We Saw the Lights!

 

Today we made our traditional "Christmas Light Seeing" excursion. Every year we tour the best-lit houses in our area while listening to Christmas music. Over the years, we have added to the basic tradition. We now wear pajama pants (or full pajamas in the case of the twins). We also have added eating ice cream to the night. (Which some years makes sense because it's much warmer than it was tonight. It was 80 degrees just a few days ago!)

We began our journey a few streets over with a house that has a whole light show set to music. It's such a fun show! We then traveled out to the country to see a huge multi-family display. On our way there we saw the business in the picture. It was even more stunning in person. Then it was time for the Chick-Fil-A ice cream and (my favorite) milkshakes. We viewed the big houses by the lake and a couple of our other favorite neighborhoods.

We got home and I got to see a few meteors from the meteor shower. The first one was so huge and bright. It was too cold to stay out for long, but the stars and the meteors were beautiful. 

 

Put One Foot in Front of the Other

Sometimes I find encouragement and inspiration in the most unlikely of places. Today it was in a Christmas cartoon I'm sure I've seen dozens of times.

Ballet class had run late, and my two younger girls had had a tough day, so I choose to stay home from BSF. To help take their minds off the tough ballet class (and the hard math lesson this morning and some general sisterly fussiness) we watched Santa Claus Is Coming to Town on TV. Which is kinda funny, since we don't do the Santa thing. 

I grew up watching this show every year, but it hit me tonight just how right the "Put One Foot in Front of the Other" song is. Before the song, the Wynter Wizard asks how he can make sure his decision to be good rather than evil will endure. He is afraid he will go back to his evil ways. That's when Kris Kringle advises him to "put one foot in front of the other" - to just worry about taking the next step in the right direction. What a terrific picture of repentance! And what great encouragement when we're faced with things that seem impossible.

My girls have seen that this week. When one was discouraged by really good but not perfect test scores, I encouraged her to begin a study plan to improve. When two of my ballerinas were discouraged by the difficulty of their recital piece, I encouraged them to keep practicing! I know in a few months those things that so discouraged them today will be things they have learned and become more confident in doing. 

The things my girls have are skill-based and, in the grand scheme of things,not that difficult to overcome.  I have been faced with an area of my life where I need to make some changes that will not come naturally to me.To me this seems so much harder than just improving a skill. Sometimes I look at how far I need to go and feel intimidated. But I don't need to focus on trying to run. I can begin by just standing. I can stand on God's Truth about myself and about His power in me. Then I can begin to take steps in the right direction. I know I won't arrive at once, but if I "put one foot in front of the other, " I will arrive someday!

Jolly Old Saint Nicholas

 Today was a good Sunday. After a good morning at church, the girls requested Popeye's for lunch. Afterward I went shopping with a friend and snagged a pair of skinny jeans for $10! I've spent some time looking for the right pair, and it was a double blessing to find it for such a good price. I even found a small gift for Paul!

After I got home we met with a sweet on really together couple that Paul is going to marry in January. (To clarify, he's going to officiate their wedding ceremony; he's not going to do some sort of bizarre polygamy thing!) I wish I had been that together and clear-headed about relationships and marriage when I was engaged! I had to learn so much the hard way.

With our crazy ballet schedule, I've decided that I should make something Sunday night that will have leftovers that we can reheat for a few nights. Tonight was Pioneer Woman's meatloaf. Paul said it was the best meatloaf he'd ever had! (I think the bacon added a lot.) 

After supper we watched the Veggie Tales Saint Nicholas movie. We still all love Veggie Tales! I'm so glad my older girls don't feel too grown up to enjoy the fun!  And what's a movie without a snack? I made some Ghirardelli  brownies for us to enjoy during the movie. The girls sat on the floor and enjoyed brownies and milk and ice cream. (We're still working on the cleaning up after eating!) The movie has such a sweet and needed message: We don't give in order to receive God's love. We give because we have already received God's love! The message of grace from silly talking vegetables. Gotta love it!

 

Joy to the World

The ornament in my photo is one my Granny made for us. Granny loved many people and things. Two of her favorite things were the Dallas Cowboys and Christmas. Even though she's with Jesus now, I remember her love of Christmas when we decorate the tree with the ornaments she gave us.  

When my sister and I were little girls, Granny began giving us an ornament each year before Christmas. She continued this even after I got married. Then, when my girls came along, she expanded the tradition to include each of them. We all have special ornaments from Granny. I also have some of the ornaments she used to decorate her own tree.

 Even though she had lived through some really hard times, Granny was one of the most joyful people I have known! This Christmas, and all year long, I want to share some of that joy!

O Christmas Tree!

After a busy day, sometimes posting a photo is all I can do. Merry Christmas!

Deck the Halls

Today was another full day. The girls are all working on speeches and posters for a 4-H contest on Saturday. The older two need little help, but the twins need me to help type and help them organize their thoughts. My girls all seemed to have inherited a love for public speaking, so this is a fun contest for them.

So even though our dining room chandelier is beautifully decorated, the table is full of school books and craft supplies. Maybe tomorrow...

But, since we still have to complete our contest preparation, maybe not...

The Messy and the Mundane

It's easy to only show the good and the beautiful. And good and beautiful are certainly things I aspire to, even though I rarely achieve them. But it's real to show the messy parts of life, the mundane aspects of living. Because that's where I live most of the time - in the midst of the messy and the mundane.

Today our dining room floor is littered with painting supplies for a 4-H project. School books have jumped off the table onto the floor. And a discarded sweater acts as a rug. The living room is cluttered with the mostly empty boxes that store our decorations awaiting a final emptying and a trip back to the attic. And the kitchen floor is home to purchases from Target and the grocery store that have not been put away.

Tuesdays are crazy days here, and this Tuesday was crazier than most. School. 4-H. Shopping for 4-H projects and a charity party. Ballet. (Times three!) BSF. A trip to the grocery store for milk and a few more things.

But in the midst of the messy and mundane I see glimpses of joy and a different kind of beauty. The joy of creating. The beauty of hearing my girls see past the superficial. The fun of shopping with Hannah. And the rest of a quiet living room when the girls are in their rooms.

Sometimes I allow myself to think of God's blessings only as the "big" things. And in so doing I miss the simple but real blessings that God showers on me each day. 

Open my eyes, Lord, to see Your blessings every day, even in the midst of the messy and the mundane!