Thankful Thursday

OOPS! My first thought when I realized that today was Thursday, after posting this, was, "Can I just skip it?" No. I can't. I need to do this. Every week. No matter what. Because it has created within me a thankfulness that I have never had before. So...

What am I thankful for today?

I am thankful for New Year's Day and the fun it brings.

I am thankful for flexibility (we opened our presents this morning).

I am thankful that FigNewTon has a friend to hang out with tonight and a youth group event to attend.

I am thankful for my car, my house, and heat in both places.

I am thankful for the telephone and Internet.

I am thankful for Christmas.

I am thankful for presents.

I am thankful for my camera.

I am thankful for my girls.

I am thankful for life. (Did you read this?)

So, what are you thankful for today?

Ashamed

I have known for weeks that I need to post about some of our other Christmas traditions, but I was ashamed because they are different. I have never really gotten any positive feedback from other people about our traditions. I have gotten negative feedback, and I have gotten neutral comments, but never positive. I don't really need positive feedback, but I have become gun shy about sharing the way we do things because I don't need the negative either. But this morning, when I read this post, I knew I had to speak up.

On Christmas day, traditionally, we don't open gifts. We have a good breakfast, prepare a big meal, and bake a cake. While the cake is cooling, you will find each of us contemplatively sitting in a separate room, individually coming up with a gift to give to Jesus. We write it down so we can look back on it later. Often, what we give Him seems ugly and not worth giving. It is those parts of ourselves that we do not want that we end up giving Him, asking Him to change us to become more like He wants us to be and less sinful, less self focused. Sometimes, we tell each other what we have given Jesus. Sometimes we keep it private, just between us and God. Always, we give Him something that, if not dear to us, is an intricate part of our being. The gifts on Christmas day are all for Him.

So, when do we open gifts? We open gifts from others as soon as they come in and we open our presents to and from each other on New Year's Day. I wouldn't change the way we do things, and I am no longer ashamed. :)

How Was Your Decade?

Another blogger asked this question yesterday. It really made me think. On the surface, not much has changed. From year to year, I seldom would have looked back and said we had a good year. There were some good moments, but the overall picture has never seemed really good.

For the then and now comparison. Then, I was a newly divorced single mom. Now, I am still a single mom. That implies that we were alone. More alone than you would at first think because I don't have family and the girls' dad is not a part of their life. Now, I have learned to trust friends, to ask for help, and to lean on the people who are more like family than blood could ever be. We were poor. Really poor. Daily struggling to make sure my girls' basic needs like food and shelter were met. We are still poor. Really poor. But a lot better off. We have our basic needs met, but do without secondary needs often. I would hate to admit exactly how often I choose to pay the power bill instead of go to the laundromat or buy dish soap instead of a pair of shoes. All things they need, but some things they need more.

So, on the surface, not much seems to have changed. But everything has changed. Then, my life was good and I didn't know it. Now, my life is good and I know it.

What is the difference? Simple, I have learned that it only takes one thing for life to be good: LIFE. And we all three have life, so life is good.

How did I learn this? First, FigNewTon was sick for years. We, the doctors and I, all expected her to not turn 10 and when she did we then expected her to not turn 12. Something about living for that long expecting your child to die changes the perspective of what is truly important. But I didn't completely get it then. I still longed to have a good life rather than being thankful that we all had life. Then Butterfly had her accident and I was shattered. It hit me that it could all be over in a moment. And I spent most of the next year living in fear that it would all be over in a moment. Then last summer, I realized what it takes for days and even life to be good. So now even though everything is the same, everything has changed.

It's been a good decade.

How about you? How was your decade?

Frozen Locks

Lock de-icer is best used before the locks freeze. Really. It is recommended that you spray your locks with it prior to the first freeze and monthly until the spring thaw. Also, it doesn't actually de-ice the lock. It lubricates the lock to prevent ice from forming in the first place. I think maybe it should be called something else. The name is misleading. Maybe pre-ice lock lubricator.

Although WD-40 is a lubricant, it is the wrong consistency and should not be used on frozen door locks or hinges. It could make matters worse. Trust me, I figured this one out all on my own, you know, after I tried it and then couldn't even get the key into the lock a fraction of an inch.

