Reflect

I'm joining in on Lisa-Jo baker's 'Five Minute Friday'.
The rules are pretty simple. One word. Five minutes of writing. No editing.

Reflect

So many memories and thoughts come flooding in when I hear the word reflect. Then I think deeper, to reflect on one moment, one memory, one thought, one emotion.

I type this all in front of our Christmas tree. In our home.

How did I get here?

I reflect on that so often sometimes. I'll be honest, sometimes I reflect on that question and I get mad. I get mad at my decisions my choices. Then I see the blessings, not on purpose. It's like a little part of me shows myself the gifts that all the winding roads have given me. I reflect on all my life obstacles, the choices that I made from them. No, they weren't all right but that's okay. What's done is done.

The beauty in the ugliness. That's what I see.

Yes.

I sit here in front of a Christmas tree that means nothing to the holiday that it is supposed to represent. A holiday that is for a King. A holiday that is to reflect the love, the kindness, the beauty in ugliness.

This tree. It has ornaments from so many years. It shows so many firsts, babies, house, marriage, dogs. It stands glowing with fresh memories. So many memories.


 

Show and Share

Three boys plus one craft loving Momma... let's see what we get into!

Christmas countdown! If you haven't gotten an advent calendar there is still time to make one!

The best and simplest one that I love to make is the chain countdown. Rian's school made one with him this year and it is absolutely adorable!

Basically it's just strips of paper looped through one another. Each night you tear one off, when you get to the last loop it's Christmas eve! On the back of the bell they have this poem...

My Mom bought us this beautiful advent Playmobil set. Each day the boys open a door and there is a little something that they have to set up for the magical forest.

Here's to the Christmas countdown!!!

Two for Twosday

Two for Twosday: two thoughts/ updates/ photos/ something that I don't want to forget or am flat out uber excited about.

1. Thanksgiving happened! It was a blast! We haven't spent Thanksgiving together in so many years. We celebrated the day to it's fullest! With Momma here we tried a few new recipes out on Thanksgiving and they all turned out fabulously!

We found the sparkling apple cider sangria recipe on Pinterest and HAD to try it. This recipe comes from Lemon Tree Dwelling.

Sparkling Apple Cider Sangria

1 bottle chilled sparkling wine
1/2 c. apple cider
1/2 c. brandy
1/4 c. simple syrup
4 cinnamon sticks
2 apples thinly sliced

Combine all ingredients in large pitcher.


2. St. Frosty has made his appearance for the 2013 Christmas season.

Samual

Samual : Eight Years : Twenty Questions

1. What is your favorite color? 
Orange
2. What is your favorite toy? 
My bike
3. What is your favorite fruit? 
Watermelon
4. What is your favorite TV show? 
Spongebob
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? 
Tacos
6. What is your favorite outfit? 
Collard long sleeve shirt with tie
7. What is your favorite game? 
Candy Land
8. What is your favorite snack? 
Sunflower seeds
9. What is your favorite animal? 
Tigers
10. What is your favorite song? 
You are my sunshine
11. What is your favorite book? 
Captain Underpants
12. Who is your best friend?
Louis and Rian and Lilly and Cooper
13. What is your favorite cereal?
ALL OF THEM
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? 
Run
15. What is your favorite drink? 
Eggnog
16. What is your favorite holiday? 
New Years
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? 
Dino, Tiggy, Lizard and Patrick
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?
Pancakes

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? 
Goodscents
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? 
Fireman

Eight years ago, you were born. We have been absolutely blessed every day of every moment. Love you to the moon and back, infinity and beyond, forever and ever.

Momma, Dad, Lou and Rian

November's photo a day

No rules. Just a prompt and a camera. Check out Chantelle's photo a day challenge.

1. Fruit
2. I did this today
3.P is for…
4. Table
5. I collect…
6. Music
7. Yes!
8. Someone I miss
9. Mine
10. Book
11. A memory
12. Clouds
13. Part of me
14. Eating
15. In my pocket/purse
16. Hair
17. 5 o’clock
18. Mirror
19. Where you ate breakfast
20. Communication
21. I wish I had this
22. Behind
23. Simplicity
24. A word
25. Quirky
26. Message

27. No!
28. I am grateful for…
29. Black
30. All done

 

I can't add for some crazy reason number 23. Simplicity.

Oh technology! 

November N Review

What I'm eating/drinking: 
Eggnog

What I'm wearing: 
Jeans and long sleeves
Baby it's cold outside...

My last Nook/iTunes/Audible purchase: 
Audible: Orphan train
iTunes: Thanksgiving Day mix
Nook: Four Corners of the Sky

What I need to do today:
Sew some badges on the boys uniform.

What the kids are doing: 
Field trip with their cub scouts!

How I'm feeling:
Good, getting back in the swing of things.

What I'm listening to: 
Christmas music

Words to describe this month: 
Thankful

Noteworthy: 
Birthdays & Births & Holidays & Family visits & Football & Races!

What reading/learning did I do this month? 
I'll Be Seeing You
Savage Continent
January First
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena
The Golem and the Jinni

What entertainment did I watch/listen to this month? 
We went and to see Frozen in theater! It had mixed reviews from the boys.

What fun things did I do with my family and/or friends? 
We shared Thanksgiving together, two birthdays and hunting season!

What gifts did I give and/or receive? 
Mr. Ivan was born!

What special or unusual purchases did I make? 
Gravy. Well that wasn't weird that was normal. When I went to go get the packets though I found jars of gravy that you can buy. This cooking world is so crazy!

What illnesses or health concerns did I have? 
'Tis the season!

What were my accomplishments this month? 
Ran a 5k!

What were my downers this month? 
Saying goodbye to my Mom is always so hard to do.

What new things did I try? 
Cooking. This was the first year that I actually got to do the turkey. Momma was here to talk me through it, thank goodness.

How did I do on my goals for the month?
Going strong!

{this moment}

{this moment} -  A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.