NEW CHRISTMAS {SINGLE}

Hey friends,
I've got a brand new Christmas SINGLE 'Lo, How A Rose' that released today on iTunes!

CLICK HERE TO BUY IT ON ITUNES!!!

I hope you all enjoy it!

Peace,
Ross

The Tree Goes Up!

That's right, we put the Christmas tree up tonight with the kiddos. 'Twas a fun night of ornaments, lights, and sifting through boxes from the move nearly a year ago...

The girlies loved every minute of it: cookies, Christmas music, nativity scenes


It's about a week early (I know), but after seeing all of the pine trees and lights in Colorado last week, we were just in the Christmas mood.

So we indulged.

Peace,
Ross

A Christmas TOP 5 (tunes & movies)

Its that time of year when every publication is pumping out their "best-of's." So I figured I would follow suit and give you a list of my TOP 5 Christmas tunes (recent) - its hard to top Bing and Andy...so here's what the kids are listening to :-) and movies (of all time).

SONGS...
O Holy Night - Shane & Shane
What Child Is This - Sleeping At Last
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel - The Civil Wars
Little Drummer Boy - Jars of Clay
O Come All Ye Faithful - Pomplamoose

MOVIES...
The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (1966 version)
Christmas Vacation
A Christmas Story
Home Alone
White Christmas

Please comment & share your own favorites!

Peace,
Ross

iPad Christmas Magic

I saw this yesterday and had to share it. I know its kinda' dorky, but it's also pretty dang impressive!



Have an excellent weekend,
Ross

ADVENTure

"HOORAY, HOORAY!"

That was what Cora was shouting from the backseat last night as we drove the neighborhoods of St. Louis to check out the best-of-the-best, Christmas Lights and decorations (how can you go wrong with an 8 ft. snow globe inflated about 75%?)

Cora is what I would call excitedly-dramatic...and I love it! Her 2-year-old personality really comes alive, and advent has been a blast seeing her get pumped night after night for little special treats, trips, foods, and projects. She also has the uncanny ability to get Olive in a frenzy - cast & all.

Sunday night we all got Christmas socks - one of my personal favorites. Tonight, who knows...cookies, paint a Christmas picture, homemade ornaments...you'll just have to wait and see.

So to tide you over, here's a quick little video from the other night.



Peace,
Ross

How Advent is Shaping Up...

A couple of days ago I posted a few questions about how you spend and celebrate Advent. Kate and I made our master plan and are 1 day into it with the girls (we made snowflakes and setup the nativity scene last night). So here's what we have so far (in no particular order):

Christmas Lights in Tillis Park
Bake Christmas cookies
Make ornaments
Wild Lights at the Zoo
Drive and see neighborhood lights
Lights at Lady of the Snow
Ice skating
Carriage ride
Watch Grinch
Watch Rudolph
Watch Elf
Watch Frosty
Invite friends over for dinner/go out w/ friends (1X p/week)
Homemade snowflakes
Set up the nativity scene
Outdoor fire w/ hot coco

So there's our list-in-progress. Please feel free to share your ideas!

Peace,
Ross

It might be time to REthink Christmas!

Are you hopeful for Christmas this year, but worried its just going to be a repeat of years past? Are you trying to convince yourself that this year, the traditions will be different somehow and really close out the year with a bang?

Do this for me...think back on last year. What was memorable? Ok, now go back 2 years...what sticks out?

Anything life altering?

If you're like most people, you have your laundry list of Christmas traditions. Each year you go down the list one by one, week after week, and expect something refreshing and transformative. But nothing happens. Its the same bad traffic, long lines, songs, and tv specials as every other year.

My advice, (if this is you), CAN THE TRADITION! If the tradition lets you down every single year, maybe its time to morph it, or just try something completely different. After all, you can't remember what you did the last couple years anyway - so what's to lose??? Why are we so hesitant to toss out lame tradition???

It might be time to REthink Christmas!

Here's a few ideas:

1. visit/attend a worship service on Christmas Eve (if you typically attend one, but are left feeling nothing year after year, get online and try another one - worship with people you've never worshipped with before in styles you've never considered)

2. spend more WITH family and less ON family (time, activities, etc.)

3. focus (stop trying to do everything and instead do SOMETHING)

4. laugh

5. spend time where Jesus would have spent his Christmas'...(with the least of these)

6. the gifts you do give, make them socially conscious gifts (gifts with a purpose and mission)

7. be still (take a deep breath, another, another, another...)

8. listen (sometimes we're too busy "out-telling" everyone else's stories when just maybe we'd do better to hear them and let the the stories soak in)

9. invite someone over for a meal, celebration, etc that has no family or friends around for the holiday

10. eat (just eat)

That's it for today. Merry Christmas!
-Ross

This Christmas Season...

So this Christmas season (Advent), I've listed a few things I really wanted to give focus and consideration to. One, simply being still. And unfortunately stillness is so counter cultural, that I struggle in this department.

But in my attempts to re-focus this Advent on being still, spending more time with family, and just being in the moment that is Advent, it brings us to great places...and this was one of those places.

The night was frigid, but I was surrounded with my 3 loves, and we had a blast!

getting laced up...

so far, she's not a fan...

on our way out...

on the ice...and finally, a carriage ride for everyone...
THE END.

Feeling Advent-ish...?

There's nothing like 70 degree, late November, days to get me in the mood for Advent...well, maybe not.

BUT, Christmas is my favorite time of year. Heck, I start looking for an excuse to play Christmas music once the leaves start changing colors.

Today though, lets talk about Advent. (I'd love to hear some of your childhood, church, or family traditions)

This year I'm excited, because Cora is old enough to really participate in the festivities. And since we kicked off Advent yesterday at church, I thought this might be timely.

So this year my Advent will look like this...

Reading the lectionary texts nightly as a family (slowly
walking through the Christmas story). Slowing down. More
nights in front of the fireplace. More singing. More drives
to see the "pitty lights." Cold nights out by the fire pit.
More time seeing friends. Giving. Reading. Writing.
More mistletoe with Kate. Creative cooking. Parties.
Hot apple cider. New Christmas Carol
arrangements. Better harmonies.
Decorating cookies. Love.
Family.

"His law is love and His gospel is peace"

Saying Thanks!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope today is a wonderful day of family, friends, rememberance, laughing, and gluttony :-)

Beyond the pies, turkeys, and carb overloads, just stop for a minute to take it all in and say thanks.

Last night we got to catch up with some great friends and family under the firework-lit-sky while being serenaded by Aaron Neville and Manheim Steamroller - talk about thanks!

::See More Deatiled Wonderment Here::

Peace everyone!
-Ross