A Little Christmas Tour

Wow...my 3rd year in a row joining in the Christmas Tour of Homes hosted by Boomama!

It seems to me that either last year or the year before, I was busy inviting you all in by way of taking pictures while a windstorm raged outside.

This year, again, a storm hit our area...but this time along with the wind, a ton of snow and frigid weather have joined forces.
A snowstorm was predicted and by Saturday we knew there would be a good chance that the last day of the big performance might be canceled. Still we were hoping...but sure enough, this morning it came. And yes, the last of the performances were indeed canceled!

And here in our area, we're use to a little dusting or some wet snow that melts the next day...but this time the tempatures are dipping into the teens with a wind chill making it hover near 0! Yikes....

So, um...do come in out of that blizzard!

Yes, if you look behind you, that is indeed my husband and girls...taking a very brief zip down the road with the sled...but they will come in after just a moment, since it's way too cold out there!

As you come in, you'll notice our very tiny little entryway spruced up for Christmas and having a fresh coat of paint on the wall...


And just next to it is our end table. Towards the back is my crystal Nativity candle set that I've had from before I was married.

Before we see the rest of the Christmas decor, would you like some egg nog? I know...you either love it or detest it, so if you'd prefer, I have lots of flavored teas...Our family just drinks 'nog' from the moment it hits the shelf in October until that last one is sold in January...

Anyway...
Across the room is our fireplace mantle. We're not crazy about the brick, but at Christmastime we don't even notice that we don't like it!

Here it is with the garland lights on...so cozy...


Next to our mantle is my "It's a Wonderful Life Village". My mom and I began collecting these pieces before I was married...and now my own family loves it, too!

In fact, one year my husband bought me the "It's a Wonderful Life" train. It doesn't currently work but we like to set it up by the village, of course...

And then there's our Old World Santa...

We had gone to an office party three years ago and everyone bought a white elephant gift...where people can "steal" someone's gift if they don't want to pick a new one out of the box. The people at my table were laughing as I kept nudging Santa farther and farther under my chair...oh, how I wanted to take this guy home and not end up with some obnoxious gag gift!

And last but not least, is our one and only tree...the tree I spotted right away this time and guarded as fiercely as the old world Santa...
I've never had a "themed" tree because ever since I was a child- and now as a parent- my Christmas tree has always had childhood ornaments both bought and homemade, as well as ornaments people have given me over the years.


I have a couple ornaments from our first married Christmas (one when my husband was on deployment and one when he was home the following year)... and of course my girls' first Christmases...and even three very simple cardboard bells made by cousins and mom on my own first Christmas...I'll show these on one of my next posts!

But just like with some of you, so many ornaments represent something significant in our life...bring back special memories...remind us of our own childhood Christmases.

I have yet to put our the special Navitiy set, but hope to do that tomorrow...every year it goes atop our piano in our little family room\office. Perhaps I'll show it to you later...but I know you have to run now before this storm gets any worse! It's really blowing out there...
Bundle up, now! And thank you for stopping by again at my little Christmas Tour!

Show and Tell # 24

I can't believe how long it's been since I participated in a Friday Show and Tell!
But before I have to jump into this final weekend of my girls' Christmas performances, I wanted to post once more and join in!

And though I have some beautiful and ornate ornaments that I have collected through the years, I thought that this time I would show two little ornaments that are not so ornate! But they hold a special place for sentimental reasons...

The year I was sixteen, my mom had the idea to make wooden soldiers out of old style clothespins...so together, she and made about 10 or 15 of these little guys...

(Sorry about the lighting!)
I have several of them to put up for my tree every year -and so still does my mom.
On the back of their heads is the year- '79- painted on them by us... (yep, giving away my age!) but it's nice to know exactly when we created these gentle little toy soldiers.
I'm hoping that they will continue to hold up even longer - so that some day my girls can each hang some of these originals on their own Christmas trees!

