S Club Mama

Christmas is fast approaching and while gifts are not central to the reason (that's Jesus!), they are an important part of the holiday for many families, including mine. Two years ago, I wanted to make something special for my grandma, Marilyn. I had taught myself to embroider in 2015 while pregnant with my daughter. Earlier in 2016, I had made my mom a family tree embroidery piece for her 50th birthday.  While I love the tree idea, I knew I'd need something different to accommodate the many people in the extended family tree. My grandma and grandpa had five children. There are 10 grandchildren and, at that time, 13 great-grandchildren (that number will be extended to 15 by February). I wanted something that would last and become a family heirloom, so I came up with this:  I presented it to my Grandma Marilyn at our Christmas celebration. Her reaction was perfect! She loved it (even though I had left out a grandchild...I didn't realize...oops) and cried and it got...

Christmas is coming! It's almost here! Well, once Thanksgiving passes, of course. I love this holiday season - thankfulness, joy, giving, ba-humbug...wait, what? But seriously, what would this season be without Mr. Scrooge? Thankfully, a new movie "The Man Who Invented Christmas" is about to open (November 22) that will give us the insider's view on how Charles Dickens wrote his classic "A Christmas Carol." Film Synopsis: The Man Who Invented Christmas  tells the magical journey that led to the creation of Ebenezer Scrooge (Christopher Plummer), Tiny Tim and other classic characters from A Christmas Carol. Directed by Bharat Nalluri ( Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day ), the film shows how Charles Dickens (Dan Stevens) mixed real life inspirations with his vivid imagination to conjure up unforgettable characters and a timeless tale, forever changing the holiday season into the celebration we know today. image via Grace Hill Media Doesn't that sou...

I know, I know. It's not even Halloween; how can I be talking about Christmas? Well, simply put, I heard about a fabulous movie coming out called "The Man Who Invented Christmas."  image via Grace Hill Media I can't say I agree with the title of the movie (Christmas is really about Christ's birth) but I really enjoy most any re-telling of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" (Kermit the Frog, Mickey Mouse, even Jim Carrey) and this movie is based on the true story of Dickens writing that very book! Starring Christopher Plummer (Captain Von Trapp from "The Sound of Music," the Narrator in the Madeline tv series, and the voice of Charles Muntz from "Up"), "The Man Who Invented Christmas" comes out Friday, November 22 - just in time for Christmas (and the birthday of both my sister and a dear friend). Reading about how Charles Dickens mixed real life inspirations with his vivid imagination reminds me very much...

Christmas is a time of joy for my family. We love the music (Pentatonix Christmas is our favorite this year), the lights, the food, the cookies, the movies, the atmosphere. But Christmas is so much more for us.  image via here I often forget that it's about more. I can get caught up in the hustle and bustle as much as the next person. But when I slow down, I can remember the real reason - Emmanuel. God with us. God the Son came to earth, born of a virgin, born in a stable. He came to be with us. He came to lead us, love us, and die for us.  Without Jesus, Christmas is bland. Gifts will break and be forgotten. Food will leave you too full and uncomfortable. Lights will be taken down, trees put away. But Christ is still Emmanuel.  This is a time to put aside our differences and love like He loved us. This is a time to count our blessings, one by one, to remember how He has been with us (even in those really hard times). This is the time to celebrate His birth! T...

Moose was so sweet when he saw me reading "A Robertson Family Christmas" by Miss Kay Robertson. He thought Miss Kay had given me the book herself and so he wanted to write her a thank you note. So he did and I dug up her address and sent it to her. I hope she enjoys the sweetness of my boy (and Squirt saw Moose do this so he decided to write to Uncle Si - sent that one too; those post office people probably think I'm nuts). My kids also ask frequently to go to the Robertson's house/West Munroe/Louisiana. They think if we go, we'll go to their house. I tried to tell them we didn't know the Robertsons but they insist we do (because we watch the show). Sweet boys. I wasn't sure what to expect with Miss Kay's book. She's a little nutty on the show (love her dearly!). I was so pleasantly surprised by this book. It's a fiction piece (realistic fiction if you asked my son who is all into knowing specific genres) where a kid, Hunter, is picked to ...

My family first fell in love with Dandi Daley Mackall when we read "God Loves Me More Than That." A great book to really emphasize Ephesians 3:17b-19. I was excited to see that she was the author of "The Legend of St. Nicholas: A story of Christmas giving." My family has also read "The Story of the Candy Cane" which is not by Mackall but illustrated by Richard Cowdrey (who also illustrates "St. Nicholas"). image via Amazon.com This story of St. Nicholas portrays him as a young man who was at the store to buy his siblings Christmas gifts but was really thinking of buying himself a gift. He happened upon a Santa Claus telling a group of children the story about a boy named Nicholas. As told by this Santa Claus, Nicholas traveled the world with his rich parents and saw many children without toys or coats. When they visited the Holy Land his parents taught him about the gifts brought to Jesus by the wise men "to honor and celebrate God...

