I've undergone a transformation in the last year in more ways than one.

I've refined my blog, now known as coffeedogz.net, but going forward will be known as www.momtomanygirls.com. A little more descriptive, don't you think? While I will still blog about a variety of things, since some variety is essential to spicing up life, I'm going to hone in on simplifying family life.

I started writing for a second family magazine, "Bell County Family." In case you didn't know, I started writing for "Austin Faith and Family" in 2010.

I wrote an e-book, hopefully the first of a series, on computers for the layperson, especially the small business entrepreneaur. I'm releasing the e-book, "What's WHAT with Computers" and launching a new business to sell it, called www.helpmetechservices.com, in January.

I traveled internationally for the first time, if you don't count crossing the border in Brownsville, Texas, once during college. To say I'm hooked, would be an understatement. I don't intend to wait 40-something (ahem,) years to do something adventurous again. And, I plan to encourage my girls to set their sites bigger than I did at their age.

I have a lot planned for 2012. Updated blog. New business. More family fun. So, don't miss out. Follow me over to www.momtomanygirls.com.

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We have accumulated lots of Christmas decorations over the almost 15 years of our marriage.  We didn't have much when we got started, and my husband decided we needed everything right away.  I wanted to build our stash a little more slowly with meaningful decorations.  We kind of did both.  He went to the after Christmas sale and bought a cart-full of Disney ornaments, one of my least favorite themes in the world.  I pick out yearly ornaments to commemorate our growing family.  Every year each child gets a special ornament with her name and year on it, and we get a family ornament.  I like the ones which have a place for each family member, but as our family grows it's hard to find ones with that many spaces.  You also have to be careful putting them on the tree.  It might tip if all the family ornaments are on one side.

This past year, I inherited some of my parents' Christmas decorations.  I picked the things that I remember from my childhood, such as a ceramic tree with lights on it.  Some of the lights are missing, but it is still pretty.  I also got their ceramic nativity set with the shed my dad built.  It's a beautiful set, if you don't notice the angel's wings that have been glued together a few times, and I hope to some day have a place to set it up properly.  It's rather large, and space is a premium in our house. 

One of my favorite decorating themes, besides the nativity, is the villages, especially the gingerbread ones.  Again, lots of space required.  My mother would buy each of us a piece of the village each year, so I have a rather substantial city now.  Again, lots of stuff, no space.

So, if my house were decorated perfectly for Christmas, I'd have all my sentimental ornaments on a brightly lit tree, my parents' nativity set with a heavenly light on a table, and a happy village-city displayed on a mantle.  But, then there is reality.  All of my decorations are in storage, and my husband is not inclined to retrieve any of them...mainly because half of our other possessions are stacked in front of them.  We are in the process of selling our house, so most things of non-essential value went to storage.  Since we started decluttering six months ago, Christmas boxes went first.  Thus, they are at the back of the building. 

So, what does our house look like this Christmas?  Rather bare, unfortunately.  A few years ago, when I was in the hospital around Christmas, we had a similar conundrum.  The girls took matters into their own hands and drew a Christmas tree that we taped to the wall.  Below is a picture of their masterpiece.  Pretty cute, huh?



We tried to keep this special tree, but paper has a way of tearing in a house with a lot of children.  So, it's been shredded since then.  My girls are in the process of re-creating another wall tree for this Christmas.  I'll post pictures when we have it up.

While I like the traditional tree with all our commemorative ornaments, this paper tree has kind of grown on me, too.  It might become our new tradition.

What new tradition could you add to your holiday decor?

g

I love to cook and am pretty proficient in the kitchen.  That hasn't always been the case, though.  I've had my share of disasters and stupid mistakes.  Even though I don't make major mistakes much anymore, I still like to take cooking classes.  I'm a serial cooking class student.  But typically, they are expensive.  And inconvenient.

Then, I found Shelley with One Roast Vegetable.  She teaches a 14-part online basic cooking class, called Back to Basics (so clever).  Yes, I said online.  She sends a grocery list for each lesson, followed by a video documenting each step of the recipe, AND a step-by-step recipe, many with full-color photos.  I signed up for this class several years ago with Isabel, then 10, and we did the class together.  Isabel, with my help, learned how to poach an egg, roast a chicken, and bake apple crisp with cinnamon ice cream.  We loved all the recipes and still make many of them.  Isabel learned lots of new skills, which she continued to practice.  Now, she's a very capable cook at the tender age of 12 (almost 13).  I learned new things, like poaching an egg and roasting brussel sprouts.

