Our Little Middle One... growing up...

They say time flies, to savor each moment when they are young, that they'll be gone before you know it.  My little, middle one turned six last week and I can't believe where the past six years have gone.  It's tough being the middle child (or so I've heard) and then to have a December birthday on top of that (I understand...).  

So this year, we made it special.  Our girls get to have "real" parties on their first, fourth, sixth, eighth.... and we'll see from there.  I wish I were more creative, but my creative juices seem to be waning the older I get.  She did get her homemade double-decker butterfly cake and a small pajama party (no sleepovers yet, that's the eighth birthday).  Getting her haircut was the highlight though!  She has wanted her hair cut short for two years and Mommy finally agreed.  

Being in the middle of two sisters, it has given her a new sense of identity. She's still our shy, quiet (in front of others), and reserved child, but how I love her laugh!  She has the best sense of humor once you get to know her and is one of the biggest wiggle worms you'll meet.  She loves to snuggle and give hugs.  She's our adventurous one who will surprise us when we least expect it.  Often when she sees a need in others, she is quick to give whether it be a card or handmade gift from her room. 

Her birthday was on December 14, the same day that so many parents lost their precious six year olds.  It's impossible to understand why, yet still possible to trust.  Needless to say, I held her a little tighter and a little longer this past week.  When the stresses of her birthday party arose on Saturday, the thoughts were still fresh how many parents would love to be giving their sweet babies their parties.  Let me not take for granted the children He has entrusted me to care for.  How blessed I am!

"Happy" Holidays?

In a little less than two weeks, one of the most anticipated days in the life of a child will be here.... at least for my children.  We count down the days.  I pray that everything will be bought, sewn, and wrapped in time.  Every year I desire for a stress-free Christmas, yet I still want to do all the activities and ideas that I find on Pinterest that make me think we have to experience in order to have the "perfect" Christmas.  Once again, this "peaceful" season has been anything but full of peace.  

It amazes me how much our children sense in our tones and reactions in life.  Sophie's favorite question these days is "Mommy, you happy?"  Of course, I try to answer yes.  Sometimes, it's more like, "I'd be happier if you'd eat your supper. or I'm happy to be in the car... finally!"  But her question has really caused me to think.  I've been so busy going to Christmas functions, shopping, trying to make Christmas crafts to go along with our advent, trying to do random acts of kindness for others, in hopes that it might teach my girls something about the real meaning of Christmas.  But I'm tired...  With the warm weather and running around ragged, I've yet to sit back and enjoy the moment.  So, today... I choose to let it go.  There will still be moments of stress and times that I lose my temper, but I want to enjoy these next two weeks with my family.  I want to read for the fun of it and give to others because we truly desire to, not just because a list.  

Happy Moments of Christmas...

• my sweet mama sewing Christmas skirts with my littlest
• coloring or crafting 5 out of 12 days of our advent ornaments
• bonfire & Christmas cookies
• seeing Christmas lights as a family 
• walking through our neighborhood with friends 
• being blessed at the mall by someone else's random act of kindness of quarter's & masking tape on bubble gum machines
• visiting grandparents
• the first Christmas presents under the tree wrapped by my oldest
• meeting neighbors over cookies

Tomorrow is another day...

Tomorrow is another day....  Praise the Lord!!  May tomorrow be spent more at home than out running errands for seven hours rather the two or three planned (in which bathroom breaks are taken at EVERY SINGLE store and sometimes more than once in a store).  May tomorrow have less arguing among sisters and more love (or least quiet glares).  May tomorrow involve a somewhat cleaner house or least the breakfast dishes washed before bedtime.  May tomorrow be more about the peace-giver and less about the presents.  Tomorrow is another day....

Christmas Grace...

Naomi decorating her tree

Over this past year, "Grace" has been the theme of many of the books I've been reading.  This has not been intentional, but yet is not a coincidence either.  Grace is more than a small prayer before meals. W.E. Vine defines grace as "the divine quality of goodwill, friendliness, favorable regard, and extravagant loving kindness."  In my devotional this morning, the author, Selwyn Hughes describes grace as "the strength God gives us to live as His Son lived when He was here upon the earth."  

So, as I sit on the eve of December 1, when the hustle and bustle really begins, I pray for grace:  

 - grace for myself to not become overwhelmed by my expectations of what Christmas should or shouldn't be, 

 - grace for the times of rushing and running late, 

 - grace for my children that they will see in me such extravagant loving kindness.

Sophie indulging in the first of the Peppermint Joe Joe's

Chloe's turn to put the star on the tree

Grumbly Hateful or Humbly Grateful...

