Dog tired

Do the holidays wear you out?

I love Christmas, but it's an exhausting combination of long to-do lists, hectic schedules, late nights, traveling and interrupted sleep. And when it is all over, you have lots of laundry to do, new toys to cram into the toys boxes, and loads of Christmas decorations to take down. And getting out of bed is so hard when it is colder & darker than ever.

The girls have both been taking looooong naps each afternoon and sleeping fitfully at night. And boy are they CRABBY! We're just now getting back into the routine and catching up on sleep.

Hubby went back to work this morning, and I know it was rough. He has meetings practically all day, and his Upward league starts practicing tonight.

And then there are the dogs...

well...




Yep. We're all a little worn out around here.


*Note: I went back and made this photo black and white because I think it is a little less disturbing that way. You know, just in case you saw it earlier & were wondering...

Song for Sunday: Hope, Coffee & Melody

New Day
by Robbie Seay Band

I'm gonna sing this song
To let you know that you're not alone
And if you're like me
You need hope, coffee, and melody
So sit back down
Let the world keep spinning ‘round
For yesterday's gone and today is waiting on you to show your face

It might not be
The prettiest thing that you'll ever see
But it’s a new day, oh baby, it’s a new day
And it might not look like
A beautiful sunrise
But it's a new day, oh baby, it’s a new day

I’m a pilgrim soul
I've traveled far and come back home
This land is hard and cold
For those who long to love
And I know it might seem
That the world is crumbling
But it’s me and you dancing in the kitchen at 2 am
And we're still alive

It’s the calm of the storm that comes blowing in
It’s the springtime saying I'm back again
The clouds that roll by
Crossing moonlight
Me and you love – everything's alright
Standing in the rain with nowhere to go
Laughing and we're spinning and I hope that you
Remember this day
For the rest of your life
Me and you love – everything’s gonna be alright

And it just might be
The prettiest thing that you'll ever see
It’s a new day
Oh baby, it’s a new day
If you look outside
To see a beautiful sunrise
It’s a new day

"Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22 & 23) Here's to fresh starts. Happy New Year!

Robbie Seay Band - New Day Lyrics @ LyricsTime.com

Getting back to blogging...

I've had so many blog topics running through my head lately. Unfortunately, they didn't get far because it was WAY to crowded in there.

SO, I think I'll try to get back into the swing of things- getting those ideas into posts. NOT as a New Year's resolution- that would be the kiss of death as I never keep those things. But just as a late Christmas gift to myself. This crazy old blog is really for me, anyway- to keep my jumbled thoughts straight and keep a record of these wonderfully wild days of young kids and big ideas. If you find it amusing or enlightening, well, that's just an added bonus!

Many of the things I wanted to write about had to do with Christmas, so I'm going to be backdating a bit. Basically anything between the 19th and this post has been added after the fact. You know, just for the sake of full disclosure. Yes, to myself, for a time in a few months when I've forgotten that I did this.

I'm also trying to catch up on my blog reading. Anybody have any new blogs to share for the new year?

Song for Sunday: Heaven's Love Reaching Down

A letter from Santa

In case you missed it in yesterday's photos, Big Sister got her "Barbie I Can Be Pet Vet" from Santa. But there was a catch...

The last few days before Christmas, she started having a really hard time behaving. And reminders about Santa (and our Elf on the shelf, Buddy) were not effective in helping her turn that behavior around. She didn't seem to care that Santa hadn't yet delivered her gifts; as far as she was concerned, they were already in the bag.

After a big temper tantrum right before bed on Christmas Eve, we decided we had to do something. I struggled for a long time with what it would be, then finally I had an idea. I talked to Santa, and (along with gifts) he left this letter:

Dear [Big Sister],

I have heard very wonderful things about you from your Elf friend, Buddy. He says you are a kind and loving Big Sister and a very sweet little girl. I’ve been watching and have seen this to be true. I’ve also seen how well you listen and help at school. You are a very good friend.

Buddy and I, along with your Mom and Dad, have also seen a few not very wonderful things. You have had some trouble listening to your parents, and sometimes you even hurt them or other people in your family. We all know that you are too sweet to act like this, and we are counting on you to control your behavior.

I only deliver toys once a year, and I did not want you to miss out on the toy you really wanted this year, the Barbie Pet Vet. But you have not been working hard to earn it the last few days. You have to keep trying to be a kind and loving person, not just at Christmas but all year long. I am counting on you to work hard to try to earn a Barbie Pet Vet toy.

If you go and look behind your daddy’s chair, you will see a surprise. It isn’t yours to keep, not yet. I understand that you sometimes use charts to help your behavior, so I am leaving you a special one from my workshop. When it is filled in all the way, the Barbie Pet Vet will be yours to keep. If you chose not to try to earn it, you can take it to share with another child.

I am trusting your Mom & Dad to know when you can mark your chart, and also to know if it is time to take the Barbie Pet Vet to someone else. But I know you are a good girl, so I don’t think that will have to happen.

Thank you for the cookies and the celery for Rudolph. I know you had to hurry to bed, but your mom put them out because she knew you wanted to share them with us. You are always very thoughtful. It is one of the many things people love about you.

Enjoy your gifts and work hard to keep the special one. But don’t forget that Christmas is about much more than gifts! God gave us the most important gift when He sent Jesus. I just give people gifts hoping they’ll remember about God’s Christmas gift to the whole world- Baby Jesus.

Ho Ho Ho! Merry Christmas!
Love, Santa


When Big Sister came downstairs on Christmas morning, she looked everywhere for the one toy she had been expecting. We had to remind her that Christmas was not just about gifts and that we were going to be very thankful for what we received, no matter what it was. We only had to tell her once. She opened up her other gifts with real excitement and gratitude, even though I am sure she was terribly disappointed.

Then came time to read the letter.

She was SO excited. And she has been trying to work hard to be deserving of the gift.

We ALL received gifts on Christmas. And we've all been given the most important Gift of Christmas, too. Seeing Big Sis makes me wonder- do I work hard to live up to the Gift I could never really deserve?

Merry Christmas!

Have a day filled with family and friends as you celebrate the birth of the King!

Creator created

This is the last of the prayer experience stations I'll post. At this station, we made a Christmas tree ornament. I suppose the contemplation could take place during any creative process- perhaps even assembling Christmas gifts ( of which I am doing a lot this Christmas Eve.)

Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human.
It was an incredibly humbling process.
Philippians 2: 4-8 (The Message)

At this station, you'll find a pattern and pieces to make an ornament for your Christmas tree. As you use your hands to create something, think about Christ, through Whom the Bible says all things were made. (John 1).

Consider that the Mighty Creator of all things became one of His created.

Even more amazingly, think of the Most High taking the form of a tiny, pink & wrinkly, helpless newborn baby. Our Maker needed someone to change His diapers. The One who created the entire world needed someone to carry Him from place to place.

The God who holds us in the palm of His hand needed someone to hold him carefully and support His head.

As you, created in His image, create in His image, thank Him for what it means that Christ joined creation to change the world.