Merry Christmas

Christmas is drawing closer - 11 days a friend emailed me today. At first I thought she was mistaken! Then I realized she was right!

We are ready. My to do list is short:

1. Ship package Tuesday night
2. Do final Costco shop Tuesday night (no grocery stores until after Christmas - oh the joy of the CSA box!)
3. Do some more baking
4. Love my family extra special, lots and lots.
   

Okay, so number 4 is only on there because it is the reason I decided to take a bloggy break until the New Year. We are having lots of fun this Advent season, but it is taking time to prepare that extra fun, and extra time is only found by cutting out other things, which means my computer time, as you can tell by the lack of posts!

I wish you a wonderful Christmas season, and pray that the Lord blesses you as we celebrate His birthday! May He be glorified by and be the center of our celebrations!

See you in the new year!

More Than A To Do List

This time of year finds many women at the mercy or under the tyranny of their to do list, and I confess, I am often no different. As the girls become increasingly aware of things around them I am reminded that life is more than a to do list, life is essentially about living every day to the glory of God.

I certainly don't have this down perfect, but I am slowly learning.

Many friends have praised me for having my shopping done and mostly wrapped...not hard when most of the things that need to leave our house ship internationally! They had to be out last Saturday!

As for the wrapped part - we used a lot of furoshiki this year, and the toys all came from a store that wrapped them for me.

I am skipping the newsletter for the Christmas card this year, I just cannot get it done and be a good mom right now. Not a hard priority call once I realized that that was the trade off.

We are happily baking away - yes it goes slower with little helpers and the mess is bigger, but then, so are the smiles.

When little girls hold up a book, even the one I have read many times today, I am trying hard to say yes.

Yes to reading.

Yes to snuggling and watching a Christmas special...

...or the family hockey night we have planned to watch a game this weekend.

Yes to reading the lunch time advent reading one more time (yes, they ask for the Bible passage to be read again).

Yes to lighting the advent candles every meal and taking turns blowing them out.

Yes to help wrapping presents.

Yes to help of little ones with the Christmas cards.

It is not helping my to do list very much, but it most certainly is helping my joy, and my family's joy too!

Multitude Monday 22

I lost my little list I keep during the week, something new I was doing, so this list is just off the top of my head!

237. Christmas shopping is done, we are just waiting for a couple orders to arrive

238. ...and the presents that need to be shipped are all gone except for 1 that is awaiting its second half, which is arriving on Wednesday.

239. ...and most of the presents are wrapped and under the tree, but that is mostly thanks to my favorite store that wraps everything for you but has excellent prices!

240. The Christmas tree has been up for almost 2 weeks and has not been completely redecorated by little people. Admired and touched, yes, but only 2 ornaments were removed.

241. The Christmas cards with pictures are ordered, the list of who will get them is prepared with addresses, so the hardest is done.

242. We did find a light up angel for our window. I am still on the look out for a nativity, but that can wait for next year.

243. Little girls who seem to grasp firmly that Christmas is about a lot more than gifts...

244. ...who are enjoying celebrating Advent and looking forward to Jesus' birthday.

245. A husband who likes to surprise me!

246. That we found rubber boots for all the girls in the house and new work shoes for my husband for Christmas, but he has them already because he could not wait.

247. A beautiful quilted Advent calendar where you add pieces to make a nativity that just arrived in the mail today - such a beautiful and special gift.

248. The indescribably Gift.

Christmas Shopping...

...is done.

I do have one thing on hold that my husband will pick up tomorrow (it was not available at the store we were at), and am waiting for a few deliveries.

But it is done.

And so am I.

A Servant's Heart

After reading this beautiful post this morning it is clear in my heart that there is nothing more valuable I can write today than to send you to read it. It made me cry.

This Week's CSA Box

This week we are getting some delicious things in our box - but I think I say that every time.

We will be receiving:

Roma Tomatoes, Organic - 1.5 pounds
Bunched Carrots, Organic - 1 bunch
Red Cabbage, Organic - 1 each
Yellow Onions, Organic - 3 each
Avocados, Organic - 3 each
Cucumbers, Organic - 1 each
Satsuma, Organic - 6 each
Broccoli, Organic - 1 each
Satsuma, Organic - 6 each (yes, I am getting a second 6)
Valencia Oranges, Organic - 6 each
Bartlett Pears, Organic - 5 each
Braeburn Apples, Organic - 6 each


I am thinking guacamole and chips one night, fresh squeezed OJ to go with pancakes one night, and that is as far as I got!

Now that I start thinking I wonder if I should not make some Carne Asada with fresh salsa to go with that guacamole....

What would you be thinking of this box was being delivered to you tonight?

January Bible in 90 Days!

All the info for the Bible in 90 Days beginning January 3 is available here! I just cannot recommend it enough!