All posts in Holiday Messages

Little Thankful Thoughts This Thanksgiving!

by admin on October 9, 2011 in Bits Of My Personality, Feeling It (Thankful), Holiday Messages, People In My Heart with No comments

I feel like love and thankfulness are muscles, in a way, and we get better at them when we practice them even, and especially perhaps, under the weight of hard times.

I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder. ~G.K. Chesterton
I am often just thankful their isn’t another flu bug or cold in our house. I am more often thankful for the little people I call my babies. I have been thankful for Garnet since we met and I hope to learn more and more thankfulness toward MY JESUS as my life continues through what I would define as the good and the bad.

TTFN

I Was Reminded

by admin on April 27, 2011 in Better Check Out Links, Bits Of My Personality, Holiday Messages, People In My Heart with No comments

I assume not wanting to write something on easter, about that holiday, on the actual holiday, because it is to be expected and what is to be said is likely well know, would mean I lean more toward not being a special day type of person. It would also have a little to do with the fact that I missed out on the special holiday church services because of an ill little one in the clan…

A simple internet search and I found an easter Sunday message to listen to. A reminder in the form of a pod cast was given to me…

…a reminder that this story at this time, about Jesus… his death, his resurrection… it is also my story…I am made alive together with him. He might be the prototype of what I will become but I can live in that now too…

This is a grace story. Everything that every religion is trying to accomplish Jesus accomplished for us already and has offered it to us as a gift… This act of Christs ended the law, religion, and replaced fear and works with love and grace.

This is a fellowship story. Christ broke all the divisions and we, The Church, are supposed to fellowship in him in spite of all our outward differences; that includes our denominations and our doctrines CHURCH. Christ is our peace, there should be no divisions in us.

I was encouraged and reminded to grow… grow in my understanding of this story that is celebrated specifically at this time, about Jesus and his death and resurrection. I was encouraged that it is indeed my story but also all of my brothers and sisters story… may we all find our faith in one another, the members of the body, faith that we can learn how to truly love one another… as Christ does… he has sacrificed so much for us to be able to do just that.

TTFN

I Was Reminded

by admin on April 25, 2011 in Better Check Out Links, Bits Of My Personality, Holiday Messages, People In My Heart with No comments

I assume not wanting to write something on easter, about that holiday, on the actual holiday, because it is to be expected and what is to be said is likely well know, would mean I lean more toward not being a special day type of person. It would also have a little to do with the fact that I missed out on the special holiday church services because of an ill little one in the clan…

A simple internet search and I found an easter Sunday message to listen to. A reminder in the form of a pod cast was given to me…

…a reminder that this story at this time, about Jesus… his death, his resurrection… it is also my story…I am made alive together with him. He might be the prototype of what I will become but I can live in that now too…

This is a grace story. Everything that every religion is trying to accomplish Jesus accomplished for us already and has offered it to us as a gift… This act of Christs ended the law, religion, and replaced fear and works with love and grace.

This is a fellowship story. Christ broke all the divisions and we, The Church, are supposed to fellowship in him in spite of all our outward differences; that includes our denominations and our doctrines CHURCH. Christ is our peace, there should be no divisions in us.

I was encouraged and reminded to grow… grow in my understanding of this story that is celebrated specifically at this time, about Jesus and his death and resurrection. I was encouraged that it is indeed my story but also all of my brothers and sisters story… may we all find our faith in one another, the members of the body, faith that we can learn how to truly love one another… as Christ does… he has sacrificed so much for us to be able to do just that.

TTFN

Valentines Again

by admin on February 15, 2011 in Better Check Out Links, Holiday Messages, Music Flavor, People In My Heart with No comments

I spent my Valentines evening with a girl friend. We both enjoy music and so we went to a performance by two local artists. I got a kick out of the looks I got when I told people I went out with a girlfriend instead of my man. I can be fine with him NOT being a holiday kinda guy and he can be fine with me going out that day, with out him:) You have to give marriages room to be different from what yours is and I am sure we are different in this area.

Oh truly enjoy local music and have great respect for local musicians! It is no easy thing to try to make it work in our province, perhaps even in our country. There is a wealth of great artists in our area but it seems to be really difficult to pack the house.

