Sunday Grains of Gratitude - on Monday.....

and minus the standard grains photo. Photobucket is messed up today...... Must be cause it's Monday ;)

Yup - I'm behind - sorry - had to work on reading and writing a story with my grumpy son - what can I say - family comes first ;)

What a week it has been!!! I have started to write about 5 different blog entries about advocating for Brady, and a dozen or so other things that have been on my mind - but the words just aren't coming. I'm not sure why? It's been a somewhat difficult week - so I really need to focus on my gratitudes - because hopefully that will help me to appreciate all the small things I've missed and adjust my attitude. I hate when I have something going every night and every day - I don't do well when I am overscheduled and overwhelmed :) Throw in a bit of stress and worry on top of that - and you've got a messed up Momma ;)

This week I'm grateful.....

that my lesson in YW went well :) I so love all the girls in my class - they are darling!!!

that we had a bit of a chance to go over our 2010 goals in Family Home Evening - hopefully we will get to set new ones (or in my case - just write 2011 over 2010) tonight :) J is sure hoping, so we can pull out the non-alcoholic bubbly we've been saving in the fridge for the occasion ;)

that the Iron Chef activity I was in charge of went well :) I am grateful to the four families in our ward that let us use their homes, kitchens, and ingredients to make our creations ;) The girls did a great job, and I hope it was a fun way to end off our month of "cooking" :)

that I got to help in Brady's class for centers this week! Brady was a stinker, but hopefully as he gets used to me being there he will settle in and just work ;) I helped a lot last year and he was good - I think he is just hoping I will take him home LOL

that the hubs and I got our monthly lunch date! For Christmas he gave me a monthly lunch date - and it was so fun to just lunch and hang out with him :) I love him so much, and I am so lucky to have him!

that my meeting with the principal went well. I sooo hate going to the principal's office :) I am really grateful he was open to listening to my concerns and frustrations and willing to make some changes (and had already made some!) to make things better - for Brady and for others. I am eternally grateful for the people in mine and Brady's life who really work hard to make a difference for him - there are so many good people, who really go the extra mile for him, and it means the world to me, and makes all the difference in his life. I cannot express enough gratitude for them - there just aren't words!!!

that the hubs and H had a good time on the winter campout :) They didn't freeze or get lost or starve :) So that is a good thing :) They even cleaned up their stuff right away after coming home - I am really really REALLY grateful for that, and not having to walk around camp stuff in the family all week :)

for good kids. They really are fantastic and I am grateful every day for the good choices they make and for what wonderful kids they are. Of course they have their moments where they drive me totally insane - but overall they are kind, compassionate, accepting, tolerant, hardworking, loving, patient (some more than others), obedient, and just good. I am grateful for them!!!

and lastly and pretty much leastly - it's not important at all - but really - I am grateful for RED BOX ;) Cheap movies make our weekends fun and I am grateful there seems to be one on every corner ;)

What are YOU grateful for this week?

Sunday Grains of Gratitude.......

Oh my goodness did this week just zip by!!! I guess it helps that it was only a 4 day week :) Thank you MLK - not only for the holiday, but all you did for human rights - the holiday is only a very nice by-product :) Things have been so busy lately, I am longing for some nice quiet unscheduled days :) It would be nice to have some time to sit and read a book on my Kindle sometime soon :) I heart that thing - it is pretty dang cool - thanks Mom and Dad :)

Okay - on to the real reason for my Sunday post!!! I have so much to be grateful for this week.....

Starting with....

I'm grateful it was a 4 day school week!!! It was so nice to sleep in a bit on Monday, and then to accomplish some of the things on our "to do" list :) The boys and the hubs built my toy shelves from Ikea and I went to work on cleaning out the younger kids rooms and closets! Time to put the good toys they are getting too old for upstairs in the toy room for my "someday" grandchildren :) and donate the rest (or chuck some of them - they'd been a little "too" loved ;)

I'm grateful that J worked so hard this term that he ended up with 7 A's and one A- :) He has a pretty difficult course load this year, and in the past has struggled with turning things in on time - so this is really an accomplishment for him and we are so very proud of him!!!

