Peace on Earth-Day Six: Play

Family game time! Memory? Life? Monopoly? Uno? Sorry? Chinese Checkers?

Make it fun too, bake cookies to eat while you gather and play. Christmas music, hot cider...play by candle/christmas light. Be creative! Last year we got some Dreidels as a gift from my dad. I'll get those out and we'll play...with Jelly Beans!

Necessity~ Don't forget to excersize. Sure it's cold and you don't have to go ANYWHERE near a bathing suit, but think of how good you'll feel at the end of the day! Pray, read, meditate on the Calmer of our hearts.

Also, it's time to get those Christmas cards going if you haven't already....

Peace On Earth-Day Five: Beautify

Tonight, plan a candlelight dinner for the family. You can still have pizza, or spaghetti, whatever you like. This is fun for everyone, festive and a great place to practice fine dining habits. Kids can get in on this by helping to set the table, making place cards and even a unique center piece (winter branches and pine cones in a vase or basket work!)


Dinner times like these can be a great time to rehearse (without the stress of a formal setting or snooty people without children) manners appreciated in a fine dining establishment. Set out an appetizer, reminding the kids to take what they touch, and only one. Napkin on the lap, proper utensils, phrases, passing the food rules, etc. Ahh...and the forever dislike of foods shall be met with "No Thanks, Dad" rather than the typical "Ewww, gross. This is slimy."

I don't know, maybe you practice these manners all the time- but we don't. We eat with our fingers off the table most of time (fewer dishes) so we need to practice these "restaurant/ relative rules."

Necessity~ Don't forget to excersize some today. It's amazing how great you'll feel afterward. And give your family some time today. A few minutes undivided attention goes along ways...

"It is better to eat a dry crust of bread in peace than to have a feast where there is quarreling."
~Proverbs 17:1

Peace On Earth-Day Four: Reflect

I'm going to spend a little extra time today when I cozy up to read and pray. Reflecting on Thankfulness this week after Thanksgiving.

My friend Cathy writes in her "Act of Thankfulness";

...then I started thinking that while it's very important to think specifically about everything we're thankful FOR and speak it to God, and in fact God tells us to do this in His word (In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thes. 5:18) this Thanksgiving I wanted to reflect on the things that I can do to SHOW my thankfulness to my God. Because giving thanks isn't just about saying the words, but about acting it out in our lives...everyday. It's in how we speak to others in kindness, how we show them we love them in the way we know they need it (even when it's not returned), our attitude when faced with challenges and trials, serving others, serving our church, showing grace, being good stewards of what we've been given, and countless other ways. We tell our kids all the time that a change of attitude is not just on your face, it has to be a change of heart attitude, and the same goes for us. So...Lord, let me not just speak thanks and show it on my face, but believe it in my heart and actively LIVE IT.

So today my challenge is to make a list of 8 things for which I am thankful, and plan...just how can I show God, my friends and family I am thankful?

Necessity~ Inventory time...the snow will come soon. I need to figure out what we have, what we need yet. Then I need to pick up what we need.

Today

Sunrise, sunset


I am ever grateful that the neighbors across the street have Aspen in their yard instead of pine trees or Juniper, in winter we get a great view....

Peace On Earth-Day Three: Bliss

Tonight I have a date with a good book (which requires finding something to read), chocolates and a bubble bath!

No need to be envious, just join me...in your OWN tub.

Patience is better than strength, Controlling your temper is better than capturing a city.
~ Proverbs 16:32

Peace on Earth-Day Two: Romance

Today I'm going to find a babysitter! Date nights are a must for Ralph and I. This month gets so crazy, I don't want to forget to take out time to just hang out with my sweetie. Sometimes December dates include a bit of Christmas shopping, so I might plan for that this year.

Necessity~ I'm also going to sit down and make a list. Not a wish list mind you, but a list of all things that "need" to be done in the coming weeks. THEN I'm going to decide what really needs to be done, and minimize what I can.

I'll leave you with this...

James 1:2-4 (The Message)

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

Peace on Earth-Day One: Beautify

One of my favorite things about winter are the birds. Today I'm going to get feeders set up to draw them in. I love bird watching and I'm going to see how interested I can get the birds. We are going to hang a feeder and are also making pine cone bird feeders with the kids, which we'll strategically place outside windows where we can watch for the birds this winter.

Also today, I'm going to set time aside to do all the normal things that bring me peace,
time to read and pray ,excersize time.

Phil 4:6-7 Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

Grateful for the Day

You can join us over at Sweet Peggy's Simple Woman, share your Monday too.

For Today...

Outside my window...the Christmas lights shine brightly through our windows, the crescent moon beams in the night sky

I am thinking...that I really love routine. I'm looking forward to a Monday morning.

From the learning rooms...I just got "My Father's Dragon, and will start reading it with the boys tomorrow. I have to prepare for the morning yet.

I am thankful for... my husband who made dinner tonight when I had a lot on my mind.

From the kitchen...Chili and homemade cornbread. Mmm. There is a bit of dark choclate in the cupboard waiting for me in a bit.

I am wearing...fluffy black slippers, jeans, black t and the black sweater that I'm wearing too much these days.

I am reading...nothing. This is certainly a problem. I need to find something, quick!

I am hoping...that some of you will come and see my Peace on Earth and join me in a 31 day challenge for household peace.

I am creating...a blanket, crocheted for a certain someone. Yes, I finished my chunky red, rainbow-shaped blanket that I've been working on for 5 years.

I am hearing...the boys watch Snoopy, the hum of the dishwasher.

Around the house...we started Christmas decorations, vacuumed and cleaned baths today.

One of my favorite things...long runs in crisp November air.

A few plans for the rest of the week.. groceries, library, school, dinner for a friend with a new baby (I hope!), Christmas shopping with my mama on Saturday, gift wrapping and making pine cone bird feeders.

Here is a picture thought I'm sharing with you...


Our Cozy Kitty, Tucker