5 Things to Do Now To Prepare for the Holiday Season

The older I get, the more I realize how quickly time flies. It's relentless. And I don't want to waste it. I shared most of these tips a few years ago, but I think they're worth repeating. You're welcome? No, I mean, you're welcome. :)

Here are some practical tips for getting in gear for the busiest time of the year, with less stress and lots more joy. I'll start with the simple, mindless tasks, ha ha, and move on from there. A little preparation really does go a long way, especially during the holidays.

1. Clean your candle holders, vases and other glass/ crystal
These items gather dust like the Boss, and just about every solid surface in our home displays two or three (or twelve) candles and other glass goodies during the holidays. To make them sparkle again, carefully place them on the top rack in the dishwasher and run them through a gentle cycle. Of course, make sure that they're dishwasher-friendly! Lots are! This is one of the easiest things to tackle ahead of time, and nothing twinkles quite like spot-free glass and crystal accessories. Plus, when you're elbow deep in tangled strings of lights and pine needles have found their way to every crevice, it feels so good to have this part already done.

This is also a great time to take inventory of candles, such as tea lights, tapers and pillars. Many are already on sale, and I've found that if I wait for those After-Holiday sales, it's pretty slim picking. Hot pink nativity candle, anyone? Yeah, me either.

2. Vacuum the corners of your ceilings and above door jambs
Not very glamorous, I know, but the holiday season gets so busy and hectic so quickly- no matter how hard I try to not let it!- and this is one thing I don't want to have to deal with during all that chaos. Dangling cobwebs were fine for Halloween. Not so much for Christmas.
Perfectly cleaned homes aren't necessary for friendly get-togethers and meals. We're human, and we have busy lives! Nobody should be judging you, but cobwebs are, well, gross. If you're a regular ceiling corner-vacuumer, then I suppose you've got this covered already.  But I'm not so much anymore, until the thought of some poor guest looking up to find Charlotte and her family perched on my ceiling gives me just enough incentive to do it.
And once that chore is complete, then I can go make a mess in the kitchen with this cutie!

3. Decide on your recipes now and purchase as many ingredients as possible ahead of time (and stick to that list!)
So many recipes for cookies, tarts & pies, rolls & bread, plus festive main course meals, so little time! Pinterest never fails to tempt me with about 1,2000 new treats to try by the time we sit down to Christmas dinner, but choose I must! I have found it best (and less stressful) to plan meals, parties, and even gifts around our favorite standbys, and limit the newbies. 
Of course I love to try new recipes, but I can't reinvent the cookie sheet every night! One or two new recipes throughout November and December is a good goal. Besides, in our family, Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without our annual Chocolate Spiders or Chocolate-Dipped Mexican Wedding Cakes! 

4. Plant your Paperwhites & other indoor blooms
Okay, so technically these should have been planted last week to ensure blooms for Christmas, but I actually plant mine for New Year's, so phew! I'm safe. There are several varieties of plants and flowers on the shelves now- I swoon over Paperwhites so they're always my first choice- and most require at least 5-6 weeks to sprout and bloom. Plant them now, follow the directions given, and enjoy fresh, fragrant flowers throughout the season.

These Paperwhites are from WalMart and cost around $5. All in one kits like this are available at home improvement stores, some drug stores, and other discount stores.

 Cranberries make great holiday decorating accents!

5. Decide what's most important to you and your family, make your plans, and mark your calendars

A little chaos at Christmas time can be exciting and fun; too much, and your body, mind and spirit suffer. Nobody wants to feel overwhelmed and overextended during this most Joyous of Seasons!
Decembers are especially crazy for us because we have two birthdays (the 12th and 15th) thrown in there! Good intentions aren't going to make things go smoothly...we need a plan! And I'm not talking just about attending or hosting parties. We mark our calendars for our annual Family Cookie-Decorating Day, special shopping trips with each of our children, and fun outings like ice skating or skiing. There's time for spontaneous things, too, but without a basic plan, I feel frazzled and unproductive, and those things that we enjoy feel more like boxes to be checked rather than memories in the making.
 
