Visions of Messy Sugar Plums {Christmas is No Time for Perfectionism}

 Peppermint Patties

Twas the day before Christmas, and my cluttered kitchen

filled with cookies, goodies, boots, coats and mittens.

The sugar's out on table, in red, green and white

I do not need to tell you, by end, it was quite a sight.

You've been there I'm sure, it's a messy tradition,

we set aside tendencies to decorating perfection.

Sugar is everywhere, the cookies are messy

But every last goodie tells it's own happy story.

Spoons covered in frosting and finger licking elves;

I look at it all and laugh in spite of myself.

The kids had their fun, made their own version of pretty 

To control their fun would have been really silly.

So in your holiday traditions, keep this in mind,

there is no room for perfect, I think you will find,

much peace love and joy in more "good- enoughs"

so please take perfectionism off your Christmas list of stuff.

For what fun is a mother who gripes and controls 

how the cookies appear, I would hope that she knows

that perfection is costly and everyone works gaily

when a mother lets go, and redefines beauty.

 

For this is the season of upside-down things

of a God come down here, in a manger a King.

For the broken and messy, a star shines through the night.

May you find Him this Christmas, He's the way, the truth, the light!

From our Family to Yours:

Burden and Birth

My emotions have been matching the seasons.

After struggling through the blinding blizzard of fear, thinking I had faith, but my actions speaking to my soul state, walking in circles, like Mary on her Advent journey, bearing a burden.

Hers was a joyous burden, though, so different than mine, taking on the pressure of providing for my family, too many things on my shoulders, when no one expected it of me but myself, the stress weighing down on me physically, and dizzy with it all swirling around, finally the sun has come out. (I know that's a pretty long run-on sentence. But that's how I was living. Running on. And.On.)

I must give my husband the credit. And my God. Together they spoke my own words back to me.

Choose joy today, Kristina. Choose it moment by moment. Day by day. Whatever you do, choose joy.

My husband has been good to me. Sitting with me in the quiet of our En-Gedi, modeling peace under the burden of providing, reminding me that God is the only one who really provides.

He has spoken promises in our hearts if we only listen and practice trust. Faith is being sure of what we hope for.

He leads and releases me of obligation, says, "Trust me." Both my man and my God speak truth. Gently, ever so tenderly, together they whisper, "Joy. Choose it."

Even in the midst of insecurity. In the middle of strife. When bearing the burden of the mundane. Choose.

Because of  Christ, and by the power and hope of the Holy Spirit, the burden is birthed to joy. And the whole world sings,

"Joy to the World, the Lord has come."

How has He brought joy to you?

May the God of hope 

fill you with all joy and peace 

as you trust in him, 

so that you may overflow with hope

by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

~Romans 15:13

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Christmas Card Wreath

I have a bad habit. I have many, actually, but today I'm only telling you one.

I save stuff I think I might use someday.

Maybe that's a good habit, but not always. Now, I think I've gotten better, and I don't keep everything anymore, and certainly not anything large like bar furniture. (Ok, I admit, I have a fainting couch in storage. But that's the only large item! And..... maybe a nice headboard and footboard.)  Mostly I get rid of stuff I don't need, but certain unique shapes or items I know would cost a lot or be difficult to find, I save.

The topic of today's discussion: a large round wood ring.

On Saturday, I randomly had an idea (the way all my good ideas come,) and I searched for this round frame and almost panicked that I had trashed it. Thankfully, I only looked two places before I found it hanging on the stair rail to our basement. (I also have random storage places.)

I found a bunch of Christmas ribbon in red green and gold  - I never toss Christmas ribbon - cut it up and tied random pieces to my frame. Then I wrapped some berries I scavenged from an old wreath and paper clipped my Christmas card collection to the ribbon.

This hangs above our kitchen table now and I think I like it! And I'm so glad I didn't toss that silly wood ring!

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Disclosure: This post has a sponsored link.

Music Paper Chain and Christmas Links

Megan kept saying, 

"It just seems wrong to cut up this old hymn book!"

"Are you sure it's OK?" 

But cut we did, one inch strips, and then with glue stick,

 

made rings of music to go 'round the tree.

