The Perfect Gift

It’s Christmas! The anticipation has been building, and we’ve finally made it to the Big Day! My daughter’s thrilled, to say the least. Every day she’s been asking me, “Is it Christmas Day yet? I wanna open Abby’s presents.” And every day I’ve had to tell her “No, not yet. You just have to wait […]

Laugh A Little

Laughter is the best medicine, or so the saying goes. What is it about laughing that makes us all feel so good? I mean think about it; don’t you just love a good belly laugh every now and again? You know one of those laughing fits where you’re rolling around holding your belly crying and begging for mercy. Those are the best kinds of laughs!

Even at Christmastime we refer to Santa Clause as “Jolly” Old Saint Nicholas. And for most of us the holiday season is filled with joy, laughter, and happy feelings. There’s so much that makes us happy at this moment in the year; Christmas parties, church functions, and gatherings with family and friends that brings a smile to even the grouchiest of scrooges.

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A Passion for Planet Earth

“So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground,” (Genesis 1:26-28, New Living Translation).
Hard to imagine that over thousands of years ago God gave this world to us to protect, to love and nurture, and call our home. So, what exactly happened? Did we forget our vow to nature? Did sin taint us so badly that we have forgotten how to be kind, considerate, and how to shield and shelter our earth? I think that somehow over time we’ve become lazy and taken for granted this wonderful earth that God entrusted to our care.
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Through A Child's Eyes

Well, it’s that time of year again. Christmas. Everyone’s in a cheery mood. There’s hustle and bustle everywhere you turn. No parking spaces at the mall; the grocery stores and restaurants are crowded. Christmas music fills the air, and the sight of holiday lights warms the heart.

Everyone’s preparing for the big day. That means a big meal, big gifts, and lots of time spent with family and friends. It really is very special. I, like everyone else, have been running around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to get gifts together. I’ve already bought for my kids and husband, but it’s the rest of the family that has me in a whirl. I like to give personal gifts, so the past four days I’ve spent most of my waking  hours on shutterfly.com making photo Christmas gifts for all the grandparents. It’s been so time consuming that my house looks like a tornado hit it (ha-ha), my poor family. As you can imagine, it’s become the big joke this week, “So, you’re still on the computer?” that’s the playful banter I usually hear. I promised this week would be better, but I have a feeling it won’t be.

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A Season of Depression

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I spent a total of fifty hours in the backseat of our car between my screaming 3-month-old baby and a very restless 2-year-old. However, I will say that the time we spent with our family was absolutely priceless. It was such a blast . . . I would do it all over again in a heartbeat! The memories that we made will be imprinted in my mind and heart forever.

So, what does everyone think about the time change? I will tell you that I don’t like it. The days get so short. It feels like 10 p.m. when it’s only 5 p.m., and the hours of sunlight just seem to dwindle away into the darkness. It’s no wonder some people suffer with seasonal depression during the winter months. Winter can be kind of depressing especially when one is cooped-up with children who are bundles of energy. I’ve probably already been suffering from cabin fever since August; the winter months will just be an extension of the already long “maternity leave.”

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Give Thanks

Oh, how I love Thanksgiving! It’s such a special time of year, families and friends getting together sharing with each other fond memories of times past. What a wonderful moment in life to stop and join with the people we love, to give thanks to God for all the many blessings that have been bestowed upon us. And of course, don’t forget the best part: the dinner! I always remember to wear loose clothing on Thanksgiving; probably you do too!

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The Wizard of Oz

Any of you heard of Dr. Oz? Well, I’m pretty sure he’s the new craze for better health. My mom will often call me and say “Dr. Oz was on Oprah today. Did you see it?” and I always reply “No”. Which makes me a little irritated because I’ve been trying to catch a show […]

The Cholesterol War

The battle has begun! My body has declared war on me, and I’ve gone into fighting mode. What else can I do when my doctor tells me that I have high cholesterol? It’s just one more health problem to add to my existing diabetes and hypothyroid issues. And all I keep wondering is: Where did I go wrong? How is it that I’m only twenty-seven and I already have all these health problems?

However, one good thing is that I have a really great doctor, and she’s giving me three months to attempt to get my cholesterol down on my own. She knows how proactive I am about taking care of my body. Many doctors would prescribe a pill and let it go at that, but she’s giving me a chance. The downside is that we’re just starting the holiday season. Could it have come at a worse time?

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Bones Alive

Can you believe this week is Halloween and the end of October? My family doesn’t really participate in the whole Halloween scene. Just to be honest, I think it’s kind of creepy! However, I did get my daughter a costume, and my husband and I took her to a Halloween Alternative party at our church. It was very cute.

Anyways, whether you have chosen to participate in Halloween or not, you have been given your very own costume. Underneath your skin, your layers of muscle and fat, tendons and ligaments you will find your very own skeleton.

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Cures for the Cold

Well, I think Fall has finally arrived! For most of the country we have been experiencing unseasonably warm weather which I guess has its perks. However, if you’re like me, the changing seasons are welcomed. I love Fall. However, it has its unpleasant side too. The beginning of Fall marks the beginning of cold/flu season. You and your family members may, in fact, experience the nasty side of this time of year and perhaps be wishing for summer all over again.

The impending season change was apparent to me this week. Fall has made its mark on me with my first cold of the season. I really hate being sick. It’s just not fun, just all of a sudden, out of nowhere came a horrible sore throat. I mean, it was awful. I thought I would cry each time I had to swallow, let alone eat. Then after about 48-hours my sore throat was gone, and I was left with nasal congestion and a slight cough, which I’m tolerating.

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