No Childish Antics: Leave Christ in the Story

A few years ago, I wrote a devotional for my church's Advent devotion book. Since I had a four-year-old son at the time (and he had a closely competitive four-year-old cousin), I had the perfect, true story to use as background for my writing. A relative reminded me of the story during a recent gathering, so I thought I'd share the Christmas story with you:

Leave Christ in the Story

It has become a Christmas Eve tradition to read the story of Jesus’ birth at our annual family gathering. Since we had two energetic four-year-old boys at last year’s celebration, I decided to tweak our tradition a bit and read the Christmas story from a preschool book. This was a special book to the boys; it was a lift-the-flap book. As many of you know who have children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews of your own, lift-a-flap stories and the surprises that await little fingers under the flap are extra special. 

We made our way through several pages of the book, each boy taking a turn lifting a flap to reveal the angel Gabriel and animals in the stable. When we got to the flap that lifted to reveal the baby Jesus in the manger, a small tussle broke out between the two boys vying to see who could lift this flap. In the struggle, they both grasped the baby Jesus cutout and ripped him right from Mary’s arms! How ironic. Inadvertently, these boys had removed baby Jesus entirely from the “Christmas Story.” 

Oops

How many times have we done the same thing during this most festive time of year? In our mad rush to buy gifts for others and juggle our schedules to attend every Christmas party, we often rip God’s real gift to us right out of our celebrations. Let us remember Jesus’ words in John 10:28 – “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.” And that is the most wonderful gift of all. We must be ever careful to leave God’s precious gift to us in all of our holiday celebrations.

With love,

TCB

In Gratitude

One of the themes of my blog is living life simply. In order to live simply, I believe it's necessary to live gratefully. Gratefulness makes you joyful for what you have, regardless of how simple or inconsequential that particular thing may seem to the outside world.

I hope I live gratefully every day, but in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I want to focus this month on just a handful of people and things for which I'm grateful.

This first one is a given:

My immediate family (fish not included). I'm thankful for the fish, but they're not part of my immediate family. Oh, forget it. Just know I am thankful each day for each family member, even those not pictured above.

I'm also thankful for something I've had a very long time:

This Bible is my favorite for a couple of reasons. First, it was the only thing I got from my grandfather's house when he passed away. I was 10 years old, and this has been a treasured Bible since then. On the intro page, my grandfather's name is written, followed by my (maiden) name underneath. He never wrote in it, but I could tell it had been well used. It looks a little shabby now, and I have written and highlighted all over it. I loved it when I was 10 because I could understand its story-like conversational tone when I couldn't make heads or tails of what King James meant. Now, I love it because it helps my son understand the Word a little better than other translations.

I would love to hear what you're most thankful for in the Comments section below.

In gratefulness,
TCB

Babies Growing Up

Yesterday, it was all fun and games.

 Today, it's totally serious, man.

Cool.

Be calm, my mama's heart.

Enjoy your chil'ren today.

Love,
TCB

Flyday Foto Fun

We like to call this little ditty...

Mother Mary

Have a fun Friday!

Love,
TCB

Family Growing Up

I'm wrapping up a family-focused theme on The Country Belle this month. I'm feeling a little sentimental as the summer begins to wane toward the school days of August. Since I'm a homeschooling mom, late August begins my second job as a teacher, so I have to get myself psyched up to juggle the demands of home life, teaching, and my writing career.

Earlier this month, I drove a group of Boy Scouts to their annual week-long camp in the Georgia mountains.

Aren't they cool?

They had a beautiful view all week.

They spent seven days earning Merit Badges, camping, building things, playing with snakes (yikes!), wading through the mud (it was monsoon season), and generally doing the things that boys who love being outside do.

Back at the country home, others were bored.

Where is that boy??? This house is boring with just adults in it!!

I realized how much my son does with me. Not only did he leave me this particular week, but he left the following week for a Christian boys camp. Two weeks without the person who carries in my groceries from Aldi, helps me pick up the produce from the produce co-op, walks the dog with me, visits Sam's Club to see how many humongous packages of toilet paper we can fit in the cart, and much more.

