An Eventful Christmas Story Time

Jo, Mo, and our little friends singing for everyone!

 

My, oh my. What an evening! Earlier this week my hubby and I took our kids and two other neighbor girls to our local library for their Christmas story time in pajamas. Daddy wasn't able to join us last year, so we were super excited that he was coming this time.

Daddy was a big help at craft time!

I was prepared for a jam packed room just like the year before. Nope, not this time. There were only a few others there and plenty of room for us all.

All of our kids sat nicely on the floor and joined in watching a short Donald Duck movie about Christmas. It was funny and my kids were laughing out loud - too cute!

Craft time!

They were handed a cup of coca (only half full, at my request) and two cookies. I knew it was coming and had made them meatballs for dinner, with some cheese and fruit on the side. Even though I thought I fed them well, it didn't sit well in some tummies.

Soon enough, the movie lost my son's attention and he began running in circles around the group of sitting children. I kept telling him to sit and he kept jumping up. Eventually I just grabbed him in a bear hug and sat on the floor with him.... then it happened. He burped, made a funny face and then threw up all of his dinner (and Christmas party snacks) on the floor in front of me. Just like a pro, I put my hand out to help the situation and it was soon overflowing with Jo's gift. Oh. My.

I told all the kids, "Don't look over here. Just scoot away. No honey, look the other way." Knowing the way some kids are, we could have really set off a vomit chain.

Our sweet children's librarian came to the rescue with rags for me to clean up the mess. I wiped off my sons shirt and gave him some water. Did he finally take it easy after that? Not one bit! He ran in circles, laughing all the way.

Sitting still for a bead craft.

To top off the night, all four kids stood on the stage and sang "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer". It was so precious!

Even so, after we finished the crafts and checked out a few books, I was glad to pack everyone up and head home... just in time for bed.

Oh, and my daughter was the only child to spill her entire cup of cocoa on the carpeted floor. Good thing it was only half full to begin with  :o)

After I told my mom this story she said, "Oh my goodness! You just never know what's going to happen when you take kids places." That sure is right. Life (and kids) are full of surprises!

I'm blessed to hold my kids, kiss them good night and pray over them. I try to take advantage of their requests to play Candy Land or swing together, knowing that so many moms and dads will not hold there babies on this earth again, after last week's tragedy.

So many sweet faces. They will be greatly missed on this earth.

They are now safe in Jesus' arms.

No matter the surprises kids bring into our lives, good or bad, they are such great blessings!

 

 

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,

the fruit of the womb a reward."

Psalm 127:3

 

 

I thank God today, and every day, for my children. This life wouldn't be the same without them.

Blessings,

Just Checking In

Happy December!

 

I can't believe that Christmas is 19 days away and 2013 is just around the corner!

Time is flying and we are having fun.

Snuggled with a blanket under our Christmas tree.

The past few weeks we have been preparing our Kids Club float for our local Christmas Parade! It has taken lots of work and dedication to complete but my husband and I are blessed to have some great help - his parents!

Last year's Kids Club Float - what a fun, cold day!

 

 

On top of that, my man has been building a shed in our backyard and we just got a puppy from the pound two weeks ago.

A picture of Buster (our dog) would be much more interesting, I know.

I have yet to take one of him!

These things take time and we only have so much of that each day. I like to prioritize and make lists, etc but sometimes I just need to relax and go with the flow... spend an entire morning playing with my little ones (without cleaning up something on the side), enjoy a family outing to the store (without rushing), and listen to the needs of those people that God brings my way (without having all the answers).

Morning fun, decorating gingerbread houses!

 

 

The finished product - pretty houses and kids full of sugar :o)

I pray that I am learning and maturing as time ticks on, may I not be the same wife or mother at the beginning of 2013 as I was this past year.


My heart's cry is, "God, change me! Mold me into the vessel that you have planned me to be - filled with your Spirit and ready to pour out on others your love and forgiveness without thinking twice about it."