So, when I was all out of ideas, I came inside and did a web search for how to de-ice car locks. Would you like to know some of what I read?

1. Use a propane torch on low setting and blast the lock. I see several problems with this immediately, not the least of which being that I don't have a propane torch sitting around the house, or the fear that I would cause more harm than good. So, NEXT...
2. Use a hair dryer to warm the lock. OK. If I had a 300 foot extension cord maybe. I live in an apartment. And I would guess that if anyone parked close enough to a power outlet to be able to plug in a hair dryer, they would be in a garage and not have frozen locks in the fist place. NEXT...
3. Pour warm water on it and unlock it fast before it freezes again. Somehow, when the temperature is 20 degrees, I don't think this will work. NEXT...
4. Heat the key with a lighter or match. OK. This one has some merit. A warm key will melt any ice making the lock stick. However, in Nebraska, when it is freezing cold and icy, there is generally wind. Keeping a match or lighter lit long enough to warm something up is not possible. NEXT...
5. Wait for spring. Sounds like hibernating might be a good idea, but not a viable option. NEXT...
6. Place a toilet paper tube over the door lock and blow on the lock. This one sounded odd, but I was not wanting to wait for spring, so I headed out to the car and gave it a try. It takes persistence, but it works.

So, there you have it folks. The next time your locks are frozen, all you need is a toilet paper tube and a little hot air!

Snapshot Saturday

December 2000

I couldn't decide which picture to post. They were all so cute. The first two, Butterfly is opening a gift from Stephanie who never posts on her blog. In the third picture, the girls were just staring at a glass tea set like they were scared to touch it. Butterfly had asked for one, but was timid about taking it out of the box. All those times we had told the girls to be careful with glass dishes is reflected in this one picture, for sure.

Thankful Thursday

What am I thankful for today?

I am thankful that Christmas is tomorrow. I am thankful for a day to be still with my family with nothing to do and nowhere to go. I am thankful for Jesus birth, the chance to celebrate it, the chance to share this precious gift with others. I am thankful for snow. I am thankful for presents under the tree. I am thankful that my children have learned to be generous. I am thankful for our family traditions. I am thankful for the chance to create new ones. I am thankful for pretty lights, tinsel, ornaments, and decorations.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Snapshot Saturday

August 2009

Butterfly being goofy. Enough said.

Thankful Thursday

What am I thankful for today?

• my girls
• friends
• God's faithfulness
• my car
• God's provision
• internet
• Christmas decorations
• warmer weather (it was in the 20's today)
• the library
• homeschool co-op

What are you thankful for today?

Nativity Giveaway

My friend Autumn is hosting a giveaway. She is giving away this really nice nativity set. Stop by her blog and check it out.

Because of Autumn's giveaway, I thought I would tell you a bit about my nativity sets.

I showed you the big picture when I posted about my decoarations this year.

This one is definitely my favorite. It is a music box and snow globe, both things that I really enjoy. It was given to me one Christmas when I really needed to be reminded that God loves me. It will probably always be my favorite because it always reminds me of that truth. Last Christmas, I gave it to FigNewTon because she had decided to collect snow globes. I have a few more years to enjoy it in my home before it will go to hers.

This one, the girls picked out for me during an after Christmas clearance January of 2004. I was home sick with pneumonia and a friend had taken the girls to the grocery store.

This ornament, Butterfly prayed for the year she was in 1st grade. It was the only gift that really mattered to her that year.

I know this one isn't really a nativity set, but it holds the most important part of the scene. FigNewTon made this Christmas of 2001. I am sure she had quite a bit of help from her Sunday School teacher. She wrapped it and gave it to me. She was so proud.

I picked this one up at a garage sale in 2002. I figured the girls needed one that they could touch and play with. It is the size of my hand.

These three were in stockings that a co-worker gave me in 2003. She filled them with crayons, color books, and these.

Snapshot Saturday

July 2007

In June and July of 2007, FigNewTon babysat the girl on the right. One of the things they did was participate in the local summer reading club. FigNewTon helped the girl learn to read that summer. Tickets to the fun park were one of the prizes for reading, so as soon as they earned them, I took the children. FigNewTon spent all the money she earned on a pair of skates. It is one of the many ways she has shown over the years that she is willing to take ownership of her dream of reaching the Olympics. For a ten year old to save every penny from babysitting for two months to spend on a pair of skates definitely shows commitment to a goal.

