Merry Christmas

Have you ever been on the receiving end of a contagious smile? There was a woman at Target this morning that was in such a great mood that it spread to me. I began to feel some of her Christmas Spirit. I hope I can bring joy to others that way as well.

I am so excited to see my friend tonight after I visit Jon's family. I'm stopping by to get a big hug from her since she has been away for months. It's going to be so great to have her around again. Tomorrow I'm making a meal with my mama and then we are gonna pack up the next day and drive to meet her brother. He was given up for adoption as a baby and then his name was changed from what we had been told. Fortunately he accidentally found his correct birth certificate and found us. I'm really excited to meet him. It's a miracle. I've known of him for years and now I get to meet him. I wish his mama was still alive to meet him but I know she's watching from heaven. 

A friend posted this on their facebook status today, it really touched my heart:

Christmas in Heaven

I see the countless Christmas trees, around the world below, With tiny lights, like heaven's stars, reflecting on the snow.

This sight is so spectacular, please wipe away that tear, For I am spending Christmas, with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs, that people hold so dear, But the sound of music can't compare with the Christmas choir up here. For I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring, For it's beyond description to hear an angel sing.

I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart, But I am not so far away, we are really not apart.

So be happy for me, dear ones, you know I hold you dear, And be glad I'm spending Christmas, with Jesus Christ this year.

I send you each a special gift, from my heavenly home above, I send you each a memory, of my undying love.

For after all "Love" is the gift, more precious than pure gold, It was always most important, in the stories Jesus told.

So please love and help each other, as my Father said to do, For I cannot count the blessings, or the love He has for you.

So have a Merry Christmas, and wipe away that tear, For I am spending Christmas, with Jesus Christ this year.

I can't tell you of the splendor, or the peace here in this place, Can you imagine Christmas, with our Savior, face to face?

I'll ask Him to lift your spirit, as I tell Him of your love, So then pray for one another, as you lift your eyes above.

So please let your hearts be joyful, and let your spirits sing, For I am spending Christmas in heaven, and I'm walking with the King!

(Author Unknown)

I hope that you have a very Merry Christmas.

We got the Christmas tree up

The tree is up, it was nice to watch each ornament come out of the box and the kids put them on the tree. Each has a special memory but some aren't aging well. The lights with ornament type covers that we had on our first little Charlie Brown Christmas tree no longer lit up, we had to cut the plug end off and use it as just decor. It was a bit sad and a few of the other ornaments were chipped but we just have such fond memories from getting a new one each year. Every year before we pull out the ornaments I get this urge to buy some fancy ornaments to use instead of our regulars and then we pull out our box and I get that wonderful feeling that makes it start to feel like Christmas. I responded to a post about a fond Christmas memory and wanted to place my answer here.

"sleepovers at Grandma's house with all the cousins sleeping on egg crate mattresses and covered with handmade quilts and even though I know we woke up and opened our stockings the next morning, I remember the closet full of quilts and sleeping over the most fondly."

I go back to this memory every time I see a quilt or egg crate mattress. What fond memories am I creating for my children? What can I do to make them excited to bring their children to my home someday? I think I've been too lazy in the Christmas department...time to make an effort, time to step out of my comfort zone and do something that will bring a smile to my kiddos' faces. Hmm...I think I'm going to pull out that list of cookie recipes my friend made and maybe attempt some banana bread or poppy seed muffins. Instead of candle scents, I'm going to fill my home with real scents of Christmas.

I'd love to learn to quilt and have a closet full of them so my Grandchildren can come to my house in future years and pick out their favorite quilt. I met a lady at the park last week who told me she taught herself to quilt using youtube, maybe I should make that a hobby to work on next year.

What do you do to make fond memories for your family? What is your favorite memory from your childhood related to Christmas time?

Where is my Christmas spirit?

Missing:

Marcie's Christmas Spirit, last seen a few years (or more) ago when I would consider doing things like baking pies from scratch or cookies even. This year I tried to get the kids a Gingerbread House kit, I pawned it off on Cyndi to do with the boys while I was gone for a couple of hours, I came home to find it was in the garbage. I know they told me what happened to it, but I wasn't really listening. It didn't matter. So, Christmas is in 9 days and the only decoration I have up is the Santa I never took out of the window over the stairs last year. No tree, no wreath, no lights or anything. I meant to get Ethan an Advent Calendar and make a loop thing with him to count down to Christmas, but I haven't. Tomorrow is my husband's family's Christmas party and I haven't figured out what anyone will wear or even purchased any gifts, except a few pieces of jewelry for the aunts that my mom told me I should buy at a boutique party so that I'd have something to give them this year. One of them already broke in the bag, I hope the rest will at least make it through their first attempt to wear them. I guess that's what happens when you buy $3 jewelry. Yes, I'm that cheap. My son wants an Air Swimmer Shark. Somehow all I can think of is that it's going be be a pain in the behind to put together and I don't want to deal with it, but I will order it tomorrow anyway so that he'll get the one thing he asked for. The other kids have made it clear what they want as well, but I haven't even purchased one of those items yet. I think I'm going to have to turn on some Christmas music and fake it until I make it, starting today.
Merry Christmas!

When will I ever learn?

So I'm trying to get myself on a budget. I bought the starter set for the Dave Ramsey program and proceeded to not read one page. I tried to keep going on my own and paid another bill using my billpay only because I forgot that my husband's check was missing two days and I needed to push that bill out two weeks. Now I get to scrimp yet another week and I'm dreading telling my husband that I blew it again. So today I need to sit down and actually plan out how we are going to spend the next few checks so that I can go with my family to meet my uncle at the end of the month, and provide my kiddos with a Christmas. I know it's possible to become debt free, I just need to make myself sit down and plan a budget and stick to it. I can not allow myself to be lazy and continue to have bad credit. I would love to be able to rent a house in a good neighborhood, and maybe even own a house some day. It's so embarrassing when people ask where we live and I know they live somewhere much fancier than I do. I guess I just need to sit down and figure it out, I'll start by reading that book and working through the workbook that came with it. I can do this!

Life this week

My life has been full of ups and downs. I'm pressing forward and trying to find the good in things and I'm trying to find ways to improve myself. Currently I'm attending a junior college toward an AA and transfer degree. I am married and have three children. I'm trying to figure out coupons and working to make my house into a home that runs smoothly. I'm trying to get my five year old to use the toilet consistently and pick up after himself, I'm trying to get my 13 year old to do his homework and clean his room and I'm enjoying watching my 15 year old blossom into a beautiful, talented young lady.

This week I'm working on getting dinner on the table every night without relying on fast food. So far we've had chili dogs, chicken with scalloped potatoes, and tacos/burritos. I'm challenging myself to continue this for the rest of the week and to have a budget planned by the time we deposit my husband's paycheck on Friday, one that we can stick to.