The one with Christmas

Mostly I am going to let the pictures speak for themselves... Christmas Eve we spent at my Mom and Dad's.

Mom and Dad gave each family a name sign. <3

Christmas is here...


Christmas day we stayed home <3

Opening their stockings~


Of course we spoiled our pooch.  He spent the majority of the morning chomping on a raw hide.

I got Rhett this book- written by a high school class mate and set in our town.  Pretty cool.  I may or may not read it too- if I decide  I won't be traumatized by reading about a murder set place on our town.  Our book club vetoed it for that reason.






We had a fire :-) Christmas day is about the only day we have a fire in our fireplace.

I spent a good portion of the morning and afternoon in the kitchen making Christmas breakfast (breakfast pizza and overnight sticky buns) and then Christmas dinner.  Mom and Dad were able to come over and enjoy Christmas dinner with us.  I love cooking for my family.

In case you're wondering.... it was a tea kettle... Mikayla had shoved the bag of jelly beans inside!

I hope you and yours had a merry holiday! 

ToL ~ 12.21

Rhett's car has been in the shop since Tuesday.  Despite the inconvenience of not having my vehicle, carpooling has been kinda fun.  Having those extra minutes with him, I wouldn't otherwise. After the last two months- I am soaking up every bit of togetherness I can. And today- I even got coffee out of the deal ;-)

this- Pampered Chef posted this and I died laughing. So me.


God is good. Every day. Today I am feeling thankful and blessed.


Fierce is going to be my word for 2018.

I loved this definition from the British dictionary - vehement, intense, or strong. While often fierce has a negative connotation. THIS is my focus for next year-vehement, intense, strong: in prayer, in God's WORD, in running, in fighting to restore my home, my marriage and my family. In being the wife my husband needs, the wife GOD has called me to be. Discovering the AMY He created me to be.  The person I am- besides "wife" or "mom".  These two roles have defined me most of my life.  They are roles I dearly love. But if nothing else this fall, I have learned no matter what my circumstances- I am still ME. Created with a purpose and a reason. I am valuable and important. Beautiful and treasured.  I am hand-made by the Almighty God.

Recognizing the battle is not over- it has merely begun... BUT I will NOT be DEFEATED. 

My goofy kids and their pets :P

The normalcy. Oh, this simple text flooded my heart with joy and reassurance on Friday.


This year I already got what I most desired for Christmas. My very own Christmas miracle. I will treasure it, nurture it everyday. <3  I am still marveling at how life can turn on a dime. Things can change in an instant, both good and bad.  So live in the moment, treasure each one as they came.  Seek God's peace and strength on the hard ones.  He will see you through.  Never miss an opportunity show love and kindness. Say I love you. Hug and kiss. Find the good in each day. Its there. :-)

Linked up today with Amanda at Running with Spoons

It's almost CHRISTMAS!

Good things are happening.  Good things. 

This weekend was amazing.  Busy and full but wonderful.

Friday Rhett trekked to Houghton to pick up our girl. <3  They stopped at the store and picked up something for dinner and Mikayla cooked it all. Rhett and I had a little time to get reconnected. We ALL had dinner together and it felt amazing!

Saturday Rhett took Hannah out to breakfast and to the arcade as part of her birthday celebration.  Mikayla and I went shopping for party food and some Christmas gifts.

Hannah had a piano recital in the afternoon. And I can't help it, I have to say it again, it felt so good just to be sitting by my husband's side again.

Saturday night we had our annual pancakes and pajamas Christmas Party at the Brasky's.  This year we exchanged candy instead of socks.  I'm so thankful for these friends who are just as dear as family.

Sunday was Hannah's birthday party and my heart was so joyful to have our house filled to the brim with family.  The mister thinks we need to consider moving parties to a bigger venue. Maybe he's right, but I love having parties in our home.  My highlight was when he plopped down on the floor to sit next to me. <3

Because of the events of the last several weeks, Rhett and I still have to do pretty much all our Christmas shopping on Saturday. Talk about last minute.

I'm on day three of a killer headache (I think its finally abating though). I have sick kids. Rhett's car is in the shop so we are sharing mine. But even so- my heart is so thankful. God is so, so very good. I can not even fathom. 

T.o.L 12-14

My heart is heavy this morning. Yet peaceful- how is that possible?

I know- God is with me. He will give me strength for this day. I will not listen to the devil's lies. I will hold my head high and be confident in who God made me to be...

This is one of my favorite verses and my prayer. To be clothed in strength and dignity.  To be confident in my future.  The future GOD has for me.


I decided to look up the word dignity- hmmmm.... "-a sense of pride in oneself, self-respect." Something I need to work on.

dig·ni·ty

ˈdiɡnədē

noun

1. the state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect.

   
   

   "a man of dignity and unbending principle"

   • a composed or serious manner or style.

     
     

     "he bowed with great dignity"

     
     

     synonyms:

     stateliness, nobility, majesty, regality, courtliness, augustness, loftiness, lordliness, grandeur; More

   • a sense of pride in oneself; self-respect.

