I hope you had a truly magical Christmas celebrating with family and friends! Although I love this time of year, I have become keenly aware that hard times and difficult issues don’t take a holiday. My daughters, in particular my six year old, are asking some really tough questions. If God sees the kids who have no food or clothes …
Teach Them A Lesson
This week has been tough. My emotions are running just below the surface and range from unspeakable gratitude to nigh unspeakable sorrow. Christmas here is always a bittersweet time for our family, since we are home and yet away from home. We are soaking up the time together, reveling in the joy that comes from reflecting upon the miracle and …
Manger Mondays: Advent Link Up Week 3
I can’t believe the third week is over already! Time is really flying; and life is really hectic!! Next week will be our final Manger Mondays Link Up, to wrap up our Advent celebrations and let you report on how your final week before Christmas went! I didn’t think our Christmastime schedule was terribly busy, but it has been. Our …
Alone in the Dark
It’s the middle of December. The sun rises after 8am and sets fully by 4:30pm. It’s cold, rainy and dark. When I get up each morning and look out my windows, I see black. Pitch. Black. Not another soul seems to be awake at the same time, and I feel utterly alone. The darkness overwhelmed me last week as I …
Manger Mondays: Advent Link-Up Week 2
First of all, thank you so much to everyone who linked up last week! We had some really great posts! I truly enjoyed reading all of them! Erin from The Humbled Homemaker had several great ones, as did Mary from The Encouraging Home, Jessica over at The Bohemian Bowmans and several others!! “Advent Calendar for Broke People” by LeighAnn at …
The Magic of Christmas
Eyes sparkle with anticipation held wide so as not to miss a thing during a blink. Voices chatter constantly, pointing out this and that, here and there. Every bulb a delight, every twinkle a miracle. Cheeks ever rosy, noses frosty and red. Fingers tucked safely away inside mittens fidget and dance in anticipation. Marshmallows dance delicately in warm, smooth chocolate. …
Manger Mondays: Advent Link-Up Week 1
We have really loved our first week of Advent activities! I bought the girls a couple of secular Princess advent calendars that they get to open each morning before school and eat their little chocolate treat. It’s been fun to see what the shapes have been, and talk about how that fits in to our Christmas/Advent celebrations and how they …
What A Woman is Worth
I have always struggled with my self esteem. Despite having grown up in a wonderful, warm, loving home with parents who spoke love, value and grace into my life daily, I stuggled to feel valuable. Tormented by bullies and rejected by peers throughout my childhood, I found myself doubting and questioning my true value as a person, but more so …
“Manger Mondays”
I’m taking a break from Manic Mondays for awhile while I reevaluate in what direction I want to go. In the meantime, I’m very excited about a new endeavor I’m going to embark upon with my girls this advent season. I have never really done any kind of Advent activities with my kids (I tried last year, but it fizzled). …
Truth in the Tinsel {Review}
I can’t tell you how excited I am about this review! I have been wanting to incorporate some Advent traditions/activities/conversations into our family’s Christmas celebrations for awhile now. Last year I tried a set of devotionals a friend gave me. The ideas and everything presented in it were great and sound and based in Scripture (which is the most important …