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September 30, 2013

Joyful Mom Monday - An Idea to Try

Well, once again, it's been awhile...I have two more weeks of crazy busyness and juggling of two different worlds, and then I think I will be back to normal pace.  Today, I thought I would share an idea that I haven't had a chance to implement in our home yet, but one that I plan on beginning as soon as we are done with the next two crazy weeks.  This idea is not just mine.  It has come from several different moms, and I have left some of their ideas and borrowed some of their ideas and added some of my own to make something that I am excited about!  So, here it is...

I would like to try to have what I am calling a "Feast of Blessings" once a week at our home.  I have racked my brain trying to find a way to have our family sit down together at least once a week and count the ways God has blessed us.  You see, I don't know if your family is like mine or not, but we have a tendency to complain.  (GASP!)  Yes, we have this knack for looking at what we do not have instead of recognizing how many things we do have that we come nowhere close to even deserving!  And so, I thought this would  be an excellent way to take special time as a family to acknowledge how good God has been to us.  Our family always eats dinner together, but each Thursday night, I would like to prepare a bit more of a special meal (maybe add a bought dessert to the end or something like that! LOL!), set the table nicely (if I can talk myself into passing over the usual paper plates), light some beautiful candles (oh, the Mr. will LOVE that one!) and sit down to a civilized meal with 5 children and a Mr. who doesn't believe in fancy anything!  As you can tell, my family is not perfect, and I fully expect that this will take some training and practice for everyone, BUT if we never attempt new things, think of all the things we would miss out on. 

In reality, I do have high expectations of this meal becoming a wonderful tradition that my family will look back on as a treasured memory.  I do want to have a beautiful meal laid out for them...it may not be a $50 plate, but it will be something that tells them, "You are special to me, and I love serving you."  We will set the table nicely and learn to use beautiful manners while doing it!  And by George, I am determined that one day I will light a candle, and the Mr. will not roll his eyes!

Once the feast has been laid out and enjoyed, we will then pull out our Blessings Journal, and as a family record the different blessings God has given to us that week.  We will also take a few minutes to tell each other thank you for the ways we have been blessed by them during the week.  I pray that this will be a time for us to form a wonderful bond with each other as well as an opportunity to show our children what a personal, loving God they have.

Every family is different, and your family may not be able to do something exactly like this.  The important thing is not necessarily what our traditions are but that we have them.  It's not important how we choose to remember God's goodness, but that we do intentionally take time to show our children their beautiful God.  So for those of you who try this, I would love to hear how it goes (I will make sure to let you know how ours turned out), and if you have other ways that you and your family celebrate the blessings of God, I would love to hear about them!  God is too wonderful not to celebrate and bring glory to! 

Wishing you a day full of blessings,
Christy



September 17, 2013

A Recipe in Honor of Fall...

I know I have given this recipe already, but because my time has been a little short here lately, but mostly because these are too good with a cup of coffee, I thought I'd share again.   This is a recipe for Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins, and they are to die for!  They can be served as a breakfast muffin or a dessert.  I plan to make some for our family this weekend.  Fall hasn't quite come to our grand state yet, but it is in the air, and I am trying to hurry it here as quickly as I can with all these fall posts! ;)  Happy Tuesday, Everyone!

 
Wishing you a day full of blessings,
Christy

September 16, 2013

Joyful Mom Monday - Making a Fall Fun List

I love spring most, but fall is my second favorite season of the year!  This year, I am trying to put together a Fall Fun List for the family and I.  There are so many things that only happen at certain times of the year, and if we aren't purposeful, the time flies by without ever enjoying those moments.  So that is why I have a list for even the fun things I want to do! :)  I've only just begun this list, and I would love to hear your ideas as well.  I want my kiddos to remember fun times and a laughing mom, and so I need to be purposeful in this area as much as in any other. So here's to a wonderful fall full of fun!

* Taking pictures in the sunflowers (hopefully that happens tomorrow!)
* Nature walks collecting fall leaves and flowers
* Making candy apples
* Going through a corn maze
* Carving our pumpkins
* Thankfulness Feasts once a week (This will be a big challenge for me, but I will write more soon and let you know how it's going!)
* Hot chocolate and good books
* Firepit, smores and blankets
* Making some fun fall crafts such as this family sign, this cute idea to test our very limited artistic skills, and I know of a few silly kids who would LOVE to wear this.

Happy Fall Fun Planning!

Wishing you a day full of blessings,
Christy