Christmas IS Coming

I can not believe tomorrow is December first and the beginning of Advent!  It seems like the days and weeks are so long and yet time is flashing by so fast I can hardly catch my breath!

I love Christmas time.  I love everything about it, although I am guilty of losing the joy of the holiday and getting far to caught up in the hustle and bustle and STRESS of the season.

This year I want to take a step back.  Not get caught up in the stress of not having enough money.  Not worry so much about the presents.  The gifts are generally discarded, lost or broken after Christmas morning anyhow.  Don't get me wrong, I love giving and receiving gifts as much as anyone.  I just think more emphasis needs to stay on the reason for Christmas.  More joy needs to be taken in the people around me this season and not the THINGS.  I want to savor this season and not get so lost and wrapped up in the busyness of it all that before I even know what's happened its February!

I have two Advent plans I am excited to start tomorrow.  One is The Gift by Ann Voskamp.  Mom gave me the book on Thanksgiving.  :-D I can hardly wait to start reading it.  The other is by Good Morning Girls a blog I sometimes follow.  I enjoy their online studies.  They also linked their advent devotional series with youversion which I am totally excited about.  I can read it on my phone no matter where I am.  For the Good Morning Girls one you do have to subscribe to it via email in order to get the extras.  Its totally worth it though.  I find I am less likely to forget about it if it is in my inbox, plus they have links to printables like a Bible bookmark with the reading plan.  The Bible study guide and prayer journals.  Also extras to do it with your kidlets if you want.  The advent one especially has activities for kids as well as alternative activities for young kids.  Check it out!

I think when I get home from work today I will haul my box of Christmas decorations up from the basement.  Clean my house and start transforming it into a Holiday Haven.

What are you doing this season to keep the focus where it should be?

Here is a little Christmas Treat for you to kick off the season. The song I used in last years Holiday Video is Christmas is Coming by Jason Gray.  I heard it on my way home from work last night, it fills my heart with JOY and anticipation... As I have written this entry I have already watched this video like 5 times.  So thankful for my family, friends and memories!...and my dog ;-)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Just finished my October video.

Watching my videos and reading my gifts makes me incredibly thankful! :-)

Have a blessed day all!



Just in case you missed them you check out my past videos here

contentment

Today my heart is happy.  I am overflowing with happiness, joy, thankfulness. I am excited for thanksgiving tomorrow.  Getting to spend it with some of my favorite people.  For the Thanksgiving Eve service tonight.  That cozy home feeling I have when I am with my church.  For texting all day with my best friend, silly things, plans, hopes.

I am thankful today for getting to sleep an extra hour, and then spending time in the Word with my coffee.  When I went out to start the van I was kicking myself a little for not going for a run.  The road was relatively clear and at 34 degrees the air felt almost balmy ;-) ;-)  But I think I needed to sleep and devo time even more than a run.

But I did go out this afternoon for a 2 mile run/walk. I have really been slacking on my Pile on the Miles Challenge.  So far I am 12 point something miles with only a few days left in November. I kinda feel like I am starting over as far as running goes.  But I am trying to not beat myself up over the days I don't get out but work harder on running more and doing other things when the weather truly does keep me indoors.

Last week sometime I got a postcard at the church for a 5K in January.  It benefits the Rescue Mission. It peaked my interest. I checked out the website and posted the it on the bulletin board.  Tonight after the Thanksgiving service I was chatting with my mom in front of the board and half joking asked if she wanted to do it with me ;) We could even just walk it, I said.  She didn't laugh out loud at me.  And I really, really want to do another race so I am thinking maybe...maybe...and if I could get even one person to say they would do it with me, I might have the guts and accountability to follow through.

Some of my favorite moments from the past week or so.....

Packing Operation Christmas Child boxes at Church

Mikayla's band concert

 
Hannah's Girl Scout Investiture; she was so happy and proud 

 
Her new badges ;-)

Making thanksgiving cookies with Hannah and Makenna.


First Real Snow of the Season

friends, near and far

This morning the thanksgiving challenge I have kinda sorta been following on facebook, was for friendship.

I am so thankful for the friends in my life. There was time I was incredibly lonesome. How thankful I am that is no longer the case.

I am thankful to have wonderful friends right in my family.  Now that I am grown, I realize how blessed I am to be part of the family I was born into. Loving, supportive, close knit. My mother and my sister are truly two of the most precious people in the world to me.  I hope that legacy carries on with my own girls.  My dad and brother are pretty great too.

I am thankful for the friends at my church.  New and old, people who have become as dear as family.

This past week I was feeling sad.  It seems life as become too busy for true friendships.   Friends become transient, fading in and out of our lives.  Because of circumstances.  Seasons changing. Distance. Sometimes there is nothing that can be done.  Being a former military family, we have friends scattered across the country.  Some we are in occasional contact with, others it feels as if they are only memory.  I am thankful for Facebook that makes it easier to feel connected (at times) even though miles are stretched between. I can see my friends' children grow up.  Kids I haven't seen since they were toddlers, some I have never seen in person.  Now growing into young men and women.

