H's Homeschool program

This morning was our Wednesday morning ladies Bible study Christmas brunch. While we are at Bible study H goes in a class with other homeschoolers. She is the youngest one there but she still loves it. She has always loved playing with older girls and really loves the girls in her class.

So this morning the ladies had a wonderful time of fellowship, first with a yummy brunch, then by sharing different things from the passages of scripture that we've been studying since September. One of the most touching moments was when this young Mom played guitar and sang Silent Night ... and she asked us all to close our eyes and imagine what it might have been like to be entering Bethlehem on that night over 2000 years ago ... as you approached the manger and saw the tiny baby Jesus lying in the manger. The song and her voice were so beautiful, and as I sat there with my eyes closed I couldn't stop the tears! It was a beautiful moment. (I know none of you are surprised to hear that I cried!)

After the women shared, they brought the kids in to share things that they had practiced over the past month. H's homeschool class did a wonderful job. The boys did a little act ... acting out the shepherds reaction to hearing about the Savior. Then the girls all sang this sweet little song. I actually videotaped it on my camera ... but for some reason when I played it back there was no sound! I was so bummed because it was beautiful and I really wanted to share it. Since there is no video I thought I'd at least share a couple of cute pictures ...

Here are the girls waiting to come in while the boys do their little skit. (H is on the left.)
The boys did so good remembering their lines!
And here they are singing ... H is all the way on the right.
Since H is not in 'regular' school, it has really been a blessing to have her be a part of this great group of kids. And I love that they are all different grades and ages ... but they are learning to work together and socialize with all different kids.

Church is canceled this morning.

I can only remember one other time when it was canceled for weather. I think we will have a quiet morning at home as a family and do some devotions together this morning.

Actually, being this close to Christmas and with all the busy-ness going on ... it feels pretty good to have a reason to just sit at home and snuggle up together. :)

Another awesome friend

Sorry for all the blogs ... I seem to be on a roll!!

I just want to say how very blessed I am to have LOTS of friends in my life. There are so many special friends that enrich my life in so many ways. I always think it's a true test of friendship when one friend moves away. When you don't see that person much anymore it can be hard to keep in touch and stay involved in each other's lives. It can also be hard to make time (or afford) to see each other when you have to travel to see one another.

I have many special friends who have moved away ... but there are a few that I have kept great friendships with, despite the long distance.

One of them is Julie. The funny thing is, when she lived here we didn't know each other real well or spend much time together until shortly before she moved away. But now that she lives in another state, our friendship is closer than ever! Here we are together back in the summer time:

I was totally caught by surprise today when I got home from the grocery store to find a package on my porch. Julie sent me a new book by my favorite author (Karen Kingbury) and some yummy Christmas cookies (homemade from her oven) and also some cute fuzzy socks for the girls. But even more special was the card with these words on it "The gift of your friendship is one I hold close to my heart every day of the year." How sweet! I feel the same way! What a dear friend you are Julie!

This is the book (although the cover looks slightly different) but who could ask for anything better than a wonderful Christmas book to curl up with this time of year?

And I know the last couple of times I've talked about my friends it has been about things they've given me ... lest anyone think that I'm all about gifts ... my point wasn't that my friends give things to me, it's just to show you how special these girls are to me, how thoughtful they are, how they know me so well that they choose things that they know I will love, and how I cherish their friendships with all my heart.

Proverbs 17:17 says "A friend loves at all times."

And I have always loved the chorus from this Michael W. Smith song ...
"And friends are friends forever, if the Lord's the Lord of them,
and a friend will not say never, cause the welcome will not end,
though it's hard to let you go, in the Father's hand's we know,
that a lifetime's not too long ... to live as friends."

We are sisters in Christ for a lifetime!

This is for you Laurel ...

My friend Laurel asked me to show a closer look at these cute mitten frames that I have hanging in my kitchen. I will admit, I did not make these, but looking at how simple they are, I'm sure they would be very easy to duplicate! (This might be something fun to try with your kids on a wintry day!!)

You would need a decent length of string or ribbon (to hang between a doorway you'd need about 3-5 feet). You can cut out your shapes from anything ... mittens, snowmen, gingerbread men, stars ... if you have some large cookie cutters they would make a wonderful template for tracing. Cut your shapes from cardstock or construction paper ... or even patterned paper would be pretty.

Cut out some small pictures of your loved ones, if you have a circle shaped punch (like for scrapbooking) it would make it even easier to cut out the faces. Attach pictures to your shapes with tape or glue.

