Less is more!

Reading Terry's blog this morning inspired me to write about our Christmas experience this year.

Financially things have been really rough since I haven't been working. It's caused us to make some changes in places that we would normally splurge. Christmas is one of those.

I get that from my parents. Christmas morning we always woke with the most amazing amount of gifts under the tree. The sight was unbelievable. Even as I have grown up and had children of my own, they couldn't wait to go to Grandma's house to see just how many presents they managed to fit under the tree.

About 2 months ago we had talk with the kids and told them Christmas wasn't going to be what they were use to in the past. They are getting older, things they would like to have cost more, and we have been living only on one income. What I didn't know is that their grandparents had that same talk with them. My dad retired this year and now they only have one income. Christmas would be small.

Each day they watched as we put the presents under the tree. They each got 4 items. They did ask if there was going to be any more, and I simply said no....and there was no fuss.

Christmas morning comes around and they are excited. I can't tell you a Christmas where I have seen them more excited than this one. It was different. They were patient, kind, and wanted to drag out the gift giving process to last as long as possible. I was so proud of them as I didn't hear one complaint. I heard many Thank Yous and I love yous and saw lots of smiles.....but they never wanted for anything more. Emilie was so sweet and is such a giver. 2 days before Christmas she realized that Chad and I didn't have presents under the tree so she went in her room and started making ornaments, books, and all kinds of things that we could open that were hand made from her with love. It was priceless. Some of the best moments that morning was when we opened the gifts made from her. Christmas morning was good!!!

We proceeded to my parents where again, as adults, we had no presents to open and that was okay. But I loved the reaction of the kids and how they watched us enjoy their moments of opening presents. Normally they would have 10-20 big gifts to open. But Ian got only 1, Emilie got 3, and Lukus got 2....and they couldn't have been happier and more thankful. And you want to know what we did more of that day? They put the gifts down, and we all went sledding and enjoyed each others company! Does it get any better than that?

Society is so bogged down with the wants in life and we forget to focus on the things that we really need which is love, happiness, and just being together. I learned more this Christmas from just watching my kids. Although, they'll go back to school in a week and hear about the Ipod's and cell phones, and all the other accessories that kids got for Christmas and I hope they can share with their friends that what they had on Christmas morning and all during this break was quality time with their family and friends and there is no price you can put on something like that.

Random Tuesday Stuff

I have now seen Christmas Vacation and can't believe how hard I laughed. I can't believe I have gone this long without seeing it.

I still have not seen The Grinch movie. Old or new.

Should I admit that I have never seen "It's a Wonderful Life"???? (ducking for cover)

This is the first year that I have had every gift purchased and wrapped way before Christmas.

This is also the first year that we paid for our entire Christmas with cash! Thank you Dave Ramsey!

Today I waited on a phone call that never came.

The post office in Owasso is rarely ever busy and since that dude knocked down our mailbox....I have gotten to know the people there really well! We're on a first name basis now. :o)

I have come to the conclusion that I type too many typos when texting! You just never know what I am going to say! And neither do I!!!!!

I decided that it is better to give a gift card to someone instead of buying a really cheesy gift that they really can't use or don't want. After all....it's the thought that counts! But I will still spend HOURS looking and thinking of a person.............and then buy a gift card.

Believe it or not, I have ran out of "RED" clothes to wear this holiday season! I am reverting to the black wardrobe and will accessorize with RED! :o) Gotta make it work for 3 more days!

Oh! Another family Christmas! 2009

Well...another year and another famiy party has come and gone. As usuall, it was filled with many laughs!
Here you see my aunt and the bathtub back scratcher she got in the dirty santa game. Believe it or not....my mother stole that thing!!! But I think Jeff (her son) is more afraid he is going to be wacked with it for making a comment! :o)


Okay...I am NOT hitting my niece Asasha! I was actually hitting my brother for sticking his hand up there and making her mad!

Ah! The girls! Sarah, Yoana, Me, and Niki! We have fun!

Getting a picture like this takes so much effort. But out of the 25 we took (NOT KIDDING) this was the best we could do!

Now....boxing gloves may never be a good gift at our parties. You can see the adults have more fun than the kids.

So here is a very good reason why we can't take pictures together. This is where it started, and I can't believe after this laughing moment we could even compose ourselves for a serious moment. My brother always manages to crack me up....and then gets cracked up because I'm cracked up. As for our spouses....they just sit and wait. Yeah....good times.

It took several shots to get this picture as well. My mom, me and my aunt Cyndi.

Well.....we were trying again......it just wasn't working.