Ringing Bells

This evening, the middle school students in our homeschool co-op rang bells for the Salvation Army. We stood outside both doors at Wal-mart for two very cold hours. The kids seemed to have quite a bit of fun dancing and singing and wishing people a Merry Christmas.

Thankful Thursday

What am I thankful for today? My list is more random today than usual.

I am thankful for snow. I am thankful for a home large enough to put out my Christmas decorations. I am thankful that I am finished decorating. I am thankful for heat in that home. I am thankful for blankets to cuddle up under. I am thankful for doctors. I am thankful for friends. I am thankful for my girls. I am thankful for memories. I am thankful for traditions. I am thankful for hope. I am thankful for food. I am thankful for grocery stores. I am thankful for books. I am thankful for movies. I am thankful for a car. I am thankful that Jesus came to earth 2000 years ago. I am thankful that He rose from the dead and offers salvation to us. I am thankful for calendars. I am thankful for creativity. I am thankful for running water.

What are you thankful for today?

Finally Finished

The tree is put together.

The lights are strung.

The ornaments are hung.

And

all

the

decorations

are

set

out.

Christmas Snow

December 1999, we had been back in GA just under a year. Butterfly prayed constantly for snow. I tried to tell her it would still be Christmas without snow and she kept telling me Jesus would bring the snow. I just didn't have the faith to believe that God would bring snow to GA. It doesn't snow in GA. The middle of that month, there was a dusting of snow. When I say dusting, I mean we could still see the grass poking through the snow.

My four year old was elated. God had answered her prayer.

I was amazed. God had answered her prayer.

Debbie wrote about a similar experience with her daughter over on her blog. As I read it, tears streamed down my face. This was my response to her story, "The year Butterfly was four, we had a similar experience. We had just returned to GA, and she fervently prayed for snow. It arrived on Christmas day and warmed my heart to God more than any other miracle could have. He answered the prayer of my baby girl and just that knowledge pulls me through some times when my faith seems small."

God is faithful to answer the prayers of His children. Trust Him.

They're Growing Up

These are some things I never thought I would hear.

Mom, can I borrow your boots? (FigNewTon)

Mom, can I borrow your snowpants? (Butterfly)

Looks like we might need to make a trip to Goodwill soon. They have grown quite a bit in the last year.

Growing up or not, at least they are still small enough to play and have fun!

Christmas Blessing

December 2000, I worked for a small day care as a preschool teacher. Finances were really tight. I think I grossed just under $5000 that year. Even so, I felt like we were blessed. Anyway, one morning as I arrived at work, I noticed a sign that the owner had placed on the door requesting money to help a needy family have a good Christmas. I went home that night and couldn't stop thinking about that family. Right before I fell asleep, I decided to give $3 to the family on the reasoning that if every person who walked through the doors gave just $1, the family would have a really nice Christmas. When I gave her the money and explained my thoughts, my boss was in tears. The end of that week, as I was leaving for the day, she called me into her office and handed me an envelope. We were that family. She said that she was more blessed than I was because I had given out of my lack, not knowing it was going to be returned to me 100 fold. I will never forget the blessings I received that Christmas or the lessons I learned.

The North Pole

When the girls were 3 & 4, we lived in Hall County, GA, on the far western edge of the county. There was a gentleman out in North Hall who would decorate his property to the extreme. There were lights for a whole block in the most beautiful of colors and designs. He would set up a sleigh with reindeer, dress up as Santa and pose with each of the children that stopped by. He even had fake snow. For days, I told the girls we were going to North Hall to see Santa. Butterfly told her preschool teacher that day that she was going to the North Pole to see Santa. I tried to correct her misconception, but sometimes there is no reasoning with a four year old. For quite some time after that, whenever I would say we were going on a drive, she would ask if it was farther than the North Pole. She was in elementary school and was getting a beginning understanding of geography before she understood we had just driven to the other end of the county, not all the way to the North Pole.

