The sights of Christmas

Christmas is upon us.  It's fun to see the joy in our boys every time they see Christmas lights, a lit up tree, or other festive decorations.  As we learn to create memories and traditions for our young family, we're trying to keep things simple, focus on people, and be intentional about having the focus on Jesus.  Isn't that what Christmas is...the celebration of Jesus coming to Earth?  It's a great story of the Savior bringing redemption into the world!  We don't do Santa or some other typical celebrations.  I'm no grinch, though, and plenty of fun is to be had by all!

Small boys watch in awe as their daddy puts lights on the tree.

25 Books of December.  Not my idea but saw this recently. Something fun to "unwrap" every day in December.  We don't do a ton of presents so it's fun to get to open a surprise every day.  And we love books at our house. We used old color comics that I had saved when we used to buy the Sunday paper and chose mostly books we already had with a couple of new ones from a discount book store in town.  Bonus:  Mateo gets to practice reading numbers every day.

Ready to open Day 1's book

My favorite tradition of setting up the nativity scene and telling the bible stories surrounding Jesus' birth.

Stockings this year include a mini stocking for the future baby sister.  I'm eager.

Joy, mischievousness, and love all mixed together

Felt nativity set passed down to us a couple years ago.  They LOVE it!!  Alex may put the sheep up in trees sometimes and feed them stars, but hey- he's only 2.  Mateo is much more precise :)

One of our favorite Nativity stories

Fridge Advent Calendar with a scripture to read or a task to do every day on the back

Christmas tree math

Chocolatey Advent calendars from Grandma.  Good practice for Mateo with reading his numbers and fun treats.

My favorite nativity candle that lights up our dinner table. 

Cozy corner

I read an article recently that posed this question:  If this was your last Christmas...would you celebrate it any differently?  It's not something anyone likes to think about but countless tragedies occur and you really never know. Is it possible to savor each day we have with friends and family?  To live life sacrificially because of Christ? One of my favorite things about the season is writing Christmas cards.  Getting a chance to write a personal note in an old fashioned snail mail card and praying for people who I may not see often- love it!!  We also get excited to choose a couple of things for our "Christmas Blessing Projects" so we call it.  Some way for us to intentionally spend less on our stuff so we can give a little bit away! I enjoy that the Advent season is fun family time reflecting on what it meant for Jesus to come and bring redemption to His people.  It's really not about over the top presents, Santa, or having the fanciest Christmas lights.  It's about internalizing the fact that Jesus was born to die for us! And we should strive to live each day grateful and in awe of that.  If you are a Jesus follower, you can be assured that when your time on Earth is over that you will be able to spend eternity with the Savior.  We don't turn into mystical creatures or angels, but we will get to be worshiping our Savior for all eternity.  Now that's something to celebrate.  What a God of grace, love, and peace.  Don't miss out on it.

"He has sent redemption to His people;
He has commanded His covenant forever:
Holy and awesome is His name."
Psalm 111:9 NKJV

The(Christian) Mommy and Daddy Wars of Education

Sometimes the American mindset really bothers me.

You should homeschool.
You should send your kid to private school.
You should send your kid to public school.

I'm really quite sick of it.  Don't we know how fortunate we are to be a country filled with educational opportunities? Even Christians- fight over which realm of educating their children is "best" and most "godly' and  I really think we need to just cool it and stop being so egocentric, arrogant, and self righteous. That's not the way to win souls for Christ or to share Christ's love.  Really.

I think of the stories I've read about in No Longer A Slumdog (Free book- order a copy! Did I mention that it's FREE?).   Imagine living in extreme poverty.  Being a stay at home mom?  What's that? Maybe you have to work a very undesirable job.  Maybe you're so in debt to a corrupt government that you have to make your son or daughter work too.  Um, no you can't home school.  Um, no you can't afford to send them to a private school, and um- no....they aren't even able to go to the public school because either it's too far, too expensive to buy clothes and supplies, or they are too low of a class. 

Sigh.

And we sit in our nice homes and say that homeschool kids will be socially awkward, that private school kids will be snobs, that public school kids will be druggies*.  This is not a post about what kind of schooling is best.  We each have our own opinions and ideas of what we would like to do for our own kids and family.  I think good parents everywhere are trying to make good choices for their kids.  And yes, I have my opinions as a parent and as an educator** about different kinds of education.  That is besides the point for this post. And I don't think my opinion is scripture.

If you want to home school your kid and feel equipped...do it.
If you want to send your kid to private school and can afford it...do it.
If you want to send your kid to public school and can be discerning.... do it.

Any of those choices can be done well or poorly.

