My "NOT-TO-DO LIST"

I saw THIS POST today and really liked it, and of course, it got me thinking:

What is on MY "NOT-TO-DO LIST"? I think that it is important that I have this list to keep me focused and peaceful in the midst of this wonderful season.

SO.... the start of my list....

-I will not buy more than three gifts for each of my children (even though I am tempted).
-I "finished" Christmas cards last week. I will not feel guilty when I get a card from someone that didn't receive one from us in their mailbox this year and rush around trying to figure out something to send since we are out of cards.
-As much as I love baking and giving goodies to others, I won't be spending that time in my kitchen this year to bake up goodies for Scott's wonderful coworkers, our neighbors, friends, and family. It doesn't mean that I don't love them. I really, really do. It just means that I am trying to de-stress a bit and would rather love on my kiddos during this season (and attempt to not be the Grinch to them.... which often occurs when I am trying to bake 20 loaves of bread with them under foot and when running to the grocery stores to grab the supplies that I forgot. Besides, since I am living in a fairly constant "pregnancy fog" these days, I'm afraid I would forget some ingredients, and the yummies would flop anyway! HA!)
-I will leave numerous decor items in the rubbermaids in the name of simplicity (actually, I left a few boxes full of things this year). "Doing Christmas" in a small apartment last year altered my perspective on decorating a bit.
-I am thrilled that we ARE spending the entire Christmas Day at home, just the five of us. However, I am NOT cooking that day. My friend, Sheri, mentioned to me that she never cooks on Christmas Day. I really, really like the idea of that! :)

So, how about you? What is on your "NOT-TO-DO LIST"???

Can we borrow an "O"

So, my husband is asking Oprah to borrow her "O" for an incredible cause. God gripped our hearts a few years ago as our eyes were opened to the world water crisis.... wouldn't it be awesome, AWESOME if we all came together and solved this crisis in OUR LIFETIME?! SERIOUSLY!

Learn more here:



And to jump in and get involved, too....

Let Them Laugh Out Loud
Charity Water
Living Water International

From the mouths of babes....

Isaac talked all morning about wanting to make Jesus a birthday present. When Scott asked him what he wanted to make....

Isaac: A surfboard!
Without missing a beat, Aaron said: Jesus doesn't need a surfboard! He can walk on water!

To harm or to heal?

I was reminded of something pretty powerful today.... the power of our words.

As I mentioned yesterday, Scott adjusted his schedule this week to take today off, so that I could enjoy the boys' parties at school. In between parties, we took "the littles" (Isaac and Ellie) and ran a couple of errands. One = Menards.

And there.... it happened. Right in the middle of the hardware section. Scott was in one aisle with the kids and the "car cart", and I went to the next aisle over to look for a drawer-mechanism-thingy (that's my very best Menards lingo, right there!)

Now, you need to know that one of our boys' favorite things in the world right now is to get Ellie to mimic them.... and animal noises are at the top of their list. Isaac was making a lovely rooster noise, and Ellie was, indeed, following his lead like a champ.

I was one aisle over from my precious little cock-a-doodle-dooing roosters (who were NOT being hideous.... you just gotta trust me on that one)..... with one other man.

One other man who proceeded to say, certainly loud enough for anyone around to hear, and NOT under his breath:

"AHH! Make those kids SHUT UP!"

I paused.... breathed in.... looked at him.... and gently said, "You mean MY kids?"

He looked me straight in the eye and said, "YES! Make YOUR kids SHUT UP!"

I paused again.... breathed in again.... and GENTLY said, "Well, Merry Christmas to you, too...." and turned and walked the other direction.

Now, God certainly redeemed the Menards trip for me.... some of the SWEETEST people cooed and talked to Ellie in the cart later in the visit (and one precious older guy even leaned over, grinned, and said to her, "Hey! Whatcha getting me for Christmas, sweetie?" She laughed!) and I was reminded that it's probably about 10:1.... the number of people in public who are absolutely sweet to my kids vs. the one j-e-r-k (oops.... did I really just SAY that?)

