Simply Me

Prompt for December 15th and a new layout

Prompts for today:

• Write:  What is your favorite Christmas book?
• Photograph:  The cover(s) or spines of your favorite holiday books.
• Do:
• Make:

I don't really have a favorite book. At least I didn't up until this year. This year though, I found two books that I believe may likely become my favorites. 

The first one is called "A Special Place for Santa" by Jeanne Pieper. The story tells of how Santa overhears a conversation about how he has "ruined" Christmas and taken away the focus on "the real reason for the season." Santa becomes very sad at that thought of this because he, more than anyone, really understood what Christmas was truly about. As is his habit, his last stop was a church with a life size Nativity scene. He loved to be the first to wish Jesus  "Happy Birthday" and he always brought a special gift. 

This year though, he was so burdened by his worry that he was the reason people forgot to keep Christ in Christmas that he almost couldn't bear to make his annual visit. Before he could leave though, he hears a familiar voice. This voice was God. God reminded him of all the wonderful things he, Santa Claus, was responsible for...including spreading the news of Christmas throughout every corner of the world. God was very pleased and thanked Santa for all his work. 

I loved how this story brings our favorite "guy" and the true meaning of Christmas together in a meaningful way. It allows us to enjoy Santa without feeling a twinge of guilt for going "secular."

The other book I found this year was a delightful edition of a collection of letters written by J.R.R. Tolkien. Each year, he wrote a letter to his children from "Father Christmas." He wrote of the goings on at the North Pole and included drawings of his stories. The thing that makes this even more special is that the letters have been photocopied and placed into envelope pages so that you can pull out an actual letter to read. The pages are decorated with the drawings from the letters. It is simply an amazing way to share something like this. 

I think that going forward, I will add to our Christmas book collection and work to keep finding such unique and wonderful stories and editions.

Now, on to my next layout. This is from December 6th. When I went to work on the layout and revisited the prompts, I knew I wanted to find just the right papers and embellishments for this one. I was tickled to pieces when I found "Away in a Manager" at Sweet Shoppe Designs. I hope you enjoy it :)

I have the journaling and layout page for the 5th completed but I need a photo, so I'm going to wait to post that.

More pics...

The holiday baking is going well. One batch of non-nut chocolate chip cookies is done. The creamy lemon nut bars are done (yum!). The thumb print cookie dough is in the fridge. We'll make them after dinner. I'm getting ready to make rice krispy treats.

Here are a couple more pics from our decorating. The tree, the rockers on our front porch and my one of my favorite decorations: gold bells that hang on our porch.

 

 

 I tried to give blood on Thursday but failed the minimal iron level requirements. This is me with the blood drive coordinator for our church, Theresa Driesen. She's of the people responsible for my becoming a member of the Catholic Church. She was in charge of the RCIA program when I went through the process. Her and her husband Simon, are incredible and amazing people.

So, here I am in all my large, red-faced, bad hair day glory:

 
 

 

Oh the weather outside if frightful!

Well, it's cold, wet and a little icy. So that counts...right?

I'm baking today. Got lots of big plans this year! This is a big deal because I really do not enjoy any kind of cooking or baking. 

Obviously, I'm way behind on my Holiday in Hands class prompts and layouts. Oh well! I will get back to it but I'm not stressing about not being "caught up". 

I will share some various photos from this past week though. And be back later to write about today's prompts. Enjoy!

The kids showing their 2009 ornaments:

  

 

  

Trimming the tree: 

 

 

 

More to come...stay tuned!

   

Days 5 & 6

I'm up and at 'em early this morning. Casey has become the pickiest of eaters at any meal. In an effort to at least get his day off on the right start, I'm trying to get up and make him something so he eats decently before school.

So, I'm taking a couple of minutes to catchup on my blogging. This morning I'm going to talk about the prompts for Days 5 & 6.

Day 5 Prompts:

• Write: Write about a specific holiday song that has meaning to you
• Photograph: Something that reminds you of your favorite Christmas song
• Do: Start setting up the tree
• Make

This ones a little tough. I *love* Christmas music. I love discovering new Christmas music. I'm really partial to traditional holiday hymns. The obvious answer would be "Joy to the World" but that's not really a favorite. I think I'm going to ponder this one a bit more and come back to it.

Day 6 Prompts:

• Write: Write about one symbol of the holidays that has particular meaning to you
• Photograph: Take a close-up shot of angles of your holiday symbol
• Do: Shop for new ornaments
• Make

Hmmm....another interesting prompt. I keep going back to the image of baby Jesus in the manager. There's lots and lots of symbols for Christmas, but I believe there's only one reason we celebrate Christmas. Jesus was born to save us and He should be the focus. And honestly, I haven't always kept Him at the center of our Christmas celebration but that's what I believe should be done. This is another prompt that I think I'll take some more time to think about it.

Day 4 (yes, I'm a day behind!)

Prompts for Day 4:

• Write:  Talk about a sentimental piece of holiday decor
• Photograph: A favorite piece of holiday decor
• Do: Watch "A Muppet Christmas: Letters to Santa"
• Make:  
• Remember: Do you have any decorating traditions that were handed down to you?

