New Year's Eve

Pin It So, it's New Year's Eve ... and I've got nuthin'.  I keep feeling like I should post some resolutions ... or let's call them what they really are:  promises I don't intend to keep.  Just keeping it real.  Of course, as always, I want to be healthier, save more, spend more time in the Word, be kinder, be less lazy ... you know the drill.  All things that will go really well for a day or two, some may even last for a month.  I'm so thankful that the Lord's mercies are new every morning, and I don't have to do a total life makeover in a day, and once I mess up, I'm "off the hook" for 357 days until next New Year's rolls around.

There were some definite successes and failures for 2010.  To be honest, I'm pretty happy about closing the door on 2010, and well, I'll just leave it at that.

We've started some habits this year that I definitely want to continue:
- I'm really enjoying the way our school schedule is working out this year.  Planning for a month in pencil and then week by week in pen works for me and seems to be working for the kids as well.
- We are really making an effort to be more frugal (and healthy!) with our eating.  I am making a concerted effort to use leftovers - seriously - just ask the kids how many times we've had turkey this week!
- We are doing so much better in the "keeping the house neat" category.  I have slacked off a little over the last few months and need to pick that up again, but for the most part, we really are doing better there.  I'd love to go to bed every night with the house picked up.  I've told the family that I start out much better waking up to a clean house, and when mama starts off happy, it goes better for everyone.  ;)
- I've just finished a pretty in-depth Bible study and really enjoyed getting into that habit again.  I'm looking forward to starting a new one soon. 

I think rather than focus this year on all of the things I want to change, I'd rather be thankful for the positive changes that were made in 2010.  There will be more to come, and some definite changes that need to be made, but rather than a list of do's and don't's for 2011, I think I'd rather start from where I am and see where the Lord leads me. 

:)

Wordless Wednesday - the Christmas post

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Finally getting the Christmas pictures from my house ready to share.  :)

One of my Christmas presents:

We made cookies the night before:

We got up early and opened presents:

 

We played Jenga:

And we had a fabulous meal (whose leftovers we are still eating.  LOL)  I didn't take any pictures of that though. 

It was a very nice Christmas!  The kids enjoyed their presents and a good time was had by all. 

Not Me ... Tuesday?

Pin It Just so we're clear, it is not me who is making the girls do some schoolwork the week between Christmas and New Year's.  If some stories to that effect should surface, just know that they're all lies.  ALL LIES, okay.  Because I'd never make my kids take their vacation and do schoolwork.  Nope, not me.

And if I did happen to do that?  It wouldn't be because it was driving me crazy to finish the semester on an odd class number.  Nor would it be because I couldn't handle the sound of the TV blaring an inane (and probably inappropriate) show.  School vacations are supposed to be filled with laziness and TV and a general uselessness, right?  Glad that hasn't happened at our house this week.

We are not currently frying some cereal.  I know you're glad to know that.  I did not cram the microwave full of stuff I didn't want sitting on the counter ... like cereal and crackers and the like.  One of these cereal boxes did not get a little .. um .. suicidal and jumped right from the microwave into hot oil when the oldest opened the microwave.  Cereal did not go everywhere, as didn't hot oil, which didn't burn the oldest's arm.  (btw - if this HAD happened, I wouldn't be marveling that she's not screaming like ... ahem ... someone else recently did with a burn.)  (And if it was pointed out by said oldest that she wasn't screaming, I wouldn't pull out the tiny dots on the arm versus ENTIRE PALM to justify.)  Glad all that didn't happen.  And glad I don't have the *lovely* smell of fried cereal in my house.  Glad I'm not just looking at it thinking there is no way I can do a thing about it until it's not so hot.  And especially glad I don't have a humongous mess to clean up.

and btw ... don't think for a second that it didn't occur to me that if I could some how find a way to put it on a stick, I could very well have the next fair food craze.  Fried cereal on a stick.  Yum.  Unfortunately fried Captain Crunch smells pretty bad.  Or I assume it does.  I really wouldn't know.

And for the record, as we're easing back into Dave Ramsey "we need to have an emergency fund" mode, I didn't make a two week menu using all of the leftovers, and then leave the house to go out to lunch before going to the grocery store.  I'd never be all hypocritical like that.  Nope, not me.

