Yummm!!!!!!!!!!!!! ________________________

I leave one itty bitty comment on someone elses' blog talking about goosebumps and before I know it~ half my blog readers know the news before I even hint around at it here!

I am amazed.

For the other half: HERE IS A CLUE!!!

Yummy!!!!


And if you still don't get it, let me spell it out for you:

We just found out that it isn't Newman Five after all but that there has been a new little Newman secretly hiding out for the last few weeks. A shy one, methinks.

We are beyond thrilled with this tiny new year's surprise~ only five days into it, 2010 has already proven to be a good year! :-)

I told Matt that we were expecting again when we were playing bananagrams. I had to "PEEL" almost the whole letter pot but I eventually was able to spell out my message. He was so intent upon winning, he never noticed until the end.

Mattie thinks he won that game, but since what I had planned worked itself out perfectly, I consider myself to be the winner.

:-)

Today I:

• took down the Christmas decorations
• singlehandedly rid our living room of the tree growing from it
• swept. Twice.
• moved all furniture in living room around in order to sweep under them.
• Took the rug outside and shook it.
• then vacuumed it.
• Mopped floor (and under furniture! Worth repeating!)
• Dusted and polished all furniture (and things on the furniture).
• Vacuumed all couches/chairs.
• Shined painting and clock.
• Cleaned windowsills
• de-cobwebbed (if that isn't already a word, it is now.)

And in the schoolroom (since I was on a roll)

• swept
• vacuumed
• furniture polished furniture
• dusted stuff
• Organized school shelves. (They had gotten BAD)
• Sorted through baskets full of miscellaneous stuff and put it all away
• sorted through toys and added a few to yardsale pile
• de-cobwebbed (told you it was a word)

Though these rooms are clean and fresh, they still look terribly forlorn without all those beautiful lights and shimmers everywhere. :-(

What's so wrong with having a Christmas tree up all year long, I ask?

2010:: FIND JOY ________________________

The snow glows blue in the darkness of early morn and the winds howl as I stoke the burning embers of orange in a box of black. Sparks of flame sputter and jump about then the coals settle once again.

Here I am again, at the beginning of a new day and not only that but of a new year. A fresh start. A clean slate. A second chance. These beginning days of a fresh new year are always spent in contemplation and consideration. It is my tradition, my right and my joy.

Some say resolutions are pishposh-they are simply words and goals easily forgotten or abandoned. They say you ought to work on being better EVERY day throughout the year. Resolutions are at best futile and at worst, a waste of time.

And perhaps these things are true for some. Lists don't do it for some people. Resolutions ARE mere words for some. AND THAT'S OKAY.


But for me, for ME I think the only way to know where you are going is to see where you have been. The only way to know what needs to change is to EVALUATE your life. The greatest way to change your life is to set your self up for success.

I remember as a girl having a poster up in my room that said "If you shoot for the moon but don't succeed, you will still be among the stars"

I would rather aim high and not succeed but make progress than to not aim at all and get nowhere.

Now is about the time when I open my eyes to how far I've come on my journey and humbly recognize how very far I still need to go. I draw my roadmap for the coming year~outlining all those areas that I ought to visit, for how can we get to where we need to be without a plan? I write my lists of provisions (after all, a long journey requires some preparation for success), lists that will help me to succeed and make the path more tolerable. Every single day I make lists to try and accomplish all that needs accomplishing so it naturally follows that lists for a new year help to guide and spur me on in the right direction. And they do.

This time last year, I shared my goals, which could be focused into three main areas.

In no particular order:
1# Reading and study. 2#Finances 3# Pantry.

Thanks to my road maps, I think I succeeded in all my goals.

1# I kept a log of all of my reading this year. Something I have never done before but something I found very helpful to look back on (and to look forward to!) I would add books as I heard of them to the "Reading Hopeful's list" and then try to borrow them interlibrary loan as I was able. It worked out splendidly because there was never a not-knowing-what-to-read-next syndrome. Here is the completed list.

I also listened often to sermons and conference lectures and studied vast and varied subjects whenever I could. I found Evolution to be a major studying point this year and found Ken Ham's works to be incredibly insightful. I also really enjoyed the debate between Christopher Hitchens and Doug Wilson: Is Christianity Good for the World? I can't wait to see the DVD. I am very bad at debating myself but do very much enjoy listening to talented debaters.

