Sunday, December 03, 2006

ADVENT/COUNTDOWN CANDLE

I'll write more about the Advent season, wreaths etc later. The season is not one that was officially practiced in my church background, but it has become meaningful to me.

HOWEVER, we like to have an Advent Countdown candle. I take a candle, make 24 marks on it, burn a mark each night during our family circle. The children can see Christmas approaching. The last bit of our candle is burned on Christmas Eve.

Additionally, I have an online friend who burns a candle each year. She has invited friends and family to burn it with her at a set time - across the miles. It takes just a moment to know that you are thinking of those who are blessed in your life but not with you and then I add a quick prayer. I've done this alone, because it is usually strange times for the children. This year, I'm thinking of coordinating with Mike and giving it a shot...
PARENTING IN PROVERBS - CH 27

27:1-2 "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips."

Says it all, really.

27:15 "A constant dripping on a day of steady rain and a contentious woman are alike."

~Am I being contentious? Quit!

27:18 "He who tends the fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who cares for his master will be honored."

~Eventually we all enjoy the fruit of our "tending"....don't grow weary in the tending....

27:23 "Know well the condition of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds.."

~If it's godly to know the condition of our animals - how much more the condition of our children and their hearts? I must not be so focused on school, life, duties that I become unfamiliar with the condition of my children!
PARENTING IN PROVERBS - CH 26

26:17 "Like one who takes a dog by the ears is he who passes by and meddles with strife not belonging to him."

~Great life principle - stay out of everyone's "business". This reminds me of Zander sometime in September. He didn't want to go in to chapel. He told me "They are all in my business." ::snort::

~GREAT FAMILY PRINCIPLE

26:20 "For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down."

~Don't "whisper" among family, siblings, friends
LAYOUT

Hmmm....the tickers were supposed to be centered and the slide show was supposed to be up in the bar with the tickers under the blog title bar. AND if they were going to be this way - it would be nice if I could move a graphic up into the title bar to the right of the tickers....

But Stacia is finally asleep....slept from midnight- 3 a.m. Cried until 5:20....leapt out of my arms, struck the front of her head on the corner of my bed....and I had to keep her up another hour to observe her.....

In an further attempts to walk in freedom from pefectionalism....I'll leave this and worry about it later..... ::snort::
Organizing Spices....

When I said I had organized spices and it was a big job....I'm sure some of you didn't get it. I ordered a box full of spices from Monterey Spice Company. They are wonderful....very strong smelling etc. BUT I had no place to store them. I really like glass and hate plastic....but I wanted something airtight to keep out bugs and help maintain freshness. I ordered what I thought would be enough Tupperware to store the spices. I need three bigger ones and 3 smaller ones and I'll be done....
So here are MOST of my spices, neatly organized. I still have NO idea where I'll put all these! The little glass jars are darling. I bought those to fill with small amounts of spices and to store in my cupboard.

BTW - as a recovering perfectionist, I KNOW I made progress because NONE of this is alphabetized...the label maker ran out of tape, and I wasn't running errands with sick children...so I used a sharpie...I began doing cute dot letters and realized....I'm slipping...so I lettered the names and figured I can always remove the ink later if it totally bugs me.....::snort::



Cy the Fix-it Man!!!