Five Minute Friday --Open

It's been very quiet here at the blog this month... December seems to be my slow month (or actually busy in real life)!  I have great intentions of improving my blog in 2012... but I had great intentions of becoming a better photographer in 2011 and I am not sure that happened. But it is New Year's Eve and I have great intentions of submitting one more FiveMinuteFriday... because my blog would be even quieter without Five Minute Friday!!  So although it's Saturday, here is my Five minutes on Open

It's the dawn of a new year... time for introspection and all that crap...  So thankful that His mercies are new EVERY Morning and that I don't have to wait for January 1 to start a new.  That being said, I will be starting fresh tomorrow morning, just like every morning. and in January 2012, I WILL BE

Open to GRACE
open to saying Yes to my kids
Open to trying new things
Open to praying for my spouse... wanna join me?
Open to giving of my time
open to new recipes
Open to grand new ideas on Pinterest

Open to receiving... and giving more comments on blogs
Open to days... or weeks of no blogging because I just might be open to spending more time with my kids and hubby!

So there's my five minutes... might have been a better five minutes if I wasn't busy catching up on a Psych episode on Hulu! :)

Although it's not Friday, be sure to visit The Gypsy Mama for more great entries in Five Minute Friday this week!




Here's to a new year!  Happy New Year and may God be glorified.

*photos taken on our almost 2 hour hike on Christmas Day

Kids and Christmas Pageants

I am not a huge fan of forwarded emails and such, but I got this today from my sister and it just reminded me of the treasures I have in my children!  If I could (ya know, privacy issues and all with other kids in the production), I would share with you a glimpse of my kids and their Christmas program this year.  Anyone who is from our church would testify that it was priceless.  

 
My 5 YO is quite the ham... and totally played to the crowd! I was laughing and crying and turning 20 shades of red... but the memories are priceless! 

and my 6YO (and 5YO again) in their small group song of the angels "saying" Glory to God as the Bible says instead of singing like we always say... Well, it was a rap and my 2 girls could NOT keep still. they had the moves going on!!  

On the other hand my 8 YO son did such a phenomenal job on his major speaking role that my buttons wanted to burst with pride... He even caught the attention of the drama/theatre/communications professor from our local college!!

My little 3YO was just part of the audience... and needed the games on my iPod touch to get her through the evening! :) 

So, I just have to say... my kids ARE my pride and joy, even when they embarrass me... and when they become teenagers ...sweet REVENGE!! :)  so here is the forwarded email story... not mine, but close!!

 

THE CHRISTMAS PAGEANT

My husband and I had been happily married
(most of the time) for five years
But hadn't been blessed with a baby.

I decided to do some serious
Praying and promised God
That if he would give us a child,
I would be a perfect mother,
Love it with all my heart
And raise it with His Word
As my guide.

God answered my prayers
And blessed us with a son.
The next year God blessed us
With another son.

The following year,
He blessed us with
Yet another son.

The year after that we
Were blessed with a daughter.

My husband thought we'd
Been blessed right into poverty.
We now had four children,
And the oldest was only four years old.

I learned never to ask God
For anything unless I meant it
As a minister once told me,
"If you pray for rain,
Make sure you carry an umbrella."

I began reading a few verses
Of the Bible to the children
Each day as they lay in their cribs...

I was off to a good start.
God had entrusted me
With four children and
I didn't want to disappoint Him.

I tried to be patient the day
The children smashed
Two dozen eggs on
The kitchen floor searching
For baby chicks.

I tried to be understanding

When they started a hotel for
Homeless frogs in the spare bedroom,

although it took me nearly two hours
To catch all twenty-three frogs.

When my daughter poured
Ketchup all over herself and
Rolled up in a blanket to see
How it felt to be a hot dog,
I tried to see the humor
Rather than the mess.

In spite of changing over
Twenty-five thousand diapers,
Never eating a hot meal
And never sleeping for more
Than thirty minutes at a time,
I still thank God daily for my children.

While I couldn't keep my promise
To be a perfect mother 

(I didn't even come close),
I did keep my promise
To raise them in the Word of God.

