Introducing Daisy!

I'd like you to meet the new addition to the family. This is Daisy!

This is SweetBoy beside her so you can see she isn't very big. She is so soft and sweet! We chose her at the animal shelter yesterday, and she has fit right into the family. There is just something about having a dog around. Yes, it is more responsibility, but she also adds an element of relaxing that I have missed. I'm sure you will be hearing more dog stories in the future, so you had to meet our new dog. (Hopefully nothing like Beth's post today--I'm still laughing!)

Happy New Year!

I just love clean slates, and that is what the New Year feels like. A chance to start again. I have finally realized that I don't have to feel like the past year failed if it wasn't "perfect." There was some growth and that was good. I won't arrive until I'm in heaven, so do my best and be happy with that. Now it is time to refocus toward the goal and go again. Last year the theme was giving God my best. This year the theme is focusing on Him through it all. I'm watching the video Bible study by Beth Moore called Wising Up. One of the points she made was about Proverbs 3:5-6:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own
understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path
straight.

Acknowledge means to know Him. In everything I face I need to know Him there. Money trouble--know Him there. Parenting struggles--know Him there. Success--know Him there. Failure--know Him there. Relationship problems--know Him there. Get the picture? And I have to set my heart, mind, and soul on Him.

Colossians 3:1-2
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things
above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your mnds on
things above, not on earthly things.

So this is my main goal for the new year: to know Him and keep my heart set on things above.

Here is my top 9 list for 2009 that I want to work on.

1. Meet with God everyday in prayer and Bible study and use my journal.
2. Pray for SweetHeart and the kids more.
3. Memorize Scripture (Beth Moore has a challenge going if you want to join me. Here is the info and here is the sign up.)
4. Exercize more.
5. Read the Bible with my kids more.
6. Teach my kids to help around the house more.
7. Take time to play and enjoy my kids more.
8. Go to bed earlier.
9. Be on time to church. (Hubby will love that!)

These are not very qualitative, but any progress is good. I'm sharing it here so you can help keep me accountable, and I'm interested in any tips you may have that work at your house.

Christmas Questionaire

Here is a glimpse of our Christmas blog style...

1. real or fake Christmas tree
Fake...I have enough trouble keeping us healthy without envoking the help of alergies!

2. favorite ornament
I don't have a specific favorite. But I enjoy unwrapping the ones of our first Christmas, the kids' first ornaments, the picture ones, the ones of places we have been (that is our souveneer that we shop for on trips).

3. favorite Christmas song
I love this time of year on the radio! Not so much for SweetHeart--I'll be singing along with harmony, and he says, "Let me guess, you sang that in show choir." Yep! I guess one of my favorites right now is Sandi Patti's Come Let Us Worship the King. I have been practicing signing it for church and it just sets my heart ready to worship! Travis Cotrell's new Christmas CD is high on the list too!

4. favorite tradition
Being with family, whether it is just the five of us or with 25-50 of our closest relatives (yes, seriously). I am thankful for a husband whose family cherishes family too and all are willing to share us with the other side when it is their turn. Other traditions come and go or modify, but this one is constant. If it is the five of us at home, we wear pj's all day, play with new toys, and watch movies.

5. favorite gift ever received
I have thought and thought about this one. I have received many wonderful gifts over the years, but not in particular is jumping to mind (except a razor!). My favorite is watching everyone else open the gift that we got them. The smile on their face or that "this is something I wanted but wouldn't get for myself" look. The kids are great at that "I wanted this my whole life" surprise look. (And they know I love it, so now if I miss it initially they just pose until the flash of the camera!) That is my favorite!

6. favorite Christmas meal
If we are with my side, we usually have the traditional dressing and all the fixings. (Mom makes the best cornbread dressing!) With hubby's side, we might have Mexican pile on because we have traditional meal at Mamaw's the day before. If it is just us, we have pizza! At this point in life, that is my favorite--easy prep, easy clean up, and no complaints!

7. favorite Christmas cookie
Mom, brother and I used to make "Judy's cut cookies" that are the best! I like them before they are iced. My kids like to make "painted cookies." Same cookies, just a different name! YUM! I also look forward to Muddy Buddies (aka Puppy Chow), and chocolate covered pretzels!

8. favorite place to be
With family. We have gone to grandparents', great-grandparents', skiing in another state, or home and we have a good time together.

9. favorite memory
Singing carols with my cousins. SweetBoy telling the Christmas story with the VeggieTales nativity scene, complete with lights off for the scene changes!

