Sometimes you've gotta have "Thanksmas"

We traveled for Thanksgiving this year, up the interstate to Tennessee. It was a chance for my entire family to be together since my sister and her family were able to travel at the same time. The baby boys have been antsy and bored with the colder weather, and since we were all together with no work or appointment distractions... we decided on "Thanksmas"!

At first, my littles played with the old toys that Grandma has saved for all these years. Tell me you remember this Holly Hobbie play kitchen! It's 30 years old but still a hit!

And, of course, this one can almost always be found in her natural state. Reading 3rd grade level books at age six. She can't get enough!

Thursday morning dawned and shortly afterward, cousin Logan arrived! The boys are exactly six months apart in age and they are already working on becoming buddies. No tears! Progress.

So, Thursday was our Thanksmas. Thanksgiving plus Christmas! A dream come true for both adult bellies and child excitement.

Thanksgiving for the picky eater

One of my most favorite Thanksgiving memories was from my daughter, then four-years old. We were at my sister's house with extended family and we had just begun to devour our over-filled plates of Thanksgiving staples. We mmm'd and ahhh'd over the moist turkey, the sweet and crunchy sweet potato casserole with candied pecan topping, and the only stuffing that I have ever known, a homemade family recipe passed down for a few generations.

As we were chewing and complimenting the various chefs, Amelia stopped eating. She put her hands in her lap and declared loudly, "this is yucky!".

We stopped chewing and looked her way, then giggled. Who could ever think Thanksgiving goodness is yucky? A classic picky eater, that's who.

My child is still a picky eater at age 6 1/2. In fact, she has already reminded me that she does not like Thanksgiving food which means we already have a negative association to address. I think we need to launch our mission to change her mind. She will not be having her own personal plate of chicken nuggets! She will eat from the bountiful holiday table with the rest of us. I hold out hope that she will change her mind on a few tastes independently, but I am also willing to allow minor adjustments as well.

My rule is usually that she eats what we eat (unless we are having something extraordinarily grown-up or spicy), but I will modify a recipe in the process of cooking if it takes little effort. Thanksgiving foods can be easily modified, or have a little scoop of this and that set aside, so I think we can find a win this year.

 

Getting a picky eater through a Thanksgiving meal

•  Limit snacks - A child who has been allowed to graze on snacks all day "because it is a holiday" is a child who will not be hungry come mealtime. If you know when the meal will be served, cut off any snacks at least 1 1/2 hours prior. Your picky eater will be more likely to consume what is on their plate if his/her belly is hungry.

#WW: Thanksgiving kid art

Happy almost Thanksgiving! 

I am thankful for the creativity of children. Our home may not have the fanciest holiday decor, but I love it more than anything that could have come from a store.

#WW: Thankful pilgrim

We recently had the 4-year-olds' Thanksgiving Feast at Amelia's school. Parents brought in assigned dishes and we shared a meal in the fellowship hall. The children showed up in costumes and ran, arms wide open, to their parents. I am thankful that I was able to attend.(Don't I have an adorable little pilgrim?!)

Mommy, why do you say I'm special?

My child is the sensitive type. At age 4 1/2, she already doubts herself. Kids are mostly sweet at this age, but every now and then someone hurts her feelings. And she stands aside quietly and does not say a word.

When she has a bad night and pushes our buttons with rudeness and a complete lack of listening, she ends up crying quietly to herself in bed. She asks us later, "why am I a bad kid sometimes?" It seems no amount of encouraging, loving, and praising can break her strong will to blame herself. Amelia is an amazingly smart, considerate, well-mannered, wonderful kid. She has her naughty moments (like every other kid on earth), yet she takes it to heart and concludes that she is a "bad" person.

The other night, in the dark of her room before sleep took her to dreamland, Amelia whispered to me, "Mommy? Why do you say I'm special?".

Celebrating the transformation with a thank you #giveaway

I believe the change to BalancingMama.com is finally complete!

@BalancingMama on Twitter? Check!
BalancingMama.com URL? Check!
Email updated to Julie@BalancingMama.com? Check!

And now, a new Facebook page - no longer 3MomsIn1, but BalancingMama! Unfortunately, a simple name change is not allowed on Facebook, so I had to create an entirely new page. Please help me build the "likes" over there - click and like BalancingMama!

My brand is finally consistent. This makes my advertising professional side very happy. Woo hoo!

To celebrate, I'm hosting a thank you giveaway. I want to thank you all for reading, commenting, and offering support whenever I'm losing my mind. My online community was second only to family in providing prayers, virtual hugs, and happy thoughts during the past week as Amelia underwent and recovered from surgery.

It's funny... very few of you do I know personally. Most of you I have never met. But I know who I can count on to lend a positive word when it's needed. THANK YOU.

Giveaway has ended. But my thanks live on forever! :)


I want to give TWO winners an
Amazon.com e-gift card!
Amazon has pretty much everything, and the emailable gift cards are so convenient. You will get your prize right away!


Winner #1 will receive a $20 gift card.
Winner #2 will receive a $10 gift card.

To enter, do either (or both!) of the below:

(1) Leave a comment below with your email address
(2) Like the new BalancingMama Facebook page, then leave TWO additional comments below (+2 entries!)

Good luck! And thank you, thank you, thank you! 
XOXOXO
- - - -

Rules: Giveaway ends on Tuesday, January 31st at 8:00 p.m. EST. Winners will be selected via Random.org. I will notify winners via email provided in the comment. Amazon e-gift cards will be emailed within 48 hours of initial contact.

Count on one hand

Hundreds of Facebook friends.
1,300 Twitter followers.
Blog readers, coworkers, acquaintances…
  ... so many people in this world.