Enjoying a sweet treat after learning the story behind the candy cane.

 

May your month be blessed and may Jesus come alive in your heart this holiday season.


In His GREAT Grace,




PS - I will leave you with these verses that are resonating in my spirit this week...

1 John 4:7-11

⁷ Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. ⁸ He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. ⁹ In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. ¹⁰ In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. ¹¹ Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

 

 

Overwhelmed By Love

I just had the honor and joy of praying with my husband before he set off for work. Before the sun rose in the sky today, the Son rose in our hearts and took His place on the throne of our lives.
 
My heart is overwhelmed by the love of my great God and of my dear husband.

 
 

God's gift to me - a family.

 

 
What did I do to deserve any of this? God 's love and forgiveness... my husband's loyalty, care and kindness? Nothing at all.
 
 

 

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Romans 5:8

 

 
Today I am thankful for the cross and all the promises that are true in Christ!

God's little blessings enjoying the leaves.

 

As we enter this season of thanksgiving and celebrating our King Jesus' first coming, may our hearts be captured with love!

 
In His Great Grace,
 


 
 

Thank you Hannah of Crackjack-Art Photography for the family photo session. We love you and your amazing talent. We had lots of fun!

 

Colossians Study {Week 6} and Harvest Party Time!

Today is a busy day around our house as we prepare for our annual F4K Kids Club Harvest Party tonight!

 
In Texas it goes from summer days to COLD, end-of-fall-almost-into-winter days... and that happened last night. Praying for an enjoyable time tonight and for the weather to reach the 60's  :o)

 
Here are a few pics from last year's fun!

We enjoyed carnival games, a puppet show on Dark vs Light,

prizes and a hayride.

 

Dear friends blessed us by helping with food and games!

 

Face paint was a HIT!

 

A hayride topped off the night!

 

We are down to only 2 weeks left of our GMG Online Bible Study!

This week's challenge is a BIG one, for sure! And with Gods' GREAT help, we can walk victorious!


Here are the verses we studied:


 ^{7 "}in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

⁸ But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. ⁹ Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, ¹⁰ and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, ¹¹ where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.
 
¹² Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long suffering; ¹³ bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. ¹⁴ But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection."

Colossians 3:7-14


As believers, filled with God's Spirit, we are to:

• Walk in NEW LIFE!

• Renew our knowledge in Christ

• View others as created in His image and LOVED by the King - no matter their lifestyle

• Love one another

• Bear with one another

• Forgive one another - just as Christ forgave us (again and again)

• Walk in the Spirit - dead to ourselves and alive in Christ!

I am challenged by God's Word to watch my tongue - not speaking in anger or frustration. This is a tough one, especially when teaching my children, who push the limits often.


These verses also encouraged me in speak and walk in love:

"He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,

and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city."

Proverbs 16:32

 

 

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue,

and those who love it will eat its fruit."

Proverbs 18:21

 

 

"The righteous mom walks in her integrity;

her children are blessed after her."

Proverbs 20:7 (italics are my application)

May God bless you with hope for the future and peace in your heart and home.



In His GREAT Grace,

I'm linked up with:

 



 

 

A Little Tape = Lots of FUN! {Thoughtful Momma Monday}

Thoughtful Momma Monday

Here's a way to have a little fun with your kids in your living room (or any carpeted area) this week! It's also a great tool to teach young ones to "stay-in-the-lines", or how to problem solve.

I used painter tape, but masking tape would work great!

We walked on the lines with our feet, and in between the lines - trying to get from the entrance to the exit. We also used cars and drove them through the maze!

Enter here!

 

Moriah pretended it was the corn maze that she heard about at the pumpkin patch (but never got to go in). 



The possibilities of designs with tape are endless. What a great way to learn to spell one's name or to learn numbers!

A little tape + some creative thinking = LOTS OF FUN!

Have fun with your little ones and have a blessed week,