Furthermore, I'm finding that I need to be super specific about the times I devote to sewing for my shop, Rose & Ruffle, during the holiday rush (thank you, by the way!!!) because I just won't stop until every last order is finished. That can mean I'm tempted to pass on something we might do as a family- which is a horrible feeling-, and that I never have enough time to make special things for Isabelle and the boys. Those things are integral to my daily joy, so I need a plan!

In our family, one of our most important and cherished tradition is the Prayer Basket. Each night during December we gather around the tree and take turns pulling out a name from the basket. Then we pray together for that person, family, school, or country, etc. Someone who didn't get to draw a name chooses a song to sing, and that's how we end our family time together, right before the youngest heads off to bed. I'll admit, over the years this has been much less of a nightly routine because of everyone's differing schedules now that they're older- and most of them go to bed later than I do!, but it's worth hanging onto, so we make an effort to practice this act whenever we can. It's my absolute most favorite thing to do each year. 

One thing I will add, something that I am still learning: make some time for yourself. It doesn't have to be costly or time-consuming or a big deal in any way, but we Moms are in charge of pretty much all the details of our family's activities, and that can take its toll. A little time away helps me recharge and reset.

 

Taking the time to plan and prepare ahead of time helps me enjoy this special time so much more. I hope it helps you, too!

Personal Goals for The New Year

Well.
We're three weeks in.
It was a great beginning, but things took a downward spiral quickly when we all got sick (still recovering, ugh), and now I'm in that post-holiday-sick-of-winter funk.
But it's okay. I don't have to throw in the towel, admit defeat, or hang my head in shame. I get to keep trying, keep working towards my goals, and that's a good thing!

So here they are:

1. Spend more time reading and studying the Word

2. Pray for my children and husband with specific and intentional petitions, not just broad "generic" ones

3. Continue to move my body and fuel it with the best nutrition

4. Invite more friends and families over for coffee, play dates, big dinners...you name it!

5. Dream more. No, really. Dream big crazy dreams.

Interestingly enough, or maybe not, HA, these were quite similar to my goals for 2017. So how did I do last year?

I wanted to do some specific Bible studies last year, and they did not happen. I also was lacking in the reading Scripture department, big time, which has such a huge impact on my day to day life. I still feel extremely unsettled at our "new/old" church, but I'm really craving interaction and friendship and all that, so I'm just going to reach out to a few friends and see about doing our own study a couple times a month. I've also committed to reading the Bible in one year, and I've been doing well so far.

My prayer life still needs work. Some days/weeks I feel on fire, and others, well, barely dim.

Ha, don't ask me about my fitness goals THIS week! Earlier I shared that I felt more in tune with my body and more in shape right after Levi was born, and then as time went on (and sleep got nixed for over a year) I fell into bad habits and my self esteem suffered. I'm doing better. My family gave me a FitBit for my birthday, and I love it! Turns out I'm very competitive with it, ha ha. Now I need to take the time and effort to eat better, and stop snacking on junk!

I think we did well in the hospitality department, and I'd like to keep that momentum going. There's just something so special about coming together and sharing what's going on in your life with friends.

I admit that I get stuck a lot lately. In my own head. Life is complicated, isn't it? I mean, it isn't, but it so is. And relationships. Talk about complicated! I seem to be in a season where past hurts keep coming to mind, and it's hard to get past them. And then it's hard to dream about anything, really, because I'm just plain stuck. I suppose I need to pray more about this one.

So anyway, those are my goals for the year. Do they resonate with anyone else? Does anyone even read this blog anymore? It's been so hard to keep up with everything, but I'm trying! :)


And of course, every New Year I treat myself to one or two new plants to celebrate new beginnings, and to help get me through these dreary winter days. The cats devoured the poor African Violet, but the pink one is doing well. For now. ;)

HOW DO YOU HANDLE FINANCES?

