A Life Lesson

I think I’m always conflicted this particular week of the Christmas season because we talk so much to our kids about focusing on the birth of Jesus and what that means in our lives and then run around like crazy people trying to get everything done.

Since we just got back from Mississippi last night, today is a day of re-grouping. There will be grocery lists made, laundry washed and , hopefully, an assortment of other things accomplished. What I’m hoping for most is that my behavior will reflect what we’ve been trying to teach the girls - that Christmas is not about gifts, food, or even family. It’s about Christ. And, if the other things weren’t around, it would still be one of the best times of the year.

So, what would a Christmas life lesson look like? Peace. Joy. True joy in all of my to-dos. I love making lists of things to do, not because I’m incredibly organized, but because if I don’t write things down, I don’t seem to have the mental capacity to remember anything, and this is incredibly annoying. But like the typical list-maker, I get a little caught up in my list. My goal this week is to let the list go. Oh, I will still make my lists, my friend, but I’m going to try and remind my little type-A self that the list is not the end goal.

I so want my life to not be sending a double message, especially to my sweet family. I think I’ve come to grips that it is impossible to escape hypocrisy entirely while we’re on this side of heaven, but I do want to constantly examine my actions and words to see if they line up with what I say I believe and tweak “as I go.” Sounds kind of like “working out our salvation in fear in trembling,” now that I think of it.

Getting Caught Up Before I Go Crazy

If I don’t get busy and post some pictures, my brain is going to explode, and the grandparents are going to think I’ve fallen off the planet.  So, please excuse the long post, but it has to be done.

I gave Todd a surprise birthday party at one of our favorite local restaurants, and it was pretty chilly and windy that night.  It was a major accomplishment getting the candles lit.  Creed’s birthday was actually that day, too, so we celebrated together.  He is precious and as fun as he is cute!

The grown-up girls wanted to get a picture together while we were at the party, and the littl‘uns wanted to join us.  We are not matched up parent-to-kiddos, and I’m not even going to try and straighten it out!

We did get our own picture eventually.

Some of my dear Bastrop friends: Melinda, (me), Ashley, who cooked us dinner tonight because we’ve been a little sick around here, Erin, and Julie.

A picture of Emma playing soccer because I promised one a million years ago.

While Daddy was in Illinois, we carved our pumpkins.

And, finally, our Halloween pictures.  The poodle, gypsy and flower fairy had a great time.  We visited a friend’s neighborhood and hit some houses over there, and then we went to the nursing home to trick-or-treat and to hand out fall decorations that our kiddos had made during homegroup.  See why I love our homegroup?  I thought this was such a great idea, and all the kids did a great job.  You know, honestly, you never know what you may see/hear while in a nursing home, but all the kids were so sweet with everyone, and I was so proud of them.

After that, we headed back to Ann’s house (another homegroup gal) for the most incredible fall fest ever.  I’m scared to ask her how much time it took for her to set everything up.  Off the top of my head the following were available for the kids: pin the nose on the pumpkin, toss the hula hoop over the pumpkin, a go-fish game with prizes, bagged popcorn for the hayride, put a funny face on the pumpkin (using potato head pieces) bean bag toss through the pumpkin, iced cookies for the kids to decorate after they had finished the friendly ghost hunt inside.  I get tired just trying to list it all.  It was amazing!

The hula hoop toss.

 

I had to show the back of Aubrie’s wings.  I thought these would be easy to make.  I was wrong.

Homegroup friends.

 

The poodle pose.

Thanks for hanging in there with me!  I feel so much better getting that done.

A Year Now

I really wanted to sit down and reflect before I entered this post, but my pajamas are calling.  A year ago today we pulled up roots from our wonderful Mississippi town and landed here in Bastrop.  I must say that things have been about as clear as mud since then, but I know that there is purpose in our being here.  Just about everything thing we thought was supposed to happen hasn’t, and we’re really working on being okay with that.

We’ve really been trying to figure out ways to teach our girls gratefulness and contentment with what they have.  I’m finding that in an age when they have just about everything they want and/or need that this is very difficult.  It’s even more difficult when you realize that you struggle with this yourself. SO, I’ve been working on being content with the shelter, food and clothes that I have.  I’ve been trying to not think about the parts of my life that are in the garage or under the stairs in a box because we thought our rental would be temporary.  I want to cultivate thankfulness for the real things in my life, not the trappings that honestly can soak up a lot of time and don’t matter in the end. 

