Fun Friday!

A while back I decided that Fridays needed to be my day. MY DAY. My own personal Fun Friday. Kiddos are at school. At least in the morning. So I am the kind of gal that needs something to look forward to all week. Hence, my little tradition.

Fun Friday always gets thrown off when the kids are out for a break. I don't think I have taken a FF since before Thanksgiving! So you can imagine how excited I was!

I don't even have to spend any money on my outings. Sometimes I am on the hunt for supplies for a crafty project I've read about. And sometimes I just want to bum and drink coffee and people watch.

Today was a combo: project and bumming. I made a stop at the Dollar Tree. Picked up a punch balloon and some new kitchen scissors. Ok, Ok, and some M & Ms. Dang it.

Then I made my way to Goodwill. I just love Goodwill. I know I am not alone in this devotion. There is always something new to discover! I didn't even think about yarn being there! Got a Pom Pom project in the works for that beautiful white goodness I picked up. I got a bag filled with wooden clothes pins. Score!!! Some tea towels for next Christmas. And a cutie patootie bag. Yippee! A grand total of six bucks!

All in all, an awesome Fun Friday.

Saying hello to 2012

I am so excited about a new year! I am ready to take what we've learned in 2011 and run with it.

I think a little looking back is healthy. A long as you don't linger there's too long. So here's a little recap of what is sticking out in my mind about our year 2011.

~*~. Our biggest story of the year would have to be our youngest son being diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum. We began that journey near the beginning of the year. By July we had an official diagnosis and no clue how to feel or cope. Yet. In the six months that followed, we were BLESSED with private therapy, a super school for him, and encouragement from our family in huge ways. My God has never been absent in this journey. He has chosen to be silent on occasion. But always when I was absent from being at His feet. Funny how that works, huh? We continue on into this year much more equipped. Baffled, yes, sometimes. Frustrated, often. Hopeful, continuously.

~*~Another (divine) glitch was when our laptop died. *sniff* It was October, I believe. Oh, how I have missed it! I never noticed how much I would open that thing up and look up some random factoid or recipe or home-design-idea-or-inspiration. We still had (have) our pc downstairs, but who wants to spend tons of time down there surfing? Tons of time...hmm...yep. Maybe too much time. For all of us! We enjoyed the hiatus and just touching base with the common sites like fb and email. I will still say I sorely missed my fav blogs during the holidays, but I know catching up will be fun! We got some Christmas money that we are going to put into fixing it. But keeping an eye on how much quality time I spend with it will be a priority.

~*~ Wow, the blessings of family. 2011 showed us just how much family means. Our little boy will not lack for therapy or help or tools. We were gifted an iPad for him in December. And how exciting to see the progress he is already making with these Autism apps! Handwriting was a big focus. And now we are branching out into eye contact and emotions. He is thriving with this amazing tool. Awesome.

~*~So looking forward to 2012. New. More of the same great habits. Strength to weed out some bad ones. Hope your New Year is shiny and bright!

Jennifer

Sundays Unplugged

This Sunday we are contentedly tired.  Birthday celebrations continue.  Preparations for school for Little Man continue. 

Grateful that God draws me nearer to Him throughout our daily activities.  To be unplugged and turn my thoughts solely to Him is refreshing. 

Encouraging. 

Centering.

Calming.

How do you get refreshed for the week to come?

Cracking the Coupon Code. Again.

Is there anyone else out there that is on and off the coupon wagon so much, your head's spinning?

School's in for the big girl.  School's almost in for the little man.  And I am determined to crack the code on this coupon thing.  Again.  I was doing pretty good with it in the spring.  But wasn't touching any of the drug stores.

A friend put me on to Southern Savers website. 

All the codes are pretty confusing, until you read Jenny's tutorial on what it all means.  I had my toe in the water already on this part.  At the beginning of the year I bought the digital download of Grocery University.  I think you can still Google the promo code I used to get a little money off, but it is money WELL spent.  I learned so much!  And I refer to the information a lot, especially now that I'm diving back in.

So here's my new goal for the rest of this month:

1.  Shop two grocery stores.

2.  Shop two pharmacy stores.

I want to see where that puts me.  If I plan ahead (a MUST with this stuff) I can get each of these stores on my route for that day anyway.  I could add one more pharmacy, if it looked like I could save even more.

I just don't want to be driving all over town, spending gas, trying to save pennies here and there.  But I want to give a true fair shake!  So here I go!  Where are my scissors...

New-today

I am joining The Gypsy Mama today for my first Five Minute Friday.  Five minutes of thoughts and creativity that is unedited and uncriticized by me.  Sounds great!

Our given topic this morning is New.

Each day is new. This topic makes me so grateful.  When yesterday was a struggle, today is new.  When I was nervous and anxious, I don't have to carry that to today.  When I said the wrong thing or acted terribly, today is the chance to start new. 

A new cup of coffee.  A new start.  Breathing in and out and embracing this day.  The chance to be my best.  To change the things I didn't like about myself yesterday.  And to be grateful.  For this new day.  A renewal of energy and perspective.  I can do it!  Today I have the opportunity again to embrace what God has given me.  And He has equipped me to thrive in my circumstances.

Have a New Day!

Sundays Unplugged

Allowing church family into the inner circle of our family.  Not easy for a very private person.

We talked in SS about forgiveness and how it's such a challenge to forgive ourselves.  And also that we are thinking about our particular situation a whole lot more than the person we need to forgive is.

John 14:27 NIV

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

 

Peace.  Peace comes in His presence.  Peace comes from knowledge and preparation, also.  Lord, equip me to be the advocate I need to be.

 

Grateful for the gift of fun family moments.  Dancing in the living room to cartoon music.  Celebrating the life we have!!!

 

How did you celebrate your Sunday this week?

 

 

Sundays Unplugged

Had to swallow a lot of pride today.  And, in a way, a lot of privacy.  Yet another step in acceptance of our new diagnosis.

How do you handle a sudden public announcement of something you have kept quite private? 

You trust.

You must.  After the tears subside and the selfishness of the desire for privacy is over, God steps in.  He says, "Trust me.  Don't rely so much on yourself.  Allow your church family to pray for you.  They want to love on your family."

Then the peace comes.  Slowly I remember the events of the morning.  Both kiddos have "moved up" in their Sunday School classes, even though the little boy is still working on that potty.  Even though mommy doesn't think he can handle it.  Then a wonderful gentle man takes little boy under his wing.  And success happens!  Peace.

Then little boy escapes the room.  Panic.  Where is he?  God protects me from all of it by removing me to serve elsewhere.  And the congregation enjoys some surprise comic relief when he makes it all the way to the drums.  Daddy's drums.  So familiar.  So fun!  One loud noise of praise.  He's found.  Safe.  Peace.

One loving church member's words keep ringing- "We aren't going to let you fail."

I trust you, Lord.  I swallow pride.  I feel lost at times with all these terms and appointments.  All of the education I've had so far about this mysterious and broad Autism.  And now the church family wants to be educated.  Step up.  Trust.  Be little boy's advocate.  Biggest fan. 

But remember that no one can be a bigger fan of him than God. 

And God is my biggest fan, too. 

Rejoice!