Growing up, on one of the many cassette tapes we listened to was a song that went something like this, "Are you Grumbly Hateful or Humbly Grateful?  What's your attitude?  Do you grumble and groan or let it be known you're grateful for all God's done for you?"  To be honest, I've been more of the grumbly hateful this week and I'm disgusted in myself when I'm like that.  Why can't I put a smile on, not out of pretense, but out of a truly grateful heart for all that God has done for me?

I have three precious little girls who love to do things like put raisin smiley faces on gingerbread snowmen, who smile over going to our favorite bakery, and who indulge me in leaf taking pictures.  In the wee hours of the morning, one of them woke up with a bad dream.  But when I entered their room, my sweet middle daughter was comforting the youngest from her bed.  "It's ok, Sophie.  It's ok.  God is with you, Sophie.  It's ok."  My heart melted...  I am thankful this morning for cries in the monitor and for the strength to get up.  Otherwise, I would have missed such precious words.

God, give me a heart that is humbly grateful...

Thanksgiving Traditions

The year before we had our first child, I heard a radio program with Dennis & Barbara Rainey concerning the holiday of Thanksgiving.  It inspired me to want to teach my children the values, hardships, and blessings found in our nation's history.  I realized how little I knew about the first Thanksgiving with it's rich heritage of freedom and faith.  I immediately bought Barbara Rainey's book, Thanksgiving:  A Time to Remember.  (It also comes with a lovely CD of Thanksgiving music - a rarity!)

It can be read in it's entirety in one sitting, or divided into the days before Thanksgiving, or even just the bold portions read if little ones are present and not able to sit for long.  This has been our main Thanksgiving tradition since our oldest was a baby.  We read through the book in one of those three ways mentioned and write three things as a family for which we are thankful for each year in the back of the book.  There have been years when we read it  around a breakfast of french toast or cinnamon rolls, while other years we read it in the car on our way to my grandma's house.  

Slowly, I am learning that it really doesn't matter how we celebrate each holiday, but instead with what attitude are we celebrating.  I can easily become consumed with expectations (that I have put upon myself) of having the perfect breakfast and spending time everyday before Thanksgiving having my children write notes of gratitude on a perfect little Thanksgiving tree, banner, or whatever else I've stumbled upon on Pinterest.  Please don't get me wrong.  All of these things have the right intentions behind them.  But if I don't have time to do them, and all we accomplish is read books from the library on Thanksgiving, then it's ok.  There are different seasons in life...

Here are a few of our favorite Thanksgiving books; some we've collected, some from the library.  (Thanks again to my sweet husband for putting together these rain gutter bookshelves in our littlest girls' room.)

• Sarah Gives Thanks by Mike Allegra
• T'was the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey (one of our favorites!) - Click on the title to watch a video of the story
• An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving by Louisa May Alcott - classic!
• A Pioneer Thanksgiving by Barbara Greenwood
• The Very First Thanksgiving Day by Rhonda Gowler Greene
• Saying Grace: A Prayer of Thanksgiving by Virginia Kroll 
• The First Thanksgiving by Jean Craighead George - beautiful illustrations!
• Over the River and Through the Woods by Lydia Child - a modern day view.
• The Pilgrim's First Thanksgiving by Ann McGovern

There really are some incredible ideas out there to help guide our families to have the right perspective for Thanksgiving.  We've done of few of these in the past and may do others in the future.  Once again, I believe the key is having the attitude that Thanksgiving is all about what God has done in the past, what He is doing now, and choosing to be thankful for the blessings He's given us.  

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." - I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Thanksgiving ideas:

• Printable Thankful Cards by the Crafting Chicks
• The Gratitude Jar by the Paper Coterie
• The Thanksgiving Tree by Ann Voskamp (A Holy Experience)
• Printable Thanksgiving/Fall Kit by Paper Glitter 

A Season of Thanksgiving

After blogging every day for month, it was nice to take a break and reevaluate why I did so and try to actually put into practice some of the ideas that I found through this journey.  Still much to learn... But moving on.  The month of November naturally permeates the sights and smells of fall.  Pumpkins, cinnamon, apple cider, and wood burning does the heart good!  This truly is my favorite season of the year.  But what I love most is the holiday of Thanksgiving.  To me, it is the one holiday that commercialism has not infiltrated.  There are not excessive decorations, candy, costumes, and presents attached to this one day.  Thanksgiving... the day says it all.  It's a day when we can stop, gather with family, (eat way too much food!), and remember all that God has done for us.  Our little family has added a few Thanksgiving traditions over the years.  Over the next week, I hope to share those, our favorite Thanksgiving books, and a few other ideas to help us once again come to a place of gratitude.

Three of my greatest blessings!