Why Didn't I Think of That . . .The Elf on the Shelf!

          With the Christmas season fast approaching or should I say upon us, families with small children across America are breaking out the now cult phenomenon "Elf on the Shelf" book so that the infamous little scout elves will conveniently arrive just in time to report naughty or nice behavior to Santa who is conveniently out of sight back at the North Pole.

 Am I the only parent who says every year when we get that little booger out, "Why didn't I think of that?" I mean, it's so simple yet so genius! I could have taken some old Christmas relic from my grandmother's stash of holiday decor and created a cute little story that would have millions of children in houses all over the world minding their p's and q's just to stay on Santa's "Nice" list. Ahhh, well, maybe next go 'round.

 So, yes, "The Elf on the Shelf" has been read in The Avery House and our two wonderful little friends Deedle and Jingle Belle are back much to the great delight of our girls.

 Our two elves have been pretty calm in Christmas' past so I wonder if they will play any fun games this year. I guess we will see as the days go by.

            Macy seems less than impressed with the "Elf on the Shelf," but we will see how she feels after the elves actually arrive. Things may get a little interesting with two little elves and a puppy, Hmmm, there's an idea! Happy elving!

Laughter is the Best Medicine

This past July my dad underwent quadruple bypass surgery. My dad has always been (and still is) a very strong and healthy man not only physically but also mentally.

  I knew that my dad would go through this surgery with flying colors, but to say that I wasn't worried would be a lie. My tendency when I become worried about a situation that I can do nothing about is to pray, pray, pray as well as clean my house three hundred times in a day. On the day of my dad's surgery, I patiently waited for text messages and phone calls while mopping my floors every hour furiously scrubbing all of those stubborn spots. I finally received word that Dad had gone through the surgery well and that all had gone as expected. I exhaled for the first time a sigh of thankfulness. Now the hard part of recovery was to begin for my dad and his direct caregivers of my wonderful step-mom Pam and my sister Kelly. Howie, the girls and I traveled to see my dad 10 days after his surgery. I was amazed! When I say that my dad is my hero, I truly mean, he is my hero. 10 days post quadruple bypass surgery and my dad was up and walking each morning even in the rain! He always had an upbeat candor and never once complained of any pain. He repeatedly told the girls, Howie and I that we were the best medicine he could receive. Seeing the girls lifted his spirits even higher and helped him to push through what could have been a very difficult plateau in recovery. 

         As my Dad has continued to heal from his surgery, he has returned to his old G-Daddy self of being able to play and tickle the girls. During this past Thanksgiving holiday the girls enjoyed playing and laughing with their G-Daddy to the fullest capacity. It did not only his heart, but also my heart well to see them laughing and playing together. It is true as they say that "laughter is the best medicine."

Preparations of the Heart for Advent and Always

        This past weekend flew by at warp speed for me. It seems like only yesterday that it was Tuesday and I was waiting for my family form Virginia to arrive. Now it's Sunday evening, Thanksgiving is in the history books, I successfully threw my sister a gluten free bridal shower, and our house is all decked out for the Christmas holidays. It all went by in a blissful little blur. I certainly do not want the upcoming Christmas season to whirl on by in the same blink of an eye, so I have made some intentional plans to truly slow down and partake in the season of Advent, first, to prepare my heart for the true meaning of Christmas.
         One evening this past Thanksgiving weekend, I was sitting with Sophie on my bed after reading her a story about a puppy dog who thought he wasn't loved because he was always getting into trouble even though he really didn't mean to. I thought nothing of the plot of the story, but it struck a serious chord with my five year old. After saying our nightly prayers, I said to Sophie, "Do you know who loves you?" Quickly Sophie replied, "You do Mommy!" "Yes" I reassured her, "You're right! I love you very much, but you know who else loves you?" Without waiting for a reply I said, "God loves you!" Sophie looked at me and turned her eyes away, "God can't love me Mommy."

My heart sank, "Why do you say that, Sophie?" Slowly with tears in her eyes, Sophie responded, "Because I get in trouble all the time and I don't think God loves little girls who get in trouble." I pulled her close and told her that God most certainly did love her even if she did get into trouble. I thought at the same time of how she had spent time in her room many times this past weekend because of not listening, or because of arguing with her sister, or because she didn't pick up her toys, etc. It hit me hard that in the busyness of preparing for the Thanksgiving holiday, I had become impatient and unavailable for my own child's needs and had readily sent her to time out over spending time trying to find out what the real issue was that my little girl was dealing with. It happens. As parents we get busy with life and it's busyness. It doesn't make us bad parents to redirect a child who is acting out; however, it is easy to forget that a simple time out may communicate a different message to our children than we originally intended.
          As Advent approaches and I  prepare my heart for the birth of the Christ child, I intentionally want to take the time to watch and wait and listen to my own children as they also watch and wait for the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. The truest gifts that I know I can give my children at any given moment are time, patience and active listening. As we watch and wait together during the wonderful season of Advent, my prayer for them and for myself is that we will know the deepest love of God that is made manifest in a babe born in a manger.

Thanksgiving Memory Making

As a little girl and a big girl too, one of my favorite things of all times to do on Thanksgiving Day is to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. I still get just as giddy about the balloons and the floats and the performances on Herald Square in front of THE Macy's Department Store. Several years ago, we spent Thanksgiving in New York with Howie's family. Howie knew of my love of the parade so we made plans to not only go to see the parade but also to go and see the balloons blown up the night before. Emma-Caroline was three and a half and still remembers all of the fun festivities, but Sophie was only a year old and remembers nothing of that trip. One day, we will take them back to see the parade again, maybe next year. I absolutely LOVED everything about seeing the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade that year despite the cold weather. It was AMAZING and I am always thankful we were able to participate in such a wonderful tradition.