I will be starting up a new book list for this coming year because I felt it was incredibly worthwhile. And any recommendations would be greatly appreciated! ;-)

2# I am extremely proud of this one!! We are a one-income family and most people would raise eyebrows at how much (or little, as it were) that income is. I was doubtful we could make very big of an impact on our financial situation in one year...but we did (I think)! After reading several of Dave Ramsey's books, I started the year with a zero-based budget and implemented the envelope system. It was challenging and fun at the same time. I actually felt like we had MORE money to spend, not less, because I was holding a set amount of money in my envelopes all the time. We paid off over $8,000.00 paying OFF our credit card, paying for a speeding ticket (tsk, tsk Mattie!! hehe), finishing up some old hospital bills and adding more payments to our carloan. The credit card balance was zero in June and hasn't been used since. And won't. But this is not all! We were also able to save/invest about $4,000!!!!! The success stories in Dave Ramsey's book are jaw-dropping incredible and compared to them, our little story seems inconsequential but to us it is huge! Sometimes I would get discouraged about how long it has taken us to implement such an EASY plan and how far we would be had we learned to budget and use cash-only from the very beginning. But I thank God for opening our eyes and giving us a vision and the means to accomplish it. And I thank Matt for working so tirelessly each day/week.month/year to support our family and help us thrive. And for wearing glasses for an entire year while I used his contacts money for other things. Love you Mattie! :-)

#3: Not only did we pay off all that money and save/invest a hefty sum (for us) but we did so while devoting a goodly portion of money to creating and stocking a pantry. Matt and I are comfortable with the amount of food we have stored (the garden helped immensely too!) and are pleased with our progress, though we still have a way to go. I can't tell you how nice it is to have extra food set aside for suprise visits, last-minute company or cheap-grocery-budget weeks. Or huge snowstorms. It is incredible how much stress has been relieved-and I didn't even know I was stressed! I have stored water in the basement with old laundry detergent containers and drinking containers for washing up and drinking when the electricity is out and let me tell you: that has come in handy more than once already! I enjoyed learning about dehydration and hope to implement that knowledge even more this coming year. It is pretty cool.

So it seems, 2009 was a successful year for us in the reaching of our goals.



Here are a few hopefuls for the coming year:

~Eating breakfast every morning (I feed everyone else and don't myself.) ~Creating yearly/monthly schooling calendar and plans. I am a list person-so why haven't I been doing that for schooling?! ~Eating more beans and rice ~try to teach myself piano ~practice knitting ~Save up money to buy a macro lens and to get the timing fixed in the sewing machine. ~Expand my herb garden to accomodate homemade tea blends ~Pay off the car loan ~Begin saving for a downpayment for a house and land. (And continue to be self-disciplined enough for a cash-only money system. And to continue to keep a steady and reliable zero-based budget.) ~Family Read-Alouds ~More memorization for children (and myself)
These are all my superficial goals.

Looking back on this past year, though, not everything is commendable. In fact, there is a rather lot to be ashamed of. There has been much fear and despair in 2009. Seeing our own liberties being taken away from us, watching the government usurp authority and make very poor choices, watching as jobs are lost and businesses shut down--my soul has been wracked with it.

Also this year our dreams of home, land and homestead here in this place were shattered when the owners backed out of a deal to let us buy the place and told us they wanted, instead, to save this place for their son. AFTER we moved here. AFTER we cleaned out barns and planted gardens. Thankfully, it was right BEFORE we planned to plant the orchard. I have struggled terribly with bitterness and resentfulness. The fact that this was a Christian family hurt the most.

Fear = not enough trust. And bitterness and resentment is never commendable, no matter the circumstances.

All this to say:

This year a huge goal for me is to take whatever happens in my life with a smile. Be thankful always, in all circumstances. And recognize the gifts God gives for what they are. Remember Who is in charge.

If I could sum it up in a motto it would be FIND JOY.

And if that motto needed a KEY reference, it would be this:

Psalm 146

Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.

While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.

Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.

His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.

Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:

Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:

Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners:

The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous:

The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.

The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.

Might my eyes be open to the great joy of each day, of a Maker who cares, of truth kept, of Hope in this year of our Lord 2010.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The first moment of the new year as the clock struck midnight~I didn't need my eyes open to find great joy.

The first kiss of the new year.

And there was GREAT joy.

2009 in review ________________________

In January...
I shared the family secret that had plagued me for two months. Adele' might be deaf. She went through five hearing exams, all failed (some due to technical difficulties) only to be told to come back when she is two. A year later~while she may be hearing impaired in one ear (maybe) she is not deaf by any means and jabbers with the best of them and comes a 'crawlin when you call. I praise God that He allowed me peace and joy as I accepted the news and I thank all of you for sharing and encouraging me during that questioning time.

