12.23.2012

CHRISTmas Calverette Style

December 23, 2012

This is how we do CHRISTmas y'all!








Wishing you and yours a Merry CHRISTmas and Blessed New Year.

"For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

12.18.2012

Sucker!

December 18, 2012

Friends, the crafting bug has infected almost everyone at our house.
We have been busy all season making CHRISTmas decorations.
I think we have just enough time to whip up one or two more gems.

The kids and I slapped these together the other day.
They were super easy and very quick to make.
The kids LOVE them!


"Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago)," Luke 1:68-70

12.17.2012

The Land of Misfits

December 17, 2012

Sometimes, as a mother, I sit back and second guess some of the decisions I've made.
Some are little ones, that won't have a lasting impact.

For example, when Aubree fell sick this week I thought it was a cold.
I wanted it to be a cold so bad!
I delayed bringing her to the doctor.
If I got the flu diagnosis then I would have to cancel her birthday party.
Yeah. Well, she probably suffered more than she would have had to
because I waited too long for her to be able to get Tamiflu.

Other things have the potential to be life affecting.
Those are the things that I beat myself up over.
Even when they are things that I've prayed about and have moved forward in obedience to God.
I ache. I pray more. I lament.

But, you know, I have to realize that if I have the faith I say I have,
If I truly believe with my whole heart,
Then I have to accept that this is all in God's plan.
Every difficult journey my kids walk through is ordered by God.

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way." Psalm 37:23

Even though I want to step in and fix what I perceive to be wrong,
I need to sit back and pray for God's will and peace to prevail.
It's just that when things look different in our lives than they do in the world,
I automatically have a tendency to think that things are going to turn out badly,
Or that I've somehow failed as a parent.
That, perhaps, my decisions, even though they were prayerfully made, are wrong.
And in the eyes of the world, they may be.
But, I don't serve this world.
I answer to God, the Creator of the world.

"'For I know the plans I have for you, ' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" Jeremiah 29:11

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

So, let's encourage each other, fellow Christian parents.
We've got some of the most difficult jobs out there.
And let's face it, in all honestly, there is an army attacking us everywhere we turn,
Telling us that we are failing, that we're getting it wrong.
Teasing us with fears that we are hurting our children
if we don't do this, or let them do that.
There are images of what it's supposed to look like
every time we turn on the TV or log on to Facebook.
Heck, last night I was in the parking lot of Target
where a meth lab exploded in someone's car.
At TARGET! Fire trucks, police, and the HazMat team!

I don't know about you, but I've got one goal-
HEAVEN!
For me and my family.
I'm not going to let a lost world tell me how to get there for the sake of fitting in.

"Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." Philippians 3:17-21



12.12.2012

Heirlooms

December 12, 2012

CHRISTmas is fast approaching.
I'm sure you're all well aware-
 especially if you've tried to get any shopping done lately.
I love so many things about this time of year.
I love when it gets cold enough to wear a jacket.
I love seeing all the houses lit up with lights and festive displays.
I love parties and food.
And smiling, smiling's my favorite.  
{Sorry, I couldn't help it. Too many CHRISTmas movies, I guess.}

I hope that my kids are developing their own love for CHRISTmas.
I know that tradition has already become very important to them.
My {extended} family has changed a couple of things
 in the way we celebrate 
and my kids are outside this very minute 
staging a full blown protest, 
complete with signs and all! 
The po-po are out there trying to keep the peace. 
{Okay. Sorry, again. I don't know what's gotten into me today.}

I remember when I was a little girl.
Momma would put out her decorations
and put up a tree.
My sister and I always got to throw on the icicles.
Daddy let us go wild and crazy- the more the better.
Momma always preferred for us to do it neatly and organized.
Placing each one with purpose and intent.
Guess who won?

There was also this little house that she had.
It was probably made of Styrofoam.
It was decorated to look like winter time, complete with snow.
Santa was attached to a wire that shot out of the chimney 
that was intended to be invisible, I'm sure,
but back in the 70's we had to use our imagination a lot!
Anyway, when you pulled the string on the back
Music played and Santa flew around the house driving his sleigh.

I wish I had that house.
For some reason, that little house is attached to many of my 
CHRISTmas memories as a little girl.
And that got me thinking.
I want my kids to have an heirloom from CHRISTmas at home.
I wanted it to be simple.
Oh, and it must be musical.
I want them to remember their childhood CHRISTmases fondly
and I want them to have a physical reminder that they can pass on 
from one generation to the next, 
along with stories and memories of us!

Do you have any traditions or heirlooms?

"But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship." Galatians 4:4-5

12.09.2012

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like CHRISTmas

December 9, 2012

Are you counting down to CHRISTmas? 
Only 15 more days! 
Are you busy in preparations like so many others are right now? 
Or, are you one of the really organized bunch that's got the shopping complete and presents all wrapped?

I'm somewhere in the middle. 
We've been getting into the spirit. 
Enjoying our time. 
Watching CHRISTmas movies and making crafts. 
Planning outfits and parties. 
I love throwing parties. 
One day, I'll be able to throw parties 
and not have to worry about a budget. 
But not today. 
Oh well, it's just more exciting to make it AWESOME 
and not break the bank. 

I hope to pass on some of my enthusiasm to my kids one day. 
I'm already seeing signs that my genes are beginning to surface. 
{Yay!} 
They love to make crafts. 
And I couldn't be happier. 
My house is full of snowflakes and hand print reindeer. 

