today.

drew plays trumpet... often.  with gusto!

boy.  i had a hard beginning to this week and i'm having a difficult time pulling myself out of it.

90% of the heartache in my life is hurting for other people, who i love, who make choices that don't bring them happiness.

it is hard.

in just a few days, my life has started to blow me over.

it's AMAZING what a difference a happy heart makes to a mother.

jakob plays drew's trumpet in jazz band-- before school tue and thur morning.

nothing in my life has changed, but i feel heavier.

a bit sad, a bit lonely.
Christmas feels heavier (even though I'm just about done with all the hard stuff).
humph.

jakob seems tiny to me with all those big kids.

this morning i got out my hymn book and sang for my morning devotional time.

it was good for my soul.
i went shopping with a sweet friend and my three kiddos.
that was good for my soul, too.
my husband cooked dinner and i went ALONE to the middle school band concert.
i love band.
i love seeing my sweet boys blowing their instruments with gusto and tapping their foot and being surrounded by other cute kids that i love.

drew is so cute with his trumpet playing friends... they all play trumpet with GUSTO!  i love it.

band was good for my soul.

jakob plays the french horn with his good friend, jared.

i'm going to bed, early.

sleep with be good for my soul.

i'm going to spend a long time on my knees tonight.

prayer is good for my soul.i love this season.

i want to feel the joy of this season.

i want my family to feel the Christmas joy.

even if we are without extended family.

life is good.

we are blessed.

Christmas is good for my soul. 

if you are hurting or lonely or sad or overwhelmed this season... know that my thoughts are with you.

it is hard being sad during the holidays.

i hope that somehow, the Spirit of Christ can conquer all of our sadness and help us be Merry and Bright.

I know He can.

(I'll pray for you and yours, you pray for me and mine-- Ok?)

Did you read my pumpkin edit yesterday?

i know all of you rushed into your dumpsters and rescued your pumpkins after that moving post...

canning pumpkin (without pressurizing it) is dangerous.

most sources don't even recommend canning it with pressure.

freezing still works.

oh, i hate it when my grand plans are not so grand after all... 



love these boys.

maybe tomorrow will be a better day...

(todd and i ended the night by sneaking away with drew to a bakery in town that is open till 9pm. 

i am so blessed and i really, really love the boys in my life.)