All is calm...

We're enjoying our first snow day of the winter today. Three of my kids didn't sleep in, but it's still nice to be in jammies and take in an extra leisure morning. If you do have to be out and about- even as the holiday season progresses- one of my tips for you is to grab a "Perfect Oatmeal" from Starbuck's if you're needing a quick pick-me-up. Skip the fast food burger and instead fill up on this tasty, warm meal. I like mine with all the toppings~ brown sugar, dried fruit and mixed nuts~ but I only use half of each packet. The other half I eat on my next bowl of oatmeal I make at home. As a self-proclaimed cereal fanatic, you now know my top favorite food. Which surprisingly doesn't include whipped cream. =)

The little pink tree is one I put up in Ava's room and it was a surprise for her when she came home from school one day last week. I had to move a pile of stuffed animals to make room for the mini tree and decided that I'd just use them as decorations on it instead of pulling out a whole bunch of ornaments. She was SO happy with it. She kept saying, "You made my wish come true; I love my pink tree!" It was a very simple thing to do, but clearly was one that enhanced her merriment this season. I love when that happens. Sometimes it's the little things that make the season brighter. I have had to threaten to take it down a couple of times already, but for now it's still up and she remains on "the nice list". =) Bella has a silver mini tree in her room and is just as pleased with her tree as Ava. Wyndham has a mini dvd player in her's and is happy to be able to watch Barney's Christmas movie whenever she wants to.

Now... back to some cardmaking and more coffee for this calm morning!

You take one Holy Baby....

My kids have been playing with the Little People Nativity set for a few days now. We had a special carved nativity that stayed under our tree when I was a child and it was one of my favorite decorations at Christmastime. The thing I love about nativity sets is how they allow you to 'enter in' to the story of Christmas even though it happened over 2000 years ago.
This commericial set doesn't quite do Bethlehem justice if you ask me, but my kids love to play with it so much. I wrote earlier about the tension I feel at this time of year- the struggle to strike balance between the real reason to celebrate Christmas versus the glitz of twinkling lights, cookies, candy and gifts wrapped in colorful papers.
The more I have thought about it and the more I have seen my kids playing with this set (and a couple of others we have too), I have felt more assured that they understand what Christmas is all about. I don't know that any of us will ever fully comprehend the depth and meaning of what God has done through this gift of His Son Jesus, but I think we are headed in the right direction and I feel like really, it's not up to me to make sure my kids "get Christmas"; instead I believe that God will work in each of their hearts in His way and His time. I feel so much more at ease- more calm and bright- knowing that God has their little hearts in His constant care.
What really struck me the past few days is some of the things that you hear and read from the Christian community this time of year.
Have any of you heard or seen the words, "Keep Christ in Christmas"? Or remember that "Jesus is the Reason for the Season"? Now I think that these are very valid and can be catchy phrases to help some people focus on what matters, but I truly believe that for some people it becomes the only time they think and focus on Christ. I think that while catchy phrases may have meaning, somtimes they miss the real point.
I thought of this as Ava went downstairs to the rest of her Little People playsets and chose a few happy children and Santa and a couple of Care Bears and Hello Kitty to come up and join the wise men and angle in the nativity to welcome baby Jesus as she played. I couldn't help but think again how Jesus came for ALL people and he didn't just give his love to us at Christmastime, but every single day- forevermore. He loved us so much that he made a way for all to know Him intimately- His gift of salvation is free to any sinner who simply asks for His forgiveness and repents. Jesus became a baby- a man- and lived a perfect, holy life and then shed His blood on a cross. He died, was buried and then rose again- to take away our sins and restore a right relationship with God through His death.
I think Christmas is a special time to reflect and to celebrate and recall this amazing story that is one part of God's plan for us- sinners. It is a wonderful time for us, who have accepted and believe that Jesus is the way, to share our faith and celebrate what and why we believe what we believe and to offer others this same free gift.
But to think that we have to do something to keep Christ in Christmas to me seems like we're missing the main point of what God intended to do through this baby. Yes, God sent His son to the earth and Jesus was born in a little stable, and his mother, Mary, wrapped him in cloths and lay him in a manger. That's a wonderful story, but I think God meant for it to be something bigger than just a nice little story. He sent His son to earth to change hearts and lives. God loved us so much that the birth of His Son paved the way for everyone to know real Love and real Peace and to have Hope in a dark and hopeless world.
I love that my kids can play with a little toyset and understand this nice story, yes. But my real hope is that they can grasp that Christ wants to live in our hearts and be a part of our lives each and everyday. I hope they grow up knowing that we need to keep Christ in our lives and depend on His strength and we need His forgiveness so many times in our life. Not just at Christmas- as special as this time can be. We need this story to affect the way we live always. Feel free to follow this link for more insights and meanigful ways to "live out Christmas" beyond this month. May the Spirit of this season touch your life in a meaningful way- today and all the year through!

