Mele Kalikimaka...

...means Merry Christmas in Hawaiian! This is the first time in 26 years that I haven't spent the holiday season with my family in Hawaii. For the past week, I've burst into tears at the most random times and I've struggled with a heavy heart every day. When I connected to my mom by phone at long last yesterday, I realized it's because I'm incredibly HOMESICK. This picture was taken of me & Jeff just days before Christmas in 2007. For all you LOST fans out there, do you recognize the back-drop? Think back to the very first episode and the plane crash on the beach. We found the location! :) There was even debris scattered along the beach, which I think are remnants of the filming.

Christmas Eve was spent strolling on the beach. It was the most magical time of my life--my first Christmas with my new husband meeting my family for the first time. We soaked in the sun, marveled at the Honolulu City Lights...and I introduced Jeff to an entirely new cuisine! No matter how far away I move, Hawaii will always be my home sweet home.
Boy does my hubby have a sad puppy on his hands right now! Thankfully, he's the best husband on earth and even brought me flowers last night when I snapped at him iin my depressed mood. Every woman should be so lucky...He's the only person I'd sacrifice the sunshine for!

Selah

It was a special weekend for me and my family. Enjoying the Selah concert with my husband and kids really put me in the mood to celebrate Christmas. They rocked out with some awesome African songs! It took a lot for the kids to sit still during the program but I think it's good to expose them to great, live music that honors the Lord. Thanks to Lindsay for taking this family photo by an actual nice Christmas tree.

It was an especially sweet time for Jeff because he reconnected with an old friend--Todd Smith of Selah was acquainted with my husband back in college before Selah even existed. It's such a small world, isn't it?

The Tree of Christmas Past

It's December 6th and we FINALLY put up our Christmas tree...As the kids hung ornaments on the tree Jeff grew up with as a kid, I noticed that nearly all of the ornaments were engraved with, "Jeffrey, 1972." Not only is this artificial tree ancient...all the ornaments are, too! I'm officially calling this THE JEFF TREE. As precious as this hand-me-down tradition is, WE DESPERATELY NEED AN UPGRADE!!! But knowing my thrifty husband, we'll have this tree until we're old and grey.

Christmas Pageant

It's the most wonderful...and BUSY...time of the year, between Christmas programs, concerts and parties...I can hardly catch my breath! On Friday, Jeff & I attended the kids' Christmas pageant at our church. This year, Delaney had a singing solo and I think we were all nervous about it because Jeff can't carry a tune (my ears ring when he praises the Lord beside me in church)! But Delaney did a wonderful job--she looked pretty nervous but her angelic voice sounded throughout the church and we were proud of her.

Max played the role of a shepherd...Jeff and I heard them practice their lines so many times, we've committed them to memory ourselves! I still remember Max's lines from last year's Christmas program "And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone all around them and they were so afraid" Luke 2:8-9. In the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it's a good reminder of what the season is truly about.

My Little Shark Lover

I received a couple of emails from confused listeners asking, "Did I hear right? Did you say Laney wants a SHARK DIVE for Christmas?" Yup! That's exactly what I said. She's obsessed with sharks and can rattle off statistics like no one's business. She wants to move to Hawaii and study marine biology when she grows up. No argument there from me! Here's a picture of Laney in the Indiana Zoo--she actually got to touch small dogwood sharks in a little pool they had for kids. Pretty cool! But she wanted to jump in the big tank and swim with the Great Whites!

Here's Laney on her 9th b-day...My husband made her a shark poster--he's an awesome graphic designer and did a great job. She has every shark book imaginable and a couple of shark tooth necklaces. Frankly, she's got everything shark-related, except an actual shark dive, which I doubt she'll get this Christmas...But if you know anyone who works at Shedd Acquarium in Chicago and can arrange something, lemme know! :)

Lip Saver

Today I learned that Scott & I are polar opposites--surprise, surprise! :) He loves winter, I love summer! I shrivel like a prune when the snow hits. That's why my best friend right now goes by the name of "Red Velvet Cake: Lip Emollient" by Philosophy. It's the best...a little pricey but it tastes like candy and keeps my lips from feeling like seran wrap!
Thanks to our morning show friend Dan, who emailed me and suggested that I use baby oil in the shower to keep from drying out. He even said my co-host friend, Scott, should rub baby oil on his head to keep his scalp moist! For some reason I have a feeling Scott would rather have a scaly scalp than patting it with baby oil! But I think it's a fine suggestion!

Getting over the Gimmes

The phone lines lit up today as you offered suggestions for making kids get over the gimmes (the gimme-every-toy-at-Target-sickness) this holiday season! I about fell off my chair when my own hubby called in and accused me of being guilty of the gimmes! (I really want a new Mac computer for Christmas since mine is on its last leg). If you'd like to join the "Campaign for Catherine's Computer" just contact me and I'll forward you my husband's email address! :)
Thanks to Diann for emailing me a great idea of having kids sift through the toy sale fliers, cutting out the main items they enjoy and gluing them onto construction paper for her to have as a keepsake. She writes, "We stapled them together like a book...I have saved them, and it's nice to look back at them now that they're grown."
Amy from Peoria writes that she involves her kids in making unique gifts for others to encourage a giving spirit. For a great teacher gift idea, she suggests decorating little Christmas trees with items they love. For example, one teacher was crazy about basketball, so she decorated a Christmas tree with school colors and basketballs. Brilliant idea!