2014 in Review

So how'd I do on my 2014 Goals?  Well, some of those goals went great.  Others not to much.  A couple I foot about completely until I started to work on this post.  Oops!  :-)

All in all, here's how my 2014 Goals went:

Personal:

1. Continue to develop a consistent devotional time--Still working on it, but much more consistent than the beginning of the year and I consider that a win.

2. Try 2 new recipes a month--Yep, we did this one.  We tried so many new things this year and I'm so glad we did it.

3. Wear skirts on Sundays--Every Sunday, with the exception of Sundays out of town, I wore a skirt.  Yep, pretty crazy for this T-shirt and jeans girl, but I like it!

Fitness:

1. Go through Focus T25 program--Finished it!  Hated it!  Not my thing to work out at home and didn't see any results.

2. Do Yoga once a week--Ooops!  Worked on it in the middle of the year, but never got into a full routine.

Nutrition:

1. Eat better breakfasts--Nah! I'm just not a breakfast girl.  Still working on it.

2. Buy more organic produce--Doing better.

Marriage:

1. Go on a yearly getaway--Went away in March and had a great time.

2. Do something on a regular basis for my husband--Not sure what I was thinking and never really did this.

3. Read 2-3 books together--Just 1!

Parenting:

1. Continue homeschooling, adding preschool in the fall--Here we are in Year 3, working with 3 kids for the first time.

2. Take the kids on monthly dates--Did about 8 dates with the kids this year.  Love having that one on one time with them.

3. Once a month field trips--We did some great field trips this year and I'm already excited about the spring.

4. Discover 5 outdoor treasures--Ooops!  Dropped the ball on this one.

Blogging:
1. Complete 2014 DIY list--I got about half of them done.

2. Complete 2014 Bookmarks list--Love this.  Great books and lots of reading.

3. Add a vlog once a week--Really loved working on the blogs this year and growing.

What are your 2014 Goals?

Top 10 Posts of 2014

#10 DIY Weather Vane

#9 Saving Money on Food at Disneyland

#8 2014 DIY List

#7 Disneyland Bucket List

#6 2014 Bookmarks Book List

#5 12 Books to Read Aloud in 2014

#4 2014 October Bookmarks

#3 Swimming with Non-Swimmers

#2 2014 August/ September Favorites (w/ video)

#1 Do-It-Yourself: Skinny Raspberry Lemonade Cake

And a few of my favorites that didn't make the list:

Praying Scriptures for your Children

Lego City Birthday Party on a Budget (w/ video)

Opening up the Discussion on Foster Care (w/ video)

34 Things Every Married Couple Should Try

Adoption and Foster Care Movies

Christmas Light Tour 2015

Merry Christmas

(Image Credit)

Wishing you all a Very Merry Christmas!

Pause for a moment today and reflect on the wondrous gift we've received in our Lord.

Merry Christmas!

Lydia's Dance Performance--Dec 20, 2014

Christmas Traditions: Christmas Play

10 Goals This Week

Here's how I did last week:

Parenting: 

• 2 swim, 1 gym, 3 dance
• Attend and photograph dance recital
• Finish LP grades

Blogging:

• Record 7 vlogs
• Finish and review book

Homemaking:

• Make peanut butter blossoms
• Finish Christmas shopping & Wrapping
• Take donations

Personal:

• Workout 3-4 days
• Get 8.5 hrs sleep/night

These are My 10 Goals for the Week:

Parenting:

• Go to the snow
• Write in J's baby book
• Start LP Grades
• Have a great Christmas celebration

Blogging: 

• Record 2-3 vlogs
• Plan for 2015

Homemaking:

• Make 3 batches of cookies
• Finish wrapping/shopping

Personal:

• Workout 3 days
• Get 8.5 hrs sleep/night

Dinners of the Week Dec 15-21, 2014 (w/ Lydia's Birthday Dinner)

Giving Back: Show Hope

Weekend Links

Cranberry Stuffing Appetizer

Good Christmas Books to Read

Toddler Spin Art Ornaments

3 Ways to Change Christmas

Cut and Paste Planet Activity

What I Made: Lesson Plans... peanut butter blossoms... hot chocolate play dough...

What I'm Reading:  Just finished a couple of books for Decembers bookmarks!

What I'm Doing:  Getting Lydia ready for winter recital... making her birthday dinner... going to look at Christmas lights... dropping off donations...

What I'm Watching:  Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer... The Great Light Fight... Lydia and her friend playing...boys munching on cookies

What I'm Enjoying:  a break from school... teaching rocks and minerals... Christmas lights... dreaming of going to the snow

What are you up to?

Our Favorite Ornament Memories

2014 December Bookmarks

*Bookmarks is an online book club hosted at Creative2xmom. Here we discuss the books we've read in the past month as well as the suggested reading. Our suggested reading for December was Small Town, Big Miracle by Bishop W.C. Martin.

