Advent Day 11

"Cooking well doesn't mean cooking fancy." -Julia Child

I am glad that is the truth.  I am not a fancy cook, but don't we all love great tasting food especially during the holidays?  I love food- some might even say obsessed.  It has often become an idol in my life.  There are some days where I think about food constantly.  It doesn't make me feel that great to admit, but it is the absolute truth.  Everyone is always saying, "It's the holidays- you can eat whatever you want."  But I have to say no, what turns into one time turns into another and another until I am continually making bad choices.  I will continue to "eat well" and eat what is provided, but I will turn my prayers into prayers of self-control.  Thank you God for the variety of foods we have available.  We take so much for granted.  

Tonight I don't have many pictures just one- a picture of my prompt- angel.  Since we had AWANA tonight it was a quick Scripture reading and then out the door.  Give me grace tonight as I don't have much to say.  I am weary from worrying about the dryer, planning and cleaning from the party this week, and extending my energy to teaching and disciplining the girls.  I am drained.  It is just time for peace.  I am looking forward to school break and Friday will be a Christmas movie day.  So I pray you may find peace this holiday season with all the busyness.  God bless! 

Advent Day 10

"There's something about a Christmas sweater that will always make me laugh." -Kristen Wiig

I am not a big Kristen Wiiig fan but here I have to agree.  Christmas sweaters are so funny- and I love them.  I am slowly seeing if I can get one for each of the 12 days of Christmas or the 25 days of Advent/Christmas.  They really do brighten my day and make me smile all through the holidays.  So far I have collected 4 of them and I usually don't even have to pay for them- I find them in pretty regular rotations at free clothing closets.  Maybe sometime this year I can make my kids all wear them and take a picture.  It could be pretty cute.  

Merry Christmas!

 

Oh Look!  Happy Saint Nicolas Day!

On top of this being Saint Nicolas Day it is also my youngest's birthday!  She is 5.  She is SO not a baby any more.  I am still going to call her my baby for a long time though.  My camera went weird and her cake looks like it is on fire.  I tried to edit it but it didn't make much of a difference and it is getting late.  But she is still such a cutie!  

5th Birthday

Pinkie!!

Fun with Friends!

She loves foxes!

Tonight for Advent we challenged each other to see how much water we could squeeze out of a washcloth and then I asked, "Can you squeeze water from a rock?"  "No."  "But God did it for the Israelites."  Thank you, God for demonstrating Your power and provision.  

Scripture

Squeeze out the water!

Can you squeeze water from the rock?

I asked her what her most memorable Christmas gift has been- apparently this pig mug ranks up there.  She is easy to please. 

Advent Day 9

"Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Today is totally one of those days where I truly wish I could adopt the pace of nature.  The weather has finally started flirting with close to freezing temperatures.  The chill in the air has me anticipating Christmas even more.  But tomorrow is my youngest daughter's 5th birthday party.  On top of that we took out the nativity set and could NOT find baby Jesus (hopefully we can find a replacement piece before Christmas!)  No time for a mom to go on a contemplative nature walk- at least not today.  Shopping for party food and cleaning up the house were on the top of the priority list.  But while shopping Lucy and I were treated to a teeny tiny snow fall and that was us enjoying nature.  Thank you, God, for beautiful variety in the weather.  

Advent was a quick night to remind ourselves that Moses was a "go-between" between the LORD and the Israelites just as Jesus is an intercessor for us.  We are also starting a new silly tradition.  Let me introduce you to Carlos the Elf.  

Carlos our Kindness Elf

Now I think the original Elf on the Shelf design is probably the creepiest thing I have ever seen.  Plus I dislike the idea that you have to be "good" for presents and the little elf guy "reports" to Santa.  One of the biggest reasons to get a gift is because you DON'T deserve it.  And Santa is not real...sorry...we like to tell the story of Saint Nicolas.  If you enjoy it and your family enjoys it then that is great, it is not for me or my family.  But I very much like the idea of a Kindness Elf.  I have seen many alternatives to Elf on the Shelf but I don't have money or time to get anything "fancy" hence Carlos.  I found him on a shelf at Bi-Mart.  Lucy says, "He is only a little bit creepy."  I think he looks like he could use a home.  Ariana and Hermione named him.  Let's see if he can help emphasis kindness this holiday season.  It will be a little stressful trying to add something new and I have a feeling that we will only be doing 1 or 2 kindness activities at the most, but I want to try.  Prayers appreciated!  Have you ever tried to add a new tradition?  Did it go over well or was it a big dud?  Feel free to share.      

Advent Day 8

"Change comes from listening, learning, caring and conversation." -Gwen Ifill

It is always a good time to look at the world through caring and understanding eyes, but even more so at Christmas when almost everyone feels a little extra stressed out because they forgot to buy that ONE present or there just isn't enough in the budget for that thing our family wants to do or maybe feeling alone even though they are surrounded by friends and family.  I hope you and I can find it in our hearts to listen and be able to sympathize with others this holiday season.  

  

Tonight we light the second Advent candle in the midst of a not done decorating and messy and loved house.  It will be clean by Tuesday as if my life depends on it.  I certainly love this season but the extra mess can take its toll on my sanity.  

We talked about traditions as well.  Hermione said her favorite tradition is spending time with family.  Ariana and Lucy said their favorite tradition is game nights- which I found odd because I haven't seen them play many games with us but I think they just like it when the adults play games because they don't get told off as much- hahaha!   My personal favorite tradition is celebrating Advent by lighting the candles and the devotionals and it all coming together on Christmas Eve- going to church and reflecting on the birth of our Savior.  What is your favorite Christmas tradition?  

