Christmas Gifts for 2008

So, I got this great digital camera from my husband for Christmas. I. Love. It. It takes really good pictures. I keep it in my purse all the time. Did I mention that I love it? This is probably the first picture I took with it. Michael and Jamie are reading a book that my mother and father-in-law bought Michael. If you have boys you must get this book!! It's called 'The Dangerous Book for Boys'.

Not sure if you all remember or know of our Christmas gift giving tradition for our family. Here's a little recap. We give gifts to each other that fit into three categories. God Provides - He takes care of even our simplest needs. Growth - God desires a growing relationship with us. Good Gifts - God blesses us even when we don't deserve it or expect it. We don't necessarily limit the amount of gits to 3, but we do buy for each other in those categories.

Michael got socks for 'God Provides'. Pretty sure he's gotten socks every year! Maggie was actually tougher to buy in this category. I got her a comb and a brush. Jamie bought me long johns. I bought Jamie a lunch box. I know, it was a stetch for that category. But, I figured God provides food for us daily and one of my goals this year is to try to make him lunch more regularly.

We bought Michael some Christian comic books for his 'Growth'. Maggie got the Playmobile Nativity Set. I bought Jamie a music CD. And Jamie got me a subscription to a magazine called Just Between Us.

We were pretty conservative with the 'Good Gifts' category. Michael got a Star Wars ship and a baseball hat (pictured above). Maggie got a little Polly Pocket set. I bought Jamie a tool belt and season one of "How I Met Your Mother". Oh, and I got my camera. YeeeHaaa!! The kids also got various great gifts in their stockings. Toothbrushes, tooth paste, snow globe, key chain, ... Oh, and tons and tons of wonderful things from grandparents and aunts and uncles!

Back to School

Michael had his first day back at school yesterday. It seemed to go pretty swell :) I didn't get much info out of him. Typical. I'm hoping to be a bit more energetic tonight at bed time and see if I can get him talking.

Great news... I'm losing weight! 1 lb. a week... nothing too crazy. But, after awhile it will add up to a great amount!

I've been involved in a Christian program called First Place 4 Health. It focuses on the four sides of a person. Your spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical health. I've been in it almost 2 years. I think the most weight I lost was 5 lbs. And that was about a year ago.

So, what am I doing different now that I wasn't before?* Praying. Early in the morning. Yup, I'm getting up before the rest of the family and I'm doing my Bible Study lesson for the day, reading my Bible, writing in a prayer journal, and praying.

Having a 'quiet time' in the morning just never seemed to work for me before. I never liked getting up earlier than I needed to. Our children always served as my alarm clock. I think with Michael starting school it has changed my season of life a bit. And I am loving it! I'm not even tired when I'm doing it. I feel awake and refreshed and excited to spend time with my Lord.

If you don't do a 'quiet time' in the morning, I would greatly encourage you to do it. Make that the first thing you do and I know God will bless your efforts!

*I have made some other significant changes to my lifestyle as well. I don't drink any pop and I exercise about 5 times a week for about 30 each time. It's been a long process for me. I think I finally get it!

A First for Everything

Tomorrow Michael goes to camp for the first time. It's about an hour away. Two nights and three days. With kids his age. No one that we know, yet. We do know the dean. That's comforting to me :)

I'm excited for him. But worried too! All the normal mom stuff. Will he take a shower? Will he remember to brush his teeth and change his underwear? Will he make friends? Will he have fun? Will he fall in the lake and drown?

I know he'll have fun. I've been blessed with one of those rare kids who loves trying new things. He'll go into a room of strangers and not think anything different. He's not scared to ask for help. He's not scared to talk to adults. He's pretty out spoken and out going. I keep comparing it to Vacation Bible School. With sleeping added in.

I'm also excited for him to go because I think I'm going to surprise him by re-doing his bedroom. See, his room is another room of our house that just hasn't ever been finished. His walls are half painted waiting for a chair rail to go up. Well, I've changed my mind about the chair rail and I'm just going to paint the walls cream.

I found an awesome metal framed head and footboard bed painted red at a garage sale a few weeks ago. I paid $5 for it. I was going to repaint it, but I think I'll keep it. Apparently Michael loves red. Awhile back I bought him a comforter set that has stars and planets on it. I'm going to shoot for a Star Wars theme... on the cheap side. With just a few red accents like the bed and drawer pulls.

I'm hoping to pick up a cheap Star Wars poster and frame that for him. And maybe buy some cheap light sabors to hang on his wall. Other than that, that's all I'm doing. The painting will be the only labor that I'll have to do. Oh, and all the moving of furniture that goes along with that.

So, even though the living room isn't completely done being decorated I'm moving on to the next room. But, I promise I'll finish the living room!

Christmas Day

Last Christmas we started a new thing with our gift giving to the children. We decided to give gifts according to three categories that reflect characteristics of God. God provides for our needs, God delights in us, and God desires to have a personal relationship with us and for us to grow closer to Him.

Michael:
God provides - he got a new pair of gloves. Waterproof ones. Let me tell you, he was really really excited!
God delights - these were the 'fun' gifts. A lego set and the game Sorry!
Growth - the book titled "I'd be your Hero" by Kathryn O'Brien. Great book about godly character.

Maggie:
God provides - socks... again. I think she got some last year too.
God delights - ok, this was the big one this year. She got an entire kitchen set. My Aunt gave it to us to give to her. It's all made out of wood. Painted pink! There's a stove, sink, fridge, and hutch. 4 pieces! Plus, loads of food and dishes. So much fun!
Growth - we gave her the girl version of Michael's book called "I'd be your Princess". Love it!

That's all we got the kids. Oh, they did get a few things in their stockings. Books, snacks, hair pretties.

I like the gift giving plan. I think we'll stick to it!