Thank you for a great 2008!

It's difficult for me to believe that six short months ago, I just started reading my very first blogs and now I "think" in blog posts (and have written gazillions in my mind.)
Can you relate?
I guess it's time I come out of the closet and actually tell my friends IRL that I have one. :)
I've realized that unless someone has a blog or follows a few closely, they just don't get it, do they? It is quite a surreal experience to feel close to many of you that I have never met.
If you had told me six months ago that I would actually type a sentence like that, I do believe I might have scoffed at you...hee hee.

You have all become such a unique part of my life, and I am so blessed with how you have enriched all aspects in my attempt at balancing beauty and bedlam.

Thank you for your kind words of encouragement, and your desire to grow with me as we passionately pursue this adventure of womanhood.
The fact that you keep coming back to visit - even when you know how little I edit, as well as how much bedlam comes with the package, continues to marvel me.
So invite your friends, the more the merrier.
I desire this to be a safe haven.
A small little corner in this Blog sphere where we can take off the masks, and know that there are many others on this same journey.
Let's live Life to its fullest in 2009...together!

(Be thinking about posts for two upcoming Mr. Linky parties...a Beauty and Bedlam party where we share the true bedlam moments that arise amongst our typically beautiful posts. And a "God watch" party, where we either share the God Watch that we are on right now, or one where He already gave you the answer in His perfect way. Thanks to Kimba and Emily for those suggestions)

So from my family to yours on the eve of '08,
May you fully understand the grace that only He can give.

And when that balls drops and the song is singing, may you get lots of these. :)
Hoping to meet many of you IRL this year.
(I enjoy that so much more).
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
Love you,
Jen

And I didn't even apologize for the fact that every single family picture we took, my youngest dd did NOT have her hair bow in. Yes, even the eternal optimist can sometimes let the little, superficial things get me down. :) hee hee

Want to share your family photo?

Real time...Right now!

In honor of savoring every moment, I have a dilemma I would like to share with you...

quickly, I might add,
since I have twenty women coming to my home in just a few hours.

This is the annual Christmas party that I host for the ladies in my Classical Conversations home school group. And I canceled it before Christmas.
That's right...two days before the party...
and rescheduled it - for tonight - Tuesday.
Best decision I ever did make...that week. :)
So here in lies the problem....
Yes siree!
Nothing in the Deep South says "Welcome to my feathered nest," more than a dryer finding residence on the front porch (or the side in our case).
You see old faithful went out on the eve of the 25th...
and the new one just found its rightful place, but the old one has yet to find its home.
And it's too heavy for my boys and me to move.
I'm strong, but not that strong.
It's a race against the clock to see if my hubby gets home in time.
For the sake of balancing this bedlam with some true beauty, how about I put a table runner across it, light some beautiful candles and call it a night?
Come on decorating gurus...what should I do?
A little cloche? Maybe some topiaries?
Ah....you gotta love it!
Off to make some yummy hors d'oeuvres and finish cleaning!
I am so glad these women love me...in spite of myself. :)

*edited to add...you must read the comments - they are much better than my post.
Oh, this could be fun. Maybe I will just tell my hubby it's ok to be late.

Join me on our God Watch!

I have missed sharing my thrifty/frugal living posts this past month.
It's been as if a vital part of my life was cut off,
and I can't wait to share all that has transpired. :)
Christmas for our family "rains" frugal living.
2009 will bring about many posts on Living Life to its Fullest...on less.
With everything from DIY decorating to groceries and garage sales,
I continue to learn, and am excited to live out what I "preach" on my blog.
I am entering a "God watch" time.
My sweet husband's job comes to an end in February, and I can't wait to watch and see how God will provide.
His company was bought out a few months ago and they have offered him a job in Houston.
That was a very easy, "No."
No offense to you Texans, but it would be a pretty hard thing to sell out our shared "Harried Homestead" family land, and give up on this 200 year generational legacy plan that we are trying to see through to fruition just because of a few dollars and an exciting retirement plan ;)

Years ago, I coined the term "God Watch" for the numerous instances when circumstances were unknown, and doubt would begin to creep subtly into the crevices of my heart.
I challenged the kids to a "game" of sorts where we would be on a "God Watch".
Watching and waiting expectantly for all the ways He works in situations has become a continual faith building activity for our family, especially when His perfect timing is quite often not my timing.
This year I will share some of my background surrounding this.
It's truly a Riches to Rags story (yep, that's typed correctly), and one that I would not change.
Beauty and Bedlam at its finest.
It has cemented who I am and where my worth is found.

