Christmas with the Cazzells part 3

And now….the moment you’ve all been waiting for….what pajamas did the Cazzells get this year???  Well, since we are doing things totally different this year, we opened presents on the 21st so the kids could have time to play with their toys before we left. Believe it or not, you can request for Santa to drop your toys off early.  :)

 So–definitely one of my favorite things my family does….wear matching pajamas. Seriously, these pajamas are like sacred. Marriage and birth are the only ways you get to participate in this tradition. And everyone looks forward to their one present they get on Christmas Eve, their pajamas. For years, pictures of this tradition never made it out of the Cazzell family… but I will let you get a sneak peek at what a Cazzell Christmas really looks like:

**Jesse, Kelsey and Ross couldn’t make it…so this is my family minus 3. We missed yall.**

Cousins in their pjs

“Christmas morning”

Cazzell kids (missing 3)

Crazy pic

my sweet nieces and nephew (missing baby ross)

Merry Christmas!

Christmas with the Cazzells part 2

In case you didn’t get enough the first time, the Cazzells are back with part 2 of Christmas. We hit up Silver Dollar City (or as Chloe and Esther call it, Silver Dollar Silly). We were caught a little off guard by the freezing cold temperatures, which managed to shut every ride down except for Fire in the Hole…but you know Topher and I dominated that ride 2 times! oh yeah, we are big time. However, nothing could shut down the Living Nativity show…oh man.–do angels really wear white rhinestone suits? Despite the cold, everyone had a good time and it was all worth it just to drink the hot chocolate and eat those giant chocolate chip cookies…and to see those beautiful lights.   

 

Graceyn loves cookies!

My beautiful sister

2 of THE most Incredible people ever.

Really cool Christmas tree

bundled up babies

Chloe, Aunt Lela, and Giant Cookie

this is what happens…

…when you put all the Cazzells in a house with stairs.  Stairs+ 2 twin mattresses=a great slide. This was whole thing was Joe’s idea, but you know I jumped on board as soon as he said “mattress sledding.” In fact, I was pushing my niece and nephew out of the way. Someone else (Katy) would have loved this too… It’s always exciting at the Cazzell house, take a look:

**Foreword: No one was hurt in the making of these videos**

1. Chloe taking a slide

2. Jeff taking his camera for a slide

3. Lydia (me) taking a slide

4. Camera slide

Could anyone else have any more Christmas spirit??  There is nothing like a giant mattress stair slide to bring out the inner child in all of us!

Christmas with the Cazzells pt 1

Very few people get to experience the craziness that is the Cazzell Christmas. As traditional as we are, this year we added a twist to our Christmas festivities by moving the whole celebration to Branson. Tucked away in a 5 bedroom house on Big Cedar’s property, you will find 13 of the coolest people. ever.

This number should be 16, but 3 of our family members (Jesse, Kelsey, and Baby Ross) are on a Caribbean cruise with the Severns family. We will definitly miss yall and Christmas will be different without you. However, being the good little sister that I am, I took a video tour of the house so that yall can at least see where we were. This is mainly for Jesse and Kelsey’s viewing pleasure, but feel free to take a look!

Actually, I guess you could say that 14 people made it to the Branson festivities…# 14 really loves hot chocolate.

Amber stopped by for Christmas!

 A look at our Branson Christmas house:

Super Cool Aunt…

…Yes. I am, in fact, the Super Cool Aunt. Tonight, Chloe and Jaxon came over so their momma could get some Christmas shopping done. I was wrapping presents when they arrived and as always, Chloe wanted to help me. Okay, so I am like OCD about wrapping–it has to be perfect! So when Chloe wanted to help, I was really hesistant. But, being the Super Cool Aunt, I taught Chloe how to tie a bow. Yeah. Super Cool.

For those of you who have never been to Fort Smith, I’ll let you in on the Fort’s Christmas secret: Creekmore Park+ Sweetbay coffee=Magic. You haven’t experienced Christmas until you get some Sweetbay and ride the Creekmore train through the lights. I mean, at least drive by the lights! 

Alright, so tonight I was in my pajamas at 8:00 (lame, I know) and I told the kids we could go “light looking” if they would put on their pajamas. So we donned our hats and coats and took off singing carols at the top of our lungs…all while in our pajamas. Santa Claus is Comin to Town was the big hit of the night. For your viewing pleasure, here are some highlights of the night.

**And I apologize for the loud/horrible singing. Pitch doesn’t matter to a 5 year old and a 2 year old…just volume. The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing LOUD for all to hear…right?!**

Pajama greatness

Oh, the things I teach these children

Creekmore's magic

This is Fort Smith being cool

Jammin in the car

Short trip to see Papaw and Nana

Nana was a bit surprised

 

Home Sweet Home

There is nothing like pulling up in your driveway on a cold night and seeing a glowing Christmas tree in the front window. The stockings are hung on the mantle that is sparkling with lights and shiny decorations. The fireplace is warm and inviting. Oh, yes. There is nothing like home. It’s all a little magical.

Today, I went to my niece’s kindergarten Christmas program where she sang at the top of her lungs and almost gave the abnormally tall 6 year old behind her a black eye. Then I took on the challenge of putting my room back together. And finally helped my sister-in-law pull off a surprise 30th birthday party for my brother. It has been a full day, which is normal whenever I’m at home in the good ole Fort.