Good Monday morning! This is either going to be a great one, or...nah. Let's not go there. Besides the fact that it's the first day back after a long break, I'm exhausted and my head is pounding. I was hoping for a full night's rest, especially after being sick for so long, but poor Caleb showed up at 2:49 AM because of the howling wind and "spooky sounds" in the woods, and then my mind started wandering uncontrollably. Some important things, and then some less so, like my ongoing pillow drama/dilemma and why Pinterest keeps changing things up, and I never got back to sleep. So let's hope for the best.

I don't know about you, but I often wonder just how people handle their money. Not exactly a subject you bring up at parties. Or over BBQ.When I'm listening to friends talking about vacation or purchasing a new big ticket item for their home or life, I find myself wondering: how did you pay for that? Did they set aside a little each month, sacrifice something else, or did they charge it, knowing (hoping) they'll pay it off at some later point?

In my family, we rely on credit cards for most of our purchases. I've had the occasional I'm-going-to-change-everything-about-everything in terms of how we handle finance moments over the years, but those ideas fizzled out rather quickly. Plus, we simply like the convenience of plastic. Our spending isn't out of control, we pay off the bill at the end of each month and never carry a balance, but something still feels a little off.

I want a plan. I need a plan. Maybe a good starting place would be to write out some financial goals. I'm not talking retirement here, just day to day living as well as bigger things like family vacations/excursions. It almost feels kind of embarrassing, like, I'm a grown up with a growing family and a home- I should already know these things. But they were never talked about in my house, and all of the plans I've tried over the years just haven't worked for us. So here's my question: what has worked for you? I'd love it if you shared your thoughts or ideas in the comments. Thanks!

It sounds so simple, really: just save up for what you want. But it never seems to work that way, especially when broken arms happen and the fridge dies and that rattle in the car is getting louder...

Summer Fun and Some Home Improvement Details

You know big things are about to happen when there's a toilet sitting in your garage. I mean, really. That's big stuff right there.  ;)

I feel like we haven't tackled any of those last few things on our 'House List' in a while. Honestly, the work outside has occupied every spare second kept us busy. I'll have to add some more photos because the grass is growing now and the whole yard looks so different. Wow. That was a gi-nor-mous project, but now it's time to focus on the inside.

But it's summer. And it's hot. HOT! I guess we'll just chip away at that list as we're able because I am definitely not missing out on summer fun with my kids. A shelf or a door knob (or a toilet!) can wait...making memories cannot. We were so excited about taking just Caleb and Isabelle on an impromptu trip to the zoo and amusement park last night since the older two are at sleep-overs, although I will admit there's a part of me that is never settled when we're off doing something with one or two but missing the other one or two. I know spending time alone with parents is crucial, but as the parent, it's something that's much more challenging than I'd ever have thought. I hate the idea of experiencing something fun without everyone there to be part of it. Am I the only one who thinks this way?

Anyhoo. I glanced at the hours online (why I didn't do this before we made our plans is beyond me) as W was driving home from work only to discover that the zoo closes at 5. It take an hour to get there, and we couldn't even leave before 4:15. Ugh. So we did what any sensible parent who has already hinted at a fun, special time out together does and we ate out and closed down the local swimming pool. I wrote on instagram how strange it felt to not be outnumbered for a change, ha!

Today as we embark on another adventure, I'm not making eye contact with that toilet out there. Well, you know what I mean. =)

Then again, this picture was taken one year ago, and he looks like he's having fun, right?

If you want to see our summer fun shenanigans, you can find me on IG as 'roseandruffle' here.

In sewing news, I made something for myself that I adore (finally) and a denim maxi skirt for I- her official first maxi skirt. I'm both ecstatic and a little sad. It feels like yesterday she was wearing ruffled bloomers and pinafores. Post here.

Hope it's a great day for you!

Big Decisions & Little Changes in our Home

Okay, so first things first. It's hard for me to share this, but maybe it will offer encouragement or hope to someone else in the same boat. I know God is good like that.

