A Little Sad

Not sure why...no good reason...I just miss my family today.

Selling-Out?

Do you use AdSense to make money on your blog?  Do you actually make money?  What works best for you?

January Pics

I can't figure out how to turn the pics, so you'll just have to turn your head.  Sorry.

Catherine had her friend Emma over to play before school started again.

Patrick and his friend Brock were silly with their sandwiches.

The Porters came over for dinner.  Ella and Lillian are such good mommies!

Every Tuesday at our CFA is family night.  This week they had a face painter and also decorated sugar cookies with icing and sprinkles.  We love our CFA.  Pretty amazing, huh?

The view from my kitchen sink today.  They all have been exploring out there and walking on the iced-over creek until it cracked and Patrick got soaked.  Still...so much fun.

Daddy is the snow-fun-one.  I'm learning to enjoy watching the snow fun and not feel that it's at all necessary for me to go out to participate. :)

I made a B out of corks today.

Then I hung it up with some other things.  More my style than huge pastel maps.

Mary Martha and Sarah Frances are out on a "date," so maybe I can get some pics of them up soon.  For Christmas MMA gave each child a gift certificate for a date with her and $5 to spend on it.  She took Lillian out last week then today is SFB's turn.  In just a little bit Catherine is going on her birthday date with her daddy, and I'm going out later by myself.  Such fun times around here.  I love Janterm.

Covenant Christian School

Covenant Christian School is having Open House next Thursday, January 19 at 6:30pm for anyone interested.  It will last about an hour.

Just know I love, love, love this school.  Having had children there going on 3 years, and now working there this school year, I feel I can speak well to most things school-related.  Ask on, friends.

Please let me know if you're coming so I can look for you.

Holding My Breath

This is the way it was supposed to be this fall.  Busy but normal.  Rushed but calm.  Eating meals together at the table.  Resting most evenings.

For the last 3 years, I've had terrible (and I mean terrible) Octobers.  Even to the point that this past year my friend, Mary Martha, and I prayed against the entire month of October.  We made it to the first week and praised God that things seemed to still be smooth sailing.

Then LIFE happened and it got crazy.  Bad crazy.

But we're back to smooth again, PTL.  It's so. very. nice.  Thing is, I'm skiddish.  I'm jumpy, wondering when the ball will drop?  When the insanity will return?  How long till something awful happens to me or my family?

I know this is not the right way to view good things.  God is good all the time.  And just because things are hard doesn't mean He's not still oh so good.  I'm not saying that.  I guess I'm wishing I could REST entirely in the good times and be entirely grateful for them vs. allowing worry sneak in and push rest to the side even a little bit.  I mean, really...can I not NOT worry?  Do I have to create things to worry about when it's good?

Deep exhale.  Quit holding my breath.  Rest.  Relax the shoulders.  Enjoy the good.  Silly girl.

Brilliant!

Today I bought some Hershey Kisses on clearance.  It struck me as I was dividing them to use the red and silver ones for Valentine's Day and save the green ones for St. Patrick's Day.

I'm way too excited about this insight...

Birmingham Hangover

It happens every time we come back from being in AL--I get a hankering to be crafty and/or decorate the house.  Every time without fail I am inspired by the break I've had by sharing the kids with their grandparents, as well as the beauty of the Southern homes, and I feel the need to improve upon the state of my home.  This time is no different. 

And doesn't Pinterest just FEED my hunger to be crafty? 

Now, in my normal routine I know better than to indulge myself in trying to do more than survive.  I've quit Pinterest before.  I don't look at Southern Living anymore, and not just because we don't take it.  I don't even look at the decor of the house we live in; what am I able to do about it anyway?

But--dare I say it--I'm feeling it still.  A full week back, and I'm still itching as badly as ever to make the house more homey.  And it seems there's some wiggle room in my life.  That means maybe 3 hours a week when it's just me and Lillian (3yo and easiest child) when I can do something for myself.  Today it was take a nap with her.  Priceless.

But I think I should work on our room.  Put all the clothes away to start with then dust and vacuum.  THEN consider the walls and what to do.  Make it a retreat.  Hold me to it, people.  I can do it if there are no unforeseen dramas coming to blindside me.

That would be really nice.  And it would make Brian so happy.  Even if it lasts just a few days.