Life and Reviews

When celebrating Christmas, it is important to take time to remember the reason for the celebration.  When all of the stores and business are taking the Christmas out of the celebrations, something is very wrong.  When we take Christ out of Christmas, we have totally denied the very reason for Christmas.

I think that with the economic stresses we currently have, it is a great time to cut back on our Christmas spending and actually reflect on what Christmas is all about.  Traditions are a good way to make sure that the true meaning is not forgotten. 

We love to have a birthday party for Jesus on Christmas morning with a birthday cake and everything.  Reading the Bible for the Christmas story on Christmas eve is another wonderful tradition that we enjoy.

Unfortunately, I am usually working on Christmas eve, Christmas day, or both since I work at a hospital.  This is something I really dislike.  We try to work our celebration around my schedule which is often difficult at best.

But, we need to remember to be thankful.  As Americans, we need to remember to be thankful for our freedom that we often take for granted.  Our military works round the clock to ensure that we are able to worship and celebrate as we choose.  Remember to pray for our military who are not able to be home with their families during this time of year. <><

We are so excited to be so close to having a place to live.  After losing our house to foreclosure, we have been living in our camper in my mom’s back yard for far too long.  We only slept in the camper, the rest of the time we were in the house.  Mom’s house is just so small, and their is NO privacy for any of us. 

When you have had your own home for 15 years and you suddenly find yourself homeless with two kids, it is pretty scary.  This economy has not been kind to anyone except the gasoline companies.

We are at the exciting part of building…picking out the colors of the walls and flooring.  Hopefully everything will be complete in a few weeks.  We made the entire attic living space.  It is a 20×30 foot space from which we will have a mastersuite with a bedroom, bath, small living area/kitchenette and a bathroom.  The kids will get a bedroom of their own downstairs.  We will finally have a bit of space and some much needed privacy.

My mom had her garage turned into a master bedroom suite to give some much needed living space a couple of years ago.  Craming an entire house of stuff into someone else’s house is not an easy task and unfortunately, some stuff you really didn’t want to get rid of has to go for lack of space. 

I guess you never realize how very little you need to actually make it in hard times.  We have learned that stuff just gets in the way.  We have been able to donate a ton of things to the needy.  I think this has certainly gave us a new perspective on the important things in life — each other.   We are very thankful this year to have our family, health, and a roof over our heads!

Today was report card day at our house.  Both of my children as I have talked about earlier started a new school this year which we have been very impressed with.  Ding – ding -ding! We have GREAT report cards!!!! Hooray!!

I am so proud!  My oldest, Cameron who is in 7th grade made Honor Roll! He also had a 100 average in science! Go Cameron!!!

My youngest, Kennady who is in 2nd grade did excellent as well.  She had Excellent in many areas as well as significant improvement in the others.  Her reading level jumped from first grade 2nd month to second grade 6th month now.  I am very proud of her accomplishments!

We have a very happy household tonight!!

Life.  As summer comes to a close this weekend giving many a long weekend to relax and be with family and friends…it makes me think how quickly life goes from the slow pace of summer to the over-scheduled school year. 

Wow…one weekend we are sleeping in and the next week bam! We are up at the crack of dawn and on the road most of the day going from school to after school activities.  I feel like a taxi.

With two weeks of school already behind us, the hectic pace is in full swing.  With soccer practice, games, gymnastics, speech therapy, Brownies and what not….everyone is worn out.  I hate being over scheduled and much prefer the less scheduled summer days. 

I do limit my kids’ activities and try to make sure they have enough down time to relax and do nothing.  This is becoming harder and harder as they get older.  From tons of homework and projects to sports to other activities it just consumes every minute it seems.

What to do? I am at a loss as to how to make time for it all.  I mean you blink your eyes and it is Thanksgiving then Christmas. 

Time just goes much too quickly and children grow up much too quickly.  Maybe I am overly sentimental, but I do think about this quite a bit.  I try to enjoy and savor each and every moment with my children.  Sometimes I just wish I could freeze time and keep everyone the same for about 20 years to really have time to enjoy my family before they are grown and gone.   Life.

How many others feel as I do I wonder?