December Daily: Day 3

Zzzzzzzz....oh, wait! It's not time for bed yet...gotta get that December Daily post in! Ha ha!!

Today was BUSY. We're looking forward to our little getaway this weekend, but I am moving sl-ow-ly. I can definitely tell that my energy is waning after 3 days of going strong this week. Anyway, enough about that...

Did a little sewing today, but this project's still a secret... that I can let you in on after the weekend. Just in case any of my family-type of readers are trying to peek. :)



So we're off to celebrate Christmas with Dan's side of the family this weekend at Sea World. There are many cousins on that side (almost 10 kiddos under the age of 9). Last year, someone had the brilliant idea for the cousins to exchange names and gift each other for Christmas. This has made it extra personal for our kids, they take a lot of time and thought choosing a gift that is just right for their chosen cousin.

Keeping it real here with the next photo...we whipped out the boob-tube babysitter tonight...the shame! ;) Packing can be a real challenge with this cute little blonde around that we lovingly refer to as "Taz". She just loves to come "help" and remove things from our big bag and distribute, I mean "pack" it into her purses/bags/laundry hamper...you get the picture! So movie night, it was.

That's all for Day 3, folks. Off to catch those Z's, gotta get some rest for the long journey tomorrow.

December Daily: Day 2

This is the way we "count down" to Christmas around here...sleeps are easy to grasp when you're 3 and 5! ;) Although Graham did mention to me tonight...."23 sleeps is a LOT, Mom!" This is a platter we received as a wedding gift that had a giant scratch down the center. I painted the middle with chalkboard paint, and voila! From serving platter to Christmas countdown chalkboard. ;)

We broke out our Christmas book collection...some I had as a teacher and others we've picked up at school book fairs, yard sales and the sale rack at B & N...this is our first year to have a full basket with enough for each day. In the years past, I've checked out many library books to fill-in so that we'd have a new book to read for each of the 25 days leading up to Christmas. Hannah Reece spent a lot of time in the rocking chair today either reading to her dolls, or to Charly, or with me. This is the first year that she completely "gets" Christmas, and is THRILLED about it...all of it!



We're headed to Sea World this weekend with the Oedy bunch...this is Grandma and Grandpa Oedy's Christmas gift to all of us. I made some muffins to freeze and take along for breakfast, plus working on laundry as I prepare to pack...looks like it's gonna be cold down there.

Reading, baking, laundering, preparing gifts, staying warm inside...that's day 2 in a nutshell.

December Daily: Day 1

A staying-busy-at-home kind of day today...started off with mugs of hot chocolate topped with whipped cream!

Graham's homework assignment and suggested activity on the advent calendar was to make a Christmas card for someone special...and so we did. We love a good excuse to get out stickers, glitter glue pens and such.

Our evening ended with a dog pile on top of our sore little pup...doesn't she look pitiful? She had 3 vaccinations at the vet today.

My heart is content, and longing to experience Christ afresh....Emmanuel....God is with us.

Preparing Our Hearts

Advent. Paper door calenders filled with chocolate morsels? A religious holiday? A calendar? A countdown? No, yes and kind of......

From Wikipedia: In Latin adventus is the translation of the Greek word parousia, commonly used in reference to the Second Coming. Christians believe that the season of Advent serves a dual reminder of the original waiting that was done by the Hebrews for the birth of their Messiah as well as the waiting that Christians today endure for the second coming of Christ.

I was brought up in a tradition of Protestant Christianity that yes, focused on preparing our hearts for Christ's birth. Now we belong to a tradition with the same focus, but in addition, advent is presented as a conscientious celebration, a four-week season, focused upon each week in corporate worship and as a means for individual meditation, as well. This season is full of traditions, with the aim of affirming Christians in faith by remembering God's promises in the Old Testament, relating to the prophecy of Christ's birth...and in the New Testament by prophecy of Christ's second coming.

Each year I grow to enjoy and anticipate the season of Advent more and more. Dan received an advent devotional book as a gift from Gordon-Conwell this year. It contains a daily devotional and scripture passage. There are many other Advent-related devotional books and even daily e-mails available online. Tools like these are excellent at helping to keep our family focused on Christ during this season of Advent. There are many resources available like this one and this one that our family has enjoyed working through together.

This year, I decided to bring the tradition of the Advent wreath "home". I picked up some little votive candles and placed them in some sand on a plate.

*The wreath (or circle in this case) represents ongoing, everlasting life

*Five colored candles:

1. The 1st purple candle, or the "Prophecy Candle" represents the HOPE or expectation of the coming Messiah
2. The 2nd purple candle, or the "Bethlehem Candle" represents the LOVE of God in sending a Savior...and in his provision of an empty manger awaiting the Christ-child
3. The pink (or rose in this case) the "Shephard's Candle" represents the JOY the shephards had upon receiving the news of Christ's birth
4. The 3rd purple candle, or the "Angel's Candle" represents PEACE and is lit on the 4th Sunday of Advent
5. On Christmas Eve, the white center candle is traditionally lit. This candle is called the "Christ Candle" and represents the life of Christ that has come into the world. The color of white represents PURITY. Christ is the sinless, spotless, pure Savior. Also, those who receive Christ as Savior are washed of their sins and made whiter than snow.

