Christmas Blog Carnival: Day 5

Wow! We are finishing the Christmas Blog Carnival from Wives of Faith today. I feel a bit sad because I have enjoyed writing these short blog posts!

Today's topic is military related: You might be a military spouse at Christmas if ....

You postpone Christmas dinner and opening gifts until January or February, or March, or, or, or.... Christmas is a SEASON, after all, right? ha ha.

This is our second deployment through these holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.). Our first Christmas apart was 2007. We had the kids open up what they received from the squadron on Christmas Eve and then they opened up a couple gifts on Christmas morning.

For this Christmas, we have given the kids two options:

1. Open up their gifts on Christmas, with the exception of Christmas Eve pajamas; which they are so excited about because they can't wait to see what ones they get this year. Who would have thought that pajamas could be so exciting?! And waiting to open up the big gift when dad comes home.

OR

2. Open up the Christmas Eve pj's, all clothing items on Christmas morning and one toy, and wait to open the rest until dad comes home.

All three of the kiddos answered simultaneously: "The second one!" One of them said: "We want dad here when we open up presents even if we have to wait a couple months."I absolutely LOVE where their hearts are!

Sure, we could do the whole video thing on Christmas morning, but honestly, the video thing is a bit sketchy a lot of the times. Plus, it's just not the real deal.

Anyway ... you might be a military spouse at Christmas time if you wait to do the whole Christmas gift opening and dinner eating until your military man comes home!

Google image search.

Christmas Blog Carnival: Day 4

Wow! Today is already Day 4 of the Christmas Blog Carnival from Wives of Faith. I have truly enjoyed blogging these last few days on topics that I have not blogged about, yet. So thank you, Wives of Faith, for hosting the 3rd Annual CBC. :)

Without further ado, today's topic is: The Best Non-Material Christmas Gift Ever. I literally thought ... and thought ... and thought some more about this topic a few days ago. Then it dawned on me. Actually, I think it was the LORD showing me what He gave us, that we did not want to have any more of.

It was Christmas Eve 2002 when we found out about our little blessing.

You see, we were not walking with the LORD in our early years of marriage (that in itself could be many blogs in length). It was November 2002 when we met with a doctor to discuss having the IUD put in late December of the same year. Talking with my best friend about the IUD just yesterday makes my stomach turn for what doctors do not tell you. A lot of docs are all about being politically correct as a medical physician. <---- this is a different topic.

I truly did not think I was pregnant, but had to have a pregnancy test done before they would be able to proceed with another appointment. Christmas Eve 2002, I got the phone call from the Family Practice clinic at F.E. Warren AFB in Cheyenne, Wyoming (our 2nd duty station). The nurse said to me, "I have the results of your pregnancy test. The results show that you are pregnant. I hope this is good news." At that point in our life, being very selfish and only wanting two kids -- it was NOT the greatest news. I accepted it and was scared to death at how I would be able to care for three children when I could barely care for two.

Corey. August 2003.

Corey. November 2005.

I COULD NOT IMAGINE life without our youngest, Corey. He is our little comedian. He is the ball of fire out of our three children. He is also the greatest little helper that God has given us. I think he makes a point to make us smile every single day. And as I write this, I smile, complete with a twinkle in my eye.

October 2010.

I have spent the last two days recalling how God has blessed us with the perfect package that consists of our three children. They have always been close, and any of our close friends and family can attest to that. They are pretty inseparable. God has entrusted these three to our care, to bring them in the ways of the LORD, to teach them, to nurture them, and to prepare them for life. I cannot describe how incredibly grateful I am that GOD DID NOT give up on us.

July 2011.





The best non-material Christmas gift I have ever received was finding out that we were pregnant with our third child!

Christmas Blog Carnival: Day 3

Today's topic on the Christmas Blog Carnival is: Your Favorite Childhood Christmas Memory -- brought to you by Wives of Faith.

My dad as Santa Claus -- this is my favorite Christmas memory. Each year he would dress up as Santa Claus, and while we were all at my grandma's house (my mom's mom), Santa would come for a visit. My dad was the perfect Santa: beard, cheeks, and belly .... and the he did the special Santa jingle just right:

"HO-HO-HO! Merry Christmas!"

Me (6'ish yrs. old) and Santa Dad.

**My dad passed away June 1999. I was 19 years old and we were stationed in England; less than a month being due with our first child. I wish he was still around ... there is no doubt that our children and my sister's kids would LOVE seeing Santa walk through the door. He will remain, to me, the perfect Santa!**

Christmas Blog Carnival: Day 2

Today's topic for the Christmas Blog Carnival  from Wives of Faith is about Your Favorite Christmas Dessert (with recipe).

 

At Christmas time, I do not think I actually make an actual dessert; just an assortment of goodies from candies to cookies, etc. Christmas time baking is a favorite in our home with the whole family getting involved. Making memories is a great thing!!

 

One of my all time favorite goodies has to be the chocolate dipped peanut butter crackers that were at every Christmas gathering when I was a kid. You seriously cannot eat just one!

 

Ingredients:

*Creamy peanut butter 

*Ritz Crackers; sometimes the Honey Ritz, even. *Almond bark and a little vanilla; actually, I have this thing with vanilla so it kind of ALMOST goes in everything I bake.

*Sprinkles, nuts, etc for topping -- if you want (which that's what I'm doing this year).

Directions:

*Melt chocolate in a double broiler. We do not have a double broiler, so we do the whole, glass bowl over a boiling pot of water thing.

*Spread Peanut Butter on one cracker; then top with another cracker -- like a sandwich.

*Dip into chocolate and be sure to coat both sides. You have to work somewhat quickly because of the hot chocolate and the peanut butter -- it kind of makes the peanut butter extra creamy which will make your cracker slide around.

*Place on waxed paper to dry; and top with sprinkles, nuts, etc - if you like.

ENJOY!

Christmas Blog Carnival: Day 1

This is my first go at partaking in a Christmas Blog Carnival  hosted by Wives of Faith. The topic for today is: Your favorite Christmas movie.

My favorite Christmas movie? I thought about this and the only movie that truly pops in mind, amongst the plethora of Christmas movies out there is: Elf.

Buddy is my favorite elf of all elves!!! 

This movie is the only movie, that when it is mentioned and talked about, I can actually recall the different scenes.



Here are some of my favorite quotes from the movie Elf:

*there's a few conversation exchanges that I like that happen between Buddy and the Gimbel's store manager and between the "fake" Santa at Gimbel's, too -- but I only included quotes from Buddy, himself.*

"We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup."

"I just like to smile, smiling's my favorite."

"What's a Christmas Gram? I want one!"

"Have you seen these toilets? They're GINORMOUS!"
"SANTA! OH MY GOD! SANTA'S COMING! I KNOW HIM! I KNOW HIM!"

"I am a cotton-headed ninnymoggins!"
Okay ... so I could list many more ... Now ... go watch the movie! It truly is a good laugh!

Happy watching!