This cartoon is via Bryce Morgan, pastor and author/illustrator of Captain Sun . Captain Sun is a superhero comic book that teaches about Christ - perfect for kids like my own boys who LOVE superheroes!

I have a confession but first promise you won't hate me when I say this... okay... here it goes... I LOVE THE BUSYNESS OF THE SHOPPING AT MALLS & STORES THIS TIME OF THE YEAR! Oh dear, you hate me now huh? You hate the hustle and bustle don't you? That's ok. I think it's odd I like it. But I love crowds (as long as I don't feel I'm being embarrassed or talked about or something)! I love being around people. However, even after I've had an amazing weekend with girlfriends away from home spent shopping, laughing, shopping, laughing, talking, cuddling a cute baby, watching a strange movie, talking about our proposals and families and husbands and kids and pasts and weddings and dates and God and struggles and everything, laughing more, eating too much candy, staying up WAY too late (college late)....I know the hustle and bustle isn't what this season isn't about. Don't believe me? Read this .

I was reading Ephesians 2 this morning and got through to chapter 10 when I was hit with conviction. "For we are God's masterpiece.  He has created us anew in Christ Jesus,  so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." This small, still voice inside said, "and those good things are not measured by your weight or pant size." Whoa! That voice (the Holy Spirit for those unfamiliar) stopped me in my tracks. I've been upset lately about pants being tighter (thanks Thanksgiving dinner and my lack of self-control, which is an issue but one I'm working on) and scale numbers being higher. But in reality, does it matter? Sure, God wants us to take care of our bodies and respect the place His Spirit dwells (if you've accepted Christ as your Savior). We are not called to be gluttonous or lazy or to sacrifice our health, but we are also not judged on our size or weight or muscle tone or athletic accomplishments. We are judged by our sins a...

After sleeping in until 10:40 (wow!) - thanks to my sickie kids & husband for getting me sick, I feel much better.  Better enough to make a good looking cherry pie. Now, this is not a miracle, I really did try to make this look like the King Babe in his manger. Better enough to make some delicious looking reindeer for a candy cane hunt on Christmas morn. Better enough to snap a picture of my dapper looking children. Daddy wore a tie so they needed theirs. Better enough to attend a beautiful Christmas Eve service at our church. It was lovely to hear the boys singing carols along with the crowd. And they were excited about the Silent Night candles.  And better enough to not give this kid too much to drink so we don't have a bed wetter. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

I love the Sound of Music (it's on sale on Amazon if anyone has an inkling for a secret santa gift...to me - or you know I'd love Take Me Out to the Ball Game or Singing in the Rain , too...). Oh dear, off topic. Anyway! With the sights and sounds and sales of this holiday season come some of my favorite times ever. I don't know if you cheer for the holidays or grimace with a 'bah! hum-bug!' in your heart, but I love Christmas. So I wanted to share some of my favorite things this year. 1. wrapping gifts. I'm not that great at it, but I enjoy it. 2. white elephant gift exchanges. I love passing on good things that we don't use that could be of use to someone else. This year's it's a few kid toys! 3. Christmas music. Music that proclaims that Jesus is Lord on secular stations? Oh yes! 4. my new boots. This pertains more to the weather but I've enjoyed wearing them a lot. 5. Why Do We Call it Christmas? Oh my goodness, I'm in love ...

I saw this on a friend's Facebook page and really wanted to share it with you. Apparently the White House referred to Christmas Trees as “Holiday Trees” for the first time this year which prompted CBS presenter, Ben Stein, to present this piece which I would like to share with you. I think it applies just as much to many countries as it does to America . . . The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary. My confession: I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejewelled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are, Christmas trees. It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, “Merry Christmas” to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers an...

I'm a little behind in wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, but I do hope you all enjoyed an extended weekend celebrating the birth of our Savior with family and/or friends. We spent some time with both families, but more with my own. I hadn't been home since June so it was very nice to be back. I honestly wasn't expecting to receive the large gifts I got, but am so thankful. My husband prepared a date night for us: Tim Hawkins tickets, reservations at a nice restaurant, and a hotel. Plus baby-sitting from my baby sister who is coming to spend some time with us after the new year. He also got me an Amazon gift card at his company Christmas party which I used to get his gift (a Glenn Beck book) and Shepherding a Child's Heart book. My mom & dad got me a sewing machine (!!) and my mom made me a casserole carrier and aprons (with matching ones for my boys - all Husker material - GBR). My little sister got me a really cute cardigan-type sweater and an N cookie cutter (...

