Tag Archives: celebration

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It's Inauguration Day. Many of us are positioned at one end or the other of the feelings spectrum. Minus the elements of nervousness and shock, our feelings likely resemble the way we felt election night. Some of us feel hopeful and proud; others hopeless and disgusted.

While we’re up in our feelings may we remember to behave beyond them, letting love inform and drive us.

Love is patient. Today I will suffer ill remarks and indignities doing my best not to let irritation well up.

Love is kind. I will speak love-inspired truth, or I will keep quiet.

It does not boast, it is not proud. I will not flaunt victory be it small or large.

It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. I will open the door for the guy with the “Make America Great Again” hat, as well as, the woman with the “He's Not My President” t-shirt.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. I will recognize evil that's pretty packaged and I will not cheer for it.

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. I will keep hope, trusting that God is working for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose.

I will not be a clanging cymbal or silently simmer.

There’s just one rule, really.

Today I will love.
I will love.
I will, in prayer and with God’s help, LOVE.

Tomorrow, repeat.



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While I'm on a celebratory roll I thought I'd add two other fun items we use at home for  special moments.

I don't feel the need to break out the fine china very often, but this celebrate glass has been a special treat for birthdays.  I got this on Boston Ave. at Occasions.  We would be using it tonight if we weren't going out this evening to celebrate.  -No birthdays but someone redeemed themself this week by making a very much needed eighty-eight on an important test.

I might as well keep this party banner hanging right where it is.  In the last month I've used it for Jason's birthday, my Spring Retreat peeps and for some of our God's Girlies who met here on a Saturday.  I know all of you out there could probably make one of these.  I, on the other hand, am not crafty. I work with hot glue, spray paint and sharpies only- which I believe can fix everything in life that chocolate can't.

With all of the pomp and circumstance I always have to remind the kids and myself  that all victories belong to God; each success  is a gracious gift.

Ascribe to the LORD glory....Psalm 29:1

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Hooray! Summer's coming!

I do love summer, but I have to tell you the months of April and May can be depressing. I feel particularly somber when loved ones are approaching the end of a chapter.  With many nieces and nephews, somebody is always finshing elementary or finishing high school.  I've taught elemtary for a few years and it saddens me that yesterday's toothless babies are graduating and some are even having babies of their own.  Last May Hallie finished elementary and Hayden finshed junior high.  This May our last baby will graduate from Kindergarten (I don't know if I can handle another one of those videos with the background music intended to make you bawl).  I absolutely know that in these times I should celebrate.  I should focus on exciting beginnings just around the corner. I am renewing a commitment to show joyful satisfaction even as the sand slips through the hourglass. I wanted to share a tradition in our family that helps us to celebrate endings, beginnings and things in-between.

When each of the kids were young I got them their own special book.  We read the book on special occasions and sometimes just because.  I've come to realize it's easy to make ordinary times into extraordinary with a little creativity.  And honestly, I'd be remiss not to celebrate my children every day!

Every time their special book is read, we write in the book cover.  The date and the occasion is written down.  Some of my favorites include:

-January 14, 2009 Nap story

-September 26, 2010 Just because I love you

-September 4, 2007 Second week of fifth grade  You lost a tooth and reminded me to read.

-April 11, 2006 You read to your Dad for his thirtieth birthday

-March 27, 2011 A can of hairspray emptied in your backpack the one time your borrowed the school's video camera.

-August 2011 Tomorrow is the first day of Middle School at C.O. Wilson- Go Bullpups!!!

 

The book pictured at the top is Hooray for You!  A Celebration of You-ness by Marianne Richmond.  I STILL read it to Hayden (nobody mention this to his friends!).

The girls' book is I Love You So also written by Marianne Richmond.

 

There are so many awesome books out there.  I may post a couple of personal favorites.  I've recently been considering buying an inexpensive Bible for each of the kids.  I think it would be extra-meaningful to not only write dates as we read scripture, but also a side-note like:

3/25/12 Lucky the Goldfish died

4/16/12 Failed a Math test

4/01/12 Had a fight with your best friend

2/17/12 You helped clean the kitchen

Remember to celebrate successes.  Don't forget the little ones.  And maybe most importantly, celebrate God's grace in those not -so-great moments.

Children are a gift from God.

And with a good gift comes celebration!

A picture of Hayden and Hallie on Kindergarten graduation day.

 (picture of Rylie soon to come)