{2015}

fail to plan
plan to fail

New year resolutions are usually quite loftly.

I am posting my intentions for personal documentation and accountability.

2014 was a good year.  But of course I have areas that I need improvement and some accomplishments I want to repeat.

--recently I challenged  myself to write (and send) letters
--lose that last 13.2 lbs (maintain that weight!)
--read more with my children
--cook more
--read the Bible through again
--organize and maintain my food storage
--exercise consistently

linking up with:  Humpday Happenings
                        Small Victories Sunday

Going Postal

January 1 is almost here.  Like others I am looking back yet dreaming ahead. Dreaming, hoping, planning.  Many of my goals deal with improvement.  And perhaps I will blog about them later.

For today I want to share a tug that is on my heart.  I have over the holidays thought of many people.  And many that I have lost touch with.  Many that I still have involved in my life.  Yet I know if tomorrow I could never reach out to them what would I wished I had said?  Did I need to tell them "thank you"--for a favor or just for being there when I needed them?  Maybe I need to reach out and let them know that I am here even we have drifted apart?  Or maybe I just need to share?  Maybe just the thought would be a spark that would encourage them on?

So my new "life goal" starting today-- because I know that January 1 is not magic--today I am going to write letters.  It will probably take me years and maybe my life but the important thing is that one letter at a time I reach out.

I know that it is easy to call, text, or email...but a written letter is something that I can touch.  And the recipient can touch, carry, review from time to time and keep.

Years ago...like over 20 :-) I was in Bible college.  On Tuesday nights there was a dedicated missionary prayer service.  At that time missionaries--many that were alumni--were mentioned.  My junior year one night addresses were laid out and we were encouraged to take one--write them and get to know them.  Let them know that even though they were miles from home that someone was remembering them.  I took  a name.  A single woman working in the Philippines.  The next day I wrote her.  In fact I couldn't even wait for the response I wrote and sent a letter every day for the first two weeks!  In a short time she responded.  We kept in touch faithfully for months.  Upon her return to the USA she came to the college and visited me.  We kept in touch for a long time.  She will be my first letter this time.

Do I think everyone will respond? No.  But that is okay.  Letters will be sent...my goal is not so much for the response as much as it is to make sure I reached out :-)

Who will I write?  As people come to mind I will find addresses.  Perhaps I will learn of strangers that would like a letter...I will write them :-) 

linking up here:

Moms Small Victories

Silent Night

Silent night
Holy night
All is calm
All is bright

Everyone is down for the night.
It was a wonderful day--family, peace, laughter and love.

Last Night of Hanukkah--Serenity

So the last two nights we actually started into our Christmas celebration.  But the boys did learn a lot about Hanukkah and they are enjoying telling strangers that wish them a Merry Christmas what night of Hanukkah it is going to be.

Last night the seventh night was the night of Laughter.
Tonight the eighth night is the night of Serenity.

Each night has indeed been special since we have intentionally looked at this time of year.

6th Night of Hanukkah

The 6th night of the Festival of Lights...And tying it in with our Christmas Advent...we chose to forgo Christmas Cards.  Tonight is the night of LOVE.  And to truly love someone is to give to someone that can never give back.  So I gave to little guys a budget and let them choose a charity project.  After helping them along and explaining some of the projects they chose to give 5 ducks and 2 chickens!

Happy Hanukkah!

Merry  Christmas!

5th Night of Hanukkah--HOPE

The fifth night of Hanukkah.  HOPE.  Hanukkah the Festival of Lights. 

www.history.com:

According to the Talmud, one of Judaism’s most central texts, Judah Maccabee and the other Jews who took part in the rededication of the Second Temple witnessed what they believed to be a miracle. Even though there was only enough untainted olive oil to keep the menorah’s candles burning for a single day, the flames continued flickering for eight nights, leaving them time to find a fresh supply. This wondrous event inspired the Jewish sages to proclaim a yearly eight-day festival. 

Tonight we visited a local live nativity.  Jesus is the true hope.  Teaching my children that even though we are studying the miracle of the oil staying lit.  We place our HOPE in the true light- Jesus.

4th Night of Hanukkah

So I did not get our Third Night of Hanukkah posted The Night of Peace.

For us it was a night of Peace.  We did a favor for another family and afterward we had to do some shopping.  My boys H.A.T.E. shopping. But we got through it.

Tonight was the Fourth Night of the Festival of Lights. The Night of JOY.  And today has been such a day of Joy!  The last day of school before Christmas break!!  The activity last night to close the Day of Joy was to attend a church service.

For us the season is about Jesus.  And He is the beginning of JOY

J-esus

O-thers

Y-ourself

2nd Night of Hanukkah

The second night of Hanukkah is the celebration of health. Tonight was my boys school Christmas play. All of my family came! So thankful that we were all there tonight and well.

