Be Thankful: Nov. 20

Today as I'm a bit worn down from a cold I am thankful that we as a family do not lead a busy lifestyle. During this season in our lives we don't have a lot of commitments or extra curriculars or anything that fills up our schedules. We're mostly just home, training up our children, and Kevin's at work providing for the family. So when an afternoon nap is much needed, that's still very possible, and when I need to turn in early for the night (like tonight probably! which is hard for me to do since I'm a night person) that too is easily possible. And I'm thankful for the freedom we still have to be flexible and just chill. Because I know that someday as the children get older, we'll start getting busier and busier with AWANA or music lessons or soccer or dance or who knows what. So for now, I am thankful for this. Good night.

Be Thankful: Nov. 19

I am thankful for the lessons I learned from Kevin working those 2.5 months of straight night shift....

* I was reminded how much I appreciate all that Kevin does around the house and how important a man is to running a home.
* I was reminded how much I love just being with my man. We may not be romantic, but it's us, and I love that.
* I learned how wonderful four days off in a row are! And to think that that's a regular part of his shift rotation!
* I was reminded how much of a blessing it is to share meals together as a family.

Today I am also thankful for...

* A good baby appointment today. Everything checked out right on track. It's a great blessing for my body to to handle pregnancies so well.
* Kevin majorly cleaning out the van of our little mouse traces. I'm good at finding places to put things away, and he's great at deep cleaning, so together we make a good team. And now our van smells wonderful!
* A nice afternoon to play outside for awhile!
* Sweet sweet ladies fellowship at church tonight!

Be Thankful: Nov. 18

Today I am thankful for...
* A productive morning and lazy afternoon.
* Cozy pants instead of uncomfortable preggie jeans.
* A warm cup of hot chocolate.
* Afternoon snuggles with my baby boy.
* Pizza Hut lunch buffet.
* A warm house.
* Fluffy outside kittens who do catch mice for us.
* Our sweet little family.

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Be Thankful: Nov. 17

Today I am thankful for....
* breakfast out as a family this morning followed by errands and grocery shopping. I just love being out and doing things together as a family, even if it's just getting groceries.
* an afternoon nap, even though I didn't get anything done on my to-do list today!
* the joy of watching the kids tromp around the house in their "new" snow boots.
* Kevin being home. Ahhh... it's just. so. nice.

"Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 5:19-20

What are you thankful for today??

Be Thankful: Nov. 16

"I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." Psalm 16:7-11

Monday Meanderings

Bible Study
Continue praise word study

Memory Verse
"Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 5:19-20

Husband Encouragement
* Just spending time with him! He has FOUR DAYS off this week! FINALLY!!!
* Cook some of his favorite meals, seeing that he really hasn't sat down to many home-cooked meals for quite some time now.

Train Them Up
* Kids' chores. We need to get back to this.

Absolutely MUST Do
* Send mail out.
* Pay bills.

Zone(s)
Kitchen counter. It's out. of. control. In that I'm trying to find a solution to cleaning tools that usually just lay all around the sink (ie bottle brush, the little drain cups, etc)

I also really need to clean upstairs (once Kevin is done sleeping up there during the day!!). With the installation of our windows last week we now have a thick layer of dust all over everything, and we need to vacuum for any broken glass that might be up there. Kevin got half the rooms done last week, but I haven't had time to finish! Still need to do master bedroom, guest bedroom, and bathroom.

Menu - Kevin's truck will be in the shop until the middle of next week (hit a deer yesterday morning), so I'm going to plan the meals for next week too since it's a short week and Kevin will be using the van to get to work.

Monday - hot dogs, Suddenly Salad (Kevin's favorite), apples
Tuesday - spinach and cheese enchiladas (already have the cheese and ricotta), fruit cocktail
Wednesday - chicken broccoli lo mein, orange
Thursday - toasted Italian sandwiches (have pepperoni to use up)
Friday - ham and cheese omelets, peaches
Saturday - something
Sunday - potluck after church! taking veggie pasta salad and enchilada dip

Monday - chili, pears
Tuesday - fried chicken, mashed potatoes, corn
Wednesday - pizza

FUN THINGS!
* Kevin's FOUR DAYS OFF and switch back to days!! Woohoo! That's enough for me!
* Baby appointment Thursday morning.
* Women's ministry fellowship Thursday night.
* Baby shower at the church Saturday morning for a friend who just had their new baby girl!


Join me with your weekly plans! Have a great week, sweet friends!

Be Thankful: Nov. 15

"Praise be to you, O Lord, God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting; yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name." 1 Chronicles 29:10-13

Today I am thankful...
* Kevin wasn't hurt from hitting a deer on his way home from work this morning. I am thankful his friend Craig was with him when it happened and they were able to get help. I am thankful that Kevin will have the next four days off so we won't really need his truck anyway, while we can hopefully get it repaired quickly.
* I am thankful we've made it through Kevin's looooong weeks of night shift. This is the last night!

What are you thankful for today??

Be Thankful: Nov. 14

I am thankful for today's shopping day out with several other of the MOPS moms! We had so much fun, had a lot of time to chat and get to know each other better, and got a good break from the regular duties of mommyhood. I am thankful for the new friends I'm still beginning to get to know. I am thankful for my mom driving down to watch the kids today and I'm thankful for the fact that we live close enough to do that at all. I am thankful the kids did so well while I was gone. And I am thankful I could return to see them again. I am thankful.

Be Thankful: Nov. 13

Things I am thankful for today:

* The library. What a great resource of FREE books!
* Fresh haircuts. On my husband.
* Quiet evenings.
* The kids actually ate their meals really well today!
* Deliciously soft cookies.
* Wonderfully-smelling, freshly-bathed children.

What are you thankful for right this moment??

Answer me this: This is the year!

Alrighty, friends, I really want your input on this one... Christmas is coming and with that comes Santa. We don't do Santa at our house, but Eli's old enough this year and already asking questions, I need to explain who Santa is. He's been seeing decorations/pictures of him around the stores and asking "Is that Jesus? Who is that?" I casually answer that it's Santa and then change the subject. I want him to know a) where the idea of Santa Claus came from, b) that he's no longer real, and c) that many people like to believe that he's real. And then we continue on with what Christmas is really about--celebrating the birth of Jesus. I want him to know the truth but not walk around blowing the cover to other kids! Of course this is something Kevin and I will have to sit down and discuss, but I thought I'd see if you had any advice to share! How do you explain Santa to your kids?