Labels: december photo

I mentioned that I'm looking for quietness this season! Certainly not something you hear much about when talking about Christmas - but an important place for my heart.

So, in the midst of all the busyness and bustle - how can I pursue and find quietness. Some of it I can find and some of it I need to create for myself.

I've been enjoying lovely quiet mornings ~ my children get up around 7:30 and since David is gone for work before 7, I make it my goal to get out to the living room by 7 a.m. I turn on the Christmas lights, sometimes I might make a cup of tea or hot chocolate and grab a book and a blanket. Then, I can snuggle in for a bit of reading and quiet before the day begins.

A favorite book that I read every December is Christ the Light of the World by Thomas Kinkade. I also try to read Shepherd's Abiding each December and have just started it over the weekend.

Just sitting and enjoying the Christmas lights, enjoying a time of prayer and thinking - starting my day out in peacefulness is starting the day out right. How do you create or find quietness during this busy season?

Labels: my walk with God, reflections

Labels: december photo

Labels: december photo

Labels: december photo

Did you have a *fun* day yesterday? We did! No school work was completed, no laundry was folded - but fun was had!

I'm glad I did not make a trip just to go to Kroger - I found their ad this week to be a bit misleading as far as the sales, and the mom in line behind me agreed. I got a few deals, but not what I had thought it would be! Fortunately, this was not the main attraction for the day!

Despite a forced detour on our way - we did make it to the mall to ride the train, the carousel, play in the soft play area and enjoy lunch!

I made these pancakes for dinner - and was skeptical that one batch would be enough for my little pancake lovers! But, indeed it made 15 pancakes and we have leftovers!

How do I shape Christmas pancakes? I found a box with these four molds on the after Christmas clearance last January at my mom's grocery store. This was the first time we'd tried them - aren't they fun?! And, yes - it was like serving dessert for dinner. We had popcorn and sliced apples later with our movie.

Today's theme is inviting and giving ~ I've been wondering how to plan our day on this topic. And, God has provided something for us that I know will be a lot of fun!

I'd like to work on our Christmas letter and getting our cards closer to being ready to mail out - this is part of giving for us at Christmas, so this is a good day to focus on this.

For inviting - we are having two little friends of Emily and Rachel over to have a Christmas tea party. We're going to decorate gingerbread houses, have a snack, color or do another craft and read a Christmas book. Plus, I know they will just want to spend some time playing together.

In the morning, I'd like to do a quick once over on tidying up the house - to maintain all the work I've already put in this week. And, I'm hoping we can catch up on our schooling since we took yesterday off! I'm also hoping to finish a couple of chores I did not do such as cleaning the master bathroom and finishing the dusting.

I have really enjoyed this week - it has been what I hoped it would be, it has helped me to focus on my home. It has been a blessing as our home has been tidier and cleaner. Plus, I have enjoyed our home more as it has been easier to enjoy and more relaxing.

For dinner - hmmm, I haven't decided yet! I'm also hoping to plan a Family Night for tonight.

Have a great weekend! Thanks for joining this week - hope it has been a blessing to you and your families as well!

Labels: homekeeping

Labels: december photo

Ladies, how are we doing? I started yesterday feeling much more relaxed and enjoying my home more because of all the investments I've made in it this week.

We accomplished all of our errands and most of our jobs at home - David also helped me by putting the Christmas boxes in the attic! During Quiet Time - I worked on garlands and watched part of the Christmas Shoes - finished last night! Christmas movies are the best, aren't they?!

I tried Carrie's suggestion of homemade fajita seasoning last night and I think they were the best fajitas I've ever made - I've never been a big fan of the packaged mix, and this was a hit with both David and I!

Now, I know my littles are ready to have some fun! And, we have a fun day planned ~

Quiet Time
Breakfast
Morning Chores
Drive to Kroger (about an hour)
Head across the street to the mall to ride the Christmas train (an annual tradition!)
Eat lunch at the mall (probably Chick-Fil-A)
Drive home and have quiet time
Talk to Carrie; fold clothes that are still in the dryer from yesterday :)
School work will need to be done sometime after QT
Dinner: Gingerbread Pancakes in fun Christmas shapes with whipped cream and sprinkles!
Snuggle up on the couch with my littles and watch a Christmas movie! (Daddy has to work late)

Ahhhh, now doesn't that sound fun?! What are your *fun* plans for today?

Labels: homekeeping

Labels: december photo

Good morning, we had a good day yesterday! I did not get everything done on my list - but it was a good day together! I've enjoyed reading your lists and about all the ladies who are pursuing a beautiful home!

