Hello again.....

Hello again blog, its me.....your author.  I've neglected you long enough and feel it is time we get reacquainted.  I have missed you so these past few months, but life happened and took me away from you.  I am embarking on a new year and hoping for a new found love to blog again.  Bear with me as I make changes, maybe even changes in the direction of this blog,  I want this to be more of an outlet for me and not just keeping everyone up to date on my family happenings. 

Here is a short recap.  December we had 2 birthdays, my beautiful red headed daughter turned 12 and my vibrant littlest girl turned 5.  Time is slipping away from me as they grow up so fast.  We had friends that came to be with us and stayed through Christmas.  It was a very special Christmas for us this year.  A few of the kids ended up sick with a stomach flu the week before Christmas and then another on Christmas Eve.  I also ended up sick with an ear infection that same night that left me with a perforation in my eardrum.  The next few days are a blur of flying wrapping paper, Motrin, tons of movies, lots of sweet goodies, and napping. 

While having sick kids during this time we had to postpone Christmas with our family until we were healthy. The Tuesday after Christmas my children went to be with grandparents while my husband and I traveled to help a friend that was relocating. We were away from our family for a whole week! I missed them so much, but it was good to be with friends and have some time alone. Upon returning from our trip we had enjoyed some much needed rest as a family and finally celebrated Christmas with our family this past weekend. All the decorations are finally down, things are getting back to "normal," the kids have colds now and the saga continues.

So here are some pictures to catch you up on all that has happened.  Some things will go unsaid and others will tried to be forgotten, but life happens, forgiveness is freely given, and a new year brings new hopes for the next.

This is Christmas Day Snow fun!  Our FIRST White Christmas!  Thankfully everyone was feeling well enough to enjoy a little while in the snow!

This is my middle arrows 10th Birthday!  I can't believe how time has flown by!!  She didn't open a present on her birthday because all she wanted was to go to the movie "Tangled" with her family!  Of course we took her, since we don't go to the movies very often it was a real treat for all of us!

A Blessed Christmas

Well, the packages are all opened, mommy is going nuts with the mess everywhere, daddy is back to work, the kids are overwhelmed, our schedule is non existent and the new year is approaching. WHEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was a wonderful Christmas. I did manage to stay focused on the joy and love of Christmas and not the rush of wrapping, baking and everything being perfect. On Christmas Eve the girls and I baked candy, dipped candy, wrapped a few last minute packages, and then everyone showered. We all dressed in our matching Christmas skirts and went to church for our Christmas Eve Candlelight service. It was beautiful. After church we go to my grandmothers (the kids great grandmothers) to have dinner and open presents. This year everyone bought 1 gift per child and then the adults did a "white elephant" game. It was so much fun! The kids loved everything they got and had to open every toy and the adults had just as much fun taking gifts from one another trying to find the perfect gift. It was alot of fun, even the kids got to help us out. The kids would go and take back a gift from someone, so we didn't have to get up. You know, our poor old aching bones, we needed help from the young ones. After opening presents we cleaned up the kitchen, ate some dessert and packed up the cars. It was time to get home to bed, for it would be an early morning. Mommy and Daddy were up very, very late, but it was worth every minute. The kids didn't wake up until 9. Mommy got breakfast started because everyone would be here at 10 to watch the kids open presents. (This is a tradition that my mom started with me. I was an only child, so everyone came to our house to eat and watch me open presents. Now we have continued the tradition.) The kids were so good, always so patient, they have never been ones to rush to open their gifts. They are grateful for every single one. So after all the food was baked, and the presents were open we were ready for a LONG NAP. That's just what God had in store for us too.....2 hours later, we woke up and went to a friends house to hang out and play some games. After we played a few new games we wanted to get home and put the kids down after a long day. Once we got in the car the kids made us very aware that they hadn't had anything to eat since about 11:30am, so they were "starving." Where would you go to eat on Christmas Day? What would possibly be open? Chinese? No, WAFFLE HOUSE!!!! Off we went to Waffle House, and we went with another family that was visiting at the same house. After feeding our starving children, we went to Pinnacle Shores to see the lights. A few houses went in together and synced their lights to music. It was really neat! Now I am hoping that next year blessed daddy will do it to our lights! hee hee Anyway, it was the perfect ending to our wonderful, loving, blessed, family, friends filled Christmas Day! I pray that you all had a wonderful and blessed Christmas too!

