Hello Monday

We all are aware of the enormous tragedy in Connecticut and the heartbreaking loss of life.  While we ponder questions of gun control and mental health care, we also ask why. I have no answers.  In this imperfect world sometimes evil emerges.  Hopefully we answer by offering love, prayers, kindness, and generosity of spirit to others so we continue to create beauty in our corner of the world.

Hello beautiful boy, so grateful for you in my life. Love this face with all my heart.

Hello Winter Wonderland at church!

Hello pipe cleaner Christmas trees made with our neighbors.  Idea from this lady...

Lighting was rough here...white sparkle pipe cleaners with wooden beads for ornaments.

Green sparkle pipe cleaners with colored beads for ornaments.  Wrap pipe cleaners around a small dowel rod and push down in salt/sugar for the "snow."  Slide beads onto the branches.

I used the tree to dress up our kitchen island cart.

Hello Oma, visiting for Christmas later this week.

Hello Drake Hotel!  Delicious and elegant spot for our annual mother-daughter tradition, holiday tea.

Open-table.com

Hello Proverb,

Proverbs 21:5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.

We have some big decisions to make right now.  Keeping this wisdom in mind.

What are you saying hello to this week?

Linking here with Lisa Leonard's Hello Monday series.

Hello Monday

Mondays have often been ripe with opportunities for complaint.  I'm not proud of that admission but it's true.  Somehow the hump of leaving the weekend and entering a new week is a transition that is bumpy and even makes me apprehensive, though the truth is that I have many opportunities and blessings in my life.  I love Lisa Leonard's weekly habit of greeting a new week with joy.  It helps me to look at the landscape of my entire week, name the challenges and recognize the gifts I take for granted every day.

Hello to time with my favorite guys after a fun weekend.  I feel like the three of us are being drawn together in a new way, discovering unity and identity as a family.

 

Hello to changing some old habits.  Part of that means booting out TV time.

Hello to meditating in the Advent season, carving out time to focus on the meaning of Christ's birth for the world and for me personally.

Photo from venablefour.wordpress.com

Hello Proverb I'm working on this week...
Proverbs 12:18  Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
I'm challenged by the way I answer impatiently, impulsively, without pausing for a more intentional response.  How I would love to bring healing with my words!  This carelessness particularly emerges with my family and I'd like to do better.

Hello to the gym...haven't seen you in a while.  Still pounding the pavement but also starting to move indoors.  Running is wonderful but I can tell there are neglected areas that are sore, sore, sore, from the new challenges in resistance training and bootcamp workouts.  

Hello weekly tasks.  Hello Christmas shopping (didn't even start last week).  Hello to updating my teaching certification.  Hello to a couple of Christmas celebrations.  May I use these days I've been given wisely.

Sharing this here for Hello Monday with Lisa Leonard.  Also discovered Life on LeRoy's blog (life lately link up) and sharing there for the first time. 

Hello Monday

Hello Christmas decorations...

Excuse the flash!  I'm a novice with the camera.

Had to add this one.  These guys are the best part of any room!

Hello branches gathered at 11:00 pm...

Hello garland, made at 10:00 pm before climbing around the shrubbery hunting aforementioned branches...
Garland inspiration found here.

Hello to my little elf helper...

Hello potty training...

I must hold fast to the advice of those who remind me that "this too" shall pass.  Good thing he's so dang cute. 

Hello to my jumbled craft & laundry space awaiting serious attention this week...

Hello Proverb for this week...
Proverbs 15:5 A miserable heart means a miserable life; a cheerful heart fills the day with song.  Attitude is about choice, not circumstances.  My days are largely determined by how I choose to think and approach each day, each task, each relationship, each moment.

Hello to a few blog entries, a birthday gathering, play time with buddies (for both mom and son), morning runs with a neighborhood chum, Friday night dinner with friends, a little online Christmas shopping, the weekly "to do" list, a holiday project with my son, and generally hanging out with my favorite daily partner-in-crime.

What are you doing this week?

Linking up here.

Hello Monday

Hello Monday and a new week!

Hello suitcases!  Packing up the bags never ceases to get my adrenalin flowing.  We'll be in the Land of 10,000 Lakes for Thankgiving to visit family.

Hello turkey craft!  My little guy and I will be putting these together to give to family and friends.  They're fun for the two of us to make. The act of giving always helps me to be grateful.  I hope these seeds planted in my son will grow as he gets older.  I tweaked this a bit, but the original idea can be found here.

Hello appetizer recipes for Thanksgiving dinner!  It's my year "off" from hosting, so here are a few dishes I'm bringing to munch on before the actual feast. Note:  Since I haven't prepared these yet, I've used some photos and given credit.

Spinach and Artichoke Dip with tortilla chips, recipe here.

Photo from myrecipes.com

Fruit Kabobs

Photo from noshtopia.com

Cheddar Cauliflower Bites, recipe found here.

Photo from Home-Ec101.com

Hello running shoes!  I'll be lacing up my trusty Mizunos and running the Turkey Day 5K in downtown Minneapolis.  I can't think of a better way to start Thanksgiving.  I'll bet you've got a Turkey Trot close to you. :)

Hello family!  I get to spend more time with my favorite two guys, as well as other family members I haven't seen in a long time.  This time is a gift from the Father that fills up my heart, especially when I remember to take off my "Martha" hat and embrace Mary's spirit of soaking in time with people precious in our lives.

Holidays can be crazy, chaotic, and a blur of busyness.  I'm really striving this holiday to get rid of expectations and just enjoy the moments as they come, receiving them with a thankful heart.

Linking up here.