Blessings & Priorities

I love this time of year.

I love the Christmas trees, the lights, the music, the movies.

The food.

I love that both my girls came to us in the Christmas season.

But I don't love how busy this time of year is and how often I feel overwhelmed.

So this year I am determined to not be stressed out. To keep it simple. To remember the real reason for Christmas. And to make my family the priority.

It's easier said than done, I'm realizing.

There are so many parties, things to do, cool places to go, gifts to buy.

Take for example, the girls' birthday party. It's a Fancy Nancy party. We love the Fancy Nancy books. And I found myself having so much fun planning all the decor, the food, the games. But then I stopped. Because I don't need to spend every night making decorations or making elaborate gift bags. The girls don't care. And they would rather have a mom who is happy and calm rather than a grumpy mom who stayed up late making silly banners. So I am simplifying. Sometimes it hard because it's easy for me to carried away. 

But I keep reminding myself to not get stressed. I'll let you know how it turns out.☺

Now back to Thanksgiving. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Jonathan had Thanksgiving day off, which was such a blessing. We spent the day with his family that lives around here. And I forgot my camera so no fun pictures. 

Then the next day my parents flew in. They were here for a little over four days, and the time flew by. We did so many fun things. 

My dad played and played with girls. And showed them how to "fly." Sami, with her adventurous spirit, loved it. Janie loved it eventually.

We had a family home evening of reading a Jan Brett book about a gingerbread boy who wanted to make friends and then we made a gingerbread house. It was fun. The girls, especially Janie, kept sneaking candy thinking I didn't see. And I pretended I didn't, because that's what's fun about gingerbread houses.

 I love these two. 

I always feel bad when I realize that I haven't been grateful. Because I know I have everything.

The Lord has been so, so good to me and my family. 

I know I will look back on these years with so much joy, and I want to appreciate every moment. 

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.