Thursday, December 31, 2009

Thankful Thursday



Today is the last Thankful Thursday for 2009. I can't believe the year is over already!!

Today I am thankful for:
* my husband's hard work this year
* being DEBT FREE!!!
* my children
* God's grace and mercy
* finding long ago friends

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Drop the last year into the silent limbo of the past. Let it go, for it was imperfect, and thank God that it can go.

-- Brooks Atkinson

December 31st 2009

Another year has gone by. It’s been a good year. We have all remained healthy.



The little guy started school and he loves it. I like it too. It’s a private Christian school and I love that there are so many volunteering opportunities and that I can get to know all the teachers.



The little guy played T ball this past summer and took swim lessons.

His newest interest is skateboarding and we have found an indoor skateboard park for him. He can also use his razor scooter there.

He also started AWANA this year. We like it because it is in the late afternoon and we are generally home by 6:30 pm or so. He does very well memorizing bible verses too!


The daughter started a new job that she likes and also moved closer to that job. She is still about 45 minutes away which isn’t bad.



The husband continues to work hard for us all. This year he worked a lot of overtime.



I continue to volunteer at school, crochet for charity and go to bible study. This year I also read more books!! That was a goal of mine. Nothing earth shattering.



We hosted Christmas this year and it went well. We bought a new fake tree and it fit perfectly into our home and we like it because it was pre-lit!!



Our huge news for this year is that we are totally debt free after 19 months of following Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University Program. We have the mortgage left to pay off, but all of our debts are paid!! We are so happy about this!!



No huge goals for next year. We will continue to pay down on our mortgage and perhaps take a vacation now. There are a lot of places we would like to go.

Of course I would like to lose some weight and toward that end I plan on using the elliptical and treadmill this winter and hopefully when it becomes nice out again, I will walk outdoors. There is a five mile hike I could walk. Or bike. I like my bicycle too.



I hope you all have a safe New Year’s celebration and a blessed 2010!!


"The friendship that can cease has never been real."

Monday, December 28, 2009

December blanket



Another Shawl.

This one is made with Homespun "cream".

It is 27 inches wide and 60 inches long. Kind of a short shawl but still usable.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Memory Verse Week 52

It's the last memory verse for this year!! I can hardly believe it has been 52 weeks already.

Thanks to Bethany for each weeks verse.

Proverbs 31:8 (New Living Translation)

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves;
ensure justice for those being crushed.

Friday, December 25, 2009

Christ was love.............

This is excellent.

Christmas Love
(Also known as "The W in Christmas")

BY: Candy Chand


Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience. But once again, despite my plans, chaos prevailed. I had cut back on nonessential obligations-- extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating, and yes, even the all American pastime, overspending. Yet, still, I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious family moments, and, of course, the true meaning of Christmas.

My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting season for a six year old filled with hopes, dreams and laughter. For weeks, he'd been memorizing songs for his school's "Winter Pageant." I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd be working the night of the production.

Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his teacher. She assured me there'd be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation. All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to come then. Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise.

So, just as I promised, on the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in 10 minutes early, found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room, I saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats. As I waited, the students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then, each group, one by one, rose to perform their song.

Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday as "Christmas," I didn't expect anything other than fun, commercial entertainment -- songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer. The melodies were fun, cute and lighthearted, but nowhere to be found was even the hint of an innocent babe, a manger, or Christ's sacred gift of hope and joy. So, when my son's class rose to sing, "Christmas Love", I was slightly taken aback by its bold title.

Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters and bright snowcaps upon their heads. Those in the front row -- center stage -- held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song. As the class would sing "C is for Christmas," a child would hold up the letter C. Then, "H is for Happy," and on and on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message, "Christmas Love."

The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her -- a small, quiet girl in the front row who was holding the letter "M" upside down. She was entirely unaware, that reversed, her letter "M" appeared as a "W." Fidgeting from side to side, she soon moved entirely away from her mark.

The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at the little one's mistake. But in her innocence, she had no idea they were laughing at her as she stood tall, proudly holding her "W".

One can only imagine the difficulty in calming an audience of young, giggling students. Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together. A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen.

In that instant, we understood -- the reason we were there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos there was a purpose for our festivities. For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear:

CHRIST WAS LOVE.

And I believe He still is.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Thankful Thursday



Today is Christmas eve. I had most of my family at my house this year.

It was nice to not have to drive for a change.

Tomorrow we will have my Mother in Law here to celebrate. Hubby will go pick her up because of our snowy weather.

We will open presents with her. The little guy is excited. And big sister has been here all day, is spending the night, and will be here most of the day tomorrow!!

Today I am thankful for:
*my family
*safe travel for family members
*finally going to a Christmas eve service!!
*Jesus

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Luke 2:6-7
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

O Christmas Tree......



This is the final tree for this year.

It's made with red garland and it's for my own house.

I think next year I would use colored lights and look earlier to find the green garland, because that's really what color I wanted!

Monday, December 21, 2009

Winter Solstice




Today is the winter solstice. The longest night of the year.

After today, the days start getting longer!!

Info

Winter Solstice
Mon., Dec. 21, 2009, 12:47 PM EST (17:47 UT), marks the solstice—the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and summer in the Southern Hemisphere

The precise moment of the 2009 solstice will be Mon., Dec. 21, 12:47 PM EST.


