Ramblin'

Bear with me, as the first Monday after Christmas I'm just going to ramble for a bit.

Makayla got some new bedding and wall decals for Christmas.  She is going to have a Frozen themed room.  So bye bye to the baby room and hello more grown up little girl room.

Sniff sniff.

Anyways she was DYING to get the new "stickers" hung on her wall.  I told her we first had to take down her big tree (you remember that?  It was gorgeous..and I put it up when I was 30+ weeks pregnant).  So I peeled off her tree and some paint with it.
Sigh.  So I just finished re-painting that area on her wall after sanding and priming it on Saturday.

Nothing is ever easy.

Damon has really been enjoying his new Scolfield large print study bible I got him for Christmas.  I have had my eye on a study bible too..its a Greek-Hebrew study bible.  I think I may order it soon.  Oh..and both are King James Versions in case you were wondering.  :-)

I'm wanting to try a couple new recipes this week. One is something called "funeral sandwiches".  Seriously.  Has anyone tried them before?  I'll let you know how they turn out.  The other is some Mediterranean food.  Chicken schwarma, tabouli, and this lamb meatball thing.  It all looked very interesting and yummy!  Ill have to do a food post later in the week.

Gearing up for the New Year too.  I always take my Christmas decor down then, have a meal of corned beef & cabbage, fried potatoes, black eyed peas, and cornbread. Yum! Though I do feel like after all the sweets we've had maybe some good old fruit salad is in order.

Hope you've enjoyed my rambling Monday!

Santa 'business'



 

 

I'm gonna talk a little bit about this guy today.  Santa.

 

This time of the year he is everywhere.  He's at the mall, on Christmas cards, on tv, and even in cartoons!  Makayla knows who he is.  But 'he' isn't something I have pushed.

 

Media has.

 

I don't care really, that she knows who he is.  What I do care about is that she knows 'he' isn't the reason why we celebrate Christmas. 

 

Its not called 'Santamas'..its CHRISTmas.

 

And she knows.

 

I've instilled in her since as early as she could possibly understand that Jesus is why we celebrate Christmas.  And she knows who baby Jesus is, and the angels with their trumpets as she points out every time we go down the road and she see's the decorations along the road.  She knows we give gifts because they gave baby Jesus gifts when He was born.  We read the story from the Bible every year before we open gifts. 

 

The one thing that does bother me, is when unassuming people come up and ask her if she's "asked Santa what she wants for Christmas and that he will bring it to her if she's good".  Um no.  I don't teach my child that.  And I never will. 

 

Why?  Because its a lie. 

 

Yes its all in good fun and nature, but it is a lie.  Why would you lie to your child, only years later to have to tell them it wasn't true after all?  Then how does that shape their minds to believe you about other things? 

 

Just like the Easter bunny (don't even get me started there!), Santa is right up there with biggest lies children are told.  Why don't we tell them the truth?  Because Santa is more fun than Jesus?

 

Jesus was a miracle baby.  Born of a virgin.  Lived 33 1/2 years.  Died on a cross.  Rose again 3 days later.  He gives us hope in a world that is full of lies and darkness. 

 

Sounds pretty good to me, doesn't it to you?

 

And you know, making Jesus' birthday a celebration isn't hard.  We can throw Him a birthday 'party'!  We even found a gingerbread nativity scene this year at Target!  We have plays at church and choirs sing Christmas songs. 

 

So this year, make Christ the center of your Christmas!

New Blog!

Just in case you may have missed my announcement not too long ago, I started a new, private blog for posts pertaining to Makayla.  Well, the first post is now up!  If you want to follow along, just leave me a comment here along with your email address!

Massage, anyone?

Have you ever had a massage before?

I haven't myself (though it would make for a nice gift, hint hint!).   But I have a good friend who just opened her own massage business in her own home!  I have to say, her determination through schooling and every aspect afterwards (getting licensed, etc.) has impressed me.  I've read more about massage since she started her new journey and learned so much just by her posts on Facebook than I ever thought imaginable! 

Did you know....



 

There are so many benefits to massage, especially if done on a regular basis I would imagine.  Who couldn't use some stress relief?  Or improved sleep?  I know I could!  If you live in my area and would enjoy some of these benefits, some of the areas she concentrates on are:

 

• Swedish Massage
• Hot Stone Massage
• Bamboo Massage
• Deep Tissue Massage
• Trigger Point Therapy
• Geriatric Massage
• Prenatal Massage

Offering in-home massage as well as being located in Madison, you can call today for an appointment and/or questions at (304) 247-6768 or (304) 382-5296 or send a PM on Facebook.  Just look up "Balancing Touch"!



Lemons and Peaches

That's how I would sum up my weekend.

Let me explain.

Saturday started out rather well.  I fixed a nice dinner for us at home and the night before had made 2 batches of fudge (peanut butter and chocolate..yum!) for the church dinner we were to have on Sunday.  I made it then so I wouldn't have to worry about it Saturday night.  I had to go to the store then and wouldn't be back until late.