But you know what they say; when it comes down to it, you can count your very best friends on one hand.

Without a doubt, I know the people who belong in my count. They are few, but they are steadfast. Unwavering. People I can always count on to love, support, and listen.

These friends are not jealous, they revel in my successes – just as I rejoice in theirs.

These friends are not wary of silence, because we are confident of our place in one another’s lives.

These friends provide guidance, but never say “I told you so”.

These friends will pick me up time and time again, just as I would lift them.

These friends care, even across miles. Distance does not shake the bond.

I was thinking of these people last night as I waited for sleep to come. And I had a peaceful, happy sleep.


Some of you I see weekly, some only once per year. But you know who you are. I love you! Thanks for holding such a solid place in my life.

Grateful. Satisfied. Thankful!

Thankful.
Grateful.
Satisfied.
Pleased.

Thanksgiving day was truly heartwarming. (I don't mean heartburn from eating too much - although that was certainly present.) No feeling compares to the one I get watching my sweet little girl bring smiles to the faces of people who truly love her. Unconditionally.

We had family time together, mouth-watering food, and plenty of laughs.

My husband succumbed to the lure of the newspaper sales flyers, and convinced me to go out with him at midnight. We were tired and the crowds were ridiculous, but the time we spent together, just me and him, was wonderful. We made memories for sure, tag-teaming the shopping process (I'll get in the checkout line, you go get the items - go! go! go!), meeting friendly shoppers in the line, and standing close together outdoors as the temperatures dropped into the low 40s. We made memories, and did our part for the economy with some new gadgets for our home and Christmas gifts for nieces and nephews.

Today, we slept as late as our 3-year old would allow, and mostly relaxed at home. This evening, we ventured into the city to view the new "Garden Nights, Holiday Lights" at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. It was lovely! Amelia's eyes reflected every magical twinkle. She danced down the pathways. We oohed and ahhed and pointed to all the lovely sights.

I think, perhaps, magic is real. I can feel it. 

Just breathe...

Comfort. Warm sheets, downy blanket enveloping my tired soul.
Music. Deep, connected chords paired with lightly cheerful melody.
Light. Dim, never disturbing.
Scent. Restoring, freeing. Eucalyptus. Lavender.
Touch. Muscles, relaxing, loosening, finally resting.
Breath. Deep, full, slow.

- - -
This? Was my time.

60-minutes of massage therapy to melt my cares away.

One hour to cease my thoughts, choke my worries, chase away my stress.

One luxurious hour to simply... breathe.

(Thanks to my husband for the Mother's Day gift!)

Revisiting my happy list

If you just can't get enough of yours truly, click on over to Typical Suburban Family and check out my guest post!

I wrote my happy list at the start of last summer. I've made a few tweaks, but for the most part these things still make me smile. A happy list never expires!

What are your favorite things to brighten your day?

How do you know?

How do you know when something is right? How do you listen to voices not your own? How do you heed God's plan?

I feel a pull. I am trying to listen. But I just don't know what to do.

Last week, I spotted a man on a bustling corner. At the intersection of two U.S. highways in suburban Atlanta, this man stood with a cardboard sign in his hands. The sign said "Homeless Family. Pls help."

I did what I usually do. I stopped my car farther back so I wasn't right next to him. I tried not to look in his direction. I pretended he wasn't there. But as I stole a quick glance, I noticed a woman and three children sitting in the grass. Sitting in the grass, watching as Daddy held a sign. Watching as cars drove by.

Then I could not look away.

Keep it going

While taking a few moments to recover from holiday festivities (and a very full belly), I surfed on over to Better In Bulk. She shared a few ideas to keep our thankfulness going beyond Turkey Day.

I'm still in the midst of my holiday cheer, while Amelia passes out pretend cups of ice cream and plates of cookies to her lucky daddy and grandparents. This makes me smile.

In the Better In Bulk post, she includes:

Creating Your “Enough List”: While striving towards self-improvement is an important aspect of growing as a person, it’s also necessary to take stock of what you already have. The “enough” list shouldn’t replace your “er” list of personal improvements (like getting better at the piano, eating healthier meals or keeping the bedroom neater). Instead, it will help you to stay grateful for what is already good, while you are working on improving other aspects of your life.


So here's mine!

Thankful

Thankful for...

Joy and celebration with extended family

The glint in Amelia's eye when she laughs

Abundant food

Friendly neighbors

Childhood friends - who are still friends today

Fuzzy socks and soft fleece PJ pants

A sleeping child

Love - both given and received

Thankful Thursday

Lately, I represent a dazzling mix of confusing and conflicting emotions.

I've been feeling crowded... yet lonely.
Frazzled... but bored.
Proud... and disappointed at the same time.

The rest of the world glances at the upheaval we're experiencing, offers a quick smile, maybe a word of encouragement, and then retreats back to petty concerns and narcissism. But we're in it. Deep. Through thick & thin. Banding together as a family until life becomes normal again. With a 28-month old diva on the side, just to add that extra level of difficulty.

But you know what? I have SO MUCH for which I am truly thankful. Therefore, it is time to hit "pause" on the drama and take a moment for Thankful Thursday.

TODAY I AM THANKFUL FOR FAMILY.

For...

- My sister-in-law. For her perseverance and determination.

- My daughter. For her intelligence and sense of humor.

- My husband. For his dedication to his family, despite never-ending career pressures.

- My parents. Because I always know they will come to my aid.

- My sister. For never letting me forget how much Amelia is loved by others.

- My in-laws. For showing what a family will do when the going gets tough.

- ME. For my health, heart, and home.


"In a time of test, family is best."
(Burmese proverb)


Have a great - and thankful - day!

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for this cute little princess.

That face melts me every time.