However, by far the most intriguing part of the day has been in the past 2 hours. I am cozily wrapped up on the couch, in front of the fireplace watching the Discovery Channel with my dad. We all know that I have this crazy passion for Kenya and that I am about to leave for the adventure that is Australia. Apparently the Discovery Channel knows me as well, because they have featured 2 incredibly fascinating shows that have captured my attention.

First, they discovered the hierachy and eating habits within lion prides in the continent of Africa. While in Kenya, our driver, Bernard, told us about tree climbing lions that lived in Tanzania. Okay–these things are seriously awesome. They hung dead animals from trees and watched the lions jump and hang from the bait. In case watching isn’t enough, they got into a “predator box” –a clear box with air holes–and hung meat from the box…can you say suicide?

Second, they discovered Nature’s Deadliest animals in Australia! I guess it is good to know what you are getting into. Here is a quick recap of the deadliest animals that live down under:

1. Inland Taipan Snake–kills in 1 hour.

2. Great White Shark–kills in 3 min.

3. Bull Shark–kills in 3 min and BONUS it feeds in freshwater!

4. Brown Snake–kills in 30 min.

5. Stone fish–untreatable pain, most powerful fish toxin in the world

6. Box Jellyfish–kills in 2 min. has 6 eyes, a basketball size head with 10 ft long tentacles. It’s venom feels like hot oil.

7. Reb Back Spider- kills in 3 hours.

8. Funnel Web Spider–kills in 3 hours…oh yeah and it ONLY lives in SYDNEY! great.

9. Dingo–kills in 10 min. just 60 lb, but can kill 200 lb kangaroo

10. Crocodile–kills in 3 min. it can hold breath for 2 hours

But no worries, y’all!

This has certainly been a great day, especially with the freezing temperatures and that oh so lovely ice.

This is the One we have waited for

Since I left my God time out of my schedule these past few days (finals! yuck.), God decided that He would make me make time. Apparently He really wanted to talk to me because He wouldn’t let me sleep until we talked. I have been so busy that I haven’t heard Him calling my name; but Oh man, He called my name Monday night at 2 am and I heard…

How God got my attention: Late Monday night (well technically early Tuesday morning) about 2 am, I heard something scratching against my window screen. “Oh, it’s just Dora (Katie’s cat)…she’ll go away,” I thought. But then I heard this loud demonic moan that scared the crap out of me. It was NOT Dora. Dora doesn’t sound like that…it was either the fat nasty black neighborhood cat, or a demon moaning out my window. I prefer the cat, so we’ll go with that.  Either way, it got my attention and I decided to put on some worship music, which helps in any situation.

What song was playing:I put on a random fall worship mix, compliments of Callie Bezet and Rachel Stockdale, and the song “This is Our God” came on. Have you ever listened to that song? It is full of amazing one-liner attributes of who God is.    Here are just a few:

 ”A refuge for the poor, a shelter from the storm. He will wipe away your tears and return your wasted years. A Father to the orphan, a healer to the broken. A Lover for the lonely. He brings glory to the humble and crowns for the faithful .”  “This is our God.”

 But the lines that mean the most to me at this particular moment in life are first, “He brings peace to our madness”   and second, “This is the One we have waited for.”

The first lesson God taught me: Being finals week, I always have some Dove chocolate around as a reward for studying, and according to one Dove Promise, ” In chaos, there lies opportunity.” So what I’m getting at is that while we are stressed and rushed with the chaos of this season, God brings peace to that madness. Combine His peace with the chaos, then there are opportunities. The opportunity to bless someone, to share a conversation, to encourage. He said, “Lydia,everyday is a new opportunity to share the peace that I gave you, so look for your opportunities.”

The second lesson God taught me: Being the Christmas season, I was reading the birth of Christ in Matthew and Luke. And I was thinking about those that were anxiously awaiting the arrival of their Messiah. To those whose eyes were open, they knew! They seized their opportunity and held nothing back. Can’t you just see the wisemen arriving at the home of Jesus, falling to their knees in worship and exclaiming with pure joy, ” This is THE ONE we have waited for!” They traveled forever just to see this child…but they knew that this boy who was born in the lowliest of places would become the King of Kings. And what about Mary? I mean, you know that when she looked at Jesus the first time that she must have said with tears in her eyes, “You are the One I have waited for.”   And remember sweet Simeon who was promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he saw Christ?  When he saw Mary and Joseph carrying Jesus into the temple, Simeon took Jesus in his arms and blessed God saying,

“Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have Your salvation, Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES, And the glory of Your people Israel.”

 I mean talk about waiting for someone…Simeon definitely was rejoicing saying, He is the One I have waited for! These people had great expectations. Perhaps the key was that they were just expecting greatness from God; expecting Him to follow through with His promise and the prophecies.

God’s Word to me: “Lydia, why don’t you push with everything after Me? I AM the One you have waited for.”  Sometimes I hate myself for getting preoccupied with other things, when the One that I have been looking for is right there. And ironically, He looks for ME! I don’t even have to search or travel anywhere…He’s just there. I have it so easy, yet sometimes I make it so difficult.

Challenge: Seize your opportunity to share God’s peace. 1st-ask God for peace for yourself, so that you have some to give others. 2nd-open your eyes to see your opportunities. Finally, remember the One you have waited for. Remember His faithfulness. Remember His promises. Just remember His presence…He is always here. Born in the lowliest of places, Raised to the right hand of God. This is THE ONE we have waited for.