13 Days to Thankful...

Autumn is my favorite season, but there's always been a little bit of tension about which holiday lands at the top of my list.  Easter and Christmas are both blessed and amazing days, mostly because of the depth of spiritual significance, but in my mind I find myself very much looking forward to and savoring the days surrounding Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving seems to embody so many of the components that make my life happy and complete. 

I typically approach the days of Thanksgiving with really good intentions: a few extra minutes each day expressing thanks to my Heavenly Father, warm conversations with friends about the blessings of life, cooking and baking to fill my family's hearts with comfort, and showing genuine appreciation to my man and my children for all that they mean to my life.

But, if I'm not careful, my intentions are quickly derailed by the all of the distractions that life can provide.  Not only has Fall become one of the busiest times of the year, Thanksgiving has literally being hijacked by the commercialization of Christmas.

Back in October, Kaitlynn and I went to the mall for some shopping.  While we were in the car, Kaitlynn began to talk about Christmas and how much she loved the mall at Christmastime.  A few minutes later, she was stunned to see that the mall had already decked its halls.  She looked at me with the most astonished face and said, "Mom, did we miss the school Thanksgiving dinner?"  I laughed, understanding her momentary confusion, and explained to her a little about marketing gimmicks and how they increase sales.  She was relieved to know that one of her favorite events was still to come, and went about enjoying the tinsel and lights.

Later on, I replayed that conversation in my mind and it connected.

Many times I become so focused on the future that I completely miss the moment!

I don't know about you, but I don't want to "wake up" in December and realize that I missed Thanksgiving.   So, beginning Saturday the 12th, I'm going to embark on a short journey I'm calling

"13 Days to Thankful"

I hope you'll participate...everyone who does will be entered into a drawing for a $10 WalMart card!  And who couldn't use one of those?  :-)

See you then!

Another Duggar...Thoughts?

Whether or not you care, you probably are aware that the Duggars are set to welcome number 20.  I say they are "set" because after like #8 or #9 I seriously wonder if anyone even notices that there is another body in the house!  :-) 

I am kept so busy with our current family size, that I'm not sure how to even process what a day at the Duggar house would look like.  But they seem to be doing a really good job raising a house full of charactered kids, and that is commendable.

What amazes me is the amount of anger the Duggar's decision is generating among a segment of the population.  Of course, those whose primary concern is "Mother Earth" are all in a wad, and then there are those who can't find it within themselves to believe that a large family can be raised without government assistance and are ticked off - I'm not getting that one, since the Duggars are not depending on our tax dollars.  Then there are a few who think Michelle is killing her own body by going through this process so many times. 

What I'm not hearing as much is that Baby Josie had to be delivered tremendously early (3-1/2 mos.) because of Michelle's health.  Now, Michelle could go on to have healthy prenancies and babies from here on out, but is it responsible to place such a risk upon a developing, pre-born baby?  I can't imagine the stress Little Josie's body went through for all of those months that she was struggling to survive and develop outside of her mother's body. 

So, not that it is any of my business whatsover, but I guess I do have an opinion.  :-)

Hope your Thursday is wonderful!

Currently Reading (sort of)...

How come it takes 31 days to get it clean and like 3.5 seconds to reduce it to chaos?
(this book seems really good, but I found out you actually have to be home for 31 days to
make it work...may try again sometime)

Read a few chapters...more anxious than ever...probably need to start over.

Swenson really has his finger on the pulse of the typical American...
but I was so busy (hmmm) when I read it that I hardly remember what it said.
Need to start over.

This book was a gift from one of my kindergarten students who graduated from
the Learning to Read program in May.  It is a wake up call for those of us who claim to be
Christian yet find ourselves so wrapped up in the comforts of home, family, and the American
dream that we fail to live out our faith in practical, New Testament terms.
It's the only book I read cover to cover...and I find myself convicted. 

I'm pretty sure the "Currently Reading" list to your right has been unedited since the beginning of  summer.  That's pretty lame, considering the summer of 2011 was going to be the summer of books for me.  Now that I no longer spend my days changing diapers, nursing hungry mouths, scrubbing out spit-up stains, and potty training (wow..it's been over a year already???), I'm supposed to have time to kill...or so I thought.
 Instead, we filled our summer with other things, and the only substantial reading I completed was in my Bible.  I'm good with that, considering God's Word is the most important Book, but I sometimes I crave words of wisdom and encouragement from someone who is living the same crazy, hectic, hormonal life I'm living.  Someone who can help me organize my closet, understand my pre-teen, and be the amazing wife my husband deserves. 
So, I'm heading into fall with some pretty decent intentions.  Our Women of Worth group is doing Elizabeth George's A Woman After God's Own Heart Bible study, and I'm thrilled to go through that one again.  What a great book.  My online study group is tackling I John (I'm having a hard time keeping up, but I'm not giving up!), and I think I will add Cheri Fuller's Raising Motivated Kids to my fall lineup. 
Is there a favorite read you've picked up lately?  I'd love to hear about it!