I'm grateful that Little K got her science fair project finished - and before midnight on the night before it was due!!! I hate finishing up those last minute boards, so I am so grateful that she worked on it beforehand and had it all done before bedtime - yahooooo :)

I'm grateful that Brady is feeling a little bit better. He has been brewing a sinus infection for almost a month now and it finally got to where we needed to go in and get some antibiotics. He is still a little under the weather with it, but doing better. Hopefully he will be back to his cute self soon!!!

I'm really really REALLY grateful that H found our misplaced iPad :) It was out of batteries and so Brady put it in a toy bin, which I did not see and then put toys on top of it and put it in the closet (all in our mess of cleaning out his closet and room). We looked everywhere and were in an absolute frenzy (not to mention Brady was very unhappy that we could not find is "ipadddd"). We'd all searched in all the usual places he puts it, and in the unusal places too - but H took the initiative (okay - I did offer a $10 reward ;) to really search and I am so incredibly grateful. That iPad is really a godsend - not only for it's entertainment value - but he plays with so many of the educational apps on it, and it has really helped with his writing willingness. Love it!!!!

I am grateful that my big girls came home to celebrate Little K's birthday with us!! It meant the world to her to have them home and for the little gifts they brought her :) She loves them and misses them so much! Thanks for taking the time and making the drive C and K - you made her day!!!!

I am especially grateful this week for Little K! My baby girl turned 12 - how can that be? She is such a cute and fun girl, and I am so grateful for her each and every day. She is sensitive and compassionate. She loves her little brother so much and so willing to help him all the time - she makes him so happy! She is fun to hang with and I'm so glad we got to do a special birthday lunch with her daddy too! I am excited to have her in YW with me. She is a doll and I love her to pieces :)

What are YOU grateful for today????

Today is a special day!!!!!!

Happy Happy Birthday to my sweet soccer princess!!!! I can't believe you are 12 already!!!! The time has just flown by! I am excited to have you in Young Women with me!!!! You are such a blessing to our home - I am so happy I get to be your mom!!! I love you!!!! Happy Birthday Little K!!!!

What does one do with a day off, you ask????

probably not what a lot of "ones" wanted to do :) but still the same - these wonderful days off gives 'one' the opportunity to.....

have a big 'hot' breakfast for the whole family - complete with pancakes cooked perfectly by Miss Little K :)

clean dressers.....

clean closets......

do laundry.....

put together shelves from IKEA (that's what I bought with my Christmas money mom - I love them already ;) and fill said shelves with toys from the cleaned out closets :) Our bonus room is a regular future grandchildren's heaven - we should really have bought stock in Fisher Price years ago :)......

more laundry........

put up storage hooks in the pantry and laundry room.......

make donation lists for the bags of things to be donated......

pack up too small stuff to send to cousins......

more laundry......

a little online birthday shopping ;).......

share lots and lots of conversation with your kids while working......

clean the church building (our family assignment this week).......

more laundry.......

engage in a long awaited marshmallow gun war!!!!!......

family home evening......

maybe a bit more laundry.......

and watch a new episode of Castle!!!!!

Picture a day.....

One of my goals for 2011 is to take a picture a day.

So I know a lot of people who do this for a photography class or blog - for me - I just want to do it to celebrate and notice the little things - the seemingly unimportant things :)

So far - well - I am behind.... But - here are a few so far ;)


This is exactly why I am behind - I have been seeing to all my little monkeys and their needs ;)


What makes the world go round........


My treat for our young womens recipe book ;) It was YUM!!!!!


Brrrrrr - it has been soooo cold this week! Reminds me of CANADA ;)


Scince fair projects - gotta love em!!!!


My interrupted bubble bath - I got out when he got in ;)


The hubs' fairly challenging Christmas puzzle - a whole days work ;)


New years eve popper crowns!!!!! The whole fam was together :) I love it when we are all together!!!!!


