Merry Christmas!

From the Jackson Family to your family! May you pause and embrace the joy of Jesus' birth today. 

The Drummer Boy...

We are in the heat of the Christmas Season... Stores are packed full of Christmas goodies, gift ideas are buzzing on places like Pinterest and yet the economy is down, people are watching their wallets more then ever. In a way  I am glad that people are actually focusing on how much money they have (or don't have) as it allows them time to pause and reflect on what is really important in life.

In years past I have tried my best to imagine what Mary and Joseph must have been feeling on that long road to Bethlehem. Two years ago that wasn't too hard as I too was pregnant during Christmas with Jake. Every time Jake would move, kick and flutter I felt a bit closer to Mary as she too felt those kicks of Jesus inside. As I was pregnant with Jake, we were unsure of our future, having lost our job and our house at the Children's Home we knew that the birth of Jake would cause some changes in our life. Mary was about to face some changes of her own after the birth of her sweet son. Changes that would alter the world and bring God to us in the flesh.

This year I think I have been able to relate more to a character in a carol. Not to spiritual mind you but serves a good punch for those who are budgeting and really struggling with the whole Christmas gift giving thing. I have always loved The Little Drummer Boy and as I child I remember hearing that song on a favorite Christmas record that I think we still have! The sweet Drummer Boy knew he had no gift to bring the Christ child but he did have one thing... His talent of drumming. He saw others bring great and expensive gifts to the King and I can't imagine what must have been going through his head. Was he embarrassed? Ashamed? I am sure but it didn't stop him from sharing his most prized treasure with the family.

So this year I am going to be the Drummer Boy. While I don't play the drums, I do have talents to give...

 A friend of mine posted this wonderful reminder on Facebook the other day:

Free Christmas gift ideas:

A gift of encouragement: Encouragement is a powerful gift. (Proverbs 12:25)

A gift of time: Time is a valuable gift, a precious commodity. (Ephesians 5:15-16). 

The gift of prayer: The greatest gift we can give someone is the commitment to pray for them consistently. (James 5:16). 

A secret gift: Give a gift to someone in need in secret without them knowing who it is from and with no hidden motive and no apparent benefit to you. (Matthew 6:3-4) 

"Grab your Christmas list and set aside some time to pray for each person on that list. Do you need to rethink some of the gifts you are giving this year? It is not too late! Ask God how you can best honor His birth by the gifts you give to others." 

So while I would love to do much more during this season, I am just going to give my best to Him and continue to serve Him where I can. 

Praying you have a wonderful Christmas Season!

The December Mega Post!

We have a rule around here... No Christmas activities before Thanksgiving. Period. But once Thanksgiving is over, then it is full Christmas tilt around here! Welcome exhibit 1 - The Christmas parade!

We huddled with friends and waited until the parade made its way down to us. Our kids made the time pass by quickly as they anticipated what would be coming down the road.

Yes, we strapped him down to his stroller but we found out he can just get up and walk off!

Group after group passed us by and the kids loved watching every float (of sorts) and mascot. I had to laugh at the semi truck with people just sitting on the trailer bed. It drove past us and I was kind of worried for the people on there! One step and they were goners right? 

But when I caught the back of the truck the sign had me in stitches. Say wha??? Student driver? You have got to be kidding me! People on the trailer, children on the side of the road... Surely I hope not!

Marching band after marching band, dancing groups and other civic groups paved the way for the reason why everyone gathered. Mr. Santa himself flying in on a faux sled and reindeer.

He was such a great looking Santa!

***

Cooler days mean for hunkering down at home. Warm food, crafting, family time and lo and behold school! I find the more we homeschool, there is an eb and flow to our life. Sometimes it is heavy on social gatherings, (because homeschoolers are unsocialized you know...) sometimes it is heavy on getting out in our world and experiencing what is around us. Winter is my time to focus on school at home without most of the distractions of life and what goes on outside this house. While I love to get out and play, I also love our safe warm house.

There was a cloudy day last week where if it were colder it would have definitely snowed. We heard that there were flakes sighted not too far from us but as we waited with our noses pressed to the window, no flakes came. So what do you do when it doesn't snow outside? You make it snow inside!

Our kids get Little Passports and each month we receive a package from places around the world. This month it included make your own snow! Perfect!

So we stirred and stirred and this is what came of it.

The kids wanted to make more but my senses prevailed and this is all they got... But it satisfied them for the afternoon!

***

I was thrilled to learn about the Christmas lights at Tanglewood Park! A bit of a drive but so worth the fun! I think I had heard of it last year but I couldn't see paying a bunch of money for Christmas lights but now I understand! This year they had "throwback" night so we went ahead and went for it! We weren't disappointed...

Mom, this little lady on the golf cart is for you!

***
Back to the homefront...

Spelling work.

Learning about the phases of the moon! Yes, those are Oreo's. I really enjoyed this lesson!

