Merry and Bright...

Merry Christmas

From our Family to yours!

imperfect...

I am close to my 32nd birthday...

I have stretch marks...

I have a gut that doesn't want to go away, although I don't really try...

I say words that hurt unintentionally...

I yell at my kids when I don't want to...

I am at times highly O.C.D. ...

I have no filter...

I can't do it all...

I never have enough hours in a day, or a week, or a month, or a year...

I would have more babies in a heartbeat if it was meant to be for me...

I am addicted to tea...

I am sensitive...

I am a people pleaser...

I at times worry more about what makes others happy than what makes me happy...

My written words are sometimes misinterpreted, misunderstood, taken in a way they were never intended.

This blog is a place to be me. To share my truth. To share my life. To share my heart. To share myself. I have a lot of faults. I am in no way perfect. I am okay with my imperfections. It's taken me pretty close to my whole 32 years to say, I love who am - being imperfect, is perfect, because I am me. God loves me. God made me. God even forgives me, when I say something hurtful, that I didn't intend to hurt. When I yell at my kids when I should be loving them. When I don't have enough time to do everything for everybody. When I drink more tea than water. When I am too sensitive.  When I have to have my house just so, or things organized in a way that life doesn't feel out of control. 

HE LOVES ME. 

I write this blog, because it's my place to share HIS love.

At times, when I've written something that gets misinterpreted, misunderstood, or is taken as hurtful; the people pleaser in me, wants to shut Bella's little Rose down forever. But I won't..... because I have a job to do here. That job is to tell you, that He love you too! Even when you feel totally imperfect, far from lovable, and totally misunderstood, crazed, and overwhelmed by life. 

In this season, of the greatest gift the world has ever known, let's reflect. Reflect on how great His love is for us, that he sent us his son to be a common man, to die for our sins, so that we can be forgiven for being such imperfect beings. How awesome, is that gift?!!! How awesome is it that we are loved far greater than we can ever fathom???!!! Far more than we even deserve. 

There is magic in my heart tonight.

I am filled, despite my imperfections.

I pray that you are too! 

and if not, I pray that maybe you can read my heart in this little message here at Bella's little Rose and know that despite your imperfections, you are loved too!

Christmas Traditions...

 (random photos from our Holiday home! - be prepared for picture overload!)

Buddy, our kitty has decided her loves to snooze under the trees...

He's all like, hey thanks for putting this blanket and water bowl here just for me! :-)

 What Christmas would be complete without Charlie Brown and his gang???

Doesn't the Charlie Brown Christmas song just make you smile?

 If you asked my girls their favorite traditions,

they would probably tell you they love our Holiday crafting and present making,

and most of all our annual Christmas cookie baking day!
It is so fun to get them involved in the giving.
I love to see them concerned about the spirit of giving, instead of focusing on what Santa will be
bringing only themselves!

 This is one of my favorite ornaments...

my teapot. I got her when I was 14 from my Mama!

Isn't she sweet?

 No fake trees for this family...

We like to go out and cut our tree(s) - maybe we love it so much because it's just another special tradition?!;-)

Now that the girls are getting a bit older,

this year more than any other, we are really diving into the 

real reason we celebrate, and what it really means!

Don't get me wrong, we have always talked about,

and celebrated Jesus' birth, however, now that the girls are 8 and almost 5,

we can really begin to go deeper!

 another something fun...

Elf on a Shelf

Have you heard about this???

It's really fun!!!

 Every year, since Bella was wee, I have given a tree that the kid's get to decorate.

This year, since we have so many ornaments, due to our ornament exchanging,

and crafting we got a BIG tree for the girls to decorate, all for their very own.

They did such a great job! 

Matt and I put the lights on, and then they went for it!

They did great!

 Lola and Buddy found a place on the tree!

Lola is quite intrigued by this whole Christmas business since it's her very first Christmas with her real family!

Just a few more days to go...

are you soaking up the fun?

It's almost Christmas time!!!

Have fun making memories, traditions mean so much!

a Christmas alphabet...

by Bella Reed age 8

A - is for advent calendar
B- is for baby Jesus is born
C - is for Christmas caroling
D - is for Deck the Halls with boughs of holly, fa la la la la la la la la!
E - is for events and elves
F- is for family and friends
G- is for giving instead of getting
H- is for the Holy Spirit
I- is for icy icicles
J- is for Jolly old St. Nick
K- is for kindness
L- is for lights and lots of love
M- is for Merry
N- is for nice & naughty children
O- is for ornament
P- is for present
Q- is for quiet night
R- is for Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
S- is for Santa Clause
T- is for tinsel
U- is for unwrapped
V-is for voices singing
W- is for wishes
X- is for X-mas
Y- is for yuletide treasure
Z- is for zazzling dazzle