Trading spaces.

I found a container with some newborn baby clothes in it as I cleaned out a portion of Ava's closet the other day. I guess they were items I had bought and saved to give as baby gifts to othter friends. They happened to be almost all newborn baby boy items, which made me happy and I feel like after washing a small load of baby clothes that I am more prepared for the changes to come in the next several weeks. It's funny to me how I can go from feeling 'in over my head' to 'totally on top of things' with just a bit of organization. =) There's something that gets me about tiny packs of socks and hats too. I can't resist getting anxious after folding a load of these baby goods.

So the baby room is basically in place- with the exception of a bit of decorating. Ava has been so good about being moved from her room into the room with Bella. I had to post a picture of their new shared space [you can click the image to make it larger], as Grandma Karen sent them matching Hello Kitty bedding and my parents helped to make and put up their bulletin board 'headboards'. I plan to add some photos or name banners or something fun to them soon too. There's always so many things I could be doing/making around here, and there's never a shortage of ideas in my head either. The tricky part is getting the from my head to reality!

Bella and I did manage to make a library sign for her room awhile ago after she asked me for one for about 2 weeks. She flips the sign from 'open' to 'close' at random...and I think basically has fun having some 'power' over the books and who gets to read/check them out at any given time.

So the basket of diapers is ready and waiting. We purchased all our school supplies yesterday and the kids' backpacks are ready to go. I suppose now that I feel so on top of things, this baby will make us wait for his arrival until much closer to the due date. Which may just turn out to be a good thing, since Chip and I are still undecided on a name. =)

My "typecasted" self...

I owe several people heartfelt thank-you's for some really fun and thoughtful gifts and cards in the past couple of months. Something as simple as a blog has resulted in me taking on a sort of 'identity' and it's almost as if I have typecast myself in a cute way. I really appreciate the random mail and gifts I receive and today I thought I'd share some recent goodies and give a big Nitty.Gritty. thanks to some of you nice readers.
Seems that when people think of me a select list of 'things' come to mind...cupcakes, Starbuck's, Hello Kitty and owls- just to name a few. Yesterday I got two packages- one FULL of Hello Kitty and cutesy treats from {SISmetrochic!} Heather, and another envelope full of all things "owls" from Mahlin...all the way from Sweden!! How crazy and thoughful is that?! Thank you SISters... you know I will have fun scrapping and playing with all the fun things you sent my way. My girls were loving my mail too! =) I also have been enjoying a pound of Starbuck's coffee beans and some select items from Nikki who I know through SIStv too. I love that scrapping has brought such neat people 'into' my life and that there is so much generosity and goodness among the people at this unique website. It is a wonderful community of people- sharing life and inspiring one another- but also encouraging and just having fun together. You can join us there anytime!
That funky owl necklace/earrings set came from the Allisons in MS earlier this summer. I've had a few emails asking where I got them...I really can't tell you precisely, but I bet you could find some cute sets on eBay or through Etsy.com. Then there was the giant Hello Kitty stickers from 'Jiggy' and some more Hello Kitty love and sweet card from Christine. Our lives have connected at a time when Christine needs lots of prayers and good thoughts coming her way. She inspires me with her scrapping and I appreciate so much, our new friendship {you can check out her blog and pray for her too!}.
Besides all the fun mail and cards and links online to fun sites and products, I also get a lot of letters from some of you sharing your struggles, your hurts and your questions about faith and getting through hardships. I am following several peoples' Caring Bridge pages, even now, and I know that there are a lot of trials going on from day to day for many of you or your friends and families. My heart aches when I read such notes, but I also am humbled that you share so openly with me.
I have come to see that the more I write about my pain and the journey I am on in my own life, that it resonates in different ways with others. I see that as a gift of grief- that I can learn and grow through it is amazing, but then to be able to share my experiences and perspective with others is truly the blessing of embracing pain. In a couple of notes recently I was asked about the 'peace' I seem to have- even as a result of living with tragedy in my life. It is real to me- I DO have peace and contentment in my life, and it truly is a miracle and gift that I do not deserve.
Some time ago I heard this beautiful description of 'peace' and I think it maybe will explain the peace I claim each day. An art institute asked individuals to submit paintings depicting the idea of peace, using the local mountains and lake as the focal point. It is said that they received several artists' renditions of this beauitful landscape. The paintings showed calm waters, or a glowing sunset just behind the mountains casting warm colors across the waters at the base of the mountains. Another was of a valley and stream, where the wildlife ran free and the water trickled along toward the glassy sea. All were beautiful and serene. Except one. The artwork showed the mountains and the waters, only they were dark and fierce with storm. The trees were bending and the waves were tossing violently. It looked anything but peaceful! In one part of the mountainscape, however, the artist had painted a crevice in which one could see a large nest. There inside the nest was a mother bird, and in the midst of the violent storm she had her wings spread and was covering her tiny babies. They were warm and had no idea that a storm was even raging.
That painting was the one chosen for it's beautiful depiction of the idea of peace. It has been one of the images that comes to my mind so often, and truly how I see peace in my own life. My life has had several 'raging storms' and continues to have struggles and challenges that seem overwhelming at times. Yet in the midst of these trials, I have sensed God surrounding me with His presence and His peace. I'm like the baby bird tucked under the strong wings of the mother- who is protecting her young with her life. I have come to trust in God in such a way that I know no matter how hard the winds blow, or how violent the rains come, I can simply rest in the shelter of His wings. It is a peace that transcends all understanding, yet it is unmistakeable and real. I can't help but share this reality with others, because I know some of you are in the middle of the fiercest storm of your life, and maybe you are wondering how you will survive. Peace to me then, is not the absence of uncertianty...but the knowledge of knowing that I am safe and secure. I pray for the reality of peace in your life- which I have found can only be found in trusting in the One who holds all of us in the shelter of His hands- every single day.