A Christmas Poem for you.

The stockings are hung on the mantle with care, in hopes that little man won't pull them like he pulls hair. The children are grinning from ear to ear, for they know that tonight is the night, that JESUS came here. The candy is (almost) baked and the gifts are (almost) wrapped, and the gingerbread houses were a blast. There are showers to be taken, hair to be brushed, skirts to adorn, but we must NOT RUSH! Tonight is the night that we remember Christ's Birth, for He did not come in rush, but He came in a meek and quiet hush. It's time to relax, celebrate and show our love for God sent His Son because of His Mercy and Love. So hug your mother, father, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins and children too, for tonight God will give HIS SON, for you!

I am not much of a poet, but I tried. I had some help from my oldest arrow. May you have a Merry CHIRSTmas and I pray that the Lord will bless each of you with joy, happiness, health and peace this year. All our Love in the Blessed Quiver House to Your home!

Love,
Blessed Mommy

Every Year.....

I do it every year!! Why do I let myself get this way? Every year I seem to work myself up in a tizzy. I am looking at 6 days until Christmas and I have not finished shopping, haven't baked the Christmas candy or cookies, we haven't done our gingerbread nativity, haven't wrapped any presents, haven't even finished making all the gifts yet. I still have a few skirts to make for the kids to wear for their Christmas outfits. WHERE did all the time go? Why do I stress out like this? I know Jesus isn't happy about me stressing out over all these selfish, needless things, but here I am.

Jesus, I am asking for you to help me Lord, I lay down all my burdens to you, if it be your will, please grant me the time to finish all these things. Even as I say that out loud, Lord, I know your answer. You don't want me to finish those things I listed above, because none of those things are what your birth is about. Please Lord, grant me the focus that I desire, help me to focus on your glory and the wonder and awe of the season at hand. I ask all these things in your precious name, AMEN.

Have a Blessed, Stress Free, Christ Centered CHRISTMAS!!

Christmas Jammies...

OK....I have had the Christmas jammies done for awhile now, but I finally got all the kids dressed in them and took their pictures. They turned out pretty cute. Little man would NOT sit still for anything. Big sis had to read him a story or point out pictures in a book to get him to sit still. Here's a show of the fun. Enjoy! I won't tell you which one I picked, you will have to wait and see when you get your Christmas cards! :) Have a Blessed Weekend!

It's Beginning to look alot like Christmas....

I mean, it FEELS alot like Christmas!! BBBBbrrrrrrrrr....it's cold outside. It is hard to believe that this week is only Thanksgiving. The weather here in NC is cold, cold and more cold with a slight breeze of cold. It's the kind of weather when you want to sit down with hot chocolate, a good Christmas movie, and cozy up by the fire. I LOVE this weather, as long as I don't have to go outside and my kids are healthy. Oh yeah, they are NOT healthy....so it makes for a miserable time.

Most of the kids are done or at the tail end of their medicine, but 2 still have horrible coughs and stuffy noses. And little man had a 102 fever all weekend long and just wanted to be held by mommy. My kids don't get sick alot, but when they do get sick its a serious, make it worth it sickness. If you think of us, please pray for the kids health. I pray that they are better by Thanksgiving Day...it looks like we will miss the Christmas Parade again this year. I don't think sick kids need to be outside in this bitter cold for hours watching a bunch of bands, floats, and other people riding down the street. It's just not worth the headache for mommy.

Anyway, I pray you all are healthy and warm. Happy Thanksgiving! I am so thankful for each and every one of you.

Blessings,
Blessed Mommy