I have been waiting to show my Christmas projects until after everyone received them. So here it is...

I made homemade fudge, white choclate peppermint bark, and various flavors of hard candy

I also included some homemade apple butters and jam

For some of the smaller gifts, I gave them in decorated bags and made cinnamon ornaments

We had all been fight colds during the first real snow, so this is the first time we had a chance to take Jack out and let him enjoy the north country weather. He is more happy than usual to be all bundled up. It was fun to pull him around on the sled, though he wasn't happy when it tipped a little and he ended up with a face full of snow. Daddy finally got him to eat some but he wasn't too sure about it. It was still lots of fun and some great memories!

We headed out to the eye dr. after I rushed home from a ladies aid meeting/luncheon. Upon arrival and sign in we sit and read books to a happy little boy. When his name is finally called we go back to a room for the introduction where we are questioned and then sent to another waiting room. At this point it has been about 45 min. since arrival and all my little busy man wants to do is get down and explore which of course is not possible.

We are finally brought into see the dr. and have to continually distract, restrain, and creatively dance around so the eye dr. can see his eye wandering. That was fun enough but after about 15 min. of that they proceed to put in eye drops. Oh, yes...that was enjoyable...but not the end. We have to then wait 5 minutes and they have to do it again.

The second time begins the melt down. We head out to the large waiting room now filled with people, with a wailing child and I realize we have become one of those parents. Yes, the ones that get the sympathetic stares from other parents and judgemental looks from those who are not. I step outside with him for a moment but with the cold rainy weather it is not really a place we can stay. So I come back in and walk back and forth. I try once or twice to sit down only to have him start crying again. I look down and realize we have been there a good hour and 1/2. No wonder he's on melt down.

We are finally called back again by a compassionate assistant and then try to get him to look into the light. He is crying uncontrollably and Kevin has to hold him down as the eye dr. holds his eye open. We fight through this and the wailing for awhile more as he slowly wears down from cry but is still uncooperative. I try to tell them that for the most part Jack really is a happy guy but I don't know if I can really convince them of that.

We find out that while most children are far sighted at this age, he is nearsighted. They will not do anything yet but we do need to keep an eye on him and help him to play with things close up. We will go back in six months. At that time it will be a morning appt. and I will be armed with a backpack full of tricks and treats.

The hardest part was when Kevin took Jack to the car. I had to wait in the room with the dr. for the release paperwork and had to listen to him record his information for a letter to our dr. As I stood there trying to act like I wasn't paying attention by looking at glaucoma pics, he was sharing about how my son was uncooperative and so his diagnosis was not conclusive. He's 15 months old...we had been there for 2 hours, and he's suppose to be cooperative. I understand why he had to say it, but still.

So we walked out of there emotionally spent and headed out realizing we were one of those parents.

Jack has had a little bit of a wandering eye and so today we are headed to the eye doctor to find out what can be done. I'm not sure if we will be walking out with a little man with glasses or something else...we'll see.

Saw this giveaway on Amanda's blog...gotta check it out!

Ok, so Wal-Mart has this group of bloggers called ElevenMoms. And they are each having contests to give away - wait for it - are you ready for this - $500 Wal-Mart giftcards. The whole thing is sponsored by Wal-Mart and Nickelodeon.

My absolutely best tip for saving money is coupons! I snip them out every week and visit my local stores that double coupons!

Dad and Jack

Drew, Kathryn and Jack

Mom and Jack

The Kids had fun making a gingerbread house with Grandma Sue

The Radford grandkids - Jenna, Rachael, Jack, and Nolan

After returning from PA we were able to scoot up to Syracuse and have breakfast with Grandma Sue and then hang out with Aunt Lissa and see her new apartment.

Been away from blogging for a week as we headed down to visit family. Kevin was hunting with a group of guys so I took time with mom to go visit my grandparents.
There was a lot of fun times but it is hard to see grandpa declining. Mom shared with me on the way out that she was not sure of his spiritual state. Saturday evening he had a bad evening and we were really concerned. As I woke up Sunday morning I was so burden for his spiritual state and begged God for an opportunity to talk with him.
I had almost given up but as we were getting to say goodbye he seemed to be very lucid (he has dementia so that does not happen often) and I knelt down beside him. I looked him in the eyes, told him I love him, and asked if I could ask him one question. I then asked him if he knew he was going to heaven. He said, "I'm not sure." So, I asked him if he wanted to know and he said yes. I was then able to pray with him!!

I was nervous that he may not have completely understood so I told my mom and aunt and they started to cry. Then said if he understood enough to answer then he understood. I asked him later if he was going to heaven and he answered, "Yep!" It has really been the testimony of Mom and Dad for so many years that prepared him for this minute. I am so thankful for what God did.
My other little blessing while out there was the fact I was able to get this pic. Anyone who has been around Jack knows he does not stop moving so pictures are much more difficult. So to get him to sit still on Grandpa's lap was amazing but to get both of them smiling...a miracle.