*The candle flame represents comfort of light in darkness, or in a time of waiting

Once a week, we will light the appropriate advent candle and read and discuss a passage of scripture (I'll list them below) together. I really like the website I mentioned above, because it contains activities and coloring pages that help extend the scripture lesson.

Here are the scripture passages we'll be reading each week of Advent:

1st week: Luke 1:26-38

2nd week: Luke 2:8-20

3rd week: Luke 2

4th week: Matthew 2:1-12

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On a different note, I'm going to try to post every day in the month of December....as a way of documenting this season of our lives during the celebration of Advent. I did this last year and spent a LOT of time making a special book to hold these memories. This year I plan to simplify the process somewhat and document our days with a digital scrapbook album, in hopes that it'll be less time consuming.

I can't believe it, but as of today, we are FINISHED Christmas shopping and (very simply) decorating. I still have a few little crafty projects to finish like Graham's teacher gifts and gifts for the women at my table for MOPS. I tire easily these days...it seems like it should be the third trimester already...I'm feeling so worn out! I'm actually only 23 weeks along today. Maybe that's just how it goes with the third pregnancy...not enough energy to go around. ;) Lord, give me strength and the ablility to prioritize what's important and needed.

My hope and prayer is that this season will be enjoyable and reflective of the HOPE, LOVE, JOY and PEACE that Christ intends to manifest in our hearts!

Thanksgiving Week in a Nutshell (and lots and lots of pictures!)

Here's a glimpse of the last few weeks in pictures...we've got wildlife up in these parts! Check it out...the little bunny on our back porch

Lots of squirrels hang out in the yard, and several mornings now Dan's spotted deer crossing the road just a block away from our house.

And here's our very own little piece of wildlife...how nice that she doubles for a leaf collector! Time for a bath stinky girl...

Dan and Graham flew to Florida last weekend. While Dan worked and preached, Graham got LOTS of quality time with his cousins, Aunt and Uncle and Grandparents. He definitely needed and enjoyed the time with family and friends. Sometimes I'm surprised at how MUCH he misses folks back in Florida He had a ball. Dan flew back on Tuesday morning, and Graham drove up to N. Carloina with my folks after a quick pit-stop for all of us on Thanksgiving at my Aunt Sue and Uncle Larry's place in South Carolina. The kiddos had a ball playing in the giant piles of colorful leaves...and I had a ball snappin' some pics of our little people!



Can you tell they're just a little happy to be reunited after 4 days apart??

What FUN! We kissed, hugged, ate, visited, ate some more, played outside, ate, visited, kissed, hugged and drove home. My pants felt so TIGHT for that 2 hour drive home!

Jumping back a bit to the weekend while Dan and Graham were away...Hannah Reece and I had some girly-type fun. You know...dollar section junkin' at T*rget, dancin' to Taylor Swift while we make silly faces and take pictures of each other...yeah, that type of fun! And if you hear my girl say..."Momma, let's watch Gilmore Girls and snuggle up on the couch and eat some chocowate!" I'll act like I have no earthly idea what she's talking about. Try not to feel scared by my naked face and bed hair!

Then for the next part of the weekend, my brother and his family stopped by for a few days to visit before heading on to Thanksgiving at Liz's parents house in South Carolina. The kids had a ball, Hannah Reece and Kailey played dress up to their heart's content and Ethan had a monopoly on Graham's cars and trucks-much to his delight. ;)

To top of a wonderful week, my parents followed us home from Thanksgiving at Aunt Sue and Uncle Larry's. We went to IKEA for their $1 meatball meal special :) and walked around on Friday. That pretty much wore us out for the weekend so we just hung out at home together eating Thanksgiving leftovers and playing together. It was a sweet time. I was so sad to see them go...Christmas roadtrip to Florida will be here before we know it!

In the good times and the hard ones...my heart is grateful. God is faithful and I trust that He is working all things together for His glory and for our best.

Overnight Pecan Rolls

Just added this recipe over here...courtesy of my mother-in-law, Nancy. Easy, gooey, goodness on a cool morning. Perfect for a holiday breakfast or when you've gotta have something delicious and simple for a morning meeting....enjoy!

Overnight Pecan Rolls

from the Kitchen of my mother-in-law, Nancy

Ingredients:

1 package frozen Bridgeford Parkerhouse rolls (24)

3.5 oz (small) box butterscotch pudding (cook 'n serve, not instant)

3/4 c. brown sugar

1/4 c. butter or margarine, melted (I used butter)

1 1/2-2 c. chopped pecans (you want a solid coating on the bottom of the pan)

Directions:

1. Generously butter 9x13 inch pan.


2. Spread pecans on the bottom of pan.


3. Space frozen rolls on top of pecans.


4. Spread remaining ingredients evenly on top.


5. Place in cold oven overnight to rise. (plan to bake 8-9 hours from now)


6. In the morning, bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 20-24 minutes.


7. Cool slightly and flip pan over on serving tray (or hillbilly-style like me, on a foil covered cookie sheet)


8. Serve and try not to devour the entire pan yourself. ;)

This one is a family favorite, and my husband LOVES them! They are gooey goodness. The hardest part of this recipe is locating the ingredients. Hubby found the rolls at Bi-Lo and the pudding at Target. The rolls could be under various brand names, look for the individual, frozen, pre-formed balls that are floating around in the bag.