I love this time of year when we get Christmas cards. Letters and pictures from far away friends.  :) I have one friend from our time in AZ, who now lives in Texas.  Oh how I wish she still lived next door to me! Hers is almost always the first holiday card I receive and one of my favorites to read. I remember the day I found out I was expecting Hannah I got an email telling me she was also expecting number 3.  Our girls, who don't know each other at all are exactly one month apart.

I sometimes wonder what it would be like to have all my dear friends gathered in one community.

I was invited out for coffee on Friday night.  I almost said no.  I was tired.  I feel like I am constantly running. I didn't really want to go do one more thing.  But in the end I did go. And am so glad I did.  We talked about nothing in particular.  Just sat around for a couple hours at our local DD sipping assorted hot beverages, chatting and laughing.  I urge you, make time for your friends.  I am thankful on Sunday morning I had time to chat and reconnect with another friend.  Even though sometimes it feels like it, I know I am not alone.  Even though we are often all running in different directions I know they are there.  That we can call, txt, message or just get together for a cup of coffee and nothing has changed. And it feels like home.

look up

Boy was I having some issues this morning.  I awoke cold, tired and a little bitter.

Everything made me want to scoff and scowl, from seeing people's thanks on facebook {yeah, seriously} to seeing men putting up the Village Christmas decorations as I drove to work. 

My heart felt sad and hurt and I wanted to kick and scream and lash out at everyone else. Or better yet just go back to bed, pull the blankets over my head and just wait it all out.

One concept from The Happiness Project kept running through my head.  Act the way you want to feel.  Did I want to be bitter and grumpy?  No. Could I control the under lying issue that I knew was triggering these feelings?  No.  What could I do?  Enjoy this beautiful sunny {albeit chilly, but it is November after all} day.  Choose gratitude and joy.  Pray.

On my drive to work, I also saw a cross. Actually it was the shadow of a telephone pole on a roof.  But to me it was a cross, it was a sign and a whisper to my heart from Jesus himself. You are not alone, I am here.  Just let go, it will be ok.


So today I am thankful.

• Mikayla helping Hannah to learn the Girl Scout Promise
• Seeing my girls excitement
• the Mister making plans for our Date Night
• going for a run even though I didn't want too, 1.63 more on my #POTM2013
• reading some encouraging blogs
• Butternut & Apple Soup for lunch
• its pizza night
• there is no where I have to go tonight

 Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit.  Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good,  reject every kind of evil.

1 Thessalonians  5:16-22 niv

this guy

Apple picking this Fall

I am profoundly thankful for my husband. I am thankful for all 15 years of our marriage. Even the really rotten ones. They made us who we are today, and I appreciate the love we share all the more because of them.

He does so much for our family. For me.  Works so hard.  I know I at times take him for granted. But I love him.  I appreciate everything he does.


Last night we got to have a sweet little unexpected mini date.  He went fishing right after he got home from job #1.  Just has I was about to walk out the door to take Hannah to Girl Scouts, he called.  He forgot his pedometer in his pants pocket, could I grab it and he would meet me at Girl Scouts before he had to go to job #2.  I expected him to show up, grab his do-hickey and head right off to work.  Instead he showed up, DD in hand.  We stood in the hallway and chatted while Hannah was at her meeting. Sipping our glorious hot beverages.  It was wonderful.  Time, I think we both needed. ;) Hopefully, this weekend we will be having our real date, that was post-poned due to last weekends illnesses :P


The week we met...Lake Champion, 1996


Wedding Bells, 1998

snow run

See that white stuff? Yup it was snowing. Not a lot, but it was snowing.  And it was pretty darn chilly, 28 degrees according to my phone. Next time I most definitely will not walk out of the house without my gloves.  I had two layers on my bottom half and three layers on my top half.  I was pretty comfy and toasty as long as I kept running {except for my hands}.  It felt great to get out and run.  I felt awesome.  At one point though  the negativity threatened to over take.  As I frequently do I began to think why the heck am I running?? This is so stupid! So pointless! So HARD!!!!

Ah ha! I caught myself and changed my inner dialogue.  I love running! And I love running because...

• its good for me
• its making me stronger
• it clears my head
• I love to be outside
• I love the way I feel after

As I began to say these things to myself instead, the run got easier.  I felt mighty and triumphant.  When I came to my turn around I thought about going on a bit, decided not.  I did have to get to work after all... As I crossed into my driveway, for the first time felt like I wanted to keep running, not oh my gosh thank God I am home! ;-P I am counting this as a triumph and a sign that I am stronger than I think.  A sign that maybe just maybe I want to train for a half sometime still to be determined.

Another confession, I really got caught up in reading about the NYC Marathon recently.  To the point I am toying with the idea of putting it on my bucket list {sometime WAY out there in the future}.  It sounds crazy and impossible.  But 6 months ago the thought of me running at all was laughable.  So who knows.  I will keep running one step at a time and see where the road takes me.

I am behind on my Pile on the Miles challenge :(  Various reasons some of them mere excuses.  Others valid, like the whole family coming down with the dreaded stomach bug last week.  Blech.  I am still gonna try and make it.  Keep plugging along, step up my game a little bit.

