Christmas and then Happy New Year!!!

 

Christmas was great! We were really busy ALL of December. Actually we started working on our Christmas play every Sunday beginning in September. This was hard because Sunday is our family day. It’s a do nothing (except go to church, awana and choir practice) day. We were still together as a family but boy I really look forward to resting on Sundays and I know my husband does because he works long hours 6 days a week.

   One of our angels didn't make it for the nativity...all her practicing and she fell asleep before her cue

So after the Sunday before Christmas we were out of school, the Christmas play and cantata were done, and we (the kids and I) were free to do nothing but wrap gifts and cook for Christmas. My favorite things to do during Christmas are: go shopping with just my hubby, go shopping with hubby and all the kids to let them buy for their sibling (they draw names), and fix a “thank you gift” for our donors who live close enough for a visit.

This year our “thank you” was a pound of sausage. We all worked as a family to complete the task and then Mark and some of the kids delivered. Normally I would deliver also but I was working on another project for a nearby neighbor whose wife died this year. I made him a rocky mountain fruit cake. The recipe was 100 years old and can I say this…I have no idea how it lasted that long. It was hard to make and, in my opinion, not so tasty,   But it was fun doing it simply because I was doing it for him.

Although 2011 was a good year for our family (not because we experienced any extra special event such as a birth, wedding, or winning the lottery ) I was excited to see 2012 come around. I just love a new year. It’s like a fresh start. It’s strange isn’t it. I mean, after all, the Word say’s His mercies are new everyday so I really don’t need January 1st for a new start.                                                           

New Year's Eve party at our house

At any rate, I was happy for a new year and I made a new years resolution.  Who cares if you don’t keep it…just make ‘em and break ‘em, right? No, this year I really don’t want to break my resolution. Actually, it isn’t really a resolution. This year I asked the kids to pray about a weakness or stronghold in their lives and to let me know, sometime during the first week of January, what they chose. I already had mine picked out and was very excited when they shared theirs with me.

We have agreed, as a family, to pray for one another in these particular areas. So far, day 6, we’re doing good!! I haven’t yelled at the kids once this week, lol! I hope I can make it until December 31! I figure if I can make it until then, the Lord will have truly broken it for me. I really do struggle at times. I’m seriously considering tape for my mouth on those ‘tough’ days. I know they’re coming!! Y’all pray for me