Wah!!!!!!!! Stop growing up!

It's a command.

I'm already dreading the empty nest when he goes to college.

Love your family.

TCB

Reminiscing about Planting Southern Vegetable Gardens

I'm still reminiscing all this month here at The Country Belle, writing about family and family activities. I've been gathering (a little) produce from my garden - mostly herbs and a few tomatoes - because our excessively wet weather this summer has our Southern garden saying, "What?! What?!"

I can count on one hand the number of days we have not had any rain this summer. Talk about the opposite of the drought-land I'm so used to in South Carolina in July. And 80 degrees for a high temperature? Unheard of this time of year down South!

I'm not complaining, but my garden kind of is complaining. It makes me remember when I was a child, and we often spent spring and summer nights and weekends planting something in my grandfather's garden, shelling beans until my fingers cracked, snapping green beans until my hands were sore, or shucking corn off the back of the pickup truck (and trying to avoid yucky worms!) until the sun went down.

It makes me remember a story that I still sometimes get laughs about from my family members. I was a Southern country girl growing up in South Carolina but trying to somehow work some sophisticated "girlie" stuff into my life. So often on Saturday night, I would pull out my light blue manicure kit and give myself a full-scale mani-pedi.

I still have that kit after all these years.

I still use it.

Back to the story...I was getting my nails done for Sunday morning church. You know, looking all right.

Well, one weekend I got a little super ambitious and decided to work my manicure into my Saturday morning instead of Saturday evening. And then I found out we were going to the farm. And then I learned I would need to plant potatoes.

In case you don't know about these things, you can take a potato and cut a piece that has an "eye" on it, plant it in a hole in the garden and it will grow a whole new plant with a plethora of potatoes. (How's that for an alliteration?)

My grandfather hoed the holes and cut up the potatoes. So no problems there.

Then I  realized I needed to stick my precious manicured nails into the bucket of wet potatoes, pull them out one by one, and drop them in a hole to be covered.

Do you know how hard it is to do a job like that without getting dirt and other crud under your fingernails? You don't. And I protested. "But it will mess up my manicure!"

I was laughed out of the garden. But then I had to promptly return and do the job.

Rural lesson learned: No manicures on Saturday morning. Wait 'till the chores are done.

Hope you're having a wonderful day wherever you live.

Love,
TCB

Happy Flyday

Hmmmmmmmmmmm...........................Thought for the day: Just because you give birth to someone doesn't mean they have your personality.

Happy Flyday Friday!
TCB

Like Parent, Like Child.

Fact: I'm still writing on the theme of "Family" this month.
Warning: I'm still sappy because my son is away from home for the second week in a row.

I'm sure you've heard the expression, "An apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

For the first three years of our homeschool, I was sure I was the one who could prove the saying false.

I am a reader. My whole life, I have had a book stuck in my face (and sometimes now an e-book) when I have no responsibilities on my plate. Sometimes now, since I am a bonafide, official adult with responsibilities running out of my ears, I sneak away and take a break with a book.

Here I am as a "tween." (I'm not sure that term was coined back then).

(Photo courtesy of my Mama's 1970-something Polaroid camera).

Fresh from the bed first thing in the morning, I grabbed the book. You can see I'm almost finished with it. I was always almost finished with it.

I remember so many great things I learned from reading. When I ran out of books from my trip to the library, I read from my parent's bookshelf (The Bermuda Triangle - fascinating - and Helter Skelter - so not recommended for reading by your elementary school child. I couldn't sleep for weeks after that one).

So - back to the apple falling from the tree. I despaired because I could not interest my son in reading. Even when I took over his education, he still read only when forced and only for the exact time (20 minutes) required by his wonderful (ahem) teacher. I couldn't even get him to enjoy reading the comics. He declared he hated to read. I was depressed. Depressed, but determined.

Then suddenly one day, I found the miracle lineup of books. Robin Hood, Adam of the Road, and King Arthur. I thought I would fight him on reading these books, as some of them have some quite difficult-to-understand Old English words. Something about the swords and castles and knights, and merry men grabbed him. And he suddenly loved reading.

