It's a wintry weekend, that's for sure! Temperatures have dropped, snow is being blown hither and yon, you can hear the trees and wind moan outside the windows.

But it's warm inside!

I've enjoyed more than a couple things these past few days:

• Hot chocolate with toast
• A new and VERY comfortable rocking chair
• A big ball to sit and roll around on
• Good books to read
• Meals with family and friends
• Hearing the baby's hearbeat at a steady 140 beats per minute
• Still feeling the kid kick around (which is comforting at this point)
• Drinking grapefruit juice
• Having some extra time with M.
• Eating some really good Indian breakfasts
• Getting a load of newborn clothes and blankets washed and organized
• Having a few spurts of lovely heartburn
• Being thankful for our warm house and cozy carpets (and handy bathroom too!)
• Looking forward to a friend's baby shower
• Just enjoying the season

May you enjoy the year end and the new year beginning too!

Book Review: God Loves Me...

Recently I received another book in the mail to read. This time was kind of exciting because it was a kid's book! I read it in about 5 minutes. Then, I thought that's not fair, I'd better read it to some kids too, to see if they liked it or not. So, I was glad it was Christmas weekend...there were lots of kids around to "test" it out :)

First, it's a nice kid's book in that it is NOT wordy. Some books have too many words per page. Not this one. Plus, it's written in rhyme which makes it fun.

The pictures were a big hit.....from Elephants dancing and hippos in mud puddles, to girraffes sticking out of a semi-truck. Those were the kids' favorites.

It's basically a book emphasizing that God's love is MORE than anything we can imagine....bigger, deeper, wider, heavier, softer, and higher. It's based off of Ephesians 3:17-19, "how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ..."

I do like how at the end of the book, it reminds us that not only does God love us, we should love Him back too, and that His love lasts our whole life.

So, I guess I'd describe it as a "Sweet" book. Maybe not the most theologically deep book you'll find, but depending on the reader, it can lead you to some great reminders and thoughts.

Every kid I read it to (ages 2-5), easily sat through the whole reading, and enjoyed the pictures. Is it one of their favorite books? I don't know. I think it's one they would hear again, but maybe not the kind they'd choose off a bookshelf of other choices. Only time will tell that part!

If you'd like to find this book, it is sold on Amazon here.


*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Waterbrook Press as part of their blogger book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."*

A Mousy Project

Keeping things simple this year, I was able to make these fun little mice for a nursing home. I haven't done this project in years!

It was fun, and I finished feeling quite accomplished :) Just some felt scraps, a glue gun, some googly-eyes, candy canes, and papers.
It started off with one for the mailman, then adding a couple with my neighbor girl, and then done 26 later! ha

Now, to just get them delivered on time!

Haven't Done Much

This year I haven't done much in the way of anything seasonal. This morning I particularly felt like I've just let the holiday "come what may."

• Part of that is I just didn't plan ahead.
• Part of that is situational right now.

But today, I felt a little dissapointed that I haven't done more to change my "whatever" attitude. I had done a little decorating, but not as much as years before (and that too was minimal) but that also means minimal clean up :)

This year I just put my snowflakes on my mirror instead of hanging them up....no chair climbing for me at that point. Plus, my beautiful Poinsettias that I picked out are looking worse-for-the-wear, which I guess is really normal for my houseplants, but still, they should've done better! :)

Once again this year I neglected to get my act together and do my version of the Jesse Tree. But, I read over my notes and added some more stories and details, so each year I am more prepared for the year I actually DO it! ha

But, this morning, I felt like I should really do a couple small things in my house to at least add some flavor to my day!

• I hung up a couple more decorations.
• I made some fudge.
• I wrote out some cards and got them in the mail.
• And I dug out my nice Christmas CD.

There is freshly fallen snow out my window, and I think today looks like a nice day to go for a walk and then take a cozy nap!

May you also be enjoying the season!

A New Arrival

We have a new addition to our household. No, it's not the January edition, that's still coming. This one is smaller and tidier.

Ta-da:

Yes, we have a landline now! :)

After doing some calculating and lots of discussion and research, we decided it would work out great for us to get a landline.

Call it sentiment. Call it nostalgia. But I'm really enjoying it!

I like having an answering machine that I can stand and push a button and listen to a message....nothing glued to my ear.

I like hearing it ring throughout the house.

I like the caller ID.

I like answering it.

I like having a larger phone to hold in my hand.

Call me crazy, but if I was able to find an old hook-and-line phone I probably would have got it.....the old fashioned ones with the heavy handset and click-clack dialer. But, the cordless is really much more practical at this point, so we stuck with that!

So if I sound particularly chipper when I answer your phone call, you now know why. If I don't, well, chalk that up to lack of sleep! :)