Thanksgiving Recap

I know I am late in wishing this, but I hope each of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

I was just too busy enjoying my family, eating too much comfort food, being thankful, and enjoying a break from the norm to blog, or post, or whatever the correct term is.  Above is a picture of our 'thankful tree' I posted about a few weeks ago.  The kids did a great job with it!

We have some fun traditions around turkey day and I thought I'd share some of them with you.

First, let me say, that my pictures loaded in reverse order (I thought I had mastered Blogger, hah!)  I am much to stuffed and, well, lazy to try to re-load them, so lets take a look, uh, backwards:

Our tradition is to spend Thanksgiving in the mountains of NC with my side of the family.  While it was a wonderful holiday, I will say it was a little sad because my dear brother was not able to come home.  He is serving (all of us) overseas in the military.  We sure missed you, bro, if you're reading this...

One of our favorite places is called The Lump.  Funny name, I know.  No, it is not a scary mass I discovered in the shower.  It is a HUGE grassy knoll on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  We always climb it and enjoy running around on the top.  The view is fantastic.  It was veerrry cold up there this weekend, which made it even more invigorating.  Just the 7 of us on the whole mountain.  My mom kept singing, "the hills are alive, with the sound of music, ah-ah-ah-ahhhh."

Backing up, this is crazy, I should have just reloaded the pictures...

Anyhow... The day after Thanksgiving, we search for the perfect:
This year we tried a different choose-n-cut farm.  It was a cute little farm.  We wanted to give the 'small business owner' some good ol' American support; rather than one of the tree-farm giants.  

Up here in the mountains of NC, it is CHRISTMAS TREE COUNTRY.  Several of the most recent White House christmas trees have come from our county.  It is a booming industry here and Thanksgiving weekend is the busiest of the year.  

Side note:  If you are considering purchasing a fakery-bakery tree... DON'T DO IT!!!!

There is nothing like the real thing.  
Moving on, or err, back...

Another tradition we have is a long walk after our big Thanksgiving meal.  We usually walk on the cart path of the golf course.  The views are incredible, and the hills are so fun for the kids. 
And lastly, or firstly, or whatever: the kids love to tumble in the leaves.  We usually have piles and piles that blow down the mountain. 

It is times like these that I want to capture in a bottle and hide away, never to allow time to touch.
And yes, in case you were wondering, we do have 3 children.  She was there, I promise.  She must have been allergic to my camera that day.

This is the conclusion of my very confusing recap.  I am sure publishers will be knocking on my door for this masterpiece of writing/editing skill.  

I DO hope you and yours had a blessed Thanksgiving!

Sunday Rest

The mountains and hills will burst into song

before You, and all the trees of the field

will clap their hands.

Isaiah 55:12b

Tone Check

Have you ever been around someone that speaks harshly to their children?

My first encounter was in the grocery store when I was a teenager.  I could hear a mom, on the next aisle over, spewing ugliness to her 3 year old.  It physically made me sick.  It was one of those moments in life that I thought, "I will never..."

Fast forward 20 years.  It still makes me sick to hear moms speak harshly to their children.  Now before you start thinking that I've got it all together (snicker), let me be real.  There are times that I reach the end of my rope and use a tone of voice that makes even the dog cower. 

But, how are you doing on a regular basis.  Does your tone speak love or weariness?  Do your words nurture and heal, or rebuke and break?  Of course there is a time for correcting.  Some days, more than others.  But in the quietness of the evening, after I've tucked them into bed, I need to examine my heart and voice.

1. Would I speak to strangers in this tone of voice?

2. If someone recorded my voice, and played it back for me in 20 years, would I have regrets?

3. What is my tone of voice teaching my children about parenting? 

4. Does volume and a harsh tone get the results I am wanting?  Would consistency and composure be more beneficial to all?

5. Do my children think that being a mom is a special job?  One that I rejoice in?

A fool gives full vent to his anger,

but a wise man keeps 

himself under control.

Proverbs 29:11

Now for some reality from our household:

Over the weekend I told my daughter to clean out her closet.

This is what I found:

She cleaned it OUT. 

Out into her room.  

Wow.  I need to be more specific in my directions!

A couple of years ago, my girls came running downstairs screaming,  "Mom, mom, you're not going to believe what our brother just did!"  I took a deep breath, and went upstairs to find this on my bedroom wall:
  My gut reaction was frustration.  But I took a deep breath and told him that it made me very sad that he didn't take care of my wall.  We discussed that pencils are only for paper.  Fortunately, it was behind the door, and out of constant view. 

