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Saturday, December 31, 2011

Christmas Day 2011

Christmas morning came around bright and early this year. Oh, that's right we were still up at 5:30am!!
Well due to this fact our family tends to celebrate a little differently on Christmas morning.
We have a 'do not wake Mum and Dad before........ this year it was 9am but our very obliging children waited until 10 am before coming in to wake us up (officially that is, as I had heard them up way before then).

We also do not go into the lounge room to look in the bags until everyone is assembled, with coffee in hand for  mummy, and the little music box is played.

We then open each persons Christmas bag one at a time to give everyone an opportunity to show and share with the rest of the family what they have been gifted. This of course means that it takes quite some time to go through every one and I admit some of the little people get a little grumpy and frustrated with the whole process. However I think it shows courtesy and love to give everyone a turn to enjoy the gifts together.

Corbyn was the first to start and may I say he actually started without waiting for everyone as his bag was in his wheel barrow and so I think he thought that meant he could start as it was already started. Does that make sense?
Arwen was next as we did try to go up from the youngest then. She was so excited as she was finally old enough to understand the concept of  opening Christmas presents.
Myffwyn next and she enjoyed getting out her presents and showing them off.
This year both Moran and Myffwyn got the same things so she kind of worked it out after the first couple of gifts.
Rogan was so excited to get the little black dog as well as the art supplies he had so desperately wanted.
Vellvin was most excited about her Thor DVD - everything else was good but she was thrilled to get her most  wanted gift.
Saxon was so easy to buy gifts for this year, he has some quirky ways that I was able to indulge in this year.
Our younger three girls are keen dress up fans and they LOVE Disney princesses, so this year we indulged and bought dress ups for them.
We all loved Arwen's Rapunzel outfit but she was not so keen on the day.....it becomes more liked as they all dress up together.
Eden has wanted some wedge shoes for soooooooo long and so these were so appreciated, along with her other gifts.
Anna-Lisa was her for Christmas with us and I loved getting her a Picnic Basket and making her table cloth and napkins to go with the other eating utensils I found to fill it with.
Autumn had been telling me for weeks that she wanted this plush bear as her most  'bestest' gift. She has been rarely out of his company since!
Older boys are so hard. However it is so easy to spend their allotted amount easily. Braedon needed some new good clothes to add to his wardrobe.
Kynan also need clothes for his work placement part of his Uni studies and so that was what he was gifted with.
Trahaearn is quite difficult too as he has so many things we have passed down to him and have been made for him, as we just can't resist. So a few sensory toys were on the list for him and he has played with them so much already.
This year my dear husband actually asked me for a list to go shopping with. This meant I did not have to buy my own gifts. So Eden went with him and I was very pleased with my special gifts.
Stephen is hard as well. He never really wants anything but he does complain about the lack of music he likes being played so I bought him some new Cd's and Christian books for him as well as a game for the family to play.
Playing with the bubbles and  dress ups on Christmas day.
After we had opened all the Christmas bags we then went to the Christmas tree where we place all our home made gifts to each other. This year we had even more as both Kynan and Braedon along with their special girls had bought gifts for all.
This took so very long to get through as well, so we had not only tired adults but little ones too.
Our Christmas lunch, afternoon tea, was started by those very early risers who put our vegetables on to start cooking while we opened the gifts.
Thank you so much children!!!!
We had cooked out pork and chicken on Christmas Eve and cut it and put it in the fridge to make life easier on Christmas Day. It really does take a lot of work to cook a baked lunch for us on Christmas Day as we are so late to bed from our Christmas Eve celebrations.
With our extra guests we had the little children on these little tables to make for more room.

After all the gift exchanging and lunch it is on to a very relaxing  afternoon with naps and eating and playing with gifts.

Once again we had a very family orientated celebration as we welcomed into our hearts and home the birth of Jesus.

Blessings to you and your homes,
 

Forget Resolutions, I'm Whispering Mantras


Wow, it's 2012... a beautiful, fresh new year.... the next chapter in our lives. Happy New Year!