Our desire is to make it through this waiting period debt free.
The key to a financial plan for one's family is exactly that....there is a plan - no matter what the income or job title - whether you make $24,000 a year or $240,000.
Unexpected job loss is built into that plan with an emergency fund for situations just like what we are anticipating.
But that's a whole different blog post which I feel passionately about..can you tell? Remind me of that in six months if we're still unemployed, deal?
I am laughing at myself because this blog title was "Tablescape on a dime...or two" - it was going to be light and fun, and ended up as a sermonette.
Don't worry, ladies, crazy bedlam moments will be back, as well as those holiday tables.

Thanks for joining me on our family's God watch....I would love to join you if you care to share.

Part of Fingerprint Friday

Twitter Moms: The Influential Moms Network

The countdown is over

Often we spend our time looking, yearning, pondering...

filled with anticipation and expectation of things to come.

Time passes, reality resumes, and you realize that your searching was in vain.

What you were looking for was not found in a magical moment;
"the moment" was right in front of you the entire time.

On this December 26 (when quite possibly there has been a count down to a let down),
may you have time to reflect that it truly is the little things that are the big things...
in Life, Love, and our relationship with our Lord.

Reindeer Food for Christmas

Reindeer Mix

So you've thought of you cookies for Santa, but have you left poor Donner and Blitzen out in the cold?

Don't worry, with only days left until Rudolph's big arrival, this is something that you can whip up in seconds.

Make a special "Reindeer Mix" with one cup of oats, one cup of barley, and two spoonfuls of gold glitter...just use what you have on hand. No need to purchase anything extra for this new tradition that will literally take minutes to make with the children.
It's a secret recipe that comes straight from the North Pole, and is just what the reindeer need to fuel them for their evening of delivering gifts. On Christmas Eve, instruct your children to leave the mix on the driveway, front lawn, or any other spot where the reindeer might want to rest and enjoy a snack. After the kids have gone to bed, clear most of the mix away, leaving just a few oats as evidence that the reindeer have made their visit, as well as some footprints for those of you that have gotten hit by the snow (Use a split dowel rod to make tiny reindeer hoof prints in the snow...how sneaky is that. :)

If the kids need something to keep them busy during the next few days, have them mix up a few extra baggies and attach this sweet note. Deliver to neighbor friends, and everyone can join in the fun!
Sprinkle on your lawn at night.
In the moon, it will sparkle bright.
As Santa's reindeer fly and roam
this wonderful treat will guide them to your home!

The Legend of Magical Reindeer Dust

It has once been said,
That right before you go to bed.
You should sprinkle magic reindeer food,
To quickly bring Santa and his brood.
For many years the legend has been told,
To boys and girls, both young and old,
Sprinkle the food throughout your yard,
Then finding your house won’t be so hard!
The reindeer can smell the food for 100 miles,
Just do not leave it in big piles!
After you do this you must go to sleep very fast,
So Santa and his reindeer will not pass!

Gasp...you don't have gold glitter? Purple will do just fine.

Christmas traditions - Elf on the Shelf

Many of the traditions that we have adopted into our family have purpose and intentionality behind them; others are just plain crazy fun - like this one ( full tradition idea at bottom).
Meet Carl - our family elf.
This is one of those traditions that has made a notable impact in just two years.
I never thought that my kids would get lost in this SO much, but when our youngest frequently asked throughout the year when "Carl" was coming back, I knew this was here to stay. I had forgotten that Carl was returning...ugh...until I saw Lysa's elf pop up on her blog post.
I gasped in horror at my horrible Mommy moment...ran from my 'puter to release Carl to his rightful place, and then watched in delight as the kids woke up to find he had returned.
I tried to recreate Emma's reaction...obviously, it didn't work, but she started screaming, jumping up and down while clapping her hands as fast as they would flutter, "Carl's back, Mommy, Carl's back...Christmas is coming."

