I absolutely adore Christmas.  I love the tree, the presents, baking, my family, my friends, worshiping, the carols, the eggnog… everything about the holiday.  What bothers me about the joyful month of December, however, is the war against the holidays.  Where people maintain there is a war against Christmas, I say “Nay!”

When a person – via spoken word, email, card, text, or facebook message – wishes me a happy holiday or sends me seasons greetings, I am not offended.  It makes me happy that someone took the time to wish me joy during the season!

Jen of The Path Less Taken beautifully describes what I’ve been thinking during the last several years,

The only one who can take my Christ out of my Christmas is me.

Let me say that again, rephrased:

The only one who can take your Christ out of your Christmas is you.

How do you take Christ out of Christmas?  You take Christ out of Christmas every time you:

Don’t take the high road.

Are less than loving, and patient, and kind.

Gossip, complain about, and judge others.

Are slow to listen and quick to anger.

So to everyone reading, I wish you a Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays!  Seasons Greetings! Happy Hanukkah! Feliz Navidad! Or whatever holiday you celebrate!

This Thanksgiving Eve, I’ve been laughing at the cute stories my friends have been sharing.

Linda, “J.J. just told me he wants to eat turkey tomorrow. I told him we’ll try to fit it into our plans. He’s so easy to please.”

Cece, “Pumpkin and pecan pies cooling. Hey! Who stuck their seven year old finger in that one, *Aidan*??”

Greg, “It began to dawn on the duck that it had little for which to be thankful.”

Vivid, exciting dreams used to fill my nights.  I would sometimes wake up and jot down story ideas.  Or I’d share the excitement with my husband as we had our coffee the next morning.  After having children, my internal clock was reprogrammed.  Then I got old and sleep is now interrupted by trips to the bathroom every two or four hours.

My muse – sleep – has become elusive.  However Palm Trees and Bare Feet gives tips on how to reclaim those lost hours,

Many of us cannot fall asleep because we are thinking about what needs to be done the next day, worried that so-and-so will not make it to so-and-so practice tomorrow, and frustrated that we did not get this-or-that done.  Our brain is in constant thinking mode and we just Can’t. Fall. Asleep.  It’s quite annoying isn’t it?  Well, instead of going over tomorrow’s to-do-list in your head while you’re trying to fall asleep, write it down before you fall asleep – maybe even during the hour that you are without your technology. 

This step is actually something vital for parents to follow so their children can thrive on a fairly consistent schedule.  Thanks, Kalie Lyn!

Photo by Betsssssy.

November is typically the month to be thankful.  We see people talk about how thankful they are for family, friends,  shelter, good food, employment, and church family. However, I am thankful that I just had my two children because – honestly – if I had more than that I’d probably repeatedly run myself into a wall.

Make no mistake, I LOVE my daughters.  I would do almost anything for them (no murder!).  But the idea of the NOISE that a house-full of kids makes, the messes, the yelling, the hitting, the fighting… I just could not imagine.

Therefore the 20th pregnancy of Michelle Duggar’s … holy cow.  I’d think her body would be pooped out enough, but how does she stay sane?  With all that noise?  I’m right there with Jamie of Blonde Mom Blog,

Still I cannot imagine the sheer physical stress of having that many babies, especially the state of one’s baby makin’ and baby maintainin’ parts.

Also kids are LOUD. I barely survived driving my 9-year-old and two of her friends jacked up on birthday cake sugar home from a party recently. There was much shrieking and singing off key and general back seat shenanigans and probably a passerby on the interstate or five mouthed a silent prayer for my sanity.

God bless the Duggar family. I hope baby 20 is healthy and happy and that Michelle will also have a stress-free, good pregnancy.

Photo from Hil’s Blog.

Isn’t it weird how you can go years without babies in your life, but suddenly you’re surrounded again?  My niece is pregnant. One of my girl scouts had a baby.  My friend’s daughter is expecting. And where five years ago the youngest kid at my parents house for Christmas was 13 years old, we now have five under five!

What is one thing all these new parents need?  An extra hand!

Bell at Atomic Tumor goes through her day and easily demonstrates why that third hand is necessary, especially when it comes to the new pudding-like baby food boxes.