So ... with all that said ... there seems to be a mess in my kitchen that is requiring some attention.  Sigh.

1000 Gifts - 61-70

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The challenge is to list One Thousand Gifts, or one thousand things for which we are thankful.  In a crazy busy world, or when your natural bent is to lean towards complaining rather than being thankful, it's an enormous blessing to just take a few minutes and think about the true gifts we have been given. 

61.  The blessing of cousins ... although one is missing.

62.  And silly girl cousins.

63.  Who know how to make us laugh.

64.  For my sister and her kids. (and my nephew, for whom the words "it's 40 degrees outside!" - which is freezing when you live in TX! - apparently mean nothing.)

65.  For my mom and sister.

66.  And for my dad and the picture I would put right here if I didn't think my mom would kill me.

67.  That my favorite gift to give this year was very happily received.

68.  For the blessing and assurance that marriage really can be strengthened by adversity, as modeled by my parents.

69.  For three little nephews whose lives have drastically changed over the last twelve months and are doing well.

70.  And for my own husband and children, and for our wonderful Christmas together.  There are no pics of us yet because I've been lazy and have barely even looked through them, much less edited and gotten them ready to share.  We had a fabulous Christmas here on Christmas Eve though, and then went to my parents' house on Christmas day and had a fabulous time there too.

I am linking up with www.aholyexperience.com today.  Won't you consider joining in and starting your own list? 

God is With Us ... Emmanuel

Pin It Happy Christmas Eve, friends.  Rejoice.  God is in us, God is for us, God is with us.  Emmanuel!



God is With Us
Casting Crowns

The skies don't seem to be as dark as usual
The stars seem brighter then they've been before
Deep within I feel my soul a stirring
As though my hope has been restored
The shepherds say they've heard the voice of angels
Confirming rumors spread across the land
That a child protected well from Herod's anger
Is our Father's Son, and the son of man

Love is raining down on the world tonight
There's a presence here I can tell
God is in us, God is for us, God is with us, Emmanuel
He's the Savior we have been praying for
In our humble hearts He will dwell
God is in us, God is for us, God is with us, Emmanuel

I feel compelled to tell all who will listen
That peace on earth is not so out of reach
If we can find grace, mercy and forgiveness
He has come to save, He is all of these

You're the Savior we have been praying for
In our humble hearts You will dwell
You are in us, You are for us, You are with us, Emmanuel

I Heard the Bells

Pin It Sharing a couple of my favorite Christmas songs over the next few days ...

It is not Christmas until this song comes out.  It's rare for me to listen to it without tearing up, it speaks HOPE to me in a major way.




I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play
And mild and sweet their songs repeat
Of peace on earth good will to men

And the bells are ringing
Like a choir they're singing
In my heart I hear them
Peace on earth, good will to men


And in despair I bowed my head
There is no peace on earth I said
For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men

But the bells are ringing
Like a choir singing
Does anybody hear them?
Peace on earth, good will to men

Then rang the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead, nor doth He sleep
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men

Then ringing singing on its way

The world revolved from night to day
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men

And the bells they're ringing
Like a choir they're singing
And with our hearts we'll hear them
Peace on earth, good will to men

Do you hear the bells they're ringing?
The life the angels singing
Open up your heart and hear them
Peace on earth, good will to men

Peace on earth, Peace on earth
Peace on earth, Good will to men

Wordless Wednesday

Pin It Christmas activities, volume 2!  Preschool program, Narnia play, and AWANA hayride.

The cutest shepherd in the world:

 These three are together a lot.  I suspect their preschool teacher has her hands full with them!

The AWANA annual hayride.  (See, it's the same three again.  They are missing one though, and he is really needed to complete the set!)

 Second from the left is mine; what a fabulous group of girlies!

I don't think there is an explanation for this.  Got to admire her sense of individuality though!  :-P (And yes, her personality is every bit as sparkly as you might suspect it would be.)

In the Narnia play our co-op did, we had flower girls who changed the scene from winter to spring.

 Great.  Let's give my two girls weapons and have them go at each other.  In church.  The middle one was a member of the white witch's army ... and I lovingly referred to her as a minion.  :-P

And I think that finishes our December activities, other than our family Christmas stuff, which I will probably pull into a Wordless Wednesday post next week.  Because I'm so good with the wordless part of that and all.