Advent Day 3

"For it is in giving that we receive." -St. Francis of Assisi

As I am reminded to give today I reflect on so much that I have.  I know I should give more.  Why do I hold back?  Fear?Lack of faith?  Selfishness?  I am willing to be it is all of those things and more- basically sinful wretched sinner that I am I hold tightly to the things of this world.  This Advent and Christmastide I do pray that I will give more freely and I pray others will open their hearts as well.  It is hard for me to teach my children to give because it is counter cultural and so hypocritical of myself.  I don't know how else to say this except- God, forgive me.  

Tonight we read from Genesis 3:23-24 and Isaiah 59:2.  We were reminded how our sin separates us from God.  As an example the girls had to wash their hands before getting their dessert tonight.  They have really enjoyed coloring during this Advent and I am so excited to hang them soon.  There will be pictures for sure!

For our giving picture we have a big box of toys, clothes, books ready for donation.  Lucy put on my bathrobe for some reason.  Ariana is giving away her little farmer man and wanted to make sure I took a picture.  

Thank you for taking the time to read this and keep in touch.  

Advent Day 2

"At this Christmas when Christ comes, will He find a warm heart?  Mark the season of Advent by loving and serving the others with God's own love and concern." -Saint Teresa of Calcutta

Holy Lord, God who sent His only Son, please warm my heart toward others.  I confess that my heart often becomes cold toward those who can afford to buy so much, to those who are looking for a fight (Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays), and to those families that always look so put together.  Help me love as You do.  

Prayer

With milk and cookies we light the first candle today.  We are reminded that no one taught us to sin.  We did that all by ourselves.  We probably don't remember the first time we were fully aware of our sin, but it is like yeast or tiny infection.  We don't notice it at first but it spreads all over.

  

Today I printed off a few Advent prayers and Lucy cut and pasted them to some colorful Christmas paper.  I will be encouraging the girls to pray at least of these prayers at every night we are together for the lighting.  Let me know how we can pray for you during this time.   

Restore us, O Lord, we pray,

bring us back to that place

where we once met,

as shepherds to the stable

after hearing angels sing.

Bring us back to that place

when our love was fresh, 

not embarrassed 

to express itself in praise 

to our Heavenly King.

Restore us, O Lord, we pray.

Prayer written by John Birch from Faith and Worship all other prayers used were also from this site.

Advent Day 1

"Waiting is a period of learning.  The longer we wait, the more we hear about him for whom we are waiting." -Henri Nouwen

Advent Season has begun.  The waiting time is here.  He is coming.  Let us celebrate with our Bibles and hearts open and our hands giving love.  I love this time of year, but I must remind myself not to go crazy.  There are so many "good" activities, but if we are not careful we will forget our Savior and the projects and activities will be come our idols.  If we become so busy that we do not have time to reflect on Jesus- you are doing Advent wrong.  But if you are loving your family and you have turned off the TV and put down the phone and stepped away from the computer for just a moment please light a candle on your Advent wreath.  It is a time for Hope.   

Candle

For the past three years we have used Focus on the Family's devotionals for Advent mostly because they are free, but I also like variety.  This year the devotional is called All the Colors of Christmas.  I will provide the girls with extra coloring pages, too.  We are going to fill our home with lots of Christmas coloring cheer.  Hope to you and yours this Adventide.  

Well it took a long time....

Happy Day after Thanksgiving!  Or as I like to call it pajama day and/or I am totally okay with eating leftovers all day and never cooking again day!!!  I don't like to shop not even online because of all the overwhelming choices.  But guess who did pretty much all the Christmas shopping?- MY AMAZING HUSBAND!!!  I may not be the most enthusiastic person in the world but that was one huge weight off my shoulders so I have to find a way to thank him.

I didn't take any Thanksgiving pictures, but I am tired of trying so hard sometimes which is one of the reasons I took up this Happiness Challenge to begin with.  This is something for me- if others in my family want to join in great but I am tired of telling people what to do and how I want things done because it will never be the way I truly want it and I need to let it go.  I know I sound a little dramatic right now but the struggle is real, people.

But I would like to share the room I FINALLY rearranged.  Between being a little under the weather and all the Thanksgiving cooking it took a while but I do have a before and after picture to share with you.

BEFORE

AFTER

It is by no means perfect but it is clean and I am in here typing away.  It honestly feels like a little sanctuary. It desperately needs a rug and wall decor but right now, to me, it is gorgeous and I feel relieved and accomplished.  I threw away about 3 bags of trash and broken toys from this room alone.  I almost gave up on this challenge when the light burnt out but I sacrificed my reading lamp to get this done.  Not bad!