Next, I plugged him into the Warrior series by Erin Hunter. And a reader was born. I rejoiced. Perseverance does pay off.

Looky, looky at this:

He has kept it up all summer Now he's truly the apple of my eye. :)

Happy summer reading to you. I'm in the midst of three books at once. I'll give you the full details on those later.

Happy day!
TCB

Families Grow Up

My little boy....

has flown the coop for two weeks of camp.

When did he get too big to want to stay home with me all the time? (sniffle, sniffle)

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!

The Boy Scouts are cruel to Mamas. Tell everyone I said so.

Hope your week is less lonely than mine.

At least there's this.....

....to keep me busy.

Happy day to you.

Love,
TCB

Family and Freedom

I hope you all are enjoying time with your family and friends today, as I am. We are happy for the freedom to do so each day in our great USA. In the spirit of family and the freedom to be as crazy as we want to be, I bring you some photos of our country life. Crazy maybe, but there's never a time we are bored without the big city lights.

I won't explain any of these photos - that may just make them crazier.

Happy Independence Day!

Much love,
TCB

Summer Reunions

Did you think I had fallen into the river and floated 50 miles downstream? I know I haven't written in two weeks; I've been spending time with my peeps. (Sorry for the silly rhyme; I couldn't resist).

I've been doing the family thing. For a whole week, we traveled out of town to a family reunion with lots of cousins and such. My son lives for his week at Hickory Knob State Park in South Carolina. We sometimes still call it "Hicky Knob," his name for it when he was two years old.

Boy cousins run around everywhere - on foot, on bikes, in the lake, in the pool, and in the woods.

They drag unsuspecting victims who are slightly older - but still young at heart - into two-mile hikes when they would normally be sleeping in the lounge chair.

By the end of the week, they are exhausted.

But we all leave happy.

Enjoy the Independence Day holiday this week. It's a time to appreciate our country, and the friends and family that make it so special to be here in the USA.

All this month, I will be blogging about family-related issues. See you later this week.

Love,
TCB

Lessons Learned from Pets

I continuously learn lessons from the animals in my yard and in my house. We treat them like family, and they love us in return (or at least love the food we provide).

Here are a few truths from our pets' perspectives:

Take a break and play several times a day.

Explore and experience fun within reason.

If a friend takes your favorite spot, scoot over a little.

She'll eventually share with you when she realizes it's your favorite spot.

Look outside the box for a little treat every now and then.

I'll send a few more lessons your way on Thursday's post.

Have a terrific Tuesday!
Love,
TCB

Related posts:

What I've Learned from my Pets

Pork Tenderloin for Supper

During the school year, it's always a mad rush to get supper on the table at a decent time. By decent, I mean 6 to 7 pm, otherwise the males in my house would eat all the junk food available in the pantry just waiting for the main course.

With scouting and swimming and general running around in the evenings, it can be a challenge to accomplish supper at a reasonable hour. If you're a mama, I'm not telling you anything you don't already know.

I have about three weeks' worth of tried-and-true recipes I almost can make in my sleep...very expediently...and which are generally nutritious. Whew. I'm tired already just thinking about it. Did I mention sleep?

I always love to hear other mothers' tricks for tasty main dishes for the weekdays, so I'll share mine. Please snag it for the times you're in a super rush. This one's a breeze. You won't believe the simplicity of this dish can equal such great flavor.

Quick & Delicious Pork Tenderloin

One pork loin (Aldi has them shrink wrapped at a low price)
Bottle of Kraft Roasted Red Pepper salad dressing

Place the entire pork loin into a plastic storage bag in the morning and pour in enough dressing to cover it. (Hint: Take note of the weight of the pork tenderloin on the package before disposing of it. You'll need this tidbit of information later.)

Wa-la! Your marinade is done.

Pop it into the refrigerator to sit for the day.

When you're ready to begin supper, remove the bag from the refrigerator about 20 minutes prior to cooking. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the pork loin on a foil lined and sprayed shallow roasting pan. (Who wants to wash dishes later?) Cook 20-30 minutes per pound. (I usually cook it 30 minutes per pound because I like the meat done to at least medium well.)

