Music Therapy Thursday... Ave Maria

I heard this version of Ave Maria yesterday for the first time and undoubtedly it has become my new favorite Christmas song. I had the instrumental version played at my wedding and until yesterday, I had only heard the lyrics in Italian. What a wonderful love song it is! I've cried listening to it and it gives me goosebumps every. single. time. I cannot imagine the way Mary must have felt in the months leading up to the birth of the Messiah, but I think this song is a beautiful description of her heart. I'm sure when she was told she had found favor with God that she never expected the the road her life would take. Enjoy today's music therapy. It will truly do wonders for your soul!

"Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus." Ave Maria, indeed!

Money Matters Monday: Keeping a Lid on Christmas Spending

Yes, I DO realize that I have only been blogging on Mondays and Thursdays, thank you very much. If you're still following along, bless your sweet little heart! I realize there hasn't been much variety to my lil' ol' blog, but that's going to change, I promise. You understand. It's CHRISTMASTIME, for crying out loud. I'm up to my neck with everything, just like the rest of you. Here's hoping y'all are keeping things together better than I am. But that's another post...

One thing I'm NOT crying about is the state of our finances. At Christmas. Talk about an oxymoron! This is what we already know: Christmas is WAY too commercialized. Any given family spends ENTIRELY too much at Christmas on things. Christmas lists grow by leaps and bounds from the day after Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve. And I'm not just talking about what to buy, but also whom to buy for. I've taken a little more control this year, and it's made all the difference. Well, that and Chuck's big fat bonus check! All I can say is "Whoopity-doo!"

We have been blessed beyond belief because Tyson Foods had such an excellent year (thanks, Tyson!). There have been years where we didn't get a Christmas bonus, but when we do, we almost always buy Christmas with it. This year we were able to do that PLUS pay off several of our bills and start an emergency fund (would Dave Ramsey be so proud, or what?!). We still have a ways to go, but what a relief it has been to cut our bills in HALF. I can only imagine the weightlessness I'll feel when it's ALL gone. This has only fueled my fire to get the heck out of debt. It really is a big ol' burden. You don't realize just how much a burden until you are released from it (or part of it, in our case!).

I've also played it smart this Christmas. I began picking up things earlier in the year. On SALE. At the end of the season. To the tune of, like, 75% off. You can't do this with everything and everyone, of course, but keeping your eyes peeled for deals all year long is smart Christmas shopping. I also like to shop at stores like Tuesday Morning and Ross where you can find really nice things at a discounted price. I guess it goes without saying that I'm also making some presents too. They are for the girls' teachers. I'll be showing those soon.

We are also not exchanging gifts with extended family or friends this year. I know that a lot of you think it just can't be Christmas without giving gifts to all those we know and love. But it adds up. Quick-like. I prefer to give my friends a birthday gift and let them know that my Christmas presents will only include the immediate family. I've flat out told friends, " Do NOT buy me a present this year. Your friendship is my present!" (Yeah, I'm smooth like that.) But you know what? The relief on their face was priceless. I consider that my gift to them!

If you feel you must buy presents, agree to keep it just for the children. We all have more than we need, anyway. And so do the kids, for that matter. You might suggest to girlfriends or extended family about having a get-together for breakfast, or finger foods one evening, and just enjoy each other's company. Your pocket book will thank you and you won't have to up your Rx of Xanax come January when you're trying to balance your checkbook and pay the bills! Merry Christmas, all! Here's hoping you wallet is the only thing getting fatter this holiday season!

Music Therapy Thursday... Happy Birthday Granddaddy!

Today is my granddaddy's 85th birthday! For as long as I can remember, he has played the guitar and the banjo and I have always loved to listen to him play. He even played in a bluegrass band until just a couple years ago! "The Possum Song" was always a crowd favorite, but today I've chosen to play "Man of Constant Sorrow" just because it is one of my favorites and one you will probably recognize. I love bluegrass music. I don't know if you have to be southern to appreciate it, but I hope you will, wherever you hail from. Happy birthday granddaddy! I love you!

Money Matters Monday: Before and After... FINALLY

It's been a long week. And I mean LLOOONNNGGG. I've completed a month-long sewing project, lead a Girl Scout meeting, attended a funeral, walked 10 miles, celebrated a birth, organized a delivery for food, went shopping for Christmas presents, wrapped said presents, (okay, I'm not even done with my list, but you get the point, right?!)...