For nearly a month, we'd been hoping that we'd found our baby girl. The morning after receiving an email about her, back before Christmas, I was walking C and IK to the bus stop when I got a text telling me that sweet Birthmom had been rushed to the ER due to premature labor (about 4 months early). That felt like some kind of sick joke, considering how we lost the baby back in August. We found out a week or so later that she was doing well, baby was well, and things looks great. Good news!

Another week or so passed and we hadn't heard anything. This is normal, but still, it's frustrating! Well, around this time, I'd also begun to consider another international adoption, or rather, that if God was leading us in that direction, then I would let go of my fear and follow His lead.

On Monday afternoon, I did another online search, only this time I got sucked in. I found a few agencies I like and began reading about the various country requirements, and my heart just started crumbling. Changes in laws have made it SO difficult to adopt, and not only is it a financial hurdle but now it takes more than 2-4 years on average to complete the process, including a 6-8 week or longer stay in country. I felt so hopeless and heartbroken- it doesn't seem fair! Why are people trying to make it so hard to give children a home? A family of their own?

In the midst of this moment of turmoil, I checked my email and there it was. THE email.

Birthmom chose another family earlier that afternoon.

We were told that she was holding our profile in her other hand, and had a really hard time deciding, and that we should feel better knowing that. Maybe.

Maybe not.

I hadn't "lost" it over a rejection in a while, but that night after reading the email, I couldn't hold it back. I feel like my children have seen me cry so much in the past, well, decade, so I tried to hide in the shower. I'm not sure it disguised anything. That was a painful and difficult night. And cue the tears once again. Oh this life is hard!

God is good, all the time! I really do believe that! In fact, that's what I'm clinging to for dear life. It's hard to trust Him- especially His timing right now- but I'm trying. It's a continual relearning to let go of my expectations, and to be grateful for what I have.

So that's what been happening on the adoption front. Tuesday morning was kind of blur, but in an okay way. It was pouring buckets all day long, and wouldn't you know, we had our family portrait sessions scheduled that night. Talk about a near panic attack! My hair, people. That's what I was terrified about. I mean, my hair hardly ever cooperates in general, but with RAIN...oh no oh no oh no... And then there is the pressure of coordinating outfits, everyone else's hair, those goofy grins you're hoping don't show up...

As if it knew it would be the end of me, my hair not only behaved, it was a model student! I couldn't believe it! And that is proof that miracles do happen.  =) Our pictures turned out even better than I'd hoped, and once I started breathing again because of the major sticker shock for the package prices, it was all good. (Our church is updating its directory, so they brought in the professionals, and families could choose to buy packages or not...but honestly, how on earth do you resist when everyone is smiling, looking cute/handsome, and you just look like one big happy family? Exactly.)

I was so happy, in fact, that I declared it Ice Cream Sundaes for Supper night. Tuna subs for dessert. Yum! Then...

Isabelle announces that her tooth is weally, weally, wiggly and the stinker yanks that other top tooth out! I had a hard enough time with the first top tooth, how can I even stand to lose this one? I cried. I tried to pretend it was happy-crying, or at least fake-crying, but I don't think she bought it. She kept rubbing my back and telling me that she's still my baby girl. Insert ugly cry here.

And I am proud to announce that there were no redemptive Tooth Fairy visits (after the fact) for this tooth! We are seriously the worst T.F. parents out there! No, really. The Worst. I will add here, however, that the parents who are forking over twenty bucks for a tooth are really making it difficult for the rest of us who think that forking over twenty bucks for a tooth is insane. Isabelle may have had a snarky comment or two regarding her measly two dollars. Girl should be happy there's something there at all, but I don't think I'll get into that with her. HA

Since I shared some adoption news, I'll share some family news. Ethan has taken a turn for the worse. The medical bills are pouring in. Caleb's broken leg is having more issues, and surgery may be back on the table. Medical bills from that whole fiasco keep pouring in. There is tension and bitterness in our home, even despair. Unkind words and behavior. I worry about the condition of my children's hearts. Of mine.

