Merry Christmas

I have been feeling overwhelmed lately.

Too much to do. Not enough time to do it.

Too many headaches and too much blowing my nose.

Traveling. Cleaning. Moving. Shopping. Wrapping. Planning. Crafting. Cooking.

I have ben feeling guilty that this is what our holidays have become this year. I have so badly wanted to sit down with my kids and read books about the true meaning of Christmas. I wanted to rent "The Nativity" and watch it with them. (I think they are old enough to understand and be grateful for God's gift to us.) I wanted to make Christmas cookies and eat them by the fire. I wanted for Christmas to be different than what it has become, yet again.....being busy.

The next week looks as though it will be filled with more activities than I want to list. And as I sit here thinking about the million and one things that need to be done, I know that I cannot "create" the perfectly calm Christmas I have in my head. It is what it is......crazy family time, a little sickness here and there, shopping at the last minute, too much fattening food, and hectic crazy schedules.

But, it is also laughter with friends and getting to hug people that I don't see very often and little kids getting to play with cousins and seeing the excitement in their faces when they open their gifts, and an occasional hot chocolate and yummy dessert.

But most of all, it's Jesus. In the next week when life will seem overwhelming and when I am completely worn out, I know there will be little moments for me to remind my kids that God's gift to us is immeasurable. And that our hearts should be joyful with that gift alone. That we have been given grace and forgiveness through that precious baby. I want to find time to remind them that the things they ask Santa for pale in comparison to the gift of salvation and the peace that comes from knowing God loves us.

I wanted to share this with you. This came from a link on a blog I read fairly regularly. It's about Christmas. And it spoke to my heart this morning:

"It’s hard to find Jesus in Christmas.

His Name is right there in the very word. How can we miss it? I searched the Christmas aisles of the scrapbook store for a sticker of baby Jesus in the manger. I couldn’t find one.

I looked high and low for a book about the Advent, the Coming to read with my children and couldn’t find one at the Christian book store.

Christmas was created to be a birthday party for Jesus, but the guest of honor is forgotten.

It’s hard to find Jesus in Christmas.

But we need Christmas.

Creation and Christmas are intertwined.

Thousands of years before there was a stable, bewildered shepherd’s and a Holy birth, there was a serpent in the garden.

He deceived Eve–she deceived Adam–we were born into deception. And that’s when we needed Christmas.

When we see Jesus, we see Christmas. When we see Christmas, we need to see Jesus. And it’s there, when the Tree, and The Manger mingle, we find The Cross. "

I hope you are able to see the cross this Christmas. I hope you are able to remind your families of the love that the Lord has lavished upon them and the grace He so freely gives.

I am so thankful to be reminded of this today. I did not sleep well last night. I am still not feeling great from this relentless sinus infection. I was up at 5am dreading my endless list of things that have to get done today with little or no energy to do them all. But, God spoke to me this morning and reminded me that my lists have nothing to do with Christmas.

Take joy in our saviour this week. Take joy in Him humbling Himself to be born in a manger (I mean, seriously. I don't like the fact that when we travel Sam has to sleep in that small, uncomfortable pac n' play. Really? A manger people! I'm pretty sure I would have strong objections to someone laying my son in hay in a barn) and remember that amidst the busyness of this season, our true delight and joy is in Jesus.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Welcome home...

So, things slowed down for about five minutes today, and I finally took a few pictures of what the new fireplace and floors look like. I looked back through some of my old pictures and found one random picture from right after we first moved in of the old fireplace wall.

As you can see, the entire wall was white limestone rock.

It was a neat feature (which I secretly hated)....

This is what it looks like now. We have a darker rock and now that it's a 'normal' fireplace size, we were able to rearrange our furniture. I like it sooo much better like this!

(please ignore the GIGANTIC recliner which is now residing in our living room. Yes, it's huge. BUT...it was free and unbelievably comfortable!)

Our new hardwood floors in the living room...

The new tile in the kitchen and dining area (there used to be laminate wood flooring..which was HORRIBLE!!!! But when we redid the house two years ago, we ran out of money and that was all we could afford. I am SO grateful for this tile!!!)

Brody's room got a little facelift too. We painted it, got new bedding (wait..I have to brag about this...it's expensive to buy new bedding for those bunk beds. BUT....I got that queen sized comforter, sheet set, two shams, and the twin comforter and sheet set all for..wait for it.......$35!!!! About two months ago I found them on clearance at Target! I'm very proud of myself. Thanks for indulging me)

Glenda......do you see what is on Brody's nightstand? Yep...the pig/football. That is a place of honor.