This is a gift you should NEVER give a child. She knew exactly what to do with it! Poor Chad!

Okay.....serious moment for mom!

Merry Christmas!

To Know You

These words are from a Casting Crowns song. Each line of this song is one I could mediate on for quite a while. It says so much

To know you is never worry for my life, and
To know you is to never to give in or compromise
To know you is to want to tell the world about you
Cause I can't live without you

To know you is to hear your voice when you are calling
To know you is to catch my brother when he is falling
To know you is to feel the pain of the broken hearted
Cause they can't live with out you.

More than my next breath
More than life or death
All reaching for, I live my life to know you more
I leave it all behind, you are all that satisfies
To know you is to want to know you more
To know you is to want to know you more

To know you is to ache for more than ordinary
To know you is to look beyond the temporary
To know you is believing that you will be enough
Cause there is no life without you

More than my next breath
More than life or death
All reaching for, I live my life to know you more
I leave it all behind, you are all that satisfies
To know you is to want to know you more
To know you is to want to know you more

All this life could offer me, could not compare to you
Compare to you
And I count it all as lost, compared to knowing you
Knowing you

More than my next breath
More than life or death
All reaching for, I live my life to know you more
I leave it all behind, you are all that satisfies
To know you is to want to know you more
To know you is to want to know you more

Compared to you
Compared to you
And I count it all as lost, compared to knowing you
Knowing you
And I count it all as lost, compared to knowing you
Knowing you

I Will Rise

Sometimes a song hits you in a way that you never expected. I've heard this song at least a dozen times and often sing along. For some reason today, it pierced my heart. I have meditated on these words all day. Each line. Every word. Every note. Every emotion.
The song needs no pictures. When I close my eyes....God paints the picture for me.

Another down....and one more to go!

I am very excited that I have completed another semester of my education. As of today I only have 147 days until I graduate. Of course then I will have the state board exams I will have to to get my license but other than that, It's really almost over. I tend to look at this glass as half empty! :o)
This has been a rough semester but when finally get to the end and you succeed, it is such a good feeling. I had to work hard for it, and in the end it paid off.

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” – Romans 5:1-5 (NIV)

A Family Tradition

Tonight we went to the annual lights on ceremony at Rhema Bible College. It is so much fun to be there when they count down and flip the switch. It's amazing how dark it is and then with one switch, it feels like daylight. The music was a highlight this year as the lights were moving to the beat. The kids loved that. Walking through the tunnel of lights! The Family Pic of course!
Here's a video for you to enjoy...but you have to turn up the sound and ignore the baby crying.

A New Life

Ian was baptized in October. I couldn't be more proud of him for making the decision to give his life to Christ. This is a very happy moment for us but moreso for him. Very proud of the man he is becoming.

Emilie's 4th grade program

Emilie's 4th grade program this year was a tribute to Veteren's. The programs was very moving and there were many tears flowing in that room.



Emilie was the state of Washington in the songs of the 50 states.

Emilie turns 10!

Emilie's birthday was so much fun. She had a sleepover and everyone had a great time.

If you ever wanted to watch TV that night....well...there was NO WAY. The kids dominated the Karaoke System. And let me just say....it was a blast. Even for the adults. (secretly, we have Karaoke when there are no kids around!)

She got many great gifts and had so much fun opening all of them.

All I can say is I love this little girl! And she's growing up fast!

Honor Choir

Ian made the 2009 All District Honor Choir. This was such an honor for him and he did a great job on learning the songs and preparing himself. The concert was better than I expected it to be and I am truly honored as a parent to have a son talented enough to be in this program. His teacher Mrs. Barker is one of a kind and she does an excellent job working with Ian.




You can't really see Ian in the picture, but neither could we from where we were sitting. One of the items on the stage was directly blocking our view of him.


We were happy to have Shane and Alice come out and support him for the night. It's nice to have friends who share a love in music as much as we do.

Another OU game!

This was our second opportunity to go to the OU game this year. I feel so blessed to not only go once, but twice this year. I have to admit, going with friends is the way to go. We had so much fun together and it's one of those moments we'll remember forever. I'm glad we had the chance to introduce Krista to HER first OU game.....but we weren't at all professional "game goers" just yet.

I'm so thankful!

I've been sick for quite some time now and one of the things I really like to do is find the blessings in it. It hasn't been a pleasant illness, but then really, what illness is.

But I'm thankful for so much right now.
I'm thankful for family and friends who have helped me through this time. Having the support of my husband and kids and my friends and church family has meant the world to me this week. Every burden that is lifted is so comforting. I think of those that may be homeless or have no families or friends to turn to in a time like this.