 Our family has yet to acquire many seasonal decorations - we don't have anything for Easter or 4th of July and only a few things (that I forgot to put out this year) for Halloween. However, I am happy to say we have Christmas decorations (again, not many but enough). This year I am sharing my holiday home decor and cleaning tips for the chance to win prizes from The SITS Girls and Great Cleaners .  My boys started to decorate a few days after Thanksgiving. I like to have everything set up the day after Thanksgiving but we had to get it all out of storage and then buy a new small tree because the old one (5 years old) was broken. And then Big A fixed it so we have 2 small trees.  Aren't they such good helpers? These two are probably my biggest cleaning tip. I started my boys young (even though they are young now too) on helping me clean up. They pick up toys with the best of them and Moose has learned to wipe off the table. Children are capable of helping...

I miss Christmas. I do. The lights, the holiness, the traditions, the family. I realize that with Easter not terribly far away, I will get most of those things back (for a day). However, there is something special about Christmas - so much of it is rooted in history. I was delighted to receive a copy of "Everything Christmas" by David Bordon and Thomas J. Winters! Christmas was back! I have been eating up this book, reading up on other countries' holiday customs and meals, stories of Christmases past, history of carols and other Christmas traditions. It is so fun (at least for me) to learn about where our traditions come from. My family doesn't have a lot of holiday traditions (or family traditions) so maybe this isn't as exciting for everyone like it is for me. That's ok, I still think you would enjoy this book. The only thing I dislike about this book is that it is set up like a daily devotional so you read section A on December 1st, etc. I would have pr...

The bank we use in town had a singing and dancing Santa. Moose instantly fell in love with the touch of a button. They told him to come back every day. So we did. I think they regretted their decision... Squirt's first encounter with this Santa  was fear - same as the real guy. However, as days went on  and he did what Squirt does most (dance), Squirt warmed up to the guy. mid-dance Squirt actually got up there to push the button himself once or twice  as Moose would allow... We LOVE Santa Claus!

is singing loud for all to hear. -Buddy the Elf However, I also believe in spreading Christmas cheer by sharing Christmas pictures with you. These were taken by my Dad so they are much better quality than my own, but I'll post some of my own soon too. lots of books! he looks like a little man; Big A says he looks like a rapper excuse my freakishly tall Avatarian body in this; weird lens this school house is the most played with toy at Great-Grandma Marilyn's aren't my boys so handsome in their Christmas shirts from their Great-Aunts? :D

We all know this time of the year can lead to stress and the blues due to the hustle, bustle, and preparations made for family festivities and other gatherings. There is a lot to do: buy gifts (after thinking of said gifts), go to Christmas programs, bake or make Christmas goodies, travel or prepare your home for guests. It really is astonishing how much we must accomplish this time of the year. However, I urge you to take some time and relax. Christmas is not about gifts, Santa Claus, or even getting together with family. The true meaning of Christmas is the miracle of a virgin birth and the baby boy who came of that union between Mary and the Holy Spirit. That baby boy who would grow to become the King of Kings. That baby boy who humbly became flesh after sitting on a throne in heaven. That baby boy who died for your sins (and mine) on a cross at Calvary. So, while you are preparing for the end of this week, please keep this in mind: C - Come      ...to the seas...

I always find this an interesting question. It's hard to judge what to tell another person what you want for Christmas. Too often, the first thing out of the mouths of too many people is "oh I don't know" or "I don't need anything." Instead of those remarks, why can't we ask for what we want? If you want flat screen TV stands , ask for them. If you want a Kindle, ask for it. If you want a Barbie Bubble Spa for your Mr. T doll, ask for it (that happens to be a reference to a Christmas story told by our MOPS mentor). I know, I know, perhaps what you want is out of the price range of the buyer. I only jokingly ask my loved ones for expensive gifts and would be astonished (and uncomfortable) if they actually bought them for me. However, what I like to do is gift a variety of ideas. For example, my SIL asked what me and my family want for Christmas. I almost wish my boys were old enough to answer this question for themselves because it's hard to ...

I used to play with paper dolls when I was younger; I specifically remember playing with Aladdin paper dolls. I was also very into Barbie and all of her accessories and friends. I liked dressing each kind of doll in fun clothing (that I totally did not have), wishing to grow up to be just like Jasmine or Barbie! When I got the chance to review Christmas Printable Paper Dolls , I jumped at the chance, thinking maybe Moose would like to play with the doll. I was a little disappointed that our doll was a grown-up girl rather than a little boy, but then I thought maybe it would be more suitable for my older niece. Then I talked to her and she said that she didn't play with Barbies anymore, but did like designing! Luckily, my paper doll set came with 2 sets of clothes - one colored and one blank. Perfect for a budding designer. I printed off a set of the colored clothing just so I could perhaps relive my paper doll days. After cutting out the doll, her scarf, and a set of leggings, ...