Laurel Wreath’s Reflections

I took my boys to a movie yesterday. Let me just say school can not begin quick enough, they don’t go back until Monday. Which is 4 days, or 345,600 seconds, 5760 minutes, 96 hours… Any ways I am getting off topic here.

We went to go see “Night at the Museum”….. if you have boys, say over the age of 6 or 7 this is a perfect movie. No bad language, no real violence. All my boys loved it, even my really soon to be teenage boy.

Just wanted to give you a heads up because good clean movies do not come by often enough in my book.

PS- girls may love this movie also, but since the only point of reference in Laurel’s world is boys, I can only speak for them. =)

Tags: Family, movie, Night at the museum

New Year’s Humor

‘Twas the Month after Christmas

‘Twas the month after Christmas, and all through the house,
Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse.

Unable to giggle, no longer a \nriot,
Happy New \nYear to all and to all a good \ndiet!

\n

",1] ); //–>And the way I’d never said, “No thank you, please.”

As I dressed myself in my husband’s old shirt,
And prepared once again to do battle with dirt.

I said to myself, as I only can,
“You can’t spend a winter disguised as a man!”

So–away with the last of the sour cream dip,
Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip.

Every last bit of food that I like must be banished,
‘Till all the additional ounces have vanished.

I won’t have a cookie–not even a lick,
I’ll want only to chew on a long celery stick.

I won’t have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie,
I’ll munch on a carrot and quietly cry.

I’m hungry, I’m lonesome, and life is a bore,
But isn’t that what January is for?

Unable to giggle, no longer a riot,
Happy New Year to all and to all a good diet!

We all would like to lose a few of the Christmas pounds we put on.Watching what we eat is a big help, but the most important item is DRINK WATER. I go to Walgreens and get one of the large jugs (like the one pictured here) fill it up with water in the morning, and I know if I finish all the water in a day then I get the amount of daily water needed. If water is too plain, add some lemon, or crystal light to the jug. DRINK UP, it is a must if you want to lose any weight.

This works for me!

Many of you have expressed that you would like to read through the bible. I would like to point you to a blog called The Narrow Gate my friend Heather from Graced By Christ and her husband have developed. They said:

Each week I will start with a “week #” post, with info on what I will be reading that week and a place for you to share what you are reading–.

This is a great place, go visit.

To say I am humbled is saying the least. I am overwhelmed.

I know I should just say thank you. But this award has brought forth some ponderings for me. I am all about being real here on this blog. So here I go.

With this award you are saying, I illuminate joy through my posts. And with that I am humbled. But I will be honest when I showed the award to “manly man”, he laughed. But on the other hand I have a sister who calls me her “prayer warrior”. And good ‘ol Mom said “It is what you portray to others dear; this is neat!!!”

So my thoughts to God is, am I not joyful to the ones who are the closest to me? Manly man did not mean the laugh to hurt me, he said congratulations and that he was proud. But it made me think.

What I say and comments I leave are really me, but on the other hand manly man gets to see me when I am down, when I am angry, when I am frustrated and he knows I can partake of the proverbial whine a bit too much also.

So I view this award as a goal in my real life. And one of my fears is portraying myself as something I am not.

I want the ones closest to me to know I am joyful.

I want them to view me as encouraging to them.

I think this blog and my devotions are a different side that he does not see all the time. I have to admit he does not read my blog on regular basis and has not read my devotions on Laced With Grace. But I guess my desire is for him to see me as you see me.

I am so thankful and humbled for this award and that you see this side of me. Now my goal is for everyone to know and see my heart. I realize sometimes it is hard to see the best in a person, when you see the “whole person” worst side, with sins, and all. Through Christ I know he can help me in this. And thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I hope I am communicating this stuff correctly, I fear I may not be. But hear my humbled, thankful heart, and my striving to be more with God at the helm.

Oh and to even be mentioned in the same breath as Vicki at Windows To My Soul, and Kari at Healed Waters is just to much for a girl to take.

Also thank you for nominating me for Best Friend Award, in the same category my friend Jennifer at Snapshot and CONGRATS to Shannon at Rocks In My Dryer.

Blessings.

Return from trip - check

Unpack - half check

Food in the house - check

Have all three boys back - not yet.

