Mixed Nuts: Advent Day Nineteen

Quotes

"There is no better way to thank God for your sight than by giving a helping hand to someone in the dark." - Helen Keller
When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me." ~Erma Bombeck
You may never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice.- Unknown
Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow' ~Helen Keller
Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.
Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."- Dr. Seuss
"Life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you react to it."
"God doesn't give children with disabilities to strong people: He gives them to ordinary, everyday people, then He helps the parents to grow stronger through the journey. Raising a child with special needs doesn't TAKE a special family, it MAKES a special family."Author Unknown
I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go – Abraham Lincoln
Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. ~ Benjamin Franklin
There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is a miracle - Albert Einstein
The journey of a 1000 miles starts with a single step
Sometimes in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives you a fairy tale
Where there is great love, there are always miracles - Willa Cather
The Difficult we can do immediately, the impossible takes a little longer
Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness
There are two lasting bequests we can give our children. One is roots. The other is wings.
Be the change you want to see in the world
Don't tell God how big the storm is, tell the storm how big Your God is..........
Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it
Fall down seven times - get up eight - unknown
Despite our differences, we sink or swim together
Life may not be the party we expected, but while we are here, we might as well dance
"The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones." -Confucius

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Advent Day Nineteen

Today's ornament is the Town of Bethlehem

This ornament is hand carved. I didn't get it from Etsy, though. It was from a shop online, but I can't recall it's name. I thought it was really pretty - I loved the wood carved ornaments.

Doesn't Arlington look thrilled in this picture? She had just dropped the ornament on the floor and was not happy. It didn't break - it was fine. But she has butter fingers.

"I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

Today was another busy day. Let's just say that all of December is busy and leave it at that. I volunteered in the health office today, which was a lot of fun. I do miss the kids - to an extent. I don't miss the fakers. But I miss the cuties.

Scooby had a vet appointment and got two shots and a very unpleasant procedure I will not talk about on the blog. Let's just say he might have been violated. He spent the rest of the day being mad at me.

Cainan had T-ball practice today. He did pretty well. I watched him throw the ball using a great technique and hitting the ball off the tee. He seems to enjoy it, and - of course - has made a little friend in the class. Cainan has to be the friendliest kid on the planet. Next to Arlington. Neither of those kids are choosy about their friends.

After T-ball we had 20 minutes to swallow dinner before leaving for Finley's piano lesson. This isn't her usual night - this was a make-up lesson. We won't be back to piano until after the holiday, so I am glad we got the lesson in. Finley had a very busy day - she has a lot going on now with her Kumon learning classes and her piano practice every day, and school. But she is holding up like a champ and counted to 50 in the car on the way home for entertainment.

If your family is as messed up in the head as ours, and you have started the "Elf on the Shelf" tradition, you need to read this blog: http://peopleiwanttopunchinthethroat.blogspot.com/2011/12/over-achieving-elf-on-shelf-mommies.html It is hilarious. And apparently, we are not being creative enough with our elf. I think our elf will throw out half of our kids toys and most of Mat's t-shirt collection for starters if mischief is up his ally. We will start with that.

Just kidding.

Our elf forgot to move one morning because they elf has problems remembering to move before he goes to bed at night, so Arlington was quite tearful. I needed to have a chat with the elf to make sure that doesn't happen again. AND......I needed to put it on my calendar to remind said elf to find a new spot to sit before I got to bed each night to avoid further crying fits first thing in the morning from the small people in this house. TOO. MUCH. PRESSURE.

This elf will mess your kids up for life. Especially since Arlington tells it lately that it can't go anywhere other than the first floor of this house and no where near her room. And of course, Mat's response to this is to take a picture of her sleeping and the elf on her head. You know - to make sure she needs therapy.