and I am still up. It doesn't happen very often, maybe when I am in the midst of a book I just can't put down or my dog or children wake me from a sound sleep but here it is: 11:46 pm on New Year's. So I am here to say Happy New Year. I haven't had a chance to really reflect on this past year but it has overall been a good year (or maybe I have just blocked out the bad stuff).
I don't really make resolutions b/c I usually fail miserably at them but I am contemplating monthly goals so I will write on my January goal soon, maybe tomorrow if I can wake up.
May God bless you all in 2011!
Friday, December 31, 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Christmas is upon us
In 4 days but still, if you are like me, you are knee deep in preparations. Or in my case at this very moment avoiding those very needed preparations. I was feeling a little crazed last week thinking of everything I still had to do. Funny thing is, I still have almost everything on my list to do that I had last week but the crazed feeling, not so much. I decided over the weekend, that it didn't matter. What would get done would get done, what didn't would be okay.
I still want Christmas to go well. I want to remember to buy all the things I need for Christmas dinner, to wrap the presents, send the cards, clean my house (that is the worst because it is bad! Really, really, really bad. When your 7 year old tells you the toilet needs to be cleaned, you know it is bad), drive around and let the kids see the lights, make perfect memories for them. But I have decided not to be uptight about it. (which is stressing my mom out a little). My husband might disagree. He might think I am still stressing about it. But I am not. Really. I have peace about it.
Ask me again in 2 days and I might feel differently. But today, even though I have literally been gone all day running errands, I am good.
So this week, I am praying we each have memorable Christmas's. That our kids will begin developing an understanding of what it is about. That it will be more than presents. That Christ's light will shine.
I am so grateful for an amazing God who sent His son for us, knowing Jesus would die a terrible death, loving us so deeply.
Merry Christmas!
I still want Christmas to go well. I want to remember to buy all the things I need for Christmas dinner, to wrap the presents, send the cards, clean my house (that is the worst because it is bad! Really, really, really bad. When your 7 year old tells you the toilet needs to be cleaned, you know it is bad), drive around and let the kids see the lights, make perfect memories for them. But I have decided not to be uptight about it. (which is stressing my mom out a little). My husband might disagree. He might think I am still stressing about it. But I am not. Really. I have peace about it.
Ask me again in 2 days and I might feel differently. But today, even though I have literally been gone all day running errands, I am good.
So this week, I am praying we each have memorable Christmas's. That our kids will begin developing an understanding of what it is about. That it will be more than presents. That Christ's light will shine.
I am so grateful for an amazing God who sent His son for us, knowing Jesus would die a terrible death, loving us so deeply.
Merry Christmas!
Thursday, December 16, 2010
No More Rack
Apparently this is a new site where when you sign up you get a $10 credit. And if you sign up here then I get an extra credit as well. They put new deals out every day at noon and shipping is $2.
If you decide to sign up, make sure the code P1070 is in the "redeem gift card" box. You can add it later if it doesn't work the first time.
Yesterday when I looked, they had stuff under $10 so it would be getting something for free. Which is my favorite!
Let me know if the link doesn't work, it should bring up a box where register by putting your email and password and the spot to enter the code.
If you decide to sign up, make sure the code P1070 is in the "redeem gift card" box. You can add it later if it doesn't work the first time.
Yesterday when I looked, they had stuff under $10 so it would be getting something for free. Which is my favorite!
Let me know if the link doesn't work, it should bring up a box where register by putting your email and password and the spot to enter the code.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Is Santa Claus Real?
I have been dreading those words this year. Santa has never been a big deal in our house. When our son was still a baby, my husband and I decided we wouldn't "do" Santa but we never set up a game plan on how to approach the issue. Mostly, we just downplayed him and tried to avoid the subject.