The traditional decorating of the Christmas tree

Advent Day 7

"Advent increases our hope, a hope which does not disappoint.  The Lord never lets us down." -Pope Francis

I had to think about this quote a little bit.  I am not sure if it is true that the Lord never lets us down.  I guess ULTIMATELY He will not let us down, but as humans I know from personal experience we can feel the Lord letting us down and turning us in directions that seem all wrong, all messed up, and with little or no conclusions.  The hope I have as a Christian is that He sent His son and it looks so weird from the outside- it looks messy, unorganized, all over the place (from Nazareth to Bethlehem to Egypt back to Nazareth), and strange.  But the ultimate goal, the hope for our salvation was born a tiny, fragile infant and that is what I celebrate.  I celebrate the birth of the salvation for mankind in all its awkwardness.  I might never be able to explain it to an atheist or even fellow Christians, but inside of me is the yearning to search for the meaning of life and it can't just be an accident or a coincidence.  Yes, Advent increases my hope and my faith.  

Now for something a little lighter. 

"What is this weirdness?" you ask.  Well....I spent most of the day at the laundry mat.  Our dryer needs some parts that have still not arrived and I don't even know how it will be put back together once the parts do arrive.  Today's photo prompt was Wish List...so there is one thing on my wish list...I wish for my dryer to be back in working order.  It was nice to get so many loads done so quickly though but I would prefer a different kind of Saturday.  

Advent with the children was quick and our candle is steadily burning down.  Tomorrow we get to add one more.  Next week we also have a birthday so it will start getting even more busy.  But we did put up the tree.  The house could use a bit more clean up work though I am proud to say I made it through the day without too much freak out.  More pictures are certainly on the way so stay tuned.  How is your Advent Season?  (asks the totally sane person, not the crazy person in the picture below)

"And she slowly went insane waiting for her clothes to dry..."

Advent Day 6

"Patience is not just about waiting for something...it's about how you wait, or your attitude while waiting."  -Joyce Meyers

Ah...waiting...waiting in line for me is the hardest...especially at Wal-Mart hence the reason I shop there as little as possible, but of all the days I actually was there today.  I was picking up some things for my husband.  I found a few food things and things for the girls as well.  But what should probably have only taken me 1 hour took me about 2.  I am grateful the person who checked me out was in a pretty good mood.  I am so glad to be home.  I have to go out and do more unpleasant things tomorrow so I am glad for the reminder to check my attitude while waiting during this oh so busy season.  

Tonight was our church's annual Christmas party.  Thank you to all the volunteers and for all the goodies.  I went home with a snack box and Hermione got a bar of chocolate and a gift card to Bi-Mart.  We always have fun.  

Only 23 days till Christmas Day!  We will patiently wait with good attitudes.  

Advent Day 5

"Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness." -Desmond Tutu

Maybe we can not see the light when we are surrounded by darkness but we can certainly BE the light.  Christmas is a good reminder of that.  What are you looking forward to this Christmas?  I am looking forward to going to church especially on Christmas Eve with a renewed sense of the Christ Child, watching my children enjoy all the wonders the season has to hold, lighting the Advent candles each week, all the cuddles and popcorn while watching Christmas movies with the fake fire on in the background, and singing and listening to Christmas songs and carols.  

Now let's talk Christmas albums.  You remember those things we use to buy that had multiple tracks or songs on it- it could be in the form of a record (I use to call them big black CDs), cassette tapes, or compact discs.  I honestly don't even know how to get music today.  I can usually listen to whatever I want to on the radio, Pandora, or youtube.  I still have some tapes and CDs hanging around in out of the way places.  But how do I pick my favorite Christmas album?  So I will give you the history of the ones that have been favorites in different stages of my life.  Let's start with childhood.  The first Christmas album I remember is the Disney Christmas Favorites.  I think we still played it on a record player.  

Also when you are a kid you are kinda subject to your parents taste in music so here are the three albums I remember most from my childhood.  

I loved the Peter, Paul and Mary one.  My brother and sister and I would sneak around the house freakily singing "Hey Ho Nobody Home."   

When I was a slightly older child I remember when The Donut Man came out with his tape of Christmas songs.  That was "cool" to listen to and "perform" with this one.  

There was a stretch of time when we mostly just listened to the radio.  But then came this gem coming out of nowhere when I was a teenager and we rocked out to it.  

OH YEAH!!!  We loved Hanson- even or maybe I should say "especially" my brother.  I had almost forgotten about this but I think someone reminded me about it on Facebook and now I listen to it with an extra wide smile- oh the 90s!  Also THIS-

Yes, it is cheesy but it is full of fun nostalgia.  Also to round out my small CD collection as a "spiritual" teen I was really into Rebecca St. James so of course I had her Christmas album.

Fast forward......WAY ahead- I was a very broke college student so buying music was very low on my priority list.  But when I got married this came along with husband.  It was fairly new when we were married and it was my absolute favorite for many of our Christmas' together.  

"Hanukkah O Hanukkah" is probably the best.  

But today as I try to be a grown up my ultimate favorite is this guy-

His album Noel gives me chills.  I love when "O Holy Night" comes on the radio.  I get teary eyed.  So there you have it!  What is your Christmas album history?  Or what is your favorite?  I would love to hear it.  To end this post here is my oldest child dancing to Christmas music with a broom partner.