Also...not nearly as cute and oh so simple...one of the tin foil bells my mom also made together. I'm not sure how old I was when we made these, but it was most likely even before the year of the soldiers. One remains in my possession...and although it is just plain foil bell, it's amazing to me that it has survived somewhere around thirty years of packing and unpacking!

Now that I have two little girls of my own..and my own mom is now 81...these simple little ornaments remind me of our special mother\daughter times...moments to look back on and treasure.

And if you think making simple home made ornaments with your children won't really amount to much in the long run, let this be proof that not only might the actual ornaments survive for years to come...but the memories that you make together will, too!

For more Show and Tells, visit Kelli at There is No Place Like Home.

And although it is going to be a bit of a challenge after our final five concerts, I hope to show more our little place all decorated on Monday during Boomama's Tour of Christmas Homes! See you then!

Whirlwind Weekend!

Whew...three shows down, and seven to go!

But more on that in a moment...

Our whirlwind weekend started with the girls' opening night of their Christmas program. We weren't going to watch it, though, until the next night so my husband dropped them off while I stayed home to work on the gifts I'm making them.

Then, the next morning we were off to get our tree!

The day was just gorgeous...and we found our tree within seconds! This is unheard of...usually when it's cold and rainy, it takes us a good half an hour to find and agree on the right one. But our tree was pretty much just a couple feet from where we parked our car this time!

My hubby had to admit it was a beautiful tree, but it didn't seem right to chop down the first one within seconds, so he went off to look some more.

But after a few moments we all agreed...this was the one.

Especially since we were right there, guarding it and all...

After their daddy did his regular duty of cutting, he then for the first time- half jokingly- had the girls try to carry it. Usually they help him- and my youngest has only touched the end of the tree as she did.
But this time, they actually each grabbed an end!
Now, granted, it was only about six feet to our car but I was shocked that they were actually big enough to do it!

"Heave Ho!"

That afternoon, I readied the girls and myself for the next two performances.
My husband and I then dropped them off for the afternoon show and then went on a little short date where we ate at a cafe... then back to the church to sit with them while they ate a little supper provided by the church...then left them with those in charge to go upstairs and save seats for relatives joining us for the evening performance!

Whew! (I'm breathing hard just reliving this...)

But it was so nice to have some family with us last night to see it...


The show itself was just beautiful.
And when the children came up on stage, hubby and I started snickering because our oldest was obviously trying really hard to win the "best smile gift bag" that was being offered at each performance to ten lucky winners. I mean, she was giving it her all!

So needless to say, when she didn't win, well, the exhaustion of all the last couple days caught up with her and she shed some tears of disappointment.

But this morning I talked with her and told her to just forget about the prize. Her smile will be more genuine when she thinks about praising God, and blessing the people that came to this show and need to see some sweet smiles...and to just have fun!
She was feeling better after a good night's sleep, so I think all of this made sense to her.

But really, both of them did wonderfully- as tired as they were beginning to get, they both really put a lot of effort into it and their daddy and I were proud of them!

Now, I'm off to take them to two more performances in a few moments...(and you can guess that tomorrow we're going to take it easy on the school work!)

Here's just a few seconds sampling of the program- enjoy!
(Success! I think it's working now! You can't see my girls since my video won't let me do close ups, but at least it gives you a feeling of the show!)

Christmas Rush

Are any of you feeling the Christmas crunch?

Well, I am...mostly because of our children's schedule this year.
They are privileged to be apart of a very spectacular Christmas program put on by the church where they attend Missionettes.
It's quite the deal...adult choir, teen choir, live orchestra...we're talking big, here, folks!

Tonight marked a 3 hour rehearsal for them...then tomorrow is "dress rehearsal" and Friday is the first of ten...yes, you heard right!...ten performances! Five this weekend and five next weekend!

Are you beginning to feel just a bit winded just reading this?

I guess I didn't realize how many performances were involved...but yet, they love being a part of it all! The leaders are incredible and it's been so rewarding for them since my oldest joined last year.

But it is going to be a challenge to find time to all go to the tree farm together and cut down our perfect Christmas tree. At least, in the daylight!
But somehow, we'll figure it out...

