The way to Heaven is ascending;
we must be content to travel uphill,
though it be hard and tiresome,
and contrary to the natural bias of our flesh.
Jonathan Edwards
~ 2008 Goals ~
Family Goals
1. Purpose to be home more in 2008.
2. Love one another, prefer one another, be kind and tender-hearted to one another.
(Family Verse for 2008, Ephesians 4:32 "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."ESV)
Personal Goals
(Revised from last year)
1. Read my Bible and pray every day possible.
(Growing in grace to do what I know I am called to do, pursue holiness,diligence.)
2. Seek out tangible ways to encourage others as often as possible.
3. Purpose and pray to eat only when I am hungry, stopping when I am full, not stuffed!
Nov. 11, 2007~ Twaddle Free Christmas ~
I actually should have titled this Christmas Blues, part 2. I was very much blessed by you all who left comments to my earlier Christmas post. I wanted to tell you how things are shaping up and how encouraged I now feel.
I realized that part of my own negative feelings about Christmas were coming from my own stress. Who needs one extra thing to do, let alone the hundreds of things we feel we have to do around Christmas? I got out my Flylady Christmas Control Journal and started looking back at last year. Thankfully, I kept last year's pages and actually wrote myself notes for this year!
I also had the chance to sit down with my dh and make a list of the things we thought we could buy for the kids, making sure we did not let any twaddle slip in. Sure it is not tons of stuff, but they certainly don't need tons of stuff either. I felt like we were able to really get our heads together on this. What a blessing! In respect to him, I am not going to press telling the children about Santa. I feel my dh needs to be the one to want to make that change. I will wait on the Lord.
Next, I had a good talk with my sweet mom. She , too, is on board for the Twaddle Free Christmas. She is such a huge blessing to us. She showers us with the best she can give, her time, talents and money. In the past, I have been very excited to have the kids receive all the gifts. It was easy to get caught up in and want that for them. But when I look around my kids rooms, I see all the excess that they don't even really play with, nor can they keep it all organized. I am taking steps to make some big changes in this area. The idea of Christmas coming was stressing me out!
And finally, we have decided to sit out the next session of co-op. That will greatly reduce our stress and expenses. I think it is very wise of my dh to make this suggestion. It will be hard telling my co-op boss. We love co-op. However, I have felt lately that I have not had enough time at home and there are some heart issues with my children that need my full attention. I am praying the Lord will bless this time.
I think all of these changes are so great. It's all things that the Lord brings us to in His time. Our kids are going to get one gift each, and one they will share, that's it from us. Plus they 'might' get one gift each from my parents, so it will be a very small Christmas. I talked to them about it last week, and they were completely fine about it. Sarah even said, "Well can't we make gifts for each other?" How sweet is that? The Lord is awesome in how He leads us. And I'm blessed to hear you are taking time off of co-op at your husbands leading. That is so good to hear. I pray you continue to follow all the Lord has for you. :)
JoAnn
I forgot to say that instead of our tradition of going to Hallmark to pick out an expensive ornament, Grace came up with the idea of making our own. We can go to a craft store and get supplies for 5 ornaments for the same cost as one Hallmark ornament. Sure, they won't be Hallmark, but they will be fun to look at years from now and remember this year together.
Jenn
You are definitely not the only one that feels that way at Christmas and it seems that each year they start it earlier and push it on us harder than the last. It has become so commercialized and about how many gifts you buy that it has totally lost any sense of the true meaning : (
Last year I started to cut down drastically on what we purchased which was hard because we have always gone way over board as have my parents, sister & husband and the inlaw side and most of it is forgotten stuffed somewhere under the bed or in the closet and not treasured like one or two special gifts. So this year it is one big present that is something that they really wanted and then socks, underwear *grin* and any other necessary clothing items and some books or educational games for all of them to share. Dh and I are not going to buy for each other this year either except for something small for our stockings. Somewhere in one of my books on celebrating CHRISTmas they had a cute idea about celebrating Jesus' birthday with a cake and I think we are going to do that this year : )
I'm glad you are feeling better about the season and have come up with a great plan!
Blessings to you and your family,
Rosina
Hi Honey,
I have not visited this blog for awhile. I am so thankful that you and DH have decided to wait on Santa issue, for T-Bear's sake. He's still a little one and will grow up soon enough, right?
I agree about dropping co-op, if that is what is in your heart to do.
Love, Mama
Leviticus 20:26 says, "You must be holy because I, the LORD, am holy. I have set you apart from all other people to be my very own." This blog is my place to remember this journey I am on and God's goodness to me. I am glad you are here. Welcome.
