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making Christmas traditions and memories ~ ornaments

Written by Joy
making Christmas traditions and memories ~ ornaments

I love making memories and traditions with my kids.  It is my hope that my children remember these times and pass them on to their families when they are older.   One of the traditions that we have is making ornaments and collecting ornaments together.  I also love those special ones that have been given to us by people that we love.  Every ornament on our tree has a story and our children love reminiscing  about the ornament of where it came from and who gave it to us.  It makes my heart happy to see my children take such good care of these precious memories.

The angel below, Buddy and I got when our oldest son was 11 months old.  It was his very first Christmas.  That was 19 years ago.

our angel.

The beaded candy cane ornament was made by my oldest son when he was in elementary school.  The Angel is made from my youngest daughter’s footprint and hand prints.  The foam star was made by my oldest daughter.  The stocking ornament with the little girl on it was given to our youngest daughter by our neighbor in NC.   The Santa Clause, I painted when we lived in Florida, 10 years ago.  It was our first year of homeschooling and the kids and I painted ornaments.

Angel made from a foot print and hand prints.

This angel was given to our oldest son when he was just 4 years old.  His Sunday School preschool teacher, Mrs. Susie Douglas gave it to him.  She loves him so much and the feeling was mutual.  Michael loved her dearly.  She loved the children in her class.  Sadly, she passed away several years ago and will always have a special place in our hearts.

an angel given to our oldest son when he was 4.

I saw this ornament and had to buy it and paint it.  It is my favorite Christmas song.  It reminds me of that special night, so long ago, when God sent his only Son to be born of a virgin.

an ornament I painted with the kids.

The three Gator ornaments are from a very dear friend.  He sent these to us when we lived in NC.  We are huge Gator fans, since that is where we originally are from.  You can also see our sun catcher candles that we made from the very first lesson of the Advent study we are doing.

Gator ornaments given to us by a friend.

The ornaments below were made by all of our children.  We have a snowflake by our youngest son, a Christmas tree by our youngest daughter, the bear is painted by my oldest daughter and the CD ornament was made by our oldest son when he was in school.

ornaments kids made.

So many memories on our tree.  By looking at this tree, it shows just how blessed that we are.  God has been so good to us and has allowed so many special people in our lives.  I am so blessed by being able to stay at home with our children and able to make and do so much with them to make those special memories.  Yes, I am so thankful and blessed.

Do you make ornaments with your children?  What other special traditions do you have?

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Christmas tree ~ family traditions

Written by Joy
4 Comments
Christmas tree ~ family traditions

It seems like this time of year , we have so many wonderful family traditions that we do.   Besides baking and cooking goodies together, going riding around and looking at all the Christmas lights, we also love going to a Christmas tree farm to get our tree and then let the kids decorate it.

Sammy and Sarah decorating the tree.

This year was a little different though, since we moved to Colorado.  One would think that there would be plenty of Christmas tree farms in the area since we do live near the Rocky Mountains.  However, we had a really hard time finding one.  We didn’t want to travel too far to get one and finally decided to find a tree lot.

Claire and Sarah decorating the tree.

By the time we found a tree lot, it was already dark.  So I didn’t even get the camera out to take pictures of the kids running around looking at all the different trees.   The kids ended up choosing a beautiful white pine.  The kids name our Christmas tree every year and named this one Fluffy Bob.

Sammy, Claire and Sarah.

Dad always puts the lights on the tree and then we let the tree sit over night so the branches can relax.

watching the Denver Broncos game while decorating the tree..

The next day, the kids get the ornaments and start decorating.  I love watching the kids go through each of the ornaments and talk about who made them or where we got them from.  It always brings back a lot of great memories for the kids and for myself.

putting the finishing touches on the Christmas tree.

We also usually bake cookies when they are finished decorating the tree.  This year, Sarah did the honors of baking the cookies with the younger kids.  I love that the kids are older now and can do things like this together.   My children are all really close together and enjoy being with one another.  It truly makes my heart sing with joy seeing them make memories together.

What family traditions do you have?

2012, family, , , ,

The Homeschool Mother’s Journal

Written by Joy
The Homeschool Mother’s Journal

 

I missed last week linking up with The Homeschool Mother’s Journal.  Honestly I can’t remember why I even missed it.  I just didn’t think about writing about her week.  I enjoy doing this though.  It gives me a good look at our week about what all we have accomplished or did not accomplish.  Stop by iHomeschool Network and see all the others who have linked up!

  • In my life this week…

    I had a pretty full week this past week.  Started off the week by taking the kids to the Denver Zoo. (post will be coming soon).  On Tuesday, we found where we needed to vote. While I am disappointed in the way the election turned out, I know God is still in control and as long as we keep our eyes on him, God will take care of our family.  I am also helping with social media for the Teaching Creation Thursdays at Creation Conversations.

  • In our homeschool this week…

    We had a great week in schooling.  My youngest son finished his math workbook and has started the next grade level.  We are learning a lot in MOH and did a cool project in our Apologia Astronomy book. (Post on that coming soon).  My oldest is participating in the NaNoWriMo project for the month of November.  The younger kids are doing great with their reading.  I am very pleased with how our school year is going.  I feel like we are accomplishing a lot.

  • Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

    Do not be afraid to ask for help.  I have a hard time with that one, but there are some days that I just have to ask for help.

  • I am inspired by…

    I love this question.  Since I have begin blogging, I have had so many ladies to inspire me not only with blogging, but with homeschool and even with my faith.  One of those ladies is Rebecca from Mom’s Mustard Seeds.  She is a sweetheart and a true woman of God.  While I have never met her in real life, I feel like I have known her forever.  I can’t wait until I am able to hug her neck.

  • Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

    We went to the Denver Zoo and plan on going back to the Zoo free day on November 16th.

  • My favorite thing this week was…

    I had several favorite things this week.  The zoo trip was definitely a highlight.  I also got a new pair of boots!  Getting back to my country roots!

  • What’s working/not working for us…

    I am extremely happy with our curriculum.  We are using Illuminations this year with Mystery of History, WonderMaps and Hands On Geography.  We are also very happy with the Apologia Science curriculum we are using.

  • Things I’m working on…

  •  I love helping and encouraging homeschool moms with their homeschool journey and their faith.   I was recently asked to help out with the Teaching Creation Thursday at Creation Conversations.  I would love for you to join us!

  • I’m grateful for…

    I am grateful for my husband’s job that he has at Colorado School of Mines.  It is the reason why we made the cross country move and I know God provided it for him.

  • I’m praying for…

    I am praying for our nation.  I am concerned about the future of our nation with the re-election of the President.  I am also praying for the other leaders that are in office.  I just keep telling myself that God is in control and as long as our family keeps our eyes on Him we will be okay.

  • A photo to share…

    We went on a field trip to the Denver Zoo this past Monday. Our neighbor who homeschools her boy, went with us.  We had an amazing time!  We can’t wait to go back!

    kids looking at an elephant skull

Stop by iHomeschool Network and see what all the other homeschool moms have been up to this last week!

*affiliate links are in this post

2012, family, homeschooling, , , , , ,

{31 Days of Thanks} Blog Hop ~thankful and blessed…

Written by Joy
4 Comments
{31 Days of Thanks} Blog Hop ~thankful and blessed…

31 Days of Thanks

Psalm 106:1

106 Praise the Lord!

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,

for his steadfast love endures forever!

I am so excited to be a part of the 31 Days of Thanks Blog Hop, that is being hosted by Meg at Homeschoolin’ Mama.   What is the 31 Days of Thanks Blog Hop?  It is where 31 bloggers have come together to share what Thanksgiving is to them, how thankful they are and who they are most thankful for, leading up to the day of Thanksgiving.  Also, as an added bonus, there are gifts being given away! Be sure to check the bottom of this post for your chance to enter for the gifts this week!  I have enjoyed reading everyone’s thankful posts.  I hope you have enjoyed them as well.

I have always loved Thanksgiving.  From as long as I can remember, Thanksgiving has always meant being with family and being thankful for what God has given and blessed our family with.  We would all gather at my grandma’s house and have a huge feast.  It was always a family reunion of sorts.  My dad’s side of the family would gather together and celebrate her birthday on that day as well.

However, several years ago, during the summer I was reading Ann Voskamp‘s blog, A Holy Experience and she was talking about being thankful and writing down what God had blessed you with daily.  I honestly had never thought to keep a journal about all the many blessings that God had given me.

By doing this, it really helped change my outlook on life.  By focusing on what I could be thankful for, it took away the focus of what was not going right.  I was a real worrier.  I worried about EVERYTHING.  There would be times that I would worry so much, I would literally make myself sick.  That is not what God wants us to do.  He wants us to focus on Him.  To have faith in Him.

James 1:2-4

2 Count it all joy, my brothers,when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

 

Worry is a sin.  I wasn’t trusting God enough.  I was putting my faith elsewhere.  I was putting it in man, in money, in everything that I shouldn’t have been.

Matthew 6:24-25

24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

I now look at Thanksgiving not only a day in November, but every day of my life.   I have an amazing God who loves me and loves me so much that He gave His SON to die on the cross so that I could have eternal life with Him.  I have a wonderful husband and 4 blessings that I call my children.  We have a roof over our head, food on the table and clothing on our backs.  My husband has a great job.  We have our extended families that we love so much.  We live in a land that we are free to worship God.  I am free to be at home with my children and homeschool them.

Do bad things keep happening?  Of course, we do.  Do we still all sin?  Of course, we do.  It is human nature for all to sin and do bad things.  I am thankful and blessed to have that chance to ask for forgiveness and to do my best to not sin again.  God has given us that chance.

Look around you and see what you can find to be thankful for.  Write it down.  Do it on a daily basis.  I promise you, you will begin to see things is a different light.  A better light.   As long as we keep our focus on God, we will find so much to be thankful for.

 

Don’t forget to enter  for a chance to win one of these amazing gifts! If you do not see the Rafflecopter widget down below, please click on the link.  It will take you to the Rafflecopter widget so that you can enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

2012, family, , ,

so thankful and blessed….

Written by Joy
so thankful and blessed….

 Colossians 3:17

 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

 The month of October has passed and we have now entered into November, the month we all celebrate Thanksgiving.  However, I have been doing my best to celebrate Thanksgiving daily, year around.   We have so much to be thankful for.  Even with a week of sickness, several days with a migraine, I can be thankful.  Thankful that I have medicine to help with the migraine.  Thankful I can go to a chiropractor and have my neck/head adjusted.  I just look at times like this as God telling me to slow down and to refocus on what is important.  Good or bad, I will praise Him.

1041. another week with my family.

1042. being asked to help with social media on Creation Thursdays at Creation Conversations.

1043. children who help around the house.

1044. sickness/migraine to slow me down to refocus on what is most important.

1045. new friends in Colorado.

1046. an invite to the Colorado Symphony. (field trip post)

1047. letters from friends back on NC.

1048. encouraging messages from fellow homeschoolers.

1049. being able to help and encourage others.

1050. quiet Sundays at home with the family.

I would love for you to join in counting the many blessings that God gives. Stop by A Holy Experience and visit others who are also sharing their many blessings.

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