According to my Runstatic App

• for the week I am at 1.6 miles (just today so far)
• for the month- 7.23 miles
• which means I still have over 42 miles to go...

I am thankful for--

• strong legs that can run
• winter hats
• a good chat with my dad
• talking with my brother on the phone
• feeling better
• time to finally reconnect with my Mister
•  Mik's chicken pot pie and pumpkin cookies...seriously holy yum! ;-)
• a church family who prays
• leftover stew and hot coffee

Piano. Check.

So today I finally finished cleaning the piano.  I feel so much lighter! I get so sick of junk just sitting around. :/ The piano is a major dumping ground for things that either don't have a home or people just can't be bothered to put away.

As I stated yesterday I started reading The Happiness Project. (She also has a website... http://www.gretchenrubin.com/) I am still only a couple chapters in.  But the first chapter alone left me wanting to give my house a major overhaul.  To just clear out the unnecessary junk and clutter.  A couple things from the first chapter that stuck with me were

1. To do things that just take a minute...NOW! Not put them off until later.
2. Take ten minutes to tidy up in the evening before bed. 

Simple right?

I was excited upon posting my blog yesterday to learn another friend is also reading the book.  I encourage you to pick it up too ;) I am already thinking that although the book I am reading is a library book, its one that should be purchased and added to my personal library.  I am thinking about what I might need to tackle and change as I embark on my very own happiness project...

Before:

After:

With in minutes of the piano being clear, Hannah was seated on the bench trying to pick out "Mary had a Little Lamb". :D

Looking for tips on what to do with all those winter hats, mittens, gloves, etc...currently they are stored on the top shelf of the coat closet.  Not a good place.  Its a hassle to get them down.  The boxes are overflowing and usually ended up cascading all over the place ever time they are taken down.

Also our closet in the master bedroom is in need of serious help.

These two things are at the very top of my list!

Sound Body, Sound Mind

 

What do you do to take care of your mind? This was today's question is a fitness challenge I am taking part of on FB.  The short answer is my faith, I suppose.  It is interwoven into pretty much every aspect of my life. Every morning I have coffee and devo time.  That is spending time reading my Bible, praying, journaling.  Sometimes I read an additional faith based book as a companion to my Bible reading.  I definitely draw strength from my church family has well.  I am thankful for the family God has planted me in.

Monday night at our women's ministry meeting we talked about the legacy of our group.  It was such an affirmation to me to hear how the other ladies view our group. Some of the comments were these...

• caring- reaching out to those in need
• LOVE
• people you can count on
• mentoring
• Light of God's Love

I think running is also becoming a way I take care of myself emotionally.  Even though it is physical exercise.  Just the simple act of being outside makes my soul happier, more at peace.  This morning was such a beautiful day.  You can't tell it very well from this picture but behind the clouds the sky was the brightest, most glorious blue.




Last night I also began this book. The Happiness Project. I had it on hold at the library already when I realized my sister was reading it too. I am eager to dig in. This year my word as been Joy and at times its been a bit of a struggle. But God is teaching me, showing me, that I can be happy, joyful, content no matter what my circumstances.

So I keep on.  Keeping my eyes open for all the little things which add up to a big thing... JOY.
Here are a few from just this morning

•praying for a friend
•a night with nothing to do
•snuggles on the couch
•chatting with my mr on the phone
•morning hugs
•being able to vote
•new read from the Library
•Hannah's singing
•candles

Taking care of yourself mentally and spiritually is just as vital as taking care of yourself physically. How do you find your happy?

Happy #planksgiving

I joined this planksgiving challenge. I guess I have a thing for challenges. I need some motivation right now ;P  But I especially liked that this too is coupled with Thanks.  Last night I found my grumbling coming back.  One of my besties called me on it.  And I realized she was totally right.

 Still even this morning I woke with a knot of anxiety in my stomach. :-/  Its getting better.  I am making a conscious effort today to choose JOY and THANKS.

So I did my Plank for 20 seconds.  It was hard, even for that brief time I found myself shaking before it was over...but like anything it will get easier and I will get stronger.  I will go for a run this afternoon.  It still seemed super dark even at 8 am this morning.  And I felt rushed.  Decided to post-pone to hopefully when it is a bit brighter later. I am shooting for 2 miles today for the pile on the miles challenge.  Hoping maybe I can get a kidlet or two to join me.

My thanks for today: Friends who hold you accountable and don't let you wallow ;)

 

“I have learned that in every circumstance that comes my way, I can choose to respond in one of two ways: I can whine or I can worship! And I can’t worship without giving thanks. It just isn’t possible. When we choose the pathway of worship and giving thanks, especially in the midst of difficult circumstances, there is a fragrance, a radiance, that issues forth out of our lives to bless the Lord and others.” ~ Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Choosing Gratitude: Your Journey to Joy

Almost forgot, the kids Halloween picture- Ryan was a Jurassic Park Ranger, Mikayla was Peter Pan and Hannah was Ariel :) They all had fun at the Harvest Party at Church last night. Brought home tons of candy. 8-0