Christmas is coming and some crazy people have already started decorating!
Our family tradition is to decorate the weekend after Thanksgiving. This year we will be celebrating Thanksgiving in Michigan, so the decorating will start this Sat. morning.
Brad and I have spent the last couple months thinking about what we want our Christmas to look like. This Christmas is going to be a little different. We have decided to join the ADVENT CONSPIRACY.
As a family we have decided to drastically cut back on our Christmas present spending. Brad and I have will not be buying for each other (although I did buy him one gift before we made this agreement.)
We will still buy Chloe and Emily a couple small gifts and take the rest of the money to send oversees to starving children. What does this look like? For our family, we will:
- mostly make/bake gifts instead of buying them
- spend family time making memories baking
- spend time picking out life giving animals for others from www.worldvision.org
- find ways to give back to our local community
- give money we would normally spend to www.compassion.org to help provide water to those in need
I love that World Vision has a gift catalog with pictures of what you can purchase. It really helps the girls get excited about giving.
As you are shopping this year consider adding one more child to your list. It is hard for us to comprehend but the gift of 5 ducks can change a whole families life.
I can’t think of a better present.
5 Ducks Anyone?
Our family went out to an Italian restaurant and had some delicious food. Chloe is allergic to wheat, dairy, soy, gluten products and about 18 other foods. Rather than focusing on foods she can’t have, we try to keep her mind on what she is allowed to eat. She can eat fruit, vegetables and meats.
For a skinny little 7 year old, this girl sure can eat! This was a huge bowl of soup and she finished every bite of it! Some dinners Chloe eats more than Brad or I!
Some days are harder for Chloe than others. Some days, she just wants to eat regular ice cream with other kids but then has to weigh if it is worth getting sick afterwards. There are days she just makes the choice and there are days we have floods of tears and frustration.
She has learned to find the good in her allergies and be thankful. Is it still hard? You bet, but I’m really proud of her.
She is an amazing little girl, learning discipline at a young age. Having to daily weigh the consequences of her actions. She has to choose how she is going to deal with her allergies.
Chloe’s allergies are often a reminder to me. It always seems simple when it is someone else’s problem. But, how will I deal with the difficult situations thrown at me?
Will I allow them to take over my life?
Will I seek God in the middle of them and choose to have the best attitude possible?
Will I look for God’s miracle’s in the middle of chaos?
Will I choose peace or turmoil?
What do you do when God tells you no?
Filed Under (Authenticity, General) by Lisa Ruggles on 27-06-2008
There are days I really miss our home in Fort Wayne….
I miss hanging with friends here….
and relaxing here…..
making coffee and looking out at my beautiful front yard and watching the birds……
and I want to crawl into my own bed….
in my own bedroom…..
and then I think about this…..
I am then thankful for this
Living in a hotel really doesn’t seem so difficult after all.
If you aren’t familiar with our story, you can read about it here.
We are so blessed!
Filed Under (Authenticity, General) by Lisa Ruggles on 24-06-2008
I’ve been contemplating starting a Blog for a couple months now. A few weeks ago we were visiting at Crosspoint. During worship we sang “From the Inside Out” and I knew it was time. I couldn’t put it off anymore.
I have always loved this song, but during the last couple months it has taken on new meaning. I never thought that the “consuming” part could be so difficult. It is my heart’s cry and thus the name of my blog.
A thousand times I’ve failed
Still Your mercy remains And should I stumble again
I’m caught in Your grace
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame
Your will above all else
My purpose remains
The art of losing myself
In bringing You praise
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame
In my heart and my soul
Lord I give You control
Consume me from the inside out
Lord let justice and praise
Become my embrace
To love you from the inside out
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart
Is to bring You praise
From the inside out
Lord my soul cries out
What song best describes your life right now?
