Mundie's Musings

Saturday, December 11, 2010

A story worth sharing....

Wow...I do not even know what to say. She says everything so well.

Amazing story and a good lesson for all.....

Friday, December 10, 2010

Today, started out really well. The kids and I went on a walk through Bethlehem with Savannah's class. We even saw a baby Jesus sucking on a paci! Too funny. I forgot my camera, so I didn't get any pictures. I HATE when I do that. Then I made the mistake of taking a very tired Parker to eat lunch with some friends. He screamed his head off over every little thing. So, as soon as we got home, he was IN THE BED and so was his mama! Unfortunately, Brent is sick so he stayed home today. I FINALLY convinced him to go to the doctor tonight and he found out he just has a virus, thank goodness. We were a little worried it was strep. I was trying to keep the kids quiet, because all Brent has been doing is sleeping on the couch. However, we have been spending a lot of time at home the last week or so, and I think it is catching up with us. The kids are like wild animals. I am sure they must have gotten into some secret candy stash because they were bouncing off the walls, so as soon as 7:30 rolled around, they were in the bed. This mama is tired! Poor Brent fell asleep AGAIN while I was putting the kids to bed, so I volunteered myself to go get his meds. The cashier goes to ring me up and reminded me that Brent's prescriptions were free. Just another perk I am definitely going to miss when we get out of the military. While I was there, I decided to indulge in some candy therapy for my long day. Here is my therapy:

I realized, however, once I got home, that I only really like two flavors in the box. Not even sure why I picked them. They were still good :)

On a side note, we received this in the mail today!!!

LET THE PLANNING BEGIN!!!!! T-5 months until we hop on a plane and head for IRELAND minus the kids! Just reading the book makes me want to be there right this second. It sounds so peaceful. Someone may have to come kidnap me to get me to come back! Super thrilled. We will be heading there (as far as we know) May 28 through June 9 and the kids will take a vacation the all the grandparents while we are gone!! Ten wonderful days to explore the countryside! We are renting a manual car AND they drive on the "wrong" side of the street....and from what I read, the roads are a wee bit narrow in many places. So....this should be exciting. Brent has been giving me driving lessons, so hopefully I can be a pro by the time we are there! Did I mention that the kids will be with the grandparent?? I love them dearly, but I can't wait to get away with just my husband!! When we went to Italy in 2007, it was such a wonderful relationship enriching experience, and I cannot to do that again with him!!

PS-If you are not watching "The Sing Off," you are missing out. It comes on NBC on Mondays and Wednesdays at 8 EST. It is an amazing display of raw talent!! No instruments, just voices. LOVE IT!! We watched it tonight via the internet and an HDMI cable hookup since our cable was turned off yesterday. So far, it isn't too bad. All of our favorite shows are right here on line and we stream them to our TV. Totally worth the $80 we are going to start saving each month!!

Alright....after a very random post I will bid adieu and go read some more in my book!!

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Learning to Give

So, for the past two years, we have been teaching Savannah what it means to give during the Christmas season. We typically take some money alloted for her, and now Parker's, Christmas presents and designate a place to use it to help someone in need. The first year, we went to Target and bought a bunch of toys for children of airmen who could not afford Christmas gifts. She asked me, that year, why she couldn't have any of the toys and I was able to teach her the meaning of giving, and especially at Christmas. Last year, we did an angel tree. She was a little more into the giving spirit and was excited to help pick out gifts for the kids. This year, we are so fortunate to have a little girl named Rebeca, from Nicaragua, that we sponsor through Compassion International. She is Savannah's age, and Savannah is learning how we send money for her to get to go to school and have food and medical supplies. So, we decided to take the "Christmas contribution" money this year and buy part of a cow for Rebeca's family to have to eat during the holidays. Try explaining that one to a four year old!! However, I was able to tell her that when you have very little, food and clothing are especially wonderful gifts to have. It is really fun watching the wheels in her head start to spin as she takes it all in.