So, why is it that this guy's comments BURNED me so much?

While I can psychoanalyze him pretty quickly.... sum up in my mind that he is having a miserable day or maybe even a miserable season of life....

It was a great reminder for me.

MY words have power. The power to harm or heal. The power to make a stranger's day better or to cause grief. I want to be FULL of "words of life" and THAT IS A CHOICE!

On the flip side.... today reminded me of some of THE most powerful words a stranger has ever said to me. Aaron was about 2 1/2 and was having a TOTAL meltdown in the check out lane at Walmart. He was TICKED because I hadn't gotten him the free cookie at the bakery.... he hadn't earned it because he had made some pretty rotten choices throughout the store.... and he was TICKED at me for following thru on my word and not getting him the sugar cookie.

As I was stressed out and barely surviving the check-out lane, I noticed an older lady glancing at me continually. I remember thinking to myself, "I can only imagine what she is thinking of me in the middle of my child's all-out tantrum right now!" However, she breathed life into me a moment later....

She looked me straight in the eye and said, "Hang in there, honey. Your consistency will pay off. It is ALL worth it. My kids are all grown now and are great kids. I'm SO glad that I was consistent even when it was hard."

I cried happy tears that day.

Powerful words. Words of life.

May I CHOOSE to be a life giver. EVEN WHEN I feel like someone else has hit me in the gut.

Thankful Thursday....

Today, I am thankful...

1) For the way that God has gifted my husband. Scott came and shared a really awesome message at MOPS this morning. I received a ton of awesome feedback, and I know that moms were blessed because of it. I live with the guy, and I even left thinking, "Huh, I've never thought about it that way! That's awesome!" God uses Scott's preaching gifts and creative gifts in a really incredible and unique way.... I'm proud of him.... 100% BIASED that he is the best speaker that I've ever heard.... and super, super proud of him (did I say that already?!)
2) For online banking. Seriously, I love that I can pay my bills in less than a minute! Awesome invention!
3) For great deals. I just got an AWESOME deal on a winter coat from Lands' End. LOVE THAT! :)
4) That both of my boys have amazing teachers this year whom they love and who love them!
5) That Scott switched his work schedule around this week so that he can keep Ellie tomorrow so that I can go to both of the boys' Christmas parties at school! I can't wait!!! YAHOO!

Have a blessed day! Love you much!

I have a true mommy confession.

Sigh. Are you ready for it?

Sometimes, I cheat. There, I've finally said it. It's off my chest.

While preparing for ANOTHER game of Candy Land with Isaac this morning, I stacked the deck. I moved ALL of the double cards to the top of the pile, moved all of the pink cards that are towards the end of the game to the top of the pile, and the gingerbread man to the bottom.

I love my children. I love playing some thing with my children. I can't stand Candy Land. The faster it goes, the better in my book.

Any other mommy confessions lingering out there in the blogosphere? Confession leads to healing, right? :)

A little proof....

.... that our girl is a climber! She is the most happy and giggly when she is on top of the kitchen table.

And this was her first attempt to climb on the kitchen counter, utilizing our built in bench seat and the window as a step, nonetheless....

But notice what was luring her on the counter (just a hint, it wasn't my paper pile or the crock pot from that night's dinner!) At this point, she kept hitting her head on the cabinets and needed a little help from momma!

But even though this girlie keeps me on my toes, I'm certain that they don't come any sweeter! I love her to pieces!

A little laughter for this momma....

Ellie is in a great stage. There are so many things that I am loving about this stage, but there is one thing that I am adjusting to again....

Tonight, I told Scott that it seems that Ellie is the happiest right now when she is being destructive. Whether she is climbing up onto the kitchen counter and throwing every item on the floor, pulling every pan out of a drawer, throwing her brothers' artwork on the floor off of the kitchen table, launching food halfway across the room for Ollie, or beating on the keys of my laptop, all of these things THRILL her.