I have been going around my house with a vengeance throwing things away. I even cleaned all my kitchen drawers. Does anyones else get grossed out about the drawer they place their clean silverware in? How does it get so dirty. Ok, so it might have been this time last year when it was cleaned last time. But still.

I packed up the tree. Put away all the Christmas decorations. Unpacked and put away most of the clothes. But I have too much “stuff”. I have certain relatives that like to buy a lot for my boys and for us, but then I have to find a place to put all this “stuff”. And I just don’t have room. I have been cleaning for three days, but if you walked into my house you would not believe me. I even had to go purchase more hangers today, so I could hang up “more stuff”.

I have a bad attitude about this “stuff”. I wish I could tell certain relatives, just buy each of us one nice present and call it a day.

So because I have to find room for “stuff” I am throwing away, reorganizing, and trying to make my house feel like it is in some sort of order.

My youngest son is not home yet, he is traveling back with Grandma and Grandpa. They were suppose to be home today, but it seems the day we left (to drive home) is the day the rest of the household got sick. There was toilet hugging all around. They are driving back tonight, but my poor father in law is not doing the best. They are making a lot of stops on the way home. I don’t know why it affected some people but not the rest of us. I guess this is one way to lose the weight you put on during the holidays, but it is not the method I would chose.

Anyways, I guess I better go back to organizing my “stuff”.

But I am getting excited about this:

Tags: Christmas, Family, junk

( IF YOU ARRIVED HERE, CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE MAIN PAGE)

Who: Everyone is invited

What: I would like you to post on your site about your hopes, dreams, goals, for the next year. What would you like to see God do in your life? How would you like to see Him move in things? Make this as general or as personal as you feel comfortable. What are your goals for next year? I am not looking for the “lose 10 lbs this year” answer, something a little bit deeper. When you look back December 2007 where would you like to be?

Many of us look forward to new changes in the new year, some of us dread the changes. As a side note, this blog is going to go through some changes. Soon you will be arriving to a NEW IMPROVED look, but don’t worry it will be the same ‘ol me. Changes are sometimes good, sometimes dreaded, and sometimes dreamed. What is your change or dream for this next year?

When: Come back the first week of January 2007 (January 1 through 5th).

Where: I will put up a Mr. Linky beginning January 1st through 5th 2007, so you can link back to your blog post. I am not really one to make “New Year Resolutions” (infact I dislike them), if I make them I break them. But I am one to think about what my dreams and desires are at the time, and see where the Lord leads me. Sometimes it is exciting because the Lord has so much more in mind, sometimes it proves to be a difficult year because He had a lot to teach me. Either way it is exciting to follow God’s leading and plan for my life. How about you?

Feel fee to grab the graphic and include it on your blog.I’m looking forward to seeing who will take me up on this challenge! IF YOU WOULD LIKE THE THE PICUTURE I CAN GIVE YOU THE HTML CODE. JUST EMAIL ME AT lrlwreath at gmail dot com. Thank you Nic at As My World Turns

As an extra incentive, anyone who participates and advertises this on their blog. I will be sending one lucky participant a $10 gift certificate to Amazon.com. I’ll do a random drawing from the names of everyone who posts. Make sure you leave me your link on Mr. Linky January 1st through 5th (and post your response to the topic above), these are the people who will be entered into the drawing. I reserve the right to delete any links not pertaining to the New Year’s Meditations.

The winner will be announced and sent the certificate Januray 6th, 2007.

(click picture to enlarge)

I have been loving on all the babies, and having a great time. I got to speak to her on the phone today for the first time. We wanted to try to meet but it did not work out, but I know there will be another time. Kind of a big bummer because she sounded so nice.

Anyways, we head back home Thursday. Hope everyone had a great Christmas. Oh and guess who got Photoshop Elements (another fun time sucker, just what I need huh =) Anyways I am so excited. Above is my first try at playing with it.

Hope all is well.

Blessings.

The Birth of Jesus

1-5 About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David’s town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant. 6-7 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel.

An Event for Everyone

8-12 There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”

13-14 At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises:

Glory to God in the heavenly heights, Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.

15-18 As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. “Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.

19-20 Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they’d been told!

Visit Sting My Heart on Christmas Day for more Nativity pictures.

Merry Christmas,

will return on the 30th. And remember this in the New Year.

I will be posting here on Sunday (Christmas Eve):