Fighting and debating over one way and calling other ways a sin or terrible.... it really takes away from the heart of the gospel.  That Jesus came to earth to teach us, love us, and ultimately die for our sins so we could be in heaven one day.  He wants a transforming relationship with us.  Jesus isn't just for America.  He's for every single person he created on every single landmass in the whole world.

Proverbs 22:6 NKJV says...

"Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it."

The bible is clear that parents are to train their children.  Your school of choice is not responsible for this.  You are.   As a Christian, embracing the ministry a parent has in helping their children become disciples of Jesus is key.

I know fabulous public school teachers who pour their hearts into their class to teach and support them. There are a lot of great things and opportunities in public education even in this unsettling economy. Take the time to notice them.  There are fabulous private school teachers and biblical training/prayer in school.  Thank those teachers for sacrificing a public school salary to do what they feel called to. There are terrific home school moms out there. For no pay at all, they work tirelessly to teach their kids.

How about this.  We stop being so arrogant that "our way is the best way" and start really seeking to BE Jesus to those around us and honor the Lord with our choices and comments. It's really not all about us and how great our choices are.  We do the best we can for our kids, in our situation, with our resources, with God's leading.




*NOTE:  I am a "product" of the public school system. I also went to a public college. I have never done drugs.  I consider myself to be a productive member of society.  I really think that it matters less what kind of school (or lack-thereof) you go to and more about your family and parental involvement.  And prayer. 

**My college degrees are in early childhood/elementary education

Summer's farewell

It was a good summer.

My boys are good explorers.  They love being outside (just like Mom). The TV got turned on maybe twice this whole summer- probalby when they got me so dirty playing in the sprinkler that I needed a shower.  They love eating out of the garden, swinging, poking things with sticks, finding neat rocks, picking me bouquets of weed flowers, and just playing. I was so glad to be a part of their quickly fleeting carefree days....and so thrilled that they have each other.  I think so often what a blessing they are to each other...even on their hardest days.  They are both miracles. 

It was a peaceful summer, not too eventful, yet full of moments.

Moments when I cherished the fact that it was my last summer to have them both napping (oh the joy!!)
Moments when I realized it might possibly be the last summer just me and the boys.  There might possibly, God willing, be a baby sister in the mix next summer.

Moments of joy as Aaron and I watched them be ridiculously funny or cute, etc and were overwhelmed by their existence in our lives. 

And, of course, moments of exhaustion that often set in when keeping up with them and dealing with the emotions of a preschooler and a toddler.

There was plenty of down time.  We spent countless hours in the yard.  Many hours at our favorite school play ground or the park, and many hours going for walks and exploring trails.

At a park in Central Oregon while visiting one of their great grandmas

Tag Teaming down a big slide while visiting extended family.

Unknowingly working on those fine motor skills by trimming a bush

Always a jovial explorer.

On a little hike during a camping trip.

We got to go on two short camping trips, visit Grandma and Grandpa a few times, and see extended family twice. One of my favorite summer traditions was walks to the neighborhood park nature trail after dinner. We even picked blackberries on the way.  That and Spanish story time at the library Wednesday nights.  We did summer bible school in the back yard (like VBS) and I think that will be a new tradition too. I will miss it all!

I'm trying to pump myself up for fall but, really, it's a facade right now.  I got out the rain boots.  Put away the kiddie pool. Threw mulch over the unused garden beds. And threw homemade soup in the freezer. It's kind of working.  But mostly, I just love being outside and I will really miss it!

Bring on the leaf raking and pumpkins.  Bring on having the jackets.  Bring on the extra blankets. Bring on AWANA. Bring on Mateo's first day of Spanish preschool.  I'll be ready soon enough.  For today, it's a beautiful summery afternoon outside still, and we are going to enjoy every minute that we can!

I know New Years is in January, but September seems like the New Year to me.  Many things start up again and, this year especially, brings the hope for another new beginning. A new decade for me. A new school year.  And, eventually...a new member of the family!

8 Money Saving Ideas.....Trade this for that!

A lot of people are trying to save money these days.  Financial goals may vary, but whatever they are, finding ways to spend less is key. Our initial financial goal was to continue to live debt free on one income instead of two.  Then our newer goal is to live debt free on one income while saving up 35,000 to adopt.  haha.  Sounds lofty, but we are already $24,000+ in!  It's really exciting.  Anything we feel we're "sacrificing" to get there is going to be so little, so insignificant, when we are finished.

I think, as Americans, we feel entitled to have everything and anything we think we need.  We feel we deserve this or that and it's really indoctrinated into our brains that we need to have nice things, go nice places, and keep up with the Jones'.  But somehow, in the midst of it all, we have to make a shift.  I'm learning about contentment and gratitude on a daily basis.

