Wordless Wednesday

And The Winner Is....

Congratulations to JohnZ for winning A WowieBOZowee Christmas DVD!

My family is sure you will love it! Look for an email or message from me this evening.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the giveaway!

Don't Forget About the Giveaway!

Don't forget to enter my giveaway to win you a copy of the BOZ Christmas DVD, A WowieBOZowee Christmas! It is a family favorite of ours, and I would love for you to have the opportunity to win one for yourself!

You have 6 different opportunities to enter - in other words, you can enter up to 6 times easily!

To enter, click here.

Thanks for checking it out!

I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Till ringing, singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men.”

Praising God today that he is not dead and that he is not sleeping. He is aware of all that is going on. Remember that today, in whatever circumstance you may be facing.

A Great Purchase

**the picture link above shows the price as $29.99. However, if you click on the picture you will see it is $16.99!**

This morning on Amazon I saw this Scotch Laminator is the Deal of the Day! It is a great purchase that I made many years ago. I have used it for home projects, church projects, kid projects, and gift projects. It has been such a useful item. And what better time to buy one than now, when it is less expensive than I have ever seen it!

Be sure to check it out. Maybe it would be a good Christmas gift for yourself or someone else! 

(Just click on the picture to check it out.)

Have you made any great purchase that became more useful than you ever expected?

(Don't forget about entering my giveaway a few posts down! You can enter up to 6 times!)

Sweet Song

While I was putting Carter to bed last night I told him I was going to sing him a song. Here is how our conversation went:


Me: I am going to sing you a song, buddy.

Carter: Can I sing you a song, first?

Me: Sure!

Carter: (to the tune of Jingle Bells)  I love Mommy! I love Mommy! I-I love my Mommy! Everyone loves my Momma!


Isn't that super cute? It is just that kind of encouragement that always comes at the right time! I didn't have a rough day, but it is always good to hear those sweet words.

What ways have your kiddos told you of their love for you this week?

A WowieBOZowee Christmas by BOZ GIVEAWAY

Today is GIVEAWAY DAY!

**You can enter to win this giveaway until Monday night! Also, you can enter 6 times...check it out! 

Today I have linked up with Hip Homeschool Moms to bring you a giveaway!  

 

My children have both always loved the Boz DVD series. If you haven't seen it yet, I suggest you check it out! Boz, the Green Bear Next Door, is lots of fun!

A WowieBozowee Christmas has Boz and the Baxter family enjoying the fun traditions of the Christmas season, including the true meaning of Christmas - the birth of Christ. With wonderful music, lots of action, and positive character interaction, we give this DVD a big thumbs up! If you want to look closer at the DVD and other reviews, check it out on Amazon.

I have an extra copy that I want to give away! I will use Random.org to pick a winner! Here is how you can earn chances to win A WowieBOZowee Christmas:

        1. Leave a comment sharing about a favorite Christmas DVD your kids love, or you love!

        2. Subscribe to my blog (through the sidebar) and leave a comment telling me you did so.

        3. Share and link this post on Facebook and leave a comment telling me you did so.

        4. Share and link this post on your blog or website and leave a comment telling me you did so.

        5. Twitter about my blog and this post and leave a comment telling me you did so.

        6. Become a follower of my blog (in the sidebar) and leave a comment telling me you did so.

  

You can enter up to 6 times. I can only ship within the United States and Canada. The Giveaway ends on Monday, December 17, at 8 PM, in hopes that it can be delivered to the winner's home by Christmas!

Wordless Wednesday

Prosthesis

I love walking through the living room and seeing Carter's toys left out and his prosthesis laying there -  left from when he was playing with Caroline. Well, ok, maybe I don't love that he left his toys out, but I  love the reminder that he is such an awesome kid. I love that he doesn't need his prosthesis for ANYTHING and that God has enabled him to do whatever he wants.  It is also incredible to watch him use his prosthesis and to be excited when he is successful with it.

Just last night I was thinking about how, almost 4 years ago when I found out I was pregnant with Carter, I never would have imagined that this picture above would be of MY living room floor.  That my child would be born missing his hand and forearm. However, it is incredible to see that God's plan was bigger than mine.

Just today I have learned of a family who found out the child they are expecting has some physical differences. It flooded my mind with memories of the day Carter was born and flooded my eyes with tears. I wanted to go back and read what I wrote concerning those days. I thought you might want to read it too.

If you start on this link and scroll all the way to the earliest date in 2010, that is the best place to start!
My story.

Do you like Downton Abbey?

If you like Downton Abbey it is on sale as the Gold Box Deal of the Day on Amazon. You can always check out the Gold Box and Lightning Deals on the side bar of our blog! Check it out!

