Christmas Blessings

It is early Christmas morning and I am so excited to spend the day with my family in Chico. We had 2 Christmas blessings- our lambs were born on 12/23 and they are in perfect health. We named them Holly and Ruby because of their red wool.

To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter... to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird's nest or a wildflower in spring - these are some of the rewards of the simple life. ~John Burroughs

8 Things.......

1. Remember the humor when things don’t go as planned.
2. Reduce the visual clutter in your home by putting things in storage.
3. Decide what is most important to you and your family this season.
4. Don’t let advertisers tell you what you need.
5. Rethink your spending habits. Are they good for you, your family, or the environment?
6. Keep up on laundry
7. Fix your life so can get 7 hours of sleep a night at the minimum. You don’t save time when you are too tired to function optimally.
8. Take time each day for a walk outdoors.

I am Grateful

Thank you, Lord, for my family, our home, and our health. Thank you for sending your Son to die on the cross to save us from our sins. Help me to keep my eyes on you to guide me through life's many challenges. Open my eyes to the blessings I have, and to focus on the beauty of what already IS in my life.

Gearing up for 2010

I am trying to get a head start on the new year, and the best way for me to do this is by creating lists. Life is an ongoing project....so I add and delete as necessary.

January- put away Christmas decorations, prune roses, make reservations for summer vacation, and replace batteries, seeds, and medicine in emergency tub

February- file taxes, sign Miles and Maggie up for summer camp

March- prepare soil/beds for garden, add mulch to flowers and shrubs, buy Miles and Maggie new clothes/shoes for warm weather, soccer sign-ups

April- plant herbs in garden/containers, begin planting summer garden, trim all hooves, yearly shots for all animals

May- plant tomatoes, pull bulbs and store in labeled paper bags, replace batteries in outdoor solar lights

June- (vacation) scrapbooking, canning

July- (vacation) plan for Miles's birthday

August- go school shopping, pay for bus passes

September- trim all hooves, decorate for fall, put away pool toys and cover patio furniture, make Maggie's scarecrow, 4H sign up/choose projects

October- add Halloween decorations, start Christmas shopping list, plan for Maggie's birthday, plant bulbs

November- put away Halloween decorations, create Thanksgiving menu and get head count, order Christmas cards, pull summer garden, add straw, and plant cover crops

December- put away fall decorations and put up Christmas, make treat bags/cards for my class and Maggie's class/friends, mail Christmas cards, buy a new calendar/planner for the following year and add birthdays
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Weekly- catch up on laundry, wash bedding, organize/clean backpacks, wash towels in bathroom (guest/hand)

Monthly- turn compost bins, Frontline on dogs and cat, haircuts, buy cards for this month's birthdays, check smoke detector,
get car cleaned, buy animal feed for the month, new chore/allowance chart for Miles and Maggie, replenish supplies for emergency stock-up

Every 3 Months- oil change in car(s), rotate tires, check air filters in house