Oodles of pictures

I had to put up some great pictures of our Christmas... Enjoy!

Reflections While Sipping Tea..

As I sit here sipping warm, eggnog, tea I am realizing how wonderfully blessed I am. God has again brought me through another year & phase in my life. When I look back over 2009, I see lots of changes, ups & downs, and many memories shared! What a great year! So many to reflect on, but I need to remember the one constant in my life, God. He has been faithful & true, loving & fair, gentle & kind, trustworthy & comforting. I thank him for all he has done & continues to do.

So, enough reflecting... How was your Christmas & New Year's? Mine was very eventful. Let me share. This year my family, was headed to Illinois for the Christmas Holiday. This would be the first, yes FIRST, time in 12 years that I have spent Christmas in my home town. BIG DEAL! Our plans were to leave on the 23rd, but we ended up leaving in a mad unorganized rush on the 22nd at 11:30 PM because of the weather... So hubby, child, myself, and our 2 dogs piled into the "sleigh" and headed east...What a Nightmare! The weather was horrible. Snow, rain, ice, wind...it took us 24 hours to get there, normally 14 hours, it stunk! But God was able to get us there safely. Once we arrived...the events began, well not really, just hanging out and knitting.. but it was nice. My parents home is decorated so beautifully, it is like a magazine, ahh. After many hugs and kisses, to and from, we made our way home 1 week later. What a wonderful time. I always have such a hard time leaving my family. My hubby doesn't get it. It is emotional for me, sniff, sniff...anyway

Some great gifts were given and received...want to see a few?

I did not do many handmade gifts this year, due to my lifestyle change...see a few posts back, but I had to do some. So...

For my dad...wool socks, & a stocking hat(that was an early one)

For my mom, a beautiful doily

For my grandma's a note card holder

For my sweet little Z a set of baby doll diapers w/ a diaper bag, and a stocking hat & mittens

 

As for gifts received, we all got many nice things, but the best "material" gift was Z's kitchen cupboard...just look at how cute it is... There are kitchen pots & pans, whisks & spatulas, an adorable tin tea set & the cutest apron. I just love it & so does Z.

Oh what a wonderful time... Until next Christmas

Just wanted to say!

Merry Christmas! I hope you have a blessed and wonderful Holiday! I have been extremely busy getting gifts ready & can't wait to share with you all of them....but, since some people receiving these gifts read my blog, I have to wait until after Christmas to show you!!! Thanks for staying connected. I hope to regroup & start blogging at the beginning of the year!

Also, Thank you so much to all of your warm wishes on our lifestyle change. Things are going great! Z is adapting well & I am enjoying the position very much!

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Soon to come...

Things are definitely busy! I thank God for all that he is providing for us. I am hoping to be back in the swing of things soon. I most likely will post some projects that I am working on for Christmas...or at least after. Thanks for hanging with me...be back later!!!

So little time...

I am just dropping a quick note to all of you letting you know I have not forgotten you... I am overwhelmed with changes. As you may have read in the previous post, I got a full time job...babysitting. Z is still with me and I am working at their home everyday! I am going to take a break from posting for a few weeks, probably. I will continue to read yours and give feedback when I find time!

So, catch up with you later..... Oh, and have a Happy Thanksgiving!!

Change

So, I am writing this post to share the bittersweet changes that are happening RIGHT NOW!! My husband works so very hard to provide for our family, it breaks my heart to see him struggle with the way the economy is. We are a very thrifty family & do not spend much money on extra things...( well, yarn of course). With the ups & downs of life...GULP, I have to get a job. I have been at my home with my daughter since 2 months before she was born... I love it. Freedom, flexibility, comfort, and joy! So, with all the crazy things happening... I found a job, a FULLTIME job. Yikes! I will be babysitting a 17 week old little boy at there home... ugh! Z will still be with me & I know that is the only thing that matters.. but to be away from my home 5 days a week, stinks.

Now, they are a wonderful family and are being very accommodating to myself & Z. They will allow me to go do errands, continue to have play dates, go to the library, stores, and the best things is they are willing to let me take him to MOPS!!!!!! Yeah! I know this will be a big adjustment for Z & I, but I know God has this all planned for his favor! I am trying to find out how to be organized and hopefully things will run smoothly. Any suggestions? I have not worked out of my home with Z ever!!

I imagine in the long run it will be fine! I won't be able to waste time at home on the computer all day when I should be doing chores.... boo hoo..., can really get my quiet time & Bible studies done,  I guess I will get quite a bit of knitting done, while he is sleeping or just playing.. that is good. This, I think, will force me to be disciplined to keep my home clean and in order, so when we return, there is nothing to do but spend time together. What about dinner... I won't get home until 5:40PM... Any suggestions? I was thinking crock-pot, and frozen meals....the only problem with frozen meals is they will have to be in the fridge all day & they still take up to 1hr to cook, sometimes. Yikes.... I suppose I will figure it out! I am a little concerned with Z, how will she do with this change?

This decision was mutual for my hubby & I, and I am so stressed out about it. He is so much more like -  no big deal, we will figure it out, and on to another conversation, and I am more like - oh my gosh, what about the dogs, Z, and what about the house chores, and what about dinner and the drive home, no computer!....   Get a Grip Eva! It is not the end of the world. Life changes happen to us all & I am trying to embrace this one! Thanks for listening

A tiny bite of Autumn...

I stumbled upon this recipe at Joy The Baker. Let me tell you how delicious they are... I don't even think I can tell you without drooling.. The hint of pumpkin with the chocolate chips, it's the perfect combination & then add a tiny bit of powdered sugar on top..Urgh...I will never lose weight! My 2 year old could not stop eating them or saying " These a nummy mommy, nummy". I had a MOPS meeting today and decided to take them... they flew off the plate. Go, buy the ingredients, come home &  make them, NOW!!!! They are so moist! I made the batter the night before & then baked them in the morning! Easy!

So, head over to Joy The Baker and copy down the recipe and gobble them up. How great would it be to have one of these on everyone's plate on Thanksgiving.. Yummy!