Splish splash...

Isn't it funny how attitude is everything?

I've had a trying day at work today and coming home seemed to bring my bad attitude into the house. The kids spent their day with their Grandma B who had them out sledding and having fun.

Work was busy and I ended up bring some work and my laptop home to get caught up. I sent Jeff and the kids to go get haircuts and in the quiet, I managed to calm down and realize that I don't want to pass my days hurried and crabby.

The kids came back, (with tons of candy!) and got sent down to take a bath. The girls are splish splashing in the tub, Jeff is strumming on his guitar and I am getting some work done and enjoying the sounds of my family. Tristan is probably playing with his Bionicles quietly.

No matter how stressed out I will get about work, the truth is that it is just a way to get our family to where we want to be: debt free.

So in the meanwhile, I can handle the struggle to keep up a house that I don't spend as much time in as I wish, and while I cannot be the one giving them their bath, I will give praise for a wonderful husband and praise for the giggles that float upstairs.

Thank you God!

Rude awakening...

Yesterday morning, I was having a normal day in that I was yelling at the kids to get ready and they were bickering and calling each other names.

it just so happened that Tristan came up to tattle on his sister...

"Mom! Trinity said to mind my own bee's nuts... Not the regular nuts... but the ones that get girls pregnant!"

Needless to say... I was stunned and shocked. I told them to get ready for school and I realized that I needed to figure out a way to have "the talk" with Tristan and possibly Trinity.

In my heart, I think that Trinity was just engaging in potty talk (butt, etc). I don't think she knows that nuts get girls pregnant, but I do (now) know that Tristan knows that nuts get girls pregnant.

Help! Anyone out there have experience with this?

Christmas Spirit

It has taken me until this morning to get into the Christmas Spirit....

I've already wrapped 70 Christmas gifts and co-hosted a work party... but still nothing
I've tromped through snow and bought snow pants, hats, mitten and boots... but still nothing
I've purchased gifts for my family... but still nothing

So what put me in this spirit?
This devotional... stolen from Girlfriends in God.

Today's Truth
"But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. For today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10-11 NIV).

Friend To Friend
The Family Life Today show on my local Christian radio station once featured an author named Ace Collins who wrote a historical book about Christmas carols. One traditional carol they talked about was the song, "God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen."

Before that day, the first line of that song never made sense to me. The title, "God rest ye, merry gentlemen," seemed too old-school-English to embrace. Was it encouraging us to sleep happily? I just didn't get it. But, I'm excited to share with you that the scales have fallen from my eyes! What I learned about this song is really cool, and I think you are going to find it fascinating as well... Ace explained to the listeners that he had dug through a bunch of English text from the 1500 and 1600s. One of the first things he learned about this carol was that the comma in our modern day version is actually misplaced in the title. It's not "God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen." It's supposed to read, "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen."

While that information alone might not seem to make a difference, this next bit of information will bring the main point home. His research revealed that back in the day this song was written, the word "rest" actually meant "make" or "keep." And the word "merry" actually meant "mighty" or "great."

So...if we put that all together - in a modern translation - it should sing:
"God make you mighty, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay.
Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas day;
To save us all from Satan's power when we were gone astray.
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy;
O tidings of comfort and joy."

If you would allow me the freedom, I'd like to translate this even further. Call it the Girlfriends In God Revised Edition. This is powerful:
"God make you mighty, girlfriend! Do not be upset, discouraged, or frightened!
Jesus came to earth to take on our brokenness and sin so that we could be made beautiful and whole in Him!
This is great news, which should bring you comfort and joy! Rejoice!"

Have a mighty Christmas! Have a powerful Christmas! Our hope is alive because 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ left His throne in heaven, was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, suffered and died for our sin, and defeated death in resurrection.

This is surely "good news of great joy!" (Luke 2:10).

Celebrate Christmas this year in His strength, in His peace, and in His joy. God make you mighty, girlfriend!