Can you guess that he is really thinking - get this stupid thing OFFFFFF of me!!!!


POPPERS!!!!!!! And our traditional New Years dinner - with a Thai twist this year ;)


Sledding!!!!!!


Backwards is fun too!!!!!


The kids easier - and much more fun - puzzle :) Only 550 pieces :) Love those Tooniverse puzzles - they are super cute!!!!

Sunday Grains of Gratitude!!!!

Another Sunday - yayyyy!!!! Man - this week was so incredibly busy and I am so glad it is over ;) Next week's calendar is still full - but nothing like this week ;) On Thursday I was gone from my house from 7:20 a.m. til 7:30 p.m. - it was CRAZY!!!! It's my own fault though - I keep letting people sign me up for things, and it is my goal this year to be more service oriented and to support my friends better :) So - I am grateful for the opportunities to do that, and those are the things that are important - I am just a little tired and ready to stay home :) I am so not a person that does well when I am over-scheduled - it makes me a little crazy ;)

But - I do have so many things to be grateful for this week!!!

This week I'm grateful....

that Brady did the best he has ever done for haircuts!!! He didn't cry ONCE!!! Of course then that leads to other things I'm grateful for too - like iPads, and grandparents, and supportive kids, husband and hair stylist ;) We have come this year from me feeling like a total failure for not being able to figure a way out for Brady to have a haircut without being totally frightened and anxious out of his wits and two of us holding him down - to him sitting in the chair by himself, with the occasional reminder and positioning of his head and complaining. Don't get me wrong - he still hates it. The hair falling on his face and neck bugs the heck out of him, and he is still very very anxious about the clippers - but he has come so very very far - and I truly believe that one day, he will hop up into the chair and just take it like a man (like his big bro - who feels exactly the same way about haircuts that Brady does - actually ;) We just were able to reason with him a little younger ;) I will be really really REALLY grateful when that day comes ;)

that we made it to the end of the term with minimal amounts of late-night-homework/missing-assignment-catch-up..... Minimal amounts of that = minimal amounts of hair loss for the momma (aka known as mom ranting and raving and pulling her hair out). Sadly though - I do believe that J will be the only one going out for dinner this term (even more sad for me - he has his father's adventurous tastes in food, and will probably be picking some obscure hole in the wall place to eat - wish me luck!!!!) Hopefully next term the rest of them will be a little more on top of it and will ALL be able to come!!!! Big K, C want to join us - now those are some straight A's I'd really REALLY like to see ;)

that we got the furnace fixed and it didn't cost an arm and a leg!!! It has been soooo cold here - so it was nice that it wasn't totally out - but it wasn't really working right either, and waking up to chilly temps in the middle of the night was no fun! I'm grateful our furnace guy had a window of time where he could come out and that it is fixed and functioning well!!!! Those 1 degree temps outside were really beginning to worry me - and I am grateful every day we have a warm home to live in.

that the hubs still has a job, for now! Don't know what will happen in the next few months - but for now I am very grateful that the Lord is providing for us.

for friends :) For the conversations and support I have gotten from them this week :) I am grateful for their advice and for them just listening to my frustrations - it helps so much to just be able to talk about things!!!

for a three day weekend!!! I love these extra days off - I wish every weekend was a three day one ;) That's probably just cause I'm a lazy bones - but I love having that extra time with my kids and hubby!!! I treasure it - even if it is a "work" weekend - like this one is :)

that I've gotten to see both my big girls this weekend! I have really been missing them. I love them so much, and I am so grateful that they have the opportunity to be out on their own and getting a higher education - but I still really really miss them!!!

for life - the continuing coverage of the tragedy in Arizona just makes me focus on how precious life is, and how we need to treasure and cherish and really make the most of each and every moment, because you never know when you won't have any more moments. So - that is another one of my goals this year - make each moment, each conversation, each smile, each prayer, each interaction - count!!!!