As a Jesus follower, I don't think the material things really matter in the end.  Jesus was all about people.  Relationships.  Helping.  Serving.  Sharing the gospel.  Transformation. I want to be more like that.  The bible tells us not to worry or be anxious, to trust in God.  To seek his Kingdom.  Love God first.
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things
will be given to you as well."         - Matthew 6:33                                           

Sometimes we spend less so we can have more.  Ultimately it would be great if we got to the place where we would spend less so we could give more!

Whatever the reason you need to spend less, maybe one of these would work :)And keep in mind, that none of these things I'm suggesting we trade out are "bad".  But if you're in debt or needing to spend less then it might not be a bad idea-even temporarily.

Trade this for that.....

 1. Trade this.....



For that....




Sometimes I really need a break from the dinner rush preparation and all the dishes that come along with it. Taking your family to dinner you can easily drop $40-50+ without too much effort. We heard on the morning news recently that the average 35-45 year old eats out 220 times a year (about 4 times a week!).  Wow!  Besides getting costly, that probably isn't the best for your health lol.  We have nearly  removed eating out from our budget right now but I still need a break.  I try to make a double dinner on Saturday so we can eat leftovers on Sunday.  Then my other favorite things to do for a "break" is use my crock pot.  Fajitas in the crock pot were last nights dinner and it was so nice to have it prepared in the morning (dishes included) so I just had to cook some beans and rice on the stove and voila!  Find a recipe that will help you have a dinner-time break! I also know friends who do freezer meals so they aren't prepping dinner every day. 

2. Trade this....



For That....


One study showed that the average American worker spends $1,000 a year on coffee!  Now you may not think of your $4 coffee as being that much but it does add up!  With $1,000 you could....pay off a credit card, take a family trip, sponsor 2 1/2 kids in India through Gospel For Asia for a year, or whatever your heart desires! Remember that there are tons of flavored creamers and "extras" to emulate your favorite coffee drink out there.

3.  Trade this.....


Don't get me wrong- hotels are great.   But paying for a family-size hotel room is costly!  We stayed one night at the beach this summer in a simple hotel and it was $150 for the family suite!  So if you need to save a few bucks see below....

For that....


 A yurt!! What a magnificent invention! In Oregon they only cost about $39 per night. Yurts are what enabled our family to take a couple of mini "vacations" (aka camping trips) this summer.  Granted, not everybody is an outdoorsy camping sort of person, but give it a shot!  If you can't fathom walking to the bathroom or cooking outside, find a "deluxe" yurt that has bathrooms and a kitchenette.  We are going to try one out for the first time this fall!

4. Trade this....


For that....


St. Vinny's is one of my all time fav. thrift stores from my home town.  There are many others out there.  Goodwill, Value Villiage,  children's consignment shops, etc.  Try one out!  It's not too terrible.  And, bonus:  used clothes are pre-shrunk!  Double bonus:  you won't feel as bad when your kids stain and destroy their clothes when you spent less on them haha.  Oh, and don't forget garage sales, though seasonal, to be a good resource!

5.Trade this...


  
For that....




Last summer our goal was to visit every school play ground  and park on our side of town and it was a blast!  We still have some of our favorite spots to play with our little guys.  Taking little kids to busy theme parks and fairs can be fun, but it can also be expensive and exhausting and if you really need to save some pennies, then why not skip it all together and find a free play gorund, park, neighborhood nature trail, etc. to explore.  My dad calls our boys "good little explorers" adn I think that's true!  They love just visiting new places where they can run free and be outside.  I think they have more fun at parks and outside than many other places.
Other free fun could include picnics, library activities, playing in the yard, etc.


6. Trade this...


For that....

Yes, it takes more time, but little things like peeling and cutting up carrots instead of buying them already prepared does save money.  If you can swing the extra time, try cutting out some "convenience" foods.


7.  Trade this....


For that....








So this one is kind of a joke, but really- a lot of little kids have more fun playing with something like a box than fancy toys from a store.  I think, as parents, we tend to think that we need to get fancy stuff for our kids.  And yes, our boys have plenty of toys, but they also spent a large amount of time this summer playing with sticks, rocks, and random things they found outside.

8.  Trade this...

Tivo/DVR/Cable/On Demand

For this...


I don't even know all the cable and on demand options out there to be honest sine we've never had it in our married life, but I know they can be costly.  We used to have Netflix streaming for $8 a month and there were plenty of options.  Right now we've even cut out Netflix to save a tiny bit more and since we really don't watch much TV it just made sense.  That said, I can totally see us getting Netflix back in the future some day.  It's only $8 and you can cancel and start it up whenever you want.  The other Netflix option is getting movies through the mail for an additional $8+ a month. 


So whatever your situation, think of things to trade out, ways to be creative, ways to spend less so you can meet your goals.  Think big and think little.  Everything adds up.