2013 Year in Review and Looking to 2014

Hi All,

This past year was dubbed "The Year of The Challenge/ Firsts/ Just DO It".  Was it a success? Yes and no.
Yes because I did accomplish some of the things I set out to do and no because I totally flopped on other things.

Yes: I finished that marathon!  Woo Hoo.  Bucket List item checked!  I did the time I wanted and I placed  3rd woman.

Yes: I used some new items from the grocery store I've never used before like Portabello mushrooms, Tahini and Greek Yogurt.

Yes: I finished one of the quilts I've meaning to complete.

No: Totally flopped on my resolve to complete every recipe from the Looney Spoons Collection Book.  I did however complete 137 out of 365 recipes.

No: I didn't compete in that triathlon but I did however check it out and watch so that I'm mentally prepared for this coming year.

No: I didn't complete the other two unfinished quilts I started so long ago.

This year I've dubbed "The Year of Order".  A few days ago I finally purchased the Power of Productivity Program from www.Alejandra.tv.

I've watched all her videos on YouTube and have applied many of them to my home.  They work and I enjoy watching them.  I've been thinking about her program for a while now and when she offered it for half off I finally jumped in.  I'm so glad I did and am excited for the year to come.  

She recommends doing quarterly goals and that's just what I'm going to do this year.

I plan on completing many projects this year including; a rag rug, two quilts and painting the kitchen cabinets. 

Very excited and looking forward to 2014.  How about you?

Blessings,

Christina

Merry Christmas 2013

Hi All,

Wishing you and your families a Merry Christmas filled with Peace and Love. Remember, you can't spell Christmas without Christ so please keep Him at the center of it all.

Blessings,
Christina

Advent 2013

Hi All,

So I thought I'd share with you how we're celebrating advent this year in our household.  Like I have done in previous years, our Advent wreath is made with window crayons (bought from Michaels) but this year it's being displayed from our front window so the whole neighbourhood can see.

I love "lighting" the candles each week.

Update: I just realized I drew 3 pink and 1 purple!  It's supposed to be 3 purple and 1 pink.  Silly me.

Also, this year I made a new Jesse Tree using a printout from here.  I cut out a circle and glued it to the lids from those juice containers.  I knew they'd come in handy some day.

I wrote the date on the back and glued a magnet strong enough to support the weight of the lid.  My front door is metal so I drew a tree there using the same Window crayons from the wreath.

Each day we'll read a poem of that particular story from a toddler bible.  I tried reading from the actual bible, but it was long and the kids lost focus.  I'd recommend using the kid stuff with bright pictures to keep their attention.

Happy Advent!

Blessings,
Christina

I'm Back

Hi All,

You miss me?  Well, whether you did or didn't, I'm back.  Now, I'm not back blogging every week.  To tell you the truth, part of the reason why I left, besides my other reasons, was, I was reading other blog posts from other bloggers on how to have a successful blog.  Some reasoned "you get out of it what you put into it", others say that just blogging when you feel like it won't get you anywhere.

I felt pressured to blog every week, and well, that was exhausting.  Not that I actually blogged every week, but even just trying to, uuggh. Also, I was in a funk.  Thoughts like "Are my ideas really all that great?" or "Who really cares what I accomplish anyway?" plagued me.

On my hiatus, I reflected on my motivation for blogging.  For me it was a source of accountability.  Knowing yourself and what makes you tick can help you greatly in life.  I knew, for some things I needed accountability in order to successfully accomplish some goals.  Usually, when you say that you're going to do something, out loud, to people, you tend to do them.  I need to get back to that.

So what now?  Well, I try again, not because I want my blog to be "successful" by the blogging world's standards but because I want to keep track of what I do.  Sometimes we can go through a whole day, week, month and think "I haven't accomplished anything!". This could be a way to remember what I actually do.  And maybe, just maybe, my ideas may help motivate or inspire someone else.

So although I may not be back every week, or two weeks even, I'll be here, blogging when I feel like it whether I'm "successful" or not.

Blessings,
Christina

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