Today, the target was our bookshelf in the basement. She had thrown a dozen books on the floor, and then, she emerged around the corner with THIS BOOK in her hands....

This book was HUGELY helpful to me a few years ago in my mothering journey.

She was so proud of herself as she crawled across the floor with it in her hand. And then, she threw it across the room and laughed. I laughed, too. And am so thankful that I read the book a few years ago! ;)

We have a BIG announcement!

We are thrilled to announce that we are having a BABY! I am 16 weeks along, and our sweet babe is due to arrive in May!

Thought you might enjoy seeing Aaron and Isaac's reaction to the news a few weeks ago.... so thankful that Scott thought to grab the camera.... needless to say, Isaac's fixation on us leaving for the hospital threw me for a little loop! What a sweetie! :)

Babies, babies, and more babies.....

This morning, Isaac said to me, "Are we going to have lots and lots more babies at our house?"

Me: "How many do you think we should have?"

I: "2.... I mean 4.... I mean 3. Yeah, 3. We should have 3."

I guess Scott and I have our work cut out for us according to Isaac.

Our Isaac on his first birthday

Beautiful...

Faces of Adoption from Videos for AGCI on Vimeo.

Flashback Friday....

Happy sigh.... I love being a mom.... I really love being a mom on a beautiful beach, too....

(pics taken in Myrtle Beach.... May 2007.... Aaron: 4 1/2.... Isaac:1.... Deanna:31.4!)

Thankful Thursday....

Today, I am thankful....

1) For the absolute joy that snow brings to my children. We barely have much more than a dusting, but my boys have played and played and played in it the past two days. I also love that they think that I am the very best momma when I hand them a cup of hot chocolate when they walk in the door. Such a simple way to light up their days! I love it!
2) For the "Advent Conspiracy". About 4 or 5 years ago, Scott came home from a conference talking about it. To be completely honest, I thought that he was crazy at the time. But I am SO thankful that he eventually won me over to the idea and that the "Conspiracy" has totally transformed Christmas for our family over the past three years. It's a journey.... but I'm glad that we're on it.... and it's been absolutely thrilling to be a part of two churches getting involved in the journey in the process, too. Love it.
3) For good health.... today. You know, with kiddos and winter, you never know how long they are going to avoid yucky bugs. I am thankful that we are all healthy today.
4) For time with family. Our Thanksgiving was much different this year without my Grandma. But we reflected and connected and it was good.
5) That my hubby is SO helpful on MOPS mornings. Keeping it real.... MOPS days can be a little stressful around here, and this morning was a little extra stressful. I am thankful that he believes in the ministry of MOPS, too, and is willing to pitch in a little (or a lot!) extra to help me pull off my role to the best of my ability.

Have a blessed day! Love you.

Isaac learns the pledge

Our little man learned a little something new at school and wanted to share it on video (don't miss his adorable expression at the end!) Yep, I'm certain that God made him with some extra sugar.....



We love you, Isaac-man! :)

Except....

So, today was a really wonderful day. We decorated our tree (and had a great time, even though it was an artificial one out of the box.... my vote will ALWAYS be to go and cut one down as a family. I caved.... for THIS year....) I had fun decorating a new house and a new stair railing with garland. We baked yummy chocolate chip cookies. We watched Home Alone 2 tonight and laughed like crazy. It was a really wonderful day.... except....

Today, I couldn't ignore the laundry monster anymore. And when I chose to not ignore it, I also received a little "gift" in the process. I think that one of Isaac's overnight pull-ups was tucked in the leg of one of his jammie pants, and I missed it. Have you ever sent a pull-up through the washer? Sigh.... trust me when I say that you don't want to. I have washed that load three times now.... and even sent it through the dryer once to see if it would pull that gel stuff off of the clothes. Happy holidays to me........