Snapshot Saturday

April 2007

Butterfly just hanging out at the rink on one of her sister's competition days. She learned to knit that week.

Open A Present

OK. Be honest. Who is worse about wanting to unwrap presents early at your house; you or the kids? At my house, it is me. The girls want to savor the anticipation for as long as they can. I want to see them open a present. So, this is my compromise. Every January, when I am packing away the Christmas decorations, I wrap all of our Christmas books, movies, and music. Then, when we get out the decorations, there are immediately gifts under the tree. We open one a night until the season is over. This year is the first year the girls are not openly enthused about the idea. And yet, every night, they are the ones that remind me to open a book. Some of the books are board books from when they were little. Some are chapter books that we need a lazy Saturday to read. The movies are much the same with some more geared to toddlers and some more geared to teens. It doesn't really matter. The book or movie or music is made more special each year by the simple act of opening it like a gift. On years where the girls may get only one gift, like this year, it takes that sting away a bit, too because they have had the joy of opening a present every other day for a month.

Thankful Thursday

What am I thankful for today?

I am thankful for books and blankets to cuddle up under while reading them.

I am thankful for sunshine that warms the heart even when the weather is chilly.

I am thankful friends and family. I am thankful that I can make memories with my precious daughters.

I am thankful for Christmas trees and lights and every part of this season that reminds me to slow down and enjoy the blessings God has given me. I am thankful for Jesus and the work He does in me every day.

I am thankful for my church.

I am thankful for the ability plans and have hope even when things don't work out like I had planned, the hope helps get me through the tough times.

What are you thankful for today?

Drumroll Please

And the winner is..... Krissy over at Thinking of Blue. Email me your address so I can get this in the mail. :)

It was hard for me to decide how to choose a winner, so I went with random. Karen Deborah's comment brings a smile to my face every time I think of it. My girls thought that should be enough to make her win, but I didn't say your comments had to make me smile so the only thing that seemed fair was randomness.

This was fun. Thanks for participating. I have a few ideas of things I may give away again in the near future.

Memory Making Moments - November

I have not been a good blogger this month. Even though we had many memorable moments, I forgot to take pictures of most of them. Therefore, I am not sure how good this post is going to be, but I still want to commemorate all of the fun stuff we did.

On the 6th & 7th, we went to youth convention with our church. FigNewTon had a lot of fun. On Friday night after the services, the kids from our church stayed up till 2:00 playing games. For Butterfly, it was bittersweet. It was really hard on her physically. It was also hard on her emotionally because there were so many parts of it that she couldn't participate in. But there were also moments that God met her where she was at.

On the 13th, we had a homeschool co-op movie night. They watched No More Baths and I sat in the kitchen talking with friends. If you have never watched No More Baths, it is worth your time. After the movie, the girls had a friend from co-op spend the night. They had quite a bit of fun. Again, Butterfly had to go to bed long before the others, but she still enjoyed the moment.

On the 14th, my friend Julie came to spend the day with us. At one point, I said that we were going to grow old and still visit each other, once every few years catching up on all that God has done in each other's life. She will be leaving for Asia in a few years and I am sure we will see each other even less after that, but I expect to be old sitting beside her reminiscing about the goodness of God. She is that good of a friend.

On the 20th, the girls quilts came in the mail. That I have a picture for. :)

Then, of course, there was Thanksgiving. We had a quiet day home with just the three of us. Lots of cooking and playing games. All in all a good day.

The day after, it was my plan to completely decorate the house for Christmas. We got as far as rearranging the living room and packing up all the decorations that sit out the rest of the year. Just as we were about to begin actually putting up the tree, a friend called and invited us to go to the Christmas Walk downtown. Most of the downtown stores decorate for Christmas and have snacks and sales that begin that evening. There was chili, chicken noodle soup, finger sandwiches, cookies, cider, and hot chocolate. We had a great time just hanging out with our friends and slowly walking through the downtown area. For now, the corner where the tree is going to go and all of the bookshelves in the living room are still sitting empty. We will have to work on fixing that in the days ahead.

So, that is our month. Not near as interesting as a photo journal, but still worth commemorating. Maybe next month I will remember to take the camera out of the drawer more. :)