I think I understand how easy it is for families- especially we moms- to allow stress and demands take their toll on us at Christmastime.
So much to do...
the home has to be perfectly decorated...must attend parties...send out those Christmas cards...buy and make gifts...wrap, wrap, wrap...
And somehow, in the midst of it all, we need to teach our children about the real meaning of Christmas.

So...what do we do?

I think that just as so many of us cut back on spending when there's a financial recession...when we start to feel overwhelmed, we need to start cutting back on activity.
For example...sure, I've written a Christmas newsletter every year for ages...but would the world stop if I skipped a year?

Don't you think that too often, the demands we face are sometimes put there by ourselves?
At least I know that's true of me.
Sometimes, we just have to let some expectations and activities go...and know that it's better to make simple memories with our families, rather than hurrying this way and that.

But all of this said, I'm not sorry we've committed to our children being in the choir. I believe it was the right thing for them...they love it, and in fact- although I won't be sitting through the show ten whole times, I am looking forward to seeing it at least once because I know it's going to be spectacular!

But since we do have this rather heavy commitment, I need to remind myself to relax my other commitments when possible...and to relax in general!
To give our family plenty of "down time" when there is no agenda at all.

And I'm going to really try not worry about the little things. Like getting our tree.
Because when I stress the details, I lose focus on why we're even putting up a Christmas tree and decorating our home...which is to celebrate God's love for us in His sending Jesus.

So, today I'm going to just trust Him that all the little things will come....the tree, the decorations, and perhaps even the newsletter... maybe.
But most of all, I want to keep my focus on the One we're celebrating and take time to enjoy the simple joys of this season.

What about you...do you sometimes have to find ways to try to slow down at Christmastime?

*Edited to say that I can't believe how many little typing mistakes I found and corrected just now...must have been all that stress I was writing about! :)

Post Thanksgiving...and the Giveaway Winner!

I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

For the first time in years, we didn't host it at our house, and it was nice little respite. And the food was scrumptious...
There's always too many of us to ever sit around a table (and unless one of the relatives buys a house with a dining room big enough to host a Henry the VIII type,12 foot long table- it's just not going to happen.)
We always just sit around wherever we can and chat while we eat way too much of everything.

Here is just a small fraction of our crowd, on my sister in law's (not shown) back deck:
(Um, also not shown is a brother in law, who's baby son seems to be hiding him!)

And it's always followed by a rousing game of this...


It's kind of a tradition that at least a handful of us play every year.

However, the following day- on my second trip out of the house on that mad, crazy shopping day... it was easy to guess what my mood quickly turned to...

My family and I were at the mall, taking turns separating and then meeting up again while we shopped for one another. I was waiting on one of the chairs in the mall, shopping bag in hand along with my purse and youngest girl's coat, and getting very warm. So, I took off my jacket and made a mental note to be sure to not forget it.

And you can see where this is going...

A little while later I got up to meet my family a few feet away and then separate one more time...and it was then that I realized I didn't have my jacket.

My little black leather jacket that my husband had gotten me a couple years ago.

I ran frantically, my little girl who was now with me nearly flying behind me in the wind...but it wasn't there.

My husband and I searched, I checked Lost in Found and left my name with them...and even prayed we'd find it...but evidently someone was thrilled that they could so easily steal a leather jacket and get away with it.
It was Black Friday, alright...
So, needless to say, I felt sad that one of my favorite jackets was gone...and even sadder that I had been so careless.

But I keep telling myself that it was an incredibly long day fighting the crowds and I was exhausted... And that losing a jacket is not the end of the world. It is just a thing, after all.
But that night I was emotionally and physically done in, and it was good to just go to bed and snuggle under the covers watching one of my favorite "modern movies" - Family Man, that happened to be on TV...all I needed to make it complete was a few pounds of chocolate.