All of this has led to some serious conversations, lots of prayer, and a rethinking of sorts about what we want as a family. I'm not able to say exactly right now, but we're making big decisions and there will be even bigger changes in our immediate future. The strange-wonderful thing? I have such a peace about it all! That is a total God-is-in-control comfort, and I'm so thankful for that because I think I would just give up otherwise!

Just to make this post even loooooonger, I've been meaning to show a picture of our old TV armoire that we'd shoved in the basement when we moved here (it didn't fit anywhere, or so I thought!) that now sits happily where the tall bookshelves had been. It houses TONS of sewing storage so I'm able to keep things looking neat and clutter-free. And it was completely free! Happy happy happy! I moved the book shelves to the adjacent corner and they add just the right amount of weight to the family room. Now I have to add a couple more pictures to center the gallery wall above the couch, but that's pretty minor!

I will have those new million dollar portraits to show off.  ;)

If you've made it this far, well, thank you for reading my rambling! Here are some pictures:

Obviously this was taken at Christmas- the book shelves have been in that spot since we first moved in. I liked it, but there's nothing like needing to find a spot for a piece of furniture that kicks you in gear to move things around a bit.

I've missed that armoire! We stained it ourselves years ago and it was the most hideous orange you ever laid eyes on. Then we (I) tried to paint it, which was a complete disaster- just bad color choices. So then we stripped and or sanded it down to the original orange but this time rubbed in dark walnut stain, and I've loved it ever since.

I'm still playing around with different pillow cover options. Apparently Ryder has an opinion too.  If you squint, you can see the area to the left of my sewing table is a little different too. I've had so many sewing projects lately that it's never completely picked up, so...that's why there aren't more pictures to show you. Soon, I promise!

Ha Ha, this photo captures the moment well! She made herself a little nervous at one point in the extraction process.  =)

And I just had to share this one- she has such a tender mother's heart, making sure they're covered and warm. I didn't know she'd put them like this until after she'd left this morning. 

Okay, now I'd better scoot! Lots of sewing to do, but first, I've got to get my Beef Stew in the slow-cooker. Have a wonderful day!

Busy Busy Busy

I couldn't let 11/12/13 pass without its due accolades! And I can't believe that Thanksgiving is just around the corner...and then CHRISTMAS! Where has the time gone???

Poor Ethan still can't make it through an entire day at school, so there's a ton of driving back and forth across town. And waiting. Lots of waiting around. But I really do love having him around during the day, so it's totally worth it.

Overall, today was a productive, happy day. I woke up early as usual and saw Bill off, and then did a few things I've been neglecting lately, things that make a world of difference in my well-being: I stretched. Like, really stretched. Took my time and focused on each muscle, each breath, and the most wonderful feeling of gratefulness and peace swept through me. Then I read from my devotional book, craving and savoring Truth. Reflecting and letting go. I refused to turn on the computer to check this or that, and instead, I got lunches and snacks all ready to go, cut out some fabric for pajamas, tidied up a bit, and was generally just a more pleasant Mom during the breakfast shift. I even had enough time to make apple pancakes (and they came out just the way we love them- that perfect crispness on the outside and fluffy, nearly-gooey insides)!

I had a decorating committee meeting at church about an hour after dropping Jonah off there for school, so I laced up the sneaks and managed to get in 4.5 miles during that time. Nice! Granted, it was absolutely freezing cold and my nose was like a faucet for our meeting, but it felt so great to have gotten all this accomplished by 9 am! More sewing sewing sewing, and I've got a little something exciting going on with my shop this week! It just happened to be the perfect kind of day for the ever-wonderful Beef Stew, which translates to: it was like Antarctica outside, and it was all I had in the fridge. =)

Those first choices really do set the tone for the entire morning, which in turn, sets the tone for the entire day. Believe me, I know all too well those harried days when lunches are thrown together in between arguing matches and harsh, snapping words, and though we barely make it out the door, there is anger, hurt, and tears. Oh the tears!. 99% of the time, it's because I didn't choose to manage my time well. What a difference!

Pretty flowers help, too.  =)

 

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Colossians 3:2