Priorities….

Ya’ll….(I can say that now that I live in the south) I really want to be the “fun girl” these days. I want to be the girl with the happy blog that readers flock to for entertainment and lighthearted dialogue! I want to be those things….but I just can’t right now.

I’ve spent the last several weeks doing some soul searching and evaluation of my priorities going into this new year (I know….it’s not as new anymore, just work with me here!) and here are the conclusions I’ve come to.

I can’t focus as much energy on blogging and “social networking” right now…it’s just not what I’m being called to. I don’t intend to shut things down and crawl away into a hole, but I honestly need to put these things on the back burner for a season and focus on the priorities that God is really highlighting for me. I will continue to blog and be active on twitter and facebook etc….but in moderation. I’m choosing to focus on some much more important things right now that need my attention.

1. Relationship with my children – specifically my daughter. I think I’ve been parenting on “auto-pilot” for awhile now and it shows. I love my kids and I know that they know it….but I want to invest more in a deliberate way in their lives this year. My relationship with my daughter, even at her young age, can be pretty rocky at times. Suffice it to say that God gave me  a challenge in the shape of my small daughter….and I want to run this particular race much better than I have. If I’m not careful I could lose big on this one…and it’s a risk I’m not willing to take. Family and my children are at the top of my priority list this year.

2. Relationship building. I need more relationship….I need friendship. I’ve been self-protected for a long time now because of some relational hurts and I’ve used being busy or tired or having kids to keep people at arm’s length. I can’t do that anymore….and I’m putting a stop to it. I want to be vulnerable again. I want to reach out and I want to let people close….it’s just time to invest my energy in people. I could use your prayers on this one, cause it feels pretty scary!

3. Compassion and Child sponsorship. God really birthed something in my heart concerning Child Sponsorship and the work that Compassion is doing last year. Social justice isn’t just a good idea – It’s a biblical mandate. I’ve agreed to become an advocate for Compassion, which simply means that I work as a volunteer to promote their ministry and find sponsors for children in desperate need. I want to really give myself to this and see what God has in store….he never ceases to surprise and amaze me!

There are a few more rolling around in my heart that are still in the infant stages and can’t be articulated right now, but you get the picture. My priorities are important and will dictate the decisions that I make this year. I’m not packing up shop….but I am stepping back a bit. If you think of me, pray that I continue to follow God’s heart instead of my own – that’s a pretty tall order!

Filed under: Compassion, Family Stuff, Try and argue with THIS!, Uncategorized

Jammie day…

It’s snowing today…it’s snowing A LOT today in NC. Schools are closed, Kids are THRILLED and I’m working in my jammies. My computer is located in front of a big picture window so I’m currently watching the snow fall.

If there is a better feeling in the world than a snow day….I can’t remember what it is! I adore the stillness and heavy quietness that a heavy snow brings. I love seeing the trees covered in white….and getting to stay home and enjoy it with your family? Does not get any better!

I’ll add pictures a little later…still have to get my work done.

Filed under: Apparently Random Thoughts, Family Stuff

Something’s gotta give!

I know it’s been a week since I posted….and I’m a crappy blogger this month, but something has to give and this here blog is it!

In the last week I have:

Attended 4 Christmas parties

Baked 9 Dozen cookies

Made 4 dozen chocolate dipped pretzels (rolled in toppings)

Made 2 recipes of fudge

Worked on a website

Worked on a blog (for work)

Wrapped all my Christmas Gifts and finished purchasing a few last minute things.

Done laundry

Cooked and cleaned

Spent “Quality Time” with my kids…

You get the picture. It’s been a busy week. So….please forgive me for my absence. Christmas is just around the corner and I will be back to normal after the holidays!

Blessings Ya’ll!

Filed under: Family Stuff , Christmas

Christmas Fun….

We had a full but fun weekend!  Friday night we took the kids to Kanki Japaneses Steakhouse….which they LOVED! The  chef cooking right at our table was right up Noah’s alley – he was speechless. After that we did a little bit of Christmas shopping and walked around the mall looking at the decorations.

Saturday we spent a lazy morning at home enjoying all our blessings and being together. In the afternoon we went to the Knightdale Christmas parade which my niece Ellie was in with her Dance class. I didn’t expect it to be nearly as enjoyable as it was – but I loved it. It was a warm feeling to know that we live in such a neat little community here and see all the kids celebrating and having fun. After that I went to finish up the last of my Christmas shopping with my sister and my mom. Let me just go on record as saying….Toys R Us on a Saturday night in December? Literally a horrible experience!

Sunday we had Church and our family was selected to light the Advent candle – which was a neat experience for the kids. Then off to Sam’s Club for some grocery shopping.

By Sunday night both Abbie and Brian were feeling pretty lousy and sick so I was at home yesterday helping them out. Brian still is not feeling better but Abbie seems to have bounced back except for a nasty cough.

All in all it was a fantastic but busy weekend. I love spending time with my family and I love preparing for Christmas. We finished our gingerbread house and it looks adorable. I also finished all my wrapping so the only thing left to do is some baking of treats to give away.

It’s shaping up to be an amazing Christmas…..after last year being so difficult I’m thrilled that this one is wonderful!

Filed under: Family Stuff , Christmas, Family Time, Kanki Steakhouse

Christmas Tradition Time….

Heather over at Whittaker Woman is doing a fun “Tradition Time” share-o-thon each Monday in December so we can connect and share our meaningful and fun Christmas traditions.

I love how community works!

