Pitts Picks for Advent

'Tis the season to celebrate Jesus the Messiah! Matt and I (mostly I) are still in the process of thinking through our family celebration of this "especially" Christmas holiday, but one thing we do know: there is some really incredible, Christ-centered music to prepare our hearts to celebrate Christmas. A few years ago we happened upon the Andrew Peterson album Behold the Lamb of God which I'm sure we've talked about on this blog before. It is a concept album and all the songs tell the Christmas story...starting with Passover. Did you know the passover was a shadow pointing to Christ's death, burial and resurrection? Andrew Peterson weaves the story in an engaging way, as only a talented lyricist can. The songs are not only catchy, but beautiful and very moving. Buy it right now, on http://www.rabbitroom.com/

Our next find was the Sojourn Church album, Advent Songs. Also very good, high level of musicianship, catchy and Christ-centered. I'm fairly sure you can buy it on iTunes.

Lastly, we bought the Sovereign Grace album Savior: Celebrating the Mystery of God Become Man. Again, the folks at Sovereign Grace have crafted beautiful lyrics with excellent music. Buy the album here.
What are you doing to prepare to celebrate the mystery and joy of the Incarnation?

Good Riddance Chuck Part 2: Possum Kingdom

After we captured Chuck in the live-trap, we heard some more scuffling sounds in the wall. Matt re-set the trap with some yummy cat food, and we waited. The next day we discovered that we had not, in fact, trapped Chuck, but perhaps his smaller wife, Frida. THIS time we had caught Chuck. Or else he had just started growing his winter coat and seemed bigger than the previous.


And yes, he is baring his teeth at you.

Well not long after that we heard sounds in the wall again. Apparently it is pretty common for there not to be just one animal living in a space, but a herd. Or, shall we say, a Possum Kingdom. So this time we set the trap with some more Friskies and caught the smallest and most aggressive of the bunch, Junie. He wasn't curled up in a ball like the others and was more actively growling at us, which made us think he was either young or stupid, or both. Hence, an adolescent possum.

Menacing. We haven't heard many more sounds in the wall since the capture of this little guy. Although I was stampeded by a wild Gracie later that day. Thankfully, I made it out unscathed.

Ug Boots for Babies?

Labor for the food that endures to eternal life

I am on the email list to receive John Piper's weekly sermons. I joined during his marriage series and confess that now I rarely read them besides an occasional skim. Today I read it in the hopes of receiving encouragement and the Lord was gracious to give. I know that often a blogger will be encouraged by something and share it on his blog and I'll think, "Yeah, cool." I put this here in the hopes that you are duly encouraged, but if not, that's fine. Here is the quote; I added the emphasis. The sermon text was John 6:22-29. Find the whole sermon here.

"[When your eyes are opened] you see Jesus Christ as the crucified and risen Son of God, you taste and know that he is the Bread of Life, you eat—that is, you believe—and the result? You stay in your job (most of you, 1 Corinthians 7:24) and something about everything changes. It has to. The food that perishes no longer dominates your mind. Christ dominates your mind as the supreme Treasure. And if things look bleak, you remember, I am going to live
forever.

So you go to work now, not dominated by the desire forthe bread that perishes of for the fear of losing it. You go to work knowing him, trusting him, treasuring him, being satisfied in him, with your heart set on making much of him in every aspect of your vocation [including being a mom].

Keeping eternal life before you, and snacking all day on the Bread of Life, won’t make you a lazy worker. It won’t make you a shoddy worker. It won’t make you a gloomy worker. You will bring zeal and excellence and joy to your work because you know him, you trust him, you treasure him, you aim to make much of him. And you know that everything you do in his name and for his glory—from washing the bathroom to running the boardroom—will be rewarded forever and ever in the new earth."

Why I love small towns

Today Matt went to visit one of our church members who was scheduled to have surgery. Matt arrived at the hospital and walked up to the front desk to find out where he was. Matt said to the receptionist, "I am here to see someone who is having surgery. Where do I need to go?" The reply he got was, and I quote, "Well, we only have one surgery scheduled for today, and it's on the 3rd floor."

Spotlight: "Listening to the still quiet voice"

I was so moved by these poignant thoughts from my friend Rachel about trusting the Lord, as a mom. You can read them here.

*And yes, Lee, I did unabashedly steal your "spotlight"

And the winner is...

For Grace's 1st birthday she received some amazing gifts. Adorable clothes, fun toys, wonderful books, and the "universal gift card" -- cash, which will go into a savings account for her. As her parents, we so appreciate the sweet cards she received (which I will save), and since I am with her much of the time, I appreciate her clothes and toys that make life a bit more varied and exciting. But I'm SURE you're all wondering which gift Grace was most excited about for her birthday, right? Well, there was a contest for "Grace's Fave Gift" and it was rated by the standards of "excitement" and "playability". There were two runners up:

Runner-Up #2: Cute Doll outfit from Grammy (see baby on the right)

My mom gave Grace this baby doll a while ago, but with her new outfit Grammy made, you'd think it was a new doll! I think it increased its "play value" by at least 75%.

Runner up #2: Wagon from Mimi and Pawpaw

This wagon is so fun. Grace likes taking rides outside, or tours of our house. It also holds her toys in her playroom/our diningroom.

Drumroll....And the winner for Grace's Favorite Toy goes to: Brown paper bags from my Aunt Kris!! Congratulations Aunt Kris!! So, her real gift was some of the Olivia books (which are my new favorite to read), but they were wrapped in these two brown paper bags to keep them from banging around in the mail, and Grace is convinced those are her new toys. She crinkles them, carries one in each hand and just has the best time. So, thanks Aunt Kris!!