and I find myself often thinking of them as they wage this battle.  


Today, I find myself increasingly thankful for a Savior who loves so lavishly.  I find myself thinking about Him as a baby in a manger...knowing He was Lord of all yet choosing to come to us in such a meek and mild way.  


Here are the lyrics to a favorite song...Stuart Townend sure has a way with words~


"From the squalor of a borrowed stable, by the spirit and a virgin's faith; to the anguish and the shame of scandal came the Savior of the human race!  But the skies were filled with the praise of heaven, shepherds listen as the angels tell of the Gift of God come down to man at the dawning of Immanuel.  

King of heaven now the Friend of sinners, humble servant in the Father's hands, filled with power and the Holy Spirit, filled with mercy for the broken man.  He walked my road and He felt my pain, joys and sorrows that I know so well; yet His righteous steps give me hope again-  I will follow my Immanuel!

Through the kisses of a friend's betrayal, He was lifted on a cruel cross; He was punished for the world's transgressions, He was suffering to save the lost.  He fights for breath, He fights for me, loosing sinners from the claims of hell, and with a shout our souls are free-
Death defeated by Immanuel!

Now He's standing in the place of honor, crowned with glory on the highest throne, interceding for His own beloved till His Father calls us to bring him home!  Then the skies will part as the trumpet sounds, hope of heaven or the fear of hell; but the bride will run to her lover's arms, giving glory to Immanuel!"

Stuart Townend~

Here it is for your listening pleasure

I pray your Christmas overflows with beauty...the beauty of a Savior who loves you so very dearly.  May you know His love and joy, peace and comfort...may He be the one you find yourself wrapped up in this Christmas~

Rach

 

We Finally Made It!

Yes, my entire family finally made it into Independence Hall in Philadelphia!

We have been down to the Independence National Historical Park and surrounding area many, many times since we've lived here...we've visited the National Constitution Center, the Liberty Bell, Christ's Church cemetery (I have a thing for old cemeteries)...and we've walked by Independence Hall many a times...but we had never actually been inside. 

We saw this mural in progress earlier in the year.  It is inside the Independence Hall National Historical Park Visitor Center...it was nice to see it finished :)

Independence Hall, Philadelphia...just getting a little touch up~  Here's an interesting tidbit...this is the view from the plaza area by the Liberty Bell...but this is actually the back of the building.  The front of Independence Hall faces a small park called Washington Square.

As we realized our time in this area was drawing short, we decided that making it into Independence Hall was a must.  We also wanted to tour the U.S. Mint, which is right next to the plaza.  So, a field trip was planned.

We toured the Mint first.  Hmmm...Steve and I were not super impressed.  The museum/info part of the tour is not very well done.  We read that they intend to re-do the exhibit next year and update it a bit...yes, updating would be good.  The part we did enjoy was watching coins being made...it really was interesting.  The girls were amazed at the sheer quantity of quarters, nickels, dimes, and pennies we saw...and how pretty and shiny they all were...to them, seeing the big containers filled with shiny coins was like looking at pirate treasure :)

For security purposes, they do not allow pictures to be taken inside the mint, so this is all I have~

Then we were off to Independence Hall for our tour...yes, this experience was quite an improvement over our Mint tour :)  Wow!  It's hard to put into words what it was like to be there...in the room where our Founding Fathers debated liberty and independence...in the room where our Constitution was signed.  You can feel the history around you.  I was in awe and I am so very thankful that we got to see it~

The Assembly Room at Independence Hall~

Very little of the room is original...it has been accurately restored though...the colors, the furniture, etc.  The British burned most of the chairs and furniture in Independence Hall when they occupied Philadelphia (they burned a lot of things), so most of what we saw are replicas.  The one chair that is original, though, is this one...

"I have often looked at that behind the president without being able to tell whether it was rising or setting. But now I... know that it is a rising...sun."  Benjamin Franklin, commenting on this chair, which George Washington sat in for almost three months during the Federal Convention.

...it is the famous Rising Sun chair.  We have studied this period of history in our home school, so the girls were familiar with the story of this chair...we've read about it and have seen pictures of it...now we got to see the real thing...wow!  They were impressed and I loved watching them make connections to what we've learned and what we were seeing.

Here are some more pictures from Independence Hall.  Not only is the building drenched in history, but it is also so architecturally beautiful~

I have a thing for chandeliers too...this one is historically accurate to the time, but not the original...isn't it beautiful~

Beautiful architecture~

This is the courtroom inside Independence Hall...it was an act of treason when the King's Coat of Arms behind the judges stand was replaced.

The Supreme Court Room~

Then we hopped next door to the Congress Building, where George Washington was inaugurated and John Adams after him...again, just wow!  