What are YOU grateful for today????

Since I haven't posted pics in quite some time.....

here are a few from our wonderful Christmas holiday!!!! It was such a wonderful time with family and friends :)

I am going to try and take pictures every single day this year. That will be a HUGE stretch for me - I sometimes only save the picture taking for big things - but I know those things are important - but I need to remember that the little things, even the smallest of things are also so very very important, and so worth picture journaling...

So - that is one of my new years resolutions..... don't worry - you'll be hearing more about the other resolutions here soon!!!!

I'm baaaaackkkkkkkk!!!!!!!!

Did you miss me????

Christmas Eve :)

Away in a Manger...... our little Mary and Joseph - no real Baby Jesus this time around ;)






Christmas jammies and Grinches ;) Everyone should have their own Grinch to remember the TRUE meaning of Christmas :) Except Mommas - apparently they always remember - so they get Max's ;)

All dressed up :)

Christmas Magic!!!!!

Sunday Grains of Gratitude.......

Yayyy - it is Sunday!!!! I have never been so grateful for a weekend as I was for this one!!! I don't know why - but it was just really a very very long week - and I am so glad it is over!!! Not that the week coming up is any less busy (isn't January supposed to be slow and boring??? What happened to that????) but it was just nice to have a couple of days at home, and to be able to sleep in a bit and recharge my batteries. And - in some ways I am loving the 1:00 church time - although it really does kind of take up the whole day :) It is one of my new years resolutions (to be formally written down tomorrow at our New Years Family Home Evening ;) to really get back to my blog and especially my grains of gratitude posts :) I miss them, and I know that expressing my gratitude weekly really helps put perspective on things, and I also know that I am so blessed that it is my RESPONSIBILITY to express my gratitude :) So - here goes nothin ;)

This week I am grateful......

for Brady's aide. She has been wonderful for him this year, and I am grateful for her patience and positive attitude with him. He has made some real gains this year over last year, and I know she is a big part of that, and I am grateful each and every day for her. She is an answer to prayer - we love her!

for my kids hard work yesterday to get all of Christmas put away!! I was so sad to take it down, but it was time. It is always such an ordeal, and the fact that we got everything down and put away and UP in the garage in one day is nothing short of a miracle. I have the best kids and husband in the whole world. I am grateful for each and every one of them - they are amazing and I am blessed to be their mom.

for friends who listen and love me :) Sometimes life is hard - which is good - because that is how we grow. But - it is still hard, and I am grateful for friends who listen to my problems and help me work through them. Sometimes it is just not enough to work through things on your own and you need the perspective of someone else. I've always said a good friend is almost better than a good therapist :) I'm grateful for the amazing women that I am blessed to call friend - for their love, support, and patience with me.

for my warm house. It has been soooooo chilly here this week, and I am grateful that my family has a nice, warm, safe place to sleep at night. Protected from the elements and sheltered from the world. I know that not everyone has that - and it breaks my heart :( I pray that everyone will have the shelter from life's storms that they are in need of.

for teenagers :) I know a lot of people find them frustrating. And - I do too. But - they are so funny and insightful and fun to talk to :) I love babies and little kids, because I think they are much easier than teenagers, but I really have loved having my kids grow up, because we have so much more in common as they start to understand more complex things - and I love to hear their thoughts and ideas about things.

for my faith and community. I overheard a cashier talking to a man moving into the community the other day and she asked him if he was ready for the "culture shock". It made me think a bit about our community and culture. I have never really thought of the way people of my faith live as a true "culture" - but I guess it really is. The membership in our church is so prominent in our neighborhood, there are families here and there that are not members or who are not active members, but the majority of the people in the city I live in, belong to the same faith as I do. I think back to when I came here 24 years ago (can it really be that long??) and I do remember feeling a bit of a culture shock - because I was used to a much more diverse culture growing up - and being very different life-style wise than most of my friends and neighbors :) I am grateful always for the gospel in my life, for my Savior, Jesus Christ, and for the emphasis and importance my faith places on my family. There are some not so nice things that happen in our "culture" and communities sometimes - but overall - I have felt that this community has been a wonderful one in which to raise my children, and I am grateful for the opportunity I have to live in it :) I have some of the best neighbors anyone could EVER ask for - and Brady is so included and loved in his primary class, and with many many members in our ward. Yes - I am grateful for our community and faith.....

