Reflection

So as 2007 nears an end, I've been thinking of what has or hasn't been accomplished.  I've been very blessed this year dispite the toubles that arose, especially at years end.  I have my health and my family has been stong and healthy as well.  

Jordan starting school has been wonderful.  He's always learning, and amazes me everyday.  
I know he will do great things.

Melody celebrated her first year and had become quite the little character.  She's been a joy to this family, and even though 
I wanted a boy.....I wouldn't trade my little girl for anything.
 
2008 will bring one unexpected change.  I, unfortunately, won't be able to stay a SAHM.  This saddens me like I've never felt.  But hopefully I won't have to work for too long.  I pray that the company will be able to prosper once again, so I can enjoy my time at home with the kids.  Until then, I must do what I can to meet the needs of our family.

So dispite the change, I look forward to 2008.  

I resolve to be a better wife and mother.  I resolve to read the Word of God daily.  I resolve to be more prayerful, and find greater strength in the Lord.  I resolve to a heathier lifestyle, and teach my children as well.  I resolve to be better organized {comes with the working away from home}.

So those few who read this, I pray your 2008 will be a year of greatness, 
and that you will accomplish everything that will glorify our Heavenly 
Father and Saviour, Jesus Christ. 

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas {Belated}

Ok, so my internet hasn't been working the best these past couple of days, and besides I haven't been home much either.

We had a great Christmas.  Stay at mom's for the weekend and went home after a crowded, loud, but fun Christmas Eve party.  We went to Granny's house for a soup pot luck.  Some good food for all, then a White Elephant gift exchange.  That was fun to see what everyone brought, but at the same time it took forever since there were 54 people there.  

Christmas morning we got up, and opened present at home with the kids.  Jordan loved his train Santa brought, and Melody went straight for her new baby doll.  Then we headed over to celebrate the day with Loney's family.  We played games, and ate turkey, and just enjoyed each other's company.  The kids made out like bandits as far as gifts go....guess I gotta declutter their bed room huh!?!

Here's a few pictures from the weekend:


Melody in her new Christmas dress before heading to church.

The Reason for the Season

I did another layout today for the Faith Sister's weekly Challenge.  This week was to scrapbook the reason you celebrate Christmas.  I realized as I was putting this layout together I haven't been focusing on having Christ be apart of my life.  Through the stuggles and business of life, I have lost sight of what's important.  That without Christ, there is no life, there is no hope, there is no joy.  He has given me everything though I do not deserve it.  I hope everyone reading this will always remember why we celebrate Christmas.  He is my Saviour and Redeemer, and I must allow His light to shine through me.



Digital Kit:  Frosted by Michelle Coleman {Little Dreamer Designs} http://memorymakersmagazine.com/article.aspx?id=219
Font:  Quill

Challenge Winner

So my Year in Review layout was the challenge winner over at Faith Sisters.  You can check out the blog here:  http://faith-sisters.blogspot.com/

Ooops....

So I did an oops last night.  Something that I may regret today.   We went to mom and dad's house yesterday for Choir practice, and after we left I realized that I had left "Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas" dvd.  Jordan is going to go through withdrawls all week if I don't think of something quick.  What to do?!?  I guess he's either going to have to find something else to bide his time with or, I'll have to make a trip into town today to pick it up.  

I've got so much to do this week before Christmas, I hope I can get it all done.  I've got teacher gifts to make {Jordan has one teacher and 4 or 5 aides}, I need to get my cards printed and out, and I need to clean the house.  Hopefully I'll find the energy to get stuff done.  Perhaps I'll just put on Christmas music and get busy.  

Year in Review

So, I am participating in a challenge over at Faith Sisters.  It's to do a year in review page and I decided to do it.  I'm so excited to actually be doing a page.  It's been so long since I have.  I've had such a creative block I've not known what to do.  I'm so proud of the page.  Just simple and elegant...just like me.  :)

Christmas Cards

Ok, so I've got to decide if I'm going to make my Christmas Cards or not.  I might not be able to because of not having all of the stuff for it.  So just in case, I made a digi card yesterday.  I think it turned out adorable, but that's just me.

Nice Weekend

So, I had a pretty good weekend, and saw my cutie of a great nephew Zane.  He is so tiny.  He reminded me of how small Melody was when she was born, and now she's this humongous 14 month old toddler.  How fast they grow.

Joni is visiting me for a few days, and I'm really excited about that.  We don't get to see each other as much as I would like {mostly because I live in Pahrump} but I savor the moments we do spend together.

I've got to work on my Christmas cards this week, but might have to make a trip into vegas before I can finish.  What a bummer.  

Man oh Man

Just thought I'd blog real quick before heading to bed.  Today was a semi stressful day.  Been trying to get goodies finished so I can work on other things before Christmas.  I should be finished tomorrow or Friday.  It was kinda slow going today.

Melody was whining all afternoon, and I realized later she had a fever and wanted mom.  So I got her jammies on, as well as Jordan's and we snuggled on the couch and watched The Year Without a Santa Claus.  Jordan fell asleep and Melody was soon to follow.  Now it seems I may be coming down with something too.  On with the Vitamin C......

Monday Blues

Ok, so maybe I don't exactly have the monday blues, but it is Monday and there's a lot that needs to get done.

