All About Him

Last night I had the pleasure of hosting a table at our church’s annual “get ready for the holidays” event.  It was so much fun.  You can see my table above – I did a Charlie Brown theme.  Walgreen’s has these little Charlie Brown Christmas trees for $9.99 if you are interested.  I’m excited to work it into my house decorations with the lines I have framed from the movie.  The Charlie Brown Christmas movie is one of my favorite things about Christmas.

Anyway, the speaker (Jeanne Beckman) did a great job and I LOVED what she said about being available.  This quote will forever stick in my head…

God is not as interested in our ability as He is in our availability.

God really used her as a confirmation to me with regard to the www.allaboutHim.cc ministry.  She said she gets her planning done ahead of time so she can be available during the holiday season.  Available to be the hands, eyes, ears, feet…of Christ.

Being buried in busyness steals that away from us.  What an amazing birthday gift we are giving Christ when we get the “pre” in prepare and leave ourselves available to go, serve, bless, host, listen to, help, hug and minister to those He puts in our path.

He wants to use us and I for one want to be available.

Here is what I have accomplished this week…

Monday – Christ-centered Christmas Day

I will be working on any preparations I need to make for the Christ-Centered Christmas ideas I want to include in our 2009 holiday.

Monday I worked on a new decoration that focuses on the true meaning of the season.  Stacey is helping me make it extra cute and fun.  It is still in progress, but I’m excited to show it to you once it’s finished.

Tuesday – Post Day

I will be working on my Christmas cards and packages I am planning to mail.

Tuesday I bought my cards and envelopes to start my assembly…I am really behind on these this year!

Wednesday – Gift List Day

I will be working on finishing off my gift list, stocking list and handmade gifts.

Wednesday I bought 1 gift and worked on 3 others I am making.

Thursday – Menu Day

I will be working on my holiday menus as well as holiday meal planning needs.

Called and ordered our Turkey.

Friday – Home Keeping/Traveling Day

I will work on my home decorating plans as well as my prep for guests.  If you will be traveling this holiday, work on travel plans on this day as well.

Today’s progress has mostly been in my mind – lol!  I’m working on a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree.  I bought the stuff yesterday and have been trying to figure out how I want to put it together.

Saturday – Major Progress Day

I will decide where I need it most and make some major progress on this day.

We have three weeks left to wrap up our holiday preparations and this is the way I am planning to accomplish mine…

Monday – Christ-centered Christmas Day

I will be working on any preparations I need to make for the Christ-Centered Christmas ideas I want to include in our 2009 holiday.

Tuesday – Post Day

I will be working on my Christmas cards and packages I am planning to mail.

Wednesday – Gift List Day

I will be working on finishing off my gift list, stocking list and handmade gifts.

Thursday – Menu Day

I will be working on my holiday menus as well as holiday meal planning needs.

Friday – Home Keeping/Traveling Day

I will work on my home decorating plans as well as my prep for guests.  If you will be traveling this holiday, work on travel plans on this day as well.

Saturday – Major Progress Day

I will decide where I need it most and make some major progress on this day.

Sunday – Rest!

I’ll be posting what I am doing as we go along these last three weeks for two main purposes.

I am hoping it will serve as a little extra motivation for all of you

AND it will serve as accountability for me – lol!

I shared on the forum that my daughter enjoys designing our Christmas cards each year.

I love that she does this.

I can look at each one of our cards and watch her growing up.

She takes great thought and care in her designs each year.

I love the conversations we have about what she is thinking and what each little detail she adds means to her.

She smiles so big whenever someone tells her how much they look forward to getting our cards.

I’m hoping to get them assembled and signed within the next week.

Getting my Christmas cards all ready to mail seems to always be the thing I want done first – lol!

After I finish my cards, I’ll get my gift list finished up.

Only three more weeks until Thanksgiving!

Well, I have one party all planned and only one more to go!

