Share Four Somethings November 2025

Once again the end of a month has snuck up on me. I am sure at this point no one is surprised, LOL! Our house officially sold this month (praise God) and we close on December 16th. This has added another level of busyness to our already busy year. I am looking forward to being settled again soon (when we find another place!). (started this post in November and now it's 12/5) Our prompts for the Share Four Somethings link-up are some things we loved, somethings we learned, some things that went well, and some things we let go of. We are linking up with Jennifer! 

Reusable Paper Towels

Before Christmas, I was talking to Matt and I told him that I had come across a blog talking about reusable paper towels. I LOVED the idea and couldn't believe I had never thought of it before. Essentially, you use old towels, washcloths, or flannels to make the paper towels. Who doesn't have old towels laying around? But, you can pretty them up with other fabric. To see how it is done, you can click here. I love how the blogger lists all the reasons you should switch to reusable paper towels, it is a great article and they are so easy to make.

Share Four Somethings November 2024

Hi, it's me, Cindy. I didn't mean to disappear for four months!!! I think August sprouted wings and time just went! How are we at the end of November?! I have posted a few things recently, but I am still not being very faithful to this blog. I would like to do better, but I make no promises. Time does not seem to be my own recently.

Finding Jesus + Giveaway

 

Title: Finding Jesus: A Fun and Meaningful Countdown to Christmas

Author: Lillian Richey

Illustrator: Lauren Cox

Publisher: Finding Jesus, LLC

Genre: Christian, children

Source: Front Gate Media

My Review:

I wish Finding Jesus existed when my children were little. We love to celebrate the Christmas season with an Advent calendar, picture books, and a Jesse tree where we had ornaments that represented each scripture that was in the Jesse Tree book. For a few years we even did Elf on the Shelf.  I would have much rather my children found Jesus than Elf on the Shelf 😂!

Favorite Picture from December 2023

I am sure I am not the only one who feels like time is getting away from me. I am also sure it surprises no one that December was another busy month. Show of hands for those out there who did NOT have a busy month... There are so many things I want to do, yet I can't find the time to get them done. We are not so far into January that I can't share my favorite picture from December.

Not Ready

Christmas is quickly approaching and I am struggling to believe it is only a week away. I find myself thinking of how I am not ready. I haven't finished shopping. I don't feel like it is Christmas. I feel like the season is passing us by and I haven't had time to stop and enjoy it.

Why?

Happy Thanksgiving/Update

Happy Thanksgiving to my friends that celebrate. Today I am thankful we are in our new house. I am thankful for the food we will eat in a little bit, the roof over our heads, the electricity, the unpacked boxes, the boxes still to be unpacked (we are blessed), the sun shining, family time, and so much more.

Share four somethings-October 2022

I cannot believe an entire month has gone by since I last posted!! With two trips to Ohio, researching houses, packing up our current house, baby-sitting, and just trying to breathe, this month has passed in a blur of activity. I was in Elijah's room recently and noticed his calendar and I said, "It's October?!" Yeah, it was October 18th!!! Y'all, I am just SO tired! Anyway, share four somethings is a monthly link-up hosted by Heather Gerwing (thank you Heather!) where you literally share four somethings on the fourth Saturday of the month (or whenever you get around to it 😂). The categories are Something Loved, Something Gleaned, Something Braved, and Something Achieved.

Share Four Somethings-December 2021

I can't believe it is a week until Christmas! I feel like this past month has flown by and 2022 will be here before we know it. I know a lot of people are ready for this year to be over, but I'm just not. I think it's because time is just moving too quickly.  I need it to slow down just a bit so I can catch my breath!

Share Four Somethings November 2021

I can't believe Thanksgiving is over and we are fast approaching Christmas. I started Christmas shopping WAY early this year so I only have a few things left to buy. While it was not intentional to start so early I am glad to be almost done.

It's tradition...and I'm traditional

I don't know if your kids ever watched Phineas and Ferb (or if you ever watched it), but my kids loved it. I have explained to people several times why we put up our Thanksgiving decorations on
Thanksgiving day and I get blank stares. As I was thinking of putting them up the phrase "it's tradition and I'm traditional" was marching through my head. Dr. Doofenshmirtz (the bad guy in Phineas and Ferb) sings that line in their version of the Twelve Days of Christmas.

Why Me?

