Yes, we are still here ! :) Long, busy and full but wonderful days passing so quickly.
We started school and have a bit of catching up to do but and are still very much enjoying just being home.
After getting settled back in and beginning our school year, I found that things just weren't running too smoothly. I took a couple days to list down all the "problems" and realized that we were lacking some organization in many areas! Sometimes I tend to get the cart ahead of the horse. When I things start falling apart or not getting done, it's usually one of two reasons. Either I haven't taken the time to organized/plan/instruct as I should or I'm not sticking to my plan/schedule.
So that is what I've been working on the past couple weeks. And things are going MUCH better!
I listed out all the areas, big or small, that needed attention. Anything from cleaning, to shopping, to ministry, to school, to projects. Then prioritized them (for example, getting my food preparation/shopping/menus in order takes priority over practicing my violin. It saves us time and money and the man and children in this house would much rather eat a good meal than listen to me serenade them on my violin any day! :) And if I want to make Christmas crafts and bake Christmas cookies with the children, I'd best do that before the 25th thus I haven't updated here much.)
We started with the basics. Getting up on time, going to bed on time, chores and school. Then each day, I have tried to tend to at least one more area on my list in order of priority. And especially make time for those things that fill our home with love and joy. Playing a games with the children, reading stories, keeping our home open to company, chatting, writing notes, etc...
So this week, while there is still much do work on, I made a menu and followed it, decorated with the children for Christmas, took time to write some letters, worked on chore training, organized the boys clothing with them, fine-tuned our school day, and printed up/framed some Scripture verses to help keep my heart/mind set on what is true!
Plans for the next couple weeks...
*Tonight we are having 2 families over for supper
*Sunday Nehemiah the Bullfrog turns 5!!
*Tuesday- going down to La Paz with my hubby to renew my visa and (shhhhhh....get Christmas gifts for the children). :)
*Wednesday- Christmas caroling with our church
*Thursday/Friday- passing out the Christmas boxes we received this year...we got about 100 of them!! Look for the Christmas Box post/pictures in the weeks ahead.
Saturday- Our Christmas Eve also known as my half birthday :) is like Christmas Day for the people here in Mexico. They begin celebrating in the evening and often stay up most of the night. That is when we go visit some of the families in our church, bring them some Christmas goodies and eat tamales, pozole, and drink champurado (a think chocolate drink). Yum!!!!!!
Sunday- Our special Christmas service, children's/teen choir singing, fellowship dinner
Monday- Hubby and 3 oldest going to youth conference for 3 days with some of the other young people/men/women from our church. I'll have a HUGE list of projects ready to tackle while they are away mainly just because I'll miss them soooooo much and it will not only get things done that I've been needing to, but it will make the time pass quickly. :)
Merry Christmas to all who read here! May Jesus fill your hearts and homes with His love, peace and joy each day!
He is so faithful and sooo good!
See below for pics from this week!! :)
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| Daddy brought home a treat the other day...big jars of peanut butter!! :) |
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| Sunset a few nights ago- view from the side of our front yard. |
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| Making Christmas Carolers |
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| Working on snowflakes for the windows |
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| I saw this idea on my friend Cindy's blog and loved it! We made 14 carolers....one for each of us! :) |
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| This was the first year ever that I let the children decorate the tree all by themselves! More and more, it's not about being "perfect"...just seeing the fun they had making memories together makes it the most beautiful tree ever! |
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| Gift from my hubby to me :) I had books everywhere...in totes, in cupboards, in baskets, and the two book shelves we had were breaking and full. He saw a special at shopko for bookshelves for half off and got me four of them and an additional one with doors to hold our games/dvd's!! :) I feel like we have our own little library! When Daniel gets time, I want him to paint a verse on the wall above the shelves. Any suggestions for what verse? |
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| The weather has finally become cool enough to bake without sweating! :) I love fresh bread! I was thinking 2 loaves for us and 2 to give away to friends/neighbors. Well, we did give 2 away, but we could have easily eaten all 4! Next time I think I'll make 6! |
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| I'm not the most creative/artistic, but I want to start changing our dining room bulletin board every month to fit the season/theme. |
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| These little guys are usually the first ones up. I let them stay in their jammies till after breakfast and usually the little ones will munch on Cheerios while Beka and I cook. :) |
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| Not sure why these next two pics got put way down here, but I've got to start supper and don't have time to get them where they should be :) |
So nice to catch up with you Jaynee. I hope you and yours have a wonderful Christmas.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Dawn
You might not think you are very creative but all these little things you do with the kids make such good and warm memories for them!! I can always feel the love in your family through the pictures you post. they will grow up well adjusted and happy for sure!