But it is really hard to avoid Santa. We did let them see the old classic Christmas movies because they are fun and were childhood favorites of ours. But we never had them take pictures with Santa, write letters to Santa, leave out cookies for Santa or have them open presents specifically from Santa. We do stockings but I have never used special wrapping paper to hide that the gifts were actually from us.
Last year, there were a few questions but nothing significant.
That all changed this year. My oldest really started believing in Santa, apparently he figured out that stockings are supposed to be from Santa. I am sure he heard other kids talking about Santa. He wrote a letter to Santa and asked how we would get it to him.
Sunday, the kids watched the Veggie Tales about St. Nick. We bought it last year but I think they only watched it once and nothing really sank in. This year, my husband delicately talked about how there was a St. Nick who died and that people model Santa after him. My son didn't get it, but my 5 year old did. So at dinner last night, she said something about Santa not being real and that St. Nick died a long time ago. I wasn't really paying attention to their conversation to be honest until my son calls out "Mom, is Santa real?". Standing in the kitchen, I froze momentarily. I didn't have a game plan. Hubby and I talked about how we might pull son aside and explain it to him, but I wasn't prepared to answer this off the cuff in front of the girls. So I took a deep breath and went in to the dinner table and looked at those beautiful, innocent faces and I couldn't lie. I couldn't hedge. I knew I had to tell them the truth. (And I do believe it was God forcing the issue on me)
I looked at the 3 of them, and said "no, Santa is not real". My son tried to argue, he said "what about the stockings". I told him, grownups filled stockings. I wasn't sure how he would react. I reiterated about St. Nick. My 5 year old said "I know, Daddy told us". Clearly she wasn't disappointed. But I know my son had that moment, that loss when you realize something isn't magical like you had dreamed it was. And my heart did ache a little. As a child, I loved believing in Santa. I don't condemn anyone who has their kids believe in Santa. I am still sort of conflicted about it.
Except in 2 ways. One: I hate lying. I am quite relieved they know the truth. I don't have to try to come up with a truth in something that isn't true. Two, and this is something I just realized today as I was thinking about blogging this story: I know that my kids won't look at me one day and say "Is God real?". Not in the sense that I taught them something to believe in that they can't see only to learn it was all made up. They might question God's existence someday. I think most Christians do. But I know that when I tell them that God is real, they will have a background of me telling them the truth. Their having a relationship with God is my biggest priority as a parent. Hopefully now, we have established trust and I pray that it sticks with them.
But it is really hard to avoid Santa. We did let them see the old classic Christmas movies because they are fun and were childhood favorites of ours. But we never had them take pictures with Santa, write letters to Santa, leave out cookies for Santa or have them open presents specifically from Santa. We do stockings but I have never used special wrapping paper to hide that the gifts were actually from us.
Last year, there were a few questions but nothing significant.
That all changed this year. My oldest really started believing in Santa, apparently he figured out that stockings are supposed to be from Santa. I am sure he heard other kids talking about Santa. He wrote a letter to Santa and asked how we would get it to him.
Sunday, the kids watched the Veggie Tales about St. Nick. We bought it last year but I think they only watched it once and nothing really sank in. This year, my husband delicately talked about how there was a St. Nick who died and that people model Santa after him. My son didn't get it, but my 5 year old did. So at dinner last night, she said something about Santa not being real and that St. Nick died a long time ago. I wasn't really paying attention to their conversation to be honest until my son calls out "Mom, is Santa real?". Standing in the kitchen, I froze momentarily. I didn't have a game plan. Hubby and I talked about how we might pull son aside and explain it to him, but I wasn't prepared to answer this off the cuff in front of the girls. So I took a deep breath and went in to the dinner table and looked at those beautiful, innocent faces and I couldn't lie. I couldn't hedge. I knew I had to tell them the truth. (And I do believe it was God forcing the issue on me)
I looked at the 3 of them, and said "no, Santa is not real". My son tried to argue, he said "what about the stockings". I told him, grownups filled stockings. I wasn't sure how he would react. I reiterated about St. Nick. My 5 year old said "I know, Daddy told us". Clearly she wasn't disappointed. But I know my son had that moment, that loss when you realize something isn't magical like you had dreamed it was. And my heart did ache a little. As a child, I loved believing in Santa. I don't condemn anyone who has their kids believe in Santa. I am still sort of conflicted about it.
