Happy New Year from us!
About Me
- PraiseJunky
- I am a wife, a mommy, a home educator, and domestic goddess, a sister, a daughter, a friend, a musician, a reader, a writer, and a lover of Jesus Christ.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Happy New Year!!
Things have finally begun to calm down around here. But I wouldn't have traded the craziness of last week for anything. It was so nice to spend time with family and friends. But I must say the highlight was spending Christmas Eve with my brother and sister and their families. It was wonderful to see them as parents and to fully realize this new chapter of our lives and family. All 4 of the grandsons were great. And it was thrilling to spend time with the two sweet nephews. They are growing so fast. It almost makes me sad that I am finished having children. But the Lord knows best, right?
My brother has decided to add photographer to his lengthy list of achievements (and I always thought I was the overachiever....LOL) so I will upload some pics in the next day or so. He really does great work. And the fact that he is a graphic designer doesn't hurt. I teased him about having him take our family photos and editing the photo to give me a little makeover. haha
Some of the family are coming over tomorrow night to bring in the New Year. Looking forward to it. To everyone else out there reading......
Thank you for your prayers over the last year. They have meant so much. Please don't stop.
Thank you for letting me be a spectator of sorts to your lives. I have enjoyed reading about all of them.
Thanks for a great year and I pray blessings, peace, new opportunities and the favor of the Lord be on all of you as you enter this new year.
My brother has decided to add photographer to his lengthy list of achievements (and I always thought I was the overachiever....LOL) so I will upload some pics in the next day or so. He really does great work. And the fact that he is a graphic designer doesn't hurt. I teased him about having him take our family photos and editing the photo to give me a little makeover. haha
Some of the family are coming over tomorrow night to bring in the New Year. Looking forward to it. To everyone else out there reading......
Thank you for your prayers over the last year. They have meant so much. Please don't stop.
Thank you for letting me be a spectator of sorts to your lives. I have enjoyed reading about all of them.
Thanks for a great year and I pray blessings, peace, new opportunities and the favor of the Lord be on all of you as you enter this new year.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Christmas List
Well, I was going make a sarcastic list of what I want for Christmas but then decided that it wasn't all that beneficial. So I decided to make a list of the 25 things I am thankful for.
1. the Lord Jesus Christ, He is truly the reason we are able to celebrate this wonderful time. In Him I find everything I need.
2. my hubby and everything that makes him, him
3. My sweet 4 year old - I learn something new everyday thanks to him
4. My precocious 2 year old - I am able to run off all of the holiday treats because of him.
5. My wonderful sister & best friend. Enough said.
6. My amazing brother. If you are fortunate to know him, you understand.
7. My Father.
8. My Mother & other best friend.
9. My Mother in Law
10. My sister in law Christy
11. My brother in law Richard
12. My sister in law Sarah
13. My nephew Bryten
14. My nephew Isaak
15. My other best friend Leigh Ann
16. All of my other great friends
17. My extended family
18. My church family
19. My home
20. My hubbys job and the provision the Lord provides through it
21. The Bible
22. The ability to read
23. The freedom to read
24. The freedom to worship Jesus Christ openly
25. For another year and the hope that the new one coming up will be the best year I have ever lived.
1. the Lord Jesus Christ, He is truly the reason we are able to celebrate this wonderful time. In Him I find everything I need.
2. my hubby and everything that makes him, him
3. My sweet 4 year old - I learn something new everyday thanks to him
4. My precocious 2 year old - I am able to run off all of the holiday treats because of him.
5. My wonderful sister & best friend. Enough said.
6. My amazing brother. If you are fortunate to know him, you understand.
7. My Father.
8. My Mother & other best friend.
9. My Mother in Law
10. My sister in law Christy
11. My brother in law Richard
12. My sister in law Sarah
13. My nephew Bryten
14. My nephew Isaak
15. My other best friend Leigh Ann
16. All of my other great friends
17. My extended family
18. My church family
19. My home
20. My hubbys job and the provision the Lord provides through it
21. The Bible
22. The ability to read
23. The freedom to read
24. The freedom to worship Jesus Christ openly
25. For another year and the hope that the new one coming up will be the best year I have ever lived.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
ARRRRRGGGHHHH! Update
I am having "a day". Not really sure why but it is still a reality. All I want to do is send the kids to work with their daddy, pull the shades, unplug the phone, curl up on the couch with a good book, and eat totally unhealthy amounts of Ben & Jerrys Phish Food ice cream. But since that is not gonna happen today I thought I would share this email I received earlier. I guess we all need reminders about what is really going on around us. So, to all of the other mommies/ladies out there that are feeling stressed and worn out. It'll be alright, right?