ReplyDeleteYour home is looking nice and festive!
what sorts of things will you have on your to do list while they are away?
I love how you seem to enjoy the many mundane tasks of taking care of everythning and everyone!
It was fun to see what you are all up to.:)I love your bookcases.:)
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you, too, Dawn! Thank you for always leaving such sweet comments :)
ReplyDeleteHi, Tereza :) Good to hear from you! I always have lists of projects to do and I'll just choose some from there while Daniel is gone. Probably things like organizing closets/drawers, cupboards, decorating, paperwork, planning, etc... Every time Daniel has to go away overnight or longer, I try to hit my list :) I do most of it when the children are in bed. Normally, I reserve that time to be with my Honey but when he's not home, I keep busy so I don't miss him. I usually get into bed late too those times...after midnight sometimes, and then the day he gets back, we'll sleep in together a bit the next day and let the children have an easy breakfast and start school late :)
Thank you, Nikki! I love the bookcases too and it's the first time that our family room has had really any furniture to speak of! :)
So glad you are getting back into a workable routine. Life goes much better that way doesn't it? :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat adorable little carolers. I love them!! And your very shiny and creative Christmas theme board. I think it's beautifully done.
I can completely relate about the bookshelves. John built me the bookshelves in our living room to hold most of our books. I was finally able to get the books out of the basement. They'd been there for a couple years :-0
Merry Christmas to you and your sweet family Jaynee!
~Cinnamon
Merry Christmas, Cinnamon! Hope the girls get their letters soon! :) And I think your book shelves on the top near your ceiling are the best!!! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for the update! What a change your family had -- adjusting to being back home. You are a blessing of a momma -- recognizing those things that needed attention and making a plan. I think our family could use an adjustment also, and we haven't been away from home! How about Phillipians 4:13 above the library? The book shelves look fantastic. What a perfect timing for your family, with all your 12 blessings old enough with the ability to reshelve books they have read. Christmas blessings to your family. With love, Dianne Phillips (Eugene, OR)
ReplyDeleteHi, Dianne! :) Christmas Blessings to you! Thank you for the verse suggestion. I do love that verse! :) We "adjust" often...that's just part of being a family and I love it :)
ReplyDeleteJaynee, those carolers are soooo adorable! Love the big book shelves too!!! Was so excited to see a post, hope you guys have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
ReplyDeleteWould Proverbs 1 verses 2,3,4,5 something like that work over your shelves? Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteOur family verse is Psalm 37;4 Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.
ReplyDeleteRebekah and the Pelhams....those are both great verses! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteGreat to see a post from you in my inbox today! Merry Christmas to your family from ours across the ocean.
ReplyDeleteAnd here is another verse suggestion... Ps. 127:1 Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it.
Then, I started thinking about the fact that you have 12 children and thought it would be fun to come up with something about the 12 tribes of Israel, so I did a little search and found this phrase in Acts 26:7 "...our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night..." and thought how cute that would be with each of their pictures included as well! LOL!
Happy Birthday to Nehemiah!! Just after your Mom gets the side bar updated she has to do it again :)! Hope you have a wonderful 5th birthday!
ReplyDeleteLove your new library :).
Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
(Proverbs 4:5)
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
(Psalms 111:10)
I think food would take priority over violin here too :)!
When you get all your menus made up could you send them to me :).
Miss you all!
I love it, Jolene! :) We do have a big wall in our living room with all 13 of our family pictures...hmmmm....now you got me thinkin' !
ReplyDeleteAnd, Joleena, (hey...that's neat that you and Jolene commented right next to each other :)...I love those verses! So true and good!!!
And Jaynee is a wonderful girl name. I happen to be partial to J names....you should too :)
Since it is above the bookshelves my suggestion for a scripture is "Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee."
ReplyDeleteI read you blog but rarely comment. ;)
Stephanie in Oklahoma.
Hi, Stephanie! Thank you for saying hi! :) And I love that verse! What a good verse to encourage us to always hide His Word in our hearts!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you all!
ReplyDeleteI love the carolers :D
I also like the verses suggested, but the first verse I thought of {thinking library} was "Thy WORD have I hid in my heart.."
Girl I absolutely looooooove the caroling family!!!!! To sweet! I miss you and looooove you soooooo much!!!! I so enjo looking to see when you have posted. You are a treasure and I will forever hold you dear in m heart!
ReplyDelete