All the kids LOVE Carl, and my nephews are now asking when their Elf is coming. My older boys are key in hiding him, and helping "Carl" remember to move each night.
The one night that Carl "fell asleep" and didn't switch spots was saved by the sheer wonder of this tradition.
My 9 year old daughter had fallen asleep on the sofa. My hubby was too tired to carry her up, so he just covered her up and left her. She slept through the night, and I never gave a thought to Carl. When I realized in the morning that Carl hadn't moved, I never said a thing. She explained to my 5 year old, "I was sleeping down here all night, so he must have known he couldn't move until I went upstairs."
I even got my floor scrubbed yesterday by my daughter and nephews after my nephews touched Carl and they knew that was a "no - no." On their own, they started cleaning to try and make penance for what they had done (giggling internally- SO HARD)!!

(tradition outlined below)

Sheer JOY at Carl's return!

Here's the concept from "the elf on the shelf." Honestly, our family focuses on the real story of St. Nick and doesn't do much with Santa, so when I was given this Elf, it was out of our typical realm. I think it would be precious to do this same idea with a snow man or even hide a wise man each night and twist the tradition idea to have the wise man searching for the baby Jesus. Then on Christmas morn, the wise man could find his rightful place in the nativity scene (just Jen's two cents. :)

The first time our elf arrived at our home, the children officially adopted him by giving him a name. Each year he would arrive around the holidays. His sole responsibility was to watch the children's behavior and report it to Santa(St. Nick) each night. The next morning after the children awoke, they discovered the elf had returned from the North Pole and was now resting in a new and different place.
My children would race each other out of bed to try and be the first to spy him in his new position.
Over the years the tradition was perfected and rules were introduced. For example, to better preserve his mystique the children were not allowed to touch him but talking to him was a different matter all together. My children shared many secrets with the elf, and while he was under strict order not to talk to him, the elf was under no such orders where grown-ups were concerned.
Unwittingly, the tradition provided an added benefit: it helped the children to better control themselves. All it took was a gentle reminder that the "elf is watching," for errant behavior to be modified.

Start this one next year - you won't be disappointed.

I have been trying to catch up with my Christmas ideas/traditions all week, browse around and find something new for this year or next. More to come, including our all time favorite Jesse Tree.
Melissa always has fantastic ideas at the Inspired Room...visit her today.

Christmas traditions - 2

Still feeling some stress since the special, little things haven't gotten prioritized?
Since I have been gone, this idea didn't get implemented this year, but we intend to prioritize these last few days before Christmas with the "10 days of Christmas." Instead of the "to do" list mentioned below, incorporate those things that truly will make a difference this year - bring cookies to the widow down the street, Christmas carol at 5 houses of neighbors that you have never met, bring an anonymous goodie bag to a stranger in need (look around - people in need are everywhere).
Incorporate your children in the brainstorming process, and don't forget the fun things like sleeping under the Christmas tree lights or ding dong ditching your best friends with some treats.
These ideas will only take minutes out of your upcoming busy week, but will reap a lifetime of rewards that really matter.
Read below for the full intent of the tradition idea.

Gingerbread Man Chain – This is a wonderful way to organize your holiday To-Do list so you can actually enjoy the festivities. Make a paper chain with 24 gingerbread men (or Christmas trees), and write the numbers 1 through 24 on the front of each one. Make a list of all the things you need to do during the month of December and write one on the back of each gingerbread man (buy the Christmas tree, decorate the Christmas tree, hang the outdoor lights, decorate inside the house, make homemade cookies, donate toys to the goodwill, wrap presents, mail the out-of town gifts, etc.).

Breaking the month of December down into one small task a day will make the holidays fun instead of overwhelming. At the same time, it will show your children that there is more to Christmas than just treats and presents. Your children will love taking a gingerbread man down each day to discover which Christmas task they can help you with next.