 But now, it is a masterpiece.  One day, when we need to repaint the room, I'll request that the part behind the door stays green.  It is a memory of a time that I will never get back.

Remember my girls' reaction to him coloring on the wall?  Well, we recently had another little masterpiece show up on the hall wall.  But this time the girls didn't come running.  In fact, they never said a word.  I just happened to find it on my own.  

Funny.  

This is why:

Uh-huh.  That's what you think it is.  Two perfectly practiced kiss marks that just happen to be the same height of said girls' lips.  

My hubby and I had to correct, but we sure had a good laugh about it.  

Isn't parenting fun?!

Sunday Rest

Whenever anyone turns to the Lord,

the veil is taken away.

2 Corinthians 3:16

Annoying Adage

Do you have some phrases that get under your skin?

Maybe like:

I'll be honest with you...

Really?  Like you're not usually?  So this is the only time I should believe you?  

And God showed up...

No kidding.   He's already here, and there, and everywhere; you just happened to acknowledge Him.  Finally.

Do you have 20 cent?

SSS!  It is plural.  More than one cent. 

LOL.  Blah, blah, blah, LOL.

Do you really laugh out loud that often?

Up to 70% off.

Uh huh. I've got your number.  That really means that most things are 20% off. But, if you happen to work here and find the things marked 50% off before the store opens, plus your employee discount, then ... yes, UP TO 70% off.

Same difference.

Umm... what does this mean?!  Aren't those opposites?

Reality TV.

It is so normal for me to be dropped off on an island with complete strangers.  How about you?Maybe your reality is to travel the entire world with your spouse in 4 weeks.

Fresh Fish.

Scary.  The last restaurant I visited didn't post this sign.  Hope I didn't eat old fish.

What phrase annoys you the most?

C'mon give me a good LOL.

Makin' My List

I've been making my list and checking it twice.

And it is much bigger than my budget.

So it was time to get creative.

I decided to make these fun coasters.

It is just rough bath tile. Stamped with a permanent ink called Stayzon. This will keep the design from washing away when the cups sweat.

Then add a few bumper pads to protect the table.

The possibilities are endless. A name. A monogram. A verse.

I'm thinking teachers, sunday school teachers, family, friends. Yes, the list is long, but in one afternoon, I knocked out 8 sets of 4 coasters.

Table Topping Finale

Thank you for your sweet comments yesterday. Since you're so kind, I'll share these last two tables with you. For starters, I loved the simplicity of this table.

The pears were real ... what an elegant favor, spun in a web of green organza ribbon and highlighted with a pheasant feather.

Each pear had a different conversation starter. Isn't that so ... hospitable?!

The table was total elegance with green, brown and gold. I loved the feathery grapevine wreath in the center. The roses were real, and smelled heavenly.

The next table was my own. I had so much fun putting it together, on a very tight budget. I found these leopard plates at the dollar store!!! Can you believe it?! I didn't know such fabulousness resided there.
On my quest to find all things red and chocolate, I ran across these little reindeer, at the Dollar Tree. But they were copper, not chocolate. So grabbed my trusty spraypaint can and created this:
I wanted to use some natural elements along with the sparkle and animal print, so the cranberries, cinnamon sticks and my grapevine bowl were added. I heart this bowl. It was a present from a dear friend. I had admired her XXL bowl for a long time and on her last visit, she gave it to me. What a true friend.
I have 3 of these shiny brown frames around my house. I just exchanged the pictures for Christmas verses that I printed from my computer. Another idea is to frame christmas cards.
These were my little favors (Along with some dark chocolate, wrapped in brown foil). Aren't these place holders adorable? 2 for $1 at Michaels! You know me, I'm all about cheap! I chose this verse because it is very hard to BE STILL during this time of year. Just a sweet reminder for the ladies to take home.
This is the table in full. The red 'table cloth' is actually my tree skirt. The balls in the basket go on our tree every year, so they will stay in the basket only until next week. Oh, well, I'll have a fun dining room centerpiece for 2 weeks. Then I'll have to get creative. Again.

Thank you for bearing with me all week. I wish I could have taken each of you with me last Saturday and enjoyed the morning together.

Let this be an encouragement, not pressure to make everything perfect.

Just enjoy this time of year!