What are YOU grateful for today????

I'm behind again :)

big surprise huh?

I really have been working on a blog post - it's a doozey - about Educating Brady. Which has been our single biggest hurdle of him having Down Syndrome - by far!!!! And my single biggest headache and stress inducer - thus my thoughts on facebook about school making me fat and insane ;) I joke about it - but really - it has been hard - and I am trying to figure out exactly what makes it so darn difficult.

Sometimes I wonder if I am expecting too much. But often I feel that the people who work with Brady expect too LITTLE!!!! I sat through an IEP for a friend last week, and listened to a man go on and on about how stubborn and defiant children with down syndrome are. I just wanted to reach across the table and grab him and say - sir - if you could not communicate exactly what you were feeling all the time - wouldn't you show a little stubborness - and what could be considered defiance (as in non-compliance - won't do what they are asked) because that is the ONLY way you can say - "I can't do this - it is too hard" "I need help" "I don't understand what you are asking me - you used too many words, too difficult of language, too many steps" "why do I have to do this - I don't see that it means anything to me". I cannot stress enough - behaviors in children with down syndrome are a form of communication - and it is up to the caregiver, teacher, aide, special ed teacher, therapist to try and figure out what that communication is saying. More work - easier to just work on having a compliant child and lowering expectations- rather than trying to figure them out and expect things from them and work to really affect their lives. This man expects too little (although he really was a nice man and very supportive of my friend's daughter in her inclusive environment - he had just worked at a school specifically for children with disabilities as a psychologist and worked with many children with down syndrome - most likely in a testing environment - and if those kids are like most children with down syndrome - sorry to generalize - but it is true - they don't do well on standardized testing - the language confuses them and they really don't see the point of scoring well, and what it means to them, for the rest of their lives (hence - we parents always take these tests with a grain of salt - because really - Brady is much smarter than the sum total of his standardized testing - if we went off that - it's amazing he can walk, and talk, sing and he definitely can't be expected to read because his IQ is too low ;) (wow - how was that for an amazing run on sentence? My high school engish teacher would be so proud - NOT).

I admit - Brady is not always compliant - especially when you are pushing him to work on something that is hard for him - but he WILL do it if he realizes that it is important and if he is supported in ways that help him to feel and BE successful. Having him write things is hard - he struggles so very very much with fine motor skills. It's not just a little bit hard - it is really really hard for him - and he will tell you so - either by refusing to write, throwing his pencil, yelling/crying, saying no, or occasionally smacking you. Now - do I condone these behaviors - no way - do I try and help him have the words to use to tell people what he feels about writing - you bet (I am hoping he never learns the ones I think he would want to say ;). But I know it is important for him, and that eventually he will really like writing letters to people and getting them back in the mail (so if you get a letter from Brady, please please write him back ;) So - we persist. I do think that eventually we will move to typing things, as that will be much easier for him fine motorwise and probably help. But - I do want him to be able to write letters, and in his journal, and find joy in that. That may never happen - the joy part - but - heck it is a good skill if a computer is not at hand ;)

But - I ramble (another big surpise - hey?), we have had Brady write notes - just a simple sentence to his teacher each night - okay - it started out as each night - and we have slacked off significantly - it isn't like Brady is to the point yet that he is bringing us a pen and paper and saying - can I write a note to my teacher??? Maybe someday??? Anyway - this writing thing - it has been GOOD for him - really good. He writes the note (maybe I like school - or Samantha is my friend - or I went to Tangled) and then reads it to his teacher and his aide each morning. Works on writing, sentence structure, spelling, and reading - all good things. Well - since we have done that this year - he has been more willing to write with HOH assistance and with no assistance than ever before. Progress yes!!! Baby steps - for sure - but heck, we celebrate the small victories.

