Today the kids and I stayed warm and cozy inside
making a 12 days til Christmas Chain!
Monthly Meal Plan - January
7 years ago
Monday, December 13, 2010
Cooking Fun!
What do you do with out of date spices???
You let the kids cook a gourmet meal!
If your kids are like mine,
they LOVE to be in the kitchen "helping" mom,
so instead of them "helping" me,
I like to get them busy with their own recipe creations!
They have so much fun experimenting
with all the different color spices and smells... Good times!
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Mary was just like me...
The other night I was driving home from my parents' house after having one of those difficult days as a stay at home mother... I'm sure all mom's know what kind of day I'm talking about..
the kind of day where you're exhausted... mentally...wondering if you're being the kind of mother God would be proud of...questioning if you're doing your kids more harm than good by staying at home with them... hoping by some small chance that you're teaching them all the things their little minds need to know...
I was having that kind of day.
But, as I was driving, I was also listening to the new Christmas Cd that my precious mother had put together for me and this song came on that caught my attention....it was a song written about Mary, the mother of Jesus, and what she may have been thinking or feeling when she was carrying our Savior in her womb.
Can you even fathom the idea of having the responsibility of carrying the Savior of the world in your womb? Of having the responsibility of caring for him and raising him...this precious child that would soon die for us and be raised from the dead? Can you imagine what thoughts must have went through her head and the pressure she must have felt?
You know, Mary too, was just like us. She was human. I'm sure, she too, must have felt overwhelmed at times. Afraid, stressed, unworthy...I'm sure she felt the same pressures and insecurities we all feel as mothers...
As I drove home that night, I know that song wasn't a coincidence for me to hear. I felt God reassuring me that as mothers, we all have those moments when we're a little shaken, a little overwhelmed... moments of insecurity trying to creep upon us...
But, the most important thing, I believe, he wants us to remember is.... He didn't ask us to take this huge responsibility on by ourselves...he asked us to love and care for our children, but doing so by relying on him. When those overwhelming and stressful times come, as we all know they will, we can always call on him to help us through!
Remember to call on Him for your strength....
Love ya'll! Strive to be Different!
the kind of day where you're exhausted... mentally...wondering if you're being the kind of mother God would be proud of...questioning if you're doing your kids more harm than good by staying at home with them... hoping by some small chance that you're teaching them all the things their little minds need to know...
I was having that kind of day.
But, as I was driving, I was also listening to the new Christmas Cd that my precious mother had put together for me and this song came on that caught my attention....it was a song written about Mary, the mother of Jesus, and what she may have been thinking or feeling when she was carrying our Savior in her womb.
Can you even fathom the idea of having the responsibility of carrying the Savior of the world in your womb? Of having the responsibility of caring for him and raising him...this precious child that would soon die for us and be raised from the dead? Can you imagine what thoughts must have went through her head and the pressure she must have felt?
You know, Mary too, was just like us. She was human. I'm sure, she too, must have felt overwhelmed at times. Afraid, stressed, unworthy...I'm sure she felt the same pressures and insecurities we all feel as mothers...
As I drove home that night, I know that song wasn't a coincidence for me to hear. I felt God reassuring me that as mothers, we all have those moments when we're a little shaken, a little overwhelmed... moments of insecurity trying to creep upon us...
But, the most important thing, I believe, he wants us to remember is.... He didn't ask us to take this huge responsibility on by ourselves...he asked us to love and care for our children, but doing so by relying on him. When those overwhelming and stressful times come, as we all know they will, we can always call on him to help us through!
Remember to call on Him for your strength....
Love ya'll! Strive to be Different!
Monday, December 6, 2010
Learn by Example
We had the best Sunday school lesson this week, or I guess I should say, discussion... and I thought I would share a little bit with you!