I reckon resolutions lose their gloss by the time February rolls around.... so this year, it's going to be a list of little mantras, that I can mutter under my breath, that will keep me on the straight and narrow as the year unfolds. With a teenager in the house, I will be muttering 'pick your battles' a lot (BTW, someone has taken my big son and replaced him with someone I do not know. Who is he?).

My 2012 'Mantra List':












Images Via Pinterest

What 'mantras' are you going to be whispering, in this lovely new year? 

I wish you a wonderful, safe, healthy, happy and productive year!
2012....let's do this!
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Happy New Year 2012

So soon has a new year arrived once more. I cannot believe time has moved so quickly. It seems that each year seems to pass in record time.
We have had many joys, changes and challenges over the last year and it seems we will see many changes for the new year as well - so far.

This year I do expect great things for our family and I will be hoping to be part of helping our family circle stay close together even as we start the chain of 'family dispersal.'

Life moves on and our choice is to embrace the opportunities we are blessed with or to be fixated on the past and difficult circumstances. I certainly hope to embrace all that is placed within my grasp this year, even looking for the joy in all circumstances whether joyful or a little more confronting.

I am still contemplating my goals,,desires and ambitions for the coming year. I helped some of our children with their own list this evening and so was unable to give mine the thoughts I wanted but I have thought about tow things: relationships and gentleness. So I think these will feature in my immediate future as a major part of my 2012 lifestyle.

Once again we had a beautiful New Year Bonfire with family memories and these are treasured moments that I know will become fond memories.

May this year be filled with many opportunities to grow in love for Our Lord and in His service too. May blessings be upon each one of you and your families as we walk this road together ♥

Thank you for your encouragement, prayers and friendship over the last year. I have been blessed by so many of you and give thanks for the opportunity to share my heart and home with you.

Prayers for the New Year ~


God, thank you for a new year. May everyone in our family be willing to begin anew with a clean slate. We know that you are always ready to forgive us. Help us to be willing to forgive ourselves and to forgive one another.

As we begin a new year, remind us of our truest values and our deepest desires. Help us to live in the goodness that comes from doing what you want us to do. Help us to put aside anxiety about the future and the past, so that we might live in peace with you now, one day at a time.



A New Year’s Prayer~
Another year is dawning
With the chance to start anew.
May I be kinder, wiser, Lord,
In all I say and do.

Not so caught up in selfish gain
That I would fail to see
The things in life that mean the most
Cost not a fancy fee.

The warm, kind word that I can give,
The outstretched hand to help,
The prayers I pray for those in need–
More precious these than wealth.

I know not what may lie ahead
Of laughter or of tears;
I only need to know each day
That You are walking near.

I’m thankful for this brand new year
As now I humbly pray,
My hand secure in Yours, dear Lord,
Each step along the way. 

by Kay Hoffman

 Blessings to you and your homes,

 

Friday, December 30, 2011

My Last Thought For 2011



What's yours?
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WE WERE WANDERERS ON A PREHISTORIC EARTH


We Were Wanderers On A Prehistoric Earth from James W Griffiths on Vimeo.

Adapted from Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness.



WONDERFUL WORLD: DAVID ATTENBOROUGH



(HT George Cathcart.)

Cinch Special

Good morning!!!  I am extremely excited about this post!!!  Back by popular demand, one of my TOP Shaklee Specials are back for a limited time!!

This rocks!

I actually have 2 amazing deals! 

Before I tell you the specials, check out what my clients said that are doing our Cinch Challenge!  They are 2 months in and loving it!

cinch protein

WHAT MY CLIENTS ARE SAYING….

I don't know if I'm more excited about our date night or the fact that I can fit back into a sexy prebaby dress :)

I weighed myself this morning and I'm PSYCHED!! 4 pounds down and…(drumroll) 1 size smaller!!! Yup, I'm wearing pants today that fit great and they're a 10! In a couple more weeks I'll have lots of 12-14's to donate!! YAY!

My personal goal was to maintain my weight during the Christmas holidays. To my surprise I had lost another pound by the 26th when I weighed in at Curves. The Cinch program works!

