Today I'm...

Drinking ... Pepsi...come the New Year That will change!

Wearing. .. jeans with my favorite green sweater and my Doc Martens.

Feeling.... elated, though I'm not sure why.  Maybe because for the first time in a long time I feel I have control over my life! Feeling tired to. .. stayed up way too late lady night!

Thinking about my goals for 2014

Eating pizza for lunch with my Coworkers.  It is one of the managers last day before retirement. 

Crafting a new scarf for me.  I bought some gorgeously soft yarn and just need a pattern!

Dreaming of my life the way I want it to be. 

Reading The Princess Bride.  Honey got me a beautiful copy for Christmas and I can't wait to jump into it. 

Planning my gardens. .. Yeah I know it's not even New Year's!

Hoping the weather holds for our trip to Chicago next week!

Listening to Skip Heitzig's message on "Five Facets on the Diamond of Love"

Today....

Weather is. .. Cold, gray, with possible accumulating snow.

Listening to. .. silence and office sounds.  At Home Christmas music

Reading... Knitting Handbook. . Trying to learn cables.

Drinking... French Vanilla cappuccino mixed with hot chocolate.

Wearing. .. khaki pants with rust colored sweater and brown doc martens

Feeling. . Tired and worn out from my baking marathon and worried about money.  Also Cookie Monster Is driving home today from Minneapolis.  I'm a little concerned because the weatherman predicted up to 3 inches of snow or more.
Wanting. .. My Mama. ..

Thinking. .. about all I want to do versus all I have to do.

Enjoying. .. the quiet in the office this morning.

Thanking. ..God for all He had some for me and all the blessings in my life.

Christmas 2013

This year's tree with gifts! 

Cozy Candlelight

So Christmas-Ing is done at the homestead for another gear. Well mostly. We celebrated with the kids on Saturday night, then with my Dad, brothers and their families last night. I am incredibly tired today and overslept making me 1/2 hour date for work, whoops!

Cookie and Princess Messing Around

Princess Pea trying to get the topper on straight

But it was so worth every single minute. To have the whole family gathered in one place celebrating together is humbling. I love it! Reminds me of years gone and how important family is!.I had a gift for everyone, even though we drew names.I just can't stand not buying for my family. My Mama was such a giver and it appears she has (thankfully) passed it on to me.

The tree was all lit up and the candles were burning, giving a beautiful glow to the whole house and making is smell just lovely. Everyone was in such a good mood and enjoying each other's company. 

I think Princess loved her One Direction CD from her brother

Honey had a few surprises for me! 

I did forget to get anything for Dad and Bonnie! I was going to get them a gift card to a local restaurant but it slipped my mind in the rush up to our celebration. I'm not sure if that is my subconscious or what but I really did feel bad! Normally I buy Dad a Calendar and put all the birthdays and anniversaries on it. I even forgot that. 

Princess got Honey his Marvin the Martian Hat!

Princess and Cookie each got Tablets - I think she liked hers!

Of course every family dinner or gathering has mishaps. This Year the dinner rolls were left in the kitchen and the Cranberries only made it to one table (out of 3.) But that is the worst it got, thankfully.

Last night was filled with talking and lots of laughter! Good food, candlelight, and wine! After a delicious meal of ham and Grandpa's meatballs, with mashed potatoes and gravy, salads, lefse, cranberries and sweet potatoes, we cleared the table while trying to cheer our beloved Packers to a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. They didn't win but it wasn't for lack of trying on our part

Having a Great Christmas!

Stealing Presents! Nice Shooting Stick!

Auntie says its a Musical Instrument!

Matching Hats!

After the football game it was present time. A few people only had one gift but in our family there is a long standing tradition of "Santa" Gifts. If someone pulls a boneheaded stunt throughoutthe year, they are likely to get a gift Under the tree from Santa. They get pretty creative and so does the wrapping. The year Honey broke his collarbone in the motorcycle safety class he received training wheels from Santa. And my sister in law got a can of "Fix A Flat" the year she ran over the boat anchor. It's all in fun and the memories these gifts create are priceless. There isn't anything quite like getting your own work boots back 5 years after you lent them out

Dad and his wife

Wood Burning kit - Awesome! 