  Here in Tennessee, another one of my favorite things to do at Thanksgiving is to go to Uncle Harold and Aunt Carol's house in Cookeville for Thanksgiving dinner. We literally do go over a mountain and through the woods to get to Uncle Harold's house.

 When we arrive we see all of our family on my dad's side. It's a wonderful reunion and one that both of my girls have begun to appreciate as they are getting older. Emma-Caroline even said, "I can't wait to see all of my cousins and play in the barn and eat all of that yummy food!" I realized as she said that this year, that these gatherings have become her familiar and the beginning of her memories of Thanksgiving.

  I began a new tradition for our family this year at Thanksgiving, one of actually having a prepared meal at our own home to share after we got back from Cookeville.

 I pre-made all of the sides and desserts and only had to cook the the turkey when we arrived home. I think I over shot in the amount of food I prepared even with only having a turkey breast.

 But the girls were excited about helping me cook the meal and also in having a

Thanksgiving dinner at home.

 Whatever the traditions of Thanksgiving that are celebrated each year, the one constant is the togetherness that we share and the memories that are built through the fellowship in participating in the holiday of Thanksgiving.

 I love that we celebrate Thanksgiving for that reason and I look forward to the memory making each and every year.

 

Thankful for the Gathreing

I was pondering the thought of

what the very first Thanksgiving would have been like

all those many years ago.

 Did the first Pilgrims pull out their very best dishes

and set the table with their best linens?

Did they think of all the people who would be

joining them to partake in the bountiful feast

and did they set a special place just for them?

Did the Native Americans who joined the Pilgrims

feel welcomed by the Pilgrims and did

they add their own touches to the Thanksgiving feast?

They didn't call it Thanksgiving Day

all those many years ago.

That first day of celebration for the bounty

of blessings was indeed very different

than what Thanksgiving Day is today.

But I think that is the wonderful thing about this holiday

we call Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is celebrated across the country

in many very different ways.

Each gathering of family and friends and even strangers

continues to celebrate the EXACT same thing that

was celebrated by the Pilgrims and Native Americans

all those many years ago.

 

We come together and

give thanks for the bounty of blessings

we all have received.

We celebrate each other and the

similarities and differences that we have

as a collective whole of being

ALL God's children.

May all who celebrate Thanksgiving

on this day find the peace that comes from

joining together in gratitude for knowing

that we are all very blessed.

 Happy Thanksgiving!



Thankful for Home

I have written about this place,

this place we call home.

 I have battled with my feelings about this place

knowing that my family and I were meant

to be a part of it's history

but a bit cautious to love this place

after having a bit of a rough start

with it in the beginning.

 And so it is our home

A place that we have also added to

the love and memories that have been

made within these walls.

I now love this place,

this place we call home.

And I am THANKFUL

that we were chosen to be

a part of it's history.

Thankful for My Little Turkey!

Isn't it wonderful to have a kindergartner in the house?

As I waited for the girls to come out at dismissal today

I was delighted to find that one of my sweet girls had artfully

turned into a cute little turkey.

 Kindergarten is such a magical year

full of all things new about being in

BIG school and meeting new friends and

being the line leader and loving your teacher

and playing on the playground and making fun

Turkey headdresses and other fun crafts.

 Life is really good in Kindergarten!

 As an elementary school teacher

I always loved teaching kindergarten.

I loved teaching first grade and second grade too.

 I am so thankful to have a kindergartner

and a second grader too.

And I am thankful for this little turkey above
and this little Emma-Caroline Turkey from kindergarten 2010!

 



Thankful for Silliness!

It's not always fun and games in our house,

 but sometimes it is!

 One of the things that I will say that I am genuinely thankful for is

the silliness that breaks out sometimes and the laughter that ensues.

 When our weeks consist of go! go! go!

it's nice to have a bit of a break to just be silly and carefree.

For me, being silly with one another is a hidden treasure

that can take the edge off of the busyness of our daily lives.

 I recently reintroduced myself (like yesterday) to my digital SLR.

She's been on a sabbatical ever since I broke an SD card and

Miss iPhone seemed so easy and convenient.

 Now that the BIG GIRL camera is back from her temporary vacation,

I am taking full opportunity to shoot life as it happens,

especially silly moments like these.

 Howie and the girls always love to chase each other through the house

tickling each other to squeals of contagious laughter.

  Howie breaks out the infamous "claw" who is the ultimate tickle monster.

 These are times I love and that I count my blessings for.

  So here's to silly times and belly busting laughter!

 

May all who come to this place find a moment of thankful sillienss

to brighten their days and uplift their spirits!

Thankful for New Friends

As the Pilgrims celebrated the very first feast of thanksgiving all those many years ago, one of the many things they gave thanks for was the new friendships they had made with the Native Americans who had helped them to survive the harsh winters in their new land. I can only imagine how both the Pilgrims and the Native Americans felt towards one another. They were so very different in everything from simple dress to basic living styles. They were different, the Pilgrims and the Native Americans, but they were the same too. All humans need companionship which comes from friends. In those harsh winters when so many Pilgrims had died, those who survived needed help, they needed companionship, they needed friends. In times of need, strangers become friends. In good times, those friends become family. The first Thanksgiving celebrated here in America reminds us not only of the bountiful blessing of food and shelter and other things, but also the bountiful blessing of friendships that surround and sustain us in both good and bad times.