Day to Day Adventures

Gratituesday: Gathering to Celebrate

KimComment
Christmas is about baby Jesus & his gift of grace in coming to this earth to save us.   But it is also about gathering together as a family & enjoying being together.
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The above picture is just Grandma & Grandpa Brush with their grandkids(missing a few).  On Steve’s side of the family there are over 40 of us now & that will only keep growing as the kids marry & have kids.   
We are still trying to gather once a year at Grandma’s to celebrate Christmas.  It is chaos and everyone loves it.  We have changed over to a white elephant exchange that just keeps getting crazier each year.  We all have stockings & the littles exchange gifts with each other.  It is one of the best days of the year!
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We gathered with them & with my family(not nearly as large) over the past weekend.  Steve & I were dog tired from being sick & helping with the Christmas program at church but it was so wonderful to see everyone & visit a little.  I am looking forward to a much quieter week as we approach Christmas Day.  We will stay home, stay in our jammies & just enjoy being together as a family.  And who knows maybe someday I will have a house full of kids, grandkids, adopted kids & more.

God places in families to grow us & support us.  I am so blessed in this area.  So thankful for our families and the love that we share.

Linked up at Gratituesday @ Heavenly Homemakers

Finer Things Friday: My helpers

KimComment

Life is busy.  We seem to be crunching a weeks worth of activities in to two days.  But many hands makes light work.

I am missing my oldest.  He always makes things fun & works like a dog when needed.  Maybe he will be home soon. . .

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However the pretzel making goes on.

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Did I mention we have over 40 stocking stuffers to take to Grandma’s Christmas?  Yikes!  But the littles are doing great with the wrapping!  All the help I have here is definitely a finer thing today.

Now off to Christmas Play Practice . . .

Linked up at

Friday Finer Things at Amy’s Finer Things

Joyful Attitude in Hard Times

Kim3 Comments
Today I am struggling with being joyful.  Some days are like that. 
I know that I should find joy in all situations not just the happy ones.  So I am making a choice to smile because there are so many good things in life.
10 Joyful Things(even when life is hard)
1.  My babies are healthy—through stomach flu & sinus infections we are over all healthy
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2.  My husband loves me—some days I wonder why as I struggle with pain, frustration & keeping on track
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3.  My house is warm—as I look at gray days & cold snow I am thankful that my house is a sanctuary from the weather
4.  My suburban has seat warmers—see #3
5.  My job is a teacher of homeschooled children—there is no greater joy than to be with my children everyday even when they drive me up a wall
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6.  My new footstool—it allows me to find a comfortable position for my gimpy leg
7.  My extended family—so many relatives who live close(or are willing to come to us) to celebrate Christ’s birth
8.  My church family—who pray for me(enough said)
9.  My friends who call at just the right moment—you know who you are
10.  My Lord who walks every day at my side & who carries me when I cannot walk any further
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 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  Colossians 3:17