The Reason for the Season

I've been counting down the days, listening to Christmas music constantly, baking, shopping, wrapping, and caroling.  I love this time of year and all that it brings.  Or what it doesn't bring, in our case... no snow :(  I just would like it to slow down a little, a smidgen.  I want to take it all in, do everything Christmas and bask in every minute. But, it doesn't work that way.  I know as soon as Thanksgiving is wrapped up and the last piece of pie is eaten, the race to Christmas begins.  The "race", sometimes it really does feel that way.  Time spinning before your eyes and you wonder how it is December 23rd and you don't have it all done.  I didn't want to get caught up in the nauseating chaos of Christmas this year.  I wanted more of a focus on Jesus, I didn't want to miss the reason for this blessed season. So, I decided I would do just that....make Him first this season.  How would I accomplish this task I have set on in such a busy season?  I started reading The Greatest Gift Unwrapping The Full Love Story of Christmas by Ann Voskamp.  I absolutely love this book. It is a devotional with a reading for everyday and some points to ponder at the end of the chapter.  I'm loving how everyday starts off with Jesus at the forefront, before any of my thoughts escape to the dizzying chaos of this season.  I am still a little crazy over all the things on my to-do list that need to be checked off before my chalkboard countdown says time is out, but I will rest in the fact that Jesus is my peace amongst all the chaos.  

            This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the                                                     world that we might live through him.
                                                                                                                 1 John 4:9 NIV

The gift we have received, the gift of Jesus shouldn't be celebrated just at Christmas...but, everyday.  
So, as I struggle to keep it all together this holiday season. I will hold tight in the knowledge of knowing my Savior and receiving the greatest gift of all...Salvation. 

May God bless you and your family this holiday season.   The greatest gift isn't under the tree in the bright, shiny paper but living in our hearts as we welcome the baby Jesus this Christmas. 

Verse

More pics of my surroundings...

I absolutely love taking pics of the sunrises around here.  The bridge is such an awesome backdrop to the beautiful sunrises.

I enjoy the calm and beauty before heading off to work.

I love the moon hovering over the river.

I love the layer of fog on the lake that morning.

I love the way the sunlight bounces off the water. I love the sparkle.

My kids...actually getting along.

Me and Cullen.

Shane and his Capt. Jack impersonation.

Cullen trying it on too.

I love the things I am able to capture in photos, they mean the world to me.

Sunrise, Sky and Water

K5 Learning Review

K5 Learning has an online reading and math program for kindergarten to grade 5 students. I've been given a 6 week free trial to test and write a review of their program. If you are a blogger, you may want to check out their open invitation to write an online learning review of their program

My second child, Shane who is in 2nd grade is really struggling in Math and Reading.  This popped up in my email and I thought, what perfect timing!!  I am excited to review this product for K5 Learning and excited to see what it does for Shane.

Our First Real Snowfall

Joy Dare 13/366

Joy Dare 13/366 {Count #1000gifts in 2012: 3 gifts/day}
3 sounds you hear

The wishing of A Happy New Year.

Sounds of kids getting along.

The belly laugh of my baby.

Watch This...It Makes Sense!!!

I thought this was a cool idea.

This is from Mom's Toolbox:


Want to help me spread more joy and kindness this year?

Random acts of kindness are awesome, but what if we could be intentional about these acts of kindness, and not let a week (or day) go by when we didn’t share some joy with those around us with kind gestures?

Robyn, a friend of mine from high school, celebrated her birthday one year by committing one act of kindness for each year of her life, all in one day. She had a blast making other people’s day and her tweets about it inspired me to celebrate her birthday with my own acts of kindness that day, too. (Now she has established an organization to help people to do the same.)

The opportunities for kindness are out there, and I have no doubt many of you are taking those opportunities each and every day. But sometimes, we might need a little push, a simple reminder, a kindness assignment. And together we can share a LOT of kindness!

That’s why I am launching Operation Intentional #Kindness.

Each Sunday, here on MomsToolbox, I will post 5 kindness assignments as a part of Operation Intentional #Kindness. Throughout the week it will be our mission (should you choose to accept it) to perform at least 3 of the kindness assignments posted.

These won’t be difficult. And because you’ll have 5 to choose from, I’m sure you’ll find a few that will be a cinch to do.

Then, each week, let me know how it goes. Report back in the comments so we know you’re in and making a commitment to be intentional about kindness.

If you have any of your own ideas of ways to show intentional kindness, please share them so I can add them to our list of assignments.

Bloggers, feel free to grab my button to use on your own sites and invite your readers to join us.

Check out Mom's Toolbox for this week's assignment. 

My Boo turns 4.

Today my 3rd child, Brady turns 4.  She is my most energetic and mischievous child(her little brother is quickly following in her footsteps).

Her name is Brady Faith.  Brady means "spirited one".  And oh, does she live by her name!! 

Brady is my lovey then turns back around and does something very mischievous :)  I would have her no other way.  I love her eclectic style and her enthusiasm to never match.

Always wanting you to read to her :)

She always has a flower for her momma.

My little fish.

My helper in the kitchen.

Beautiful baby girl.

Crazy girl.

Determined.

Happy 4th Birthday to my Brady Boo.