With Christmas approaching, I, and I'm sure most of you, have been trying to think of some ways to teach my children about giving and being humble, especially this time of year. I've actually been racking my brain trying to think of a needy family we could help so I could teach my children that it's not all about them..... Well, in our discussion, during Sunday school, a very awesome point was brought to my attention.... Our children don't need some extraordinary experience, to teach them to give and be humble..... they need to see it through us on a daily basis! They need to learn by example, seeing Christ in us, everyday!
Awesome point isn't it?!
Although Jesus says we are to give and this time of year is especially important to do so.... it should be instilled in our children, through us, on a daily basis.... not just Christmas.
Give daily...sacrificially...daily
Love that!
Love ya'll! Strive to be different!!
With Christmas approaching, I, and I'm sure most of you, have been trying to think of some ways to teach my children about giving and being humble, especially this time of year. I've actually been racking my brain trying to think of a needy family we could help so I could teach my children that it's not all about them..... Well, in our discussion, during Sunday school, a very awesome point was brought to my attention.... Our children don't need some extraordinary experience, to teach them to give and be humble..... they need to see it through us on a daily basis! They need to learn by example, seeing Christ in us, everyday!
Awesome point isn't it?!
Although Jesus says we are to give and this time of year is especially important to do so.... it should be instilled in our children, through us, on a daily basis.... not just Christmas.
Give daily...sacrificially...daily
Love that!
Love ya'll! Strive to be different!!
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Joseph and Mary
Lastnight Britt and I were sitting in the living room talking when two of our favorite people came to show us what they were playing....
complete with "pom pom" hay....
and no help from us....
this brought tears to our eyes...
"We couldn't have asked for a more special gift Lord..."
Joseph, Mary, and Baby Jesus
Joseph leading Mary on the donkey into Bethleham
Had to get this shot of Mary...
Isn't she beautiful?
Maggie also suprised us by telling us the story of
Baby Jesus being born, I got her to share it with you :)
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Five years ago, in May of 2006, Britt and I were living the American Dream...
We lived in a beautiful house in what most considered the "best" school district around...
We both drove brand new cars
Went on the finest of vacations when we desired to
Made plenty of money
and had a beautiful two year old little boy....
Life was good......
So we thought....
But, God had a different plan for us....
He wanted us to take all those things that we considered our "happiness" and give them up!
The house, the cars, the vacations, the money......
He wanted them all!
And not only did He want our "things...."
But, He wanted "us" as well.
Five years ago, Britt and I had to come to a painfully difficult decision...
Do we sell it all and follow Him.... or do we live the American Dream and ignore His call?
It didn't take long for us to reach a decision...
We knew we had to follow Him.
So there it all began...
It's hard to believe it's been five years already!
The road has been very difficult and long....
But, the peace and the rewards from following Him are too bountiful to express.
Britt finishes school in a couple of weeks!
We feel like we're kind of closing a chapter of our lives now....
It's a bittersweet feeling.
The anxiousness has already crept in as to what the Lord will do with us next!
A special thanks to all those who have supported us and prayed for us along the way.
We couldn't have made it without your love and encouragement!
As I was saying earlier, the last five years have been such a difficult, yet fulfilling journey. We haven't had the opportunity to have much time away or go anywhere to rest our wearisome souls... But, recently God blessed us with a beautiful getaway with our family and my parents.
It was so awesome to be able to just pause for a moment and relish in His Glory....
Thought I'd share the photos from our trip....
Enjoy!
We lived in a beautiful house in what most considered the "best" school district around...
We both drove brand new cars
Went on the finest of vacations when we desired to
Made plenty of money
and had a beautiful two year old little boy....
Life was good......
So we thought....
But, God had a different plan for us....
He wanted us to take all those things that we considered our "happiness" and give them up!
The house, the cars, the vacations, the money......
He wanted them all!
And not only did He want our "things...."
But, He wanted "us" as well.
Five years ago, Britt and I had to come to a painfully difficult decision...
Do we sell it all and follow Him.... or do we live the American Dream and ignore His call?
It didn't take long for us to reach a decision...
We knew we had to follow Him.
So there it all began...
It's hard to believe it's been five years already!
The road has been very difficult and long....