Christmas traditions galore

Traditions are meant to last
Most kids crave novelty - the newest video game, the greatest CD-ROM, the biggest Christmas tree, the latest, greatest...
But at holidays, they are transformed from thrill seekers to traditionalists. If your family has done it before, your kids will want to do it again. I call it the "we all" of family. We always do this for "the holidays." There's something reassuring about traditions. In a world where nearly everything is disposable, traditions remind us that some things were meant to last.
Here are gathered some unique tradition ideas that do everything from bring together faraway relatives to kindle the spirit of giving, but follow me all week long as I add more - ones that are unusual and may just spark something new for your family.

So, this year, if you're shopping for the perfect gift, why not try a new tradition? Unlike most presents, they're inexpensive, they need no wrapping and will last nearly forever.

Candy Cane Trail

When you envision Christmas morning, what do you see, hear, and smell?
What expectations do you have?
What are the memories that you want to solidify every year? Do you have a plan?
For some of us with children, our Dickens Christmas comes to an end within minutes. Our children tear through presents like the Indy 500 without so much as a thank you. They want to know which present is next...now, or may even grumble (gasp) when things don't go quite their way...

As much as we may chuckle at that scenario, it is quite often, oh, too real.
One of our most memorable Christmas mornings was created by stretching out the gift opening throughout the whole day. We literally did only 2 presents an hour (not each child...just two presents) and had activities mixed in throughout the morning. It was peaceful, the kids actually played with each toy as they opened it or celebrated what their sibling received. And we were able to slow down, and focused on the things that really mattered - being together celebrating our Savior's birth. It was magical.

Here is an idea of how to put that new slant on your Christmas morning with the kids or grand kids.
This can even be adapted if you are having a gathering with extended family.

Capture the magic of Christmas morning by creating
a fun trail for your kids to follow when they first wake up.
Purchase a box of wrapped candy canes and lay them on the floor
guiding them through the house. Leave a note at their doorway
directing them to follow the candy can trail to "present pit stops"
that have one present for them to open at each.
Each "present pit stop" has a small note that Santa (or St. Nick or mom/dad)
has left them with one nice thing that he saw them do that year.
Notes can include things like.
"You always know how to look on the bright side, and encourage
others - keep up the good work"
or "You are always the first to volunteer to help and
that is a wonderful way to show you care for others.

It's a Christmas Party

It's official! I have completely lost my mind!

After having been gone for NINE DAYS and TWO HOURS on our "spontaneous" football National Championship "vacation" - HA, HA - I walked into my home during the wee hours of the morn and sat down to my computer(S) because I didn't want to miss a party.
A party people...with you!!
No, the van isn't unpacked, but the cooler is empty.
Is that good enough?
Ladies, this is not just any party, but a gazillion of the best parties in town.
Could you not have spread them out ladies - Boo Mama, Thrifty Decor Chick, and Julia?
Kimba, Rhoda?
I have no social calendar for months, and now they all fall at the same time?
When I have no time for quality blogging?
Talk about balancing beauty and bedlam!
Here I am wanting to impress you with small moments of beauty, so I decide to go techie on you and load pics from my laptop while typing on my main computer...guess what...blogspot doesn't like that very much.
I lost all of my verbage!! AHHH!!!!
Therefore, I really don't have time to be the hostess with the mostess at 3:00am...come back later for the Homemade Gourmet treats. Right now, all I have to offer are these.....
Don't worry, they've only been sitting here for two weeks, but my heat was turned down very low, so apple pies - here we come.
Last week, The Nester got us all imagining we could be her with our garlands.
It was lots of fun sprucing up our mantles.

Since my conscious is guiding my time right now, as well as the fact, I have numerous toothpicks holding open my eye lids, I will just give you a sneak peak into my many tree with some of the pictures I already had loaded.
One of my traditions is to give each of our five children an ornament every year, as well as making some together.
When we "launch" them into adulthood, they will leave with a set of handmade Jesse Tree ornaments (post coming this week), as well as the ornaments that we have collected each year. It became a bit of a challenge to figure out how to decorate with a variety of styles, so now we have "compromised" and have SIX trees.
Yes, it's the only thing I do up big.
(more trees at We are that Family...I'm really late to that party :)

I have One large 9 foot tree that the kids call the "fancy tree."