The Invisible Mother.....
It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?'
Obviously, not.
No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? & Can you open this?
Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?; I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'
One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England .
Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.'
It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe ...
I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription:
'To Charlotte , with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'
In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work:
No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names.
These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished.
They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.
The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.
A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.' And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'
I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte . I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.'
At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life.
It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.
I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on.
The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.
When I really think about it, I don't want my daughter to tell the friend she's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want her to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to her friend, to add, 'you're gonna love it there.'
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot see if we're doing it right.
And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.
Great Job, MOM!
Hope this encourages you when the going gets tough as it sometimes does. We never know what our finished products will turn out to be because of our perseverance.
The Invisible Mother.....
It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?'
Obviously, not.
No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? & Can you open this?
Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?; I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'
One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England .
Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.'
It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe ...
I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription:
'To Charlotte , with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'
In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work:
No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names.
These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished.
They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.
The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.
A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.' And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'
I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte . I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.'
At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life.
It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.
I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on.
The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.
When I really think about it, I don't want my daughter to tell the friend she's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want her to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to her friend, to add, 'you're gonna love it there.'
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot see if we're doing it right.
And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.
Great Job, MOM!
Hope this encourages you when the going gets tough as it sometimes does. We never know what our finished products will turn out to be because of our perseverance.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
More Blog Fun
So I promised some more info about my other fave blogs.
Sevenchicks - This blog is a collaboration of 7 ladies or chicks as they call themselves. I had the pleasure of going to high school with planner, and met bossy through her. I also met singer and social when their hubbies played basketball at my high school. Of course they weren't married back then. However I have not met sassy, photo or baby chicks. But I feel like I know them from their funny and entertaining blog. It is a mix of all things that would ever relate to life in Christ, life with hubby, life with kids, life with work, etc....... A must read.
Mrs. Sofa - Also a high school buddy. My sister and her sister were and still are best buds. So we know each other more because of that. But I enjoy reading about her family and the funny things her kids do. Reading her blog always makes me laugh and lets me know that there are other mommies out there that are dealing with the same stuff I am. Her oldest is apparently part monkey just like my youngest. And they both love Curious George. Hey...I wonder if that is where the monkey love started?
Beginning Again - Another high school buddy. Well, maybe not high school because I am pretty sure I had graduated before she entered high school. Anyway, another good friend of my sister. I have watched her grow up and become a lovely young lady, a wife and now a mommy. I must say that her blog over the past year has made me laugh and cry. She has been through alot the past year and I am glad that I have gotten to read along.
Baby Drama by Baby Mama - Yet another high school friend. She is also the wife of a military man. And a new mommy. It has been interesting to read about all of the changes she and her family have gone through lately as well. I am very glad to have gotten back in touch with her.
Learning For Life - Okay, I have known her the longest. We went to church together back when I was in elementary school. She is an amazing woman of God. She has a beautiful family and I enjoy reading about their life together.
***sidenote*** I just had to go get my youngest off the top of the dresser. He had opened up the drawers and used them as steps. Yikes!!!!
Sevenchicks - This blog is a collaboration of 7 ladies or chicks as they call themselves. I had the pleasure of going to high school with planner, and met bossy through her. I also met singer and social when their hubbies played basketball at my high school. Of course they weren't married back then. However I have not met sassy, photo or baby chicks. But I feel like I know them from their funny and entertaining blog. It is a mix of all things that would ever relate to life in Christ, life with hubby, life with kids, life with work, etc....... A must read.
Mrs. Sofa - Also a high school buddy. My sister and her sister were and still are best buds. So we know each other more because of that. But I enjoy reading about her family and the funny things her kids do. Reading her blog always makes me laugh and lets me know that there are other mommies out there that are dealing with the same stuff I am. Her oldest is apparently part monkey just like my youngest. And they both love Curious George. Hey...I wonder if that is where the monkey love started?
Beginning Again - Another high school buddy. Well, maybe not high school because I am pretty sure I had graduated before she entered high school. Anyway, another good friend of my sister. I have watched her grow up and become a lovely young lady, a wife and now a mommy. I must say that her blog over the past year has made me laugh and cry. She has been through alot the past year and I am glad that I have gotten to read along.
Baby Drama by Baby Mama - Yet another high school friend. She is also the wife of a military man. And a new mommy. It has been interesting to read about all of the changes she and her family have gone through lately as well. I am very glad to have gotten back in touch with her.
Learning For Life - Okay, I have known her the longest. We went to church together back when I was in elementary school. She is an amazing woman of God. She has a beautiful family and I enjoy reading about their life together.
