When I play with my cat, how do I know that she is not passing time with me rather than I with her? - Montaigne

And so we watch, and wait, and stay alert, waiting again for the coming of Jesus. And we light a single candle in preparation for that glorious day.

Bailey posing for the picture...

Looking a little nervous when it was really time to light the candles.

Tonight was the first night we got to light the Advent Wreath. Pa Pa gave it to us last year to help get us ready for the holiday season! Since Bailey is the youngest, he got to light the first candle. Kaci read a prayer before our meal and got to be the first to blow it out.

Advent is celebrated the four Sunday’s before Christmas. This year Advent begins on November 29 and ends on Christmas Eve. It is the season that celebrates the “coming” of Christ. Christ has come as the baby Jesus long ago. Christ will come again in the future and Christ is waiting to come into our hearts

The Sunday’s of Advent - 2008
November 29
December 6
December 13
December 20
Christmas Eve - The end of Advent – Lighting of The Christ Candle

The wreath itself is also symbolic. The circle of evergreen in which the candles are placed represents everlasting life. The seedpods, nuts and cones used to decorate the wreath are symbolic of resurrection, and fruits represent the nourishing fruitfulness of the Christian life.

The kids enjoyed eating dinner with the candle lit and can't wait to light two candles next weekend. We have started our official countdown to Christmas and it can't get here soon enough for everyone!

"Every very time a bell rings, an angel gets it's wings!"

This afternoon we got dressed up and headed to the entrance of our neighborhood to take some pictures to use on our Christmas cards. The kids loved it and thought of all their own cute poses!

Here is Bailey being very GQ on this big rock he climbed on top of!
Here is Kaci up on a big rock as well!

I love this one...all puckered up!

Another sweet pose! I wish they were always this nice to one another...but then they wouldn't be brother and sister would they?

I am so lucky to have such beautiful and smart children. They really are perfect in my eyes!

Here is Bailey letting off a little "goofy" steam!

YIPPPPPPPEE! Last picture!!

Have-a-Little-Faith

The Christmas List, Richard Paul Evans

Every once in a while, I get caught up in an author. For a while it has been Mitch Albom- who has a new book coming out this year called, Have A Little Faith (which you can read a portion of up above) I want this book for Chrismtas....but the book I am really wanting this Christmas is by Richard Paul Evans, The Christmas List. He is also the author of, The Christmas Box- if you haven't read it yet- get it!

The following excerpt was taken from his website-

http://richardpaulevans.com/

YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS THIS BOOK!

Richard Paul Evans is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of 13 novels. His newest book, THE CHRISTMAS LIST, has opened to much acclaim. Library Journal writes, “Sure to be a bestseller…” Glenn Beck said, “It’s Evans’ best yet…a fantastic book and a fantastic message…It is really the spirit of what I’ve been talking about for a while now.” Academy Award-winning producer, Gerald Molen calls it, “Genius…Storytelling extraordinaire…I will read this book again.” Booklist Magazine called it, “A touching story of redemption.”
If you’ve never read Richard Paul Evans before, this is a great book to begin with.

A note from RICHARD about his newest bestseller, The Christmas List–

I wrote THE CHRISTMAS LIST with two objectives: First, I wanted to explore what could happen if someone read their obituary before they died and saw, first hand, what the world really thinks of them. Their legacy.
Second, I wanted to write a Christmas story of true redemption. One of my family’s holiday traditions is to see a local production of Dicken’s A Christmas Carol. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen it (perhaps a dozen) but it still thrills me to see the change that comes over Ebenezer Scrooge as he transforms from a dull, tight-fisted miser into a penitent, “giddy-as-a-schoolboy” man with love in his heart. I always leave the show with a smile on my faceand a resolve to be a better person. That’s what I wanted to share with you, my dear readers, this Christmas–a holiday tale to warm your seasons, your homes and your hearts.
Merry Christmas,Richard Paul Evans

Read the first chapter of THE CHRISTMAS LIST
(Note: It’s a very short chapter)