Except in 2 ways. One: I hate lying. I am quite relieved they know the truth. I don't have to try to come up with a truth in something that isn't true. Two, and this is something I just realized today as I was thinking about blogging this story: I know that my kids won't look at me one day and say "Is God real?". Not in the sense that I taught them something to believe in that they can't see only to learn it was all made up. They might question God's existence someday. I think most Christians do. But I know that when I tell them that God is real, they will have a background of me telling them the truth. Their having a relationship with God is my biggest priority as a parent. Hopefully now, we have established trust and I pray that it sticks with them.
Feeling Overwhelmed
Every year I swear I won't let it come to this. The franticness that happens right before Christmas when I realize there is not enough time in the day to accomplish what I want to get done before that day. Add to it 6-8 weeks of random illness and not only do I not feel ready for Christmas, but I feel unprepared to handle all the day to day stuff that I am really behind on.
I keep reminding my kids why we celebrate Christmas. That it is a celebration of the birth of Jesus. And that is the most important thing. But I love all the traditions of Christmas. I love making candy and cookies and pumpkin bread. I love shopping and finding the perfect presents for people. I love building gingerbread houses with my kids every year. I love sending out cards with personal messages on them. I love driving and looking and the lights, going to Zoolights. I love all of it.
Ever since having kids though, I come to a point when I realize I just cannot do it all. Something has to be let go of. I haven't quite figured out what that is going to be. And in the end, my kids will have a great time even if we don't get to do everything on my list. And I will get over it and tell myself, next year I will do things differently. And I might. I won't promise anything but I might.
So this week, as we are frantically trying to fit everything in, my prayer is that we will be able to stop and take time to remember why we go through all this craziness. And to be able to enjoy as much of it as we can.
Let me know if there is anything specific I can pray for you this week.
I keep reminding my kids why we celebrate Christmas. That it is a celebration of the birth of Jesus. And that is the most important thing. But I love all the traditions of Christmas. I love making candy and cookies and pumpkin bread. I love shopping and finding the perfect presents for people. I love building gingerbread houses with my kids every year. I love sending out cards with personal messages on them. I love driving and looking and the lights, going to Zoolights. I love all of it.
Ever since having kids though, I come to a point when I realize I just cannot do it all. Something has to be let go of. I haven't quite figured out what that is going to be. And in the end, my kids will have a great time even if we don't get to do everything on my list. And I will get over it and tell myself, next year I will do things differently. And I might. I won't promise anything but I might.
So this week, as we are frantically trying to fit everything in, my prayer is that we will be able to stop and take time to remember why we go through all this craziness. And to be able to enjoy as much of it as we can.
Let me know if there is anything specific I can pray for you this week.
Monday, December 6, 2010
When God speaks
One thing I have noticed with having more communication with God on my end, is that He communicates more with me...or actually I hear His voice better. I am sure most of us can say that we get those stirrings of our heart, we think about someone, or wonder if we should call/take a meal/buy a coffee, etc. It is easy to think that it just happened. I just happened to think of you today, I just happened across an old picture or a smell or cooked something that you made...kind of thing. But do things like that really just happen? Do you ever wonder if there is a bigger picture here? Absolutely! I firmly believe those moments are God speaking to us.