Diamonds are a girl's best friend, aren't they?

This is the tree where I can indulge my white light fetish,
as well as pretend that I am dripping in gems.
I am not really a diamond kind of gal, but during December, it sure is fun.

Only fancy ornaments are allowed...gold, diamonds, ivory/burgundy ribbons, oh, and I can't forget the pearls.

Then, in our foyer, we have the kids' tree. (pretend picture here)
They can have as much fun as they want...colored lights, colored ornaments, and it always looks spectacular. They really want to feature it in the great room, but I haven't been able to give up gazing and gawking at the fancy tree yet. Maybe next year.

I then have four small trees.
1. The most meaningful is our Jesse Tree, and I will go into detail on it Wed.
2. My music tree, which began when my very first bridal shower invitation asked every one to bring a musical type ornament (I was in full time ministry leading worship at the time).

3. My angel tree, which began at age 16, when my mom and dad presented me with my hope chest that had many special angel things in it.

4. And, of course...a sports tree.
Three boys....need I say more? (and yes, the girls love it too)

Definitely... GO PACK...we have quite a few more of these. :)

And as I was taking the picture...

I am not kidding...look at the book it fell on. hee hee

This is Carl - our Elf on the Shelf...click the side bar - follow me and you'll hear all about this fantastically fun tradition, as well as many more ideas to come.
Yea - I am finally home!!

And now for some of our outdoor family decor and lighting, taken just for you a few days ago.

I hope you are enjoying time to pause and ponder the real meaning of the season....it's all about HIM!

It only takes a moment...

The deafening screaming and thrilling excitement

of this final score, which sent our team to this Saturday's Superbowl,

was silenced when my son, the center (#51),

was left lying motionless in the middle of the field. An angry opposing player laid out a late hit cheap shot to what we were told was my son's spinal cord.
The clock showed zero, signifying the team's victory, but there was no cheering, no celebratory high fives, no ecstatic teenage boys...only silence.
As a parent, you realize, in a moment like this, that we have no guarantees on how much time we have.
The Lord has graciously given our children as His precious gifts to us, but we are merely stewards of these gifts.
Stewarding gifts that I am not worthy of tending is humbling.
We think that we can control situations when they are under our guard.
My tendency is to squeeze.
Squeeze tightly.
It's such a struggle to hold my hands wide open and offer my children as a living sacrifice.

And in those moments, I am reminded again that through adversity, God's power is not only realized, but magnified.
Yesterday, His grace was shown to a family that was truly undeserving.
I glanced at my husband across the field and could see tears in his eyes as our son continued to remain motionless.
And then after minutes, which in a momma's heart seemed like days,
he moved.
Thank you, Lord.
It could have been his time, and I would have had to choose joy for the years that we were given...but, it wasn't!
And for that I rejoice.

*****************************
And now, with Matthew's only repercussion being the aching body of an 80 year old, we can regroup, and realize that our sons' are heading to the Superbowl - the National Championship. The season started with 3,000 teams and it is down to the Final 2.
After a season of tremendous hardship, their dreams are being realized. They were interviewed for the NFL Network and the game will be shown on both the NFL Network and ESPN.
Their measurements were just taken for new uniforms that they are being fitted for especially for Saturday's game...just like the Pro Bowl.
Win or Lose, they dug deep, and became men.
When they were down 12-0 after the first game, and had emotionally given up, they dug deep, and chose to "Just do it!"
They showed that it's not about who they are as individuals. There are no winners with a me first mentality....winning only comes from understanding that it's about the rest of the team.

