If I could stop the hands of time

If I could stop time, I'd freeze these last few weeks. We are caught in that wonderful place where fun and exciting things are happening every day- simple things like smiles from our little guy, holiday festivities, and new family traditions (Elf on a Shelf and Christmas movies) and old favorites (Bentleyville and bell ringing for the Salvation Army).












Our little girl has concerts for Sunday school, preschool and dance.











We've enjoyed Christmas parties and she is over her fear of Santa.






She's excited to give the gifts we've chosen and made for others. She understands giving. And wants to give. She's keeping secrets of gifts we've bought and writing out names of those we care about on presents. I'm aware of how much she's grown and learned in the last year and I love to see these glimpses of a child wise beyond her years mixed with the awe and wonder of delight that is just as it should be for her age.

I love our home decorated for the holidays. And since I'm home on maternity leave (best timing ever) I can sit and enjoy quiet moments at home with my little man, the Christmas tree twinkling, baby sleeping on my lap, beautiful snow outside our windows as I appreciate the warm house, healthy baby whose playing, exploring, smiling (!!!), and these moments that I know won't last forever, but sure wish they could.


























- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

An attitude of gratitude

We used the tree of giving thanks that my mom and I made for the first time as a family this year.






Each day in November we took turns writing what we were thankful for. My daughter loved this activity and as a new writer, contributed more than Daddy or me. She is also a pro at writing her name so that made up a good portion of her contributions:) It appears we were more thankful for her than anyone/anything else.






I saved all of our thankful cards and we can read through them in years to come, just as we did at the end of the month. My daughter didn't choose to be thankful for things like toys, but people (such as herself), including her little brother- proud parenting moment here.













Our thanks included some light hearted and some serious, but topping the list is our health and our family. If you have these two things, you have everything. It's amazing how when we take the time to be thankful for what we have, we worry less, complain less and love deeper.

Then I saw this in a book I was reading:


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Bedtime prayers

One of my favorite times of the day are early morning and  just before bed with my little girl. Part of it is the snuggling and the coziness of that time of day and the honest conversations we have about our day (either about what adventures await us or about what we have already experienced during the day). Evening is also the time we pray together.

 

Prayer is important in our home and we’ve always made a point to pray for people and to give thanks. For months now, our little girl has said her bedtime prayers on her own and you just never know what will come out of her honest mouth:

Often she prays for the usual suspects: Yaya, Nana, Papa, Mommy, Daddy, Grams, Gramps, aunts, uncles, cousins, teachers, friends. Then she gives thanks for the fan, her blanket, toys, babies, nightlight, doors... (a lot of which we take for granted). I mean when was the last time you gave thanks for doors? Without doors, we would not have protection from the elements outside, privacy or a solid home. They deserve that thanks in prayers.

“Dear Jesus, thank you for my Daddy and Mommy. Not for my Uncle Matt when he teases me. I am not his property.”

“Dear Jesus, thank you baby who did not go potty in her undies.”  That was heard while potty training. And upon checking, her baby doll was indeed dryJ

And my personal favorite, from the other night:

“Dear Jesus, thank you for our meal and the best gift of all, our family....”

Melt my heart!! Simple, sweet and oh so heartfelt.

~Angela

Thankful

With Thanksgiving upon us, it is the perfect time to mention just a few of the things I am thankful for againn this year. I reviewed my list from last year and there are striking similarities:

1. My family. I adore them. I would do anything for them. I know that they would do anything for me in return. We have fun together, make time to be together and I appreciate them. I cannot imagine my life without my family. They are a constant presence in my life. This includes my husband, daughter, mom, brother, grandma, cousins, aunts, incles, and inlaws. I am proud to raise my daughter in a family with so much love.

2. My health. After a couple stress fractures earlier this year that kept me couch bound for several weeks and then an injured finger (I am extremely klutzy), I appreciate more than ever the ability I have to exercise. I try to remind myself of this on days I struggle to peel myself out of bed to meet my running partner or come up with a bazillion other excuses not to work out.

3. My friends. I feel blessed to have the lifelong friends I have. After going through a hurtful honesty session (me being told we were never friends to begin with) with people I cared deeply for, I appreciate those friends that were there to pick me up, let me cry, stopped by my house just for a hug, and remind me what I always preach- focus on the good; not the bad because there is a lot more good than bad.

4. My job. I realize how blessed I am to have a job in an economy that is harder than ever to find one. It's a bonus that I like it most days. It provides me with the sense of providing for my family that I so desperately feel is important. And although my job as a Mom doesn't pay much in monetary ways, it is the most challenging and rewarding job I'll ever have. And I am thankful for my role as a Mom too. My little girl continues to amaze me and make my heart swell with love. Nothing prepared me for how much I would love my child. She blesses my life in so many ways. I am thankful she is a happy, healthy and loving child.