Did I mention that my family has four birthdays within the months of Sept. – Dec.?

Yep

four

birthday

parties

Now you know why I try to get all my Christmas planning done so early!

Birthdays have always been something we celebrated BIG.

Growing up, I can remember so many amazing birthday celebrations.

I don’t remember much about the gifts, just the FUN!

My husband on the other hand celebrated birthdays much more “normally” as he puts it – lol!

He has been so good for me.  He keeps my feet on the ground.

BUT, the birthdays of my loved ones will always be very special occasions in my book.

Every mother I know lists the day she had her baby placed in her arms as

one

of

the

best

days

of

her

life.

Birthdays are special because they mark the beginning.

Without a beginning what else would there be?

A couple of weeks back I suggested the idea of this November calendar specifically for listing things we are thankful for through the month of November.

I had
so
much
fun
making this one.

I hung it on the side of my frig along with some colored pencils in a little magnetic pencil holder so everyone in my house can add things as they think of them.

I am really looking forward to making this a new November tradition. I plan on simply sliding these calendars into an album to save and look back on in years to come!

If you want to see another one, Shanna posted a link so you can see hers in the forum and it is SUPER cute! Go check it out at the www.allaboutHim.cc forum under the topic Preparing for Thanksgiving/Giving Thanks Every Day.

Mom and I had a really fun time putting our Thanksgiving dressing together on Saturday.

It feels so great to know it is ready and in the freezer.

You can find the recipe on the forum under Harvest-Inspired Recipes.

Making our dressing is one of my favorite pre-holiday traditions because I get to spend time with my mom.

She is such a blessing to me.

If you have ever met her, you know exactly what I am talking about.

Christ shines through her so evidently – through her every word, action and smile.

She has the ability to immediately make you feel so very special and loved.

I just hope it’s hereditary!

I shared on the forum that I love using mini pumpkins in my fall decorations.

Friday, I found them in the produce section of my grocery store.

I picked up a bag for $4.99!

My daughter and I had lots of finding fun spots around the house for these little pumpkins.

I also picked up 2 packages of fall printed napkins for our Thanksgiving table.

Printed napkins are an easy and inexpensive way to add some color and fun to your table.

The ones I chose have fall leaves, acorns and pumpkins on them.

I almost always use the napkins I find for my inspiration for the rest of the table decor.

It’s an easy jumping off point for me.

Happy Fall Everyone!

October – Time to take holiday planning inventory!

• We made our notes as a family about our Christmas
• We have our budget set
• I have about half my stocking stuffers purchased
• I am in progress on several of the gifts I am making
• I have several gifts purchased
• I have my menus planned
• Mom and I are planning to make our dressing on October 15^th

 My menus and our dressing recipe are posted on the www.allaboutHim.cc forum…

 You will find my Thanksgiving menu under the Thanksgiving Menus topic.

 You will find my Christmas menus under the Christmas Menu Planning topic.

 You will find Mom’s Amazing Corn Bread Dressing recipe under the Harvest-Inspired Recipes topic.

 As you can see, you could easily catch up with me in one week or even

in

one

 very

 busy

 and

productive

day – lol!

Blogs to come and the things on my October list of things to do:

• Christmas Cards
• Finish up handmade gifts
• Finish up stocking stuffers
• Finish off list of gifts to be purchased
• Plan 2 birthday parties
• Plan decorations for my Advent table (special event at our church)
• Get my kids involved with Angel Tree again
• My thankfulness November calendar
• All those things I will think of later to add to this list – lol!

Father God,

I lift my Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations up to You. I praise You that we have these special days to come together as a family and focus on Your goodness. I pray that our holiday season, from beginning to end, would glorify You. Give me Your wisdom to make Thanksgiving a time where we focus on Your goodness through the many blessings You have lavished on us this year. Give me Your wisdom to make Christmas all about celebrating the amazing gift of Your Son Jesus Christ.

It’s in His name that I pray,
Amen