But hey, I didn't completely forget to have the drawing for participants in my Home School Open House giveaway!
I must first clarify something...in the picture where my six year old is showing her Mayflower craft, I need to tell you that on hers, she insisted I cut a different way so that the ship would not just simply go back and forth a couple inches...no, it had to zig zag around or it just wouldn't do.
So her Mayflower really had quite the voyage! ;)

Anyway, as you'll remember, those who put the button in their sidebar were entered...and participants in the Open House got their name thrown in twice!

So, only moments ago, my oldest daughter picked a name...and she giggled because the name written said....

Miss Piggy! Yes, from her blog, The Funny Farm. I've known her for almost as long as I've been blogging, so I was thrilled that she won!

She'll be getting a fabulous ornament which I'll be mailing out this coming week. Congratulations "Miss Piggy"!

And again, a huge thank you to all who participated!

Tomorrow I hope to read up on how all of your Thanksgiving weekends went...but in the meantime, it's off to bed!

Blessings!

Wordless Wednsday- From my pilgrims to yours...

A Preschool Play...three years ago...


Mine's the little pilgrim in the middle...between all of those tall hats!

A blessed Thanksgiving Day to all of you!

Welcome to the Home School Open House

Welcome to the 2nd Home School Open House!

If you'd like to participate, you can by posting your own home school show and tell on that day, perhaps showing us what your children have recently worked on, a special project, or even just a favorite book. You can also share with us the special place that your children usually do their work- a room set aside, or a special corner.
You can tell us in words, but hopefully have a picture or two to share...or even a video!
(Hopefully our Mr. Linky will be working! It worked just after I posted, but seems to be down now. If it still is, please leave your link in the comment section if you're participating until it's fixed.)

Today, in light of our Thanksgiving week, I'd like to share what we've been focusing a lot on for most of November.

As I mentioned before, my girls and I are direct descendants of William Bradford. In fact, my mom's sister has done a lot of ancestry research, and it's fun to see the line of names going back...back...all the way to Governor Bradford and his wife, Alice.
And though I had known of this heritage myself for a long time, I must say that it was only in the last couple years that I began to really feel excited about it!
Maybe the fact that I am a home school mom with the responsibility of teaching my children has helped to spark the recent enthusiasm...but whatever the reason, my girls and I have enjoyed learning together what life was like on the Mayflower...and later, at the new colony.

For our home school book report group, my nine year old read a fictionalized account of a brother and sister aboard the Mayflower.


This is a part of the Christian history book series, American Adventure, and written by Colleen Reece.
Although we talked about how the two main characters and some of the story was fiction, the book was based on a lot of researched facts and so she was able to get a good feel of what life on the Mayflower would have been like.

To compliment the book report, she made a little craft showing the Mayflower's route.
Her six year old sister wanted to copy this as well...and since I couldn't find the original today, but had her's handy, I'll show her copy...

To make this, we simply printed off a map of the world, traced the route that the Mayflower sailed, then glued in onto cardboard. (They chose to paint their cardboard and let it dry first.)
Then I cut through the cardboard only on the route with sharp tool.
The girls cut out sails and then glued them onto a popsicle stick...and tada! The ship can move back and forth on the cut trail!

We also are using a few books that I bought...
The first one is actually geared towards ages 11 and up, but I've read to them a few pages here and there.
(But truthfully, I got it more for myself!)

And this one we'll be reading together the rest of this week:



Written by Lucille Recht Penner and illustrated by S.D. Schindler, it's packed full of wonderful illustrations and perfect for all ages of grade schoolers.

Now, we did do other crafts, along with lots of worksheets that I found on the internet, but because my husband has the camera tonight, I can't show any more photos.

And there are countless wonderful books out there especially for children that I had hoped to check out at the library but somehow never did.

Here's a few more that we've read in the last few Thanksgivings that I would recommened:
"Squanto and the Miracle of the first Thanksgiving" by Eric Metaxss
"If you lived in Colonial Times" by Ann McGovern. (Post-pilgrim era but still shows many of the ways our earliest settlers lived.)

And here's one I would have loved to read aloud to them this month had I discovered it sooner:
"William Bradford- Pilgrim Boy" by Bradford Smith- about his childhood in England.



