Of Snow and Donuts and My Super Bowl

I've been a major blogging slacker lately, and its all because I've been really busy letting my house go down the pipes. And by that I mean the laundry was piled higher than Everest, the dust is caked onto every surface in the house, and we've been eating frozen chicken nuggets for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

My theory? Sometimes it helps to just let things go to remind you why all the little things you do over and over again every day matter.

Like making cheesy eggs for your family so they aren't eating cardboard chicken for breakfast.

I didn't really feed them cardboard chicken for breakfast.  But I'd be lying if I said we didn't get really close to that last week for my lack of planning.

Let me tell you something: those little things we do everyday?  They matter.  Because up until yesterday, this place was a pit.  I kicked it into  high gear yesterday and got rid of all the dust bunnies and half the laundry.  I'm tackling the other half of the mountain....tomorrow.  I just don't have it in me today. =)

Today is for taking it all in, baby.  We woke up this morning to a backyard dusted in powdered sugar, and spent a good five minutes staring out the window in our jammies with wonder.  Its like God knew I have been Christmas-dreaming for a good two weeks now, and He just wanted to stoke the holly jolly fire.

The first snow means the first hot chocolate party, and I jumped right on that train.  Newbie was a big fan of stirring in the mallows, but not the biggest fan of the hot chocolate itself.  Even when I told him it was just his favorite chocolate milk warmed up (we cheat a little on the hot chocolate over here) he wasn't digging it.  Whatevs, man. More for Momma.

(That's skepticism written all over his face: "Dude, where's the orange juice I ordered?")

With the hot chocolate came the Christmas music, and don't think we haven't been playing that since the beginning of November, because we totally have.  And the whole kick it into high gear cleaning mode yesterday was motivated by the Christmas decorating to be done this weekend.  Oh, Yes. we. do.

This weekend is the legendary Deer Camp for the Hubs, and that means Momma gets to have some fun of her own in the form of jingle bells and garland and snowflakes.  We've swung the deal since before Newbie was here: you go to Deer Camp, I deck the halls-everybody's happy.  I've been burning a Bath and Body Works "Evergreen" candle this week in preparation.  

So that's what we're up to in this neck of the woods today: Evergreen sniffing and cleaning and jingle bells dreaming.   With the occasional bear hunt or river ride on the blue yoga mat mixed in because two year olds are awesome.

And here's what we've been up to since I last saw you:

Bible reading/cramming before Bible study.  I'm reading through the New Testament in  eight  nine weeks plus or minus a few days. I'm a little behind in my reading, which is CLASSIC Brittany.  I was one of those read the book the night before you have to discuss it in class kind of girls in college.  I think I liked the challenge.  Old habits die hard, folks.  Even so, I can't begin to tell you how much I'm learning and how much more I'm falling in love with Jesus as I read.  Hokey Pete.  I have had so many almost-blog-posts about what I'm reading that haven't made it to fruition because of all the cardboard chicken I've been cooking around here, but I am LOVING this study.

We went to a super hero pajama party on Friday.  I made us all matching capes.  Including Clifford.  It was awesome.  Newbie ran laps around our church holding a latex balloon in each hand, his cape trailing behind him.  This kid is so completely all boy.  Sometimes I fear I'm not going to be able to keep up with him.  Homeboy is fast.

(The Hubs is such a good sport!)

(And yes, I was positively loving the excuse to wear my velour suit outside of my house- ha!)

I've been hanging with my peeps.  They're a pretty good time.  Newbie's latest and greatest is randomly coming up to me, putting his hand on my back and saying, "Momma, its ok.  It all be alright."  I love it.  He must know his momma is a bit of a freak and can certainly use this reminder at any given moment. =)  

The Daddy-O over here is awesome and took us out for donuts last Saturday morning.  Something about fall and Christmas on the horizon has kinda shot all the healthy eating attempts down lately.  Which I'm ok with.  Because I love me a good Saturday morning donut. 

(This was Newbie's donut.  I'm too ashamed of my order to show you.  It was outrageously large.)

Uhh...pretty sure I didn't tell y'all about this little bit off the bucket list:

(Do you KNOW who that is?!  Standing right next to me?!!?)

Angie Smith of www.angiesmithonline.com and author of I Will Carry You (my road map for my pregnancy with Jubilee) was in town, and my parents treated the Hubs and I to tickets to the event AND backstage passes.  YES, I got to meet this incredible woman and shoot the breeze with her a bit. I had the blessing of sharing Jubilee's story with her, and she offered me some genuine encouragement that I will treasure forever.  My favorite author just may have encouraged me to write a book.  Whaaaat?!!  =) I was just thrilled to have had the opportunity to give her the hug I'd been wanting to share since I read her story years ago.  And the Hubs and I were so touched by the genuine kindness of her and her husband.  These people are the real deal, and we were so happy to share an evening with them. As we pulled out of the parking lot after an amazing evening hearing her speak and her husband, Todd of the group Selah, sing, I told the Hubs, "that was totally my Super Bowl!" Cross it off the bucket list, baby.

And if you need a good heart squeeze/what's it all about today, check out this song Todd wrote about his girls. "Moments Like These"-  I was a mess, folks.  The verse about their daughter, Audrey, whose story was so similar to Jubilee's warmed my heart: I've got a little girl in Heaven right now, those streets of gold are her playground. The two hours she lived was enough to fall in love; she's the sweetest thing I ever let go of.  (I gasp for air) There just aren't words to capture how sweet and true this song is- just go listen. =) It really reminded me of everything God taught us through Jubilee's life- making each moment count and giving thanks because NOW is such a beautiful gift.  The words of this song echo my prayer as a parent, and they're totally going up over the kitchen sink this week:

So I'm down on my knees, help me soak it all in

I want all of this life that you've let me live

And when time flies by

Lord, remind me to breathe

'Cause my Heaven on earth are moments like these

Here's wishing you lots of Heaven on earth moments this week!