 These are the books I read this month:

Books I read with the kids this month:

Our suggested reading for December was Small Town, Big Miracle by Bishop W. C. Martin--

So what are your bookmarks this month?

Tell us in the comments about the books you're chewing on. Or link up a review from your own blog. Let's share the books we're finding, good and bad. And give us your thoughts on Small Town, Big Miracle.

And look for the 2015 Bookmarks list, posted January 5th!  See you in the new year!

*Linked to these Parties

10 Experiential Gift Ideas

20 Tips for Grieving During the Holidays

Life is full of season.  Some seasons are full of life.  Others are long and restless.  The holiday season, for example, rushes in, beconing us to savor every moment while also demanding our attention for numerous tasks.

Grief, on the other hand, doesn't care for seasons.  It doesn't care how busy you are or how many expectations there are on your time.  Grief only knows one thing: grief.

Back in 2012, I shared our story of loosing three family members and how others were loving on us during the holiday season.  And again in 2013, I encouraged you to love others in their grief.  As life would have it, I find myself once again looking at grief during the Christmas season.  This past April, my grandma died.  And although we've walked this road of grief before, it's fresh every time we make the journey.

Holiday grief is unique.  No matter how much time passes, the holidays remind us of family and can open fresh wounds.  And when those wounds are open, it's just best to step back and release expectations.  These are the moments when holiday obligations fade away and self-care is essential.  Because the holidays are especially tough, these are a few ways to release grief during a stressful time:

1. Acknowledge that the holidays will be different this year.  
2. Allow yourself some time to reflect on that reality and mourn for what's been lost.
3. Decide what traditions you want to keep.  Are any too painful to continue?
4. Remember that we all grieve differently.
5. Bake your loved ones favorite cookies and enjoy them with others.
6. Light a special candle in memory of a loved one.
7. Make a donation to a favorite charity in memory of your loved one.
8. Talk to a counselor while working through the holidays.
9. Journal
10. Take a hot bath
11. Clearly communicate what you want and don't want out of this holiday season.
12. Talk to kids about the good memories you have.  Don't be afraid to let them see you cry.
13. Don't feel guilty about anything you are too sad or overwhelmed about doing.
14. Ask for help in the kitchen.
15. Ask for and receive help.
16. Look for things that make you happy.
17. Buy a small gift for yourself.
18. Buy a gift your loved one would have enjoyed and donate it to charity.
19. Donate a holiday meal to a family in need.
20. Remember that happiness and sadness are two sides of the same coin and it's ok to feel both.

Whatever you do this holiday season, know that we all grieve in our own way and in our own time.  Your grief is unique to you, but if you find yourself overwhelmed or depressed, know that it's also ok to talk to someone about it.  The holidays can be rough on someone grieving and there's no shame in seeking help.  

What are your thoughts on grieving during the holidays?

Hot Chocolate Playdough

Let There Be Light {Review}

Let There Be Light is a product of the partnership between Archbishop Desmond Tutu and illustrator Nancy Tillman.  Telling the 7 day creation story, this sturdy board book is perfect for little hands and really should be marketed to a younger reader.  And I'm not sure what I was expecting from the storyline, but it really should be attributed to the writer of Genesis as it's lifted straight from the Bible.

For Nancy Tillman's part, this book is incredibly illustrated an beautiful.  Her interpretation of the Scriptures is rich and stunning.  If you're a Tillman fan, this book will not disappoint as it is a celebration of creation and diversity.

Really, this is a book we love and one my 3 year old reaches for often.  But the author issue bothered me.  If you're looking for a way to introduce the creation story to your toddler, this is a beautiful book.  Once you're past the introduction stage, I'd look for something deeper.

*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for my fair and honest opinion.  

Homemade Peppermint Bark

Hope Crossing {Review}

Having never read any of the Ada's House books, this trilogy was a complete joy to read.  Some of the characters have been referenced in other Woodsmall books and it was fun to finally learn their story.  Frightened and running, Cara and her daughter, Lori, find themselves living in an old barn before finally being taken in by Ephraim, an upstanding member of the Amish community.  That is until he brings Cara and Lori into his home.  Then this single man finds himself on the outs with his leadership and determined to stand up for the mother and her daughter.  Called to be God to these two, will Ephraim ever be able to find his way back into the good graces of the Amish community?  Or will his boldness push him to the life of an Englisher? 

Throughout this trilogy, other characters are introduced and their stories are unique and compelling in their own right.  Ephraim's sister, her friend, Ada, the schoolteacher, Ephraim's employee (just to name a few) all make an appearance with their own struggles and dreams adding layers to an already complex story involving Ephraim and Cara.  