So, if you, or someone you know, needs help in the kitchen, or you want to spend a great hour or two a week with your child(ren) learning something fun, then click on over to Shelley's website at www.oneroastvegetable.com and sign up for her Back to Basics cooking class.  Tell her I sent you.  She'll know me.  We're close like that.

 

g

P.S. And don't forget to order your Christmas cards from TinyPrints.com. Time's a'wastin.

I used to love to go Black Friday shopping.  Now, I'm not someone who camped out the night (or week?) before.  I had a plan, to be sure.  I knew which stores I wanted to go to and what I wanted to get.  I mapped my morning.  My parents would go with me.  My dad was the anchor of the team, holding our place in line while my mom and I split up to acquire our targets.  It's not the same by yourself.  Maybe one day my girls will want to join me in a well-executed shopping morning, but for now I do more online shopping than store browsing. 

So, in that vein, I'm offering several great online deals for your Christmas convenience.

I ordered my Christmas photo cards this year from TinyPrints.com.  They are beautiful, and I was so excited to find a card that had enough picture openings to put everyone.  That's one of the trials with lots of kids.  Too many pictures, not enough spots on the card. 

Right now, they are offering FREE shipping, 15% off orders of $75 or more, or 20% off orders of $175 or more.  This offer expires Saturday, 12/3.  Use code HOLSAVE20.

But wait!  That's not enough because as soon as that sale ends, they have 15% off $49 or more and 20% off $149 or more with FREE shipping, starting 12/3 through Tuesday, 12/6.  Use code DECFS20.

So, don't wait!!  Go to TinyPrints.com and order your Christmas cards.  My family and friends look forward to my masterpiece photo cards every year.  I can just see them rushing to their mailboxes every day eagerly looking for my card.  Well, that might be a teensy bit of an exaggeration.

I'll give you a sneak peak, but if you're on my Christmas card list, don't look or you'll spoil the surprise!!


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We survived the ultimate food holiday, Thanksgiving.  Now, it's on to the insane shopping frenzy of Christmas.  We have been paring down our holiday shopping the last few years, opting for a few practical, usable gifts over a mountain of frivolous, short-lived junk.  We're not trying to be boring or kill-joys.  We actually put more thought into our gift-buying this way.  So, for instance, instead of buying every bauble we see that might please someone on our list for a day or two, we use the following criteria to compile our gift list.

Does it "fit" the person?
This doesn't necessarily apply to just clothes. I'm talking interests, hobbies, needs.  Every child doesn't get the same thing.  One might get pajamas, a skirt for another, or a jacket for a third, depending on each child's wardrobe need.  One might get a bike, while another gets a craft kit.  What does each child like and what does she need?

I "might" have gotten a horse-themed quilt and matching accessories for one of our children this year.  I got it on sale, and it matches her personality to a T.  It's a bigger gift than most of the others are getting, but cost-wise it will be in-line with what we're spending on everyone else.

How much space does it take?
We don't have a lot of living space, so the gargantuan doll houses are nixed right off the bat.  Other items must have a place to live, and something else might have to go in favor of a new gift.  Similarly, puzzles and toys with thousands of tiny pieces are just not practical to keep up with in a large family. 

Side note: I think the person who invented all the tiny doll accessories should be locked in a room with a dozen dolls and have to match all the shoes, purses, clothes, etc. that each comes with, then let a toddler come in and mess it all up, THEN have to do it again, and again, and again.  I think that would cut down on all the clutter that comes with so many doll kits in no time flat.

My two babies are getting baby dolls, but no bottles, diapers, or bibs.  Just plain, sweet, cuddly baby dolls.

How will it benefit the family?
Yes, I know I'm talking about individual gifts, but since our overall goal is to be family oriented, we tend to steer away from items that might isolate someone too much or cause rivalries.  Therefore, we don't buy game consoles, which can only be played by one person at a time, thus inducing riots.  Books are our only exception.  We have quiet times most days, and our older children enjoy reading during these times.  They are also handy on long car rides or in waiting rooms.  For my two youngest this year, I am compiling a Quiet Bag with a book, small toy, and maybe one other item to occupy their time quietly when necessary.  Shhh, don't tell them.

Instead of each of our girls getting a gift for EACH of her sisters (5x5?), we do group gifts.  Each sister picks one gift that will be enjoyed by all.  One picked a movie they would all enjoy...something about a girl with long hair.  Two of the others picked restaurant gift cards to be enjoyed on a family night.

How long will it last?
I despise cheap, plastic toys.  I'm not a tree hugger, but what a waste of resources, money, and landfill.  These "dime store" stocking stuffers are nothing but a pain in the neck.  My kids break them in 60 seconds, flat.  Then, I have to pick up the pieces (or step on them in the middle of the night).  So, nothing that is flimsy makes it on our list.

