Thanksgiving. Day 12.

Today I am thankful for

Music

Music gets down into the soul of a person
and reaches places nothing else can.

Worship

Christmas

Rock

Blues

Jazz

just about any type of music – except country
{but even then there are a few songs & artists I like}

Music relaxes me, always has.

My favorite radio station is Air1 Radio. This is the one my car is tuned to nearly 99% of the time. The 1% being the times I am listening to Christmas CD’s.

Growing up, I was fortunate enough to participate in the

Grandest Band in ALL the Land
The Incomparable
Pride of Broken Arrow

Today I can look back at the shows we performed and see how far they’ve come and am so honored to have been a part of such a legacy. It was hard work getting there but it was well worth every bit.

 

 

Thanksgiving. Day 10.

Today,

I am thankful for

Scentsy

and my

Scentsy network

I’ve only recently joined with the company but the people I have met in the last three weeks are some of the most amazing, genuine, all around good people. They truly care whether I succeed or fail, and their passion for running their own business is incredibly contagious!

On that note,

{insert shameless plug here}

Scentsy Buddies are currently BOGO

{all except Wellington the Duck}

 

Foam’s are also currently BOGO

 

A Thankful Heart | Day 3.

Today has been kind of a rough day. No reason really. Truthfully, everything has been fantastic and flowed the way it should. There just seems to be a deepening sense of being overwhelmed. The closer I get to next semester, which is 6 credit hours more than I’m currently taking, the more stressed I become. Needless to say, it’s been difficult to find what I’m thankful for today but it finally hit me.

I’m thankful for provision.

Everything the boys and I need has been and will be provided for us because we are children of God and that is one of His promises to us. Provision has already been proven in our lives. We have a roof over our heads, warm beds to sleep in, food to eat, and the privilege/ability of going to school. We have running water, central heat/air, vehicles, etc.

We have so much it’s ridiculous at times, most of the time actually. So many things we take for granted are things that others in the world can only dream of.

Most of you know by now that we’ve decided to do Christmas a little different than normal this year. No flashy toys or electronics. There are enough of those. If anything there will be a plethora of books and board games but that’s it. This year we will be adopting two (or more) children from the Angel Tree at their school. This tree is comprised of students whose families cannot provide for them.

I want the boys to know that there are only a few things God requires of us; that we give Him ALL of us, that we show love to those around us, and that go into all the world to share Him with everyone. That world begins at home and in our community.

God has provided for us so that in turn

we can be a blessing to others.

Christmas.

CHRISTMAS IS A FEELING
by Natalie Sleeth

Christmas is a feeling filling the air

It’s love and joy and laughter of people everywhere

Christmas is a feeling bringing good cheer

It reaches out to touch you as the holiday draws near

It’s mistletoe and falling snow

And candles burning bright

It’s a baby in a manger on a cold winters night

It’s glad noels and chiming bells

And presents by the tree

It’s the spirit of giving in you and in me

For Christmas is a feeling filling the air

It’s love and joy and laughter of people everywhere

But if Christmas is a feeling bringing such good cheer

Then why oh why don’t you and I

Try to make it last all year

Why can’t it last all year?

And so it begins.

Today is December 1st, the beginning of a lot of things;

Advent. The period beginning four Sundays before Christmas and observed by some Christians as a season of prayer and fasting (technically this started 11/28 but who’s being technical at the moment!)

The Christmas Season. Christmas or Christmas Day is a holiday observed generally on December 25 to commemorate the birth of Jesus, the central figure of Christianity. The date is not known to be the actual birthday of Jesus, and may have initially been chosen to correspond with either the day exactly nine months after some early Christians believed Jesus had been conceived, the date of the winter solstice on the ancient Roman calendar, or one of various ancient winter festivals, Christmas is central to the Christmas and holiday season, and in Christianity marks the beginning of the larger season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days.

December. The twelfth and last month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days.

December’s flower is the narcissus or holly. December’s birthstones are turquoise, lapis lazuli, zircon, topaz (blue), or tanzanite.

In Latin, decem means “ten”. December was also the tenth month in the Roman Calendar until a monthless winter period was divided between January and February.

December is the month with the shortest daylight hours of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and the longest daylight hours of the year in the Southern Hemisphere. December in the Northern Hemisphere is the seasonal equivalent to June in the Southern Hemisphere and vice versa. In the Northern hemisphere, the beginning of the meteorological winter is 1 December. In the Southern hemisphere, the beginning of the meteorological summer is 1 December.

December starts on the same day of the week as September every year. December ends on the same day of the week as April every year.

ABC Family’s 25 Days of Christmas Movies

(of which not all movies are actually Christmas-y).

And, the beginning of a new blog series for me.

I turn 30 this year (in less than 14 days!!) and I’m so very excited about it! I get that for most of my friends 30 is the beginning of getting old. Some of them (no names mentioned!!) have even discussed having cosmetic retouching done! We’re only 30!

Thirty is a big deal to me. Why? I honestly can’t answer that. There’s so many reasons and none all at the same time. I know that probably makes no sense but that’s just how it is.

In light of my 30th birthday, I’ve been polling my friends to see how they celebrated (or want to celebrate) their milestone birthday. I’ve been given some pretty interesting answers and plan on turning each different answer into a blog for the month of December. So, that means that you’ll get to read MANY new blog posts this month! (I know. I know. You can’t contain your excitement!)

Plan to come back often and catch up with the different party ideas!