A Epic Fail to the Golden Rule

Matt and I were so excited about the kids getting The Christmas Angel this morning and talking about the birth of Jesus. Well it didn't turn out quite like we had planned. Landon and Payce cried because they were so sad Red didn't come back. Landon and Matt read the book and Payce held the doll. She liked that since she doesn't get to touch the Elf. Matt and I set down and truly talked to the kids about the true meaning of Christmas they didn't get it they keep saying Red is not coming? We talked about St. Nicolas and how Santa is a giver. We talked about their behavior to each other and when they are round other people. About how God wants you to give your time or donations to others. We talked about the birth of Jesus and what we could do to make sure others knew Jesus was in our hearts. It has been an hour since the kids got The Christmas Angel they are sad they think Red is not coming because they haven't been good or given to others they promised God they would start being good. Fast forward to the rest of the day and Payce hasn't put the The Angel down and Landon out of the blue said I know what we will name her "Grace". It is growing on them a new tradition is sometimes hard on everyone. Nothing like teaching the kids the true meaning of the season and feeling like you have failed for 15 years. Such an epic fail on Matt and my part. I do believe it is not to late for the kids to learn what Christmas is all about and incorporate in their everyday life. We are so blessed for 2013 to really show Matt and I the true meaning of Christmas and now we have The Christmas Angel we have named Grace. I'm so glad this product is out to remind us during the season of God's love and understanding.
Today when I logged in on to Facebook someone had posted a time hop from two years ago today, that the citizens of our town stood up for the nativity scene in the park. It was before Matt and I arrived in town. The story goes like this City hall was in and dated with Christians standing up for a manger scene in the park because some people didn't want it on display. I'm here to report that Christians won! I posted a picture of the time hop in my collage tonight for y'all to read. I just can't believe we live in a town where people stand up for Christ openly.
I truly wish our country would still stand up for it's Christian values the way our little town did. With everything that has been happening in America of late the one thing that no one is saying is missing is Christ. We don't do or act according to the "Golden Rule" we all learned as children. To treat others the way we want to be treated.
So in closing my hope for this Christmas Season is that everyone will remember the "Golden Rule" and live it to it's fullest. If we all do that I truly feel this world will turn around and become a place that is amazing and awesome again and full of love.

Noeyville with a little ale collecting

Yesterday the alarm went off at 5am so the boys could go hunting. Payce and I stayed home and watched Maleficent. What a great movie the best one I have seen in years.

Payce's class is performing a Christmas rap and she is trying out for all three solo parts. She has been practicing at home for Tuesday's try outs. She is a little sassy and makes me laugh. Out of 60 kids we will see if she gets a part. I have a video but I can't figure out how to link it to the page.
Matt and I were ask to donate to the volunteer Fire department in our town last month and we donated a brisket, potato salad and beans to be cooked to the highest bidders request. So when the boys got home from hunting Matt started cooking for they request it today for their daughters birthday. Funny story about this family when we moved to this very small country town everyone was talking about Noeyville I thought it was a subdivision coming from the city. One day I ask my friend to take me their so I could see it. Their was more land then the eyes could see and only  Noey's lived there. So I had to laugh at myself to think I was picturing a huge subdivision and really what it was is the most beautiful land with breathe taken sunsets made of a small community of Noey family members. What could be better then that? Tonight as a sweet girl turned 12 We are very blessed for my kids to have such a great role model right next door and I got to see a little Noey living and I'm here to tell you it is a beautiful thing.
     One of my favorite things to collect at Christmas is Holiday alcohol. I pulled the bottles out to display yesterday. I collect very random things so it is not a shock I would collect alcohol because I'm not a big drinker. I made some cool wine cups with candle sticks and solo cups yesterday as well. Matt and I don't take things to serious when it comes to our dinner table so it was only fitting to mix fine China with plastic. I think it turned out great.
Tonight is the big night the Christmas Angel makes her debut. I'm really excited and can't wait to make her a tradition in our house.
I wanted to tell you something you should know about us. We are not perfect we may do things in our house you frown upon but we try. I feel whenever you in corporate religion in anything people always have a strong option. Yes Matt and I drink a little, Yes we want our kids to believe in fair tails and Santa's magic and of course we want them to know the true reason for the season of Lord Jesus Christ. It will not be easy to incorporate all these from day to day but we are going to try. Please don't judge how we incorporate the two and know we try really hard to live day to day and enjoy life as one big adventure while raising three kids.

Somebody stole baby Jesus and they think I have OCD!