Another concept from our Sunday School class study has been the whole thing of putting first things first. It has really been a challenged to me because I tend to put the urgent first and let all else fall in haphazardly. In the book, she challenges the reader to evaluate how you spend your time and make it a priority to put Him first and then allow Him to help you order your day. I am bad about making time for blogging, facebook, phone calls, etc. more than time for prayer and I have really been convicted about it. I am really desiring to take the time to focus at the beginning of my day. With Jack an early riser I don't feel the mental capability to really do my full time with God in the AM but I want to make sure that I am spending a few minutes in the morning getting my focus aligned.

"I am the vine and you are the branches....abide in me..."

I have been teaching throught the book Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World for our women's Sunday School class. It has been both a huge challange and encouragment. The biggest thing it has challanged me this week is about serving. She shares this:

Duty can pack an adequate sack lunch, but love may decide to enclose a little love note inside…Obligation sends children to bed on time, but love tucks the covers around their necks and passes out kisses and hugs…Duty gets offended quickly if it is not appreciated, but love learns to laugh a lot and to work for the sheer joy of doing it. Obligation can pour a glass of milk, but quite often, love adds a little chocolate. –Linda Andersen Love Adds a Little Chocolate

This was a huge challange to me as sometimes (like any housewife) I feel the frustration of wiping another dirty bottom or cleaning up another messy kitchen and wondering if it will ever end. I got a kick in the pants about what my perspective should be about all of it. I realized that it is not for the glowing recognition and applause of my family that I should be doing this but for the love of my Savoir. Even when my little man has kept me up half the night teething...it gives me time to pray and I am serving the Lord in those things more than singing in church or having a postion on the Ladies Aid.

The scary one was Kevin's pumpkin. Mine is a Jack o lantern - a cartoon of my son. Jack's is the tigger to match his costume.

I had picked up a costume for Jack last year after Halloween and then my mom gave me one so I had to get pics with him in both of them. The Tigger costume fits best and it is so funny because he loves tigger and is a lot like him too!

I have been planning out a few homemade treats to use as christmas gifts. Plus, I have needed to get the applesauce done since I had a bushel of apples sitting in bags waiting for me. So, I deemed Wednesday Kitchen Day and got to work.

So thanks to some of my blog friends I had signed up for freecycle in our area. I haven't been able to get a lot from it because so many things are far away. But, I still enjoyed a few things I was able to get.

Well, I had a few boxes of books that didn't sell at my garage sale this summer and then I received a huge pile of Christmas stuff from an older lady who was moving. I was able to choose a few things I could use but had a ton more left. My husband was getting ready to just chuck it all but I realized...Hey, I'll post and see if I get any bites! Well, within 2 days the overwhelming load of stuff from our garage is gone to people who are thrilled to use it!!! Kevin is even excited about Freecycle now but he says for everything I get from them I need to get rid of something.

The other interesting thing is that the two people who came I ended up knowing them or one of their family members and it was a great opportunity to connect. I ended up in a discussion with both of them about geting the mom's group going again...that was God's subtle hint to get going on it.

Friends of ours grew a pumpkin for Jack and when it was still little they carved his name into it with a ball point pen and so he has one with his name on it!

I wish that I could hold on to moments...the frame them on my wall and allow myself to relive them again...moments like drinking in the wondorous colors around us, watching my son taking steps, enjoying my family enjoying him. And though my body is so weary and my laundry is piled high again...weekends with family are all worth it.

There are snapshots in my mind that no camera can capture. Those little cherished moments that I hold dear to my heart.

When I watch my husband walk hand in hand with my son...

When they play hide and seek and chase on the floor and Jack is laughing so hard...

When he is in his crib asleep, all curled up and so peaceful...

The joy I see on my dad's face when he is talking with Jack...

The look my mom gets when she holds him tight...

The smile he gives to me after saying ma ma...

These make the long nights, dirty diapers, teething, messy eating, and laundry all worth it....

Ok...tagged by Ness...here are 7 Random things:

1. I never watched ET until after I was married and they released it again in the theaters.
2. I used to eat ice cream for breakfast sometimes
3. I have started to become annoyed with chewing gum and would rather use mints.
4. I still like listening to old school DC Talk
5. My favorite storybook is called Tales of the Kingdom and I still love it!
6. I love peachy roses with the red tips and sometimes would buy them for myself when I was single.
7. I lived in the state of New York my whole life and didn't visit New York City until my senior year of high school.

I tag...Jen, Amanda,Cassandra, and Joy

This is my best friend. The one who stands beside me, walks with me, holds me, loves me, and the one who I will spend my life loving. In the last seven years we have watched our lives and love change and grow. We have watched our love expand to welcome our son. It has been an incredible 7 years and I look toward many more.

I love fall...the colors, the weather, and the coziness it brings. My mom was always great at decorating for the seasons and I guess it rubbed off on me. But, I still believe God's decorations during this season are spectacular. I captured the scenic pics on my walk to the church the other day.