I knew I was missing the mark
Just a little when I told
My daughter we were going
To church to worship God,
And she wanted to bring
A bar of soap along to
"wash up" Jesus, too.

Something was lost in the translation when
I explained that God gave us everlasting life,
And my son thought it was generous of God 

to give us his "last wife."

My proudest moment came
During the children's Christmas pageant.

My daughter was playing Mary,
Two of my sons were shepherds
And my youngest son was a wise man.
This was their moment to shine.

My five-year-old shepherd
Had practiced his line,
"We found the babe wrapped
In swaddling clothes."

But he was nervous and said,
"The baby was wrapped
In wrinkled clothes."

My four-year-old "Mary" said,
"That's not 'wrinkled clothes,' silly.

That's dirty, rotten clothes."
A wrestling match broke out
Between Mary and the shepherd
And was stopped by an angel,
Who bent her halo and lost her left wing.
I slouched a little lower
In my seat when Mary
Dropped the doll representing
Baby Jesus, and it bounced
Down the aisle crying,
"Mama-mama."
Mary grabbed the doll,
Wrapped it back up
And held it tightly as
The wise men arrived.
My other son stepped forward
Wearing a bathrobe and a paper crown,
Knelt at the manger and announced,
"We are the three wise men,
And we are bringing gifts
Of gold,
Common sense
And fur."

The congregation dissolved into laughter,
And the pageant got a standing ovation.
"I've never enjoyed a Christmas
Program as much as this one,"
Laughed the pastor, wiping tears from his eyes.
"For the rest of my life,
I'll never hear the Christmas story without
Thinking of Gold,
Common sense
And fur."

"My children are my pride
And my joy and my greatest
Blessing," I said as I dug
Through my purse for an aspirin.

Jesus had no servants,
Yet they called Him Master.

Had no degree,
Yet they called Him Teacher .
Had no medicines,
yet they called Him Healer.

Had no army,
yet kings feared Him.

He won no military battles,
yet He conquered the world.
He committed no crime,
yet they crucified Him.

He was buried in a tomb,
yet He lives today.

 
If you believe in
God and in Jesus Christ His Son,
Pass this on to others & wish them a

"Merry Christmas!!!"

GOD BLESS YOU ALL

First picture was from the church program night... this picture is from the school program night! :)

 
Merry Christmas!!

unintentional blogging break

Well, it has been over a week since I blogged... I even missed Five Minute Friday, which makes me sad!  Not exactly a way to build rapport as a blogger, or keep people coming back.  So I went back to last December to see if I could find a "repost from the archives" that all the other great bloggers use, and I discovered that I had blogged a total of FOUR times last December... apparently I have a habit of not-blogging in December.

So I was just going to take a blogging break until after Christmas... but there are so many great TopTenTues posts showing up on my twitter stream that I just felt the urge to attempt something...even if it's not great. Must keep my brain working...



 problem is, I'm coming up blank... must go google! :)  I was thinking the Top 10 posts of 2011... but most everyone waits until January for that post. or I could do Top 10 pictures of ...something, but I think I do that a lot and that would mean editing some pictures! :)  So here is what Google gave me that I think I can work with....

what I spend money on...

okay, just warning you now... this could be scary!!  in no particular order...

1. giving to my church

2. clothes ... mostly for my kids. Why do they keep growing??! :)

3. Food and Groceries (I do have 4 growing kids)

4. Coffee (did I mention I have kids?)

5. Arts and Crafts supplies... mostly for cardmaking, but also most recently for my kids and our Advent project.

6. paying bills... we kinda like having electricity and heat ... and Netflix!

7. gifts... mostly for Christmas right now, but kid's birthday parties are a big $ sucker

8. Karate lessons and Ballet lessons for the kids

9. Gas for our van/car... we live 20 minutes from town and with school, ballet, work, church, etc... we are in town every day!!

10.  ... and coffee

what do you spend your money on??!?!


PS: my new year's resolution (I'm planning ahead) is to JOIN PINTEREST... that should give me lots of great ideas for blogging and Top Ten Tuesday... even if all I am doing is sharing everybody else's great ideas... anybody wanna send me an invite?