Next bit of news- we are only two days away from the Advent season.  I will be participating as I have in the past with Busted Halo's Advent Calendar and the Instadvent photo prompts.  I will be planning to post a SHORT post every day because I prefer posting here then on Facebook.  I am going to use FB still but keep it extremely light.  As Advent begins if I am able to feel connected with my family I will reevaluate the need for FB.  I am so embarrassed for all my family and close friends who insist on sharing so much fake news.

The next happiness challenge is Start a Gratitude Journal which I am very excited about but I am not sure when I will be able to share with you all in the business of the season.  But check in when you have time or just spend time with you own family  Next time you visit the blog should look a little more Christmasy.  Wish you could see my face!!!  SQUEEE!!!  I am feeling the Christmas spirit.  

Rearrange Your Furniture

Hello!  I am a little under the weather today- I started getting a sore throat yesterday and I am thinking I am getting whatever cold/illness my husband had last week- yuck!!  I have had a great week otherwise even though it was a full week of school for the kiddos.

My day 2 challenge was to sign up for a free exercise class.  It was proving to be a bit difficult.  I looked at 24 Hour Fitness, the library bulletin board, and the community board and couldn't find a "free" class.  It just hasn't come together yet.  I will just have to come back to it later.

I am actually at this very moment still working on challenge day 3 rearrange your furniture.  I am keeping it simple- just trying to clean up Lucy's room.  This has been a week long project because of the millions of candy wrappers from Halloween hidden all over her room and just general filth.  I am excited to show the before and after picture whenever it gets done.  I plan to FINALLY take her crib down.  It is so hard for me to say goodbye to the baby times.  Baby times were so hard but so amazing- I will miss it though it is great to have a closure activity to complete.

Well I better go and try to finish this up...see you when this project is over and I can't wait to share the next challenge with you!

365 Day Happiness Challenge Beta Test

Dear anyone who is reading,

I have been discouraged and a little sad lately- this was even before the outcome of the 2016 election.  I think the main reason is because I keep searching for affirmation that doesn't exist (especially on FB).  Also I love writing and challenges and when I started the Mighty Nerdy Geeky idea for the year I didn't think or plan it through very well.  This summer we also did a lot of traveling so again I didn't get to do what I thought I would be able to.  I have come to the conclusion that I need to do something that is a lot more flexible and something happy.  Enter the 365 Day Happiness Challenge but this is the buggy beta version because I am starting at a strange time- in the middle of November.  I will see how far I get until the New Year and then if there is a new similar challenge I will do that or start this particular challenge over again.

I know I will not be able to do all of these in one year or even 5 years (probably) but I think it will be fun to try.  Hopeful this will cheer me up and keep me going for a little while at least.  If you would like to try along with me that would awesome- we could cheer each other on.

Day 1 Wear your favorite things.

I waited for a beautiful fall day here in Oregon so my daughters could take pictures outside.  I think it was a record high in November a gorgeous 67 degrees.

My favorite things to wear vary greatly.  I must also stress that I don't dress like this very often because I know my husband hates it and I will honor him the way the Bible tells me I should.  It is not a big deal.  I guess if I had to say what kind of style this is I would say frumpy gypsy or possibly my own version of Mennonite/homemaker.

My most favorite thing to wear should be comfortable.  Comfort is important.  I wore my headcovering from Garlands of Grace.  My shirt was just something I found from the church clothing closet.  My skirt I bought from Kmart ages ago.  It is a maxi-skirt and SO SO comfortable.  I opted for sandals because it wasn't raining but normally I wear boots in the fall.  My cardigan is from Old Navy.  

I asked my two younger girls if they wanted to participate also I haven't taken their official "homeschool" pictures yet so...better late then never.

Ariana's favorite thing to wear is her new dress that looks like Ana's dress from Frozen.

Lucy's favorite thing to wear is her Easter dress and pretty headband.

I will write to you next time either from my exercise class or after I rearrange some furniture which ever happens first.

Love to my readers,

Larissa

Halloween 2016

We love celebrating!  This Halloween we hosted dinner and my husband took the kids trick or treating while I stayed home handing out candy.  Ariana wanted to cook all the recipes from her Raddish box so I will link a separate review at the bottom of this post, but we had actually already made the soup which we triple batched because it is so tasty.

We had the cousins over.  Hermione was a pirate- an extra fancy pirate I might add.  Ariana was Ana from Frozen but she as at a masquerade.  She got a mask from Ashland this summer and we hoped she would use it for Halloween.  Lucy was Super Girl.  My husband took some great pictures on FB.  I didn't get a good picture of him but he was fighter pilot.

My husband!

Ariana and Ruby

Iris- Go Beavers!!

ARRR!!!

Happy Halloween!!!

Raddish Fright Night Feast Review