I had told Damon Friday night when he came in from work the fudge was for the dinner on Sunday so he'd know not to eat it.  All was well until we were all fixing to leave and go our ways Saturday afternoon (him to work and me and Makayla to the store).  I looked and the fudge had been almost halfway taken by Damon!

I gave him a pretty hard time about it, I'll admit.  I probably shouldn't have, but I felt like all the work I put into helping myself have an easier time that night had just went down the drain.  I guess I felt like no matter what I touch sometimes (housework, food prep, etc) it is under appreciated because as soon as its done, sometimes it all comes un-done.

Those of you with little children know what I'm talking about.

So, off we all went on our separate ways.  I was stewing for the good first half of our outing.  I wish I could say I handled it better, but I didn't.  I was mad. 

Finally, when I was on the brink of tears, I knew I needed to talk to my best friend.  So I called her.  I am SO glad I did.  While ranting and going on and then saying, "I know I shouldn't be upset over something so trivial, I have a great husband and great child, he's got a job, we've got a roof over our heads, food on our tables, etc, etc, etc"..and she cut me off and said, "Yeah of course you do, but this is something that matters to YOU.  And you matter."

Those last 3 words were exactly what I was needing to hear.  That I mattered.  My day that had started as a lemon, suddenly was made as sweet as a peach.

And that peachy feeling continued on Sunday.  We had a wonderful morning church service, followed by communion, followed by the dinner.  I got to enjoy fellowship with my brothers and sisters in Christ, and was even able to laugh about the whole 'fudge incident' the day before.

Then we had some unexpected, but welcome visitors stop by our house to chat for a bit.  It was such a blessing to see an old friend and meet a new one.  :-)  Definitely a friend who has come a long way.  It hasn't been an easy road for him, Damon and I prayed many times for him, but Praise God he is doing well now and in a new relationship with a sweet girl.

As if all of that weren't enough, the sweetness continued!  Church Sunday evening was to be a special event as we had the hanging of the greens in church.  I had participated in this in another church in the past, but it had been a long time ago.  I was excited from the time they mentioned it until tonight and rightfully so.  It was a wonderful time in the Lord..we had the best singing, sang Christmas hymns, decorated the tree and learned the meaning of the ornaments and decorations, and fellowshipped with one another.  It was a blessing, indeed.

So though my weekend started out as a lemon, it definitely ended on a sweet note.  As sweet as a peach.

Being "ready"

All our lives, in different situations, we are asked if we are ready.

As a child ~ "Are you ready to start school"
First date ~ "Are you ready for your first date"
At high school ~ "Are you ready to graduate"
At college ~ "Are you ready for your first day in college"
Getting married ~ "Are you ready to walk down the aisle"
Having a baby ~ "Are you ready to be a parent"

And especially this time of the year...

Christmastime ~ "Are you ready for Christmas"

But did you ever stop to think about Mary.  How ready was she?  She was, after all, a virgin, untouched by man.  And carrying the Son of God. Conceived by the Holy Spirit.  How ready was she do you think?  Do you think she knew, her son would change the world?  Would save people from their sins?  Would die such a horrible death?  And rise from the grave?

How ready was she?

And importantly, how ready are we?

To witness for Him.  To pray to Him.  To confess that He died on the cross so we may live, and have life more abundantly through Him.  How ready are we to live for Him?  To let Him live through our lives, to be a light to this lost and dying world. 

I sometimes imagine, if His birth actually occurred in late December as we celebrate, well, you know how dark winter nights are.  When He was born, how much brighter that night must have been. 

Are you ready for Him today?



Because sometimes a mom needs a break

Let's face it, mom's get tired.

No matter how well behaved (or not) your kids are, being a mom is a tiring job.  It requires your FULL attention, 24/7, regardless if your sick, tired, depressed, anxious, sad, or anything else.  It's not like a 9-5 job where you leave it all at the "office".

I feel fortunate that my child is well behaved.  She does as she's told but she also knows how to make a mess really quick (as seen above).  Sometimes this makes me stressed, frazzled, and aggravated.  Trying to do everything I need to get done in a day's time (and no..I don't expect or strive to keep my house "perfect"..but I do like to keep it clean!) sometimes it's just nice to have a break.

Yesterday, I got a break.  For the first time in 3 1/2 years, she went to her grandparents house for a short amount of time.  Without me.  I didn't ask for her to go up there, it was offered.

I'm not saying I don't love my child.  Anyone who knows me knows the love I have for my child is beyond words. I will go to the ends of the earth and beyond to do what I can for her, to protect her and keep her safe.  And not only that, but I do love being with her all the time.

But sometimes, a mom just needs a break.  Even though she is good..I still need time for myself.  Every mom does.  Time to meditate, time to unwind, time to close my eyes for one second and not having that little voice say "WAKE UP MOMMY, WAKE UP!!".

It was nice.  And I hope it happens again.