Hey y'all happy to report, I have been Cinching like a rockstar since last week and am down 3 lbs, woot!!
I am down 10lbs from Nov 1. First time ever I have been successful at losing any kind of weight. Feels good. :)

 

Since I got the 'cocktail' of chemotherapy 7 yrs ago, I was blessed with random hot flashes. BUT I have happily discovered that the non GMO soy Cinch shakes has eliminated them! So cool!

 

I have finally gotten to the point where I eat like a rat (sorry can't think of anything else) instead of eating like a pig (again, can't come up with a better analogy). I lost three pounds over the holiday even though I cheated and I think it's because I kept my metab up by eating in smaller portions rather than gulfing everything down at one meal and unbuttoning my jeans:)

 

I finally tried the Cinch Chocolate shake an I love it so much I wish I could have it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!

 

I haven't checked in for awhile so just wanted to give an update. I'm down five pounds and am feeling healthy and energized. I haven't exercised appropriately but I'm sticking to the Cinch diet plan and am seeing results. A little nervous about leaving to see family tomorrow. My mom ALWAYS feeds us well. Her cooking is amazing. Pray for will power!
Stats this week...down another 3 lbs...4 lbs away from my goal and I have already brought my healthier version of Thanksgiving favorites to take to my family's big ole unhealthy eat out next week.
I missed the call tonight because I am on a girls weekend with my sister. We went shopping and I bought new jeans. Size 10!! In July I was busting out of 14....close to my size 8 skinny jeans!

Down 5 pounds in 2 weeks and feel great...very energized!! This is the first plan I’ve ever done that actually works and keeps me feeling full. :)

In less than 2 weeks I'm down 2.5 pounds and 1% body fat! I haven't lost an ounce of muscle either!! YAY for Leucine!! (I would have been off to a better start but there was a ton of Halloween candy lingering…sent it to work with my husband and now I'm ready!!)
Measured today, down 8 lbs and 10.25 inches (not counting the bust and chest;))
Lost a 1/2 inch off of my butt! Woohoo! (First week)
I’m done 3 pounds in one week!! I know if I continue this average I will reach my weight loss goal by week 12!!!
It's official, I'm down 7 pounds. 8 more lbs before I reach my goal...and hey since I added another month I want to get rid of an extra 5 after Christmas:)

For more success stories, click here.

Our First Special is our Body Transformation Pack!!!

This pack has everything you will need in a months supply to lose your unwanted fat!

burn fat

A Day With Cinch

The Cinch program isn’t just delicious – it’s easy to follow. Just replace two meals with your choice of shakes or meal bars, treat yourself to a snack and afternoon tea and take a metabolism booster with each meal. Add a healthy dinner and your day is complete. Just follow the plan.

This is what your pack incudes!

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This is guaranteed to work or get your money back!

Cinch Transformation Pack

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And at less than $3 per meal, you’re looking at a leaner body and a fatter wallet. Bonus offer! Join with a Cinch Transformation Pack and get the Cinch Sampler Pack (an additional $100 retail value)
FREE!! Hurry Limited Time Only!

Member Price: $299.95

Order your Transformation Pack TODAY to get started on your New Year Health Goals! 

I did this program and LOVED IT!  As a mom, it gives me more energy and it’s so simple so I don’t need to think about what to eat next!  Plus, it WORKS!

Here is my before.

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After!  After only 3 months!

Sarah also wrote about her story here!

Before.

After!  After only 3 months!

Latoya wrote about her story here!

Claire wrote about her story here!

Before.

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Here I am halfway to my goal….I actually had to buy new pants.  Whoohoo!  I went down 2 sizes and several inches!  I feel so much better and have a lot more energy.

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Andrea wrote about her story here.

Here is a  comparison in the same clothes!

Before.

After.

Kindra shared her story here.

What will your story be?

After you place order, you will be invited join our online community to help with your success!  I want to help you every inch of the way!!

Not a member yet?

Join today with a $70 product order and get over $100 of Cinch Products for FREE!

Bonnie

 

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