It's A Sugar Cookie Making Day!

Today will be a short day of learning and then on to making and decorating sugar cookies! I was so happy to find out that I already had all the ingredients except for food coloring which we got last night. I will be using a different recipe this year. It comes from the Pioneer Woman Cooks blog. If you are interested in taking a peak, her link is on the side of my blog. Let the baking begin and in between maybe I can get the Christmas cards finished and mailed.

I'm Really Not A Scrooge!

It seems that I always dread this time of year. It comes way too fast and no matter how ahead I think I am, I'M NOT! Our church had two floats in a Christmas parade and won the trophy for first prize. The trophy made it to the front of the church for all to see. In order to light the advent candles, it was moved......to sit right in front of the manger scene with Santa on top of that big trophy waving. Now I know this act was not on purpose by no means, but it DID get me thinking.



For the most part, that is exactly how it really is. Santa waving, overpowering the most important part of the season, CHRIST. Oh, now don't get me wrong, I enjoy buying gifts, riding around to see the lights, putting up our tree and other decorations, and all the other things that we do this time of year. I also think too much emphasis is sometimes placed on all the extra things to do and the meaning behind them gets pushed aside, just like Baby Jesus being BEHIND Santa last Sunday morning. I have been reading a book that gives the meaning behind our Christmas traditions. It does help to know WHY we do the things we do. I think sometimes we do certain things at Christmas because it is expected of us. It gets so busy that I catch myself checking off my "to do" list and think, "NEXT." Somehow we need to slow down and REALLY dwell on the significance of Christmas. Let's not just read the Christmas story because it's tradition. Let's think about what it means and how the "characters" really must have felt. Let's not just have a play at church because that's what we've always done. Let's seek out from the Lord a way to minister to someone who needs something from the Savior. There's many things that you can do to bring the true meaning up and out right in FRONT of Santa. He can still be there and all the other things too, but let's see how we can bring more meaning and realization to what the Lord has done for us.



I thank the Lord that we home school. It gives us an opportunity and more time to teach the kids what this season is about. Yes, we have a tree and Santa does visit, there's laughter, picture taking, and lots of fun. Yet, there's always time for Jesus and hopefully he is out front where he should be. Maybe one day instead of Santa waving at the end of a parade, it will be Jesus.....now THAT would be something!

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A great thing

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What To Teach For Christmas

I usually will break out my Amanda Bennett unit study at Christmas, but this year I decided to do something a different. I still haven't really planned things out, but I do know that we will be using the following things.

1. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever study guide by Progeny Press
2. Jotham's Journey: An advent storybook
3. Adventures in Odyssey Christmas Classics
4. Traditions of Christmas by Ace Collins
5. Jingle Bells Batman Smells (PS So Does May) You know I have to throw in some Junie B.!

We have only done 2 of the Thanksgiving crafts that I had in mind, so I wonder just how many Christmas crafts, etc will actually get done.

This is such a fun time of year for the kids. It's fun for Phillip and me also if it doesn't get too hectic. It's a work in progress and I'm hoping this year is better than last! At least I am not having to keep the house clean because our house is up for sale (unlike last year). Having a house up for sale during Christmas is hopefully a once in a lifetime event. We are really close to many Christmas light displays where we live now and we hope to hit every one around within a 20 mile radius! We have already drove through Williamston Park and sat on Santa's lap (no long line either). I wonder how much learning will go on the month of December? :-)

SWEET WORDS

I was rushing the kids this morning telling them hurry up and that we were going to be late. I had it in my mind to start school at a certain time. Melanie was brushing her hair and looked up at me with a little grin on her face and said, "How can we be late for school?" I started laughing because she was soooo right! I usually don't make a big deal of getting started later than I want, so I guess to her it was a crazy thing to say. Just had to share.

I'M SO THANKFUL

Seeing what everyone is thankful for on facebook got me to thinking about what I really am thankful for. I hope I am honestly thankful for every single thing the Lord has given me, but there are things that I am thankful for that seem to be at the top of the list today. Here's a glimpse in to my thoughts.

1. I am thankful for my friend, Christine, who gave me information about legitimate work at home jobs. My little job has provided income for the kids and me to do extra things that we may not have gotten to do through the years. Sometimes Phillip has been able to join in with us if he took the day off or we would go on our trips on the weekend.

2. I am thankful for the past 15 months. It has been a roller coaster ride for sure. Phillip lost his job last August and with that came lots of changes. God blessed us with Phillip getting a job quickly, however it was not an ideal situation. The insurance was terrible, the environment was terrible, and the commute was terrible, but how can we not be thankful for it? God PROVIDED! The Lord provided for all our needs and some of our wants during Phillip's time at the job. God then blessed Phillip with a new opportunity a couple of weeks ago. Oh, how much different things are now. The insurance is great, the environment is great, and the commute is great! Phillip said he had forgotten what it was like to hear co-workers laugh( now that's bad).

3. I am thankful to be able to educate our children the way we believe God wants us to. We can get up and school at 10:00 in pajamas or be at the table schooling at 8:00 dressed in our best. We start the day in prayer and we discover TOGETHER the world around us.

4. I am thankful to not have to worry about "socialization". When we first started schooling the children 6 years ago, I was worried that the kids wouldn't "fit in". With the Lord guiding our footsteps, I have found out that socialization is not one of our problems. They each had a part on program at church this past Sunday and they WANTED to do it. Thank you Lord.

5. I am thankful for the many unique friends that I have. Each one is special and have many talents. I thank the Lord that they are willing to be there for me and that I can also glean information from them when I need to. I am amazed at what these friends can do!

6. I am so thankful for my parents. They took me to church and taught me how to love the Lord. They are so giving of themselves. They have compassion for people and I feel that they have taught me that as well.

7. I am thankful for the relationship that I have with my husband. I think we make a pretty good team. He's awesome!

8. I am thankful for Usborne books. We have a ton of new books ourselves and I thank the Lord for allowing me to bring these books in to other children's lives.

9. I am thankful for my new house and especially my porch.

10. I am thankful for my church family! I can't say enough about them.