I'm Back!

After a year's hiatus, here I am.  It has been a full year.  Filled with lots of parenting...the joys, the struggles, the snuggling, the commitment of time and energy, and realizing how fast my children are growing...it has been so good to focus on them.  Full of learning and growing in my marriage (oh what a blessing it is to me!).  Full of knowing God more (what could possibly be better?!), learning to trust Him more, seeking Him more.  Full of family, big decisions, hard times, new ministry opportunities, and relationships with friends.  Looking back, I can see so many bumps in the road...several difficult times, but most of all...I see God.  Through everything, always there, constant, sovereign, always good.  I can't be thankful enough.

I've truly missed blogging over the past year, but I know taking a break was the right thing for the time.  As I looked back over the past few years of my blog, it brought back so many memories for me.  It really made me miss having this "journal" to keep track of what goes on in life.  And to share.  I love that life isn't meant to be lived alone, but also to share.  To learn, to grow, to inspire and be inspired by others.  I really do appreciate all of you who have been my readers (and hopefully will come back!!).

I have so much to write about...what God is teaching me, photos, crafts, organizing, kids, healthy eating and living, stories of life's special moments, recipes, homeschooling, marriage, and all kinds of stuff in between.

So stick around!  I'll be posting very soon about the books on my list for 2013 and other new year's goals!

The moments that are joy...

Me with my sweet snuggle-bug.

A moment to muse

I sit here.

Thinking.  Mind spinning.

So much to say.  So long since I have said anything here.

My head is full of new thoughts and ideas.  And old ones too.  Memories I want to share, happenings from the holidays.

Whenever I sit down to write here...I get overwhelmed by all the stuff I have to say.  And then I must jump up to chase down my 11 month-old, the one who is walking EVERYWHERE, and the one who likes to eat EVERYTHING.

Then I sit back down, but not for long and I'm off to help with a potty trip, or to solve a sibling argument.

Then it's time to nurse my baby.  I have always been able to type while nursing...until this baby.  He is WAAY to easily distracted and he won't have it.  I can get on the computer and use the mouse with one hand, if I don't move too much, but typing, that's just out of the question, according to my little man.

Sigh.

I get frustrated because I feel like I NEED a moment.  To focus.  To get out all this stuff in my head.

But it's more impossible than it was even a few weeks ago.  With a new walker, homeschooling, and all the other stuff that's going on...you get the picture.

Then I remind myself.  Being here with my children, playing with them, solving arguments, chasing, cleaning up messes, giving hugs, cooking for my family, trying to clean up the tornado-struck living room strewn with toys, that's my job.  That IS most important.  That is what I NEED.  That is what I'm here to do.  First.

So I can't promise you when I'll blog next.  I hope it will be soon.  I miss it.

I'm working on getting better sleep and trying to get a routine down so that I won't be so brain dead when I finally do get a chance to sit down.

I hope to share my goals for this year soon.

But now the kitchen still needs to be cleaned and I'm getting very sleepy...

Off I go!

Merry Christmas!!

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”    -Isaiah 9:6

Haul out the holly...

Tis the season to celebrate!  :-)

We're deep in celebration mode around here...

making ornaments

decorating the tree

enjoying Christmas parties

baking cookies {healthy cookies, of course!}

making homemade gifts

shopping

battling colds {doing a lot of this, yet being so thankful for good health overall}

pondering resolutions for the year ahead

gazing at the Christmas lights

trying to balance generosity and frugality

wrapping gifts

taking pictures

talking about Jesus and His birth in a stable

singing Christmas carols {LOVE the way my girls sing them}  :-)


In other news, my husband started a new job yesterday {such a blessing}, so there is lots of working going on too...finishing out his last two weeks at the old job and working into the new one at the same time.  Changes in life, trying to maintain some kind of routine amidst it all, thinking ahead, planning, realizing that the new year is just around the corner...how did it sneak up so fast??

I'm loving that as the children get just a little bit older their understandings of Jesus and our celebration of Him, is deepening.  I know that things should be more crazy as we celebrate the Joy of the world, our Savior, The Changer of our lives, yet at the same time, we try hard to keep it simple, so that we can focus on Jesus without too much distraction of hustle and bustle, so that we can teach our Children what this season is really all about.

Making homemade gifts has been so much fun.  It's ok if they're not perfect, it's about the love and the time spent to bless another person.  I want to post more about what I have been making, but haven't had the time yet.  Maybe soon.  Remember, we can teach our children to delight in the simple.  No need to spend lots of money for it to be special.  Last year my hubby made the sweetest doll house for our girls {I've never showed it to you, sorry!}  Here are a few simple, last minute ideas that are DIY projects I have featured in the past.  These would make wonderful gifts!  :-)

Girl's Ruffled T-Shirt Skirt

Girl's Ruffle Pants

Boo Boo Rice Pack

Felt Pizza

Massage Oil

Braided Fabric Necklace

Photo Frame Hair Bow Holder


I'll tell you some of the things hubby and I are making this year...

Magnetic Cookie Sheet Bulletin Boards  {tutorial to come soon}

Sweet Sleep Pillows

Ruffle Aprons {tutorial to come soon}

Doll Bed {out of a pallet}

Doll Bed Bedding

...and some surprises for hubby, but I can't tell you yet!


Happy week before Christmas!!