Let's Pray
Lord, You are mighty and powerful. No matter what I face, I want to walk in Your might instead of my weakness. Help me to remember that Your Word says: "Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4). In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Giving Thanks...

I still sit in amazement that Thanksgiving is over. How did it pass me by so quickly? I remember the turkey dinner, the furious shopping, but here it is Sunday evening and am I really supposed to be gearing up for Christmas?

Jeff took Tristan up hunting for the weekend. It was hard for me to let him go, but Jeff was quite firm on the fact that they were going and that he wasn't too young, despite all my pleas that he was.

They had a good time even if they didn't see any deer the whole time. Tristan was excited for the opportunity to target shoot and apparently he did well. I need not worry about my little guy growing up too fast. He still snuggled up to me and got teary in the evening... the sure sign that he was too tired for his own good.

I got to spend Saturday alone with my daughters. I spoiled them with a trip to Build A Bear, and a High School Musical movie marathon. They acted like sisters, with the youngest copying the oldest and the oldest teasing the youngest to no end.

Overall it was a great weekend except that I didn't get to spend as much time with my husband. As usual at the family gatherings, the men head to one side of the house and the women in another. It still surprises me how foreign this feels to me because since there was only three of us in my immediate family growing up, we always did things together. No one was ever segregated and left behind. At least Jeff understands this and puts up with all of us piling into the car to run the silliest errand... and I understand his hunting trips and fishing trips.

I thank God for the low-key times of my life. A lot of times, I worried that I would get used to the crisis mode that our lives were in for many years of my father's illness. That on some level I would need the adrenaline to feel useful and complete. But the truth is that I believe those hectic experiences made me stronger and more confident and appreciative to the quieter times in my life. I'm not sure if I am explaining it clearly, but it feels good to be where I am in my life. There is still room for improvement, but I feel like we are on the right track.

Homemade microwave popcorn

1. Put 1/4 cup popcorn in a brown paper bag. Fold top over a few times and tape it.
2. Place in microwave folded side up for 2 to 3 minutes or until there is 5 seconds between pops.
3. Eat plain or add flavors (such as salt, butter, sugar, etc.)

Dad's birthday

My daddy's birthday is coming up on the 20th. He has been gone for just over a year, but I've been trying to think of a way to honor him. We did do a mass for his one year anniversary of when he passed, but his birthday just seems like a happier occasion, even if he isn't here.

We will do a special dinner with non-alcoholic wine (which is how we celebrate any special occasion in the Bruizeman household). The crystal wine glasses come out (kid-sized even) and we "ching-ching" to happy memories and family.

Dad never liked flowers. I'm sure it brought back memories of when his dad passed when he was young, so I was thinking of setting up a fruit display in his honor and then sharing the fruit with the family. Dad had a way of making things special, even a piece of fruit that he shared.

Love you Papi!

New Beginning

I had the best weekend ever!

Friday afternoon we officially sold our house! Jeff and I did such a great job of packing it all up and breaking down the whole process into small "digestible" chunks. (How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time)

The closing got postponed more times than I remember, but we were fine because we were ready for it. Considering that Jeff and I are such procrastinators, I'm so happy with the whole process.

Saturday morning we drove my mom to OHare airport for her flight to Lima. The trip went super for her and she even got bumped to first class from Houston to Lima! I talked to her last night and she was so happy! It felt like a huge sign from God saying "This is meant to be". Thank you Lord!

After the airport we went to visit good friends who are moving to Belgium for the next two years. The weather was beautiful and we played at the park with the kids and just vegged together. So relaxing and comfortable! I'm going to miss Jeff and Julie Johnson!

Sunday we went to church early, took the kids shopping in Muskegon and went out for lunch. By the time we got back, we relaxed and even "handled" what I would have considered a stressful situation for pre-now Jeff and Marianne. We got asked to babysit at the last minute and we managed to get the house in presentable conditions and had fun visiting with our three little friends!

Jeff and I have been trying so hard to make some good changes in our lives. It really feels like the fruits of our labor are coming in.

Smiles all around today!