Besides all of our focus on the pilgrims and Gov. William Bradford, we've also doing what many of you with children also have...focusing on the attitude of thankfulness.
I mentioned our Thankful Tree here...the girls actually helped to make their own this year and it's cluttered with colorful leaves already- each stating what each of us are thankful for.

I have truly loved this month of November in our little home school!

So...now I'm looking forward to seeing what some of you other home schoolers have been up to!
This will be open for posts through Wednesday...and on Friday we'll draw the winner of the giveaway!

God bless and have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family!

Home School Open House Giveaway coming!

I have been such a bad blogger lately...but I do hope to catch up with some of you this week!

Today was a gorgeous fall day (although just a bit nippy!)

Our oldest was attending a cooking lesson\ tea party at the home of her Missionette leader...and so to keep youngest girl's nose firmly in joint, she had some Mommy and Daddy time all to herself at a playground, followed by some window shopping at the mall.

And wow...if it was this crowded pre-Thanksgiving, it will be interesting to see it on Friday!
And guess who was there...before Thanksgiving yet? Yep, Santa himself!!! I can't believe he made it from the north pole so early!

Now, down to business...

Just to remind you, Tuesday is the second Home School Show and Tell, and I'm really hoping to get more of you involved!
Participating in the show and tell is open to any blogger who home schools! Just take the button from my sidebar and link back to me on Tuesday!

And in hopes of having more participants, I'm having a little giveaway! Although I can't show you what it is quite yet, I will say that it is a Christmas ornament - and I think that most of you will really like it!

So how do you enter?
Even if you are not a home school parent, I will enter your name if you put the button into your sidebar or on a post. It's that simple!
Just let me know that you have done so and your name is in!

If you're a home school parent (or even teen home school student) and do decide to participate, your name will be entered in twice!
All you have to do is share a recent project or something you enjoyed learning about together...or even a special place where your child does most of their school work.
Then post the button and link back here!
(And I hope to have a better "Mr. Linky" by Tuesday...we'll see!)


In the meantime, I can hardly believe that Thanksgiving is this week...followed by the biggest shopping day of the year!
My husband and I actually usually are among the crazies who brave the frantic crowds...(which is amazing since neither one of us are really big shoppers most of the year!)
But in our case- my husband, morning person that he is, usually heads off for Round 1 by himself at the crack of dawn. That I just cannot do...not when all those turkey chemicals are still lazily lounging in my system.

But... come 9 or so...look out, here I come!

In truth, I've gotten most of my store bought items already, and making the rest...but I hope to pick up just a few incredible deals.

What about you? Do you like to brave the crowds on Black Friday or stay home sipping tea in the comfort of your home and laugh at the rest of us? ;)

Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving week (here in the states, that is!) and hope to see some of you Tuesday!

Thanksgiving Traditions

Kelli at There is no place like Home is hosting a Giving Thanks celebration.

For the past few years, I've posted about how we started "The Thankful Tree".
We had been hosting Thanksgiving at our home for years, and I wanted to incorporate the real meaning into the day- especially for my children- by having each guest write their name on a leaf as they entered the door, and what they were thankful for that year.


The picture above is from our very first year. As you can see, it is nothing fancy- I just drew the trunk and branches freehand and cut out leaf shapes, with some tape nearby for everyone to adhere their leaf to the poster.

This year will be the first year in many that we are taking a break from hosting Thanksgiving at our house. So, starting this week, I thought I could incorporate our Thankful Tree just a bit differently.
This time, just our family of four can place a leaf on the tree each day leading up to Thanksgiving, writing a different thing that we are thankful for.

There are so many ways that you can help your family participate in focusing in on gratitude this Thanksgiving season. And having these tangible reminders not only helps our children connect more easily with the attitude of thankfulness, I think it helps some of us grown- ups, as well!

Another newer tradition I've recently started surrounds the pilgrims, the Mayflower... and especially William Bradford. Because my girls are especially excited to learn that Governor Bradford is their great, great, great.........many more greats....a few more greats....great grandfather!

