Black Friday

I just want to clear some things up. Black Friday is NOT all bad. And people who shop on Black Friday are not all greedy, crazed and violent. I am so sick of all the negative remarks and posts about it. 

 So based on this photo it would suggest that because I've chosen to shop on Black Friday {for many years in a row now} I must be ungrateful. Yep, you got it. I spend all year being thankful for what I have and then on Black Friday, I just throw that all away and turn into a greedy jerk. Perhaps if Black Friday didn't fall on the day after Thanksgiving this joke would not even exist - I honestly wish it wasn't, but I didn't pick the day!

 I apologize if I come across as snarky, but I'm just tired of it. Let me tell you about MY experiences. Most years I've gone by myself, sometimes with family and this year I went with a couple friends and our teenage daughters. EVERY year I have had a blast. I have never encountered mobs, I have never encountered angry people or people fighting over a certain items or rude, overtired sales people. In fact, it's always been quite the opposite. They are always WAY overstaffed and the staff are always very friendly and helpful - even friendlier than normal! Other shoppers are having fun too and I've often ended up talking and laughing with total strangers. There is a general attitude of JOY.

The reason I feel offended over some of these posts and comments and yes, even Bible verses being quoted is that I am trying HARD to save some money for my family. Just like everyone else times are tough and we work hard for our money. We DON'T buy our kids every little whim or thing they want for Christmas, but yet we still DO want to give nice things. I LOVE giving things to people. In fact a lot of my joy yesterday was in thinking how excited I was to see the recipients open their gifts on Christmas morning! For me, going shopping on Black Friday often means I can get the items I wanted to get anyway, at a great discount and save myself some money. Yes, I've also seen the joke - "I saved $100 because I didn't spend $100 (or any money at all)" -- which of course makes sense ... but do you mean to tell me those people are not buying their family any Christmas gifts?! Maybe they didn't spend that $100 on Black Friday, but they'll still spend it.

I know going out shopping with the crowds is not for everyone. In fact, most years I try hard to get any and all shopping done about 2 weeks before Christmas so that I won't have to encounter the crowds at the last minute. I've actually experienced FAR more rude, obnoxious people the closer it gets to Christmas. So for me, I'd rather do it early and get it done - then relax and ENJOY the JOY of the season for what it's really about. I also do online shopping and pick my groceries up curbside many weeks because I don't like encountering rude, impatient people. So I'm not suggesting that everyone go out on Black Friday but just lighten up on those of us who do ... it does not mean we're not thankful, content or grateful people. It just means we're trying to save some money!!

Fall in a nutshell

Life has been so busy and my poor little blog has been neglected once again. I'd really like to get back to writing more again but for now, here is a glimpse at our fall 2014 in a nutshell. And because I'm super lazy right now and don't feel like arranging these in chronological order, you will get them all out of order. Sorry! 

we went to the Big E - took the girls out of school and had a fabulous day together, just the 4 of us.

so proud of this guy who ran his FIRST half marathon this October. he ROCKED it! 

Columbus Day we had Family Fun day - apple picking, hayride, apple bobbing, lunch together, donut on a string contest and just pure, family fun

we took our annual trip to NH for a few days. hiking, hanging out, relaxing, it was wonderful as always.

this amazing guy celebrated his 40th birthday. love him! 

we had a nice visit from cousins! yay! 

Halloween fun with friends. we always have a blast dressing up and going trick or treating. 

soccer, soccer and more soccer. 3 teams to be exact. Haley played for her school team, which was not only undefeated, but they had not even one single goal scored against them. she also played on a travel team, which also took first place in their division. such an amazing group of girls! 

 these are the 8th grade girls from her team ... kinda sad to think this was their last season of soccer in our town. {they can still play on school teams though}. 

 Jilly also played soccer this fall. She did great, even scoring a few goals! 

I went to the Camp Berea Women's Retreat with a bunch of wonderful friends. It was such an awesome weekend of refreshment!

this beautiful girl went to her first school dance. she really is growing up WAY too fast. 

we made 50 million fleece blankets ... well not quite, but it feels like it! Haley is selling them to make money to go on her 8th grade school trip to Washington DC. She has already made enough to make the first payment. Proud of her for working hard towards her goal. 

I got a NEW job that I love .... but had to leave behind a job that I also loved and people that I loved to work with. It was a very bittersweet day and I am so thankful for my amazing work friends who showered me with gifts on my last day. I've been at my new job for about a month now and I love it. It's a lot to learn and take in but every day I am getting better and better and learning so much more. 

this gorgeous girl turned 13 ... seriously the clock can stop now ... time is moving too fast and I just want to stop it for a little while. love her!  

and that's about it ... we've just been so busy with life and the fall has flown by. we're looking forward to Thanksgiving in a couple weeks, basketball starting for the girls, indoor soccer games {which have already started} and eventually CHRISTMAS! 

be blessed! 