What's on my mind...

I guess the best way to describe my 'scrap-style' is this- 'Don't try to figure it out'. =) Some scrappers are very 'predictable' when they scrap. They have a certain 'look' or elements that you can expect in virtually every layout. Like Cathy Zielske...she's 'clean and simple'. I stuck fairly closely to her philosophy in that top layout of Chip and me (which I have to 'fix' because I typed the wrong year on it), but butchered it in the Hello Kitty layout. I have no common margins, no 'visual three's', and just basically did a free-style thing on it. Or think Heidi Swapp...just because I love her style and products. =) You can expect paint or chipboard on almost every single page she creates...lots of handwriting and solid colored backgrounds. She makes it 'work' everytime!
Then there's Elsie...always trying something new and different,and yet is just 'looks Elsie'. Am I right?! Me? I'm still trying to figure out what exactly it is that drives me to make pages. Or not make pages as some weeks go. =) I have a head full of ideas at any given time, but I'm finding I hold back, just because I'm not really sure what my 'style' is, and so I feel like I have to have the design figured out before I actually pull all my products together and stick them down on the page.
In these two layouts, I decided to just go for it. There was no 'pre-planning' or much thought to the overall design. In fact, these two layouts turned out totally different in their finished form, than the idea I sort of formed in my head as I sat down to create them. And you know what? I still like them. Both of them, because they show to me that I don't have to just do one thing when it comes to scrapping. Maybe that's my style...to shake it up each time, I don't know. I guess I am still in the process of figuring myself out from day to day, and it's only appropriate that that carries over into my scrapping life as well. Besides, I haven't even been doing this for a year yet, so I keep reminding myself that I am 'young' and still have a lot of learning to do when it comes to this part of me.
That's a part of the fun...the process, and growing and experimenting. Just how I like my life to be! I have always had a few 'quirks' in life. Just ask my family about what I was like growing up (if you're reading, Steph and Jacque, my Ragstock-trench-coat-phase comes to mind!) or ask Chip what he has to say about me. They'll tell you I can be a real oddball. That feeling that I've always had inside came out in the Hello Kitty layout full force. The part of me that never liked herself in Jr.High and High School is finally coming to terms with reality. And that, I am realizing, no matter how it looks on a scrap page, is a very good thing.
This is the message I wanted to share on my 'quirky' page. It says:
"At age 34 I am {finally} BeGiNing to love & accept myself just the way I am...including my Love of all things Hello Kitty."
It's about time, huh?!