Oh, and by the way...I didn't realize that the top bed is not made up until after I posted this picture. Oh well. That is what it normally looks like. Do you know how hard it is to make up a top bunk bed?!

We did kind of a globe/world thing in Brody's room. I kind of think he is a little too old for a "theme" per say, but he has always been really interested in globes and maps. About 6 months ago, I came across a box of old classroom globes at a garage sale. They were $5. I bought them not knowing what I would do with them, but couldn't pass them up (I get into a lot of trouble that way...).

Well, this is what I did with them...

They are hanging above his desk...for now. I think they might be a little too tempting for little hands that find themselves on that top bunk.

Good to be home.

We're in

Three and half weeks later and we are home. Finally. I am currently sitting in my warm, comfy bed typing this. I may never leave.

The house looks beautiful. I will have pictures to post soon. Nearly every room has changed, either with new flooring, paint, or just rearranging furniture. It feels like a brand new house. I was A LOT of work. The house was filthy and EVERY SINGLE THING IN IT was COVERED with dust from all the jackhammering when they were digging holes.

But...lots of dusting, washing, wiping, and vaccuuming later....it is possibly the cleanest it's ever been!

Oh, and my precious little Sammie has pneumonia. It has been a struggle to just get through the day lately, let alone clean and move into a house. So......a short post and no pictures. But, it's worth the wait. For all of us.

Happy Thanksgiving

from.....

a little Indian girl,

a little pilgrim boy,

and a chubby, little turkey.

This year, I am grateful for.....

...my babies who challenge me every day to live out the idea of grace

....my hardworking husband who provides for me sacrificially

and loves me unconditionally

....my precious friends who bring me joy and laughter

....my gracious family who I know will always be here for me

...a place to lie my head at night

....food in my tummy

....iced green teas from Starbucks

....my merciful God in whom I find redemption again and again.

Hope you are all having a wonderful holiday!

Love you all!

All jacked up...

Two weeks of work so these little jacks could do their work and move the house a whole inch and a half.

We are done with the foundation repair, but are now in the process of filling the holes, patching the concrete, and tearing out and rebuilding the chimney and fireplace.

This is what our house looks like now.

YIKES!!!!! That used to be my living room.

Down our hallway and the kids' bedrooms....

A lot of our furniture is shoved into our kitchen and dining area. AND it is ALL covered in dirt.

Don't believe me? Check it out for yourself....

Anyone up for a cleaning/moving party in about a week?

Happy Holidays!

I am meeting my cousin's baby for the first time this next week. She is only a month old.

I made her a few things to wear for the holidays yesterday out of some scrap fabric I had.

Too bad Sam can't wear pink and polk a dot turkeys. Hmmm...well, maybe he can. :)

Anyone looking for a model?

I made these aprons for a woman that wanted her and her daughter to match for Thanksgiving. I asked my mom and Addie to try them on and let me take a few pictures.

Well....look who totally hammed it up. Complete with props and all.

This one's my favorite. Cutting fresh flowers in her apron. How domestic.

My mom said, "I think I should start modeling for magazines".

Ta-Da!!!

I love how a pile of random fabric.....

Can turn into something like this!

Yes, I know they aren't Christmas colors. I think the closest I got was the fabric for Addie's has deer on it. But, my tree isn't so "Christmas-y" either. I like bold, bright colors at Christmas because the rest of the year my house is pretty muted.

These took me literally about two hours to crank out. I tried to do different embelishments on each one as well.

(Left to right) Mitch's has embroidery thread and buttons, Mine has a flower with some bright fabric, Brody's has a felt zig zag thingy with buttons on it, Addie's has a flower as well, and Sam has ric rac.

They are cute, but smaller than I wanted. I still make the mistake of cutting things out the size I want, but then once you sew them, they always turn out smaller. You'd think I'd have learned by now. But, I have decided that the bigger I make them, the more "Santa" has to fill. So, smaller is okay by me!

Anyway, one project done, nine million to go.

(House is going pretty well, by the way. Still at my parents' house. Thinking maybe another week. BUT..I get to go home to new tile in the kitchen, new hardwood floors in the living room, AND a brand new fireplace with beautiful new rock!!! I definitely can't complain!!)