You can find the mini clothespins at most craft or scrapbooking stores. Then just put it all together and hang it up! SO CUTE!


And a special thank you to my Mom who gave me this in my stocking last Christmas! She's in the mitten on the left right above. :)

I'm done!

10 days to go till Christmas and I am totally done shopping!
What a good feeling! :)

Christmas songs ...

Can you tell from my last two posts that I've been listening to A LOT of Christmas music lately?? Christmas songs are just one more thing that I love about this season. We are lucky to have a radio station that plays Christmas music constantly from Thanksgiving weekend all the way to Christmas day.

Normally when we ride in the car music choice can turn into a battle. I want my country music, the kids want their kids music (Wiggles, Veggie Tales, etc ... ) and if Bob's in the car he wants (boring) sports radio. So the great thing about this Christmas station is ... it creates a common bond! We can all listen and enjoy in the car for once!

So the other day, I realized just how much we'd been listening when I could hear H in the back of the car singing along with the radio "Merry Christmas from 106.5 WBMW!!!" Yep, she was even singing the radio station's jingle! I couldn't help but laugh!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas ...

everywhere you go!!!

Yesterday was an A+ day. The kind of day that makes it really 'feel' like Christmas is on it's way. We got a big snowstorm!! I know some people dread these types of storms, but not me. If it's going to be cold for the next several months, it might as well SNOW!

We started doing our school work in the morning but by 10:30am the snow was coming down in droves. The girls kept begging to go out and could hardly focus on schoolwork. It was a great motivator to keep them working and get their stuff done!

We waited till after lunch when the snow had started to pile up to head outside. We sledded down our hill, the girls made snow angels, we went on a snowy hike through the woods behind our house with Bob and just had a blast.

Here is our house as the snow is coming down.

H angel ...
J angel ...

Rosy cheeks ...
More rosy cheeks ...

Sledding - I think pretty soon we'll need a bigger sled!
Hiking in the snow with Daddy ...

I'm just a big kid at heart - I was jumping on the sled and flying down the hill too!
Yesterday's snow was much too light and fluffy for making snowmen ... so H went out there today and found that the snow was much more sticky ... so she made a family of snow people! I know she doesn't have a hat on --- I wasn't home, she was with Daddy ... so blame him! :)


After coming in from the snow we had a yummy cup of hot cocoa, then pulled out this ornament making kit that I'd bought. The girls had a great time making lots of ornaments ... here is the sled ...
And a whole bunch of trees, sleds and snowflakes ...
A little later we made a batch of sugar cookies. The girls have more fun playing with the dough than actually making cookies. I learned that if I give them each a small chunk of dough to work with they will stay busy for hours! We cut them out into trees, stars and gingerbread men and we'll decorate them on Saturday. YUMMY!

Finally, one of the best parts of our A + day, was that Bob got to stay home! He's not usually home with us on weeknights so it was such a treat - and he even cooked a delicious lasagna for us for dinner. It was awesome.

Now you know why I said it was an A + day, don't you??!!

Oh there's no place like home for the holidays!!

I love being home for Christmas. I love pulling out all the decorations the weekend after Thanksgiving and spending a day (or two!!) putting all the things out.

When we first got married we had nothing for Christmas decor. So I went to the Christmas Tree Shop and started buying some snowmen. They were pretty cheap so year after year I'd add another one or two. Pretty soon, people that knew and loved me caught on that I like snowmen and they started buying my snowmen stuff.

Well now, my whole house is filled with snowmen stuff, and I don't even buy anything anymore!! I took some pictures from around the house to show you all just how cute it all looks! Hope you enjoy this little tour of my happy Christmas house.

In the kitchen on the walls ...
Above the doorway between kitchen and dining room ...
A closer glimpse of the tree ...
Another great Christmas Tree Shop find ...
Dining room hutch ...
Dining room wall ...
Above my stove ...
I have a few pretty Nativities that have been given to me as well ...
The Nativities and candles all go up high ... :)
Just a small fraction of my snowman collection ...
My IKEA bookshelf with LOTS of snowmen, and Nativities on top. (And LOTS of scrapbooks on the bottom shelves!!!)
Our tree!! Still has a 'snow' theme and more snowmen, snowflakes and sleds! And also lots of ornaments with the kids pictures or ones that they have made.
Thanks for coming on my Christmas tour!!

I'm still here!

Yes, I'm still here. Just been busy with plans and preparations for Christmas, plus the daily ongoings of our busy little family. So I'm going to share a bunch of stuff that has been on my heart lately and I apologize for lumping it all together but it's the easiest way!