Our house is looking much better after just focusing on it for two days (note to self: WHY do I not keep up on it a little at a time instead of letting it get to this point?) and it was so much fun to cook dinner tonight with clear and clean counters!

With all that has been accomplished in only two days - I realize I must be wasting time on other days as I don't feel like I always get this much done. God seems to be multiplying energy and time for me to accomplish these goals.

But, Lynn Marie made a great point in the comments yesterday - all of us who are ambitious to get a lot done must be careful that we don't push so hard we make ourselves sick. I had this same thought the night before while laying in bed. I must know when my body needs to rest and I usually sit and craft, read or watch a movie (something restful) during the one hour in the afternoon that all three littles are in quiet time.

I did well on my list but did not take as many pictures - I did not get the master bath cleaned or finish the dusting. The girls will feed the birds today instead and during their quiet time - I sat down, listened to some uplifting music and worked on garlands! I've cut out 14 garlands today and hung three on ribbon plus took ten to the post office - they are coming! We also played outside for a while!


Now, for today:

Fold laundry and put away
Quiet Time
Assign chores
Breakfast
Start Laundry
Morning chores
School
Switch laundry
Emily - dentist appointment
Drive by deposit at ATM
Wal-Mart for a few things
Funeral home (last detail from my father-in-law's funeral)
Little ladies paint snowflake ornaments
Lunch
Quiet Time: me - work on garlands
Make M&M cookies with Emily
Clean out fridge
Set oven to clean
Dinner: Fajitas; chips and salsa
Evening - mend a few things and work on more garlands, work on grocery list

Tell me about your goals for the day! Oh, and what you are fixing for dinner - I'm loving hearing what you are cooking!

Labels: homekeeping

It's that time again! My blog friend, Rebecca, is hosting her annual photo project! It is always a lot of fun to post one photo a day for the next 25 days and see all the great photos that pop up!

I'm excited to join in the fun again - but have set a bit of a different goal for myself this time around. It has been on my heart to pursue quietness during this season of celebration. I will be sharing more about this - but for now, I'm challenging myself to try and capture quietness in photos and post one each day.

It will be interesting to see what comes because I can only think of a few photo opportunities that will communicate this. So, I'll be required to really be watching and searching for quietness.

Here is the first one - taken last night during dinner - the first Advent candle will be lit every night during dinner this week ~

Labels: december photo

Good morning, how did you do yesterday? I feel good about what I accomplished! However, I will admit that it was a rough day at times. Being a mommy is hard ~ some days harder than others.


Dressed and ready for the day including a fun apron and my fuzzy slippers! We enjoyed our breakfast, some reading, began "O" for Octopus this week and did some morning chores plus washed and changed the little ladies sheets.

By lunch time, I had gotten everything on my pre-lunch list done plus did some decorating on the porch ~


After all I'd gotten done in the morning and handling numerous squabbles, whining voices, and more - I was a bit stressed (I nearly always am a bit frazzled by lunch time) so the little ladies had a little tea party by their pink tree (thank you, Wal-Mart after-Christmas sale last year!)


Oh, now I am relaxed - I felt so much more at rest after just eating my lunch and reading this book and suddenly I wanted to get up and cook a huge dinner. But, back to my list!

After everyone got settled for quiet time - I decided to keep at my tidying. I started at the front door and just worked my way into the dining room and kitchen. Once I got the table cleaned off, I had myself a little treat (thank you, free coupon in the mail!).



The Christmas boxes are still waiting to go in the attic - but I did finish getting what I wanted out of them!
The other side of the counters still looks like this - I did go through most of it and it really is things I need to do or deal with - hoping to tackle more of this later in the week!
I did not do any sewing - other moms involved had sick little ones, and I thought I might just sew at home - but I was too tired!

Let's see - what is up for today? Now that my spaces are cleared of clutter, I'm ready to start some cleaning.

Clean master bath
Quiet Time
Assign chores for little ladies (they did great yesterday!)
Breakfast
Start Laundry
Baths/clean bathroom while littles are in tub
Morning chores (teeth brushed, beds made)
School time
Switch Laundry
Make paper chains
Snack
Vacuum
Feed birds (part of a December calendar with activities for each day)
Dust
Lunch
Sweep/Mop dining room and kitchen
Clean kitchen
Post Office and Staples when David gets home
Dinner: One Dish Chicken and Stuffing Bake, Salad, Corn
Work on garlands

Another very ambitious list - maybe even impossible. But, setting low expectations doesn't work for me - I have to aim high and even if I don't get all the way to that I still have done better than I would have if I hadn't aimed high!

Thanks for all your comments yesterday - would love to hear what you are up to today as well!

Labels: homekeeping