Sunday, December 13, 2009 - Post from the Past: free SHMILY time ideas
Some of you have written asking for some ideas at little or no cost for The 12 Days of Christmas. I understand COMPLETELY what it's like to be "strapped for cash", especially this time of year as gift giving is in full swing.
Here are some FREE ideas for you to love on your hubby...
- Massages are a great gift to give! You could even make a coupon to give to him in the morning (so he would be looking forward to it all day) or mail it to him at work. To take it a step further, you could even make this a gift for the entire 12 days, picking a different body part to focus on each night (uh... I don't have to tell you what to save for last right?) A good massage is at least 30 minutes. Sometimes it may seem longer to you than it really is, so be sure to look at the clock by your bed before you begin so you don't cut your sweet husband short!
- Breakfast in bed with a smile (and nothing else but a smile).
- Making coffee every morning and greeting your hubby with a cheerful "good morning". How we start our husband's mornings have a HUGE effect on the rest of their day, as well as how eager they are to come back. (I know that I wouldn't want to come home to me some days!) Make it your goal to be cheerful each day for the 12 days. Start his morning with a happy wife. If you work outside of the home and leave before him, then having the coffee pot with coffee and a sweet note would be a thought too.
- Pray for him each day. You could use The Power of a Praying Wife for this as well. Whatever you choose, and regardless if your husband prays with you or not, get out of bed each day with your knees hitting the floor before your feet do. Pray for the man God has blessed you with. Thank Him for your husband. Even if you're struggling in your marriage, ask God to give you the strength to get through the 12 days with love and compassion and to renew your marriage. You might be surprised what happens when he finds out that you're praying for him every day. Cover your husband in prayer each day... it may seem crazy, but YOU will become a better woman for it.
- Hmmm... this next one... well, it's REALLY simple and may get one of the biggest reactions from your sweetie... but if you can't afford to get some "blessings" to wear... you can always do what God intended from the beginning! That's right... NO panties. Be sure to whisper it in his ear at the grocery store, church, or before he leaves for work.
- One of my personal favorites (and my Beloved's)... Clean Lovin'.
- Take a marker and write SHMILY somewhere on your body for him to search for.
- Find out what he really likes by having him fill out the "I Feel Loved by You When You..." sheet... and then do it!
- Ice cream in bed together naked... one spoon. For the ice cream lover, you could get the pints of ice cream and have ice cream in bed every night. Don't worry about the diet... this is only 12 days... get fat on each other's love!
- Some "Christmas socks" you wear... and that's it!
- 12 pair of sexy panties... one for each day.
- Mistletoe (need I say more?) You could used this throughout the 12 days as well by having it show up in various places in the house... or various times... and it could mean more than just kissing. Write up a note and let your hubby know... you may want to even make it a "treasure hunt" by hiding it in various (obvious) places... and then follow through when he finds it!
- Three bows (or other wrapping ribbons for all over your body and hair) and place strategically on your body for him to "unwrap".
Dec. 12, 2009 - Weekly Wrapup
From the Heart:
Has another week really gone by already? This week has held a lot of snow (18-20 inches or so) and a lot of stress about things that are happening and not happening in our lives. I got another letter from the state stating that my license needs to be renewed by January 31 - didn't say what the consequences would be, but not having a job right now really stresses me thinking that I could be making it very hard to regain my Colorado license in the future if I should so desire. To be honest, at times I feel almost abandoned by the Lord for not speaking clearly to me about this and other things we've been praying about lately. I am wondering why He chooses to leave us hanging so long right now.
Dh made the kids this dulcimer out of another cigar box this week. He's so talented. He also made a drum for a friend to give to her kids for Christmas this week.
In the School Room:
History can be so interesting. For example, I never thought about how the time zones came into being, but this year I found out that it was because of the transcontinental railroad needing a uniform time as it went across the country on which to make its schedules. It took about 50 years to get the states and local areas to adopt it and put it into law from the time that the railroad systems adopted it. People thought that they were trying to be God to have the time scheduled instead of the sun determining it.