CHAPTER ONE


SATURDAY, THREE WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS

James Kier looked back and forth between the newspaper headline and the photograph of himself, not sure if he should laugh or call his attorney. He had seen the picture before. It was the same photograph the Tribune had used a couple years earlier when they featured him on the front page of the business section. He had worn a silver, herringbone weave Armani over a black silk T-shirt, the corner of an ebony silk handkerchief peeked strategically from the breast pocket. The black and white photograph was carefully posed and lighted to leave half his face in shadow. The photographer, a black-clad young Japanese man with a shock of bright pink hair, chose to shoot the picture in black and white because, in the photographer’s words, he was “going for a yin yang effect—to fully capture Kier’s inner complexities”. The photographer was good at his craft. Kier’s expression revealed a leaky confidence.
While the photograph was the same, the headline could not have been more different. Not many people get to read their own obituary.

Local real estate mogul dies in automobile crash
Utah Real Estate developer James Kier was pronounced dead after his car collided with a concrete pilon on southbound I-80. Rescue workers labored for more than an hour to remove the Salt Lake man’s body from the wreckage. Authorities believe Kier may have had a heart attack prior to swerving off the road.
Kier was the president of Kier construction, one of the West’s largest real estate development firms. He was known as a fierce, oftentimes ruthless, businessman. He once said, “If you want to make friends, join a book club. If you want to make money, go into business. Only a fool confuses the two.”
Kier is survived by his son, James Kier II, and his wife, Sara. See page 1 of the business section for more on James Kier.

Kier lay the paper down. Some idiot’s going to lose his job over this, he thought.
He had no idea what the article was about to set in motion.

Happy Birthday, Mommy!

Today was Mom's birthday! What a great day- We celebrated with dinner at Olive Garden. Mark arranged for us to get the same table we always get when we go to Olive Garden for Grandma Dee or PaPa's birthday!

Here is Kaci enjoying her pizza with PaPa!- extra sausage, extra cheese!

Aw...look how cute Mark and Amber are.

I actually think I might like this picture! (that is not true of too many pics I am in!) I think we all look great! Not too many chins, or too much teeth- and definately no hips in the picture helps! ha

And here is the whole gang! I really like this picture! I hope that you had a great birthday, Mom! Thank you for all you do for all of us. You help me out in more ways than you will ever know. I love you from the bottom (all the way to the top) of my heart! Happy Birthday!!

What kind of key can never unlock any door???

A TURKEY!!

(Bailey told me this one! Good one, huh?)

Kaci guessed a "monkey"! That works too!

"God is Great. God is Good. Let us thank him for our food. By his hands, we are fed. Thank you, Lord for daily bread. Amen"

Today was Bailey's Thanksgiving Day Play and Feast! Wow! What a great job! The kids looked so cute in their costumes. There were pilgrim boys, pilgrim girls, Indian boys, Indian girls and even a group turkeys!
The stage was perfect!

After the play- the children got to have a feast! Mrs. Farque's class had the BEST table in the whole cafeteria! They had turkey (thank you, Mr. Rich), green beans, corn bread, homemade butter, and cranberry bread! It was delicious!!! Even Papa joined in!

When we checked the mail after school we found a big envelope from Uncle Chad- and look what we found inside! Gobble, Gobble, Gobble!

The Borchgardt's are in the HOLIDAY SPIRIT!!!

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/76CqE01XqPFQWfLfuNE4

Click on this link to see our "Elf Yourself" video!
ENJOY!

Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas... perhaps... means a little bit more."

Well, I am typing this entry after I have dropped the kids off at school this morning. Had to sign in and walk them both to class as we were tardy! When I had to sign in the reason why they were late, I wrote "BIRTHDAY HANGOVER!" Yes! - That's right! What a day we had yesterday celebrating the BIG 8 with Kaci. After having McDonalds for lunch and popsicles in class with her friends- I picked them up from school and we headed to Grandma Dee and PaPa's house! She got to open her birthday presents and then decided to spend some of her birthday money on a Build A Bear at the mall. Bailey had received a little money from Grandma too - so joining that with some of his allowance, he had enough to make one too! PaPa and Grandma Dee decided to join us and boy were they in for a treat. They have never had the Build A Bear experience!