But, the peace and the rewards from following Him are too bountiful to express.
Britt finishes school in a couple of weeks!
We feel like we're kind of closing a chapter of our lives now....
It's a bittersweet feeling.
The anxiousness has already crept in as to what the Lord will do with us next!
A special thanks to all those who have supported us and prayed for us along the way.
We couldn't have made it without your love and encouragement!
As I was saying earlier, the last five years have been such a difficult, yet fulfilling journey. We haven't had the opportunity to have much time away or go anywhere to rest our wearisome souls... But, recently God blessed us with a beautiful getaway with our family and my parents.
It was so awesome to be able to just pause for a moment and relish in His Glory....
Thought I'd share the photos from our trip....
Enjoy!
Monday, November 8, 2010
Ok, so this is by no means complete,
but look at what I've started in Maggie's room!
I've had this in my head for so long now and
finally got the nerve to do it!
I plan to add berries, made out of fabric and velcro,
to the center of the flowers
so that they can actually pick them from the tree.
I will also be adding flowers, a pickett fence,
a blue bird on the clothes line pole,
and other fun stuff!
You can't see her kitchen set in the pictures either,
but I'm going to paint a window
over her kitchen sink and add real shutters too!
Such fun and the kids are already having a ball
playing with the clothes line and mailbox!
Tonight, I know they played for atleast an
hour with just the mailbox alone:)
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
my Superheroes
Never Fear! Our Super Heros are Here!
That Bug had Nothing on these Superheros!
Nate, Maggie, and Dylan
Soncatchers
"Soncatchers"
But I have to be honest and say that I didn't come up with this idea on my own. My mom started making these a few years ago and I became instantly hooked! Mainly because it's something I can do without a whole lot of "thought" process while making. (Because I home school and have my kids right up under me most of the time....there is no quiet time to think about something too complicated!:) So, this craft fits perfectly at this season in my life.
I love these because of the way they reflect the sunlight. Whether you hang them in your window to enjoy indoors or you hang them in the trees outside....they are so beautiful to look at with the light dancing off them. I also started making them smaller this year so that you can hang them in your Christmas Tree! I can imagine how beautiful they will be with the twinkling lights from the tree hitting them.
Also, we've never had a name for them until this year and I thought it was time that we called them something other than, "hangydangy's or you know, those things you hang up with mirrors on them???." Lol. So, we came up with the name, "Soncatchers." Seems so fitting doesn't it? Since they reflect the light that our God gives us...perfect..Soncatchers it is!:)
"Then Jesus spoke to them again saying, I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."
John 8:12
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Just a Closer Walk With Thee....
I often wondered what exactly it was that Paul suffered from on a daily basis throughout his ministry.....
"To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassing great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me." (Paul speaking)......
Was it an illness, some sort of handicap...depression? No one really knows but my heart has always ached for him knowing he suffered not only for the Gospel of Christ... beatings, ridicule, imprisonment, torment....but knowing he also suffered on a daily basis from some other type of discomfort or torment as well!
I find myself thinking about Paul alot lately. I, too, have been suffering from a "thorn in my flesh" for some time now. There have been so many times lately that I've wanted to give up, quit pushing through it, wash my hands from it...but then I think about Paul.... here's a man who loved the Lord so much that he persevered through all the beatings and torment that most men could only imagine! Then on top of that, he had the hindrance of this "thorn in his flesh" he had to painfully endure on a daily basis! How did he do it?! Where was he getting his will to go on?!
I think we all know where Paul drew his faith and strength from... Under the circumstances that he lived and the things he endured, his will to fight had to come from the One and ONLY Living God, our Lord, Jesus Christ! And we know this because we find him crying out to the Lord for strength on numerous occasions, walking in obedience regardless of his circumstances, and steadily preaching the Gospel wherever and whenever God called....that shows faith...which in turn God supplied the strength he needed to get him through!
I long for just an ounce of that faith right now...the road seems so long...and my feet feel so weary.....
