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! :)

When Company Comes: A Re-Post on Pretty Tables

Knowing that Thanksgiving meals are coming up soon, I thought it would be nice to re-post this blog from my archives. I still like these ideas, and once again, have tried a couple this fall! Enjoy!

There is something so attractive to me about making table settings pretty and using fall beauty! Here are some favorites from 3 different sites:

This, in my opinion, is fantastic, but would definitely NOT go on a table! Maybe on the piano?:)

I like this chocolate bar idea! :)

Wishbones! How interesting!

This picture is for the pats of butter, cut out in cookie cutter leaf shapes!

And using edible name tags! Hmmm....

This one is just funky!

And I actually really like this, more than a wreath. :) I think I could do this!

And I wonder how this would look in our dining room???

And color....I just love bright colors.

Rocks. Plain and simple.

But individual arrangements? That's cute.

And a bouquet doesn't just have to be flowers....greenery works too!

For how to do any of these, as well as more pictures and ideas, check out these links:
Better Homes and Gardens

Martha Stewart

Country Living

Book Review: The Strategically Small Church

Another book I've had the pleasure of reading recently is The Strategically Small Church, by Brandon O'Brien.

This book is very well written making reading it a breeze. I believe it only took me a couple days to finish it. (Plus I was very interested in the topic presented)

The book is written with the purpose of encouraging those in small churches to look at the positives rather than the negatives. It also is written for those in ministry, to stimulate a different approach to traditions, standards, expectations, and programs.

I found his interviews and opinions quite intriguing, and wrote down many quotes for me to think about and "chew" on later, such as,

I very much enjoyed this book, and have already shared it with a couple others. I am curious as to their opinion on it, since I wonder if it was so relevant to me since it was a very familiar topic to me since childhood.

Either way, you can check it out of course either at Amazon.com or CBD.com.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers 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."*

"...every community has needs. Loving our neighbors means considering their needs - not just adopting the latest trend - before we launch our ministry initiatives."

"We must recognize and acknowledge that God is at work even when and where our church is not."

"If a small church finds out that the key to success for a larger church in town is short, exciting sermons, they shouldn't give up their long an dweighty sermons simply to attract new people. These are important issues that are a matter of remaining faithful to God and His commands. If we change the way we understand these things, it should be because our convictions about God's revelation have changed and not because current trends are now leading in a new direction."

"As a small group, look at what you CAN do because you are small rather than what you CAN'T do."