In astronomy, the solstice is either of the two times a year when the Sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator, the great circle on the celestial sphere that is on the same plane as the earth's equator. In the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice occurs either December 21 or 22, when the sun shines directly over the tropic of Capricorn; the summer solstice occurs either June 20 or 21, when the sun shines directly over the tropic of Cancer. In the Southern Hemisphere, the winter and summer solstices are reversed.
Reason for the Seasons

The reason for the different seasons at opposite times of the year in the two hemispheres is that while the earth rotates about the sun, it also spins on its axis, which is tilted some 23.5 degrees towards the plane of its rotation. Because of this tilt, the Northern Hemisphere receives less direct sunlight (creating winter) while the Southern Hemisphere receives more direct sunlight (creating summer). As the Earth continues its orbit the hemisphere that is angled closest to the sun changes and the seasons are reversed.
Longest Night of the Year

The winter solstice marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year. The sun appears at its lowest point in the sky, and its noontime elevation appears to be the same for several days before and after the solstice. Hence the origin of the word solstice, which comes from Latin solstitium, from sol, sun and -stitium, a stoppage. Following the winter solstice, the days begin to grow longer and the nights shorter.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Memory Verse Week 51

Proverbs 30:5 (New King James Version)

Every word of God is pure;
He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him

Only one more week for the Memory verse!! I can hardly believe it's been a year!

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Three Santas



One of these Santas my daughter made many years ago.

As we were unpacking the Christmas decorations we came across this. The little guy wanted to make one. So, we finally made one. I made one too.

Here is the picture of the three Santas. We had fun making them too.

Friday, December 18, 2009

O Christmas Tree......



This one is blue. I made it for my Mom.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Thankful Thursday



Another Thursday of Thankful Thursdays.

I've had a busy week. Preparing for Christmas and activities at the little guys school and AWANA.

Today I am thankful for:
* my family
* a reliable car
* baking goodies
* my faith and Jesus
* friends

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And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Galatians 6:9, King James Version

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

December blankets



It's not really a blanket, it's a shawl.

It's made with Homespun and the color is Marble. Another self stripping pattern and I like it!!

It is 24 inches wide and 73 inches long.

Monday, December 14, 2009

No smoking.............



So, today it has been FOUR years since I quit smoking!!

I am very happy that I was able to quit. I occasionally still miss the cigarettes, but I know I will never smoke again.

Of course I have gained the typical few pounds that I haven't worked too hard to lose, but that will change.

And I had a conversation with my doctor. She is a great doctor. I asked her if she would rather have a smoking patient or an overweight patient. She said definitely and overweight person, that smoking is just a horrible horrible thing.

That made me feel a little better about carrying around the extra weight but I still realize I need to drop the extra tonnage.

I have to admit that I feel better not smoking, but the old wives tale about food tasting better has escaped me. My food does not taste better. I can taste differently now, but not necessarily better.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Memory Verse Week 50

Proverbs 28:13 (New King James Version)

He who covers his sins will not prosper,
But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.

Another excellent verse.

Friday, December 11, 2009

O Christmas Tree......



I made this little hangar tree for my daughter.

I have made these many years ago. You use hangars, electrical tape, mini lights and tinsel.

They are nice sitting on a table top.

Sparkly stars........



My little guy and I spent the day on Wednesday making these glitter stars. A very labor intensive project but it made the little guy very happy.

He plans on sending one to each of the three grandmas and he is giving one to sister. We are keeping the rest for our tree.

The story behind these stars is kind of fun.

While we were unpacking the Christmas ornaments, we came across big sisters ornaments that she had made when she was the little guys age, and some she made later.

The little guy wanted to make everything that big sister had made, but I made him choose TWO ornaments/decorations. He chose the glitter stars and another decoration that we have not made yet.

My daughter made her red glitter star when she was four years old--it is written on the back of the star. I am positive she made it at her sitters house--she was there for about 7 years and the sitter was just wonderful.

So, here are the stars. I hope you think they are as pretty as I do!!

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Thankful Thursday



Another Thursday has arrived. It is finally winter here, snow and cold.

It's two weeks before Christmas. I have all my gifts bought. I need to bake yet.

There is much in my life to be thankful for this day. Too many things to list and it seems as though I always list the same things.

Today I am thankful for:
* the freedom of choice to send my boy to a parochial school where he learns more about Jesus and the bible that I could teach him at home.
* snowdays--my boy and I spent the day together making Christmas decorations!
* the ability to give to others
* watching my son being thrilled with the simple things in life
* eyeglasses
* Gods protection, grace and mercy. Every day I get a brand new start!!
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For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
-- John 3:16

Sunday, December 06, 2009

Memory Verse Week 49

Wow. It is week 49 already! Just three more weeks of Memory verses to go.

I just would like to say thank you to Bethany. She has provided the verses each week and she is truly an inspiration to me!!

Proverbs 27:9 (New Living Translation)

The heartfelt counsel of a friend
is as sweet as perfume and incense.

Thursday, December 03, 2009

Thankful Thursday



Another Thursday. I am thankful for many things today.

It's the start of the Christmas season. I am not quite in the mood for all the celebration yet, but I am working on that.

We are prepared for Christmas. We have our gifts bought and wrapped. We even purchased a new tree and some decorations this year.

I am hosting Christmas for my family this year. It should be fun. I need to start some baking soon!!

today I am thankful for:
*God and his mercy and grace
*my family
*found friends

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2 Peter 1:5-7, King James Version

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

*a warm house

Tuesday, December 01, 2009

December blankets

Photobucket

These are two little snuggly blankets I made.

They are both made with Homespun.

The blue is Sky and the pink is Parfait.

They are both about 15 inches by 15 inches. The pattern is granny square.

A puppy Poem

To make Heaven
the perfect resting place
for loved ones we adore,
God made sure
those Pearly Gates
contained a doggy door.