5. That my house does not have mice.  Honestly, this time of year was brutal when we lived in the country as we had a mice problem. I had nightmares for months, even after we moved. I love my house because it is comfortable, but I also love that it does not have mice.

6. My daughter. As I mentioned above, she is my world and I am grateful for her being in my life. She came to us at just the right time and was blessing right from the start.

7. My husband. He is truly a good person and sometimes I feel I don't deserve him. He puts up with my crazy ideas and lets me be me. I should have put him higher on the list, but it is in NO particular order. He is the best father I could have chosen and our life together is fun, adventurous and we enjoy being together. I look forward to coming home to him each day.

8. My education. I love to learn and read and grow. I am thankful for my education and after encouraging a young woman not to give up on her goals of a college degree as I believe education is the one thing no one can ever take from you, I appreciate now more than ever my own education. I love to see my little girl learn and grow as well and hope to be a role model for her.

9. I am thankful for each day. Each day is a gift and there have been far too many reminders lately that you never know what each day brings so we must make the most of them. And I do. I know what is important and take time each day to thank God for the blessings He has provided. Even in the darkest of days, I have been able to find something to be thankful for.  My heart aches for those that are so unhappy they are missing out on the daily blessings they have.

~Angela

Tree of Thanks (No sewing required!)

I saw this in the Pottery Barn catalog and although I loved it, I did not love the $69 price. After I found a coupon code and decided to order it, it was out of stock!  So I decided that I could make it myself. I started this project before Thanksgiving last year but it was slow going! It was not finished in time for Thanksgiving last year so this is the first year we will use it (the beginning of a new tradition!!!!)

 

All said and done, the time involved and the money I have into the material, it would have been well worth the money to buy it from Pottery Barn, but I LOVE that it is homemade! And my mom cut out all of the leaves and numbers out for me, which was a huge help! I appreciate her help and I love the fact that this was a joint family project.

 

If you want to make your own, I did not make a tutorial, but it is all made of felt. I printed off shapes for leaves, numbers and letters online for a pattern and drew by hand the tree, then cut everything out (with much help from my dear mom, of course!) and glued it all together with felt glue. There was no sewing involved.  I did have to iron on a firming fabric (that is not the technical term, but the Sales Associate a JoAnn Fabrics, knew what I was talking about) to the back so it would support itself when pinned to the wall in only two spots and no fold over.

I printed off a sheet of paper that says "I am Thankful For:"

and cut them out
 



Then we wrote down what we are thankful for.

 

As you can see, my little girl is thankful for kangaroos.



Here is a close up of the kangaroo

Then tuck the thankful cards into each number that represents the day of the month.

 

Then enjoy looking at this beautiful fall tree, being reminded of all we have to be thankful for:)

~Angela

The Handwritten Letters

Who doesn’t love mail? I’m talking about real mail- not the magazines and bills and advertising postcards, but a card, a package, an even more unexpected handwritten letter?! It is kind of a lost art. I have been writing to a dear friend of mine for the past fifteen years. I have written my last letter to her. Velma passed away a few weeks ago at 92. She was a neighbor who lived across the street from us when I was in middle school. Sadly, she lost her husband and both children years before I ever met her and lived alone. My mom would send me over with food for her (that sums up my mom; always taking care of others) and I would stay and visit with her- we would talk about books as we shared a passion for reading- and she would want to know all about the happenings of a teenager.

I called her and visited her only a handful of times after I moved away so our friendship blossomed more through the letters and photos we exchanged. Velma would send pictures of her flowers and her beloved cat, Reggie, photos of her in parades and at birthday parties. In the last few years I stopped getting letters from her as it was hard for her to write. But I kept sending them. Because I hoped they brightened her day, especially after she moved into a nursing home and had to give up her dear cat, who was more of a friend or companion to her than just a pet. I sent cards and photos of me traveling, running in races, my first home, photos of our wedding, my adventures with my husband and then most recently our daughter. All the while, I continued to write letters, filling her in on my life as a college student, a young homeowner, my adventures in dating, a new wife, a young mom. Separated in age by generations, our friendship grew as we learned from each other, mostly through the letters.

I recently got a letter from an employee at the nursing home that said “When we were going through Velma’s things, we found these letters you have sent over the last many years. I figured you did not get the notification that she had passed away.” I knew the news would come eventually, but still was not prepared for it. I stood there in my kitchen, stunned. In the last letter that she received from me, did I tell her how much I appreciate her? Did she know just how much this friendship has meant to me? I always make a point to tell people and more importantly show I value them, but did I do enough?

The book The Wednesday Letters by Jason Wright comes to mind. This is heartwarming and emotional book that I recommend to men or women. (It would make a great anniversary gift).