Little Critter loves this little Vtech computer. He can be found dressed up in so many ways as some of the next few pics will show.
Many people all over the world were responsible for the spread of Christianity - much of this happened during the late 1700s and the 1800s. The stories about specific people are amazing to read.
Mysteries and Marvels of Science, put out by Usborne, is teaching me a lot about science that has been learned since I finished high school 23 years ago. The pics are really incredible. I hope the girls are learning a thing or two also!
Bubbies learned more about the letters C and D, and continues sounding out her first readers.
We read about Hannukah this week and are wishing we had a menorah to use to celebrate.
On the Mission Field:
To be honest, I didn't feel much of a missionary this week, except in my own home.
In the Literary Scene:
I finally finished reading Brock and Bodie Thoene's third book in the Galway Series Ashes of Remembrance.
Feeding on His Faithfulness,
Carol
If you would like to join me in this theme, just write up your own weekly summary, using mine or your own categories. Then sign the Mr. Linky below. I'd love to read your weekly summaries too! I hope to post mine on each Friday or Saturday. At the latest it will be on Sunday. If you get yours done before I do, just leave your link in my cbox or comments from the week before. Be sure and check last week's Mr. Linky for any new ones who posted before I did! It is a great way to meet new people
Dec. 12, 2009 - Hannukah
Here's some pictures from the first night of Hannukah.
Marshall lights the first night's candle with the servant candle.
Our hanukiah says "I am the light of the world" and "Yeshua" (Jesus) in Hebrew.
Two home-made haunkiahs.
Our sideboard and table decor.
Dec. 11, 2009 - Embracing Advent and Christmas ...
When we were becoming foster parents years ago, one of the social workers told the class that, if we loved the holidays. we may want to reconsider being foster parents. I thought that was the strangest statement. She went on to explain that Christmas stirred up all kinds of birth family memories and troubles in the child and then the child would act out. In my naivety, I thought that love and a really magical Christmas would wipe all those concerns away. Shortly after we became foster parents, we got our third placement, a little girl (20 months old) who was cute as a button. She was a Christmas baby (born just three days after Christmas)! We did the holidays up in a huge way that year! All the trimmings! Because we had two foster children that year, we were given many gifts through a foster angel tree as well as by our family that were excited that we finally had our long awaited babies. There was a sea of gifts that took up half the room.
The magic of Christmas scared our little girl. She became even wilder than usual. The next two years were a bit more toned down but much the same. Our dd acted out more and more. We would "lose" her around Thanksgiving and not get back a reasonable child until February. As the years passed and our dd was adopted, things continued to be very difficult around the holidays. We started to drastically play down all holidays and hide from the mall, TV and people and their joy at Christmas time. Sometimes we postponed her birthday for weeks, hoping that we could get her behavior under control enough to celebrate her birthday in peace. We became prisoners to her drama and chaos and began to dread the holidays. My Mother and I would start planning how to survive Christmas in September each year. It was a sad time indeed.
Last year when Goldilocks was nearly 8 years old, I felt that we had to establish a gentle routine for Christmas that allowed the rest of us to enjoy Christmas and left room for Goldilocks to enjoy or avoid, depending on her ability to participate on any given day. Instead of hiding from Christmas, we would embrace it, starting with celebrating each day of Advent in December. It was a radical move. Somewhere on the Internet I saw the idea of opening a Christmas book each day of Advent and reading the story to the children. I loved the idea. I added the idea of a special activity that the kids could do each night. I thought it would allow us to enjoy Advent but also not be different from our regular routine. We have storytime every night of the year, and the activity would be considered school time with Daddy (something the kids love). The same routine, just different packaging. To our relief, it has worked wonderfully. Advent books have given us many lessons. It has allowed Goldilocks to get used to the process of waiting for the surprise (now daily instead of waitng weeks for the big event). She has learned to deal with the disappointment on a small scale of it being a story she did not care for. She has learned that a flat package is not going to hold a live unicorn! It sounds funny, but this truly has been a problem that has caused major meltdowns in the past. Because there is something to open each night, the UPS man stopping often at our home with packages that must wait is not causing endless crying. She is getting used to secrets being okay and even fun when the parents are in control of them. Every night, she is learning the true meaning of the season: compassion, sharing, learning about Jesus, family togetherness, magical wonder, peace and joy.