Three years ago my dad had a heart attack.  They lost him in the ambulance. But he was at the play tonight with all of his children and grandchildren. (He and my mother celebrated 46 years of marriage yesterday)

I was there...three years ago I became ill with Multiple Sclerosis. My neuro at the time said I would end up in a nursing home.

Eli earlier this week passed a kidney stone. An especially big deal when you are six!

We take our health for granted. During this 2nd night of Hanukkah let's be thankful for our health😊

1st Night of Hanukkah

For a few  years I have wanted to teach the boys about Hanukkah.  And this year seemed to be the perfect time since Hanukkah starts December 16 and goes all the way until Christmas Eve.  I am using our celebration/study for our Advent activity :-)

Tonight we watched this video about the history of Hanukkah:

Hanukkah is the Festival of Lights...so since we are Christian and we believe Jesus to the the Light of the World, I put out our nativity.

Cherry Dump Salad

I am not a good potluck attendee. I don't eat like most folks. So I don't cook like most folks.  And I don't like to watch people stuff themselves.  But I was invited to a really sweet girlfriend Christmas party...a salad potluck.  I searched Pinterest and read over many food blogs and put together a cherry dump that sounded good to me :-)

2 cans cherry pie filling.
2 tubs whip cream
1 can pineapple tidbits drained
2 cans sweetened condensed milk
2 cups mini marshmallows

Mix...chill 2 hrs...serve!
Party and enjoy with friends!

Giveaway: The Best Yes

New set!!
Just because it is Christmas!
Just because you can't say "NO"
Just because you are over extended
Just because you need to find the peace in choosing the best yes!

To win follow me on Instagram @antoniareneeday

On Instagram comment "yes" on this picture.

Drawing at noon 12/13
Ships 12/15

Thanksgiving

I had such big plans of blogging my Thanksgiving sentiments.  Thanksgiving for me is so much more than the fourth Thursday of November.

Thanksgiving has become my breath.  All day every time I am able to do for myself, for family. 

Every day when I am able to do and not be done for. There is such satisfaction and pleasure in taking care of myself, my family, my home.

Over the past three years since I have been ill I have found gratitude.

Gratitude in caring for my family
My friends
My home

The Verdict Is In

I have been on the MSrecovery diet for 16 months.  I feel great and am living almost symptom free--an incredible improvement from 16 months ago. No complaints, things were much worse before.  I do still take meds everyday...but I am due a total reevaluation in  3 months ☺ and I have hope.

This mustard blend is excellent!! I am allowed to add eggs back into my diet. And I have to a point...but I am truly happy with this mustard blend. It is quite delightful almost everywhere I have felt
Mayonnaise was necessary.

My focus of my diet has been to:
1.truly be thankful for what I can eat
2.and to focus on what I can eat--not what I cannot

Chicken Chili

"Are you going to blog that?" Is my friend Niki's favorite joke. Funny she hasn't ever found my blog😎. And I don't blog much anyway...I used to...I used to faithfully blog weddings I shot and I used to think everyone really cared about what we did when we homeschooled.

But today I am sharing a quick easy chili that I adapted from a bunch of Pinterest ones. 🙆

*gluten free Zatarains Cajun chicken rice
*2 12.5oz cans of chicken breast
*14.5oz chili ready tomatoes
*15.5 oz kidney beans
*7ozcan chopped green chilies
*15 oz can whole kernal corn
*3 c water
*14oz chicken broth
*few dashes of Tastefully Simples OnionOnion.

--Bring water and chicken broth to a boil.
--stir in rice mix
--cook low 15 mins
--add all other ingredients
--simmer for 10 mins

Enjoy with you favorite people 😙

Grandparenting

Louisville Science Center

So today we got a day off of school for Ball O Rama...my boys don't play ball so we grabbed a homeschooling friend and went to the science center.

Thanks Jennifer!

If I ever meet Jennifer I know I am going to hug her.  I have just read At Home With Madame Chic by Jennifer L. Scott. 

A refreshing read!  Full of affirmations and permission to enjoy and love making a home.

I doubt that I will ever meet Jennifer...but since reading her book I have done exactly what she encouraged this reader to do:
**considered trouble spots in my home and began to work through them (ex: kitchen island)
**set my dining table--even decorated it with the season(tiny pumpkins and an autumn tablecloth)
**invited a girlfriend over and cooked the lunch

My home/chateau is returning to order. Or maybe I just allowed myself to slow down and come home.
I want to make a home for my children where I would want to be a child!

Spring is a promise!

So today in Kentucky it was 5° coler than North Pole Alaska! But here is the fruit buds popping out in my yard.

Pass the nuts. One brazil nut has more selenium than a capsule of selenium. Now I eat a brazil nut everyday!

Weaving Again!

I made a wise decision.  I altered my Ashford Table Loom to fit me.  I changed out the texsolv heddles to metal heddles. Due to complications of my illness I couldn't warp my loom very well.

I am able to weave.  So I am trying to keep my weaving fun :-)  I dont focus on what I cant do...but choose to enjoy what I can do.