As a stay at home mom, I think it is my job to try to find ways to add some spice to each day and hope that it will be fun (when I have the energy). One of those ways I have found is be purposeful in what we spend time celebrating, which can be challenging as we are a family on the move. This week I want to share 1 way that I have found to make a week a little funner. Last month on November 20th was Zarah & Keziah's 1/2 Birthday, they turned 2 1/2! Being honest, I've never really thought about 1/2 birthday's until my older daughter Hope was old enough to know about her's. I think the first year was when she turned 4 1/2, and I realized in February that it was her 1/2 birthday. She was so excited, and it was fun to do a little "laid back" celebrating. Making the day special for her made such an impact that now we have incorporated this into our family's culture.
The best part about celebrating 1/2 birthday's is that they are NOT a big production like a actual Birthday can become. This week, I made pancakes for dinner and added cake sprinkles to them and we sang the Happy Birthday song (with the added 1/2 in the middle).
Then comes Advent starting on December 1st, and it was great to celebrate Jesus' birthday and our faith. I grew up in a large Catholic family, and did not have my own personal relationship with Jesus as my Savior until my late 20's. And so I find myself still finding my way in my faith, and really it wasn't until the last few years with my kids that I have come to understand Advent and fully embrace the time for what it truly means. Advent as a time that we prepare our hearts for the arrival of our Savior Jesus, whether physically as a baby being born and/or spiritually preparing our hearts to welcome Him anew. Each day we read scripture and had a small advent activity to do together. The month went speeding by and and we had such an enjoyable Christmas season as a family and celebrating with our Thailand family.
It is a hard time for me as I miss my family and the traditions that I grew up celebrating with my immediate family. But that being said, my 3 little girls don't know those memories or understand my feelings of missing family...because they are with their family. WE ARE what they are making memories about. And I feel as their mom it is my responsibility to not stand in my emotions, but to create those new traditions and memories with my children. It can be a hard task to accomplish what I am talking about here, but as the saying goes...no one ever said being a mommy (& daddy) is easy. This was my 7th Christmas (over my lifetime) away from my "home" and traditional Christmas, and it really doesn't ever get any easier...
Just downloading and looking over some of the memories that were made this Advent and Christmas season, looks like I have some work to do in the next couple of weeks to share our moments with you. Here are some of my favorites so far...
Very proud "mommy" moment...I have officially joined the "I have 3 daughters and I made them matching outfits" group! There is such a group out there right?...I've seen the pictures before ;-). Earlier this year I had borrowed a friends sewing machine & thought life out a few steps ahead of time and made this dream a reality. The best part is how much they LOVE them and when they are wearing them and look at each other they totally crack-up...Best Ever!
Earlier in the month of December we had a friend take some family pictures of us and they turned out wonderful! Here is the finished product
Whew....this is my life as a traveling mother. God Bless you today!
Jennifer
