It's the build up...

The nativity scenes, the music, the lights, the decorations, the shopping, the parties, sometimes the snow, the movies, and of course the food are what make Christmas, Christmas, for me.  It's not the actual day, it's the build up, the excitement for the coming of the actual day that makes me happiest.  I love staring at the tree, listening to Christmas music, thinking of how much fun getting together with family and friends will be.  Thinking of my kids and how much fun they are going to have in the coming days.

It seems as though I need a wake up call this year.  I've been letting life's problems get me down, making this season not as bright.  I've been dwelling on the bad, instead of the good, not trusting that God is putting the pieces together in a perfect and beautiful life puzzle, just like He always has and will.  I need to focus the lens of my life on what I have, not what I want, because what I have is so good, and way more than I need or deserve.

Why do I always drown myself in the sorrows of my problems, forgetting that God has never failed to provide?  When I remember His provisions and everything He does, His peace surrounds me and I feel like myself again.  I am able to celebrate and focus on the good stuff which makes life so much better!

So, here's to getting a better focus and holding onto it for the coming year!  Happiness focused.

Oh Christmas...

You make me wanna do this...

and a little of this...

and possibly a tad of this...

Peppermint mergingues anyone? I know, a little overkill...I have never made a meringue that whipped up like that and as long as I have little kids running around I'm probably not going to try it! 

Notice anything different about this blog entry? I'm using pictures from the internet.  I think I can finagle a few more unseen pics of my own from before the big camera accident, but until the camera is replaced it's either this or blurry pictures from my phone.

So, in birth order, here are some pics I've been meaning to post but haven't. Starting with our first born, Melanie!

Bouncy house party, cute shoes, and perfect colorer. :)

And our middle kid, Easton!

My happy boy, bouncy house, posing, making art projects, coloring!

And our baby, Skyelynn

Just being her cute baby self!

Christmas time brings happy kids and yummy desserts, two of my favorite things!

What does Christmas make you want to do?

Forget me not...

I forget to switch the laundry..and then I have to re-wash the load.  I forget the cookies in the oven and we have crispy cookies.  I forget to pay a bill, to make a phone call, to pick up butter at the store, but there are 3 little things I make sure to remember.

Here they are, 1,2, and 3--well 4 if you count Guapo.  I couldn't forget them if I tried.  They wouldn't let me! Plus they're so darn cute I don't think anyone could forget them.
There is just one problem, I broke my camera the other day.  These are a few of the last shots I got before dropping the camera on the floor--last time I try to take a picture one handed with a baby on my hip!
As I was saying, I can't forget them, and they won't let me.  For example, when we go upstairs, this is what Easton says every time, "Mom, wait for me!!" (add whiny voice and sad face  and you've got the full effect.)  Or Melanie when she's tired, "Mom, I want you." as she climbs on my lap to cozy with me.  Or Skyelynn, when she's in someone else's arms, following me with her gaze, making sure I'm still around to take her back into my arms.  It's all the little things they do that say "forget me not!"  And I love it.  I love that they need me, want me, love me, because I need, love, and want them too! :)
So, kids of mine, this is my message to you also, FORGET ME NOT!  Because someday you will not want me as much in your lives...just forget me not.  

oh, and Guaps, same message to you, although I don't think I need to tell you!

Remember when God...

I saw this posted on a friend's face book status and it intrigued me.  Finishing that sentence would take a million pages. It would take as much ink as there is water in the oceans.  How could we ever even write down all or even have the capacity in our brains to remember all  the things God has done? It's impossible.
The awesome thing is that God knows.  He knows the short falls of our humanity.  The best we can do is simply thank Him for everything, knowing fully that anything that is good is from Him.
Here are some things that I think about and love to tell others that God did for me.
~He heard the longing of my heart and gave me a wonderful husband and provider.
~God turned my sadness of losing a baby through a miscarriage into the happiness of 3 little blessings named Mel, East, and Skye all in less than 4 years!
~He gave me a church and Bible study that taught me more about having a relationship with Him than I learned in all the years before going there.
~He's given me patience, a reason to live, smile more, hug tighter, talk sweetly, live more lovely, give more, expect less.......He's given me EVERYTHING!