When done, let it "rest" in the pan on the counter for about 10 minutes. Then carve it into slices. So tender and moist!

It's great with quick-cooking brown rice and broccoli spears. The entire meal takes about 30-45 minutes to prepare and cook, depending on the size of your tenderloin. There's little prep work and you have all the time the pork is in the oven to whip up quick side dishes.

Happy week!
TCB

Related Posts:

Delicious Chicken Casserole
Pan-Seared Salmon Fillets with Sweet Fruit Salsa

Souper Dooper Project

My son and his friend embarked on a little project when they were bored over the holidays. Really, boys? I  was very happy with my TV-induced coma over the holidays. You weren't?

The project morphed into something a little bit larger.

First, they wrote a letter to 60 police departments requesting uniform patches. In exchange for each patch they received, they said in the letter they would buy and deliver one can of food to our local food pantry.

They got together and opened the letters.

Boy, I bet it was hard to wait two weeks to open all the packages at once!

Some of the loot!

True to their word, they visited the local grocery store and bought at least one can of food for each patch they received. Because of the nice police departments that sent two patches, they increased their purchase a little over the 60 expected patches. They ended up with 77 cans of food. I got the full, exact report on that number.

I am proud they followed through. Here's another tidbit: They spent their own money buying the food.

They are just waiting on Mamas to drive them to the food pantry. As soon as life gets out of the way, we're going to do it next week.

Way to go, boys!

In the spirit of giving & love,
TCB
P.S. Happy Valentine's Day! Kiss someone.

Homeschool Holdout

Just as in everyday life, my child often wants to try and wield his tiny amount of power to see if he has what it takes to usurp my throne. If he only knew what my crown would mean for him - to be the queen around my house is an endless parade of dirty dishes, dirty laundry, dirty floors, and dirty hand prints on the walls. But I digress.

During the homeschool day, he has decided to show his "authority" by refusing to get a new pencil for math class. Never mind we have a bucket of new and freshly sharpened pencils of every imaginable design and color, enough pencils to last him seven more years through high school graduation.

This pencil nub is what is somehow getting him through 20 math problems every day. It is now so short, the pencil grip is longer than the actual pencil and has to be removed when he occasionally attempts to sharpen it.

I have asked, cajoled, begged, and excitedly showed him all the pencils available. A rainbow one? A Halloween one? A Christmas one?

"No," he says. "This is my lucky pencil."

I pointed out that a lucky pencil would enable him to make a "100/A" on all his daily math worksheets and tests. And that is just not the case.

So I had to call in the big guns for this assignment. I asked Mr. Country Belle to "gift" my son with a snazzy mechanical pencil like the one he uses in his "real engineering job."

I pretended not to care.

The little booger accepted the pencil and started using it in math class the very next day.

I was not allowed to touch it.

I so did not care. I promised never to touch it.

(I won).

Speaking of the crazy things to go on during the homeschool day, I'll leave you with one more.

I don't have one thing to say about this.

Have a happy holiday week!

Love,

TCB

Raking Leaves is for Boys

We are sorry for the havoc in process and are praying for our neighbors to the north who are experiencing the traumatic effects of Hurricane Sandy.

I can only imagine how dangerous the winds are growing.

On a much lighter note, just this weekend as Sandy approached our coast, the winds on our little slice of land were whipping and we were hundreds of miles away from the storm's major forces.

So it was with surprise I looked out the window and saw my son raking leaves.

Whatever was he doing since the 20 mph winds were making it "snow" leaves? He would be raking all over again very soon!

And suddenly I realized why.

Little boys like to jump in piles of leaves, but so do puppies.

And it's fun to roll in them, too.

You know what's not all that fun? Bathing a white dog after such an adventure.

Oh, well. It was FUN. That's what counts!

Love,
TCB

Related Posts:

My Dog's Life
Pet Photos

What Happened to my Baby?

2002

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Waaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!! Where did my baby go? I want another! (Mr. Country Belle is sweating right now).

I'll leave you with a current photo......

....of me in denial.

Have a happy day.

TCB