Wednesday, December 29, 2010

In with the New

A little organization goes a long way when it comes to my mood. The kitchen has been especially annoying lately so I rearranged the pantry this week. It makes me feel good from my head to my toes every time I look inside! These are the two shelves that are at eye-level. I used to have stuff here that I didn't use often, which is now on higher shelves. The lower shelves didn't need much organizing, but I did move a few things there, too.

(I know it's a little bare. I am in the middle of "Shop Smart, Save More" and am trying to hold off on shopping until I get Sunday's paper and begin my new life as a coupon queen.)

I also very happily put my new dishes away!At the time of this photo many of those new dishes were in the dishwasher! Ha ha ha!They are so stylin'! Thanks, Aunt Kristy (and mom, who sent the $$ for me to get more to match)!!

In the afternoons, while Levi is doing this inside...




Adam & I go stomping around in the snow. We have been enjoying the crisp winter air.
The kid loves to eat snow!

It was so interesting watching all the signs of life around this tree.


I was also intrigued by the variety of footprints in the yard...Rabbit Tracks
Squirrel TracksDog Tracks
Bird Tracks
And my personal favorite...cute little toddler tracks


Which leads me to my deep analogy (or as a good friend calls them, April Parables). These are some questions we all need to ask ourselves...What kind of footprints do we leave behind? After spending time with me, do people feel encouraged and strong or do they feel belittled and irritated? Do I make difficult situations better or worse? Do I spend my time expecting actions from others or introspectively looking at what I could be doing better? Luke 6:42 says, "How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye." When a person is busy looking to correct someone else, they don't see their own faults, like being a complainer...(Philippians 2:14: "Do everything without grumbling or arguing" or judging others (Romans 2:1 "You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things." (Romans 14:10 "You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister ? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.") or gossiping (James 4:11 "Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.")

I've just noticed myself complaining about others lately and need to stop, so those footprints preached to me today! Have a great day, and leave some happy, encouraging footprints this week!

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Happy Holidays!

We opened presents...





We visited friends...
Levi & Miles
We spent time with family...
(all the little ones together: Levi- 7 mo., Adam- 2 yrs., Naomi-9 mo., Emma- 2 yrs., Tyler- 3 mo.)(Adam with his baby cousin, Tyler)
(Grams & Tyler)We read books...

We played...
We opened more gifts...(Here Adam was playing Santa and handing out gifts.)
(Here he is trying on part of the "Snowman Kit" from Aunt Tammi.)
A wonderful surprise in my stocking...a donation made towards a special boy's adoption. Thanks, Tammi!!We went sledding on Christmas Day...
(Naomi)

(Tammi & Emma)
(Mike, Tammi, Naomi & Emma)



We created...
(Adam arranged his trail mix like this and proclaimed, "I made a reindeer!"
This is Frosty. I am assuming the 3 circles made by the cup lids equals a snowman body.

We laughed...


We finally caught Levi's pouty face on camera!!!
Now it's time for some rest...

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Adam has been preparing food and sharing toys with his big bear. He even wanted a bib on him before feeding him breakfast this morning. He really had me laughing last night when he said, "How 'bout we give him a present?" He then came back with a gift bag for the bear!

Monday, December 20, 2010

Short video...Just a little of what the boys were up to today.

Hodgepodge

Tomorrow is our 14th wedding anniversary. Wes brought me 14 roses today. A dozen are red, and two of them are white to represent each of our boys. I don't feel old enough to be having a 14th anniversary!

I am blessed to be married to someone that makes me a better person. Wes is my rock, and he balances out a lot of my character flaws. He is so calm, and he brings peace to my stressed out type-A personality. I am glad he can overlook my pouty moments (which come way too often) and love me without holding anything against me. Sometimes a song says it best. Here are some of the lyrics to "Push" by Sarah McLaughlin...

Every time I look at you the world just melts away
All my troubles all my fears dissolve in your affections
You've seen me at my weakest but you take me as I am
And when I fall you offer me a softer place to land

[CHORUS:]
You stay the course you hold the line you keep it all together
You're the one true thing I know I can believe in
You're all the things that I desire, you save me, you complete me
You're the one true thing I know I can believe

I get mad so easy but you give me room to breathe
No matter what I say or do 'cause you're to good to fight about it
Even when I have to push just to see how far you'll go
You won't stoop down to battle but you never turn to go

[CHORUS]

Your love is just the antidote when nothing else will cure me
There are times I cant decide when I can't tell up from down
You make me feel less crazy when otherwise I'd drown
But you pick me up and brush me off and tell me I'm OK
Sometimes that's just what we need to get us through the day





Here are some of those crafts I've been working on...
My first attempt at polymer clay. (Well, actually my second attempt. I am too embarrassed to show my first attempt!)

This is a craft I found in a library book. It is a Christmas card caddy made from a cereal box!

Does anyone else find these as amusing as I do? I was so happy to see some new sayings this week because I always read them, and I always crack up laughing!

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Impressed





1 Timothy 4:12 says
"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."

Here are some young women who are setting a powerful example of advocating for the unloved. A 15 year old from Australia, an 18 year old living in Rhode Island, a 19 year old who lives in California, and a fourth young lady from Oregon all have something special in common. They each have a close family member with Down syndrome and care deeply for those orphans I have been blogging about from Reece's Rainbow. Taylah, Ashley, Mackenzie, and Savana have never met in person but have rallied together online to form an organization called "...to love the unloved." They are hosting give-aways, making service announcements, and doing many other works to get the word out and raise money to help these children find forever families. Many of us are moved by the thought of helping these babies who are in neglectful orphanages then moved on to institutions at the age of 4 or 5. Although not everyone can bring one of them home to care for, we can donate money to help someone else bring them home. It is an amazing concept. Imagine a family who wants to adopt, being able to chose a child that already has a huge part of the money waiting for them. We can help!

Click here to see a video these impressive young ladies made to get their message out.

Check out their blog by clicking here. You can also see their facebook page by clicking here.