Merry Christmas from the Matwijecs

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Matwijecs!

Jennifer, Mike, Callie (8), Cooper (6), Crosby (4), Clay (3), Grace (23 months)

This is such a sweet time of year especially in this season of life with 5 kids age 8 and under. Sure, it's complete chaos at times like this past weekend when my garbage disposal fell off under the sink mid dish washing while Mike was taking #3 to a birthday party. Water everywhere. I'm screaming for towels and everyone is staring at me like I've lost my mind. Thanks to Grandpa for saving the day! Oh, and the minivan has attitude, "I'll start when I want to." We can't fit all the kids in Mike's fancy sedan so I'm going to need the van to get it together soon. Anyways, chaos aside, the joy of the season we are in leaves me speechless when I sit back and think about it. I started a new family blog when we bought my childhood home as a way for me to "journal" life as a mom of 5, wife, nonprofit director, and entrepreneur. Ok, that last one is still in the works but I cannot wait to share what we are working on! With this blog, I want to leave a tangible footprint of who I am and who we are as a family so that when life gets chaotic, my kids (and Mike) can have a place to visit and read how much I ADORE them. It's a place that will always point them to Jesus. 

I am a little behind (imagine that) blogging our beach pictures by the amazing Pure7 Studios. These are treasures. I am so grateful for Ryan and Erica and everything they do for Waves of Grace. I can't watch the video without crying. Ryan captured their precious faces and personalities perfectly.  

I am incredibly grateful these 5 call me mom. I am so proud of the sweet children they are becoming. Parenting can be exhausting. I'm thankful that when I've got nothing left, Jesus can do the rest. When I screw it up, Jesus can restore it. When I can't be there with them, Jesus is always there. When I'm sinking in mom guilt, His grace abounds. When I forget the lunch, the meeting, the homework, the little things that are big things, He does not forget. He's etched their names on the palms of his hands (Isaiah 49:16.) Exhale. 

2017 Memories was made so that we can look back and see how we've grown and how amazing life is. The kids loved helping and asked if we could do one every year. Ha! Of course we can if the stars align where two kids nap, two are at school, one's not cutting molars and there's no laundry. 

We hope you and your loved ones have a very Merry Christmas! We are so excited for Santa to visit but more importantly, we're celebrating God's love for us. We're grateful for Jesus. If you're not really sure what Jesus' birth has to do with anything, I can honestly say I've had the same thoughts. If you aren't really sure where you stand in your beliefs, I know what it feels like. I grew up going to church but never really asked any questions so when a cancer diagnosis of a loved one comes along, nothing made sense. Angry, I hear ya. Not really sure why things happen and if God is really good? Download this free podcast, Untangled. This is the good news!

We continue to be blown away by everyone's support of Waves of Grace. Thank you for believing in our mission. It was an honor to be featured in the Tennessean.