I wish I would have saved the letters Velma sent to me. I would have cherished them as much as she cherished mine. It would also be interesting to read through the letters I sent her, recalling the highs and lows in my life over the span of our friendship. I am sure they were tossed out. The letters hold no value to anyone else. I will not be penning a letter to Velma any longer. This makes me sad, but I will take the time instead to write letters to the other people in my life that are special to me. I get so caught up in life that I rarely take the time to do so. That time is now.

~Angela

Thankful for so many things

Thanksgiving is a perfect time to focus on all that I am thankful for. I started a tradition with my family when I was in high school of writing in the Book of Giving Thanks each Thanksgiving. Whomever I happen to be lucky enought celebrate Thanksgiving with gets to write in the book. This year, it will be my family as we will be celebrating with them.

I am thankful for way more than the 15 things on this list, but I do have other things to do today. 

I am Thankful for:

1. My husband, who provides for our family, is a partner in this life and the best Daddy I could have ever wanted for our little girl. He respects me, and has earned the respect of those who work for him as he is caring, compassionate, generous and giving. He keeps me centered and makes me a better person. He is fun and spontaneous a great listener and a great hugger. He is my biggest supporter and my rock. I thank God every day that he brought us together.

2. My little Bundle for who I cannot imagine life without. Nothing prepared me for the love I have for her and being a mom has been the most fun, rewarding job I have ever had, hands down. Her hugs, giggles and songs fill my heart with a joy that is like nothing I have ever experienced.

3. My mom, who is a great friend and great parent. She has taught me more by example in the last few years than I could ever learn in a lifetime. Her dignity, grace and positive outlook for life are something of envy. She has overcome obstacles and celebrated life's greatest joys, always with a smile and a kind word. Putting others before herself is second nature to her and she has taught me the value of family, the importance of helping others and makes time with her special. I've seen an even more beautiful side of my mom now that she is a grandmother.

4. My brother is the hardest working person I have ever met. He is also the most generous. He is the person who would (and has) give his last dollar to someone because they probably needed it more than he. Each year for Christmas he donates money to St. Judes (my favorite charity) as part of my Christmas gift. If that doesn't say something about his character, I don't know what does. He is fun, he is smart, he is the best uncle to my little girl and their bond is untouchable. He is also hilarious. My brother is one of the main reasons I want to have another child- as much as my little girl completes our family, I cannot imagine life without my brother (and friend) by my side. Sibling relationships are like no other relationship and I want my little girl to experience that too.

5. My girlfriends, whom there are too many to list. I have friends scattered all over the country. Some I talk to more than others, but each one of my friends is important to me. I have the friends that I can call in the middle of the night because I need something (I don't do this often) and the friends who will listen, the friends who will laugh with me and cry with me and have fun with me. I have friends who have children that are now friends with my little girl and I have friends who probably never will have children. I love them all the same. I have friends that I see often and I have friends that I rarely see, but email often. I treasure these friendships SO much. I feel so undeserving of most of my friends, that I appreciate they still love me, despite my flaws.

6. The family that I married into. I am lucky to have a second family that loves me as much as I love them. I could not have married someone who did not value his family. Although we struggle to make time for both of our families at holidays, we are blessed to have this problem. Not only do we both have a family, we LIKE both of them!

7. My extended family...my grandma, aunts, uncles, cousins. I'm lucky to say that I am related to all of them. We love, laugh, give and create memories together. I really cannot do justice to how lucky I am to have these people in my life. They are there to help and there to celebrate and there to support each other. All. the. time.

8. My health. This is something I often take for granted, which I should not.

9. My house, which felt like home before we ever moved in. Our home is not only a shelter, but a place to create memories, raise a family and a reflection of us! We have lived here for just under 2 years and I cannot imagine being anywhere else.

10. My passion for life. This means that I am never bored, I appreciate the little things and start each day on a postive note. (this does NOT mean that I spring out of bed each morning)

11. Time to myself. My husband and I make an effort to create time to do the things we each enjoy. Alone. Sometimes I just need that hour to go for a run, read a book, take a bath, blog... It refreshes me and for that I am thankful.

12. My job. In a job climate that is tougher than ever, I am thankful that I have a job and enjoy what I do, I enjoy who I work with and even more important, I do not take work home with me.

13. Water. This is my drink of choice and there are people all over this world who do not have this luxury.

14. My smartphone. As much as I hate to put an item on the list, it is true. I am thankful for my phone. I am thankful for the time I used my GPS feature to get out of a rough neighborhood when I was lost while traveling for work. I am thankful for the convenience of email and calling on the go as aways to stay better connected than every before. I am thankful for the convenience of my phone.

15. My ability to laugh at myself. This has saved a lot of tears and allowed me to look at the more positive angle of tough days, embarassing moments and struggles.


Nothing brightens my day or humbles me more than focusing on all the blessings I have. I don't feel that I deserve most of these blessings in life...

~Angela