I love Brady's aide. She is the most darling girl, and she really has a good rapport and relationship with him. He really really likes her. I really really like Brady's school - I think the people there really care about him and want him to succeed. But, I also feel like they don't really "get him" and they don't really see his potential and the things they can do to help him progress. I feel like sometimes they find it easier to stick with the status quo - not rock the boat - not expect more. Whether because it is more work to expect more - to modify assignments, to plan ahead of time, to follow-up, to have more meetings - or they don't want to deal with the initial fall out of pushing Brady to do more things - behaviors, non-compliance, he won't just sit there quietly - I'm not sure. When something isn't going exactly as expected (or discussed) and I get frustrated and talk to them about it - it always comes back when it gets changed to - are we doing what YOU want now, Brady's mom. That frustrates me - it's not that I want them doing everything my way - I just want Brady's team working on things in ways to teach him what he needs to know, in appropriate ways, in ways that will help him progress on the skill he is supposed to be learning. It shouldn't be what I want necessarily (I really am not trying to be demanding) - it should be what we, as a team, have decided, and what are best practices for teaching, research based, and followed through. Preferably not just researched by ME, but by everyone - with everyone wanting and believing that Brady can progress and learn and succeed. I do not have a degree in education - psychology is my bag - so I don't know what all is out there for people with disabilities. But I do have a computer, and so I spend time researching things - really - often all it takes is putting "modify curriculum for disabilities" into google and thousands of sites come up - lots of teacher boards etc... Sifting through it takes time - and effort - and desire - but there are some really good resources out there. I sometimes think that is what is missing - that people just look at Brady, see his disability, and think - well - this is good, he is happy, he is quiet, he is compliant with this - let's just keep doing it this way..... And - that is not okay with me - because we should be constantly working towards meeting and exceeding Brady's goals - why expect the bare minimum????

So - if you are reading - my goal for Brady is not necessarily compliance in all things. Sorry. I want him to obey the rules, I want him to be quiet and listening in class, I want him to be respectful of teachers, aides, therapists, other students - and if he isn't, I expect him to follow through and accept the consequences. BUT - I also want him to have a voice - and sometimes that voice will show in non-compliance - because he struggles so much with speech and language. If Brady just sits there all the time, and is happy, and does whatever you say - well - then you are expecting too little of him. I know him - when he is that way - it means he is getting everything his way - and he is MORE than happy for you to expect too little of him - because that is easy - and he likes easy :) The more he can get you to be happy with him doing the bare minimum, the happier he will be ;) He is no dummy - he knows how to work the system ;)

He knows to make himself scarce after school so he doesn't have to do homework right away. He knows how to make everyone serve him ;) He knows that if he is too slow eating his breakfast in the morning, someone will feed him because we are always in a hurry! He is a master of getting out of work. You just have to find the right motivator - and believe me - they are out there - but finding them - well - that is work. But so worth it ;)

Think Brady can't clean his room? Think again - he doesn't do it independently, and you have to remind him of the reinforcer when the going gets tough - but can he do it? His bed isn't perfect yet - and the books on the shelf are kind of stuffed in - but he CAN do it!!!! You bet..... Unload the dishwasher? Yup - he can do that too, and he even knows where all the dishes go. Write his first and last name? Yup - it ain't pretty - but he can do it. Read a C level reader - yup - sometimes it takes reminders of the reinforcer every couple of pages, and a lot of patience (sometimes 20 minutes worth of wanting to pull your hair out - but really he's just seeing who has more patience - so never NEVER let him see how frustrated this makes you - or you are doomed - and he WINS ;) Clean up messes he makes? Yup - he can do that too (but that usually requires a bit of thinking time in time out - oh wait? he gets time out? yup - that too). You get the picture - he can do it!!! So when I ask for homework for him and you want to send home one page with four problems on it for the entire week which he can complete in less than 10 minutes (wtg Nicole - he really does know how to do touch math for addition - I am sooo happy!!!!) that frustrates me, because I feel like you are saying he is not worth the extra work of putting together a packet each week, and that you don't want him to progress at a faster rate, or you don't believe that he can. We all need to BELIEVE!!!

