I am celebrating 13 amazing years of marriage today...

I don't know if he will read this our not...but here I go...

To my Mr...

You are an amzing man after God's own heart. I love that you chase after Him and lead our family in the way that God wnats you to. I love that you lead our family in prayer. I am thankful that you are a wonderful and loving husband. You are showing our son how to be a husband and love his wife and you are setting the bar for what our daughter will look for in a husband. I want to say thank you for providing for our family in such a way that I have the opportunity to stay home with our children and homeschool them as well. I am thankful that God placed you in my life so that I can spend forever with you. Happy Anniversary, I love you bunches!

The year is winding down...

I feel like December first came and I blinked celebrated Christmas blinked again and in just a few days it will be January! Holy cow! Where did my year go???

Like I said we just celebrated Christmas. We got together with friends and family and had a great time seeing everyone. I think that kids were spoiled by all sides and for us we still have one more Christmas gathering before the year is done. This was the first year that we focused our children more on Jesus and His birth more than presents. (Before you fret, they did get presents I just didn't want that to be a focal point.) I think that Little Buddy enjoyed it more that way than any other Christmas. We read Luke 2, had a thank you prayer, sang a song and then we continued celebrating our beautiful day with our family.

Then I blinked and we are where we are today.

So now with New Years right around the corner do you set resolutions hoping to make them happen? Hoping that you can make it past the first 2 weeks of January? LOL...yes, I have been in that same boat. I have many a new year resolutions that I have not followed through with as of today. SO let's change this and decide to set some amazing goals...nothing outrageous that could never be accomplished but realistic monthly goals. I have some that I will share with you....

I would love to______________ in 2012!:
learn to sew using my sewing machine
learn sign language
decorate one room in my house the way that I want it (exp. bedroom: new bed, bedding, paint, curtains, etc.)
organize better (buy the items to organize with)


Ok, so there is a couple for me and I feel like those can be actual goals to do before next year. But I would love for my son to set goals to. How do I do that? I found something earlier and I will be sitting down with him later. Here are four questions to ask your child if they are old enough to set goals...

What one place do you want to visit?

What one thing do you really want to do?

What class or skill would you like to take/learn?

If you could help anyone, who would it be?

I think these are amazing goals to have even as an adult. Do you have any others for me to consider? What kind of goals do you wish to set for yourself?

Little Drummer Boy

I have been listening to Christmas music, tis the season, and I heard one song that I have heard all my life...you know the one....

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum

A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum

Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum

To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum,

rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum,

When we come.

Little Baby, pa rum pum pum pum

I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum

I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum

That's fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum,

rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,

On my drum?

Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum

The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum

I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum

I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum,

rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum

Me and my drum.

We have been diligently working on making presents for everyone this Christmas, in the mean time we have been talking about the talents God gave us. How do we use them? Are we honoring God with them? Are we blessing others with them? Some people have lots of talents and others seem to only have a handful but all the same we are supposed to use them for His glory.

So this song has played over and over in my head. Here are the wise men and their gifts were amazing in themselves and they were giving what they thought was the best. He comes this poor little drummer. He has nothing but his talent. He could have went off and pouted and sat down and played a sad tune called Woe unto Me. BUT he chose to go praise the King of Kings with his drum. He gave the only thing he had his talent!

I am honored to teach my children that God is pleased and smiles at them still this day when they use there talent for His glory. I am so excited that I get the honor of teaching them this simple truth. I get to demonstrate it in my daily life. I am blessed with all the talents that God has given to me and I pray that He helps me to bless others.



Santa vs. Jesus

We finally had the "talk" tonight. You know the one....Santa isn't real. I had dreaded this conversation for many a reasons. I didn't know how he would take it due to him taking everything so literal. Looking back I don't even know how it all began, his belief in Santa. I just don't think I ever told him not to believe. It always seemed so magical and all the shows at this time of year I honestly think he just picked it up. It also doesn't help when family members encourage this belief. So we allowed it until this year.

We got to talking and we started to compare Santa vs. the real reason to celebrate...Jesus.

Santa:

lives in the North Pole

isn't real, make believe

only brings me a present if I am good

jolly, fat man

doesn't know anything about me

only comes around once a year

just a man

has flying imaginary reindeer

Jesus:

lives in my heart (well, the Holy Spirit does)

is very, very real

loves everyone good or bad - He gave His life for me

a amazingly strong man

knows EVERYTHING about me...(Psalms 139)

walks with me daily and I can talk to Him whenever I want

the King of Kings, our Saviour, Prince of Peace...

has the most amazing angels you've ever seen!

So, how did he take it? He did awesome. He had a few questions and that was about it. I did tell him that it is not his job to tell others that there is not a Santa. I told him if he still wanted to pretend then that's ok too.

But after comparing the two..I'd rather him believe in Jesus.

Merry Clothmas!

Yes, you heard me right, I said Merry Clothmas! It is my favorite time of year when Cloth Diaper Addiction host what they call "The 12 Days of Clothmas". If you are new to cloth then you want to go check them out! 12 Days of Clothmas will run December 1-12, with a new giveaway going up each day with some great prizes. Each giveaway will be open for a total of 3 full days. At that time the giveaway will close, winners will be drawn and all winners will be announced on December 15th.


I will be attending and hoping to see some new diapers that are on the market. I wish for you to attend as well and I hope you win something amazing!!!

Thank you Cloth Diaper Addiction for hosting a fabulous event!!! Merry Christmas to you!