I find comfort today in this song....
"To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassing great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me." (Paul speaking)......
Was it an illness, some sort of handicap...depression? No one really knows but my heart has always ached for him knowing he suffered not only for the Gospel of Christ... beatings, ridicule, imprisonment, torment....but knowing he also suffered on a daily basis from some other type of discomfort or torment as well!
I find myself thinking about Paul alot lately. I, too, have been suffering from a "thorn in my flesh" for some time now. There have been so many times lately that I've wanted to give up, quit pushing through it, wash my hands from it...but then I think about Paul.... here's a man who loved the Lord so much that he persevered through all the beatings and torment that most men could only imagine! Then on top of that, he had the hindrance of this "thorn in his flesh" he had to painfully endure on a daily basis! How did he do it?! Where was he getting his will to go on?!
I think we all know where Paul drew his faith and strength from... Under the circumstances that he lived and the things he endured, his will to fight had to come from the One and ONLY Living God, our Lord, Jesus Christ! And we know this because we find him crying out to the Lord for strength on numerous occasions, walking in obedience regardless of his circumstances, and steadily preaching the Gospel wherever and whenever God called....that shows faith...which in turn God supplied the strength he needed to get him through!
I long for just an ounce of that faith right now...the road seems so long...and my feet feel so weary.....
I find comfort today in this song....
"I am weak but thou are strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I'll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to thee.
Thro' this world of toil and snares,
If I falter, Lord who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but thee, dear Lord, none but thee.
Just a closer walk with thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be."
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Together...as a family
Peek-a-boo.....
We decided to take a walk through the woods on this beautiful, fall day....
The kids had fun exploring all the wonderful things around them....
the beautiful leaves changing colors on the trees....
the crackling sound they made underneath our feet...
the way they danced and fluttered through the fall breeze....
they were also mesmerized by all the little holes
tucked safely beside some of the tree trunks
which we knew, must have been a nice,
snug home for some kind of ummmm..."creature"
It was such a beautiful day...
just being together....
exploring, playing, laughing
as a family.....
Friday, October 15, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Memaw
Margaret Cora Davis
January 5, 1923 - September 30, 2010
When I think of Memaw, I always think of a "lady."
She had an exhilarating presence when
she walked into a room
with her tiny, petite frame, her freshly painted nails,
and her little, golden shoes.
Always perfectly manicured...
with beautiful perfumes
and sweet smelling powders, which she adored.
With 5 girls and no boys,
Memaw always maintained a love for
ruffles and lace,
diamonds and pearls and all the things
little girls dreamed of.
From Barbies, to dolls, cabbage patch kids,
to fairy tales.....
Memaw never lost her childlike characteristics...
some would even say she lived in her own little fairy tale...
I would imagine she did..at times... as well.
Memaw will be deeply missed.
Our memories of her will be treasured and
locked away in each of our hearts......forever.
We love you Memaw...
I pray your fairy tale finally came true
and is all you dreamed it would be!
Memaw and Papa
Me and Memaw
September 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
Fall Fun
Today the kids and I had so much fun making fall foliage art!
It was so fun to gather the leaves and see the beautiful, fall colors God painted on each one. It was a perfect opportunity to talk about God's wonderous creation with them!
This is Nate's Tiger and Dinosaur:)
Here we have a work of art by Maggie May herself!
I think she was more into just using the "squirt" glue than anything else...
This is my beautiful creation of the ocean using leaves:)
Like my little fishies?!
Nate also made a circus using leaves and sticks...notice the man on the left cooking the hotdogs on the grill (twigs.)
The big green leaf in the middle is his elephant
and the big orange leaf up top is a sun!
imagination for a little fella:)
Maggie's 3rd Birthday
Maggie May Turns 3!!!
There's a story behind the cake and cupcakes....
Maggie's only request for her birthday was she wanted 2 cakes!
One with "real" farm animals on it
and the other with spiderman on it...
Well, I did the best I could.....
and she was soooo happy!:)
Love that girl....
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