After Bailey stuffed his dog and picked out a barking sound, he fluffed him and got him all ready for his new outfit. Here he is with PaPa picking out the perfect name, Adam!

Kaci stuffed hers and gave it the "magic" sound! Here she is fluffing her bear with Grandma Dee. She named her bear, Magic!

Whew! We worked so hard we had to sit and rest while we waited for Daddy to get there! He meet us after work so we could see Santa and eat in the Food Court!
There wasn't much of a line (it is still early) but there was one little girl ahead of us. It was Mrs. Fleming (the kid's school counselor and her daughter) So- we patiently waited our turn and took a few pictures while we waited. This is a great one!
Ahhhhhhhhhhh.....finally....our turn! No telling what the kids told him they wanted. I think I overheard a few Wii and DS games as well as a laptop computer! HMMMMMmm??
We couldn't leave without taking a picture of Kaci and her twin doll, Grace. Aren't they sweet?

Well....there you have it! Our fun night at Lakeline Mall! I love this picture. Too bad Clint and I weren't wearing black and red, but we still look pretty cute.

" The world is a better place just because you are in it!"

This day at 1:40 pm -8 years ago was -ONE of the HAPPIEST days of my life! I am so blessed to have Kaci in my life-we ALL are!! Happy Birthday, Baby Girl!! You are smart, beautiful and so kind hearted. The world is a better place because you are in it! You (& Bailey) are the reason I get up each morning with a smile on my face! I hope it is the best birthday ever and one of MANY more to come!
Kaci got to pick out a library book at school for her birthday!
They will put a nameplate with her name in it and it will forever be hers in the library! We thought it was neat...the title is "Kailey" A nice mix of Kaci and Bailey, don't you think?

PaPa and I checked Kaci out of school today for about an hour to take her for a nice birthday lunch at McDonalds! We invited Bailey to come too, but his class had earned the reward of eating lunch on the stage today- so he did not want to miss out. So, before I got Kaci I went through the drive thru and got Bailey a happy meal.

Thanks for joining us today, PaPa!

So proud of you today too, Bailey!!

Merry Madagascar!!!

Tonight was the premiere of Merry Madagascar! The kids have been so excited about it. When I was shopping the other day I found these Merry Madagascar pajamas and could not pass them up! (I know, I know.....pajamas to go with a 30 minute cartoon!) -but that is just the kind of thing this crazy mom does for her kiddos! Here they are modeling them after their bath~

35 days until Christmas! Are you ready??

JDRF Photo shoot!

If you could put a message in this bottle....what would it say?

Kaci burying herself!

Wonder what she hears? When Bailey held one to his ear he said it sounded like a toilet! AHHHH the fun never ends with him!

Today Kaci had her photo shoot for the JDRF Hope Ball in May!

The photo shoot took place on a sand volleyball court so that once they are photo shopped they will appear to be at the beach! Bailey even snuck in on a few pictures, but more importantly he was asked to help with the stage set up! There were lots of buckets, shovels and pails and he was asked to build a few sand castles! We can't wait to see how Kaci's images will be used in this year's Hope Ball event; invitation, program, slide show or photos around the room! We are so proud of her!

Happy Birthday to me!!!

It is almost the 19th and we can hardly wait....because this year Kaci is turning 8!!!

I can hardly believe that Kaci is turning 8 this year!
Seems like just yesterday she was being born. So true that time really does fly!

We celebrated her birthday today (on my birthday- but I wouldn't have had it any other way!) It is her first sleepover party and she invited 7 of her best friends to come and join in on the fun.

Bounce house....check!

Pinata....check!

Birthday cake, blowing out the candles and making a wish...check!

Good friends and best brother at the party....check!

Lots of great presents...check!!

Arts and crafts project....check!

Late night with a good movie....check!

Thanks to all of you for making this such a special day for Kaci. She is blessed to have such good friends and family. We are blessed to have her and are so proud of the girl she is!!

Happy Birthday, Kaci!