So I'm just now getting around to showing you this awesome "Before and After" that I did a couple of weeks ago. I got the idea from one of the MANY blogs I stalk, I mean follow, but I can't remember which one. Sorry... But here is the before: Typical, girly, desk chair. It was okay, other than it was filthy and stained and I never liked it to begin with! LOL!

See what I mean? It was in dire need of a little "Va-va-va-voom." Cuz it belongs to my red-headed diva. And because I have a sickness. It's called "Can't-leave-well-enough-alone-itis."

I'm holding out for a cure. Anywhoo...

I unscrewed the back of the chair from the seat and turned it over to "eyeball" (technical term) how much fabric I would need to cover it. I did the same for the seat part.

Because I do not have a staple gun (hint, hint to anyone that wants to spread a little Christmas cheer my way!), I simply used a glue gun to hot-glue the fabric to the bottom of the chair and to the back of the chair, tucking the fabric inside the plastic on the back (sorry, no picture of that part!).

And here's the "After!" Tah-dah! Pretty swank, don'tcha think?! It goes much better in her pink, black, and white bedroom now. She loves it and I love it too! And it didn't cost a thing cuz this was remnant fabric that I already had on hand. Ka-ching! What do you think? Makes you want to cover YOUR desk chair now, right?! Been there, (and now finally) done that! LOL!

Music Therapy Thursday... CAN

Rick Hoyt and his father are a complete inspiration to me. Rick has cerebral palsy due to his umbilical cord being wrapped around his neck during birth. As a baby, his parents were told that he would never be a functioning member of society and they should just put him in an institution. Of course his parents had other plans...

As a child, the Hoyts brought Rick up as they did their other sons: They gave him a hockey stick to hold while his brothers pushed him around in his wheelchair. They held him in the pool so he could splash and "swim." Because of a computerized communication device, Rick is able to "talk" to his family, though he has never uttered a word. He went on to graduate from high school AND college.

Rick and his father, Dick, have competed in numerous marathons as a team. This began when Rick was young and wanted his Dad to "run" with him in a charity race for a boy who had become disabled. Rick wanted to show this young boy that just because he was disabled, his life could indeed have meaning. Many years, and many races later, Rick and Dick are known as "Team Hoyt" in racing circles and their motto is "You CAN."

This video is a wonderful representation of a father's love for his child. I like to watch it when I feel that I'm at the end of my rope and I'm struggling to be the kind of mother that my handicapped child needs. The words of the song say "I know my redeemer lives" and I know that he does because the love that is displayed between this father and son goes beyond the natural love we have for our children and our family. It's supernatural. When we live our lives by focusing on "us" less and "others" more, we are displaying the kind of love that Christ has for us. I hope this video inspires you the way it inspires me. When you're down and think you can't go on, remember that "you CAN."

"I can do all things through Him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13

Money Matters Monday

1. Well, after a short hiatus to the mountains, I'm back in the blogging world. Yay! Did ya miss me?

1. I'm really surprised we didn't spend more money than we did on our trip, but I'm pleased to report, we only spent around $500. I can hardly believe it myself. And some of that was on Christmas presents (of which I cannot go into details about for the obvious reasons!). But what I CAN say is that so far, I have six presents accounted for and that makes me uber happy. :D

Today's Money Matters post deals with the evil that is the "Friday After Thanksgiving Shopping Day." Yes, I got out in it. No, I didn't get out at midnight like I have before. Yes, I got some SWEET deals. Yes, I loaded up on Xanax to deal with the hustle and bustle. ;) No, I'm not kidding. LOL! The end!

Forgive me for the brevity of this post, but I must get back to the details that were left unattended while we were away. Did anybody else brave the crowds for some great deals? Was it worth it for you? Come back tomorrow for an awesome "Before and After!"

Music Therapy Thursday...Me, Chuck, A Park Bench, and Edwin

Eleven years ago today, I sat on a park bench at Oxford Lake and was proposed to by a guy I had only known for 2 and a half months. As we talked about what people would say (and how we really didn't care WHAT they thought!), we decided to spend the rest of our lives together. I asked Chuck this morning if he remembered what today was and he said yes. I asked him if he had any regrets and he said, "Only that I didn't meet you sooner." Sorry, ladies. He's all mine... ;) This was our song back then. Since you can't have Chuck, enjoy a little Edwin on me!