Again, Woodsmall does not disappoint.  Each story is well-written and brings out characters with the complexity of real life.  Often times, the middle story of a trilogy drags as we wait to find out what will happen.  But the story line kept me engaged all the way through.  It's a huge book with all three stories together, but a great value and a wonderful storyline from page 1 to page 1,020.  If you  enjoy well written Amish fiction, this should be your next read.

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy for this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

A Peek Into Our Homeschool Week Dec 8-12, 2014

Lydia doing a Pilgrim word search

Josiah painting with glitter glue

Lydia eating a metamorphic "rock"

Studying Metamorphic Rocks

She really does love science

Cause you always need a Lambie to study with

when you're sick

Studying the Letter P

Dinners of the Week Dec 8-14, 2014

10 Goals This Week

Here's how I did last week:

Parenting:

• 2 swim, 1 gym, 1 dance, 2 dentist appts.
• Host a great birthday party
• Make peppermint bark with kids

Blogging:

• Record 7 vlogs
• Finish and review book

Homemaking:

• Finish Christmas cards
• Finish/shop party prep
• Finish piñata

Personal:

• Workout 3 days (2 workouts)
• Get 8.5 hrs/ sleep

These are my 10 Goals for the Week:

Parenting: 

• 2 swim, 1 gym, 3 dance
• Attend and photograph dance recital
• Finish LP grades

Blogging:

• Record 7 vlogs
• Finish and review book

Homemaking:

• Make peanut butter blossoms
• Finish Christmas shopping & Wrapping
• Take donations

Personal:

• Workout 3-4 days
• Get 8.5 hrs sleep/night

Giving Back: Local Pregnancy Center

Christmas Traditions: Lighted Christmas Parade 2014

Weekend Links

Gift Ideas for Him and Her

Pumpkin Spice Latte Cake Roll

4 Ingredient Cheese Ball

Snow Lanterns

18 DIY Reindeer Ideas

This Week:

What I Made:  Finished up that piñata (decorated and all), peppermint bark, and some fun science experiments!

What I'm Reading: Started the December book club read (Small Town, Big Miracle) and love it so far.

What I'm Doing: Going to a clothing exchange, finishing party prep, throwing a 7th birthday party for Lydia.

What I'm Watching: Picking a Christmas movie for family movie night and waiting for the season finale of Once Upon a Time... keeping the kids out of the Christmas presents... 

What I'm Enjoying:  a house full of family for another birthday... baking cookies... countdown to Christmas recital...

What are you up to?

Stocking Stuffers for 2014

Disney Christmas Cards

A Peek Into Our Homeschool Week Dec 1-5, 2014

Doing LA under the tree is quite a treat

Hot chocolate always makes math easier

Learning about Igneous rocks

Our Foster Parenting Journey--8/10 to 9/14

A Peek Into Our Homeschool Week Nov 17-21, 2014

Practicing root words and suffixes

Note cards for California brochure

 

We needed some apple cider

 

Learning about soil layers

Dinners of the Week Dec 1-7, 2014

10 Goals This Week

Here's how I did last week:

Parenting:

• Teacher meeting, swim, dance, gymnastics
• Make kids' ornaments

Blogging:

• Record 7 vlogs
• Read 1/4 of review book

Homemaking:

• 2 tree lightings and Christmas parade
• Decorate Christmas tree
• Address 1/2 Christmas cards
• Pick up items for birthday party: supplies, crafts, etc
• Finish piñata

Personal:

• Workout 3 days
• Get 8.5 hrs/sleep (4night)

These are My 10 Goals for the Week:

Parenting:

• 2 swim, 1 gym, 1 dance, 2 dentist appts.
• Host a great birthday party
• Make peppermint bark with kids

Blogging:

• Record 7 vlogs
• Finish and review book

Homemaking:

• Finish Christmas cards
• Finish/shop party prep
• Finish piñata

Personal:

• Workout 3 days
• Get 8.5 hrs/ sleep

Giving Back: Little Lambs Ministry

Trying to Take a Cousin's Photo

Weekend Links

Family Tree Decorative Pillow

Grandma's Apple Pie in a Jar

Poinsettia Embellished T-Shirt

Red Velvet Whoopie Pie

Tealight Wall Art

Faux Makeup for your Kiddos

Cheesecake Pops

This Week:

What I Made:  I addressed lots of Christmas cards, painted Christmas ornaments, and made "Pin the Feather on Pocahontas" game.  Have to start that piñata this weekend.

What I'm Reading:  Amish trilogy.... of course.  :-)

What I'm Doing:  Lots of shopping this weekend... going to spin class... raking a ton of leaves on our front lawn (A TON)... and praying for no rain so we can go to the parade.

What I'm Watching: Family Movie night is all about Christmas movies (White Christmas, Frosty, Polar Express)... we are in full Christmas mode.

What I'm Enjoying: Christmas season of course.... Apple cider... lots of soup...

What are you up to?