The days are still rougher than usual. Goldilocks is on a slippery slope. She is having trouble getting through each day. Her behavior is getting pretty hard to deal with. Even her one-on-one worker and my friend who helps with her for a few hours a week are having a very hard time controlling her. But my family is enjoying the season in between Goldilocks's blow outs, and sometimes she is enjoying it, too.
Some pics from Advent ~
Setting up the nativity after hearing The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey.
Trying tamales after reading Too Many Tamales.
The kids made marshmallow snowmen after listening to The Biggest Snowman Ever.
Blessings,
Dawn
Dec. 9, 2009 - A Book Review on My Books!
I am so excited to have Valerie Neal write up a review on two of my books!!!
http://walkininsunshine.blogspot.com/2009/12/2-new-books-for-review.html
Check it out and let me know what you think.
~Candy~
Dec. 8, 2009 - Still praising HIM...
We have been in our usual whirlwind of activities at this time of year. Having everyone who we can find who doesn't have a place to go for Thanksgiving. Singing/playing for various functions. Hosting the Gideons for the December meeting at our barn...including dinner and singing/playing. And finally this week taking a breath while we make final adjustments (mostly) or marathon sewing contests (some) in preparation for a Civil War Ball to be held this coming weekend. My dh is slowly recuperating from walking pneumonia. The rest of the crew are in various stages of recuperation from a flu/cold. We are still trying to hold some semblance of order and learning is progressing, albeit slowly. We began our Dickens book this past week; we will be reading Our Mutual Friend. It is not one that I was familiar with...so it will be a surprise. I am still praising my Heavenly Father for HIS miraculous healing of my heart in June. When we returned I asked the Father for regular fellowship with likeminded believers...Well, being the loving Father HE is, he not only heard, but answered overwhelmingly! We have had non-stop company since June! By late August, I had begun to tire of the constancy of it...and even had the audacity to say out loud..."that I was SO done with company for awhile!" not only to my family, but to my wonderful LORD. You know that still small voice? The one that GENTLY convicts? and doesn't accuse or slap us in the face? He very gently said, "Didn't you ask me for fellowship?" OOPS!! I just thought it would come on certain days of the week between certain hours! So, I repented, asked HIM to break and cancel my words and continue to teach me to praise HIM for the wonderful fellowship that HE has been bringing. Our ways are definitely NOT HIS ways...nor are our thoughts HIS thoughts.(Isaiah 55). I have had more joy than I can express in submitting to HIS ways. I have been doing something called T-tapp to get fit. It only takes a little over 15 minutes and requires no special equipment or jumping, meditation, loud music, etc. It is very doable. We had a beautiful snow fall on Saturday morning when we awoke. We rarely get any snow...and this was only 1/2 - 1 inch...but that was enough for our 'younger' set to go out and attempt to sled and/or slide down any and all hills on our property. It was all gone by noon. We have had more to pray over...the Drummond family is in need of prayer after losing Sarah on Nov. 17th (a 25 yr old mother) and their grandfather Dec. 3rd. I also would ask you to pray for my childhood friend Julie and her husband and daughter. Her husband, Ray is very ill with cancer. He has not been able to work for some time and now Julie has had to take off to stay with him. There are many needs. There seem to be many needs...everywhere we turn...heartaches, and yet, I believe that ESPECIALLY during these times we need to PRAISE HIM with all of our hearts. I am also working to guard my heart from despair and discouragement, knowing that GOD'S timing is ALWAYS perfect. HE is totally trustworthy. I hope my friend in Idaho is enjoying the snow we have been hearing about...and dressing warmly, with the low temps!!
I hope to blog more often...but as I have said before, "Real life takes precedence over computers!"
Grace and Peace,
Ruth
Dec. 8, 2009 - Christmas Cookies ...