We all need to change our mindset to Brady CAN and not Brady CAN'T. How can we know if Brady can't do something until we try? And if it doesn't work one way - let's try it three or four more ways until we find a way that he CAN! He is capable, not always willing, but he IS capable. He really does want to succeed at things - and it boosts his self-esteem and lights up his eyes so much when he accomplishes something and is recognized for it!!! Let's capitalize on that - that is all I am asking - and I know it is not just a little thing - it takes work, effort, desire, love, patience, and consistency - but in the end it is worth it. He is worth it!!!!!

And - more than that - he deserves it.

A bit of this and that :)

Let's talk Christmas - shall we?

I love Christmas - the whole Christmas season - and I know just the reason :)

Besides the reason for the season - there's my mom. Have I told you how fantastic she is? I am sure that I have - well - anyway - she is super fantastic - and she LOVES Christmas!!!! And - I think either it's genetic, or she has nurtured my love for the season so much that it is just ingrained now ;)

When we were kids, she would start listening to Christmas music the day after Canadian Thanksgiving - ummm - that's in October folks..... Two and half months of Christmas music - two and half months of listening to and feeling the Christmas spirit :) I'm pretty sure decorations started going up in November sometime too - although I don't really remember :) So - when I got married and my hubs mentioned that Thanksgiving was his favorite holiday and that I couldn't listen to Christmas music until AFTER it - and not Canadian Thanksgiving either - AMERICAN Thanksgiving - well - I thought I might die :) I mean - even radio stations start playing Christmas music at the beginning of November ;) So - after about ten years of marriage we came to a compromise...... I can listen to Christmas music starting November 1st, as long as it isn't on around him until after Thanksgiving. I will say - by New Years, my kids (except for Brady - he could listen to Mickey Mouse, Elmo, and The Chipmunks Christmas albums all year long....) are pretty darn sick of Christmas music :) But me - I just love it!!! And - I am always sad when we quit listening....

I am sad when the Christmas music is gone, I am sad when everyone turns off and takes down their Christmas lights, I am sad when school starts and again and we go back to the chaos of regular life. Why is that?

I think it is because I have had two whole months of "light" - the "light" of Christ. Sure, there is always the hurry and scurry of picking the right Christmas gifts, getting the 'perfect' gift for each kid, teacher gifts, school parties, Christmas outfits, pictures, getting all the activities in from our 20 advent calendars (not putting out so many next year - they aren't nearly as fun or special with so many to do each night and so few kids at home ;) But - I love the music, the message, thinking about Mary, Joseph, the baby Jesus, and all the others, and the light - everywhere you look, there is light - beautiful Christmas lights - from the tasteful to the tacky (and yes - I DO like the tacky blow up things that the hubs hates :) they just light up the streets, and the banish the darkness - like Christ's light.

Last night I looked outside, and the lights were gone :( I miss them :( The street, and the world just seem darker, and drearier without them :( I miss the light, the music, the message - we are back to the usual. And can I say - while I like a lot of it - Ke$ha and Katy Perry don't quite give the same message in their music ;) It rings a little hollow after my two months focusing on the Savior, family, and yes - the man in red :)

So - I am committing myself to KEEP the light this year. Even though the lights outside are gone, even though I'm back to listening about Teenage dreams (what a raunchy song.....) and who knows what else, I am going to focus on looking for and keeping the 'light' of Christ in my heart and in my life - all year long - because I know that His light can banish the darkness, and lighten my life and my world - all year long.......

Happy New Year!!!!!!