Once again this year I’m asked by relatives to give a list of things that the kids want for Christmas this year.  This year, instead of offering a simple list of toys, gadgets and the latest fads, I’ve decided to make a list of memory makers – things that etch experiences on the lives of my family….. Things that don’t break quite so easily, or cost a fortune, or can be stolen easily. This year I’m making a list of what I call “memory makers.” [Read more…]

My morning started off in a seriously stressful way…..

My teen son was giving me a hard time this morning, the sink was full of dishes and I had boxes of Christmas stuff everywhere! No joke – I was feeling a bit overwhelmed with all that there was to accomplish in one day, being one person. I don’t know what it is but having a sink full of dishes is just a BAD feeling that bothers me all day – I’m sure I’m not alone, right?

So, get one teen out the door for final exams, deal with the other one acting out of sorts to say the least and then my husband calls. “How’s it going?” he asks me. So I launch into all I have to do that day and in the background he hears my daughter asking me over and over if we can make the Gingerbread House that Mom Mom (grandma) gave us this weekend. Then my husband cuts me off mid-sentence (during my complaining rant ☺ Lol) and says, “Maggie dishes happen every day and Christmas comes around every year but Samantha will only be 4 once! Make the gingerbread house!” Wow….

So I let a massive sink full of dishes sit in the sink for about 3 and a half more hours. The boxes (you can see them in the back of the photo) sat on the floor and weren’t open and I made memories with my 4 year old daughter. We took turns holding up the sides of the gingerbread house as we waited for the icing to set, and we ate some of the candy as we built the gingerbread house. What an awesome day and how blessed I am to have my family.

Make memories with your family this week and if you show up at someone’s house and their sink is full of dishes and their clothes are in a heap on the couch unfolded and the floor isn’t swept or vacuumed don’t pass judgments…. After all, no one ever said they were glad they got the dishes done while lying on their death bed and reminiscing over their life!