This past Sunday we had the pleasure of hearing an awesome guest speaker at our church. He spoke about reconciliation, and how it's a gift of Advent. I wanted to share one important thing he said, because it just really made me think. "He (Jesus) has given us the greatest gift; the ability to be reconciled to God."

In this season we spend a lot of time (and money) thinking about gifts: buying gifts, giving gifts and receiving gifts. But the greatest gift of all was given to mankind hundreds of years ago in the form of a tiny baby's birth! And what I love to think about is the fact that it's a gift that was freely given. A gift that I have no possible means to repay ... except that I give Him my life, my devotion and my belief in Him. And through that simple faith I can be reconciled to God!! He has paid for my sin! I can't think of a greater gift that I would want to have this Christmas season!

So following along the thoughts on reconciliation I want to share the words of a great Christmas song which speaks of Christ's birth, and the second birth we can receive by trusting in Him.

Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With the angelic host proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem!
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King!

Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of the Virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail the incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with man to dwell;
Jesus, our Emmanuel!

Mild he lays his glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Risen with healing in his wings,
Light and life to all he brings,
Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!
Hail, the heaven-born Prince of Peace!

Hail the Heaven-born Prince of Peace
Hail the Son of Righteousness
Light and life to all He brings
Risen with healing in His wings
Mild He lay His glory by
Born that man no more may die

Come Desire of Nations come,
Fix in us thy humble home.
Rise, the woman's conquering Seed,
Bruise in us the serpent's head.
Adam's likeness now efface
Stamp thine image in its place

OK, the next song I want to share is one we sang in church a few weeks ago. I tell ya, I can barely sit through a service without shedding a few tears! The words of the songs just bring me to tears so many times! I highlighted the last verse since the words there were especially comforting to me. In this crazy world where it seems almost daily that we hear of more random shootings, more violence and hate crimes ... I know that "I am His and He is mine, bought with the precious blood of Christ."

IN CHRIST ALONE

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest
drought and storm

What heights of love,
what depths of peace
When fears are stilled,
when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ Alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save

'Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave he rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

In Christ alone I place my trust
And find my glory in the power
of the cross
In every victory let it be said of me
My source of strength
My source of hope
In Christ alone I place my trust
And find my glory in the power
of the cross
In every victory let it be said of me
My source of strength
My source of hope
In Christ alone

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His Hand
'til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

OK, what other things can I share? Is anyone still reading at this point?? :) Well, we have been busy, doing lots of fun little things in order to get ready for Christmas. We've been baking cookies, driving around at night to see all the pretty lights, been to an awesome light parade, strung popcorn and cranberries for our tree, sent out our Christmas cards, shopped and wrapped and read stories about Christmas and the meanings behind all the traditions.

OH, and before I forget, as you read before we had our 11th anniversary. My wonderful hubby took me out to my absolute favorite restauarant for a romantic dinner last week. He also gave me a pair of gorgeous hoop earrings that have little diamonds on them. What a great guy I have!! I wanted to share a picture or two from our night out. (Wish I had a scanner to add a photo from our wedding!!)

OK, I couldn't resist adding this one of the girls too. They love their new dresses so much they want to wear them every Sunday! And here they are in front of our Christmas tree. :)
OK, I have ONE last thing I want to share before I go. I'm sorry this has been SO long winded! My friend Sarah that lives in FL is such a wonderful friend. She is always surprising me with things in the mail! So this week I was super excited to receive a gift package from her. And she must have known that I couldn't wait to open the gifts until Christmas because she included this awesome book about Christmas.
It's written by Lisa Welchel, the girl who played Blair on the Facts of Life. She's a Christian, and a homeschooling Mom. And I have been incredibly blessed by several of her books already. She's a very real person and I appreciate that about her. So this book about Christmas is amazing! Every Mom should have a copy for the holidays! She takes every single element of Christmas and talks about the origin, meaning and spiritual application of it. Even things like Christmas lights and trees can turn our focus to God. It also gives neat activities and crafts to try with your kids. I know this is a book we will pull out year after year to enjoy!


So I think that's all for now. I will try to update more often so my posts won't be this long! Hope everyone is enjoying the season, and taking time to focus on the importance of Christ's birth instead of the commercialism, stress and busy-ness.
OK, one more thing, a verse to keep it all in focus ... H is 6 years old and already has this memorized. If a child can focus on God at this time of year, surely we can too! "Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11

Check us out!!

We are Santa's little dancing elves ... just doing our part to spread some good cheer (and laughs!)

Enjoy!
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1157092790