5 Days to Reclaim Christmas

This year I promised myself I would not get bogged down in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.  I vowed I would make this holiday more about memories instead of stress and gift giving.  I started off pretty good.  As a family we participated in Operation Christmas Child which was a huge hit with the kids.  Then my husband and I ordered most of our children's gifts online to avoid spending too much in the store or impulse buying.  However, then something changed.  Perhaps it was the start of Christmas parties, and get togethers.  I found myself questioning if I was doing enough with the kids.  We did not do an Advent calendar, haven't gone to see a live nativity, or gone on the Christmas light tour.  I have yet to put money in the Salvation Army red kettle, we have missed the big holiday parade, and sadly to say I still have not got my husband's, mom's, God-daughter's, aunt's, and some more presents.  I started the season with high hopes and now I am starting to feel dread.  Then as I was reading this morning I read the following scripture:

⁸ Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ ⁹ and become one with him. - Philippians 3:8-9 NLT

I realized what have I done this season to lead my family and I in our pursuit of knowing Christ Jesus as Lord.  Everything else is worthless.  The advent calender, the drive to the live nativity, even the church Christmas party.  It's all worthless unless it leads us to a deeper relationship with God and love for his people.  So now we are 5 days out till Christmas and I am reclaiming it for my family and I.  I am taking this verse as our family verse for the next 5 days to keep us focused on what life (not just this season) is all about.  I ask for your prayers in doing so.  Be blessed.

Positive Christian Music For Our Children

I am always looking for music for my daughter to listen to.  She loves to dance around the house and make dance routines with her sister and brother.  I love to see her uninhibited creativity it is truly God inspired.  Since she loves music so much it is often a challenge finding music that has an upbeat, contemporary, feel she likes.  Then I came across Jaime Grace.  I absolutely love her and would recommend her music to any person with young girls.  Her music is upbeat, positive, and reflects her intense love for Jesus Christ.  Below is a link to her website:

http://www.jamiegrace.com/

Here is a clip of her on YouTube:

Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Family Event - Starting the Christmas Season of Right

The kids and I were so excited today to finally fill our shoebox for Operation Christmas Child.  After picking up the two little ones from preschool we headed off to the collection site to drop off our shoe boxes and help out where we could.  This was a wonderful way to kick off our holiday season.  This year my husband and I have resolved to make Christmas more about memories and sharing the love of Christ versus spending stressful hours in the store. 

At home my oldest and I filled our boxes with toys, candy, toothpaste, stickers, and all sorts of fun items.  Once we got to the collection site the kids had even more fun.  Many other home school families were there from our support group and all the kids sat down while the head of the collection site explained how each child would be helping to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ around the world by filling shoe boxes.

We started with the two boxes we already had at home

It was wonderful. The kids both chose even more shoe boxes to fill and we went through all of the items at the site and chose fun items for each box.  All the while the kids enjoyed cookies, drinks, and hanging out with other families. They colored "all about me" pages to include in the shoe boxes and even made a little blanket to put in the boxes.  Finally we prayed over our boxes and the children that would receive them.



Kids Writing Their "all about me" pages to include in their boxes



They wanted to make even more boxes!

Do As I Say Not As I Do

Below is a blog post from my wonderful sister.  She is absolutely awesome!  God has given her so many gifts one of which is writing.  If you enjoy this post check out her website at:

http://www.lovedandforgiven.com/

"This is a phrase that I have heard many times...but is it truly realistic to expect our children to do that? I have two sons. A 10-year old and a 14-month old. I have realized this year more than ever how much our children watch us. Fortunately I'm relieved to say that my oldest has noticed that I'm actually trying to live what I've been trying to teach him. He lets me know, and asks questions about how I would have handled certain situations when I was his age. I even catch him watching me sometimes, studying me to see how I will react when faced with difficult circumstances. Even my toddler, although he's not old enough to understand the spiritual tidbits I try to deposit into him, I've realized how much he watches me too. He knows all of my routines. It always amazes me that even though he can't tell the time on a clock, he has observed me so much that he has a concept of time based on what I'm doing. As I'm writing this, I'm reminded of:

2 Timothy 1:5 - I'm reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, now I am persuaded, lives in you also.

What a wonderful testimony to have someone see God's light shining in our children and grandchildren as adults, and also recognizing that our godly lifestyle influenced them as children.

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What Was I Thinking!

Don't You Hate It When ...

Don't you just hate it when ...

1. You forgot you turned on your dishwasher and then realize you've been putting dirty dishes in a clean dishwasher.
2. Your son takes off his poopy diaper then proceeds to sit on the sofa.
3. Your son takes off his poopy diaper then proceeds to chase his sisters around the house with it.
4. You forget about the poopy diaper you left in the back of the minivan over the weekend until Monday morning when you are rushing off to the bus stop you open the door and remember it was there.
5. You snap at your kids for saying poopy in public after you've said it a million times at home.
6. After days of wearing sweats, t-shirts, and mom jeans you decide to put on a little make-up before your husband comes home just to hear your oldest say, in front of your husband, "Mom why did you get all dressed up for where are you going?"
7. You have to sneak and lock yourself in your bedroom closet to eat your stash of Hostess cakes before the kids notice you are missing.
8. Your daughter notices some personal female products you have at home in Walmart and then proceeds to yell out very loudly for all to hear "Mom don't you have that at home!"
9. You are half way sleep and go to brush your teeth only to realize after about 30 seconds that your daughter replaced your toothbrush with the one you clean the mildew out the shower with.
10. Your daughter comes to you and ask, "Mom why does it look like you are always having a baby?"

Well such is life.  Anyway if you have any more don't you hate its I would love to hear them.  Take care.

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What Was I Thinking

See This Back Up Dancer Go

There are those times that happen in life where you just have to sit back and laugh.  Last year my daughter was in her school talent show.  At that time Justin Bieber's song Baby was really popular so you guessed it every kid wanted to sing it including my daughter.  The funny part of this video was that she was so oblivious to my son who was trying to steal the show.  I think this is hilarious.

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What Was I Thinking?

What Was I Thinking!

It is crazy how busy we get sometimes.  I mean really we rush our kids off to school.  Then rush back home to start our housework.  We make a quick stop at the grocery store to pick up a few items then rush back home to get the kids back for nap.  Then we hastily cook dinner.  Before we know it time has come to pick the kids up from the bus.  We rush their homework and then get dinner in front of them before it's time for practice.  Then we rush out to practice. 

Up until about 3 weeks ago I had an activity going on every night of the week except Friday.  My daughter had an activity 3 nights out of the week.  Finally, she told me "mom I think I want to just stay home and play."  I thought, "What? you don't want to go to cheerleading and you want to miss AWANA?"  She said, "yes really all I want to do is play."  I thought for a minute and then realized I had allowed myself to do one of the things I said I would never do.  Become entrapped by busyness. Thank God for the wisdom of children to bring us back down to earth when we become wrapped up in the things of this world.  How reasonable is it that a child would just want to play at age 6.  I think sometimes we feel like our child is missing out on something if we don't have them involved in every activity out there.  However, the best investment we can make with our children is time and allowing them to be children.