It's a Jungle in Here!

I know it's still winter, but I typically do my "spring" cleaning during the cold months. That way I can be outside, enjoying the weather, in the spring. That being said, I need help!

I'm trying to organize the boys' playroom and can't figure out how to sort all their legos and dress-up clothes. There are legos and Star Wars costumes everywhere! No kidding. Anyway, right now the legos are in formula containers and the dress-up clothes are in a big tupperware container. It's very hard for the boys to get the toys and even harder for them to clean it up. If anyone reading this has any ideas I would love to hear them. Thanks!

By the way, the theme of the playroom is a jungle. I decided to try to involve the boys as much as I could with the decorating. They are actually more creative than I am. Adam was the one who thought of turning it into a jungle and Daniel just wanted to make sure that there would be plenty of monkeys. So, I found some tan curtains and plan on making some palm leaves out of craft foam for a valance. The boys and I are going to cut out some trunks and leaves out of construction paper to make trees to put on the walls using double sided tape. One thing about living in rentals for so long, I have learned to decorate in non-expensive ways, without painting murals or things on the walls.

There is one thing we won't be doing though. Adam wants a big tiger rug, the ones with the head still on them! I have no idea how he even knew those existed!

Goal verse for 2009

Happy New Years Everyone!
Yes, I know it's already Jan 4th, but it's not officially the new year until the Christmas decorations are down and the new calendar is up! So, now I'm ready for 2009, I think :)

I don't really make New Year's resolutions, because I always break them. So, I decide to have "goal verses". This is something John's parents do with their church and I loved the idea, so we started doing it too. My verse last year was:
Cor. 22:19
"Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the Lord your God"
This happened to be the perfect verse, because as busy as 2008 was for us this verse helped to keep my focus on God, thus allowing everything else fall into place. The verse I picked for this year is:
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.

I'm already getting a bit overwhelmed with everything I think need to happen this year. Buy a house, Adam starts 1st grade, home-school or not home-school, potty training, my baby turns 1...the list goes on and on. So, I feel like God is trying to tell me to not rely on my emotions or view of how I think this year needs to go, but instead rely on Him and He will show me what to do.

Well, I need to go look over tomorrow lesson, we start school tomorrow! God Bless!

Vacation

Well, I never did finish blogging about the ABC's of Christmas. The rest: U is for understand, V is for volunteer, W is for worship, x is for eXamine(examine your past Christmas habits. Ask yourself which habits you should keep and which habits you need to eliminate. Y is for yield Avoid overspending...yield to God and his perfect guidance toward good stewardship. Z is for zero, Zero in on how you and your family can keep Christ in Christmas.

I've been enjoying my vacation. So far I've read two books and Adam and I are reading a chapter book together. We're having fun playing with all their new toys and pretty much just doing anything we want!

I hope everyone had a memorable Christmas and have a great New Years!

Tradition

Well, we are getting closer to the end of the alphabet. T is for Tradition. We started a new tradition last year. We give the boys three gifts each, just like the wise men gave Jesus. I like this idea, because it takes a lot of the focus off gifts and also keeps me from getting so overwhelmed about what to get them. This year we let the boys open their gifts today. It was so much fun watching them. Daniel would start really slow and when he saw what the present was he would go into warp speed! To cute. One of the gifts Adam received was Adventures in Odyssey on cd. He asked what it was and we told him it's storied on cd. He said, "Cool, I can just sit and listen and have to sound anything out!" Caleb had a lot of fun trying to eat the wrapping paper. :)

I probably will not post tomorrow, so U is for Understand. Tomorrow..."Make sure your child understands that there is more to Christmas than gifts and decorations. It is a time to spend with loved ones. Tell her/him that Jesus is the reason for the season."

Merry Christmas everyone!

R is for Reflect

"Reflect on what Christmas meant to you over the years. Talk with your family about how each family member can make the holidays even more special. Make a list of the ideas. Then hang the list where everyone can see it."

I've been thinking about this today and I've decided, I'm over-booking Christmas. You know, like when you get on a flight only to find out they've over-booked and you can't get on, someone misses out on their flight. This is very frustrating, to say the least! I tend to get over excited about things, I know that's hard to believe. I plan to many things and end up getting overwhelmed and not doing hardly anything. Then we miss out on something. Well, my boys tend to bring me back to reality...

Wednesday evening, Adam, asked me if Christmas is Jesus birthday than is everyone who has lights on their houses and trees up a Christian? I tell you what, the questions this boy comes up with! When I told him no, he wanted to know if their not than why are they celebrating Jesus' birthday? This conversation went on for awhile. Bless his heart, every house we see now he wonders if they know Jesus.

We didn't get the list of ideas done today, but I already have an idea to add. Instead of caroling, how about witnessing?? This is way out of my comfort zone, but the idea of knocking on one of those doors with Adam and talking to them about Jesus warms me up and makes me a little nervous :)

Tomorrow, S is for Spirit. "Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you to the true meaning of Christmas and then share it with others."

Q is for Quiet

"Take time this holiday to sit quietly, pray, and think about the birth of Jesus and what it means to you."
I asked the kids today what the birth of Jesus means to them and this is what they said:
Cousin #1: "Jesus was born so He could some day die on the cross and save us from our sins."
Cousin #2: "So he could save us."

My Big Man: "So I could become a Christian."
My Middle Man: "Baby Jesus is like our baby."

Today I was remembering when Middle Man was born. It was around Christmas and as I was nursing him some people came to the hospital and caroled around the rooms for the patients. It was so special to hear the songs of praise and think about what it was like for Mary holding baby Jesus in her arms. The thought is somewhat overwhelming. One of my favorite Christmas songs is "Mary Did You Know?" Hear is the lyrics;
"Mary Did You Know"

[Originally written by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene]

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy has come to make you new?
This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will calm the storm with His hand?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little Baby you kissed the face of God?

Mary did you know.. Ooo Ooo Ooo

The blind will see.
The deaf will hear.
The dead will live again.
The lame will leap.
The dumb will speak
The praises of The Lamb.

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would one day rule the nations?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
The sleeping Child you're holding is the Great, I Am.

Peace and Quiet?

I didn't get to post yesterday, but it was O is for Openness. Openly tell others about your relationship with Jesus. This is very easy for me to do with children. For some reason though, it's sometimes hard for me to be open with other adults.

Well, today is P is for Peace. As soon as I read that I was thinking, "I wish" :) But, one thing I have learned with my boys, is that peace doesn't always come hand in hand with quiet. Peace to me means having an inner calmness, feeling at peace, safe, knowing God has everything under control. When I did a search for the definition of peace, I found these:

Inner contentment; serenity: peace of mind.
Freedom from quarrels and disagreement; harmonious relations: roommates living in peace with each other

There has been times when someone would say to me things like, "I bet it's loud at your house" or "Three boys! Well God bless you" The thing is God has blessed me. Yes it is loud at my house, but it's also peaceful, most of the time:)

I got the following from the magazine:
After the birth of Jesus, the angels appeared and said, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors." (Luke 2:14)
Discuss this verse with your family. How can you help bring peace?

Tomorrow Q is for quiet. Imagine that:)