Christmas Time

Just a little bit from my Christmas Season.

1-A portrait of my husband and I {wish I could post the one with the kids}.

2-Frozen toes from a cold snowy day outside

3- Picking out our Christmas Tree {yes, I look dorky but I was so cold!}

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Gifts that Make a Difference #4

I've mentioned Andrew Peterson's albumn Counting Stars here but, I wanted to include this in my 'Gifts that Make a Difference' because this CD has been a huge blessing in my life.

This CD is so encouraging and edifying, if you have someone your wanting to purchase an extra little gift for then I highly recommend this CD. You can purchase it for $10 on iTunes and find samples as well.


Here are some lyrics from "In the Night"

"Like the son who thought he'd gone beyond forgiveness
Too ashamed to lift his head, but if he could lift his head
He would see his father running from a distance
In the night, my hope lives on

And I can see the crowd of men retreating
As he stands between the woman and their stones
And if mercy in His holy heart is beating
Then in the night, my hope lives on.

Oh, in the night
My hope lives on
Oh, in the night
My hope lives on"

{Just in case you missed them, 'Gifts that make a Difference' #1, #2, #3}

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Gifts that make a Difference #3

This gift idea is something that makes a difference in the one receiving the gift. It's called a FAITH BOX.

What's a Faith Box? It's "A new resource for parents to guide their child's faith journey and capture spiriutal growth keepsakes. MY FAITH BOX includes a MY FAITH BOX and MY FAITH BOOK. Ideal to help you create an age-specific plan on each birthday and capture memories from special milestones; while giving you resources and ideas for how to be intentional in helping your child know, love and follow Jesus."

It's a great way to focus on spiritual goals and developments of your children. It also has great ideas for creating memorable traditions with your kids. This would be a great gift for a new mom at Christmas or for any mom to start with their children at any age.

I actually received mine for free from Angie at Good Morning Girls! I love mine! Check out the site it's loading with awesome posts!

{Price is $25 and includes domestic shipping}

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Flower Hairpin

Here's a simple gift {Christmas or anytime} you can make in just a few minutes!

Ingredients

One fake flower {hobby lobby has all flowers 50% off this week}

Hot Glue Gun

Hairpins {craft stores}

Step 1Pull flower from stem

Step 2

Glue hair pin to back of flower

{tips #1 hold open the hair pin until the glue dries}

{tip #2 cut the backing of the flower where the stem short}

That's it.. wrap it up and give it away or use it for your Christmas festives!

I'm linking this to these lovely places and...

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Christmas Tree

Check out this beautiful Christmas tree my friend put together for her

precious little girl! It's so adorable I just had to share, what little girl {or big girl}

wouldn't want this in their room?

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Peace on Earth Challenge #2

Challenge Number 2 for Peace on Earth December challenge is one I'm going to definitely enjoy!
After an amazing post on why our bodies need rest and relaxation {find it here} Courtney gives very specific instructions for this week’s challenge which is taking a bubble bath:

An awesome bubble bath takes planning so here's what you need:

1. Privacy - all children asleep and the husband aware that you don't want to be interrupted

2. Hot water and loads of Bubbles - preferably ones that smell yummy!

3. Some soft classical music

4. A hand towel rolled up as a pillow

5. A cold drink to set beside the tub

6. Your Bible and if you are afraid you'll get it wet - exchange it for a good Christian book or simply quietness - reflecting on your day and talking with God in prayer.

Optional: a lit candle

Now sit back, RELAX, be alone with just you and God - 25 minutes and VOILA - you emerge a new woman. {taken directly from Women Living Well}

I already feel relaxed! When I take relaxing baths I also like to get some body scrub and face masks to put on.

Please head over to Courtney's blog to read her full post {which is very helpful during this busy season} and to check out all the ladies joining in on this challenge!


{if you missed the first week challenge you can check it out here}

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Gifts that Make a Difference #2

I want to continue the 'Gifts that Make a Difference' and begin by introducing my friend Suzanne. She is a fellow blogger in the process of adoption. Adoption is extremely costly and her family has created these awesome shirts you can purchase to help with their adoption.

$16

$18

If your intersted in these cute shirts and helping orphans find a home please contact me and I will forward it to Suzanne!

{dwyhomemakingATymailDOTcom}

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Controlling Thoughts

"I am broken, I am bleeding,

I'm scared and I'm confused,

but You are faithful.

I am weary, unbelieving.

God please help my unbelief!

I will proclaim it to the world.

I will declare it to my heart

And sing it when the sun is shining.

I will scream it in the dark."

Faithful by Steven Curtis Chapman

Can I be real?

The past twenty-four hours have been some of the most difficult for me.

As you know my husband and I are in the process of Adoption and things were sailing smoothly along when all of a sudden it's taken a 90 degree turn and I'm seriously a little dizzy. This morning when I was completely alone with the Lord I felt like I was in such a good place. I was helpless, desperate for His presence, focused. I was waging war on my children’s behalf and waging war against my thoughts.

One thing I'm beginning to learn during trials is that I must have self-control with my thoughts. See, it's easy to let my thoughts dictate my emotions, mood and behavior. However, we are supposed to speak to ourselves with Truth instead of leading our sinful/self-seeking thoughts control us. We are supposed to forcefully snatch up our thoughts and make them line-up with the scripture. Until, we do this we are giving into our sinful mind. We are not receiving life-giving water that we so desperately need in a time of darkness but, we are gaining more sorrow, heart ache and pain.

1 Corinthians tells us that we are to "take every thought captive to obey Christ." This means that when I'm beginning to complain and throw-up my hands because I'm deeply hurt, I step back and literally speak Truth to myself. I remind myself that God is working even this hurtful/painful/gut-wrenching situation for my good. His grace is sufficient.

When we experience these trails we must declare to ourselves that God is Faithful and His Promises are True. We truly must scream it in the dark times because our old nature thoughts are loud and they tell us to fret and worry. Therefore, we must scream over our sinful thoughts and declare that God is here and He is of all people is to be Trusted.

I'm hopeless He gives me Hope

I'm confused He gives me Wisdom

I'm hurt He gives me Healing

I'm doubting He gives me Faith

Please pray for my family during this time as so many decisions are being made which is completely out of my hands. My life is on hold right now.

{updated info. about the Adoption}

I'm linking this here:

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Peace on Earth Challenge

Can I say that this is my first Christmas with Kids and I want to make sure and savor each moment of it! I love creating traditions, especially during the holidays. I want December to be a peaceful and bonding time for my family. I want us to be able to soak up every Christmas song and movie each Advent devotional each teachable moment everything that this month will bring. However, I do feel a little strangled when I think of EVERYTHING that must be done this month. I've never waited this long to shop for Christmas but, it's the beginning of December and I've only purchased a few gifts and babysitters are hard to find when you live hours away from family.

Anyway, this gets me to another challenge from Courtney, a December challenge that I hope will help me to focus on Christ and try to enjoy my family this month. The first challenge is to write 1Peter 5:7 on my planner so that when I turn to it I can remember that God cares when I'm struggling with all I have to do and He will give me wisdom about the things I must do and the things that I could mark off the list.

If your a blogger then I hope you will join me over at Women Living Well for the link up each week. If your not a blogger then please join along and leave comments so I know your going on this journey with me!
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