The audience was smaller but we where all really happy to hear them. To put it in my friends words ‘ Stellar heartwarming performance last night. You guys rocked Valentine’s for us. Thank you!’ One of my top life experiences is sitting in a cozy local haunt, listening to a singer song writer perform unplugged. Dim lights, great food and the essential good company of a friend or two.

Well my valentine, ‘C’, was grand company. Chatting, laughing, trying to finish a massive nacho platter together, frothy well brewed coffee and margarita Monday to boot!

Take the time to check out Jen Lane, link RIGHT HERE, and Smokekiller, linked RIGHT HERE. I have been singing along to my signed CD all day!
TTFN

Carry On Keeping The Winter Wind At My Back

by admin on January 2, 2011 in Bits Of My Personality, Holiday Messages, Life Keeps Changing with 2 Comments

I know it is a matter of days before I will have to take down the Christmas decorations… I am holding out because I always find it harder to be cheery this time of year once the Christmas decor is gone. Winter here is long, very cold and very snowy with short days and long nights.

HOWEVER this year feels so different since I have been able to get out lots and I may be discovering a really joy in winter sport. Jogging in the winter accomplishes so much more with less distance. Sledding and skating are super fun and I always have company since I can make my kids go with me. I am loving hiking with my dog loving pal and looking forward to finally getting my skis waxed for cross country. I hope to try snowshoeing again and have the boots that can click right into them.

Winter seems less bleak since I don’t feel hindered from GETTING OUT THERE. Here’s to activity and joy in the snow! I hope my optimism keeps up and outlasts this season. Here’s hoping the bone chilling winter wind stays at my back (a tweak on the old Irish blessing).

Merry Winter to you all and may you find warmth of heart no matter the weather:)

TTFN

Sentimental At X-mas (who would have thought it?)

by admin on December 26, 2010 in Bits Of My Personality, Feeling It (Thankful), Holiday Messages, My Year of Right Sacrifice-TIME, People In My Heart with No comments
(Taken Christmas day, a very warm WHITE Christmas!
I am wearing my mothers red dress coat, bought for her by
her father in law years ago.)

Who has flip flop feelings at Christmas? I sure do! Most of the memories I am making are down right lovely (the up side of the flip floppy heart) and yet there are always memories to reminisce and sigh about, others people to think about who are struggling or don’t have it so good.

There are also choices to be made and although I chose to stay here this Christmas I was also tugged when asked by a loved one from my husbands side if my folks where coming in for the holiday. With loved ones going there way and other issues in life they where not, nor was this unusual or normally an issue for me. The issue was the choice I had to make. If you let the hype get to you, about how Christmas is supposed to be, you will also miss the real deal… what it is actually about and so I swallowed that flip flop when it came and had a good look around me.I was surrounded by precious loved ones. I was more then blessed by generous people who care. Friends and family from my side did in fact find their way into our reality this holiday(as well as all the in-laws who are so good to me and so willing to be part of my world) and so I am not going with out. I am just another woman who has a heart that can easily flip flop on the most lovely of days.

The skype with my one older sister and her daughter was joyful, the phone call to my oldest sister was rewardingly warm, the weekend visit before Christmas with my younger brothers family was fun and important, the list goes on and on and includes a few surprise visits and gifts from dear friends and neighbors…Ideally we would all like to go home for Christmas, have ALL the family together at once but really if it has to be that way this time of year and we don’t worry about it for the rest of the year that is the great lose. May I make time for my family and friends all year round and may it be so sentimental for me despite the month or season.

I am so thankful for the sentimental stuff of life that makes us think about how we really value loved ones…I am thankful for any time, whether in person, on the phone or skype, with my family and friends where we get beyond chit chat and really put it out there that we care for one another! Praise the Lord for a whole nother year to love and be loved by PEOPLE.TTFN

‘That’s My Auntie In The Choir!’

by admin on December 12, 2010 in Do I Call It Parenting Advice?, Holiday Messages, Mama Heart Mushings, People In My Heart with No comments

Watching my eldest daughter beam with pride at her Auntie this weekend was wonderful. Big Girl loves to sing so for her to get to attend professional choir concerts that include an auntie it is a BIG big deal. Not to mention, I can hardly contain how lovely it all is myself!The evening started with my girl and I working extra hard at dressing up Christmas-y and that is always too fun. I remember such evenings with my mom and how I trusted and appreciated her opinion while getting ready. She always took the opportunity to remind me to find what I like and that to like it means I will always look fab in it (fab is my word, not hers, he he he). I sure hope my daughter learns the same little bits from me.