***sidenote*** I just had to go get my youngest off the top of the dresser. He had opened up the drawers and used them as steps. Yikes!!!!
Friday, December 12, 2008
I Should Be In Bed
Well, it is late....at least for me. And I should be in bed. I know I should, but my mind is a whirlpool of various thoughts and stuff. Can't seem to get it to calm down. Don't really have anything to write about so I decided to get on-line and read all of my favorite blogs. So here is a blog about what I like about all of of my blog buddies.
Joy Unspeakable - This is my sis-in-law, Christy. She is the amazing woman that my brother somehow miraculously found and conned into marrying him. LOL Seriously, I love her tenderness and her loving heart. I like that she is real and just puts it out there. I wish I was more like that. I have seen her grow over the past 4 years. She is a wonderful wife and mother, sister, daughter and servant of the Lord. I enjoy reading her blog when she is sharing new revelation that the Lord has shown her. She is an encouragement and I am blessed to call her my "sister".
Isaak - This is a blog devoted entirely to my newest nephew. By the way.....this would also be the son of my brother and sister in law. He is so sweet already and I love reading all of the updates since I am not there to see all of it with my own eyes. What a tremendous blessing!!
Mommy Needs A Time Out - My buddy Tara from high school. Whoa....that was over a decade ago. It is the life and times of a family that is doing the bravest thing on the planet. He is active duty military that has been away from home most of their marriage. The sacrifice that he and his wife and children make on a daily basis completely blows my mind. Thankfully he is home now and they are enjoying being together as a family. Sometimes my insides just ache as I read her blog because I cannot even begin to understand how she feels and more importantly how she does what she does. She is an amazing woman and I am honored to call her my friend.
UnCommon Blonde - Also a high school buddy. I will not divulge her name since she enjoys a certain amount of anonymity. If I was completely honest I would have to admit that while I always thought she was a wonderful person I did not realize that she possessed such a wicked wit and awesome sense of humor. The mix of ettiquette, fashion, society, and all things lady-like make her blog a must read. I love her anecdotes and stories of Crazy Betty. And you can't forget the pictures. What great pics. So to Uncommon Blonde.....keep doing what your doing. Your an awesome gal and I love reading about your life, or at least your take on it.
Well, I am finally getting a little bleary eyed. So I will leave my other favorite blogs for another blog. There are quite a few. Good Night All!!
Joy Unspeakable - This is my sis-in-law, Christy. She is the amazing woman that my brother somehow miraculously found and conned into marrying him. LOL Seriously, I love her tenderness and her loving heart. I like that she is real and just puts it out there. I wish I was more like that. I have seen her grow over the past 4 years. She is a wonderful wife and mother, sister, daughter and servant of the Lord. I enjoy reading her blog when she is sharing new revelation that the Lord has shown her. She is an encouragement and I am blessed to call her my "sister".
Isaak - This is a blog devoted entirely to my newest nephew. By the way.....this would also be the son of my brother and sister in law. He is so sweet already and I love reading all of the updates since I am not there to see all of it with my own eyes. What a tremendous blessing!!
Mommy Needs A Time Out - My buddy Tara from high school. Whoa....that was over a decade ago. It is the life and times of a family that is doing the bravest thing on the planet. He is active duty military that has been away from home most of their marriage. The sacrifice that he and his wife and children make on a daily basis completely blows my mind. Thankfully he is home now and they are enjoying being together as a family. Sometimes my insides just ache as I read her blog because I cannot even begin to understand how she feels and more importantly how she does what she does. She is an amazing woman and I am honored to call her my friend.
UnCommon Blonde - Also a high school buddy. I will not divulge her name since she enjoys a certain amount of anonymity. If I was completely honest I would have to admit that while I always thought she was a wonderful person I did not realize that she possessed such a wicked wit and awesome sense of humor. The mix of ettiquette, fashion, society, and all things lady-like make her blog a must read. I love her anecdotes and stories of Crazy Betty. And you can't forget the pictures. What great pics. So to Uncommon Blonde.....keep doing what your doing. Your an awesome gal and I love reading about your life, or at least your take on it.
Well, I am finally getting a little bleary eyed. So I will leave my other favorite blogs for another blog. There are quite a few. Good Night All!!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Christmas Season
This morning the boys and I made sugar cookies. We had alot of fun. Some of the cookies have no recognizable shape but they taste just as good as the pretty ones.