Ladies Retreat 2014 - FEARLESS!

I am SO blessed that for the past several years I've been able to attend the Ladies Retreat at a wonderful Christian camp in New Hampshire. This camp is just the most beautiful location and truly a place where God is at work. I have some pictures and LOTS of thoughts to share about the weekend! First of all, if you live in New England I highly encourage you to think about attending the Ladies Retreat next September! It is SUCH a time of refreshment and time to dig in and learn more about God's Word. They always have great food, great activities, fabulous speakers and seminars and a wonderful worship band. 

When we got there we were welcomed by this cute sign, the theme was Fearless and they had a nautical theme throughout the weekend. 

The GORGEOUS lake, the water is seriously so clean and clear, it's just breathtaking. There are mountains all around the lake which just add to the beauty. 

There were about 20 women from our church who went, but we all sort of went in different groups. In our little 'group' there were 7 of us who shared a cabin together. I rode up with my beautiful friend Christina. 

There were a LOT of activities and things you could do during your free time on Saturday - canoeing, kayaking, boat rides, riflery, craft workshops, massages, high ropes course, seminars, etc .... we tried to squeeze in several different things and at times we all split up and did separate things. A few of us did the riflery range and it was fun! 

It was a GORGEOUS, sunny, 80 degree day so I also spent some time down by the lake hanging out with Christina and just enjoying the sunshine and the beautiful day. 

 Our group also went on a boat ride around the lake on the pontoon boat ... it was so pretty out! 

And later in the day a couple of us tried the high ropes course. It's basically this course that is about 40 feet up in the tree tops and you climb up there, then walk from tree to tree on thin wires and stuff like that. I was terrified to try it, but also felt like going with the theme FEARLESS, I really, really, really wanted to try it and conquer my fears. 

 The first part was climbing up the cargo tube to get to the top - I figured, how hard can it be?? Well let me tell you - it was SO.PHYSICALLY.EXHAUSTING. By the time I reached the top my arms and legs hurt and I was trying hard to catch my breath! 

Once I reached the top {and caught my breath!}I had to walk across on a thin wire from one tree to another. I WAS clipped in to the cable above my head and was able to hold on to the cable as I walked. It was still scary though! I was breathing SO hard and just kept my eyes focused on the tree ahead of me and not looking down!

After I reached that tree, I unclipped from that wire and clipped on to another one and then had to walk across this sort of rope ladder thing - also able to hold on to the wire above me, thankfully!! 

Then I was ready to go down to the ground .... you can't see in the pictures, but they clipped you onto this thing where you held on and it basically let you free fall slowly down to the ground. I knew I was safe and I wouldn't just hit the ground but taking that step off the platform was SUPER scary! When all was said and done I was so thankful that I pushed myself to try it and was able to accomplish it!

That night we had a theme dinner and we all dressed up. We were sailor girls and it was so fun! 

Sandy, Joann and I! 

I just loved the theme - it was such an encouragement to my heart. There is so much I can say about all that I learned but I think I'd better save it for another post! 

The lake on Sunday morning was covered in fog - it was GORGEOUS! 

There were so many pretty trees and the weather was just beautiful. We were so fortunate to be there that weekend. 

Christina and I when we were getting ready to head home ... 

A view of the high ropes course from the ground - so you can see how high in the trees it is. =) 

1st day of school - 2014

Over the past few weeks as I've seen many, many first day of school pictures posted to Facebook - the number one thing I see Moms saying with these pictures is 'Where did the time go?!' And it's so true, I feel like you literally blink and another year has flown by. I was looking through some pictures yesterday of when my girls were in pre-school and I'm telling you it really doesn't feel like it was THAT long ago. 

For those who don't know, our girls attended pre-school, and our oldest attended one year of public school {kindergarten}, then we homeschooled them for 5 years. They have now been back in the public schools for 2 full years and are doing wonderfully! Sure, there are some issues that come up with peers and influences and long days and too much homework - but overall it's been a wonderful decision for our family. 

This year they are BOTH in middle school - I honestly can hardly believe it! I'm so thankful that they are both in the same school this year and that my youngest daughter has her big sis in her school to watch out for her while she makes the transition to middle school. 

As always, we took our traditional First Day of School photos ... here they are!

I pray daily that they will have a good year, will do their best and will be a light to others.