This morning the weather was mild and beautiful and it gave me energy so I took Seth and went Christmas shopping, leaving Jacob to babysit Caleb for me.
We went to Toys R Us first and my heart sank as I walked across the parking lot to the store; I had forgotten to put my wallet in my purse (I had switched to a bigger one for the day)……I was almost positive that I had left it at home. I went back to the vehicle to check, and there it was, in the glove compartment! I was so relieved and thanked God for that blessing several times today! I have no remembrance of putting my wallet in there (sad, I know, but my mind can only hold just *so much* information).
Anyway, four happy hours later spent with the cutest baby in the world, all my shopping is done except for some online things I need to order.
Now, who’s gonna wrap all this stuff?
There are beautiful gifts in this bag for JOANNA and my MOM (I just have to tease a little)………….
Merry Christmas!
And I have several full bags like this (I have to tease the children, too)…….
ooooo, I just can’t wait to see them open their new things!
Something randomly funny;
I had to get something off the porch earlier and I couldn’t get the door shut so I went back to shut it a minute later and found my flock of chickens coming RIGHT INTO THE HOUSE!
They are spoiled and are looking for treats.
I know how sadly materialistic our society is, but Rich and I absolutely love to celebrate Christmas with the children with gifts, a tree, decorations, and such. All those plans and activities, we believe, make our family love stronger each year. However, we also carefully take the time to teach them what the holiday is really all about, in fact, I read the children Luke 2 just this morning. I want them to have a respectful idea and a holy wonder about Christmas. Everything we do to celebrate is because the most important person EVER was born on that day….Jesus Christ, God with us, our wonderful Savior, King, and Lord.
He is The Reason for the season. I want to be sure to have a thankful and aware heart this month and always. I want to be excited, like the shepherds were, about Jesus’ birth. After hearing the angel’s great news, they RAN to go see the babe in the manger! I just love that.
Blessings to you on this day, my dear friends!
Good to be Home 
Glad you found your wallet in the car! Looks like a very productive shopping spree. It’s soooo nice to be done shopping early isn’t it? 🙂
I’m almost done with the shopping too! Just a few very *little* things to pick up :o)
Have you heard of the books, “Jotham’s Journey” and “Bartholomew’s Passage”? They are family stories for the Advent. You read a chapter each day along with a little devotional reading. Each chapter leaves you hanging at a real suspenseful part. Jotham and Bartholomew both in up in the Christmas Story at the end of the books. Your children would LOVE them.
Love that Christmas color header!! My shopping is done too and everything is wrapped — I have too much to do before Christmas this year with my parents not at their home, taking care of their mail, laundry, etc. and the fact that we are flying to the far northwest to see Ruby and her Mommy and Daddy on Christmas day. We are celebrating Christmas with our two sons and their families early and want to participate in church and social activities with our Sunday School class so I thought I’d best be early this year. Isn’t it nice that one of your sons is old enough to babysit? He probably does a good job too!Blessings!
Good job with being done with the shopping laready!…..I too keep waiting for the right day to slip out and get it done.You chickens made me laugh:)
Isn’t it a great feeling to have your shopping done early! I’m actually done except for stocking stuffers. I usually wait until the last minute. You shopped at some great stores–some of my favorites!
Oh how I envy being able to out and get it all done!! In our small towns there are no big shops. The ones I love….Barnes and Nobles, Christian book stores, or Toys r Us. It’s just as well I suppose that it’s all so far away as online ordering it easier but it makes me think long and hard before I buy something. But I do sometimes miss the shopping fun of Christmas time~ Beautiful pictures and lovely gifts~~Cinnamon
How great to have most of your shopping done – you are efficient!
That IS teasing I leaned forward as if I could see more of the bag that way! What’s in it?!!!! 🙂 I have some things for you already as well!I have a little angel doll from Dawn that arrived today too, and I am so happy we both have one!Love the scrapbook blocks what a great great idea!
I struggle with wanting to get out there and get gifts, so I wish I had them all like you! Great job. I have too many things on my plate, good things, for our homeschool group and for youth group…so the gift shopping will have to wait. I am getting some done online thankfully I agree that you are making memories with your children and giving them the joy of childhood. I find that blessing of filling their hearts with wonder and sharing the joys with them really helps in your relationship with them. We had years of plenty and years of lean and it has all been good, because we have had our children’s hearts and they have believed in the Lord. You delight my heart too we like a lot of the same things.
Above all else I am thankful that He came to live and die to save me…but I am thankful too for opportunity of special family times and memories that Christmas brings.
Merry Christmas to You and your family!!! I really love your blog, thanks for lots of funny, sweet , and lovely moments.BICOS (Galician Kisses) from Spain.
@mymeanderings – I can’t take credit for the idea, but I can share where I found it! http://larkandlola.blogspot.com/2008/12/pretty-calendar-project.htmlThe blocks can be found at Hobby Lobby if there is one near you. 🙂
Chickens in the house…I love it! haha! We also love to celebrate with decorations, a tree (we even still put up a real one this year even though we’re leaving this weekend to visit my husband’s family in Costa Rica for three weeks, but the tradition of cutting down and decorating our tree is so important to me), and gifts (giving is my love language…I love to give gifts!). We also too of course emphasize that Jesus is the most important part. I so love Christmas! I’ll be away from the internet for a couple weeks while we’re gone. Have a beautiful, special Christmas! Glad you like the calendar!! xoxo
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas over here! I need all the inspiration I can get =) My oldest son set up the tree tonight, now I need to get the decorations out for it….
ohhh Anthropologie…i love that store. we don’t have them in Canada so i have to go across the border into Detroit and haven’t been able to get across yet. i have a feeling i’d go a little bit crazy (i almost drool on the website and i’m not actually even seeing the real items). what a blessing that the Lord saw fit to give you the thought to look in your glove compartment and provided what you needed. and also way to go on the succesfful trip. what beautiful gifts from your friends. you are a blessed lady 🙂
Wow you did good shopping!! I love how the chickens were coming into your house!
Chickens in the kitchen, huh? I had chickens inside mine once, when my daughter brought leftover chicks home from a school science project!Jesse and I are finishing up a few shopping things tomorrow and then will do the rest online (if it isn’t found in the stores). I’m with you on the “wrapping part” – I intend to do a little each day.I’m also enjoying Christmas magazines and reading stories to my children and savoring each day!Dontcha just love this time of year?!
I love the calendar blocks and the little clothespin doll! What creative friends you have! Interesting about your wallet. I do think there are times, (and I know some people would roll their eyes at this, but I don’t care!) when angels minister to us. Here in Denmark, all the cars have a meter you have to set yourself which allows you one hour of parking. If you forget to set your meter, you can be fined 500 kroner! Not having grown up with this system, there are times when I forget. I can’t tell you how amazing it is to see the parking meter police, get that sinking feeling, and then run to my car and find that the meter HAS somehow, been set to the correct time! WHEW! God is so good to me! We have lived here nine years without getting a fine. That is a MIRACLE! LOL! I know it must feel great to have the shopping for the holidays done. Blessings to you and your friendly chickens!
love the calendar blocks…very creative…gotta tease the children…my parents used to send us downstairs into the tv room, so they could bring the bags into the house…
what beautiful gifts!!! Have fun wrapping the childrens gifts! 😉
Chickens in the house ~ how funny! Thanks for taking a pic before shooing them out!