One Year Passes, Another Begins

It's New Year's Eve. The very last day that we will ever see 2010. Here I sit with my kids, all of us in our new Christmas PJ's, me typing away, them watching How to Eat Fried Worms on Netflix. It's just another night in our home, and it's just the way I like it. Last year I pretty much did the same thing, and spent New Years Eve with my little family. If we make it to midnight I will be very surprised, but it's not my goal. My goal for this evening is just to be. To surround myself with what matters most to me, and do the things we enjoy the most; being together, watching movies, snuggling, giggling, and not worrying about what the year has held or what the next year will bring. Yes, there are many exciting things already in the works that will play out in 2011 and if you continue to read my blog you will be able to follow along as those things unfold. But tonight that isn't my focus. I will wake up tomorrow like I wake up every other day, God willing. Tonight, well...tonight the highlights of my evening will be watching my son fall asleep in my arms, kissing my daughter's forehead and tucking her into bed, and making sure they both know how lucky I am to have them. That is something to celebrate.

All the best to all of you. Happy New Year :)

xoxoxo

Forgive Me If I Make No Sense

I woke up this morning with a cold. Fun. My head has been spinning all day, so I will do my best to put together a proper post. I apologize in advance if that doesn't happen.
As much as I *try* to take care of myself, I forget to take my vitamins every day, I don't get enough exercise, and I am a child care provider. What does this mean? I tend to get sick more than I like to. But not to worry. In the short term, I've been having spoonfuls of raw honey, drinking plenty of green tea and getting lots of rest. In the long term, I plan on fixing the vitamin and exercise problem. The daycare thing I'm kind of stuck with.

I've had a busy week. So what else is new! It's been a week of household projects and there have been quite a few. I've done some wallpapering, some painting and staining of furniture, some organizing of storage closets, and have been working on putting together a homeschool room out of the spare room in my house. I've also spent this week helping Vaeh and Gabe put together shoeboxes for the Samaritan's Purse: Operation Christmas Child program. Each year around the same time we fill shoeboxes full of goodies for less fortunate children in other countries and the children receive them by Christmas. Last year we did 2 shoeboxes, this year we did 4. I attempted to do 5 but I just couldn't get it done in time.



It has been a great experience doing this with my kids, and I'm hoping that I instill into them a heart for giving. I see it developing in Vaeh. For awhile Gabe seemed to think that I was filling up shoeboxes for him and got quite upset with me when I tried to tell him otherwise. I think he finally got it though as today he began filling up the 5th empty box we had with his own toys, saying he was filling his shoebox for kids. I think it's really important that we do things like this with our children, and show them there is more to life than ourselves. Not only did we shop for the items together, but we filled the boxes together, and while we filled the boxes we talked about the children who would get them. When the shoeboxes were ready to go, we prayed over them together that each shoebox would reach just the right child that was meant to have the items inside, and when it was time to drop the shoeboxes off at the church, we all carried them in. Even though they won't be able to see the end result of the children receiving the boxes, involving them in as much of the process as possible is a good start.

Well I will keep this post short and sweet, just like me, and get some more much needed rest. The hardest part for me with being sick is the not being able to get things done. Fingers crossed that changes quickly!

Nightynights
xo

Taking A Moment To Appreciate Something Simple

The kids are now in bed and all that can be heard in the house is the soft sound of worship music playing and a fire crackling away in the fireplace. I was recently told that my gorgeous wood burning fireplace, that I have spent many a night curled up to with a movie, a book or two beautiful children for stories, is being replaced by an electric heater mocking the very idea of a fireplace. Being that I live in a rental, I have no say. I have until January of next year to enjoy what I consider to be a simple luxury. So for now I am spending my evenings in front of it's warmth and looking forward to a gloriously cozy Christmas season of fireside stories, roasted marshmallows, hot cocoa and giggles, toasty toes and heavy eyes that sleepily close content with the warm glowing dance that performs for them.

I hope you have a simple luxury that you can appreciate before it's gone. If only the things we enjoy so much lasted forever.....

Free Hugs For All!!

I just wanted to send out some virtual hugs to all of my virtual friends (and real life friends!) tonight. I had a wonderfully chaotic but fun day today, I received two hugs from two new friends, and I want to share the love. So hugs to you all, and make sure you go and hug someone and make their day. I promise it'll feel really good and make you, and them, smile :)

{{{HUGS}}}