In February, I spied my first bluebird.

In March, we got ChIcKeNs!!!

April showers brought:

lots of sewing for me and my girl...and a Panda who turned THREE.


In May,
I got apple blossoms for my birthday, laundry got lilac-infused on the line, I started my cardboard garden, Opa came to visit and MacDonalds farm got larger with a calf.


In JUNE

sisters adore one another. (and I posted a skirt tutorial.)




In July:
I start my Gratitude list.
(and I hosted a rainy book exchange. And the garden grew.)



In August:
we went visiting.

Matt used vacation time for the first time in....ages.

In September:

my girl turned six (*sniff*)
I got my LIBRARY!!!!!
We had our FIRST Foto Friday Challenge (to be restarted next week! So be ready!)
and
we started off the school year with a bang!


In October:

Harvesting went into high gear
we made cider
the Blob MOVED NOT
Got bunkbeds--now have a spare bed--NEED MORE CHILDREN
Had a tussle with Blue Eyeliner (I won)



In November:

We somehow survive self-portrait Christmas Family photos again this year
The Elf workshop opens
We get indoctrinated in evolution
We use any excuse to play

and baby turns ONE.



In December:

We created
We decorated
We admired
and we had the best Christmas ever.


Because we have life and love that is so much more abundant than we deserve.

Christmas Day ________________________

Since moving back near family again, Christmas has become....hectic, once again.

Christmas Eve with my folks (and bros and sisters).

Christmas day with Matt's Gram and about 30 extended family

Christmas evening with Matt's folks (and bros and sisters)

This leaves not a whole lot of time for US and a little family Christmas of our own or the making of our own yearly Christmas traditions. A fact which I mourn every year.

It also makes the days go by super fast, be super-filled with visiting (and gifts) and as a result: makes picture taking hardly a priority.

Nevertheless, I snapped a few.

From Our House:


1. Somewhere in the midst of baths, doing hair, dolling up, gathering and wrapping presents and opening stockings, I managed to make gingerbread pancake snowmen. With real whipped cream snow. (and REAL maple syrup that Matt's dad made....for the record)

2. a lovely living room with bits of love framing doorways, stockings waiting expectantly in the golden glow, and Mary and Joseph beaming with pride and adoration.

3. Finding a spot to hang stockings was quite the predicament. Eventually, I settled on an old salvaged shutter leaning against the wall.

4. Throughout the rest times of December, Corynn would make drawings, then wrap and tape them up and secretly tuck them into stockings. (I had my suspicions she was an elf!) I loved to watch how excited and intent she was as the receiver opened her present to them. She clasped her hands behind her back and stared intently at the unwrapping just long enough for the paper to rip before she swooped in and starting pointing and explaining the meaning of it all. Incredibly dear.

5. My precious nativity. One of the best wedding presents we received. An angel eventually flew from her treetop home to the stable in order to pay homage to the Christ child too.

6. Utter exhaustion. The very best kind.

From Gram's:

After lunch and before presents, entertainment is provided. This year we had a visit from Elvis.


From Matt's Folks:

The very best Christmas present ever was for Andrew this year. Grandpa built him a huge, beautiful wooden barn. With boxstalls and a removeable roof. And two entrance doors so the tractor can come in and out with turning around.

It is beyond beautiful and even more so was the time and effort he put into it. Grandma had the idea and Grandpa brought that idea to life, making the gift a beautiful token of love written from their hearts to his.

Everyone was flabberghasted when it was revealed and nothing could compare afterwards.


Apparently it was Santa's workshop over there because he also made a little doll cradle for Miss Adele'.

We feel incredibly blessed by their love.

Handmade Christmas, again (are you sick of it yet?) ________________________

A few more handmade gifts to share. This will complete all the extended family gifts. Believe it or not~none of these include any gifts for my own children or husband. I hate to say it, but I will have ONE more handmade Christmas post coming sometime in the (near) future.

I am overlooking the fact that it will be mightily late (as is this one) but perhaps even the post-Christmas gifts might inspire in the future one of the visitors here. And if not~ at least I will be able to look back on this Christmas and see how much I accomplished.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For two of the most adorable nieces (who are not very far apart in age and due to differing body types-about the same size): Matching Shirred sundresses. I have been hoarding this material for my own children...but you know what they say: Tis better to give than to receive. (Or Hoard.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And for a little sister who loves *LITTLE* things: A Wee Doll family to match her own (family that is...)

