For more Christmas cheer visit 5MFM.
Category: Real Life
Gratituesday
Laura suggested the final Gratituesday of 2008 should be How God was Great in 2008. I love this idea, so much that I already blogged about it a few weeks ago.
As I reflect on 2008 I can clearly see a larger picture unfolding. I know that sometimes, when you are in the middle of a trial or difficult circumstance it is hard to see beyond your situation. Just one year ago I was sitting in a 3 bedroom house, with a husband who was so drugged he couldn’t work, kids that had just been uprooted for the third time in a year, my grandfather was living out his final days in the hospital, and all my close friends lived somewhere else.
Now I look across the street at my old house, and I am alone because my husband is at work and I didn’t drive him there. My kids are surrounded by good friends, it is a joy to see their faces light up when we walk into church on Sundays. My grandfather passed away in January of this year, but I am rejoicing that he is now with Jesus and no longer suffering. I have made many good friends here in Maryland and am thankful to be surrounded by such wise women!
Looking back on our struggles over the past two years I am tempted to wonder, why me? But I will not. These last few years have taught me more about myself and helped me to grow in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I am thankful for my trials not because they made me strong, but because they made me weak. I realize now that the Lord doesn’t need strong vessels, he uses the weak ones. It is only through Him that I can be strong. How thankful I am that I am weak on my own! It really takes the pressure off of me! If I had to do everything on my own I would be a miserable failure, unable to cope with the storms that come my way.
If my strength lies in Him, then all I need is faith. Faith to persevere through the hard times, be joyful in all things, and give thanks to Him for everything.
Looking upward in 2009…
Make Time in 2009
I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions. While I am sure some people have had great success with them, I personally have never met anyone who lost 50 pounds, stopped smoking, run a marathon, or learned a foreign language because of a resolution.
I do believe in setting goals for the upcoming year. So this week, since we are not back into a full school schedule yet I am spending time creating a list of goals for 2009. I think it is easiest to break your goals into categories. I also believe in writing out your goals in pencil, erasable pen or on the computer so they can be changed. No lists in Sharpie! As time goes by, you might realize that some goals are not appropriate or doable, and there are others you want to add to your list.
Here are the categories for my 2009 Goals. I hope to have them written out by the end of the week.
- Books to Read
- Family Goals
- Financial Goals
- Homemaking Goals
- Homeschool Goals
- Personal Goals
- Places to Visit
- Spiritual Goals
On January 1, 2009 I will publish my goals. Just for fun I will put up a Mr. Linky and if you have a list of goals you can link up. It will be helpful to see what others our doing, not to compare ourselves, but to be able to encourage one another in our journey.
For more Talk about Tuesday visit Lara’s blog and for more Tackles visit 5MFM.
Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks Salute to Heroes 2009
Hats off to Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks for continuing their Heroes Salute in 2009.
In 2009 Anheuser-Busch Parks are offering:
- Complimentary admission for active duty military representing all five service branches, active members of a reserve or National Guard unit, and/or up to three direct dependents.
- Valid for one complimentary single-day admission per person, per year, to one of the following Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks:
- SeaWorld Orlando, San Diego, or San Antonio
- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay or Williamsburg
- Sesame Place
- Adventure Island
- Water Country USA
* Offer valid through 12/31/2009. Operating days and hours vary by park. Please check with specific park for current operating schedule.
To fill out the registration form visit the Salute to Heroes website.
We have taken advantage of this deal for several years. We always have a great time and we plan to go again this year.
Great news, Anheuser-Busch has continued its Hero’s Salute program for 2010!
Merry Christmas
From my family to yours…
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I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas, whether you be with friends, family, or a little of both.
My favorite Christmas song:
“Hope has Come”
Let us join with the angel voices
Let us join their happy song
All of heaven and earth rejoices
For the Lamb of God has come
He has come to rescue sinners
Come to meet our desperate need
He was born to bring forgiveness
Born for CalvaryAlleluia, Hope has come
Alleluia, Christ has come
We once were slaves in misery
Till You appeared and set us free
Alleluia, Hope has comeLet us lay our gifts before Him
Let us magnify His Name
With our thankful hearts adore Him
For the Lord has come to save
He has come to break sin’s power
He has come to set us free
Hope was born that glorious hour
Christ the mighty King
On the Ninth Day of Christmas
my true love gave to me….
Gingerbread Graham Cracker Houses
A long time ago in a land far, far away I was a perfectionist. Then I had more children than I could count on one hand. I stopped worrying about perfection and became more interested in the “fun” factor. It is much more fun for my kids to make lopsided, over frosted graham cracker houses than it is for them to watch me make a perfect gingerbread village.
The kids had a blast making these houses and they learned a little in the process – If you cover your “roof” with gumdrops it will probably collapse. Maybe one day they will grow up to be home builders or architects.
For more of the twelve days of Christmas visit Sprittibee’s blog.
12 Days of Christmas
I truly had planned a little blogging break this week, but I just have too much to say! A few more posts today and then you won’t see me again until next week. Well, I guess you don’t ever actually see me…
After a day of sitting in traffic and shopping with the entire state of Maryland I needed this little pick-me-up today.
Enjoy!
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28GUU1YbP_E]
On the 8th Day of Christmas
my true love gave to me….
hungry kids waiting for breakfast because mom stayed up too late the night before.
For more of the twelve days of Christmas visit Sprittibee’s blog.
And the Winners are….
The winner of the Motivated Moms 2009 Planner is….
Here are your random numbers:
31
Timestamp: 2008-12-22 15:51:06 UTC
That would be Chelle! Chelle requested the full sized planner to help her keep track of her two kiddos, plus one on the way.
The winner of the Progressive Dinner Apron contest is…
Here are your random numbers:
18
Timestamp: 2008-12-22 16:01:55 UTC
Jawan is the winner of the apron!
Thanks to all who entered the contests! It seems many of you need to get organized and start wearing aprons so I plan to have more giveaways in the new year!
I’ll be emailing the winners soon!
On the Seventh Day of Christmas…
my true love gave to me….
Dinner at Outback….
For more of the twelve days of Christmas visit Sprittibee’s blog.