Several of my friends say I have OCD. Obsessed with Christmas Disorder. I start decorating the week after Halloween and finish the day before Thanksgiving. I don't like to cook and people never come over for Thanksgiving so why not enjoy Christmas for two months. This year all the kids have done is grip and complain,  to the point where I was in tears thinking it shouldn't be this hard. So upset I'm like just screw it and started putting stuff in the attic. We already had three tress up that was more then enough, right??. Then Thomas ask why does Christmas mean so much to you? I stopped and went to the living room and thought what a great question. It took me some time to think about it but I think the answer has nothing to do with Christmas. It is the state of mind everyone goes in to during this time of year. Giving, thinking of others, slowing down enjoying each others company, saying hi to a stranger, generally caring and of course I get to redecorate the house in themes!! Truly though If we could all live our lives everyday the way we do between Thanksgiving and Christmas wouldn't this world be different?  So to answer his question Christmas means so much to me because I feel I see a little window to people's soul. After answering Thomas' question he was more willing to help and we finished putting all the tress up.
For the record I don't think I have OCD but you may if you come over this Christmas season. We put up Six trees that are 7 foot tall and two trees that are 3 foot tall. One village and numerous decorations. I was thinking the other day I have had some of these ornaments for over 20 years. We have these themed trees put up princess, hunting, Mickey Mouse, Precious Moments, Coke, Longhorn, Scooby, and my favorite tree is one that is all Hallmark ornaments Matt's mom collected as her boys were growing up. The decorations outside and the inside are ready for company. FINALLY!!
Our town's Economic Development and City started hosting Christmas in the Park every Thursday until Christmas. Tonight we attended it was great to see so many families enjoying hot chocolate, S'mores and local churches singing. The lights were awesome for our small town I was very proud of Matt and his crew they worked very hard. Their was one problem the town's nativity, someone already stole baby JESUS. Who does that?? I'm just so glad to live in a town that displays a huge nativity scene every year. Matt has a plan to add a doll wrapped in swaddling clothes Monday.
Payce wore her first Christmas attire of the Holiday, bring on The Christmas season the Martin's are ready. Oh yes Happy Thanksgiving y'all!!

I finished my Elf on the Shelf quilt!

My excitement is hard to contain right now. I made a string quilt with pieces of material. OMG so excited! When Matt and I moved to the country population less then 900 we wanted to embrace the country life style as much as possible. October I attend a quilt show and was totally captivated with how to make quilts and all the work that went in to it. I attend a bed turning and met two local quilt shop owners that took me under their wing and taught me as much as they could in two days. For two days I took it all in and learned so much. One of the vendors was selling an Elf on the Shelf quilting kit and I joked about adding quilting to my bucket list and I would love to make a Elf on the Shelf quilt. My friend Kristy ask was I serious and I said yes and we walked off.  Well Kristy surprised me and had bought the Elf on the Shelf quilting kit for me when I left. So for the last month I have been working on it when time permitted. Today we were joined my another Elf enthusiast Shelly. I'm making two Elf quilts and she is making three and we both have never quilted before. So between Kristy, Shelly, myself and Neal I finished my very first quilt!! I can't tell you how excited I am to cross making a quilt off my bucket list. I did it, I did it, I made a quilt. Please check out these local quilt shops to get started quilting today. http://www.acowgirlquiltshop.com/ and http://www.countrylivingquilt.com/

exhaust breathe with a little southen charm.

I have mentioned her name a few times but I really haven't talked about Payce just in case you think your not saying her name right it is pronounced Paycee. She is the true definition of a hot southern mess. After two boys I prayed for a girl and God delivered me a bona fide DIVA. She is smart, very literal and a little sassy would be a understatement. She loves fashion this girl has style that is out of this world at 7 years of age. Sometimes when she is sleeping I like to sneak in her room and watch her sleep because I can't believe she is mine. With that being said I debated to tell this on my blog because it deals with me but it is really funny about something she said.
Last week I walked Payce in to school and their was a car parked on the cross walk so we walked behind the car. Payce said mom do you smell that I said yes it is the exhaust from running the car. She said oh it smells just like your breathe in the mornings, when you are brushing my hair and my face is dirty you wipe it off with your spit and I make that terrible face. In the morning your spit stinks like a dead deer. What do you say to that? I just busted out laughing and stayed like 2 feet out of everyone's bubble that morning at school because I was late and had forgotten to brush my teeth. Tonight I had to laugh as a parent at dance was praising me for being a great mom and Payce walks out of dance class with no shoes, her dad's coat on and talking about drinking whiskey while holding a mason jar with water in it. Her mouth and actions shocks me everyday. Like when we were in Target last year she was an aisle ahead of me. When I got to the aisle where she was, she was on her knees praying to Jesus to tell Santa she has been really good and deserves this horse stall. It is one of my favorite pictures she didn't even know I had taken. Its a picture where she was in deep talk with the Lord about Santa.
To know her is to LOVE her!!! She is a true Angel sent to me by God even though she is a true southern hot mess.