12 Days til Christmas...

So we are still progressing in our Advent project this month, although I have discovered that it is very difficult to do the craft 4 times over with my kids and I tend to get frustrated! I definitely can not take pictures of the process, so most of my pictures are just the end result!  As I was reviewing the fantastic book, Truth in the Tinsel, just to get a burst of inspiration to keep going even when I get frustrated, I discovered that I was making it harder on myself by trying to read the scripture and work on the craft at the same time... duh, I know! So I am hoping that this week goes smoother as we focus on the passage before we ever touch the craft!

Before I share our progress and the cute adorable crafts my kids are making, I wanted to let you know that it's NOT TOO LATE to join in!!

Amanda is running a "12 Days TIL Christmas" sale for 20% off the book PLUS a free 12 day alternate schedule featuring the best 12 crafts. You can get your copy with code 12DAYS. The link to the alternate 12 day schedule will be in your download email

Here is some of our fun!

Day 7: Mary's Song: We only did one of these... I'm afraid to part with my CD's even the ones I never listen to.

I also wish that I had seen some of the adjustments that others did with this ornament because the marbles are HEAVY... but I do like the way it turned out... once I let it dry!

And this picture reflects why doing crafts is so hard for me... I don't have enough patience to let it dry! :)

Day 8: The Rising Sun: this is another one of my favorite ornaments... so much so that we made extra for the nursing home Christmas caroling the kids do with AWANA (they give handmade gifts to the residents).

I even took it a step further and printed out the verses for the back of the ornament as a reminder!!

Day 9: once again the clothespin ornament... this time Joseph! It went better than the Mary ornament, but still not one of my favorites.

Day 10: Joseph's Dream: not too great on the pillows, I confess, I did most of the work myself, the kids just stuffed the cotton balls in! :)

 My favorite part of this Advent "experience" is listening to my kids read the Scripture and fumble over big words... but in the end, I know they are getting it!

This has not been easy for me... it takes me out of my comfort zone.  I have not been a crafty mom, and maybe I could skip that step, but I know the kids look forward to it... except when I get uptight over it.  I am just praying that the crafts will serve as a reminder to my kids of the truth of the gospel and Jesus coming to earth... for us, for you, for them, for me!!

Go get the book at 20% off... for Monday, December 12, ONLY! (code: 12DAYS)

linking up to Manger Mondays...

Ps: this post contains affiliate links

Five Minute Friday --Color

COLOR

just the word evokes cheer and happiness!  We love it when our kids have color in their cheeks... especially from the sun in the summer and the wind and fresh air in the winter. We don't like it so much when the color is a result of a fever.   

Color... the reason I love summer and fall and I struggle through winter.

Children add color to your life. They see and describe things so differently from adults. I love the expressions and thought process of my kids. except when they ask and ask and ask questions. sometimes I can't come up with another answer. I keep trying to remind myself that questions are necessary for learning.

Color... right now I am trying to figure out what color to paint my kitchen, it's in desperate need of a change, but we don't own the house and it has a PINKISH back-splash and counter top... how do you work with THAT color???  To help me, I decided to just add color, lots of color in the form of Fiesta dinnerware!  I've been asking for it for a while and I finally got some this year for Christmas and my birthday combined... because it's not cheap!  Six different colors now grace our kitchen table as we eat... and the kids LOVE it (although there have been numerous arguments over who gets what color plate and mug... I try to mix it up every time)  Even I have my favorites and I love mixing and matching.

Color... this week defined by my new Fiestaware.  and now the word COLOR looks funny to me... did I spell it right??!?!  :)

I really need to start using a timer instead of glancing at the clock when I participate in Five Minute Friday! :) ... and I still hate that I have a million thoughts and can't focus on one direction in my Five Minutes.

so hop on over and see all the color exploding on The Gypsy Mama's blog today! :)

Advent for the kids...

Sometimes I get so overwhelmed and tired of all the commercialism surrounding Christmas. I just wanna throw it all out the window and just forget about it (maybe it's partially because money is so tight in these days).  I mentioned Truth in the Tinsel a few weeks ago... and I was really nervous about committing to it.  I never considered myself a crafty mom (perfectionism takes over and it becomes un-fun real fast).  But I am happy to say, that so far so good (mostly)!!