We are having fun baking around here this week. We started off with our favorite Christmas cookie, Chocolate Surprise Cookies. 
CHOCOLATE SURPRISE COOKIES
(bake 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees ~ makes about 8 dozen)
Purchase
8 dozen Hersheys Chocolate Kisses
Cream Together
1 1/2 cup of butter
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup of brown sugar
Beat In
2 eggs
4 teas vanilla
1 teas almond extract
Add and Mix Thoroughly
3 1/2 cups flour
1 teas baking powder
1/2 tea salt
1 cup very finely chopped blanched almonds
Refrigerate dough to make it less sticky. Form balls around each kiss so kiss is completely enclosed. The thinner the dough on each kiss, the more kisses can be covered. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes on ungreased cookie sheet until starting to turn light golden color. Let cool -- These taste better that way.
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We made a DOUBLE batch (200 kisses) so that there would be plenty left over for Christmas gifts.
First the kids counted out 200 kisses using a tallying system.
Then the kids peeled the foil off the kisses.
Next we creamed the butter and sugars.
Next the kids chopped the blanched almonds.
Then they took a break for a sensory moment. Ahhh...feel the blanched almonds.
Now we mixed in the rest of the flour and such. This was about the time Mommy realized that she really did not have a big enough bowl for a double batch and she really NEEDS a Kitchen Aid mixer. The kids started getting really messy, and the dog started waiting for flying food to land at her feet.
After giving up on the mixer and Mommy mixing the dough with her hands, it looked like this.
The kids rolled kisses into dough and put them on a baking sheet.
Yummy loveliness! You can dress them up with some frosting and sprinkles if you wish.
Blessings,
Dawn
Sunday, December 6, 2009 - Maintaining excitement throughout THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
QUESTION: "Amy, how do you maintain excitement for 12 days of Christmas Shmily time? I tried it last year and frankly it was hard! Hubby was feeling special but honestly I just wanted to be left alone and sleep. Help me get mentally straightened out to try again!" - JessicaI have to be honest... I struggle EVERY year with this whole thing, to some extent. Now, don't get me wrong, it's so much better than it used to be BEFORE I started the "12 days of Christmas" with my hubby... but that doesn't mean it doesn't go off without some trials, and I honestly believe that the more women that I tell about the 12 days of Christmas in order to bless their marriages... well, do you think that satan is just gonna sit back and watch my marriage flourish? Absolutely not!
I honestly hesitated this year when I realized when THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS was going to be and when the baby was due... I am literally due the day before I normally start this whole thing (which is my hubby's birthday) and so not only did I realize I was going to have the "normal" struggles of prior years... but having a baby at some point before the 12 days is up certainly means I'm gonna need to get a LITTLE... uh... creative... Not only will hormones be in full swing... but I will have a new little one "sucking the life out of me" (I nurse my babies) and that can be draining as well.
But the more I thought about "canceling" the whole thing... the more I knew I needed to do it... not just for my sweet Beloved... but because I needed to look forward to it as well. I needed to remind myself of all those reasons I fell in love with my husband... and the many more that I've fallen in love with since then.
I think we all know that by doing this... we certainly are blessing our husbands and our marriages... but I realized how I've really taken the whole thing for granted by thinking that I'm doing my husband some great big favor... when, in reality... I am equally blessed by these very special 12 days each year. By focusing on the good things about my husband, I "fall in love" all over again with the man I married... but there is still more...
I GET to serve my husband more intentionally then I normally do. Sure, I wash his clothes, make meals for him (although I don't know if he'd say that's a blessing or not considering the cook HE is), make sure his closet is full of clothing that fits and shoes to wear... but I can so easily fall into the routine of being his wife, that I forget the privilege of being so much more... a servant who acts out of love, expecting nothing in return... THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS makes me focus on my husband's wants, needs, and desires more than ever before and I find myself truly loving making him smile. It's no longer about what he's done for me... what I might get in return... or why he isn't do this or that... my focus is not on ME... and honestly women, that's right where God wants me as a wife all the time.