There is NO “pull here” on any of the corners of the foil seal. They don’t even START a place for you. You have to hold the baby, rake at one of the corners until it come up and little and PULL LIKE CRAZY.

All with one hand, mind you. (You may have to use two hands, but if you do, be careful because you will get “help” from the little one…and then have to keep her fingers out of the container while you are carefully removing the foil).

Ha! The days of slopping baby food all over the wall, tray, baby, and myself are still a happy memory. And congrats to Bell and AT for their newest family member!

As a former Girl Scout leader, I encountered cases of abuse at least two times.  Not sexual abuse that I was aware of, but terrible situations for the girls.  One was a case of neglect.  The girl was dumped at meetings wearing dirty clothes, always hungry, and other issues.  The other girl’s case was more complicated. Her mom was a drug addict, but she had a safety net in place. However, when she confided about the physical abuse (slapping, pushing) and the verbal abuse (screaming, threatening), I knew it was time to take action.

Both cases were reported to the proper authorities because state law MANDATED we report concerns.  Fortunately, the first case was resolved without problems and the child remained at home, safe and cared for.  I don’t know how the second case was resolved because the mother confronted me (even though reports are supposed to be “confidential”) and disappeared from my life.

Physical abuse, mental abuse, verbal abuse, abuse by neglect, and abuse by placing children in bad and unacceptable situations – all are devastating to a child.  And then add sexual abuse to the mix and the lives that are altered in unimaginable ways grow disproportionately.

There are no excuses for this abuse.  There are no excuses for NOT REPORTING this abuse (or any other).  As adults, we MUST do what is often difficult and terrifying. But remember – your own difficulties and terror PALE in comparison to what an abused child goes through.

From Fox News, an opinion about what to do to stop sexual (and other) abuse,

If a child tells you he or she is being abused, don’t panic, don’t act shocked. Make sure the child feels supported and protected. Say, “You did the right thing in telling me.”

Believe the child. Even if the offender is “good old Uncle Charlie,” tell the child, “I believe you.” It takes a courage for kids to speak up because they fear they won’t be believed. Kids need to know you’re on their side, and they almost never imagine sex acts unless they’ve experienced them.

Tell the child that he or she is not bad. Say, “He knew better; you didn’t know. We’ll make sure he can’t touch you again.”

Yes, Yes, and YES. Click through to read the rest of the article. It is dead on.

Not only is Christmas just around the corner, but I still owe THREE people handmade gifts thanks to a Facebook challenge I accepted in January.  The first five people to speak up were to get a handmade gift from me at some point during the year.

I gave two of them huge platters of No-Bake Oatmeal cookies.  The other three I’ve struggled with.  But now I think I have an answer for them – and this is a great gift idea to make for kids.  A secret hollow book!

Go to your local Goodwill or inexpensive used book store to find some thick volumes.  How To Do Stuff shows us the process,

The first step into making the hollow book is to select a book. Make sure this is a book your own, and not one belonging to the library, or your family. I suggest rummaging through books at yard/garage sales. Make sure it is a hardback; otherwise you will cut all the way through the other side when you are cutting out the insides.

I love this!

Rest in peace, Bil Keane.

We think baby girl has either broken her toe or maybe she has gout. She said yesterday that her big toe was hurting, but couldn’t remember banging it into anything or dropping a heavy object on it.  So while it has the pain and swelling of being broken, there’s no cause for the effect.

However, gout runs in my family. My brother is suffering from the joint inflammation at this time. We are encouraging him to seek disability status, but he is a master science teacher and we also don’t want him to give up his noble profession.

According to WebMD,

It can cause an attack of sudden burning pain, stiffness, and swelling in a joint, usually a big toe. These attacks can happen over and over unless gout is treated. Over time, they can harm your joints, tendons, and other tissues.

another symptom – heat in her toe is – what makes us suspect gout.  A parent’s worst nightmare….. a sick child suffering from a myriad of illnesses. 

If you haven’t already seen the video clip, it’s a must see!  Jimmy Kimmel challenged his viewers to play a trick on their children and video them saying they ate all the Halloween candy.  Lots of crying, but my favorite has to be the kid who calls his dad “ugly.”  Hahaha… ENJOY!