Each of the girls has her own lunchbag, and I am planning to get a drink and some snack containers to go in each one.  This has been more of a challenge than I thought.  The metal containers are expensive and reviews have not been favorable (lids leak and crack).  High end plastic containers have lids that are hard for little hands to remove and replace.  I may have to bend my rule and go cheap here, preparing myself to replace every so often.

Is it a blessing?
White elephant, anyone?  That's a fun game to play at a party, but you can only graciously receive so many singing Billy Bob mounted fish trophies.  I'm not above re-gifting something nice that someone else will enjoy more than I, but I don't use Christmas or other gift-giving occasions to get rid of junk.

Last year, my dad and I picked several of my mother's tea pots from her collection and gave one to each of the girls.  They loved getting something tangible to remember her by.  These precious keepsakes are locked in a cabinet where we can enjoy them but are out of danger from being broken. 

So, that's my basic gift-giving rule list.  Do you have a set of criteria you use to choose gifts?  Please share!

g

To wrap up this 30 days of thankfulness, which seemed twice as long as it really was, i am thankful for the salvation available through Jesus Christ. This is the season in which we should all be especially thankful and awestruck that God was born a baby to live among us and offer himself as a sacrifice for our sins.

I am no Billy Graham who can evangelize the masses. I usually get tongue tied and completely flustered when I try to witness. I'm afraid I will say the wrong thing, misrepresent my beliefs, come off as a goody-two-shoes, or worse, tarnish the very name I want to bring glory to. However, my lack of outright witnessing, like some people are so good at, is not an indication of my heartfelt dedication to the Lord and desire for everyone to hear the gospel.

On day 30, as we begin the final stretch toward celebrating the birth of the Savior, I am so very, very thankful for Jesus who came to save us from our sins and grant us a place in heaven for eternity.

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You know, there are so many things I take for granted. I've mentioned some of them, but there are countless others that I don't even think about. Some things that I don't even know. I wonder how many times the Lord has blessed me with something small that I didn't even recognize. How many times was disaster averted by His hand without my knowing. For all the temporary troubles I might have in my life, I have far more riches in my family, friends, home, and relationship with the Lord.

So, today I thank God for those nameless blessings and protection.

I want to roll both days into one thanksgiving. First, I am thankful for generally good health. We rarely get sick around our house. Once or twice a year we might share a cold or tummy bug, and several of my girls have some minor issues, like allergies. But generally speaking everyone at our house is pretty healthy.

Second, on the times when one of us does have a health problem, I am thankful for doctors and medicine that helps make it better. Today, I am particularly thankful for pain medication after I spent the morning in the ER for kidney stones. There is nothing quite like the euphoric feeling of severe pain easing up as a pain killer takes affect. All I can say is "ahhhh".

So, I'm thankful for two more practical things that make life easier.

g

I enjoy reading biographies, particularly about missionaries. It is a sure-fire cure for dealing with any dissatisfaction in my life. So many left comfortable lives to live in uncomfortable conditions to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Some saw little to no fruit for their entire ministry, but they trusted God for the harvest. I think of the five missionaries in Ecuador who died just trying to make contact with a violent tribe. One of their wives and a sister of another finally made successful contact with the tribe and even lived among them to minister and translate the Bible in their language.

Others loved the unloveable and risked their life to help them. I think of Gladys Aylward who adopted Chinese orphans and led almost 100 children out of China when Japan invaded before World War II. Or Irena Sendler who smuggled more than 2,000 children from the Jewish ghetto in Warsaw, Poland, during the German occupation.

These people are heroes, and I'm thankful they had the courage and faith to make a difference. I'm also thankful for so many today who still do the same with little to no recognition other than from the Lord.

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Today, I have to be thankful for one of my daughters, in particular. Emma is three on the 25th of November. She was a problem pregnancy which led to a terribly difficult health scare. But she was worth it. She is a ray of sunshine in our day, not because she has the most cheery personality. In fact, she's kind of ornery. But we love having her in our family. And that health scare taught us a lot about what is important in life. Family.

We spent our holidays that year just hunkering down and concentrating on surviving. That holiday holds many simple, but sweet, memories which I think we'll remember for many years to come. Like the children's hand-drawn Christmas tree on butcher paper that we taped to the wall. It was our only decoration because I was too sick to decorate. Christmas was just as sweet without too much bling, and we were very blessed with a new baby and a mama who was alive.

I love Emma, and I'm so thankful she's mine.

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