Time

It’s been quiet over here {or at least as quiet as it can be with 4 kiddos home from school & family visiting & a trip away}.

As I think back over our Christmas & New Years, I know I want to be intentional with time as I start 2012.

The time that we have been together recently has reminded me so much of the time we had with Lulu…

Slowing down & just soaking in everything.

Time with my husband, time with our kiddos, time with family & friends,

And most importantly time with God.

I may have to remind myself daily, but I want this new year – this fresh start to be more than ‘just a resolution’.

Merry Christmas

Have yourself a merry little Christmas, let your heart be light

From now on, our troubles will be out of sight

May your heart be full of gladness, and the peace that covers sadness

May you have yourself a merry Christmas now

Through the years we all will be together if the fates allow

Hang a shining star upon the highest bough

May your joy be overflowing, and your many blessings growing

May you have the time you’ve longed for, with the people that you love

May you have yourself  a merry Christmas now…

{source}

Don’t let the sweet faces fool ya…

We’ve got a case of the “gimmie – gimmie – gimmie’s” going on here at our house…

My mission, should I choose to accept it {and I do}…

look for some new traditions that will bring back the “thank you’s” that seem to have been lost in all the busyness that comes with Christmas.

I would love to hear any traditions that you have done as children or that you have done with your children that have helped to keep the true “Reason for the Season”…

Do you have a birthday party for Jesus?

Do you read the Christmas story on Christmas morning before opening gifts?

What has helped you continue to teach your children that it is all about Jesus?

Please do share…

A onesie for Lulu

Boo and I went shopping. As we were walking past the baby section, Boo saw this little onesie and asked if we could get it for Lulu. At first I didn’t know what to do. Can we still buy things for Lulu?

Boo looked up at me and asked, ‘what does it say?’

‘little sister’, I answered

‘that’s what Lulu is to me’, she exclaimed, ‘can we get it?’

 There are still times I’m not sure what to do, sometimes it is the everyday life that confuses me. Are we doing the right things?

And other days, I know exactly what to do…

Friday Praise & Prayers

{and last day to be entered in the give-a-way – I’ll announce winners on Monday}

When Jason & I went to The Respite Retreat last February, we met 12 other parents that had also said good-bye to one {or two} of their children. We have put together a list of all of our children’s birthdays & their deathdays. It has been such a source of help to all of us to be able to remember these days with one another. To say our children’s names. To remember stories that were shared. The month of December is filled with several days we will remember. I will be praying for these families {and others that have had much loss}. One of the mother’s from our weekend, Terri, wrote recently that someone told her that we haven’t “lost our children – we know right where they are”…

…I love that.

What comfort that brings me.

To know where Lulu is today.

I will take time to praise God for what this month is really all about.

{It is almost His birthday – what are your plans to celebrate Him?}

What are your prayers & praises for today?

A bear named Lulu Grace

Owen was up late with us last night, talking away.

It’s fun to hear what’s on his mind {he’s usually the quiet one}.

He told us, a girl in his class {who also goes to our church}, went to Build A Bear and made a bear with hearts all over it and named her bear Lulu Grace.

I love it that even our kiddo’s friends still remember.

*Just a reminder that the birthday give-a-way will be open through this Friday*

Decorating for Christmas

Last year, I was looking for a word that could be visual in our home. We wanted to be reminded of God’s continuing presence in the midst of our shaken up life.

 I found this sign at a local store & set it up…

I brought our Christmas decorations out this year & decided to put the words ‘Peace’ out again and also add the other ‘Fruit of the Spirit’ words in our decorations.

 

 I like having the words out to see.

And also to be reminded of God’s fullness in our everyday lives.