Friday Freebie

Today's Freebie isn't coming in the form of a gift from me, but a gift you can earn yourself, without having to do any extra work!

What is Swagbucks?

According to Swagbucks website,
Swagbucks.com is the web's premier rewards site. Powered by Prodege LLC, Swagbucks.com allows web users to earn virtual currency by doing the things they do every day - search the web, shopping at their favorite retailers, and by engaging in other activities such as phone recycling, submitting polls, and completing special offers. Swagbucks.com is the only place on the web to get what you want without ever having to spend a dime.

We joined Swagbucks in February of 2009 and since then have earned over $400 in Amazon gift cards. It is super easy! You just search the web for things you already search on a day to day basis. I even search for websites I know the address for sometimes! You randomly earn swag bucks through searching and you can use those bucks to purchase gifts cards for places like Starbucks and Amazon, just to name a few.  

If you are interested in signing up, it just takes a minute. And if you register through the link below then I will get swagbucks for referring you. Then, you can refer to your friends.

Check it out....maybe you can use the bucks for your Christmas shopping!

Sign up by clicking here!

Blogging Giveaway

My friend, Nikki, at Nikki's Notes, is doing a giveaway! If you would like to check it out, head over to Nikki's Notes and read about her five year blogging anniversary. Then, comment to share a big life change you have had over the past five years! I shared mine there, also.

Thankful Thursday

What am I thankful for today? I am thankful for my life. I am thankful for each day and for the opportunity that I have to share each day with my husband, daughter, and son. I am thankful for my extended family and for friends.

Today I realized something else I am grateful for. I am grateful for the opportunity to lose weight and get back to living a healthy lifestyle. Years ago I lost weight through eating right and exercise, following Weight Watchers guide to getting me back on track.  I said I would never gain that weight back. However, here I am again, 6 years later, saying that I need to lose weight. I have been saying it for years. I guess I have been disappointed that I haven't worked super hard to be healthy. And that is what it all comes down to. I want to be healthy. I want to be healthy to be a wife to my husband. I want to be healthy to be a mom to my two kiddos.  I want to be healthy to be a daughter, sister, aunt. I want to be healthy to be a good friend. I want to be healthy to serve God wherever he puts me.

So, today, I am thankful for another day, another opportunity to get this right. I need encouragement. I need support. But most of all, I need to realize that each day is a gift, and I want to make the most of each one.



Thank you to my friend Crystal for sharing the Living a Changed Life blog with me. I hope it will help me with good ideas on my weight loss journey!

Kitchen Gadgets

I am not usually a fan of lots of different kitchen gadgets because I  find I rarely use them. However, I have been receiving fresh garlic for months from Annie's Buying Club and try to use if often. The thing is, I didn't know how to properly cut up or mince fresh garlic.  

Until yesterday.

I was at a MOPS meeting at our church and the ladies were talking about a garlic press. And that with a press, I don't even have to peel the garlic. I am so excited. I knew what I needed!  

So, here is what I ordered this morning!  

Do you have a garlic press? If not, order one and we can try it out together!

Wordless Wednesday

Mom Heart Conference

I have always wanted to attend a conference for moms and today ran across one that sounds wonderful! I love reading books or writings by Sally Clarkson, and just today found out she does a Mom Heart Conference, just for moms! I would love to attend and be encouraged by her and other moms as I continue on the journey that God has given me at this time. 

Here is a link to information about the Mom Heart Conference! Check it out and let me know if you have ever been to one, or something similar!

Ever since third grade...

Today I wish a very wonderful, happy birthday to my dear, lifelong friend, Corrie! We have been friends "ever since third grade!" Our families were recently able to spend a day together. Unfortunately, we didn't get any pictures together, but here are our cute kiddos!

Happy birthday, Corrie!

Ornaments

Well, I did it! I finally ordered some ornaments for myself! I usually don't buy any ornaments, except one for the kids and Ryan each year. I love to surprise them with a new ornament the night we decorate the tree. However, I don't ever really pick out something for myself. Last year my sister-in-law shared an ornament she got and I loved it.

Below is a link to what I got. Can you tell I am excited? Thank you to my husband for ordering them for me tonight and finding a coupon code on top of that! It's from PersonalizationMall.com. If you want to order too, the code is VIP8639.

Do you have a favorite ornament?

Christmas Tree

Last night we spent the evening decorating the Christmas tree, reading the Christmas story from the Bible, and talking about our Nativity. It was a great time together as a family! I loved unwrapping the ornaments and telling the kids the significance of each one. Caroline and Carter both did a great job hanging them on the tree!