Let It Snow

It will and then we will all be complaining about how much work the snow is. I sure think it is pretty and peaceful to watch come down. It makes everything clean, I love that. A blanket of white, a clean slate.

I hope this year is a clean slate for all. I am looking forward to turning to 2012 as 2011 has been hard. I am sure some things in 2012 will be hard too but hopefully more sporadic than this year.

I feel like I am becoming something I said I wouldn't. I only thought this one other time and that is right before I got pregnant with Ashley. I am not letting go of my walk with Christ or rationalizing who I am like I did in 1993, but I am becoming a 'mom' and a 'wife' that takes it all for granted. I am very guilty of complaining these days. I hope that is not true soon. I will change this fact and make it past tense. I will have a clean slate.

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

I do not remember if my kids believed in Santa. It was never important to us at Christmas but I think Ashley believed and Michael for a moment but Gracie never got a chance. Now that they are 11, 12 and 17 Santa is not much of a topic unless they want to be 'santas' to others. They sure do like giving and I love that.

This Christmas has been very mellow except the remodel in my kitchen. My hubby is painting and putting in new flooring which I like but as we entertain we have to eat in the living room where the kitchen table is. Not too bad just a strange with the tree and a few couches and extra chairs in there. I will like it when it is all done. :)

I have been thinking a lot about all we have and pray that we all count our blessings more than just at Christmas. Family sure is wonderful and the 'things' just don't seem that important. So very thankful for all I have and even for all I do not have, probably makes life easier to go without certain things. Remembering the greatest Gift of all!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

And here is why I believe it is -

1. People are so much nicer. They smile at you and look at you and talk to strangers. It brings out some kindness that people keep bottled up all year long. It makes me feel normal as my my dad passed on the ability to talk to anyone.



2. You can sing in public and it isn't that strange. I love to sing! Now it is a bit more acceptable. I can even sing about Jesus.



3. People make time for other people. Even though Christmas is so busy we actually fit in what matters and that is those relationships we put off all year. I love it. Even if it is at a Christmas party where you catch up, you get to catch up.



4. Shopping is an equalizer. We were shopping at 2 am in the morning on the Friday after Thanksgiving and we talked to so many people. We are all trying to get a bargain some for others some for ourselves and people will help if they can. It was nice, tiring but nice.



5. You can say the name Jesus and not get shushed. Ok, maybe if you make Him in baby form it is easier for anyone to hear about Him, but I can say His name. I like that.



6. I am reminded that it is the simple things in life like the Christmas lights glowing while we all gather around, or snow falling, or smiles from a stranger that make me see His face at this time of year.

Even through the commercials and hoopla of Christmas that the world has made it. I see Christ in it all. What a wonderful thing!

Last Christmas I Gave You My Heart

What a difference a year makes. Unfortunately the illness that plagued my daughter was the onset of many things this year. But we are now seeing progress in a certain area of her life. I always look at hitting bottom as a blessing as we can only look up and work at it. That is what we are doing, working on it.

This Christmas will be different as I will miss the company party that I have attended the last 5 years. I never thought a job change would affect me. But it really became part of my life, not who I was but working with the youth on top of assistant to the youth Pastor became a big passion for me. I miss it, but very happy where I am now.

So much crammed into a month sounds chaotic but it will be a blast. I look forward to every Christmas carol, reminder of Christ's birth and the goodness of God, decorations, friends gathering, food, all of it. I love Christmas.

I am so thankful for many things this season. My Savior who has giving me so much and still teaching me more, my family - my husband is amazing, my kids are smart and growing into who God wants them to be, my parents, my brother, my in-laws - all of them. I am so grateful for my friends, those that are new and those that have known me for 20 + years! God is good!

Parenting 101 Class Please!

I am need of this class today. I love how you never get out of the parent role. My mom is still my parent. We are friends but there are moments she tells me what to do with my kids or my life and I listen and then talk with Steve if it is something that we would consider changing or needing to change. I get how to be a daughter, but a mom is whole other thing.

Any help or just acknowledgement of prayer would be great. My oldest is starting the process of emancipation. I know I went through it, I hear that this is normal, but the constant arguments about why she should get her way and then the statement that she will do it anyway is wearing on me. This week I have 'given up' and let Steve do all the discussion times with my daughter. I know that I must be having an off week, maybe hormonal but was nice to stay out of it this week.

Then I get a call from my mom challenging me on some of my thought processes. Am I letting her do too much? (I have tried to stop her before with no success so I don't really see it as stopping, you can't make a kid go to sleep, I think we as parents learn that around 2 days old.)
Should I be more involved in her choices with friends? (YES. Don't know how to do that right now. She has chosen some people we do not appreciate but those we do could hide a lot or those we do not like could be a diamond in the rough. This one is hard for me as a mom and Christian. I am to protect my kid yet teach them to love as Christ.) Can't you put down the rules more? (I don't know. We do punish her but the behavior returns, we do natural consequences. We listen as she tells us why she is doing stuff. I am at the end of my rope.)

So as I present this to Christ can you join me? And if you have any pearls of wisdom please share, even if it is how you parent your toddler, really I need it!

My Wish

Love this song. My wish right now is to freeze time as my kids are growing too fast. So thankful for every fight, hug, smile, tear, all of it. I will miss it and will choose to embrace this part of life with open arms.

My eyes are opening to a lot of things right now. I am growing and maturing, against my will sometimes, but happy to be molded by Him.

I am so excited for this season as I get to see it from such a different perspective. A viewpoint of those who are not all in a community where love is. I see a lot of lonely people, hope that we don't forget the people in our lives that live alone.

Now That We Found Love What are We going To Do With It

I so enjoyed this song in my youth and if I ever get to wedding that plays it at a dance what a fun one to jam to. :)

This weekend we celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas with my parents and brother. It was fun but fast and always a bit sad as my folks are going to leave for Florida real soon.

We also have a big celebration at my church of 125 years. It is great to be reminded of what was done before us and we celebrate fun events. I hope that we can continue to be a part of where God is leading us. I wonder what the congregation that spoke mostly a different language would say about our building and plans.

I am working through a number of issues in my head as of late, one being my baby going away to college next year. This one is a hard one. We visited one college so far with more to come.