Last week, a friend of mine came to mind. A close friend who I don't get to see nearly often enough. She was on my heart. I had no idea why. There was nothing to trigger it this time. I just knew I needed to pray for her. I didn't know what for. She doesn't live close, I am not a phone talker, we don't always get to chat about the everyday things that are going on in our lives so I had no idea what was going on in her life. But I prayed. And I emailed her just to let her know she was on my heart. She emailed me back and told me she had been going through something, she had been feeling alone and what a blessing it was to know that God was listening. Yes, God listens. I love that! It is easy to think sometimes that we are praying to a ceiling. We don't always get to see an immediate response to prayer or even a long term resolution to prayer. But God hears us. He uses us not only to pray for others but as an answer, as an encourager for others. Even if the answer is just to say: "I hear you, you are not alone".
So if you get those nudgings, those whisperings, if someone crosses your mind today, say a prayer for them. You never know how much they might be needing it. And if you have any prayer requests, please let me know. I love praying for my friends.
Last week, a friend of mine came to mind. A close friend who I don't get to see nearly often enough. She was on my heart. I had no idea why. There was nothing to trigger it this time. I just knew I needed to pray for her. I didn't know what for. She doesn't live close, I am not a phone talker, we don't always get to chat about the everyday things that are going on in our lives so I had no idea what was going on in her life. But I prayed. And I emailed her just to let her know she was on my heart. She emailed me back and told me she had been going through something, she had been feeling alone and what a blessing it was to know that God was listening. Yes, God listens. I love that! It is easy to think sometimes that we are praying to a ceiling. We don't always get to see an immediate response to prayer or even a long term resolution to prayer. But God hears us. He uses us not only to pray for others but as an answer, as an encourager for others. Even if the answer is just to say: "I hear you, you are not alone".
So if you get those nudgings, those whisperings, if someone crosses your mind today, say a prayer for them. You never know how much they might be needing it. And if you have any prayer requests, please let me know. I love praying for my friends.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Why I love Rite Aid
I went in to Rite Aid to buy one thing. It was a really good deal and it is basically free b/c of a coupon and UP reward (I am not saying what it is b/c I am giving it to my hubby for Christmas) but then I remembered the kids' school was asking for donations of clorox wipes to help keep germs down so I went and looked and they were having a really good deal. Well, by the time I added cleaning supplies to my list I figured I needed to reach $25 to use my $5 off coupon (which are no longer available). My total came to $25.99 (near perfect I think). After coupons and previous UP rewards, I spent $10.19 out of pocket and got back $9 in UP rewards. Pretty awesome I would say.
Here is what I got: The thing for hubby
4 canisters of clorox wipes (2/$4)
2 bottles of Lysol (B1G1 free)
2 packages candy cane kisses - my kids love these!
I used $5/$25 coupon
$1/2 packages hersheys candy
$4/1 thing for hubby
$.75/1 (2) clorox wipes
$.40/1 (2) clorox wipes
$.50 video values coupon for the clorox wipes
Plus $3 off in UP rewards.
Pretty good amount of cleaning supplies, I needed some plus I can donate the others to the school and I spent hardly anything.
Now, sometimes they are out of stock on things. That is the biggest bummer. I really didn't expect to find the thing for my husband so I was happy to see it.
It was a really easy transaction and the cashiers here in town are great. They never fuss over my coupons.
Now to go clean some of these germs from my house!
Here is what I got: The thing for hubby
4 canisters of clorox wipes (2/$4)
2 bottles of Lysol (B1G1 free)
2 packages candy cane kisses - my kids love these!
I used $5/$25 coupon
$1/2 packages hersheys candy
$4/1 thing for hubby
$.75/1 (2) clorox wipes
$.40/1 (2) clorox wipes
$.50 video values coupon for the clorox wipes
Plus $3 off in UP rewards.
Pretty good amount of cleaning supplies, I needed some plus I can donate the others to the school and I spent hardly anything.
Now, sometimes they are out of stock on things. That is the biggest bummer. I really didn't expect to find the thing for my husband so I was happy to see it.
It was a really easy transaction and the cashiers here in town are great. They never fuss over my coupons.
Now to go clean some of these germs from my house!
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