Speaking of crafting...
 {see what I did there? Genius.} 
I wanted to share with you another little project 
(courtesy of Pinterest) 
that I've had my heart set on for a while. 
I am too excited that Karli was more than eager to help me out. 
We used the same template as I did for my pillow. 
She made a total of three of these- 
one in pink, one in red, and another in gold. 
The pink one will find a permanent home in my new bedroom 
(once it's completed, hopefully VERY soon.)


I'd love to hear how you're celebrating the CHRISTmas season this year! 
Are you busy attending parties and events? 
Crafting? 
Baking? 
Shopping? 
What's your favorite part?


"So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them." Luke 2:4-7

12.04.2012

Oh, Deer!

December 4, 2012

Today was LIBRARY day! We have not had one of those in so long I cannot remember.
It happened that Aubree and Brant both had lessons that required books from the library, so I thought it would be a nice {FREE} outing for us all.

Aubree usually does not go with us to the library. When I told her about our plans this morning, she informed me that she "cannot be quiet except when she is sleeping" and she reminded me that even then she "talks in her sleep". Hence the reason that Aubree usually does not go with us to the library.

She did manage to be quiet- for the most part. The biggest issue we had was that she wanted to take books off the shelves {without help} and just put them back all willy-nilly. That's every librarian's nightmare, isn't it? Oh well, I managed to keep her occupied for a little while with the computer there.

I really did not intend on checking out any books. It was supposed to be an afternoon spent at the library reading. But, 9 movies and several books found their way to my house. Cut me some slack though, 3 of the movies are Sight Word movies. This morning Aubree asked me to "please teach {her} to read" so I thought this would be a great first step.

After the library, we grabbed a quick bite to eat and then we headed to the store to pick up crafting supplies.  I had every intention on making the most of our day off from school by giving my kids an incognito home economics lesson.

Once we got home though, my plans were quickly foiled by those movies that came home with us. You win some, you lose some.

I did, however, whip out my sewing machine and fabric scraps and whipped up a little project that I've had my heart set on for several weeks now.


It's certainly not perfect. But, I am happy with it. When you wing it, you kind of learn as you go by trial and error. IF I make another one, I will not put the deer's neck so far into the seam and I would make sure he's more off center than he is on this one. I really would like to make one for my new bedroom with a gray background and the deer out of some really pretty, girly, vintage, flowery, pink fabric.

I would like to teach Karli some basic sewing skills by having her make herself a pillow for her room with her initial instead of the deer head. Who knows, maybe I'll let the boys each do the same as well.

We've got a few more craft projects waiting in the wings. Stay tuned and I'll be sure to post pics as soon as they're complete!

Have you made any crafts this holiday season?
 I'd love to hear about them! 
Won't you share by leaving a comment with all the details?


"She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple." Proverbs 31:17-22

12.03.2012

The Heart of the Matter

December 3, 2012

Ever find yourself the victim of a misunderstanding?
Have your intentions ever been interpreted incorrectly?
Have you wept because someone else was hurt or disappointed by something you did or said?
Have you been falsely accused of ill behavior?

We've all been there.
There's something that sounds so good in our heads, but something happens on the trip out of our mouths and we regurgitate a pile of nonsense all over the place.
Or someone doesn't appreciate our comedic genius.
We find ourselves standing toe to toe with someone that we don't see eye to eye with.
People assume to know what we're thinking or why we're doing certain things.

What do you do?
Do you beat yourself up?
Do you lash out in defense?
Do you shut down?

Depending on the circumstance, our response is going to differ.
Sometimes, a relationship is worth an explanation & an apology.
It's worth pursuing and mending.
Sometimes, you just have to take one for the team.
Sometimes you've got to grab hold of it with both hands not to lose it.
And other times it's best to just walk away.

As women, we can tend to let our hearts take over.
Okay. I'm talking about myself here.
Occasionally, I let my emotions get the better of me
And I find myself in a messy situation.
But, if we are to live out a life that God intends for us, we would be more like the woman in Proverbs 31:26.
"She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue."
That woman uses her head! She's not lead by her feelings.


That's not always easy.
But it should be a conscious decision we make.
"Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God." James 1:19-20




"The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them." Proverbs 11:3

"For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness," 2Peter 1:5-6

12.01.2012

Battles

December 1, 2012

I look around me and I see so many people in a battle.
Some are struggling through divorce.
Others are in financial chains.
Many are in a fight for their very lives.
The fact is, at some time or another, 
we will all go through difficult seasons.

A few years ago,
 I was having a conversation with "a friend
who was being beaten up,
 it seemed,
 every where she turned.
As soon as she thought it could not get any worse, 
Life sucker punched her in the throat, again!
She cried out to me, saying, 
"I know God won't give me more than I can handle
but I don't know how much more I can take."
I have heard so many people say that in my lifetime.
At some point, I may have said it, too.
Even believed it maybe.
But, my perspective is different today.


I'm not sure that God won't give us more than we can handle.
I think that He will allow things to go so far until we have 
no other choice but to rely upon Him.
For everything.
To turn our whole lives over to Him in complete surrender.
And then, He will rescue us.


So, if you find yourself in one of life's battles, 
And it feels as though you cannot hang on much longer- don't.
Fall into the arms of Jesus!



"In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith- more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire- may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." 1Peter 1:6-7 

"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." Romans 5:3-5

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

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James 1:2-4

"Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved." Psalm 55:22