Here is one that we are enjoying right now:

Each year we try to celebrate Advent with the kids as a way to focus them in on the true meaning of what the season is about. We don’t always have time to do it every single night, but we try to do it as many nights as possible. We light the candles on our advent wreath, talk about the promise of Jesus coming and what it means to our lives and the lives of people back then. We read scriptures about the promises of the coming of Jesus and then pray as a family together. As our kids get older they get it more and more…and it’s fun to see the connections they make.

Last night was the first night of advent and our youngest lit the candle while our oldest read the scripture. Then, we followed with the nightly family reading of “Marley…a dog like no other” – we are nothing if not spiritual around here interpeeps! Truth be told? I’m not sure if the kids were more excited about the candles and scriptures or the reading of “Marley”, but we are hopeful that some nugget of spiritual truth will lodge itself in their brains and capture their hearts just a bit….and remind them in the midst of the commercialized Christmas, that Jesus changed the face of the world with his birth….and we will never be the same again.

So, what are YOUR traditions? Check them out here

Filed under: Family Stuff, Kids , Advent, Christmas Traditions

The Giving of Thanks….

Sorry I’ve been missing for the last week. I don’t really have much of an excuse except that I’ve been BUSY at work and BUSY at home. Getting ready for Thanksgiving and starting Christmas shopping has taken up a chunk of my time as well…..So, no excuses….you’ll just have to forgive me and move on!

I’m ready for Thanksgiving….really ready. I love this holiday with great gusto. I love the focus on Thankfulness. I love the focus on family, I love the food, I love the rest….it’s a great chance to unplug from reality and get cozy in your own little nest with your family. What’s not to love?

So this weekend I’m going to focus on my family. Focus on my home, focus on what I’m Thankful for.

I’m blessed beyond speaking….God is gracious and kind and has held my family in his hand this year. This year has been difficult in many ways…truly difficult at times, but I wouldn’t change a thing.

I’ll leave you with this to ponder…..

Oh come on…you know it’s funny!

What are you thankful for?

Filed under: Family Stuff, Thoughts I thought.... , Thanksgiving

God stole my seat!…….

Actual conversation with my 4 year old niece last night as we were leaving:

Niece: “Auntie Tracy I want to ride in your car!”

Me: “Honey, you aren’t going to my house – you are going to yours. Only Noah (my son) is riding home in my car.”

A moment later my nine year old nephew walks up and says “Bye Auntie Tracy – May God go with you!”

Niece: “Auntie Tracy? Is God going with you?”

Me: “Sure honey”

Niece: “But why does HE get to go?”

Alrighty then…..not sure how to answer that one!

Filed under: Family Stuff, Kids , Funny Kid Stories, Kids, Kids and God

Catching up…

I have not had a lot of time to blog the last few weeks. Last week at work was NUTTY – crazy busy. When I got home at night all I wanted to do was sit on the couch, instead I had a late night class to teach on Tuesday, my nephew’s football game on Wednesday and dinner at my parents on Thursday. Just thinking about last week makes me tired!

This week is shaping up to be better, with the exception of the colds that both the husband and I seem to be developing. Stupid elementary school germs are probably invading my house….both my kids seemed to have mild colds last week.

Life is good but busy for us right now. With 2 kids in school and 2 parents working full-time, there isn’t a lot of “extra” time for us these days. I still really enjoy my job and it’s continuing to be a nice challenge. I’ve been teaching a lot of classes the last few weeks in addition to being the chief editor for all the education content being written for our new websites (6 of them) and all the other little tasks that take up my time. I moved into an office last week since we got some new space accross the hall and now I have 4 walls and a door….it’s exciting stuff and I am enjoying the opportunity to really focus instead of being distracted by the 8 or 9 different phone conversations that were constantly going on all around my cubicle.

Brian was given a promotion last month along with a much needed and much appreciated raise. God is continuing to provide for us in amazing ways. It seemed like a long road getting to this place where we can say “things and life are really good” but we have grown and changed and been stretched so much that in the end I can totally say it was worth it. We are thriving in our life here!

The kids are doing fantastic in school and really seem to love it. Abbie in particular just seems to be coming alive. She gets disappointed when the weekend comes and she doesn’t have school for a few days. Noah continues to love reading and science and history. He is growing up and getting to be so mature. He helps us out around the house and is a general joy most of the time. I’ve found that I REALLY enjoy the age of 9…it’s a great age! He is independant and trustworthy and a great companion, but he still needs us and wants to be with us….we are still cool to him!

So that is what is going on in my world…..glad you could catch up with me!

Filed under: Family Stuff, Kids , catching up, life

Unfair…

I always look forward to the weekend. I know that almost everyone does. The weekend is my reward for making it through a long and busy week. Work drains me….being home fills me up. Weekends are the only time when I get to spend long un-inturrupted time with my family – something that is dear and precious to me.

So imagine my frustration when I found out that my husband was going to a work related “function”, conference if you will,  that would be held out of town all weekend long. I don’t mind him having to do something work related, but does it have to take up the entire weekend? This means no family fun night, no sleeping in late together, no snuggling on the couch….none of the things I enjoy most about the weekend.

Sometimes…..life is unfair! And I suppose, in the big scheme of things, that I have it pretty good – great in fact! But still, silly though it may be, I want my husband to stay home this weekend…because after almost 11 years of marriage and, 12 years of being together and 16 years of friendship….he’s still my favorite person in the entire world.

Filed under: Family Stuff

The definition of cute….

Okay….what’s cuter than a puppy?

Two Puppies!

Aren’t they precious? My parents just adopted them last weekend. They are a brother and sister…the larger one is Brady, and the smaller one is Pumpkin.

I could dunk them in a cup of coffee they are so cute!

Filed under: Family Stuff , cute puppies, puppies