When I first saw the "write" prompt for Dec. 4th, I wasn't sure what I'd choose. I have this habit of forgetting what's not right in front of me. So, I didn't have a 100% recollection of what holiday decor items we actually have. Finally, as I drove to work yesterday, I though...Ahhha! I remembered my nativity angel from the Jim Shore collection. 

The nativity angel was my first "meeting" of Jim Shore's work and I was hooked! She is so beautiful and has so much detail. I seem to find something new each time I look at her. I hope to someday collect more of his work but I don't have much display space so I always think twice before jumping into any idea of collecting.

Here is Day 4's layout pages. With any luck, Day 5 and 6 will be up tomorrow!

 

 

Holiday in Hand - Day Three

Here we are at Day Three!  Our prompts for today:

• Write:  What does the word "joy" mean to you? Does it play a part in your holidays?
• Photo:  Take a photo that represents the idea of "joy".
• Remember: Think back to a time of holiday "joy" in your life. Where were you? Who was there?
• Make:
• Do:

Having the name Joy has always meant that I get a little extra attention at some point during the holidays. Someone always has to mention it and sing to me. Every year. And I find it delightful! It's not a secret that I love attention...which seems silly as an adult, but there it is. Not to mention that people love to give me little treasures they find with my name on it. They may have no thoughts of buying me anything but they'll see something and decide I have to have it. I should probably start actively collecting holiday "JOY" items. Hmmmm.....

As far as moments of holiday joy in my past? There is one that I will never forget although I can't remember if it was 1984 or 1985. Due to some very unfortunate family circumstances, I was practically an "orphan" that Christmas. I was 18 or 19, so technically an adult, but I was facing a very difficult and lonely Christmas. I was so fortunate to be "taken in" and essentially adopted by a family from my church whom I had become attached to through babysitting for them. With only days to go before Christmas, my new "mom" made sure that I had my own stocking, several gifts and was truly a welcome member of the family. I had 3 new brothers and a new sister that year!

What I will never forget from that Christmas was the best and most important gift I rec'd that year. My new mom's own mother could not fathom showering her own grandchildren (who were young children, not an almost 20 yr old like me) with gifts and not have something to give me too. This woman had only met me a time or two. She really did NOT have to consider me at all but she did. Those booty-style bedroom slippers she gave me were cherished for many years. I will never, ever forget her kindness, charity and desire to make me feel wanted and included. The slippers were merely a tangible representation of the love and thoughtfulness that was shared with me that year. 

Now, on to today's layout. Whenever I think of Christmas Joy I immediately think of our son Casey. Every year, once he realized that he got GIFTS on Christmas morning, he always opens each toy with such exaggerated expressions of pure joy and I seem to capture a photo like the one on this layout. 

Until tomorrow!  

Day 2 & 3

We're three days into our Advent calendar celebrations and I am pleased with how it's going. Sarah was at a debate event last night so she didn't join us. She's at her school's talent show right now but will be back just after 8pm so we're going to wait for her tonight. I'm particularly enjoying the faith based discussions our nightly messages are invoking. By the end of the month, I hope we as a family are more comfortable talking with each other about such things and not reserving them for a Sunday School classroom!

I don't have a photo for yesterday's layout. But I have two ideas for it...so that counts :) I'll catch up with that layout later this weekend once I do get the shot. 

Let's talk about what yesterday's Holiday in Hand prompts were for Day 2:

• Photograph something warm. 
• Read this article: Welcome Home and ponder what it means to you. Journal about it.
• Remember question: Do you remember making any specific recipe with older family members? What was the experience like?

So, I did as instructed and read the Welcome Home article. And it struck a strong chord with me as I definitely have had thoughts like those described in the article. "Housing Dissatisfaction Week" *really* sounded familiar! In an era where very large houses are being built, our little 1500 square footer seems lacking. Things like the lack of a family room, the 20 year old fixtures, the lack of any real decor (because I lack that gene apparently), the old furniture because with 3 dogs and 2 kids, buying anything "nice" would be futile, and the list goes on and on. And did I mention my lack of decorating skills? I have never been able to achieve the kind of holiday decorating flair that I would love to do around here. So I get dissatisfied with that. And don't get me started on the artificial tree we've had for the last 7 years. Ugh.

As this article points out, it's time to let that go. It's time to take the focus off the "stuff" in our house and focus on the things that make it a welcoming place to be:  us. Or at least what SHOULD be what makes it a welcoming place to be, especially during the holidays. To be perfectly honest, I get so twisted up in knots over all the wrong things at this time of year.  Through the years, I have NOT done a good job of creating a inviting home by simply being loving and caring and kind to those who should see this side of me:  my family. 

At only 3 days in, I already feel the couple of little things that we're doing differently as a family this year (not to mention MY attention to MY attitudes/behaviors), are contributing to a warmer, welcoming home this season. That's something I can be proud of and look back on in the coming years as the year I helped to change our family's Christmas spirit.

