phone photos of Christmas

Hopefully at some point I will find the cord that allows me to transfer photos from my "real" camera to my computer, but until then these will have to do.

Mollie Makes

Two days ago while I was standing in the extremely long line at Joann Fabric I came across the magazine Mollie Makes (http://issuu.com/futurepublishing/docs/molliemakes35). Since I had a gift card I paid the $12 for a copy of it because it looked that good.  Of course it is made in the UK and of course to subscribe for a year cost around $100 for us in the US.  However, if I hire myself out as a babysitter a few evenings a week (I joke, I joke-sorta...) I actually might make enough extra money to get it. I knew it was my ideal type of magazine when the bottom of the first page summarized the magazine with these words "making, thrifting, collecting, crafting". If you asked me to make a list of some of my main loves these would be in a portion of it.  So, if you have never heard of this magazine and have interest in similar areas as me you might want to run to Joann's. What other magazines/blogs am I missing out on people? I don't keep them from you? Please share!

homemade tags

I have been happily tucked away in my house working on little tags to make Christmas gifts extra special. The process does of course get interesting when three little ones constantly want to join you-but if you sign up for this mommy thing you have to expect these sorts of hurdles right?  I am hoping these personal touches help mask my unwise choice of buying inexpensive wrapping paper. Have you ever tried to wrap with inexpensive paper? It never, never, never looks good. Hopefully handmade tags will help.

How are you adding a personal touch to your presents?

my favorite carol

 

When lyrics and melody compliment one another a song is able to stir one's heart in a unique and powerful way. I have always found this Christmas carol to move my soul in a way few songs are able to.  I have highlighted my favorite portions of the song below.

 

 

 

 

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace. Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease. Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

What is your favorite Christmas carol and why?

a huge heart/someone who gets it

It was a rough day on Monday. I was sick with a bad cough. Isabelle was sick with a cough and the other two were flirting with it. I felt spent before I even got out of bed if that tells you anything. In my brilliant state of mind I decided to work on some Zumba routines. I had a class that evening and the current songs were feeling old and lame. I worked all morning while the kids made a mess. When I finally finished choreographing I was exhausted. Dancing when you have a bad cough is a great combo (nope). One look at the mess the littles had made and I was over the edge. I am not sure if I yelled (statistics would say yes) but I know I cried. A lot.  "I don't want to clean this all up./I am so tired./ I just don't feel well and mommies never get a day off!/ I cannot even stop to be sad about this because I have so much to do!/ and the final one I can remember came out as I was pulling wet laundry out of the washer "I basically am a slave" (whoops-drama is in my blood what can I say?)


The sweet kids helped clean up the mess which took a whole of 3 minutes. Isabelle fled to the basement and I got myself together enough to stop crying. Looking in the mirror after incidents like this is never a good idea especially if you get swollen and red at the thought of tears. As I started making lunch and remembering just how good I have it and how gracious God is to me I noticed Isabelle coming up and down the stairs a lot. The basement is freezing this time of year and I thought I must have really unnerved her to make her willing to play down there for a while. I didn't blame her. I felt badly. Then up the stairs she came and handed me this with a hug

and I wanted to cry all over again. More than that big beautiful heart with the words "I love you Mom" got to me was that fact she is able to love someone when they act ugly and sinful. She understands how to forgive so quickly that her first reaction to being treated badly is to offer a huge heart that says I love you. God has been teaching her a thing or two about love that is for sure. Thank goodness we have a Savior because I need him! On good days, on bad days...every single day.