Thankfully, it was a relatively clean and dry pull-up.

Yep, I'll just choose to be thankful for that today....

Sometimes (part 2)....

.... I am encouraged by more than one mommy blogger in a single day! Check this post out, too....

Sometimes....

.... don't you love it when other mommas remind you that "You're pretty normal!" I loved THIS POST today.....

Thankful Thursday....

This edition of Thankful Thursday is a little different on the blog.... today, my kiddos chime in. We usually do a "Thankful Pumpkin" every year for the month of November, and every night at dinner, we write one thing we are thankful for. Well, to be quite honest, with the events of the last couple of weeks, I never bought a pumpkin. BUT.... we did start to share things that we are thankful for around the dinner table.

Tonight.....

Aaron: "I am thankful for mommy and daddy and for this great food that mommy made and for daddy providing the money from his job so that we could have food to eat."
Isaac: "I am thankful for scribbling."

Flashback!

I'm editing some old photos to prepare to take advantage of an awesome deal at Snapfish (365 free prints.... YAHOO!) and ran across this one....

This is a photo of Isaac at Ellie's age.... priceless! :)

From the mouths of babes....

(as told to me by my husband this morning.... I love that man!)

Aaron woke up at around 6 this morning.
At 6:20, he said to Scott, "Man, Isaac sure is sleeping in this morning!!!"

Um.... I think that we need to reframe the picture and give our kids some better perspective on "sleeping in"....

I'm still here....

.... it's been a long 8 days.... full of tears.... full of celebration of an amazing woman....

.... and yes, there has still been laughter at our house, too....

Prayer request....

Would welcome your prayers.... my sweet grandma jumped into the arms of Jesus last night. While we are thrilled that she is no longer in pain and is rejoicing with her Savior, our hearts are hurting. She has marked our lives forever....

Loving on all of my sweeties.... with Aaron....

and Isaac....

and Ellie (and my darling Grandpa)....
Reading one of our favorites to my older sis, Dawn, my cousins, and me (and yes, she sewed matching footie jammies for us every year for Christmas.... precious....)

My dear Grandma spent countless hours rocking with us on her porch swing. Here she is with my older sis, Dawn, and me....

Family Fun Mega-post

We are so blessed! Scott's sis and her family were home from Tennessee for the weekend, and we were able to have them up along with Scott's parents and celebrate Aaron's birthday at the same time! It was a beautiful fall day, full of fun and laughter!

Trust me when I say.... Concannon's Bakery in Muncie makes one of the best cakes EVER.... is it just me, or does Aaron look even older in this picture????

We used the special candles that won't blow out... um... they pretty much ticked Aaron off (literally....)

Isaac and Grandma Greene

Scott's mom and dad got Aaron cornhole for his birthday.... he loves it....

Playing some cornhole.... with Tripp continually on the move!

Scott's dad and our brother-in-law, Kenny

Love this! Isaac and Lainy

Scott and his sis, Jill

Our attempt with a picture of all five.... sigh....

This is what happened next.... the little ones just wanted to MOVE!

AHH! I don't think that they could be any cuter! :)

Love this, too! Trying to make Ellie smile! :)

I love that I love my sister-in-law! :)

Birthday Mega-post

Finally getting around to posting birthday pictures of our fabulous 8 year old! I know that every momma says this.... but how is Aaron already 8?! Almost weekly, this child stands next to me to see how much further he has to go until he catches me in height! I'm still winning.... for now! HA! :)

We love birthdays at our house. So much fun to celebrate!

Birthday morning with our family

Aaron always wants cinnamon rolls for his birthday!

We had a SMALL, laid-back BOY party with a couple of friends! The fun started on the zip line....

Then, we went on to the scavenger hunt....

Next, to find sticks to roast hot dogs....

On to the campfire and dinner....

Boys are crazy creatures!

Scott organized some more fun.... here they all are, as the #8!

After Aaron's football game the next day....