Yes, I - and therefore, they- are direct descendants of William Bradford so having that personal connection with the pilgrims gives them a special excitement about learning about this time of history and how it connects to Thanksgiving.
(Alright, I admit it...I'm kind of excited over it, too...)
We've been reading a lot about them this month, making crafts and drawing pictures...some of which I hope to share with you on next Tuesday's Home School Open House!


Which conveniently ties right into me telling you something special about our next Open House...;)

I am having a giveaway (specific item to be announced but I promise it will be good!) and there are two ways to have a chance to win:

1) Grab my Open House button from my sidebar and display it on either a post or your sidebar!
(This earns you one chance, and you don't have to be a home school parent for this!)
Just let me know that you've done this so I can make sure you're counted!

2) Participate in the Open House itself on the 25th by linking up to my post that day and showing the button on your participating post! Show us what your family is doing lately in your home school, favorite projects or books, or a special room where your child or children like to study.
(This gets you a whopping 3 chances to win the prize!!!)

Hope to see many of you Tuesday!

And for more Thanksgiving ideas and themes, check out Kelli's place!

Ice Castles in the Air

***Stay tuned...the 2nd monthly Home School Open House is next Tuesday the 25th
(not the 24th- correction!) and I'm hoping many more of you join in! And to sweeten the pot, I'm going to be doing a giveaway!*** (Yes, I'm resorting to bribery.) ;)


It seems my "blog fog" drifted down and settled in for the rest of the week.
Because I was just totally post-less.

But we did have an interesting and fairly nice week.

On Thursday, we met up with our home school group for afternoon ice skating!
My oldest had taken lessons years ago, but I wasn't sure how my six year old would do.
But the rollerblading she did this summer paid off, because she surprised even herself!

Sasha Cohen, move over...

Or, for those of us over 40, Dorothy Hamill...

Only without the haircut.

(Or for those over 75, Sonia Hennie....)


Although she wasn't quite floating over the ice like Dorothy here, she was so good that not only did I not have to hold her up, but she started skating around with some actual speed while her mommy got to sit on the bleachers for a break and chat!



But I'll tell you a secret...I hadn't ice skated in about six or seven years, so at first I was even shakier than my six year old. The teens zoomed past me as I hovered close to the wall and they would ask me sweetly if it was my first time skating...sigh.

But by the fifth time around the rink, I was actually zooming around too, thank you very much! And it felt soooo good! Kind of like I wasn't as over the hill as my birth certificate might indicate.
In my mind's eye, as I got just a little better each time around the bend, I was no longer an old mommy but a graceful Olympic hopeful, gliding over the ice...

I know, that's Sasha...but if I had been dressed in yellow, it would have been so me.

So, what about you...have you ever ice skated?

Honoring those who served

(Thank you to all of you who commented on my walk down memory lane...and OK... especially to those who said I hadn't changed much along the way! Extra blogging points for you!) ;)

In honor of Veteran's Day, in our school days here at home we've been learning about those that have served in defending our nation over the years.

My daughter interviewed her own daddy just a few hours ago, with sample questions that I found on the internet. As some of you know, he served for four years in the Navy during the first few years of our marriage...and it was fun to see her with her list of questions, pencil poised, asking questions of her daddy in which brought back a lot of memories- for both of us!

While I was doing some research for things to incorporate into our Veteran's Day "theme", I found a website called,
Operation Gratitude.
This site is dedicated to bringing letters and care packages to both soldiers who are currently deployed, as well as a special section for distributing thank you letters to veterans. I immediately wanted to be involved in this somehow!
I'm hoping we can participate closer to Christmas by sending something to a deployed soldier, but this week I thought it would nice to have my nine year old write a simple thank you note to someone who had once served.


The folks at Operation Gratitude will receive the letter first, check it to make sure it is appropriate, pick a name on their list, and then send it on from there to a veteran somewhere in the country that will walk to his (or her) mailbox, peer curiously at the envelope, and hopefully be blessed as it is torn open and read.

