I wonder.....

Boy, time flies!! 

Thanksgiving came and went, and now the Christmas tree is up!  Whew!

As I am (once again) "simplifying",...aka, throwing things out......I find myself feeling 'free'!  :o) 

I love the Christmas season, I think because I just love to give people things and see them smile.  :o)  Whatever the case may be,...I am thoroughly enjoying taking my truck full of items to donate knowing that a mother will soon walk in and find exactly what she needs for her kiddos.  :o)

I've been thinking too,.....a lot!

Thinking about what Christmas will be like for a lot of families this year.  I wonder how many parents will miss Christmas with their families all together because they are serving our country somewhere else.  I wonder how many families will go without presents because money is tight.  I wonder how many children will be in the hospital on Christmas day......and then I wonder,....."how can I make a difference"?

For the record, I've started by praying.  I've also donated some extra items that I think someone will find very special.  I'm working on some homemade goodies for friends and neighbors.  And,....I'm helping my son with his annual 'Secret Santa Fund' for the local children's hospital. 

Do you have any other ideas for me?  What do you do for others around this holiday?  I'd love to hear!  :o)

Thanksgiving prep.....

Well, last night's birthday part was spectacular!  :o)  Our son is now home for the holiday and all of his siblings are at a new place of happiness!  :o)  They could have stayed up all night catching up!  :o)  It was a beautiful sight to see!  They are thrilled that he will be here for his birthday this weekend too!

Now,......Thanksgiving!  :o)  My all time FAVORITE holiday!!  Really!  I LOVE THANKSGIVING! Why?

Well, it's encompasses everything I love; family, GIVING, faith, and food!  ;o)

There are no worries about presents to buy, sizes to fit, lines to stand in, tape, wrapping paper, needles to vaccuum up every day,... college students come home, families gather around and enjoy each other for hours, stories are told, memories are made .... it just keeps getting better and better!  :o)

I will have the honor of getting to cook my little heart out (for days), fill my food (and my family and neighbors) with love, give a bazillion hugs, spend time (guilt-less) sitting and visiting, watching movies (and football) with my kids (who get to have time off from school), snuggle by the fire,..... it is just awesome!  :o)

So, this weekend, I will take my general list and get meticulous.  I have to make sure I have all the ingredients for a moist cornbread dressing, LOTS of vegetables (butternut squash and beets come from our garden this year!), enough yummies to bake pies with my daughters and neices, extra yummies to make cookies with the girls too, .......woohoo!  :o)

We will continue to fill our "blessing crock" with little pieces of paper that we have written 'things we're thankful for' on and when it's overflowing, we'll read them all out loud on Thanksgiving Day.  :o)

I am just bursting with excitement and can't stop smiling!  :o)

Do you have any special Thanksgiving traditions?  I'd love to hear about them!  What's your favorite recipe?  Mine is totally my grandmother's cornbread dressing recipe!  Do you go shopping on Black Friday? I used to, but I've finally come to my senses!  ;o)  Do you go get your Christmas tree on Friday?  We will this year so our college student can be with us!  :o)

Well, as you go into this weekend, I hope you'll be looking forward to Thanksgiving with the special people in your life.  I know for me,....every day is a day to give thanks!  :o)

Have a great weekend!

Faith

Today, our 'baby' will turn 5 years old!  In a family with eight children, that is BIG news!  :o)
Even bigger,.....her oldest sibling, will be coming home today from college to surprise her!  :o)  Only two of the other children know about it, so there will be A LOT of fun, screaming, laughter, and joy in our home tonight!  :o)

Doesn't that sound ideal?  Don't you wish every day could be so simple, fun, exhilirating? Maybe some of you do, maybe some of you don't.  For me,....it's what I call, "a dream come true".  :o)

I love being a mother to so many children.  People ask me all of the time, "how do you do it"?  I want to assure you, I do it the same way you do.  I just show up every single day.  On the fun days, and the 'not so fun days'.  The catch for me is, I know that wherever I fall short, Jesus Christ loves my children even more than I do, so everything will be okay.  Do you have faith in Jesus Christ?

Let me assure you, if you're a mom, you've got faith in something or someone.  I know because you trusted someone at some point, or you wouldn't have children.  Even if you don't have faith in yourself, in your abilities,...you've got faith. 

I pray that your faith is in Jesus Christ, but even if it isn't, be assured, you are welcome here without judgement.  :o)

I hope you have a great day and just know,....I've got faith in you!  You can do this!  :o)  So, as my girlfriend would say to me, "put on your big girl panties" and get movin'!

Make the most of this day!  :o)

Until the next time,
Elena

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog! 

The purpose of this blog is to share bits and pieces of life as a mother of eight that hopefully, will bring you smiles, encouragement, thought-provoking subject matter, and/or the simple notion, that you, are NOT alone.

I appreciate your honest, respectful, and encouraging words as we journey through life together through this blog.

In Him,
Elena