Not that I didn’t love it before But, Reb, wow, you have outdone yourself!  I’ve gotten lots of good feedback from people here and when I think back to that day you called and asked to build my site, making sure I knew you didn’t know what you were doing, *giggle*.

I’m really excited about so many things going into the New Year–this site is one of them!

This is our Christmas Tree and I love it–I absolutely love it!

Our fireplace was a gift this year from my mother and father. I’ve wanted one for over a year. On it are a radio, two lamps, and a beautiful branch from a plant that we think is a Eucalyptus Tree. It smells wonderful and my son and his friend cut the branch for me

WARNING–MOVIE SPOILER for the movie Enchanted.  And if you haven’t seen it then I cannot recommend it highly enough

So, my revelation . . . at the heart of EVERY one of my problems and struggles in life is the reality I have now accepted that I was born a fairy tale princess in a real and cruel world.  In fact, I believe that every little girl needs to be a princess to her daddy–and I was until a certain age and there were extenuating factors but they weren’t my fault.  And every little boy is born to be a daring prince!  Read John Eldridge’s “Wild at Heart”

I cried and laughed through the ENTIRE movie! And I loved watching this actress play this role–I heard my heart in everything she said and I realized that so often my sarcasm and vitriolic sense of humor are self protection because I’ve been wounded so many times. And watching her reaction to people rejecting or not *getting* her was SOOOO healing for me! I mean, it was actual scripting for me about how to express my heart when someone is rejecting it, and how to not take it personally.  Some things God has taught me, but to see it in that context validated me in some deep and personal way!

I am literally the woman who sees all the good in people, even mean people.  I want to have dreams, and hope and focus on the positive.  I’m a sanguine.  I want everyone to get along. And I HATE conflict–though make no mistake that I won’t shy from it and I know how to navigate it with assertiveness. Which, amazingly, is what our princess in the movie learned! When she first experienced anger and found joy in it and she change in her from being more “fleshed out” and real . . . I was bawling.

I even loved the idea of your forever and ever true love being the one whose song you sing.  I saw the moment when her song changed–as did her forever and ever true love! As a believer I believe God gives us our song–and I think more girls need to spend their time waiting/dreaming/hoping for the man to whom God has given the same song *heart*.  When THAT man comes along he will see HER and go, like Adam, like Prince Edward, “Woah! That is MY princess! She was made for ME!”  If you aren’t with the man who sings the same song you will be singing in horrible discord. What a sad lonely life.

I loved so many things about this movie. It is officially my new favorite movie of all times! And I feel like I’m ready to be the princess God made me to be, in this world that is so far from Andolasia.

And, I must say, I was struck specifically by how much dh is MY prince! He really is.  Our first “date” came AFTER he professed his love for me and his desire to spend forever with me and have a family with me and love me always! And not a day has gone by that he hasn’t told me he loves me and how beautiful I am–even at the lowest points of our life together.  Add in that Patrick Dempsey reminds me a lot of dh (even that he’s a father of twins!) and it was a very emotional movie for me.

Oh, and just in case you were wondering–YES, I sing about everything, love to sing and dance while cleaning, want to make everything fantasy and fun for my children, and love fantasy *heart*

So, from now on, and I’m not kidding, when people don’t know how to *hear* my words on line, I’m going to suggest they watch that movie and hear her voice in their heads. Because that is how I talk to people.  I speak truth. When I say, “That man is being so abusive to you.” It’s said with such sadness in my heart that I’m broken for you.  I feel your pain!  When I express shock I am truly shocked. When I express sadness, or regret, or try to clarify, that is how I’m doing it. And even when someone rejects me or snubs me, that peaceful way that she walked away even though she was unhappy, that she accepted it and went on her way letting them be . . . that is why I don’t lose sleep when someone leaves somewhere–even if it’s because of me *shrug*

I’m sure I”ll be processing this for days–and we will certainly own this one as soon as it’s available!

Okay, going totally tv free was far too ambitious lol but we cancelled cable and even until it was turned off it was only me watching it while getting the bubbies to sleep late at night. Now I have the antennae up in the bedroom and I get 3 channels including PBS   What the family has been watching is videos–and way less than the amount they were watching.  The big thing I’ve noticed is that without the commercials we are going into the Christmas without all the whiny “give me”s that are so common!

The big thing I’ve found is that this last month has been as close to the vision I have for homeschooling as we’ve ever been. It’s been relaxed, organic, natural and children are asking questions, pursuing learning and using their imaginations!

We are still big time decluttering and I’m sure after Christmas we’ll be able to get rid of even more. We didn’t get toys and such but I’m sure they will get enough and what they are getting is special so the unspecial unloved clutter should be more obvious.  Aidan has asked me to get rid of a lot of his toys because the doesn’t want them or love them and he’s overwhelmed. So I’m complying!  And as we get new things we’re making sure they are quality, wooden, and fun!

I’m so excited to go into this New Year with the changes we are making.

well, all but 3 of them   I ran out of paper before I ran out of gifts.  Some are under the tree (those from grandma and grandpa and a couple from us as well as those we’re taking to the Christmas Eve celebration at my parents’ house and the white elephant gift for the homeschool party.  I love a tree with pretty presents under it. Makes the house feel festive!