Joyfully Weary

Just a quick post, we are headed out for another family Christmas celebration. I wanted to share some of the Christmas themed outfits I've been wearing these past couple weeks though. I think it so much fun putting together festive looks. I posted some other outfits this month with a little bit of Christmas flair, you can see them here  and here . I also had to include a picture of my handsome hubby. I love his style and when he's holding one of our babies...be still my heart. 

Earlier in the month Baby Z turned one. To celebrate we had a couple close friends over for lunch and birthday cake. It was a simple fare but special because we were surrounded by people who also love our little baby boy.  I've always heard that motherhood get easier with each baby; you know what to expect and thus you are more relaxed. It been the opposite with Baby Z. Even though he is my fourth, it's with him, that I have been the most anxious. He keeps throwing me curve balls and seems to have me constantly on my toes. During my pregnancy he wasn't as active as my first three and I was continually praying for his safety and for peace of mind. All my deliveries were different but his was the most unique. During his first month he had trouble gaining weight and words cannot describe the helplessness and anguish I felt. Even now he's throwing something new my way. He's got a bacterial infection and his poor little body is covered in a rash that keeps di

Only one outfit this week; we've been crazy busy getting ready for Christmas. We just celebrated with my family in Iowa this weekend. We brought my "baby" sister Angel back home with us and we are all super excited that we get to keep her for ten days! Last week , I told you about some $.25 skirts I picked up at a rummage sale this is another one. It's hard to tell in this pictures but there is some red outlines around some the squares - I felt very festive!  If you are looking for more outfit inspiration please check out these link parties:  Watch What I'm Wearing ,  Monday Mingle ,  Style Sessions ,  Trend Spin ,  Pleated Poppy  and  A Labour of Life . 

Gifts is totally my love language and when it comes to birthdays and Christmas it's tempting for me to overdo it. I want my children to feel loved and blessed but not to become spoiled. This can be a tricky line to walk. In order to give ourselves, well me, some boundaries and to keep the focus on Christ we limit our children's gifts to three items. We base it off of the gifts the Wise Men brought Jesus: frankincense, myrrh, and gold Frankincense is a resin obtained from  Boswellia  trees. The fragrant sap was often burned as incense during worhip services. In Exodus and Leviticus THE LORD commands the Israelites to burn Frankincense when they make certain offerings.  Frankincense is also known for it's healing properties and THE LORD is the the ultimate healer.        "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal the

SUNDAY I order this skirt from Chicwish earlier in the year. The fabric is interesting, it feels a bit like neoprene or scuba fabric. It, however, is surprisingly comfortable and it gives the flowers a lot of texture.  Tuesday and Thursday Technically, this skirt cost me less than $.25. I picked it up on the last day of a church's rummage sale and to clear everything out they were letting people fill a bag for only $2. I picked up six midi-plaid-skirts, all similar to this one and most likely donated by the same person. I also grabbed a dozen or so old colorful hardcover books. It was a glorious day!  Friday I wore this green-flower skirt  again on Friday to Jeremy's Christmas work party. I also got my hair blown out for the first time. It was such a relaxing experience and I felt like Duchess Kate all night.  If you are looking for more outfit inspiration please check out these link parties:  Watch What I'm Wearing ,  Monday Mingle ,  Style

Sunday Sunday afternoon we ventured out in the afternoon to try and take some photos for our Christmas card. It was cold and BabyZ wasn't feeling very well but we still got a couple good shots. I was so proud of the older three they had such great attitudes. Friday Since BabyZ was under the weather most of the week I didn't get out of my pajamas very often. By Friday though I was itching to really get dressed and the kids were more than excited to go out and run some errands.  If you are looking for more outfit inspiration please check out these link parties:  Watch What I'm Wearing ,  Monday Mingle ,  Style Sessions , Trend Spin ,  Pleated Poppy  and  A Labour of Life . 

I've posted before about the books we've used in our Advent book countdown , but we've mixed in a couple new favorites so that I thought I'd share those with you too. 1 - The Story of  Holly and Ivy by Rumer Godden. Godden has written several enchanting stories about the secret life of dolls; if you have a little girl you must introduce her to this fun world. This is a heartwarming story about Christmas wishes: the wishes of doll, a girl, and a lonely woman.  2 - Christmas In Noisy Village by Astrid Lingren. You are probably familiar with Lindgren's Pippi Longstocking books. Her Noisy Village books are full of just as much whimsy and childish fun. The vintage illustrations (almost Norman Rockwell like) give this book an extra quaint feel.  3 - The Night the Angels Sang by Allan Ross. This was one of Jeremy's favorite Christmas books as a child. It tells the nativity story through the eyes of Josiah, the young son of one of the shepherds.