I got the house decorated last week. The boys helped a great deal. Every time I turn around the ornaments have been rearranged. And they think ALL of the christmas lights should be turned all the time. But I am excited to be able to share this time with them . They are getting old enough to know what it is all about. Their granny bought them a great book. "God Gave Us Christmas" by Lisa Tawn Bergen and David Hohn. It is a wonderful story about a little polar bear that asks why we have Christmas. If you have children this is a "must-have" for your library and to read at Christmas and even through-out the year. The same authors have written "God Gave Us You", "God Gave Us Two", and "God Gave Us Heaven". Just a little sharing for you.
My youngest has been nicknamed "El Destructo" for obvious reasons. He is into EVERYTHING and loves to demolish anything he gets his hands on. I hope that it will get better as he learns how to put things together instead. Sometimes I feel that he is 2 or 3 kids all the same time. He is lightning fast and almost like Gumby when it comes to flexibility. Holding onto him is a challenge at times. But he is so sweet at other times that you just want to scoop him up and kiss him until you can't kiss him anymore. The older he gets the more like his daddy he becomes. They are truly kindred spirits. I anticipate alot of head butting in the future. ;)
The oldest is like me in so many ways. He loves people, all people. He LOVES talking all the time. Some days it seems that he never stops to even breathe. I have never seen a child, much less a man-child talk so much. Honestly I don't know if I have ever met anyone that talks that much. He loves books and puzzles. He and I have a bond when it comes to those things. But he is like his daddy when it comes to trucks, cars, tractors, trains, etc. He knows the correct name for just about any piece of machinery that he sees. And he loves telling the correct name to his little brother who insists on calling everything either a bulldoo (bulldozer) or combine. He loves all sports and plans on playing all of them if you ask him about it. He is great at them too. He loves to play pretend and this week has been pretending that he is talking to his girlfriend Sophia (little girl from church) on the phone. Never a dull moment around here.
We celebrated both of their birthdays last Saturday. The youngest turned 2 on the 4th and the oldest will be 4 on the 29th but we decided to combine birthdays since Christmas is this month too. Still not sure what the hubby and I were thinking. Two birthdays and Christmas all in the same month is crazy.
It has taken me all morning to write this blog which is proof that you don't have to be the mother of a newborn to have a crazy life. Although I am glad that both of mine are good sleepers and can now feed themselves. But to all of the new mommas out there, hang in there. It gets better and better all the time. In every way imaginable. Merry Christmas to everyone!!
I got the house decorated last week. The boys helped a great deal. Every time I turn around the ornaments have been rearranged. And they think ALL of the christmas lights should be turned all the time. But I am excited to be able to share this time with them . They are getting old enough to know what it is all about. Their granny bought them a great book. "God Gave Us Christmas" by Lisa Tawn Bergen and David Hohn. It is a wonderful story about a little polar bear that asks why we have Christmas. If you have children this is a "must-have" for your library and to read at Christmas and even through-out the year. The same authors have written "God Gave Us You", "God Gave Us Two", and "God Gave Us Heaven". Just a little sharing for you.
My youngest has been nicknamed "El Destructo" for obvious reasons. He is into EVERYTHING and loves to demolish anything he gets his hands on. I hope that it will get better as he learns how to put things together instead. Sometimes I feel that he is 2 or 3 kids all the same time. He is lightning fast and almost like Gumby when it comes to flexibility. Holding onto him is a challenge at times. But he is so sweet at other times that you just want to scoop him up and kiss him until you can't kiss him anymore. The older he gets the more like his daddy he becomes. They are truly kindred spirits. I anticipate alot of head butting in the future. ;)
The oldest is like me in so many ways. He loves people, all people. He LOVES talking all the time. Some days it seems that he never stops to even breathe. I have never seen a child, much less a man-child talk so much. Honestly I don't know if I have ever met anyone that talks that much. He loves books and puzzles. He and I have a bond when it comes to those things. But he is like his daddy when it comes to trucks, cars, tractors, trains, etc. He knows the correct name for just about any piece of machinery that he sees. And he loves telling the correct name to his little brother who insists on calling everything either a bulldoo (bulldozer) or combine. He loves all sports and plans on playing all of them if you ask him about it. He is great at them too. He loves to play pretend and this week has been pretending that he is talking to his girlfriend Sophia (little girl from church) on the phone. Never a dull moment around here.
We celebrated both of their birthdays last Saturday. The youngest turned 2 on the 4th and the oldest will be 4 on the 29th but we decided to combine birthdays since Christmas is this month too. Still not sure what the hubby and I were thinking. Two birthdays and Christmas all in the same month is crazy.
It has taken me all morning to write this blog which is proof that you don't have to be the mother of a newborn to have a crazy life. Although I am glad that both of mine are good sleepers and can now feed themselves. But to all of the new mommas out there, hang in there. It gets better and better all the time. In every way imaginable. Merry Christmas to everyone!!
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