One thing I remember doing as a child was going into the Dollar Tree and picking out gifts for my family. Of course, I thought what I picked out was the most wonderful thing anyone could ever ask for, and was so excited to have gifts especially from me to give family on Christmas day. So, this year, I decided to take Savannah to the Dollar Tree and let her do the same. We wrote a list of all the family members we needed to get gifts for. I gave her complete freedom (get excited family!!!) to pick what she thought each one of them would like. It was SOOOO CUTE watching her go through the aisles looking for the perfect gifts. I also got a few good laughs out of some of the things she chose. Once we had all the presents picked out, we headed to the register and I let her pay for everything.

While we are standing in line, she sees these interesting Santa headbands and asks if she can have one. I explained to her that we weren't there to buy something for her and that she would not be able to get them. Lo and behold, the lady behind us in line asked if she could get it for Savannah. I am not sure if she felt sorry for us because I looked like rift raft, having had no shower and no makeup on or because we were buying the store out with gifts for the entire family, but I politely said we were here to learn about giving to others. The lady piped in and said, "Yes, I know. I heard you talking to her throughout the store and I would like to give this to her as a 'pay it forward'." What was I supposed to say? So, we left the store with the headband :)

Oh well, I still believe we accomplished the goal and learned a lot about giving and how fun it can be!!

Precious.....

There is a slight chance we will have all kinds of home made gifts made from Savannah under the tree before Christmas gets here....I love her precious little heart and her desire to give and make people happy. It makes my heart melt!

I guess they are learning to and from at school, however I think Savannah is a little mixed up:

Her's reads: Parker

Tow (To:)Savannah

She said, "Mommy, when you write "to" you are giving something to someone. So sweet!

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Silent Night

Enjoy this music while reading :)

Last night, I lay by the tree admiring the beautiful lights and the sense of calm that gleamed from its branches.

If you didn't know, I have a scrooge living with me and his name is Brent. He doesn't like Christmas music or movies or hanging lights outside. He's not one for sappy stuff like that! This, in turn, means I do not get to listen to much Christmas music or watch those sappy Christmas movies where little boy leave their homes on Chrismas Eve to buy their mama some red shoes before she goes to Heaven. And, even when I slip off to start watching one, he'll walk in the room and make fun of me for crying because a prodigal son makes in home in time for Christmas with his family :)

So, all that to say, I slipped off last night, laid in front of the tree, and turned on some pretty Christmas music. I was engulfed in the lights, the stillness, and the music. It was beautiful. The music that was playing was all instrumental and so calming and wonderful.

"Silent Night" began to play and I lay there thinking. Savannah is sick. She has a fever and a little congestion. She was wheezing a little when we put her to bed, so I was a little worried. While listening to "Silent Night" I began saying a prayer for Savannah to rest peacefully. The words of the song drifted into my thoughts...."Sleep in Heavenly peace." I wonder what it really would be like to sleep in Heavenly peace. I mean, there can't be any better peace than that, right? And, if you're like me with two kiddos, most of your sleep is at the opposite side from peaceful. In fact, some days, it is downright STRESSFUL! How amazing it will be to one day sleep in Heavenly peace....even if it means getting to Heaven first so I can do it. Surely in Heaven, there are angels who take care of all the babies so that everyone sleeps in Heavenly peace, right?

So, as I drift deeper into the moment, I thought about that one little baby many years ago, that was sleeping in a manger and how his sleep was probably pretty Heavenly!

For a moment, just think about Mary, Joseph, and Jesus, in that manger at night, when the world was quiet. Put yourself there, in the midst of it all. Reflect on the words from the song, and feel the same sense of peace that I felt while listening to it last night.

"Silent Night, Holy Night all is calm....all is bright

Round yon Virgin Mother and Child (all is calm around mother Mary and baby Jesus)

Holy infant so tender and Mild (think about how peaceful it is to see your own little babies sleeping and imagine what it would have been like to be Mary looking over her infant resting peacefully and knowing he was the Savior--amazing)

Sleep in Heavenly Peace

Sleep in Heavenly Peace......

Silent Night, Holy Night Shepherds quake at the sight

Glories stream from Heaven afar

Heavenly hosts singing Alleluia!

Christ our Savior is Born!!

Christ our Savior is Born!

Silent Night Holy Night Son of God is loves pure light

Radiant beams from thy Holy face

With the dawn of REDEEMING GRACE

Jesus Lord at thy birth

I hope you enjoyed that moment of peace as much as I did.