Advent Day 26

"Bless us Lord, this Christmas, with quietness of mind; teach us to be patient and always to be kind." -Helen Steiner Rice

Another day with no frills of Christmas cheery photos.  This surely was a quietness of mind day because I puttered around cleaning and reflecting on the year to come soon.  I was a little nervous because I bought a new outfit, which is already awkward but the reason is for church in preparation for the song the girls and I are planning on singing.  We haven't practiced much but I still thought it was cute.  I could tell the lady who asked me to do this clearly thinks we aren't ready and that we are pretty much all show and no talent, but you know what?  As long as my heart is in it, God will bless it.  He teaches me patience and kindness as I try to keep it light with one daughter who doesn't like the song or singing, one daughter who wants to sing but is clearly shy and nervous and one daughter who clearly steals the show- it is Christmas,  it is messy and this is real- not perfection.  We'll get there.

Advent Day 25

"Every piece of the universe, even the tiniest little snow crystal, matters somehow.  I have a place in the pattern, and so do you." -T.A. Barron, writer

Today I have no photos but I had a great day.  Thank you, God, for having a place for me in the pattern of life.  I was preparing to do some laundry so I could have the Christmas PJs ready and my husband's church clothes for Sunday, but it ended up being a mostly cleaning the little girls room day because I couldn't even find the floor let alone their Christmas pjs.  The cleaning wasn't fun- but the clean room was nice AND I spent the evening Christmas shopping with a friend.  I haven't been out like that in what feels like ages.  Time to take it slow and try to clean up life.  

It is only 3 days till Christmas!

Advent Days 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, & 24

"Life's most persistent and urgent question is, "What are you doing for others?" "- Martin Luther King Jr.

"The thing about Christmas is that it almost doesn't matter what mood you're in or what kind of a year you've had - it's a fresh start." -Kelly Clarkson

"In the midst of the chaos

When the wind is howling I hear

The ancient song

Of the ones who went before

And know that peace will come." -Susan Stauter

"This is extremely important.  Will you please tell Santa that instead of presents this year, I just want my family back.  No toys. Nothing but Peter, Kate, Buzz, Megan, Linnie, and Jeff.  And my aunt and my cousins.  And if he has time, my Uncle Frank.  Okay?" -Kevin McCallister, Home Alone

"Don't wait for permission to do something creative." -Ava Duvernay

"Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?" -Charlie Brown

"Here is my recipe for dairy-free, sugar-free, vegan eggnog: Bourbon." -Bette Midler

Advent Days 13, 14, 15, 16, & 17

"I think Christmas is about celebration and come on, on the inside everyone wants to dance." -TobyMac

"Smiling is my favorite.:"

"Look, Daddy.  Teacher says, every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings." -Zuzu Bailey, "It's a Wonderful Life"

"Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come.  You wait and watch and work: you don't give up."-Anne Lamott

"Can we all agree that the person who first thought of dangling long, fuzzy socks over a fireplace was an arsonist?" -Conan O'Brien

Advent season is rushing by.  I do have some pretty good excuses but the main one was the stinkin' dryer.  It was stealing my JOY.  The week that is suppose to be joy AND my birthday- God does like to teach me many lessons this time of year.  

James 1:2-3 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  

Advent Day 12

"Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." -Mary, Luke 1:38

I love the Christmas story.  Mary's response to the angel is beautiful, intriguing, humbling, and amazing.  Tonight I wish I could be eloquent, but I can't.  I wish I had time to study her life.  I don't worship her but I admire her.  The mother of Jesus, she inspires and teaches.  Blessed is she among women!

So...it snowed a little today.  In fact school was cancelled.  It was surprising because it wasn't much snow at all and it melted in 10 minutes.  It still weirds me out a little bit because in Idaho it would snow so much more than it does here in the Willamette Valley Oregon and we were still expected to be at school- no delays- on time.  I drove nearly 10 miles an hour just to get there.  Any way, it threw off my day and I spent most of it just staring at screens.  I have been a little more tired then usual and eating so much junk food.  A Christmas movie marathon is in order.  

Let it snow!  Let it snow!  Let it snow!  (as much as it usually does in the Willamette Valley Oregon)  Hehehe!  

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.