Even the ceilings are beautiful~

We checked out the excavated exhibit of George Washington's presidential home...remember, the federal city (Washington DC) was under construction, including the President's House, which didn't become known as The White House until 1901.  The excavation of Washington's Philadelphia residence was in process while we lived here...now the exhibit is done and open to the public.  The design is built to show where doors, windows, and chimneys were and half walls reveal the layout of the main floor.  I guess we could call the President's House "an open floorplan"...ha, ha...I'm so corny :)

Steve and the girls at the front door of George Washington's house~

Near the back of the main floor, looking towards the front~

Sophia standing on the President's wall~

Both goofy girls had to get inside one of the chimneys~

This is a view into part of the excavated basement~

And then we were off for one last peek at the Liberty Bell.

Here are just a few more pics from our day...

Various items that have been found while excavating the Independence Hall area~

Steve and his other mini-me :)

A very blessed mommy!

It was another great day spent in Philadelphia...wonder what history Dallas has for us to explore~


Rach

Our Black Friday~

I'm not big into all the Black Friday shopping craziness...although there are some pretty good deals out there.  

Last year we went to The Franklin Institute for a museum day.  We thought the place would be quiet because everyone would be out at the mall...boy, were we wrong...but it was still a nice day for our family :)

This year we decided to head into Philly for the Christmas Village market and a couple of other "city" things...we brought our own elf with us :)

Baby Gracia's in the Christmas spirit!

The 58 story Comcast Center~

Our first stop was the Comcast Center to see the Holiday Special on their big TV.  Steve had told me about the TV...it was big, the biggest one he had ever seen, it covered an entire wall of the lobby, it has a nice screen.  We are not a family who is big into TV and I pretty much couldn't figure out why Steve thought this thing was so cool.  So what...it's a big TV, it has a nice screen...whatever~


Well, let me just say that I was IMPRESSED!  I just couldn't comprehend how neato it really was...it's a 2000 sq ft HD LED screen...whoa!  The girls thought it was the coolest thing they had ever seen :)

The TV at the Comcast Center~

Here's a video clip of part of the show...so neato!



Then we wandered over to LOVE Park for the Christmas Village.  

You know, I always thought this sculpture was much bigger~

Love Park, Philadelphia~

This outdoor seasonal market is only open during the holiday season...it's loosely modeled after the Christmas markets in Germany, but it features vendors selling wares from all over the world (and some cheesy stuff that has no place in a Christmas market).  The main attraction for us, though, are the German and European Christmas ornaments and decorations.

The Kathe Wohlfahrt tent is by far our favorite!  We love the German ornaments and carousels...the workmanship is wonderful :)

Kathe Wohlfahrt Christmas exhibit...how do you pronounce her name anyway?

We also enjoyed sharing a German sample plate from Brauhaus Schmitz...the kids didn't care for it as much...that's okay...more for Steve and me!


Then we continued on through town...by beautiful City Hall and the Occupy protesters...on our way to Macy's.  

City Hall, Philadelphia, PA

The Christmas Village is usually here, in front of City Hall...it moved across the street because the Occupy folks were here~

And we came across this tidbit of history...you learn something new every day~

Thank you, Anna Jarvis!

The downtown Macy's is located in the old Wanamaker building...the same building mentioned in this plaque.  Wanamaker was the first department store in Philly and one of the first in the US...he also invented the price tag (another history tidbit for your trivia pleasure).  The building is so beautiful...it was added to the registry of National Historic Landmarks in 1978.  We didn't go for the shopping, but for the pipe organ.  Yes, the world's largest working pipe organ is right here in Philadelphia.  At Christmas, they have a light show...the girls loved it.  Steve and I loved hearing that organ...wow!  

Wanamaker Pipe Organ

Baby G got excited and wiggly when the light show was playing :)

A bit of history about the organ~

I just had to get a picture of this ceiling in part of the Macy's/Wanamaker building...isn't it beautiful!

Here's another video clip...this time of some of the Christmas show at the Macy's...enjoy!



Then we decided to walk through Dicken's Village at Macy's...sadly, this is where our day quit being fun.  We were herded like cattle through an animatronic version of A Christmas Carol.  The cheese factor was off the radar...even our girls thought it was pretty lame.  It might have been interesting if we had time to read and explain the story to the kids, but the "cattle herding" part of it kind of nixed that opportunity.  I did point out the period dress of the characters...a home school mom rarely misses an opportunity to fit in some learning :) 

Charles Dickens himself~

Ebeneezer and Belle~

All in all, it was a great day...a day spent together in a city we will miss~


Now I'm off to do some more packing~
Rach