I'm thankful for the doctors and hospital staff that helped me so much. For the medicine that is helping me to get better. Even though it's expensive, I'm thankful that I have been able to pull my resources together and take it to get better. I think of those that don't have medical care and are not able to receive what I received this week and pray for them through their suffering.

I am thankful that I have a home to go for shelter as a place to not only recover, but to live. There are many out there who don't have the things I have or even 4 walls to sleep in at night. I pray for those that God will give them a place to go when they are sick or hurting or even a place just to start new and begin life once again.

I'm thankful for every moment, hour, or second I have with my family. There are some this week that will receive news of a terminal illness and it will rock their worlds. I am thankful that my illness has a cure and the doctors are working on it to find out the full problem. I pray for those that will receive disturbing news about their health and I rejoice with those that find out they are completely healed.

I'm thankful I have so much in my life and that this is just a small bump in the road. Someday's it may seem more like a boulder, but I have to stop and really think about how blessed I am to have so much in my life to be thankful for.

A GLEEFUL Moment

Okay....if you haven't seen the new TV show GLEE....I have to say you are missing out. But out of all the shows, this is by far the most memorable clip for any episode that is out there.
They need to make the winning touchdown.....and well....watch 2 mintues of the rest!

Pondering

"I know Ive made a lot of mistakes, but I dont regret making any of them...because if I hadnt made them I wouldnt have learned how to make things right"

This quote comes from the movie 13 going on 30. I've seen this movie a dozen times and have never heard that line before. But how true it is. We will never be able to go back in life and take back the things we have said or done that we didn't like....but the best lesson is the one where we learn how to make it right. I love that!

Giver....not a taker.

I go though these spurts of not wanting to spend any money. It's not because I'm selfish.....but because honestly, I just don't need anything. I am so content to have what I have and be okay with that. Why don't kids see it that way?

Last week I stopped at the light and a man with a cardboard sign just sat there. He didn't look at me, or pressure me, he just sat. But I looked at him and saw something in him. I saw past the dirty clothes and mangeled teeth, and just saw him. I looked over and took all the cash out of my wallet and handed it to him out the window. You would have thought it was Christmas to see how thankful he was.
My friend who was driving behind me at the time chewed me out when we got to our destination.
"Don't you know.....they are scammers!!! They make more than you and me!!!" she said.

Her reaction really bothered me.

Who cares! I didn't need the money. I didn't need the Diet Dr. Pepper and candy bar I was going to spend some of it on. The point was, I didn't need it. I was just going to waste it, so why does it matter who I gave it to? And if I feel in my heart to give it away....isn't that okay?

We get so wrapped up in ourselves at times that I find myself getting very frustrated with my own selfish ways. But I want to be a giver, and not a taker. I want that man to know that there is someone out there who isn't going to judge him or ask him what he'll do with it. I just want that man to be happy.

My children are not going to go hungry because I gave it away. They are not going to suffer either. But what I do know is that if I didn't follow my heart at that moment, then I wouldn't be following God.

God has taught me to be a giver, and that's the story I'm sticking with!

Great things.....

I love it when things come along to me and are so encouraging.

“We have no right to ask when a sorrow comes, 'Why did this happen to me?' unless we ask the same question for every joy that comes our way.”

“We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.”
~Frederick Keonig

“Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well”

Thankful Thursday's

One of the neat things I loved about clinicals at OSU this semester was Thankful Thursday's.

Every Thursday, the bosses would come around and tell each person why they were thankful for them. Then the employees would do the same.

We are wrapping up National RT week so yesterday, they did this during a staff meeting as we watched. Each one of them publically told each other why they were thankful for someone and why the role they served was important.

They may not be the best of the best or the best at what they do, but, each person fills an important role and they all heard that yesterday.

I love postive reinforcement. Many times we grow weary in our jobs, our family life, or the places that we serve. Burnout can happen quick. So let's be thankful to those today that are important to us. What if you had a Thankful Thursday? Do you think it would make a difference in the lives of those that are around you to know how much you appreciate them? I bet it will. I know during this week at my job, I have felt very blessed, and very fortunate to know just how thankful my boss is of me.

Loving October

We went to the pumpkin patch here in Owasso and had a blast! Unfortunatley, Ian was really sick that day and didn't get to go. But we picked him out a good one!








Carving in our house seems to be extra fun! :o)

I'm not sure how many knives I think I needed, but it was a pretty pumpkin when I was finished!