So, while I know 12 days IS hard to keep the excitement alive... I want to challenge you to really focus on your husband and not yourself... push yourself to go a little further when you feel like throwing in the towel... go the distance because in the end... it will not only be your husband that will be blessed... but you as well.
FYI: I made a booklet to encourage your husband for 30 weeks... in it there are a few things that might help you to stay focused on your hubby as you prepare for the 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS... and to help you stay that way throughout. You can find the booklet by clicking the following link: 30-week Husband Encouragement Challenge.
Dec. 5, 2009 - Weekly Wrapup
From the Heart:
The next six months seem to hold a lot of unknown for our family. There will be no discipleship training school this year like we usually have in January. A couple of our good friends are moving overseas in the next couple of months. It seems like it will be a lonely isolated time. I know God can make good of it. We do have some things in our minds and hearts to do, but we want God to be in control, and so we eagerly await His direction and confirmation
On Monday evening we went into town and helped a missionary family with Frontier Ministries pray through the home they just purchased. The Lord gave them a surprise package last year when their son was born. They found out he has down's syndrome. Right now they are working stateside, but they hope to go back to Afghanistan in the next year or two.
Last Saturday night, dh and I went out to a movie. We hadn't had a date in a LONG time. We wanted to see Blindside, but it sold out while we were in line. We saw 2012 instead. It was nice to be able to talk in the truck and have a special time together.
In the School Room:
We had a nice full week this week. It was good to get a lot done. We are enjoying our readers and read-alouds, and I am learning along with them in science. Right now we are reading "The Terrible Wave" about the Johnstown disaster of a dam breaking in 1889. Amazing story.
I think Little Critter may end up not needing a kindergarten year. He enjoys so much learning along side his sister!
On the Mission Field:
We prayed the team of 8 off to New Mexico this morning. I am excited for them, and for what God is going to do in them and through them. They will be working with the Navajos until early January, then heading to northern India.
In the Literary Scene:
I finally finished reading Brock and Bodie Thoene's second book in the Galway Series Of Men and of Angels. I'm also reading a book called, "Funding Your Ministry". It seems like a great resource to teach us how to raise our missionary support in a godly, biblical way. Soon Tim and I will be reading this together.
Feeding on His Faithfulness,
Carol
If you would like to join me in this theme, just write up your own weekly summary, using mine or your own categories. Then sign the Mr. Linky below. I'd love to read your weekly summaries too! I hope to post mine on each Friday or Saturday. At the latest it will be on Sunday. If you get yours done before I do, just leave your link in my cbox or comments from the week before. Be sure and check last week's Mr. Linky for any new ones who posted before I did! It is a great way to meet new people.
Dec. 5, 2009 - Two parties and snowflakes!
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! We had our first Christmas party of the season Friday morning. We hosted a FIAR party for our support group. We had only 7 kids but the group is slowly growing. Our FIAR book this month was Warm As Wool. The kids all brought a warm item of clothing to the party so that we could send it to Covenant House, a home for homeless teens in New York City. We then did a few crafts, ate lots of great food and played for a few hours. Because all the children at the party were special needs, we had to do lots of balancing of what everyone needed to be comfortable. However, it all went well with minimal tears. In fact, all the tears were at the very end when all the sensory children had had enough.
The dog was a very big hit.
After the party we had to rest and prepare for Round Two. Friday night, we were invited to our huge Family Support Network party for special needs kids. It covers five counties, and there were a few hundred kids present. Of course, I forgot my camera!! Unfortunately, Goldilocks was not able to attend because of her behavior. Often she can only handle one event a day or even every few days. She just could not pull herself back together after party one and was being very rude. Grandma saved the day and babysat her so that the rest of us could still go.
The lady who painted faces did a great job. Here are two of my children. Tom Sawyer is about to fall asleep standing there lol.
Tom Sawyer won a gingerbread house for coming in close in an estimation game. I guess all that work we are doing in estimation is paying off.
Today, we are getting some snowflakes! They will probably not amount to much, but it is nice and Christmassy anyway.
Blessings,
Dawn