This was, believe it or not, the most TIME CONSUMING gift of all of them probably. And incredibly intelligent me decided to wait until a day or two before the gift exchange to get serious about completing them. So the outfits are entirely too plain for my liking-but it was miraculous enough just to complete them on time. I was sweating it. Profusely.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Some super cool record bowls for my super cool brother and sister in law. Loved them. Inspiration: HERE.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For a little chef, No-Sew Play Food was just the ticket. This was probably the most addicting gift I made. I could have made a TON more deliciousness to give had I had more time. As I would create one thing, I would get an idea for another. The children loved it all so much I promised we would work together to make some for our kitchen sometime this winter.

For Breakfast:

Eggs (Dippy, if you ask me)
Bacon
Cherries

For Lunch:

A serious sandwich (Bread, swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, and bacon)
A gingerbread man cookie
For Dinner:

Ravioli with mozzerella topped sauce
Carrots

All were made with cotton balls, felt, fabric paint and hotglue. The carrot included some scrap green fringe.

I made a foam grocery bag to store it all in.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I made a BEAUTIFUL ruffled scarf (which I forgot to take a picture of! *sniff*) out of this yarn (light rose) using THIS free pattern.

I am so sad I forgot a picture. It was really beautiful. And amazingly soft and shimmery and oh-so-feminine.

I love Bernat's Bamboo yarn.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Blue-birdy Bath Mat with coordinated towels for my mom. Used a towel for the mat and mitered corners with some of Oma's blue fabric. Appliqued bird, embroidered branches and button berries. LOVED it.

Want to make a birdy pillow for myself in this exact same style. Different colors, maybe.

Had the coordinated towels set aside for some animal hoodie-towels. A year later, animal hoodies still hadn't appeared. Convenient!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Manicure set for my beautiful niece is cosmetology.


The tutorial/pattern was graciously shared here.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And wouldn't you know?!? Matt got into the gift-making too!!!

He crafted some soft maple frames to house some posters he had bought for his dad and brother. They were big hits (and very well made, if I might add.) The frames had shiplap corners. (whatever that means) :-)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And He also made a leather bible bag for my dad.


Beautifully stitched and the leather so perfectly suits my Dad. I had taken some incognito bible-measurements during a visit to Mom's.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the final analysis:

I challenged myself to a completely Handmade Christmas because:

• I had a craft room full of supplies that I was tired of not doing anything with
  
• I wanted to rekindle an appreciation for homemade gifts in a time of plastic toys, XBOX and giftcards. (None of which, btw, can be homemade. Ever.)
  
• I wanted to challenge myself to think deeply about the person to receive the gift (and see if I could discover something that they really loved.)
• I wanted to reject the notion that holidays have to be expensive.
• I wanted to return to a time when thoughtfulness was gift enough and when time and effort counted for something.
• I wanted to encourage myself and others to slow down and find meaning in those things that REALLY matter, the gifts that God have already given. Like creativity and devotion and love.
  
• I wanted to see if I *could*

I think I succeeded in every one of those things and discovered a few more blessings along the way.

I discovered how exciting it is to see the reaction of the person who received a homemade gift from you.

I discovered how worthwhile it is to spend your own moments thinking about the receiver. What they like, what blesses them, considering their lives and praying for them. Making something for someone draws those moments into your heart much more than a shopping trip and quick wrap-job.

I realized how much can be accomplished if you set a goal for yourself.

I realized that a home swirling with creativity fosters the very same in the little people of the house and that devoting time to others as adults results in little people looking beyond themselves and thrilling at the thought of doing good for others.

And finally-I realized there is NOTHING LIKE the pride of handing over a gift that has love moments wrapped in paper and saying (without really saying) "I did this for you because I care."

Honestly, I wonder if/how I will ever be able to go back to non-homemade Christmases.

I do have some regrets though.

1. December was harried, not by shopping but by making. So much so that many projects that I had hoped to do in anticipation of Christmas (with the children) had to be set aside. That was sad for me, because I do very much love those silly holiday craftings and traditions leading up to Christmas. And so do the children.

2. After doing more than 20 gifts, I did begin to lose steam. Especially when I saw laundry piling up and cool projects I wanted to make for myself (greedy!).

3. A week before Christmas the timing in my sewing machine went bazerk. (I am beginning to think my sewing machine has a vendetta against me). A week BEFORE Christmas. (May I remind you I JUST got it back from getting CLEANED?! Molly Monkey was the only project I got out of the thing before it had a little hissyfit. argh) A WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS! And I had several sewing projects in line. I ended up borrowing my Mom's. (THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU MOM!) but my goodness was I stressed for a while there!