Oh, hi little blessings :)

Dislike...

There are two things I do not like At. All. during the holidays.  Their names are "Sipping in Seattle's Latte Land" and "Christmas in the Northwest."  These songs have forever annoyed me because of their all out corniness that exceeds the limit of corny allowed for regular, old time, good Christmas songs.  Someone give me an amen! Anyone?
While I dislike these songs there is an abundant mess of things I absolutely love about this time of year. Taking it from the top:
1.) My sister playing Silver Bells on the piano and singing loudly and withA LOT of bravado like an old lady in church who thinks she sounds really good!
2.) Snowmen decor
3.) Our church all decorated
4.) Christmas movies
5.) Talking to my kids about baby Jesus
6.) Shopping
7.) Arts and crafts with the kids
8.) Saying "Merry Christmas"
9.) Decorating
10.) Looking at the tree while drinking my morning coffee

There is so much more I LOVE, but these are my top ten.  What are your faves?

And for my next trick...

I will make my kids extremely thankful this holiday season..umm ya right. We're working on it!  I wish we were all born grateful, with no expectations of being given the things we want.  I know I would be a much better person if that were true!
Now, for the real trick, I will resurrect my last Thanksgiving post and place some parts of it in this post because I remember liking what I wrote so much and I think you'll like it again too...at least that's what I tell myself.. :)
I wrote this last year and it applies to this year too:
Too many blessings to count..and if I really did eat them for dinner I would weigh a thousand pounds.
Since last Thanksgiving we have been blessed with another child, my husband's job, and many more things that are too many to sit and write.  It's an overflowing cup of love that we call our lives.  God does not let us down.
If  you did not try a serving of  thankfulness this year, go ahead, take a bite, it's delicious and it's the best meal you'll ever eat! It also makes you a better person.  My goal for now until next Thanksgiving is to be more thankful, not take anything for-granted, and show my gratitude to others more often!
Wow we've been blessed with ANOTHER child again this year too! 

Isn't she pretty? Don't worry we won't be adding a new baby every year--I think we're maxed out at 3 unless God provides a miracle. ;) But we will continue to put thankfulness on our plates and savor the wonderful flavor of it's goodness.
We've also been blessed with my husband's job again, as he was laid off for 2 months and recently back on the work wagon. I love that he works so hard and I don't tell him thank you enough.  I'll work on that this year too. :)
And yes, my goal of being more thankful remains the same, because being thankful can never max itself out.  It's a never ending goal.  
Ok, and one more thing, I'm thankful for this lopsided tree because it means kids are running around helping me decorate!

Check out the bottom right side of the tree...does your tree hang low? Does it wobble too and fro? Ours does! Sorry about the bad picture..it's from my phone which is dated back to the 1980's..just kidding! It's old, but I'm THANKFUL to have a phone. :)
So, where do you keep your thankfulness?

Inspiration...

It's something I've been needing for a while now.  My writing suffers because of it, my unorganized closets suffer because of it, and other things like reading, cleaning, keeping in touch with family and friends, well, almost everything suffers when inspiration is lost.
But this morning I saw something that brought me some more of this inspiration I've been craving.  I watched my husband get up at 4:30, and after showering and getting dressed, he walked into each of our kids' rooms and hugged and kissed them while they slept.  He does this everyday, but today was one of the rare mornings I was still upstairs to see it. It's endearing to see a man be soft and sweet.  You've heard it said that when you see your husband with your kids you fall in love all over again, that would be true!
This week is going to be a busy one.  I have recipes to make, nooks and crannies to clean, a birthday party to plan and kids to entertain while I do all of this.  Inspiration is a must.  If I start to lose it again, I'll picture my husband making the rounds to kiss the kids goodbye while they sleep.
And if that isn't inspiration enough..this little girl squinting to watch her daddy and brother and sister outside playing is pretty inspiring. :)

Sorry about the lapse in blog posts, I'll try to be better about writing now that I've found my inspiration!