And for you Five in Rowers out there, we were "rowing" Owl Moon. We have dissected an Owl Pellet before but these were huge!! Somehow we did a lot better the time before because this time we just all got grossed out!

***
Someday we will be able to have a real tree that is on the ground but with a Jake running around I feel that the tree would probably end up on the ground. So a tree on the table it is. Finally we decorated the tree and we had a great time!

We were going to put Jake to bed right before we decorated but he pitched a huge fit! Really?? So we made him use his limited vocabulary to ask politely to stay up. He passed with flying colors so we had him help. He actually did a pretty good job!

Well that was until he crashed two glass balls together but who could stay upset at this guy?

Love having little helpers! (yes, I can't stand decorating the tree and I am fully supportive of others doing the work!)

Help they did. We had that tree up in no time!

My favorite night time activity now is to get a cup of decaf and sit in the glow of our tree. Ahhhh...

I think Cutie Pie, our elf likes it too...

May you embrace this Christmas time by dialing down and enjoying what all really matters. It isn't the big gifts that your kids will trash in a month, it isn't a ton of parties, but it is the simple quiet of the birth of a Savior. Merry Christmas!

Thankful...

I am up early before the dawn and it is quiet. Moments like these allow me to clear my head. Silence and a good cup of coffee work together to cause thoughts to swirl around. Sometimes those thoughts are put down on paper, but most often they are lost the moment the first little patter of feet hit the ground running. But on Thanksgiving morning not much else to ponder about but gratitude...

This year has brought about some tough changes for our family. We have grown and stretched like never before, but you know what? Change can either make or break someone and I believe it has made us. Our new rhythm of life here in our home has settled on us and while we work hard to create a stronger home, it seems to be working for us. Late nights, early mornings, things to be done on an ever growing to do list but I wouldn't trade them for the world. 

My thankful heart overflows for these people...

People complain about getting older but you know? I think it gives you such wisdom from having lived a bit more. Things I know now compared to what I thought I knew then, well, let's just say I didn't know much then!!

What I do know now, is that relationships are everything. And these people who share the four walls with me know me intricately. Before I was married I thought, who could I live with for the rest of my life?? Well, God has blessed me beyond measure because I couldn't think of spending them with anyone else...

It takes a lot of work... Just look at this guy, he goes a mile a minute. But this guy will become a man someday. One who marries a woman and raises their own children. What I do now will have a ripple effect on families to come. A shocking truth that reminds me daily to pour my very best in my children and family.

How convicting it is that we are in charge to teach them how to love, and love others. 

So we go about our days, living out life, pouring into relationships. What I have found this year that relationships can be tricky. Risky as well. Balancing real vs safe. Sometimes more often than not, I blow it but sometimes it settles and true friendships begin. Even through the tough times, our kids can see that life isn't easy and we all need to work things out. But then I become surprised when things do work out and a gift of a true relationship blossoms. Win win...

So we go about our time here and work things out. All for our family to see. A process of learning, growing, living. I am thankful for my family, my safe haven. The ones who love me even though sometimes I am hard to love.

Thankful for the burdens we all bear together. Some more real than others!

One thing I am reminded about often, is how quickly these moments fly by. That girl on my back? She used to fit in the crook of my arm not too long ago. I easily carried her weight on my hip as we both went on about our day. Today, I can barely pick her up for a moment. She still loves to be held, cuddled, snuggled... But for how long? The seasons are changing quickly.... How I must live in the moment...

These quiet moments don't come around here often. I know this one is about to end soon but today, I choose to be thankful for it all. Happy Thanksgiving!

Psalm 106:1

Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Loving some cool rainy days!

I have found that routine does us well... While I might feel out of the loop or less socialized, I know that the kids thrive in structure and in turn, I become more content, calm and satisfied. The kids get along better, play  more games with eachother and life is just good. Rich. 

Today while the kids worked on writing, they wrote one word then ate a "nugget" fruit snack. Made it fun and they could focus more on their writing. 

Jake even sat in his little house, (he is a dog in his bed) and ate his own snack too.

Luke worked hard as well. No dropping his pencil today!

I love it when all things work out. Most days they don't and we are juggling a huge collection of heavy balls that we most always struggle to keep them up in the air. Social commitments, school commitments, personal stuff and just plain life. Kids going each way, sometimes with an attitude but today was good. Attitudes were  seldom seen and peace prevailed. 

But this little guy still gets into his share of mischief...

And what makes the day better? Food cooking on the stove. I love it when it is cold outside but you know in a few hours warm beef stroganoff will bring everyone to the table for food and laughter. Throw in some hot bread and you have a winner.

Wait, I lied. What makes the day better is having a fun cooking assistant to aid in the dinner prep!

Two hours later of slow cooking, smell producing warmth will make this day perfect.

Today I am thankful. Thankful that I serve a God who has led me down this path of being a mom to these wonderful three gifts. Thankful that even through the mundane, I find joy in all of it. The craziness, the juggling, the pain is all part of the deal. Makes the good and necessary all that much more poignant.