What's in there? Nuffin...He is risen!

We had a great day celebrating the Resurrection with family on both sides. Lots of food & Luke's first real egg hunt. The end of the day ended with an over-tired, over-sugared, over-stimulated 2 year old. This moment, however, makes me smile :)

25 Days of Christmas

This season has truly been a blessed one. Tiring at times, and very different trying to "get it all done" with an almost 2 year old at my feet, but so so sweet. Billy and I wanted to be very strategic and intentional with Christmas in our home. Starting new traditions, continuing old ones, but most of all making much of Jesus - it is, after all, his birthday. After browsing multiple blogs and attempting to browse pinterest I decided I wanted to make an advent calendar that served many purposes. The first purpose was to share the nativity story and make it a part of each day in December. I also wanted to make one that had a little something "special" for the 24 days leading up to Christmas. Not a gift, necessarily, but a family or "mommy & me" activity. And the third purpose was to just create a new tradition to be brought out each December 1 we have together in years to come. Luke absolutely loved it; He learned the story of Jesus' birth and memorized Luke 2:10-11 and soaked up all the newness surrounding Christmas. He loved getting to pick a card each day and hang an ornament on the little tree. In fact, he now picks up any and all receipts/pieces of paper/business cards and proudly "reads" a fun activity to us...ie: "ooooh...says, make rudolph cookies!!!"

**Disclaimer: while each pocket had a fun activity our days often changed (along with my energy/patience) so sometimes our activity got switched around or just plain looked over.** Also, the activities for each day were sometimes very simple (such as decorate the Christmas tree, put Christmas stickers on windows, help wrap Christmas presents, eat popcorn & watch a Christmas movie...) while others were more complex on days that I knew we'd have more time (make cinnamon ornaments, make Christmas cookies, paint a handprint Christmas tree, etc). So, here are a few pictures of my hand-made felt Advent Calendar and a few snapshots of our fun days leading up to Christmas. Had I decided to start this before November 27 it probably would have turned out a little differently. But hey, I seem to be a bit in love with change so maybe I'll make a new one in the year(s) to come ;)

Our little calendar, with a special felt "ornament" & activity for each day

Day 1 & 2 were a little lame - 1) buy & 2) decorate our Christmas tree ;)

A few of our crafts from the calendar... handprint Christmas tree, ornaments, paper plate rudolph, and sponge paint clothes-pin Christmas wreath

Gingerbread House making

Christmas Movie & Popcorn

Making Cinnamon dough ornaments... in which we learned Luke is allergic to raw cinnamon.

Christmas cookies!

The past few months the Lord has given me such a heart of thanks and for that alone I am thankful. I've tried to do a "thankful thought per day" but let's be honest - there are entirely too many things to be thankful for to just narrow it down to one a day. I am thankful for new life in Him. I'm thankful that His mercies are new each and every morning. I'm thankful that when my Savior looks upon me He sees His perfect spotless lamb in my place. I am thankful for what we see as trials He sees as blessings. I'm thankful that while many days I think our meal options may be limited there is always a hot meal to put on the table. I'm thankful I can worship with my family and friends freely. I'm thankful for my boys and a home full of life. I'm thankful for God's provision through various jobs while I get to stay home with Luke. I'm thankful for His sustaining energy. I'm thankful that at the end of the day when my heart is troubled or worn out, when I am grieving for a loved one or overwhelmed with responsibility, my God is still Good and He is still enough.

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. -Matthew 11:28-30

Here's a little peak into our Thanksgiving, which was full of family and food:

Luke sharing his Wall of Turkeys (and thankful tree). Luke's current obsession/fascination is seizing any and every opportunity to use a glue stick.

Delicious spread with a Note of Thanks to each of our guests.