     
     

     "it was beneath his dignity to shout"

     
     

     synonyms:

     self-respect, pride, self-esteem, self-worth "he had lost his dignity"

What is my best life?  What does that even look like?  Do you ever look in the mirror and wonder- who am I anyway? I'm 37 years old...maybe its time I figure that out...or maybe we are just always a work in progress. ;-) Things to ponder as we wrap another year and head into an new one... I'm not sure what 2018 will look like. Where the road will take us... but I am going to trust.

I am thankful when the doubts come and my heart is once again plunged into turmoil because lets face it- this is a discouraging journey and I am human.  God quiets me once more and reminds me of His HOPE.

:'(

My days are emotional roller coasters. And I am exhausted.

When I write my joy posts I genuinely, usually feel that way... but then... sigh...

Maybe the dark will begin to recede. I will be able to hold on more to the light.  That over all, over time, the good will start to out number the bad again. Eventually it won't hurt so much...

Yesterday a friend posted this on my FB...

I'm trying...

I know. I know there is always HOPE. Yet at least once a day I feel like this...

My soul is in deep anguish.

    How long, Lord, how long?

Psalm 6:3 niv

tuesday things. . .

The Eternal is the source of my strength and the shield that guards me.
          When I learn to rest and truly trust Him,
He sends His help. This is why my heart is singing!
           I open my mouth to praise Him, and thankfulness rises as song.
                                                                             ~Psalm 28:7 (The Voice)

I awoke feeling so alone. Abandoned. The sadness running deep.  I opened Jesus Calling and tears begin to fall. God sees me. He is here. Though I feel like it most of the time- I am not alone. Maybe if I say it enough I will start to believe it. 

I was greeted this morning with the typical "good morning... what's so good about it?" 

This always makes me bristle...

There is always something good. Always. In spite of my trials. My sorrow. There is good. Today I will embrace it and proclaim it.

Today's good:

• happy birthday dinner & celebration with Hannah last night
• her beautiful smiling face
• snuggled on the couch watching The Polar Express
• recognizing God is with me, that He speaks to my heart
• gift of candy canes and $ to go to Lights on the Lake
• safety on snowy roads
• Chancey playing in the snow
• a HOT shower
• fresh pot of coffee ;-) 
• listening to KLOVE at work
• Dad's sermon
• choosing J O Y

My Hope is in GOD alone.

carry on

So we have no reason to despair. Despite the fact that our outer humanity is falling apart and decaying, our inner humanity is breathing in new life every day. You see, the short-lived pains of this life are creating for us an eternal glory that does not compare to anything we know here.   

~2 Corinthians 4:16-17 (The Voice)

This morning I am tempted to despair. The cares of this world are sometimes just too much. I feel alone. Abandoned. Discarded.

But I am reminded, I am not alone. I am loved. I do not need to give into temptation. I do not need to wallow in my sorrows. Its not easy. Its something I can not do in my own strength. But God. God is with me.

So today I will hold my head high. Knowing I am treasured and loved by the King of the universe. I will smile. Look for the good. Treasure the little things.

I am going to celebrate my youngest's 11th birthday with JOY, happiness and gusto. Accepting what is and doing the best I can instead of longing for what is not. 

I will continue to praise. I will seek peace and joy. Covering it all in LOVE.

So today I am thankful:

• Church Christmas party on Friday night
• shopping with Mom and Hannah
• buying fabric for Christmas PJ's
  
• McDonald's and milkshakes
• Hannah helping me clean the kitchen
• CD's from AJ
• baking cookies
  
• dog.
  
• sewing jammies
• Moms Connect party
• hugs and support
• venison jerky from Sam
• drinking coffee and watching the snow fall
• Christmas music
• God's WORD. Always.

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14

Thursday Thanks

Today I am choosing to be thankful. To seek J O Y. To feel happy. To reclaim my life and step into the future God has for me with courage and confidence. It won't be easy. It will be a battle and a struggle. Once already this morning I almost got lost in despair. But I put my focus back where it belongs, on God. I will be OK. It doesn't mean I'm not sad or lonely. But I won't despair. I will remember only God can fill me. Only God can heal broken hearts and broken relationships. I continue will hope. I will have faith.

I know no matter what I need to be OK with me. I need to continue on the path God has for me. I know that no matter what the future holds, HE is by my side.

So this morning I started my December pages in my bullet journal.

 

I'm trying to remember what makes ME happy and me- ME.

I got up this morning and did a work out.


Did my hair, make up, put on earrings. Had a smoothie for breakfast.

I am thankful for cooking. That it is something I can do well. Even at 2 in the morning when I can't sleep!




These potpies were so yummy! Used up some of the thanksgiving turkey I had tucked in the freezer.  I love pampered chef's new mini pie pan! The recipe I used is also pampered chef -->HERE<--

I'm thankful for memories <3

I am thankful for HOPE and FAITH.

"I tell you this: if you had even a faint spark of faith, even faith as tiny as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and because of your faith, the mountain would move. If you had just a sliver of faith, you would find nothing impossible." Matthew 17:20 (The Voice)


I am thankful God meets me in the middle of the night


... For cats and pups...

Just Breathe.

I am thankful for my cousin Kelly who texted me this song this morning- just as I was losing my HOPE.

Moment by moment. Day by day. I will trust. I will believe. I will look for the good and be the good. I will have a joyful Christmas. I will face 2018 head on and trust God to lead me.