I think I'll start another post to talk about today's prompt's and share today's layout.

Holiday in Hand - First Day

As I mentioned in previous posts over the last couple of days, I am participating in a class over at Jessica Sprague's site that is helping people build a Christmas season/holiday album for 2009.  Each day has prompts with inspirational quotes, journaling prompts, memory prompts and a suggested photo to take for that day.

Because I promised myself I would NOT allow myself to get all twisted in a knot about doing this EXACTLY as it is written down, what better way to start than to ignore the first day's photo suggestion. Today's recommended photo (or photos) was that of family members to "welcome December". Well, I worked late and everyone had eaten by the time I got home. I had to run to the store myself and then when I finally got back and made myself a dinner, it was too late to force everyone to "look happy". Instead of making everyone miserable and insisting on getting THE RIGHT PHOTO, I accepted that something else would work just fine.

It still plays into the "theme" of today's prompts from the class. Or at least that's what I think and that's all that matters :)

Today's "write prompt" is:  write your thoughts about your family's holiday values.

The core of our holiday values is simply that the whole season is a celebration of the incredible gift of Jesus that was sent to us by our loving Father. Every year, that is the "known" or "understood" value but every year, this gets pushed aside in the hustle and bustle of what's become the standard operating procedure of the days between Thansksgiving and Christmas Day. There's work and school and shopping and parties and wrapping and card sending and decision making and money spending (whether you have it or not!). Some may go to church as part of a routine but without much in the way of appreciation or love of attending.  While we talk the talk, we rarely walk the walk.

This year, I wanted to make this the true core of our celebration and enjoyment of the season. The first way I did this was by putting a good deal of effort in finding more than a single prayer to say at the lighting of our Advent candles. I also have incorporated a spiritual message and Bible passage reading into our daily Advent Calendar box that we're doing every night. Tonight was our first night of doing that. And that's what today's photo shows...Sarah opening the first door of our Advent Calendar. Tonight and every night through Christmas we will open a door, share a treat and read about the great love that our Heavenly Father has for us in the past, in the present and for all time.

 

 

The First Sunday of Advent - 2009

Tonight, during and after dinner, we celebrated the first Sunday of Advent. I found a nice, reflective article to read while we ate:  Advent Article.

 
 

After dinner, Casey lit the candle, we read the Scripture reading for this week and said a prayer. Tom especially looks forward to doing this each Christmas season and I wanted to make a special effort this year as part of our month long focused celebration of the season.

We even had a family dinner at the table and everything! Having the table out in middle of the dining room (as opposed to having it with one leaf down and against the wall) helps facilitate this. 

Other than that, it was a calm and relaxing day. Well, with the exception of when I spent 2 hours grooming this week's mud off the horses. I am afraid to see what the weather forecast is for this week because I'm so hoping there is no rain for a long time. It's nice to be able to walk out to the barn and not slip and slide the whole way in mud that's at least 3" deep!

I also spent time building our December '09 holiday scrapbook album. After a consistently (for me) slow start, I am making better time at the newest pages. Of course, I'm just now on Day 4...so I need to pick it up some more :) 

I'll start posting them daily on Wednesday....don't forget to check back to see. If I do say so myself, they're look quite good!

Christmas Planning

I always find myself feeling wistful when I hear others talk of great traditions they have in their families. While we have a few, I often wish there were more. What will my kids remember when they look back on their childhood Christmas'?

With that thought in mind, I decided to see what I could do to begin building some traditions this year. I started with the help of a class at the Jessica Sprague website called "Holidays in Hand".  The class gave me a daily prompt card to use along with some other goodies to build a 25 day scrapbook to capture some memories of not only this year's Christmas but to give the opportunity to record memories of Christmas seasons that have gone before. From this, I hope to involve the entire family. Not every day will there be some elaborate activity or plan, but even on the days with a very minor "something" I hope that it helps us to live the *season* with joy and love. All too often, the *season* is spent hurdling toward the 25th with a sense of crazed urgency and little reflection on the true spirit of this holiday. 

The class prompts are to be displayed in a prominent place for all to see. I cleared off our dry sink in the dining room to hold this year's starting traditions. These traditions include an Advent countdown calendar box:

 

The daily prompt holder with first prompt attached:

 

I'm especially tickled with this because I used stickers, card stock and other scrapping supplies that I have had for a *long* time. The green paper is actually from the digital papers that were supplied with the JS class. I simply printed it onto a piece of white card stock. I think it came out terribly well!

Here's a pic of the whole dry sink display:

The Advent candle set in the middle is also new. Tom especially likes the Advent candle tradition. I sadly admit that I often forget about it and haven't made it a priority. Because of my hopes and plans for this year's Christmas season, I wanted to be sure to include things that would be of special meaning to everyone in the family, not just me. So, I went searching for a new candle holder and found this one. It is not the traditional wreath and I think that's what I like the most about it. 

Speaking of those prompts...throughout the month of December the plan is to take a photo a day to represent that day's prompt or activity or share one from the past. Be sure to check back and see what I find each day :)