ALL of these things could have been resolved with just one little thing: starting EARLIER. Had I been working through the year (or even for a few months prior to Christmas) I would have had plenty of time to do it ALL, casually, with time to spare for fun little advent projects and homemade Christmas decorations.

Even despite those minor inconveniences, I had a blast and this personal challenge was not only reqarding but made this Christmas tremendously meaningful to me.

And I proud of myself for sticking to it. :-)

Christmas Eve 2009 ________________________

Christmas Eve is always spent with my side of the family in their home.

It's always a mighty full house and the children outnumber the adults.


Here are a *very* few shots from there. I get frustrated with low-light situations and would rather not take any photos at all then to waste time taking bad shots. Call me lazy. Call me dumb for not knowing how to clear the flash hurdle. Call me whatever.

But it would be a SIN to not take a picture of this funny moment:


Those headbands from way back when were worn in a different way than I had anticipated. Much more stylishly I might add!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mom really wanted a family picture this year. This is my brother Benjamin's first year back home in many a year, so it was extra special to have him for Christmas.

Can I remind you how much I HATE taking indoor shots when the sun goes down at, oh, 2 o'clock?? H.A.T.E. it. They are always ALWAYS grainy.

But here they are Mom, full of grain and all. Hope you like!

I couldn't decide which I liked better, so I made a black and white version too.

And because we are who we are, a silly version was absolutely necessary.

(I couldn't resist a repost of my favorite Santa baby from last year.)

Be well, friends

On the Eve of Christmas Eve ________________________

On this Eve of Christmas Eve, I .........

• have not even started the crafting for my children or husband. Um. HELP.

• have three more projects to complete for extended family (though all three only require a *bit* more work

• forgot entirely to make a cookie/candy tray for Mattie to take to work. And today is his last day until after the holidays. This is a MAJOR oversight in my book.

• have SEVEN loads of laundry piled up on the schoolroom sofa and floor, to fold. It has been there (and been added to) for two days. I had been so busy crafting, shopping, baking, etc. that I forgot all about the laundry until we had no more undies, socks or shirts left between us. I knew if I didn't get cracking, I wouldn't get a chance until AFTER Christmas when we would have to lead clothing-optional lives.

This fact brings to mind several things:

1. I am not accustomed to drying clothes in a dryer-you can accomplish A LOT with one of those in such a short period of time!
   
2. I am terrified to open our electricity bill.
3. we have ENTIRELY too many clothes!!!!
   
4. The whole "One Sunday outfit, one for play and lots of aprons seems VERY appealing to me.

For the record-the only thing in my dirty clothes basket now is a hanky (that was hiding out in a pair of pants, two socks (of COURSE not matching) and a cloth napkin stowaway. that is, until tonight.

• am being tempted to let my DVD player be a babysitter. (and that is SO not like me.) Don't worry, I haven't yet succumbed to the pressure.

• have pompoms, pipecleaners and felt slathering the dininr room table.
• have a craft room that can barely be walked in
• haven't taken a new photograph in almost a week (with one exception)
• am listening to Christmas carols constantly through the house and car (and I am not sick of them yet)
• think hot cocoa is a very good thing
• was shocked when I did animals chores this morning, a bit of water spilled on the patio and it froze in it's pile. It didn't even get a chance to spread. (No-I am not kidding.)
• have a fridge needs a cleaning in the WORST way. I wish I could pay someone to do it.
• watch as my children fill up stockings for their dolls and each other-and play at that for hours.
  
• have made 8 batches of peppermint meringues so far this Christmas and eaten about 3/4 of them myself.
• haven't wrapped a single gift.
• find that feeding a deliciously warm woodstove is my favorite winter chore.
• am making chili for supper tonight. with sour cream, taco cheese, and tortilla chips.
• find immense pleasure in receiving Christmas cards.
  
• am incredibly thankful to be celebrating the 12 days of Christmas this year: the only way I could finish it all in time.
• like to sit in the living room and stare at the beautiful tree. I wish I could do it a little more.
• have played Bananagrams with Matt almost every evening for two weeks straight. We love it.
• could keep going on this list forever but I just realized I think I *might* actually be using it to procrastinate. SO, I'd better be off. :-)

PS. The above photo was taken after I asked Corynn to make a bored face. She couldn't do it without laughing her head off. Over and Over. She would make a bored face and within two nanoseconds she'd be laughing hysterically. So no-she doesn't have an attitude (even if it might look it in the first photo. Just so's you know....)