One of the funniest memories was going to cut our own Christmas tree with Sweetheart, one of my cousins and her husband. I'm not sure exactly how many rules we broke, but we had a tree that, well, looked better in the forest at dusk! And then there was the year that Sadie, our dog, got sprayed by a skunk on a bitter cold night, so she couldn't stay outside. This year we can add our journey to and from to the "yea! memories" list--tummy troubles and flat tires! It is odd that I try so hard for everything to be perfect and smooth, but the ones that stick in my memory are the ones that weren't so perfect.

10. favorite Christmas movie
White Christmas... and Court Jester. I know, that isn't a Christmas movie, but that is one of the first things I did with the whole last name family when we were dating and it was Christmas time. So it is one that I enjoy seeing this time of year!

OK. I'll have to quit there or I'll get out the picture albums and stir too many memories to tell! It is a very hectic season, but the best part is sharing it with family, and refocusing on what is really important. Jesus, God with us, came to this earth for a purpose. Now what am I going to do with His gift? That should be my focus. More on that tomorrow!

Now where were we

Ah yes, a season of thanks. The last thing I wanted to put on my list, at least for now, is my family. And it is still relavant because in the last month we have seen more of our aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, great-grandparents, and friends than we have had the opportunity to in several years. We've met new little cousins too! We had a good time visiting, playing games, and catching up with extended family. It is such a priviledge to be part of a wonderful family--on all sides. We are so blessed, and I'm so thankful.

Between holidays, SweetHeart and I made a trip to the coast for a conference. It was nice to get away, but it was as cold there as it was at home! We have literally been from one end of the state to the other!

It has been such a busy time with mile-long to-do lists, as I'm sure you know. Now I'm thankful for a few days of rest before it is back to the routine of school and stuff.

I do love Christmas and didn't mean to skip over it here, I'll share a little more but right now my hubby wants to watch a movie. I'll get the popcorn!

Thankful for my kiddos!

1. The Word of God


2. living in the USA


3. change


4. living in this time period


5. disposable diapers!


6. friends


7. teachers


8. great deals


9. health


10. house


11. income

OK, you knew it was coming. But I just had to wait until one of those days when I could write out of true thankfulness and not trying to convince or remind myself amongst refereeing that this is a blessing! (And I better hurry and get it down!) I love their excitement about the little things when they discover them for the first time. I love their smiles and giggles. I love watching them learn and grow, when they can reach something for the first time. I love their hugs and sugars. I love that my touch or voice can calm them down. I love that they make me laugh. The latest is shopping with the little ones and SweetTate asked for goldfish. We made our choice of packages and he said with everything in him, "I wuv this one!" (That was much more enjoyable than the last time we were in Wal-Mart and SweetDoll's flip flop came off and SweetTate threw it up. It was inches from landing on top of the top row of the canned veggies! God knew I would never have been able to reach that! I can laugh about it now, but that day I was not laughing!) Through it all, I am thankful and I am so incredibly blessed by three wonderful gifts!

Thanks--pass the tissue!

1. The Word of God
2. living in the USA
3. change
4. living in this time period
5. disposable diapers!
6. friends
7. teachers
8. great deals

Today I'm getting over a cold and I'm very thankful for cold medicine and Puffs! I slept good last night so today looks brighter!

I'm thankful for our house and steady income. For so many these days, that is not a certainty. I'm thankful for a warm, safe place to be, for my kids to come home to, and to invite friends to. It is not a mansion by any means, but it is what God provided and we are so blessed.

More thanks

• Word of God
• living in the USA
• change

What am I thankful for today? Several things have come to mind...

living in this time period. I am so glad I have a dishwasher, washer AND dryer, and a microwave! I can not imagine trying to get everything done by hand! And a vacuum cleaner! For Jen it is her hairdryer. For me I think when I'm vacuuming because I can't hear the chaos going on around me. The disadvantage in that is it is usually just once a week! (Today is a cleaning day, can you tell?)

disposable diapers! I almost put it in the previous one, but I think they deserve their own bullet point!

FRIENDS! Over the weekend I had the privilege of getting together with some high school buddies. We had a good time visiting and going to the football game. God has blessed me with some good friends back then and now!

My kid's teachers. Last night was open house at school. I am so thankful for the great job SweetBoy's teachers do preparing him for his future. When he was born, I began praying for the best teachers for him. Who knew that would lead us here! But they are great! The principal isn't too bad either! ;)

Great deals! I have been couponing for about a year now, but I love free stuff! The Preacher's Wife is having a book give away this week. And then she had a link to a jewelry give away from Ellinoelle Designs this week too! How fun!

That is the list so far. I'll be back later with more!