Time With Famiy

Did you hear?

I have the best job ever!

I am enjoying, since high school (12 1/2 years ago), two weeks off for Christmas! My new job has some great perks, let me tell you. A week off for Thanksgiving, 2 for Christmas/New Year, 1 week for Spring Break, and a handful of holidays. I work with a great group of individuals who all love the Lord, pray for each other, and enjoy simple fellowship. I feel so blessed.

This week so far I have: read 2 books and am on #3, hit up the gym early in the day, visited with my mom and little brother, and today as a family we all went to the zoo.

Oh the zoo! My kids had a blast. The weather was perfect, not exactly wintery, but hey, I am not complaining. I love cold weather, but the temperatures today insured we spent several hours outside enjoying life!

My wonderful husband with our kiddos 

My little man and I. He is my cuddler and sweet boy.

Proof that they can be sweet to each other.

 We had such a great time petting the goats, avoiding the chickens and seeing the animals moving around. Due to the great weather not many were inside the enclosures. They were lounging in the sun, pacing back and forth. And since many people were working there was hardly anyone there. In past trips we have continually bumped into people - not this trip.

After a few hours we came home. My husband had a few clients lined up for the evening so he wanted to rest. I packed the kids up and went to Chick-fil-A. They got ice cream (we are in Texas) and I got coffee. And let me tell you, the customer service was fantastic! At 3:00 they still had coffee and I wasn't expecting fresh brewed. Well the server gave me my cup and I thought that was that. A few minutes later a manager came over and said she was brewing a fresh batch and would bring me some out shortly. I told her she didn't have to, but thank you. And sure enough, no longer after she swapped my cup out. That was some good coffee! Once the munchkins gobbled up their cones I let them play in the play area. They giggled, made new friends, and went up and down too many times to count. And once we got home I unleashed them and the dog into the back yard. Swings, imagination, tossing the stick for our dog Lady, and lady bugs! My goodness, close to 10 lady bugs around our play-scape. They were lovely and the kids kept trying to grab them. Of all the bugs in the world, those are my favorite and I was tickled pink to see so many!

After a day of much activity neither child argued about dinner - left overs.

Do you know that leftovers are a blessing? Think about it. Leftovers imply so much:

• You have food and the means to prepare it.
• You have enough food to go around and then some.
• You have the means to save (refrigerate) your food.

This year has been tight for us financially, actually the past few years. But through it all I have seen God's hand. He has always allowed us to eat: through food we have prepared, donated meals, gift cards given as gifts, parents/family inviting us over for meals. God takes care of his people. And those of us in America, we have it good. And I feel we take it for granted. I know for one that we throw away many of our leftovers because we get tired of eating the same thing and the fridge needs cleaning. I saw a video yesterday about a lady in Los Angeles who went a month trash free. She only had a handful of scraps at the end, but it was impressive. It takes an effort and work to not waste. It has given me a few things to ponder.

But tonight my kids who are not really picky didn't even blink at their plate of hodgepodge leftovers. And both pretty much cleaned their plates. Normally I get a negotiation about amounts or how many bites, but after a day full of activity dinner was quiet. Little man tuckered out right after 7. I checked on him a bit ago and sweet boy was about to fall out of his bed. Him not being a crib was a smoother transition then I expected.

Abigail and I had a wonderful evening of drawing and games - her homework. Yes, I have my 4 year old "do" homework. But honestly it is just fun. We color, we read, we play games, we create. Sheis learning and we are bonding.

Round 2 - she won the first round.

The memory game was a birthday gift that we finally opened. Abigail really impressed me and I am sure we will repeat this over the next two weeks. Still can't believe my 4 year old beat me.

This time with family has been refreshing. And we have so much more to do. Christmas itself, New Year's day, both of which have church services. There will be time with family, Brock and I will divide and conquer and have fun individually with each kid, and hopefully we will manage a date night sometime soon.

I am thankful for this new chapter in my life. God has given me an opportunity that I never imagined having.

Merry Christmas!