 

~~~~~~~~~~

Don't have an old hymnbook laying around and want to get your craft on with your kids this weekend?

Here are a few links I've found:

 printable nativity paper dolls : 

just print, cut, and play! Cute.

colorable nativity paper dolls

print, color, cut, and play! Classic.

Ann Voskamp's free advent devotional, Jesse tree, activity book
A must read. For elementary aged kids to adults.Ann's writing consistently brings me to tears. Paper ornaments for a Jesse tree. 80 pages, free to print!


advent calendar, gift tags
 lovely projects

advent coloring pages 
 a coloring page for every day of advent, complete with a related Scripture. Great for young children.

Then there's my collection of ornament crafts:
sled
reindeer
the prettiest clay ever
crocheted snowflake
tin can lid angel

The snow is coming down here, whiting out the surrounding fields. It's cozy, being blanketed in white. Cookies are on the agenda this afternoon with a generous side of Christmas music.

What creativity are you cooking up?

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White Elephant, Pink Elephant

I've mentioned before that our family began a new tradition last year: a white elephant exchange.
Why?
Because, it's just plain fun!

This year, everyone brought awesomely funny gifts.

Grandma opened a bubble blowing Stitch, which my daughter stole from her as soon as she had the chance.















So, Grandma got the opportunity to pick a new present. She opened a fabulous llama with real llama fur.















Andrea unwrapped an antique(?) tray stand thing. It may actually be useful in her dorm room. It even folds up for handy dandy storage!















Robb had a hard time deciding if he was going to steal a cheese dome for me (because I forgot to steal it when it was my turn) or pick something unopened. He chose something unopened and got a lovely pink elephant pitcher! When we left tonight, he tried to "accidentally" leave it at my parents house! No worries, I snagged it, 'cause I have plans for that baby!

Grandma opened a mink skin(courtesy me) and promptly put it around her neck amidst uproarious laughter.
(Appropriate as she and grandpa made their living from mink ranching!)














Brad got my mom's old briefcase.Beauteous, yes?
















Karren had plans for the llama grandma had opened, so she stole it, giving grandma the opportunity to choose another gift.
















It was meant to be. Grandma ended up with the gift she brought to the exchange last year.

A ceramic cleaning lady that still wins the prize for most hideous!

Christmas is all about Spankings

 Today I have a guest post by my sister Laura for you. Enjoy!

Ahh, Christmas memories... once a year they all come flooding back. I will never forget our church's Christmas Eve service the year my niece Megan was five years old. That was the year they decided to do something a little different from tradition and included a children's sermon as a part of the service. All the little kids, including Megan, were called up to sit on the stage while the pastor talked to them about Christmas. One of the first things the pastor did was ask the kids, "What is Christmas all about, anyway?" Being the talkative, uninhibited child that she has always been, Megan raised her hand and declared, "My daddy said that Christmas is all about spankings!"

Megan and Laura 2008

The congregation lost it. I don't think anyone in my family even heard the rest of the children's sermon, and I don't remember anything else about that service. The funniest part is that it was true; her dad had told her that Christmas is all about spankings. If I remember the story correctly, it happened just before they left for the service: Megan was being willful and disobedient and would not put on the proper clothing, so her dad told her, "If you don't get dressed right now, you are going to get a spanking, because that's what Christmas is all about- spankings!" Of course he said it in jest, but the words stuck.

We still laugh about Megan's statement, yet, as I think about it now, she may have been more right than we were inclined to believe. At one time we, also, were willful and disobedient. We, also, refused to clothe ourselves in righteousness, and our Heavenly Father reminded us that there would be consequences for that disobedience, consequences much greater than spankings. That's why He sent His Son. Perhaps the Holy Child received no spankings, yet He came to embrace that much greater punishment we had earned. He came that we might be clothed in His righteousness.

Christmas is not really all about spankings. But it IS about disobedient children. It IS about a loving Father. It IS about forgiveness and a punishment that has been wiped away. In this remembrance, we truly do have something to rejoice in!

Christmas Tour

A Glimpse of Our Country Christmas

Christmas Letter/Year-End Summary

                                                                           

This will be kinda like one of those choose your own ending books. But not really. All you really get to choose is how much of our lives and my blabbing to read! For the short version, stay put on this page. For details and pictures, follow the links!

January was busy and crazy. But we made it!

February and March and April included a trip to the WI Dells (and our first visit to a Casino), a marriage class, a wedding, a funeral, another Bible study and a trip for Robb to CO. Megan turned eight.

And, you'll never believe this: I started exercising. You will, however, believe this: I've since quit! I do have plans to start again. I think.

May: The girls were in dance.

June: I enjoyed a non-homeschooling mom's life for a week while my kids went to an all day Vacation Bible School. My thoughts on that. We celebrated 11 years of marriage and Mitchell's 10th birthday. Yes, I made that football cake. :)

July: Mitchell had his first week-long camp experience. He loved it, of course, and came home pumped.
We spent lots of time at the local beach....kids playing, mom's gabbing. relaxing. NICE!

August we canned. The kids are great little kitchen helpers!

In the summer we also camped a few times and had two weekend friend fests which included mega bounce houses, lotsa food and lotsa friends! Not sure why I didn't blog about those events as they were the highlight of our summer!

With fall came another Bible Study, the start of Bible Quizzing and Mitchell's first experience playing football.

I posted about my brother-in-law's health scare and then again. He appears to be OK right now. We would all still appreciate prayer for the situation.

In October we visited Robb's dad and Linda in AZ for the first time since they moved there...WAY overdue! We also met Robb's grandma and aunt. We had a fabulous time. So much fun, in fact, that we were grouchy after returning home for approximately a month! The weather here may have had a bit to do with it! Can we just transport our whole life, friends and church and family and all, to a warmer climate? Please?

November brought my sister's baby shower.  Yes, I am sooooo excited and terribly sentimental about this upcoming birth.


I found my dream job and started working part-time at home for Carrie in her blog to book business.


And that brings us to December. Megan will visit the orthodontist this week. We have an upcoming piano recital and Christmas program. Madison will turn six.


Another year comes to a close and, once again, we rejoice in the faithfulness of our God. Thanks for being our friends. We are so grateful for you all.


Leave a comment and let me know you were here. :)

Paper Stars

We enjoyed a quiet Thanksgiving here on the farm, complete with paper star making.

These will be a cute addition to our eclectic country Christmas tree.

Here are the star making directions.

I would ramble on about other fun uses of these quaint stars, but my 8 year old daughter, pictured above, has been hovering over my shoulder reminding me that I promised we could set up the Christmas tree today. As in exactly 7 minutes. Now I'm down to six. So goodbye. I'm off to work some Christmas magic!

Christmas 2008 Picture

Mitchell 9.5

Megan 7.75

Madison 4.99

The Town That Forgot About Christmas

Our church put on a Christmas program yesterday adapted from the book "The Town That Forgot About Christmas." Mitchell and Megan were carolers and Mitchell had a short duet. Everyone did a great job and we are proud!

This group picture was taken during practice with only a few of the props, but you get the general idea. Mitchell is standing on the right edge of the group on the left with his hand on his hip and Megan is on the far right wearing a red shirt and white scarf. (I dusted off my sewing machine and sewed her outfit as she had nothing in her closet that could pass for 1940's English era!) My dad took more pictures, so I may add a couple later.