Happy Holidays and Taking a Blog Break...

Hi All!

I've decided to take a little break from blogging to focus on the upcoming Holiday Season. I plan to hang out with the boys, wrap gifts and enjoy some time with our extended families. I also hope to do lots of reading, work on some other writing I'm doing and catch up on my classwork (which isn't nearly as fun as the other stuff...but necessary)!

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas!

Happy Holidays!




**Photo Credit - Will Treelighter (magic-tree.org)

Saying Grace...

Being Grateful for what I've been given is a central theme in my life. I've come a long way and can look back at things that have happened in the past and recognize that there was a reason. I think God allows situations in our lives to happen so that we will grow in our relationship with Him. It's hard to be grateful sometimes though, isn't it? I could write a lot about this but I'll save it for another time.

I feel like I have a strong personal relationship with God and I'm continuing to grow and learn everyday. However, an area that I haven't been successful in is really sharing that with my boys. I talk about God and hope that I'm modeling my life in a way that shows my love and relationship with Him. But, we're not good about saying prayers before bedtime and saying Grace before meals. I talk to them a lot about being grateful for things and sharing what we have with others and we really do that! But, this one area is what I'm working toward to help grow and strengthen their relationship with God as well.

About Grace...I can write some really poetic prayers sometimes...some deep thoughts about my faith...but I'm not good at speaking prayers out loud. This would be one reason Grace before meals has not happened often. Kobe and I talked about this at dinner the other night and together we came up with the idea to write down short prayers we think of or find and things we're grateful for. As we write these things down we will start adding them to a jar. We're calling it our Gratitude Jar and we will pull out one or more of the slips of paper and read it as our "Grace" before each meal. It's a start...and... something the kids can be involved in as well.



In searching around for some ideas for our Gratitude Jar I found the following sites:

OUR PINATA has a cute idea for a Gratitude Jar.

PRISM, has a really cute idea for a Blessings Jar.


And finally, here are some simple prayers that will be going into our Gratitude Jar. I'd love for you to share any short prayers of gratitude that you say!!

Thank You God

For the golden corn and the apples on the trees

For the butter and the honey for our tea

For fruits and nuts and berries that grow beside the way

For birds and bees and flowers We give our thanks today

Blessings on our meal

And on our family!

The Lord is good to me

and so I thank the Lord

for giving me the things I need

the sun and the rain and the apple seed.

The Lord is good to me.

Amen!

Let us pause before we eat

and think about the ones in need

of food and shelter and of love,

please bless us all dear God above.

Amen.

Thank you for the food we eat,

Thank you for the world so sweet,

Thank you for the birds that sing,

Thank you God for everything.

Thank you, God, for loving me.

Thank you for my family.

Help me to learn more each day

To be kind at work and play.

Amen.

Treating yourself after a Mammogram...or anything that is scary!

Many of you know I just had my first mammogram this week...on Monday. I still don't know the results but I'm hoping no news is good news at this point. It's been a long week of waiting and I hope to know something tomorrow.

I was pretty nervous about having this procedure done. Well, as many of you advised...it was no big deal. No pain at all and VERY little discomfort. All in all a positive experience for someone who had put it off because of nerves. Thank you for your kind words and and encouragement...it was very much appreciated.

I'm all about treating myself when I've done something hard or scary and this was no exception. The day of the Mammogram (right after, in fact) I went to Bath and Body Works and bought myself some of the new Twilight Woods lotion. I don't know if the name of this scent has anything to do with the Twilight books or movies but somehow the scent seems fitting so I'm pretending it does.

Guys...if you're reading this...sorry...but keep reading because this is a really good idea for your wives or girlfriends...) I had purchased a bra a couple of weeks ago and it happened to come in the mail this week. So, I decided from now on when I have my yearly mammogram I'm going to purchase one or two nice bras to commemorate the event. I'm sure someone has already thought of this idea...but it was a new one to me so I'm claiming it.

So, treat yourself when you do something you don't really want to do... like getting a Mammogram. Treat yourself in a way that is comforting to you...buy a latte if you don't normally do that...pick up a cute new journal...get a babysitter and spend some time alone....visit the library for a couple of hours and shop the books there...take a long bubble bath with the door locked and instruct the kiddos to leave you alone (for the record this NEVER works in my house)! Just think comfort!

This is my month for getting some things done that I've been putting off and the Mammogram was first on the list. Now, on to the rest of the list. More Thanksgiving Prayers and Traditions coming next.