Best Gift of the Night! A Case of Mt. Dew, each Can Individually Wrapped!

Gifts Waiting to be Napped!

Happy Laughter! 

We all played a dice game involving white elephant gifts that left us all battling in fun for the same box or bag!

A few rounds of scattergories on the living room floor! Watching heads bowed together, laughing at their own answers and howling in protest when it was voted down! I'm so glad the cousins are close in age. Only 10 years separates the youngest from the oldest and they an love each other dearly!

Scattergories with the cousins

Silly! 

It was a great holiday, spent with those I love most!

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day found Honey and I home alone. Sounds far worse than it was! The kids went to their dad's in Minneapolis on Monday while I was at work and managed to get there between snow storms.

Snow Church on Christmas Eve

Snow on the Birch - Christmas Day

Berries in snow - Christmas Day

Birdhouse Art

My Homemade Bird feeder with Cranberries, Oranges and Birdseed

Mrs. Cardinal getting a snack and taking shelter from the snow.

Mr. Nuthatch enjoying the homemade bird feeder

Time to Play Frisbee in the fresh snow

Her favorite game! 

Luna having a blast! 

It started snowing Christmas Eve morning and didn't quit until Christmas Day afternoon. Cookie had to drive home late Christmas Day but the roads were clear by then.

Luna and I snuck out in the afternoon on Christmas Day to take these pictures and play in the new snow!

I truly hope that this Christmas finds the Christ Child in your heart, Family in your home, Food on your table and Love surrounding you....

Merry Christmas from our Little Homestead!

Cookies Galore....

Whew what a weekend! Marathon bake - fest!  I lost count of how many cookies I made, or even how many types.  It was well worth it for all the goodies I have to share with friends, family, and neighbors.  I love being able to do this every year!

I have a few more varieties I want to get done but will have to see if time allows.  I usually make some Norwegian treats but without my gas stove it's hard.  I may try rosettes but the weather will determine that. Humidity makes them soggy. 

Well off to work here my friends. I will talk to you soon, God willing!

Letting Go....

Last Sunday night my Cookie Monster went with his "brother" to a friend's house about an hour away. The snow had been falling off and on for most of the day and this Mama was concerned about them driving. It was  only light, fluffy snow covering the road in front of the house but I knew by looking that it would be a long, slippery ride. It was the kind of snow that turns to grease on the roads and would suck you into the ditch in a second. The boys are young (18 and 20), and do not have much experience driving on slick roads and the car they were in had bad tires and no heat. I tried to hint, as only a Mama can, that they should stay home where they were safe. They laughed in their invincibility and reassured me they would call when they arrived.

The brothers with their "other mother" (Michael's Mom)

Cookie and his best female friend

Some Buddies from School

So there I sat, in worry and prayer, for nearly an hour and a half waiting for a call to say there were fine. Eventually the call came and I could breathe deep, reassuring gulps of air into my aching lungs. I wondered how this letting go could be anything but difficult. I thought about my sweet Mama and the raising of four babies and of letting go with grace. It seemed in here there was no worry, only confidence that we were ready to face the world and that we would all do it well. I now know that under that confidence ran a river of worry, deep with anxiety, keeping her up at night, sitting silently in prayer for her children. I know this not because she told me but because that is where I am now.

I know it is a Mama's job (and a Daddy's too) to raise children up ready to leave the nest, able to care for themselves. Our job is not to instill fear in them, or keep them near us to ensure their safety. They have to grow, learn, make mistakes, and fall. We can only stand at the ready, letting them know we are in their corner, cheering them on. We as parents, teach them what they need to know, cover them in prayer, and then entrust them to God's safekeeping.

The letting go part is NOT easy. I love being Mama and having the kids around. They make me laugh and settle my soul. While I know I will always be Mama, the kids will not always be around. I pray that I can raise them "in the way they should go and when they are older they won't depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6) I pray that God continues to have His hand of protection on them all the days of their lives, and I pray that the letting go still means that there will be a coming back, even if it is only for a weekend.