"Success is never final, failure is never fatal. It's courage that counts. "

Garland Glory...well almost

My sweet friend, the Nester, has inspired us to share our glorious garlands in all of their gorgeousness.
Why has it taken me 15 years to figure out that I could take my fake, wimpy, little garland, mix it with another cheap ($2), pathetic looking Goodwill garland, shop my home for embellishments, and have the final product be one that stands alone in all of its blazing garland glory? Well, maybe not quite, if you go look at the others, but I'll take what I can get.
I LOVE THIS LADIES! It's so easy!
And you can do it too...right now...ready, get set....GO!!
Do not worry if you have to open your laptop to make sure you copy everything correctly? There are no rules!!
I had to put my son in his place when he inquired,
"Why do you always copy her?"
"That's what she's there for...it's not copying," I retorted.
Since I was leaving for Florida within two days of of getting my Christmas decorations down from the attic (yes, some boxes are waiting for me when I return...that's depressing), my one goal was that I desired to create this without ANY purchases. I needed to be able to shop my home, and yard for all necessities.
I started with this.

(picture of pathetic skinny fake garland)

OK, LADIES....I am confessing....
I worked my tail off to get this darn garland done ( I mean.....glorious garland) before I left for my sons' football championship. I even had it fall once and recreated it when I should have been packing, cleaning or any numerous other things. I have been writing the post while here at Disney, and just waiting for my hubby to give me the card out of the camera.
WHAT....YOU TOOK THE OLD CARD OUT AND REPLACED IT WITH A NEW ONE right before we left?
ALL OF MY PICTURES THAT I TOOK JUST SO I COULD DO GREAT CHRISTMAS POSTS ALL WEEK LONG, including my garland pictures and EVERY SINGLE ONE of my 24 Jesse Tree ornament pictures (yes, 24 handmade ornaments and I photographed them all) ARE NOT HERE?
IT'S MINUTES BEFORE MR. LINKY COMES UP AND I find out what?
I feel like I am all dressed up for the prom and my date has stood me up!

Are you feeling for me? I want to cry.
Well, I guess I shouldn't over a blog post, but seriously.
Nester is calling this a SHOW AND TELL, but we all know it's a total Party.
I am not one to miss a party, especially with my favorite gals, and I am not about to now just because my hubby left the camera card at home.

Anyhow, just how many garlands do you really want to look at....hundreds that link up? This is different....just imagine!
I did the work, it's glorious, and I do have a sneak peek.
I am at Disney, for goodness sake.....the place where DREAMS COME TRUE!!
I have been dreaming of showing you all my garland. I even posted the teaser last week.
SO dream with me, ladies...dream......pretend you're visualizing the final result...pics are ahead.

I went hunting on foot through my woods and found a bunch of fresh pine branches and pine cones pictured below. Remember, I couldn't spend any $.
(Dashing through the snow....)
If you live in a subdivision, just pull over on the side of the road somewhere...you'll find plenty.
(In a one horse open sleigh...well, maybe it's horsepower and it's a mini van, but we're dreaming...)
(Ore the hills we go...well, it was many hills and a neighborhood yard sale)
(Laughing all the way..oh yea, giggling...I hit the jackpot).
I grabbed the bunch of berries that I bought for $1 and started cutting away, and then sticking them in the wimpy garland.
The berries left over I stuck in the $1 glass jar pictured here.

(Bells on bobtails ring...
well, they are little gold bells and ivory ribbon woven into the garland)
(Making spirits bright...yes, it's amazing what a little Christmas decor does for ones emotional stability)
Then I started adding the fresh pine and holly leaves that I cut off of my own personal bush into the wimpy garland, winding gold things that I found scattered around the house, and adding, adding and adding.
(What fun it is to laugh and sing a sleighing song tonight....
yes, I must say, I am doing much better now, thank you...this has been very therapeutic)
My sneak peak....
Since I knew I was leaving to go out of town I didn't want to come home to a fallen glorious garland (her feelings would have been so hurt if no one was there to pick her up), so I left out a few of my additional embellishments until I returned.
The gold reindeer was made by my sis in law who passed away from breast cancer....it's always such a wonderful reminder during the holidays.

OH, and I AM SO EXCITED...my husband found the missing card.
I can do the big reveal after all!!

Well, I can dream, can't I?
Thanks for playing along...does my heart good to know you girls love me anyhow....garlandless and all.
Sing with me...Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells...Jingle all the way!!
Disney does Christmas decor right....wow, had I known the card was gone, I would have shown you some REAL GARLAND...every where at Magic Kingdom.