We all go through seasons where we ask "why me?" We don't necessarily want to handle the life we've been dealt. We go through seasons where we feel useless, less than, depressed, insignificant, and wonder what on earth are we here for.

Fabulous Friday Christmas 2020

 Merry Christmas my friends. Today I choose to focus on the positives and there are quite a few! I hope that you and your loved ones are enjoying a very Merry Christmas and I would love to hear what is making this a fabulous Friday for you! We only have one more week of 2020, the end is in sight, hang in there and cherish the moments. Things that I am thankful for and making this day/week fabulous:

It's Christmas!!!

Celebrating Jesus' birth

Quiet time before anyone else was awake

Yummy food 

laughter

lots of joy today

Waiting on Kayla to wake up

The kids excitement over their gifts (can I still call them kids?!)

a friend calling to wish me Merry Christmas

lots of texts wishing us a Merry Christmas

A Chronological Bible

A Ministry Essentials Bible

 New books

new games

a new scarf

a new watch

a new mug for coffee :)

family time

family movies 

being able to get the kids things they needed for Christmas

being able to get the kids things they wanted for Christmas (books!!)

did I already say yummy food?

new book smell!!!

a nice Christmas eve service last night

being on vacation (stay-cation) 

not having anything we have to do today

Jesus still working on me

being able to relax and rest

the beauty of the Christmas tree

answered prayers

we are healthy

Seeing all my friends post pictures of snow (send some our way!)

Seeing everyone's posts about Christmas

What are you thankful/grateful for? What is making this a fabulous Friday for you?

He is reading his new Bible, nevermind he has other gifts 💗

Sorry the pictures are weird, at least they are there! Merry Christmas, again, I would love to hear what is making this a fabulous Friday for you, drop your comments below 👇

Christmas Traditions

 While 2020 has taken a lot from us, there are some things that it can't take from us. Like our traditions. In my Thanksgiving post I talked about how when our kids were little we had to make new traditions once we moved overseas. Christmas was the same way, our tradition was usually to be with family somewhere. But, once we were overseas it was expensive to travel all the way back to the states for Christmas, so we didn't. One of the traditions that we started with our kids (and with their friends that were like family) was to have new pajamas for Christmas. We still continue that tradition, although somewhere along the way it became a family tradition, instead of just something for the kids. I would try to get them near Thanksgiving, and would give them once we put up the tree. Some years the Elf on the Shelf brought them. I don't remember when it became a family tradition, but this year our pajamas arrived later than previous years, but we still have family pajamas. We will wear them throughout the season, but will have pajama day on Christmas day, wearing our new pajamas for Christmas pictures and just to have a relaxing day.

Another tradition we started along the way was a new Christmas ornament each year. We would typically try to get something that represented that year...so we have Christmas ornaments from Africa, Singapore and Greece for our tree, we have book ornaments, a passport ornament etc... so you will see pictured below the most appropriate ornaments that we found for this year 😁

We would normally still travel around Christmas, but be home for Christmas day. It looks like the virus will disrupt our travel plans for this year, but I know that regardless of what we end up doing I plan to be focused and cherish the moments. Because, if 2020 has taught me anything, it is to cherish the moments, they are ever changing, and a lot of things are out of control, but my reactions don't have to be, and I can be fully present with my loved one. Regardless of anything else, the reason we celebrate Christmas has not changed, nor will it ever change. Nothing can take the true meaning of Christmas away from us. Things can steal our joy, if we let them, but nothing can steal the true meaning of Christmas.

What Christmas traditions do you have? Have you had to change much for this year? Are you starting any new traditions (I thought about it, but something has already nixed that idea too 😬). I would love to hear about your traditions, especially if you add any new ones!!

Thanksgiving 2020

 When our kids were little we always traveled to family for Thanksgiving, usually Indiana to see my family. Once we moved overseas we realized that we had no family traditions, (or the tradition was we always traveled 😜). We did not want the kids to grow up thinking that we did not have family traditions. So, we decided to start a tradition of decorating our Christmas tree on Thanksgiving day, while the food was cooking. It would give them something to do while waiting on the yummy food. Many years later, that is still our tradition and one that I love.  Here are pictures from this year's Thanksgiving Christmas decorating 😀 We even put a few decorations outside for the first year ever. They are in reverse order and I am too lazy to fix them, LOL! Enjoy. What Thanksgiving traditions do you have? When do you "normally" decorate for Christmas?