Easiest Meatloaf Ever!

I may have posted this recipe earlier (not sure), and I love it!  I'm a decent cook, but I'm not crazy about using a bazillion ingredients, not to mention having a bazillion dishes to clean up afterward.  Plus, considering the limited amount of time that we are home, I need recipes that are quick and easy.  There are so many ways to make a good meatloaf, but this one eliminates lots of hassle without compromising taste.  My kids would agree.  :-)

Perspective of a 7-year-old...

"Mom, I think you should retire, stay home, get some stuff done, and make some money!" 

Sounds good. I'll take it under advisement.

Becoming A Princess...

One of my favorite questions to ask a little person is, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" The answers are fairly predictable...likely I will hear the words fireman, teacher, or mommy in the response. But every now and then, a little angel will say (with blushing cheeks, batting eyes, and a slight curtsy), "I'm going to be a princess when I grow up!" I always indulge them a bit, saying something like, "Wow! I bet you'll make a great princess!" If I have time for some interesting conversation, I may even ask, "Can you tell me what a princess does?" Inevitably the response includes, "She marries a handsome prince and wears beautiful dresses and tiaras!" Now that provides some perspective!

The wedding of Kate Middleton to Prince William in the early spring was the first glimpse of "real" princess life for my daughters, and the excitement in their eyes was contagious...it dramatically increased my own interest in the big event.  What girl wouldn't love a real life fairy tale? 

According to dictionary.com (which happens to be a favorite app of mine), a princess is defined as "a non-reigning female member of a royal family."  Royal family?  I Peter 2:9 says something about royalty, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."  What an amazing thought to realize that I am God's princess!  Not because I feel pretty, or have a wardrobe that would dazzle a commoner, but because He has chosen me, and I have accepted!  I didn't have to enter a contest, lose a hundred pounds, cover up my freckles, master an instrument, or be the perfect housewife.  I am simply because of Who He is! And I so needed that today!

I'm reminded, though, that being a princess isn't all about the glamour of the position.  It's about being an example.  It's about really being a part of the royal family...protecting it and advancing its cause. It's about being unable to exhibit more outward beauty than what I possess inwardly .   It's about spending a large part of my day doing the King's business...because, in fact, it's all about Him.  It's also about choosing each moment of each day to remember that I am different, that I am held to a higher standard.  People will be examining my life.  Period.  Would Kate say that her favorite part of being a princess is that she is watched all.the.time by people who adore her as well as people who can't wait to see her fail? Probably not, but she would also tell you that it comes with the turf.  And that if she keeps proper perspective and clear communication within the royal family, she can, with confidence, overcome all of it. 
My girls think it would be cool to be a princess.  I can't blame them...it's a girl's dream.  But to think that I get to train them to be princesses in God's royal family is just more than I can imagine!  What a responsibility, and what an honor. 
I've been scouring our local library and mediamobile for God-honoring materials to use as classroom supplements.  I came across a book that we will hopefully acquire for our own library.  Emilie Barnes is a fantastic author, and this book for little girls is a perfect fit.  I would recommend it for your own little princess!

Be blessed as you walk in royalty today!

Just Chillin'...

in this lovely fall weather!  The boys and Greg are at the church working on an extended project, and the girls and I are taking advantage of the peace and quiet.  Thank God for Fridays, candles, pjs, warm blankets, satellite radio, and (at least for this week) National Quartet Convention!  Although not an event I would particularly enjoy attending, picking up bits and pieces in my living room has been kind of nice.  It's also nice to be able to simply switch channels at will...some of the SG is just a little too S for me.  :-)
The library mediamobile was at school the other day, and another patron was chatting with the driver while I was browsing for a few books for my kindergarten classroom.  "I hate fall and everything about it," the patron said in dramatic fashion.  "Me too, " the driver piped in, "I love snow, but if it's gonna snow it better shut everything down!"
 I didn't feel like my opinion would be very welcome because fall is, without a doubt, my favorite time of year.  I know everything is dying, there is a bite in the air, and the days seem short, but nothing spells comfort like a pot of simmering soup, the scent of burning leaves, the beauty of mums and pumpkins, and the warmth of a cozy sweatshirt.
Fall beckons each of the senses and entices them to indulge extravagantly.   Go ahead...savor the season, and have a wonderfully relaxing weekend!