We don't know who this veteran will be...a man or a woman...a recent veteran of Iraq or an aging WWII survivor.
We probably won't ever know. But God does. And we're praying for whomever receives it.

Years and years ago, I wrote a narrative poem with old fashioned style stanzas, as I thought about the WWII era in particular. I thought of the soldiers who came home, wondering if they still possessed everything that they held dear.
Unfortunately, I can not find that poem, but I still remember the first stanza:

In shades of golden moonlight hues, a lonely soldier steps

To reach a destination known within a memory kept,

Past homes of glowing fire light, and sounds of laughter near

He only hears the echo of his footsteps in his ear.

Remember to pause and remember...and perhaps thank someone who helped protect and preserve the freedom that we hold so dear.

Blessings!

An Award...And a walk back memory lane

I just am in a bloggy fog this week. Between the rainy weather, a headache yesterday, hormones and, well, Election Day...I've been in... hey, I've just made us up a new phrase: Blog Fog. So, when I saw that I was given this award from e-mom over at Chrysalis, I felt so blessed.

If you haven't stopped by there yet, you're in for a treat. She always brings up such fascinating topics and has such words of wisdom from the Word. She is also our "home base" host for the monthly "Marriage Monday"! Thank you so much, e-mom!

Here are the rules:


1. Only five people are allowed.
2. Four have to be dedicated followers of your blog.
3. One has to be a new follower of your blog, or live in another part of the world.

So, though it's hard to narrow this down to five, but this time, I'm choosing:

1. Mamaology
2. Susie's Space
3. Country Girl at Home
4. Dawn Writes
and a new friend,
5. Balancing Beauty and Bedlam

And here's a meme while I'm at it...

I'm not exactly sure if I did this one already a long time ago...but then, I'm in a Blog Fog and all... so I'll go ahead anyway:

Where Were You?

20 Years ago:



I was working as a preschool\ day care teacher and absolutely loving it, while living with my mom.
Dating now and then, but not a lot.
I had just lost my father in June of that year, so still grieving and helping my mom through her grief.

15 Years ago:

Just met the man I would marry and we were in the process of falling in love!
Yep, things were pretty exciting for me 15 years ago this fall...

10 Years ago:



It was in in this month of November- ten years ago- that my husband and I found out we were expecting our first child!
I remember though we had prayed and planned exactly for this, some nervousness was mingled with our excitement. My husband had just left the Navy and was still seeking employment. Not to mention, first time parent jitters!
But we were praying and trusting God, and very thrilled over it all.
Although my mom already knew, we announced the news at our big Thanksgiving gathering.

5 years ago:

Well, this gives my age away, but I was 40! Knowing I've always loved nostalgia and the 1940's era, my husband gave me a 1940's birthday bash and it was truly one of the best birthdays I've ever had!
(He even wore his sailor uniform!)


And hitting this milestone was also made easier because I was still nursing my second baby, who was nine months old. You just can't feel over the hill when you're nursing a baby, somehow!

One Year ago:

Well, pretty much exactly what I'm doing right now. Homeschooling my girls, attending the same church, and trying to keep the socks in the laundry from multiplying faster than bunnies.

And like last year, I'm trying to be the woman God wants me to be, sometimes falling short but glad He still loves me...and working on relaxing and appreciating all those "little moments" in life.


If you would like to do this meme, especially if you find yourself in a BLOG FOG...please do...I tag YOU!
And feel free to take my new, hip phrase I've invented because I know it will be sweeping blogland in no time!

Blessings!

Impossible with Man...

Final thoughts... Post Election.

I am hoping this will be my last political post for a long time. But tonight my mind and heart are whirling...and I have to share some honest thoughts one last time. Some are not so pretty...but it helps me to sort them out.

Never before have I personally felt such a heaviness in my heart after an election.
Never.

And being in my mid-40's now, I've seen a few over the years...
I remember personally feeling disappointed when Clinton was elected.
And downright irritated when he was re-elected.