This is NOT easy for me.  At. all.  But, I’m working on it day-by-day…and here we are, a year later.  How is it that it was fast and slow all at the same time?  When someone figures that out, please let me know!

I have a ton of other things I want to post, but I’ll have to get to it later – sick kids lately, so the pajamas are now screaming at me.

Christmas Cards

Just in case you haven’t decided where you’ll be ordering yours this year, you can check out my sister’s Facebook page. Colleen does a great job and will work with you to get it how you want it!

This was our card from last year, and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with this time.

A Lot For Which to be Thankful

Before I get to the thanksgiving, I wanted to let you know about my friend Mer who is having a giveaway every day this week (but she’s not determining the winners until the end of the week.)  So you still have plenty of time to stop by!

After reading a book this summer, I realized that I had lost the habit of thankfulness and that somehow ugly cynicism had crept in its place.  I don’t think there was some big event that caused this to happen, but it sure has.  One of the things I want most for our girls is for them to be truly joyful, but I realized that if I was full of complaints and looking at the negative side of things, that they were going to pick up these nasty habits as well.  Yuck.

I don’t really have a well-laid plan, but I’m going to try to post a little thankfulness on my blog just to keep my thankful/joyful juices flowing. 

I’m thankful for a GREAT husband who works so hard at a very thankless job so I can stay home and train our sweet girls.

I’m so thankful that I get to be the one to teach our cuties even when being at home really stinks – I’m trying to remember to tell Todd this, too, so he’s not always hearing about how hard homeschooling can be.  I really wouldn’t trade it for anything!

I’m thankful for a great community of homeschooling friends – seems like I make a new one every week or so.  (That includes the ones here and Jill, too!)

I think I’ve mentioned this before, but just to make sure, I’m so grateful for our church home.  We have been a part of some really great churches, but this is one that finally fits in just about every sense of the word.  Our church family has really become our extended family, and I don’t know what we’d do w/o them.

I’m thankful for Ashley who was crazy brave and went to the outlet malls in San Marcos with me and the girls today.  I would have even more gray hair if it weren’t for you!

I’m thankful for finished Halloween costumes!  Pictures to follow sometime this weekend, I’m sure.

Oh, and the thought which inspired the blog tonight – I’m SO thankful for good health.  We have had people battling illness left and right all around us, and we have been unscathed.  I’m especially thankful for this as Todd is away this week.  Thank you, Lord!

Just a Few Things

Thanks for stopping by.

Please don't forget to enter the give away on John's blog for his new book celebrating advent, Touching Wonder. If you don't win a copy, you can always purchase one here. You really don't want to miss the bonus gifts for weeks 4 and 5. They're going to be good!

Just a note - I did manage to work out last night but then had WAY to much energy and found it hard to wind down. I must say that I felt great getting some exercise in - physically and mentally. I'm feeling a little tired and achy tonight so we'll see how things go tomorrow. I've heard great things about echinacea tea so I'm fixin' to try some.

Have a blessed evening.

A Little Craftiness and A Good Workout

So, I’m going to try to make some headway on Emma’s costume and finish up Aubrie’s.  May not get that much accomplished, but I’m going to give it a shot.  Thankfully, E’s doesn’t require sewing, and I’m done with the sewing on Aubrie’s.  Thank goodness for glue guns – that’s the only tool I’ll need to finish A’s.  What would we do w/o glue guns?  I shudder to think.

Also, I’ve GOT to figure out a way to get in some more exercise.  I find that the “at home video routine thing” is proving a little too much for my level of discipline.  I’m really hit-or-miss w/them which means I only work out about once a week, and let me tell you, friends, that is NOT cutting it.  At all.  I’m really trying to be aware of my eating, but w/o some sweat, I just don’t feel like much positive is going on.  I had worked so hard a while back (two summers ago) to shed some pounds and get fit, and I’m so discouraged that I’ve completely backtracked to where I was before.  I’m probably more fit now (not sucking wind when I run), but the scale is a real downer.  Of course, I could be working out instead of typing…choices, choices.  Maybe if I put on my workout clothes, I’ll get motivated!