I am loving the facebook page with examples, encouragement, and ideas from others that are participating in Truth in the Tinsel this year!! You should really check it out!  One of the things I discovered is that some moms are really organized and plan ahead... like they have each day's craft supplies all gathered and bagged neatly by day...  This here, this is my organization!

Just wanted to share a little of our journey and encourage you, that it's not too late to join in!!


Day 1: My son missed out because he was at karate... my daughter on the left is a perfectionist... all neat in a row! This was a great start to our Advent Experience. Jesus is the Light of the world! LOVED listening to my 6YO read Isaiah

Day 2: The coming Kingdom: I was totally gonna skip the painting step, but I just couldn't and I am so glad I didn't! The kids were so proud of their work and I LOVE them, too!!

Day 3.  I made this one on my own with them watching... I just couldn't come up with a way to do 4 of them... until I saw all the great ideas on the facebook page... paper plates?!?!  Why didn't I think of that?

Day 4: Gabriel the angel... seriously think this one is my favorite ornament so far! I did most of the work for each one, but they picked out the colors, wrapping paper, and all.

Day 5: Mary... this one was just a nightmare, that's all I'm gonna say

Day 6: I call this day Redemption because we recovered from yesterday.  This day was Mary and Elizabeth. Once again, I was going to try to take the easy way out... not do four sets, use crayons instead of watercolor paints... etc. but my little rule follower saw the page and insisted that we paint! :) and then we did do 4 sets and I had to cut them ALL!!

and then my sweet little children started puppet shows and re-enacting Luke 1!!  :)

 They couldn't even keep the dolls still long enough for a picture!! :)

This great ebook also provided stuff for advent calendars and I printed these nice little clues... and I am doing NOTHING with them... O well, maybe next year! :)

So this is my little Truth in the Tinsel update... Hopefully I will be back next week with another update!! :)  you know you want to join in!! :)

Linking this up to Manger Mondays (although this is Tuesday! :)

Thanksgiving gifts

So, I know all the real bloggers already did all their Thanksgiving posts last week and I am totally behind the ball on this, but I actually did a great job of writing down my gifts for the week of Thanksgiving. (even though for some reason MY iPod touch is not compatible with the new #1000gifts app) ... So here is my continuous, endless 1000 gifts from Thanksgiving week (with a few pictures thrown in!)

Trunk full of luggage and presents
Kids lovies and blankets filling the van
Kindle reading
Hubby driving
Cookies for snacks
Reminder of "showers of blessings"
Safety in the rain
Sleeping girls
Welcome to Ohio sign
Hugs from long distance family
Talking late into the night
My kids with their grandparents
Time for card making
Letting my daughter use some of my supplies
Baked spaghetti made by mom

Brothers going through memory boxes
Seeing extended family
Mocha brownies
Eating too much 2 days in a row
Thanksgiving Day parades (on TV)

Extra long tables
Cousin chaos
Cousin hugs

Cousin pictures

Toddler conversations

peeling potatoes
Thanksgiving dinner

Christmas cookies
Phone calls to long distance family
Skype
Card games
Buy one, get one free sales
Sleeping in on Black Friday
A blessing from Great Aunt Gertie

Christmas gifts a month early

Fiesta dishes

Fun star wars gifts for the kids
A quick trip to Starbucks
Downtown Sandusky traditions
Merry go round rides

Tree lighting ceremony
Taking pictures

Trains going by
Pizza traditions
Kids playing hide and seek in the dark outside
Warm Ohio temps

Card games
Making memories
Breakfast at The Lunch Box
Crayons at restaurants

 Crazy kid faces

Visiting grandpa's old antique shop

Leftovers
Hot cocoa
Unexpected much needed laughter
Arms wrapped around me
Thankful that God chose me
God uses the foolish things of this world
Colossians 3:12-17
Family conversations
More card making time

Starbucks drink lasting all evening
More Card games
Everything fitting in the van
Big breakfast before we got on the road

Empty wheat fields and dormant trees.

Returning home again

and a bonus... getting this Thanksgiving day sale item in the mail this week!! (I have decided these should be hands-on decorations... not just mine)

took me all day, but I finally finished my Multitude Monday!!