Christmas highlights.

I am having a really hard time getting back into a routine of some sort after the last couple weeks have been filled with my favorite things...

Family!!
Ahem, food.
And Christmas.  I adore everything about Christmas.

So let's jump right into it, shall we?

We spent the week before Christmas with Tyler's family, they came to visit and spent 4 days here. We love spending time with them, and bonus!  They brought puppies!!!

So, you can probably guess what the boys got for Christmas this year from Nana and Papa! (and yes, they asked first... that seems to be everyone's first question, ha!)  She wasn't old enough to be away from her Mama yet, so we will get her soon. In the mean time, we enjoyed the snuggles.  Jaxon kept saying "awww, she's so cute! Can we keep her?" and "but I really love her Mom!"

We can't wait to have her back home with us.

Our times together always fly by way too fast, and are filled with lots of down time... just hanging out and enjoying each other!  And there's always Monopoly Deal and Dominos involved as well.  :)

The night before we left for my parents house, we did our "Christmas Eve" with the boys.  As usual, they get a new pair of jammies.

Ohhh, for the cute.

I love how this is becoming their signature pose, Jax quickly wraps his arm around his brother and Cohen's chubby little fingers try and find Jaxon's neck.  I love it so much.

The next morning was our "Christmas"... a few days early.  :)

I really went easy on the gifts this year for the boys because I knew they'd be spoiled rotten by everyone else... and I was right.  I started feeling bad for 'only' getting them 2 gifts... and then I woke up.  ;)

There are no words to adequately describe "Christmas morning" with your own family.  For us, it doesn't necessarily have to be ON Christmas morning, though some day we hope that it can be, but there's just something magical about it all.  Pure contentment and peace as I sipped my coffee and looked around at our sweet boys and the many blessings we have been given.

Later that day, we left for my parents house.  Never a dull moment when all of us are together... :)  The boys love playing with their cousins, and they always sleep so well afterwards.  We spent our days playing game after game and taking a few breaks to nap and eat, oh - and make homemade perogies and Pioneer Woman cinnamon rolls. So much fun!

Christmas morning pictures are never flattering, but they are such a necessity, yes?

I really can't think of a single thing that would have made this Christmas season better.  We are so thankful, once again, to live close enough to both families that we get to see them and celebrate together.  There's so much to be thankful for.

And, as I type this, I'm sitting here listening to mice squealing in our walls or in the ceiling.  So I'm trying to remind myself of that last sentence I wrote.

Merry Christmas to you and your family!

First snow!!

The best part about the timing of our first snow is that Jaxon has been asking for at least 6-7 months now when Christmas is, and when he gets to open presents.  My go-to answer has always been "when it snows!"

Tyler's family is in town this week and we had already planned on celebrating Christmas with them tonight.

Perfect timing!  I'm so glad what I've been telling him for months now is really true.  :)

My thoughts.

I'm a little bit of a homebody.  I could easily stay home with no company for days (maybe even a week) at a time.  My boys seem to be the complete opposite of me, so we tend to be on the go at least once a day, whether it's to the gym or just to "Mommy's favorite red store" to walk around.

The shooting in CT a few days ago has rocked me to my core as I have sat and weeped for the broken families, the shoes that will never be worn again, the Christmas gifts that will never be opened, the car seats that will never be filled, and for the gaping hole in the parents hearts that will never be made whole again.

Moments like those make me want to stay in my homebody shell, with doors locked, where no one can hurt us... where I feel safe and secure.  I can honestly say homeschooling never crossed my mind until Friday when I started thinking "hmm, maybe I could do it..."

As I was sitting on the couch with tears pouring out of my eyes, threatening to never leave our home and never expose my kids to the evil of this world, I was reminded where my hope is.  This earth is not our forever home.  I can not (and will not) live in a bubble because of fear.  The Lord knows when and where he will take my family to Heaven, and there's nothing I can do to stop his timing.

As much as I'd like to think I can, or wish I can, I know that His plan is ALWAYS better than my own.  So once again today, as I wake up in a state of fear and panic for the world my boys are growing up in, I lay it down at His feet.  God, I say that I trust you.

Loved this prayer I read, by Max Lucado:

Dear Jesus,

It's a good thing you were born at night. This world sure seems dark. I have a good eye for silver linings. But they seem dimmer lately.

These killings, Lord. These children, Lord. Innocence violated. Raw evil demonstrated.

The whole world seems on edge. Trigger-happy. Ticked off. We hear threats of chemical weapons and nuclear bombs

. Are we one button-push away from annihilation?