We got picked up by my husbands parents and whisked away to a lovely big United Church where this choir usually holds their performances.This performance would be all the more fun since there would be audience participation during the evening. There where many carols I hadn’t heard before (different languages even) and so it was very entertaining and new. While most of the numbers where performed as a whole choir, a soloist did a lovely job of two numbers. The men and women took turns doing carols all on their own. My girl was glued to it all when the flautist stood and performed beautifully with one song near the end. Many of the songs where so beautiful you found yourself still and moved only in the heart.

(My sister and her girl after the concert.)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

TTFN

Crafty Christmas Tradition

by admin on December 11, 2010 in Four Little Eggs In My Nest, Holiday Messages with 3 Comments

Tonight was ‘decorate the presents night’. A little crafty Christmas tradition (one of the only times of year I am willing to do a little crafting) that we have done for a few years now. It started because I loved the look of all the gifts wrapped in the same paper. I started using brown packaging paper and Christmas colored yarn because I liked the look of it. It was one of my oldest kids who pointed out that it would be easy to color that kind of paper and so our tradition was born. Each year the packages end up looking so very different, depending on what we have to use. This year the kids where heavy on the foamy stickers and last year it was all about stamps. Such a lovely evening! It went well since they are all getting pretty pro at our Christmas traditions. Big Girl was very patient and willing to help Baby Boy as he learned how to gently color the gifts. Little Woman couldn’t use enough pink stickers and Big Boy was so intently concentrated I couldn’t believe how quiet this usually boisterous boy was. I was on camera duty (big surprise there). Even Daddy had time to join in tonight and we all laughed when a sticker ended up on his forehead… ‘how did that get there?’ was all he said and all four kids where splitting a gut! It is so very Merry to have mellow family time with your kids this time of year:)
TTFN

It Was Hard To Say In Christmases Past

by admin on December 9, 2010 in Bits Of My Personality, Holiday Messages, My Year of Right Sacrifice-TIME, The Pet with No comments
(He couldn’t seem to stand me taking pictures alone. Riddick kept rushing in as the camera clicked. This meant he kept showing up as a blur… so finally I took a moment and picked him up and made him hold still nicely for one. I like that he likes me:) Since we are both looking pretty good I thought I should share!)
Just a thought, sometimes in Christmases past things would get so busy I ended up barely using the old greeting ‘Merry Christmas’ all season. That meant it wasn’t comfortable for me when others would wish me merry Christmas… I remember having trouble giving a hearty response in kind. A perfect example of how my focus was WAY OFF! Not that stress itself isn’t a good enough clue, but moms are good at explaining stress away as a necessity… so now that we are so much better at not letting Christmas get that stressful over here I start pretty early with sharing this greeting.

This is why you will find it so much on my blog this month; I am practicing!

And with that thought, well more then a thought… story, I wish you a

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

TTFN

Christmas Cereal

by admin on December 9, 2010 in Dem Kids Sayed WHAT?, Foodie Like Me, Holiday Messages, Mama Heart Mushings with 1 Comment

A little less enduring and sentimental then my ‘Christmas milk’ story, but no less cute is the kids favorite new find for the holidays. We where in desperate need of some cereal around here and I decided to be a little more relaxed at the grocer by way of letting my four year old choose what we got this week. As soon as Little Woman spotted the multicolored (green and red) crispy rice cereal I knew there was no going back on my promise. We would, indeed, be eating festive rice crispies that taste very much like regular rice crispies, besides the extra food dye flavor, for the whole week!

As soon as we arrived home Little Woman and Baby Boy teamed up on me and insisted we MUST test them for lunch, to make sure the big kids would like them. As usual the listening to the crispy rice was fun and we all giggled that they where saying ‘eat me, eat me’ because, of course, that is always what rice crispies say in our house. The taste… well you would think they where eating food meant for a king. Both ate it up as fast as possible oohing and aahing between spoon fulls and Little Woman insisted ‘these Christmas cereals are lovely!’ Lovely indeed! I say my children and their sweet little worlds of color and joy are even more lovely… lovely enough to win me over on this cereal… I suppose it will be one of our little special traditional treats year after year now.

TTFN
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