But you want to know something? I don't think I have I felt such a sickening kind of disappointment as I do tonight.
And the blunt truth is that tonight- while the blanket of electoral votes freshly cover the map- I am ashamed to say that I feel disappointed in my country for the leader that they have chosen on this day.
For someone who always has held a deep love of country, feeling disappointed with it is completely foreign to me...and a feeling I don't relish at all.
I want to continue teaching my children what a privilege it is to be an American...and to hold dear all that our founding fathers fought so hard to keep. So I am praying, in part, for my own attitude...

I keep remembering what happened in the Old Testament when Israel kept clamoring for a king. God told them that they shouldn't have one, but they insisted anyway.
So he let them crown their king...because God gives us a free will. And lets us make our mistakes sometimes.

Still...even though I strongly feel that this was a completely wrong choice for our country because this man's values go so contrary to God's Word... I keep reminding myself that God is still the Inhabitor of His people.

Perhaps this is a wake up call to so many of us. Not to become complacent- but to pray more earnestly for our nation (and yes, our leader) and for God to bring about a revival in our land.

Tonight, the Bible verses from ArcaMax Publishing, which e-mail verses to us each day- sent the following passages our way. I thought they were just what so many of us need to stand on just now and so I wanted to share them with you...

Fear Not! The waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm." Proverbs 1:32,33 NIV

All your children shall be taught by the LORD, And great shall be the peace of your children. In righteousness you shall be established; You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; And from terror,for it shall not come near you.

Isaiah 54:13,14 NKJV

The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

Psalm 121:5-8 KJV
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For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.

Romans 8:14-16 NASB
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Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

Let's pray together for our nation...

Blessings!

Precious Life...

On the eve of this election, I wanted to say just a couple more things...

(I may not get political again for a long time, so bear with me...)

First...No matter what the outcome, we have to remember that God is still in control and will still be working in people's lives, caring for them, and bringing people to Himself. I have to remind myself of this truth right now, over and over, as we pray...

However, while there is still time left, I have to speak out one last time- not so much for a candidate, but for what he stands for.

And for me, it is truly one of the most important issues...the right to be born.

Please take time to watch one more video...and feel free to post it, as well.
It is too important not to see...

Behind the Facade...

In the two and a half years I've been doing this, I don't think I've gotten political on my blog.

Until today.

And first, let me start by saying that if anyone reading this is from the "left" side of the tracks, let me assure you that I respect your right to believe differently. That's what makes our country the great democracy that it is.

However, since this is my personal blog, I do get to express my opinions, right? And I just can't hold it in any longer...

As I look around, it becomes obvious to me that too many people have been caught up in the hype and charisma of Obama...but when asked what this "change" is that will take place, some can't even say.

Perhaps they didn't like the last administration for whatever reasons. So they just want "change".
Doesn't matter if the change might prove to be actually worse... just change.

And more often than not, they are looking at the packaging... the slick, youthful and talented orator.
But when you get down to the heart of the matter, the substance- where there is any- is scary.

But I'll let the candidates speak for themselves. You have to base your decision on the one who's values most mirrors your own.

Obama:
"Throughout my career, I've been a constant and strong supporter of reproductive justice and consistently had a 100% pro-choice rating with Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America." ~ Obama for President Press Release 1-22-08

In contrast...

McCain:
"Whenever the value of the one class of persona is not respected whether they are unborn, handicapped, and elderly, the dignity of all mankind is threatened...I understand how every child literally alters the course of human history." ~ John McCain 1-22-08

Obama:
“It’s not that I want to punish your success [with higher taxes]. I just want to make sure that everybody that is behind you, that they have a chance for success too. I think that when you spread the wealth around that it is good for everybody.”

And here is Obama's own words, nothing omitted, concerning our national defense:

"We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we set. We've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well funded." - Barack Hussein Obama

And please, watch this short video where he speaks for himself- the truth is there and it is so eye-opening.
(It may take a moment to load...)



So this Tuesday, you are free to vote for whomever you choose.
But know the issues.
Make sure you know the real issues behind each of these men.
And then vote your conscience.