Your world seems a bit darker this Christmas. But you were born in the dark, right? You came at night. The shepherds were nightshift workers. The Wise Men followed a star. Your first cries were heard in the shadows. To see your face, Mary and Joseph needed a candle flame. It was dark. Dark with Herod's jealousy. Dark with Roman oppression. Dark with poverty. Dark with violence.

Herod went on a rampage, killing babies. Joseph took you and your mom into Egypt. You were an immigrant before you were a Nazarene.

Oh, Lord Jesus, you entered the dark world of your day. Won't you enter ours? We are weary of bloodshed. We, like the wise men, are looking for a star. We, like the shepherds, are kneeling at a manger.

This Christmas, we ask you, heal us, help us, be born anew in us.

Christmas decor.

It's a tight month for us financially, so the decor I have used around the house this Christmas season is either A.) from years past, B.) dollar spot at Target! or C.) free.  But I thought I would share anyway!

So come on in - welcome to our home.  :) 

The garland came from a friend of mine - it is real!  When her family went to go pick out a tree for Christmas, she asked to keep the shavings and shared the extras with me.  The rug was on sale at Target, and I used it with my shopKick gift cards!  (Do you use that app and love it as much as I do?!) 

And the sign was used with wood from our backyard.  A perk of having a yard full of random wood pieces when you move in, I guess!  Tyler cut it and nailed it for me, and a couple hours later I had a cute outdoor sign.  It's not perfect by any means, but I like to think it's the perk of being homemade.  Or something like that.  :)

And the wreath - $4 at an estate sale.  Score! 

I looooove our wood fireplace at night.  So perfect and romantic.  

Loving all the colorful cards this year... hoping for many more :)

We've been using this as a make-shift Advent calendar... each night we read a portion of the Christmas story, and the boys take turns ripping off another ring. 

Loving all the Christmas foam crafts... Dollar spot and no mess = perfect. 

The storage/guest room even got Christmas-ified. 

Hey, one kid dressed for the day isn't so bad... Anyway, a felt tree/ornaments that I made the boys.  Thank you Pinterest and Kristal for the idea!  It has been fun to see them destroy it and re-decorate it, all within a matter of minutes.  Better their tree than mine, can I get an Amen from you Mama's? 

And just to keep it real, this is how I went outside to take the outdoor pictures.  I bet my neighbors love me. 

How's your Christmas shopping going?  Are you done yet?

I have 3 more gifts to buy, and hope to be done by this time tomorrow! 

The church.

I have a big lump in my throat as I type this... not only is a little bit embarrassing to admit, but every time I realize what just happened I choke up and tears pour out of my eyes.

So here it goes.

This month has been a very tight one for us financially.  I did a horrible job of budgeting our gifts that we were buying others, and as much as I love to GIVE to people, I lost track of what was spent and once I realized it, it was too late.  We have a very small amount to get us through to the end of the month, but hopefully after that, we'll be back up on our feet.

Last night I was texting a close friend of mine asking her for CHEAP meal ideas.  I needed to go to the grocery store later that evening, and was trying to figure out how to feed the family for the week on a super tight budget.  She texted me back plenty of ideas, great ones at that, and trying to trust the Lord to provide and hopefully not eat junk all week long, I was finally ready to go to the store.

As I was putting on my shoes, she sent me another text.

"Don't go yet.  I have something I want to bring you."

Reluctantly, I waited.  And suddenly I started feeling bad, hoping by asking her for cheap meal ideas she didn't suddenly feel pressured to do something to help us.  I knew we'd be fine, and I didn't want her to take on our burden, you know?

About a half hour later, her and her husband walked in with BAGS full of groceries, easily a weeks worth of food.  Not only did she get us essentials, but she knows me so well she brought my favorite coffee creamer, Starbucks coffee, homemade treats, and extra food for the freezer as well.  She knows my boys so well that she knew what they like, and avoided any foods with red dye.

I had to hold back the tears, as I didn't want to be a blubbering fool in front of them, but as soon as they left and I started putting it all away, I just broke down.

THIS is what the church is.  People who love, serve, and give, without hesitation.  Without second thought.  Friends who stand in the gap for you... who pray you through tough seasons of life.

These friends of ours allowed the Lord to use them and provide for us in a tangible way.

What a great God we serve.  And what great friends we have.

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in 

Christ Jesus.

Philipians 4:19

And now I look for a way to pass it on.  Open your heart this Christmas season to hear from the Lord and listen for ways to bless someone else... believe me, they will forever be grateful.