I did get my Christmas decorations up Saturday and Sunday.  Although my tree has yet to be decorated.  It'll probably get done today after I get a few things done around the house.

Jordan is such a sweet boy.  Lately he's been climbing into bed with me when he gets up in the morning and just cuddles until I decide it's time for me to get up.  I just love him with his sweet spirit.  Melody on the other hand.......a tornado waiting for a place to happen!!  Love her too.  She is so funny though even if I'm on her constantly to get out of stuff.

Tomorrow I'm going to start making goodies to give to friends and neighbors.  My SIL Susan is going to come help.  She's from China, and this is her first real Christmas experience with family around her.  I found a super easy recipe though on Pillsbury.com that I think I may need to get the stuff for and make.



1 roll (16.5 oz) Pillsbury® Create 'n Bake® refrigerated sugar cookies
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons red sugar
3 tablespoons green sugar

DIRECTIONS
1. Cut cookie dough in half. Sprinkle 1/4 cup of the flour onto work surface. Roll out half of dough to 12x7-inch rectangle. Repeat with remaining half of dough and 1/4 cup flour. Sprinkle 1 rectangle evenly with red sugar; sprinkle green sugar evenly over second rectangle.

2. Starting with shortest side, roll up each rectangle jelly-roll fashion. Wrap rolls in waxed paper; refrigerate at least 1 hour for easier handling.

3. Heat oven to 350°F. Cut each roll into 16 slices. On ungreased cookie sheets, place slices 1 inch apart. Bake 7 to 9 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Cool 1 minute. Remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks.


Enjoy!!

Hooray!!

I am finally going to decorate my house for Christmas.  I don't care that my house isn't totally clean....it's going to get messy again while I unload stuff.  Then I can worry about cleaning the house afterwards.  I can't decorate the tree yet though.  Perhaps next weekend while my BF Joni is visiting.

Loney has been involved in a play group here in town and is putting on a Christmas play tonight so the kids and I are going to be doing that.  Should be fun seeing Loney prance around!!  
Santa will be there too so the kids can get their picture taken
....if they will.

So I'm off to get the boxes out of the garage and put things up around the house to really get my Christmas Spirit up!

Up

So I guess I needed to be up early this morning for some reason. So here I am, writing in my blog. Not much going on in my life, just trying to figure things out. What to do today, and planning for 2009. There is so much I want to get accomplished that I've got to sit down and write out what and how. That might have to wait until later though because I have got to get laundry caught up, and the house cleaned up before the weekend.  

But right now it's off to fix my hair and get Jordan up and ready for school. Perhaps we'll actually be ready for the bus this morning.

So Much...

There is so much to get done I don't know how I'm going to do it.  Luckily I was able to get up this morning and get Jordan on the bus (missed it yesterday).  I got my tree up but no decorations.  I almost had a nervous breakdown because I was suprised by 3 spiders living on my tree.  Guess it's time for a tree bag so that won't happen next year.  

I'm probably going to head to the store this morning after a shower so I can finish picking up stuff to make goodies.  Not too much left to get, but I'd like to get them done early in Dec and get plates to family and friends.  I'm going to try to make something new this year, but I need to pick up a small cookie cutter.  Hopefully Wal-Mart will have one.  

Well, I'm off to the shower.  Just a quick picture though of us at Thanksgiving.  Will probably use it for our Christmas cards.  We'll see if I end up liking them in the end.

Black Friday

Ok, so I admit....I went out on Black Friday.  Although I really hate to go out when there is a big crowd, there were a couple of things I needed so Loney, Jordan, Melody, Mom, Heather, Ian and I all headed out.  I found the cutest dress for Melody for her to wear the Sunday before Christmas.  I can't wait for her to wear it.

We had a great Thanksgiving.  Mom got a jump house for the kids to play in so the adults could relax a little bit inside.  They had a blast.  Jordan was out there with all the kids laughing and jumping with the best of them.  Melody seemed to be in the spot light for a lot of my family.  She is so adorable, but will probably get second reign when my niece has her baby next week.  I really don't mind because it just goes with the territory.

We took our family Christmas photo though I haven't uploaded any pictures yet so will post as soon as I do.  Loney is still trying to recover from his back getting hurt.  I pray he recovers soon, because I know he wants to get out there and put up the lights on the house.  (Right Loney!?!)

The person I really missed being at Thanksgiving was Joni.  I know she had her own family, but it's just not the same without her.  Perhaps next time.

Well, gotta get to bed.  It's been a busy day with shopping and Mom and I beating Heather and Loney to a few round of hand & foot.  Blessing to everyone.

So much to do.....

I hate these days when you have so much you need to get finished, but you have no energy to do it.  Of course that has been like that for me for a while.  I'm bad, I know.  Anyway, I'm trying to get laundry done before we're off to my parents house for Thanksgiving.  There's going to be 31 or so people there.  I like seeing all of my family, and I know my kids enjoy visiting grandma and grandpa.  It'll be nice to see my sister Heather from Washington as well.  I miss her so much.

Anyway, I hope everyone has a very Happy Thanksgiving, and don't spend too much on Black Friday.

The Dark Side

I guess it's now time for me to join the dark side and create my own blog.  This is something I've semi avoided because it's just quite a bit for me to keep up with.  But with family and friends not living in the same town, it's a great opportunity to keep them up to date with me and my family.  So I hope you all enjoy.