Don't be broke next Christmas... Layaway!

Today is a Christmas tip that I have used year after year and it has proven to be the most helpful thing I do. What is it you ask?  It is putting things on Lay-a-way.  First have who ever you know you are buying for in December (kids, parents or even yourself) make a Christmas list in June Sounds crazy but here is when you find out if they want a TV, gaming system, iPad, camera or gun. The large items are really what you are looking for on the list. Then in July you head to your local pawn shop (I used Ezpawn) most of you are saying what is that. Wait stay with me and keep reading. Most offer Christmas in July and you can put the stuff on layaway for 6 months. They sale a 6 month guarantee that starts after you pick it up from the store and some times you can save over $100 per item. I have bought both the kids iPads, Thomas a Xbox360, two TV's, 2 laptops and 4 guns and almost 3 years later everything works just fine. You have to make payments once a month and I would check everything when you get it home just to make sure it works and if not you can take it back and exchange it just in case it doesn't.  Christmas morning you become the best Santa ever getting the big items they asked for. My kids wanted no large items this year thank God.
Now in September tell the kids you lost the Christmas list and have them make another one. Here is where you start looking for the smaller items. I know you are saying right now my kids have no idea what they want in September yes they do and trust me they really have no idea What they want in December either. So stay with me and you will thank me next year in December. Wal-Mart offers Layaway the end of September so have a list and know how much out of your paycheck you can spend with out putting yourself in a real pinch. Matt gets paid every two weeks so that gave us 7 paychecks and Spending $40 out of each check wouldn't hit our pocket book that hard. Wal-Mart doesn't make you pay once a month but I suggest you do. We pay on ours every two weeks. This year we didn't get to Wal-Mart in September but we still took $40 out of each check and when I finally got to Wal-Mart I put $120 as my down payment. Now it is November have them make another list and make sure you talk up what you have already put on layaway . The list will be a little different so in November and December you pick up the things they wanted you couldn't put on layaway. For example Thomas wants a North Face jacket we bought that on this paycheck. Landon wanted an adventure game for the xbox360 we bought that with the last paycheck. Yes, there is going to be last minute gifts everyone can't live with out and impulse purchases but you can afford them and more. Think how nice it is when Christmas comes your not freaking out saying your broke or your not running around like crazy looking for gifts that have been picked over or sold out. The holidays will be smoother and you will have a lot more time for Christmas activities with the family. I have three kids and this method has worked year after year. I Hope you try it next year and see if my method works for you.

Hope, Love and Christmas all in one day

Today Payce and I are full of holiday spirit. To start off the morning we went and helped decorate for the Relay for Life dinner for survivors called Harvest of Hope. The event is sponsored by our local board to remind people we are here to help all year not just at Relay time. Payce and I were late for setting up/decorating this morning not because we were not ready but because, You yes you, Kristy forgot to pick us up. It worked out perfect because by the time we drove in to town to help it was all set up. Job well done ladies. 

Then Payce, Kristy and I left the Relay event and headed to a Christmas open house at Becki's Cottage. We had a great time and met new faces and visited with good friends and the shopping was great too! So many must have Christmas decorations for the season. The food was amazing the presentation was perfect. Winter shocks me ever time I'm around her with her talents. I see us partnering in the near future on a event. She is shaking your head yes, I know it. Kristy won a door prize and I stayed on budget. We both had a wonderful time. Becki's Cottage is open during the Thanksgiving holiday if you would like to shop contact her on Facebook. Kristy and I had to hurry back to town because the Harvest of Hope Started at 5. Matt's job that I volunteered him for is to make the cornbread for tonight but I forgot he had 4H cooking club with Landon today. So guess who is making cornbread? Me! I bought 6 boxes of Jiffy.  I hope I don't burn them all. I had to call Matt's mom already on measurements and Payce talked me in to using her cupcake maker that only makes 6 at a time. Matt has called twice to make sure I got THIS. I assured him I did. Who am I kidding I'm nervous other people will be eating my food but I got this. Payce and I decorated the cornbread serving box cute I hope that counts in case they are nasty. The weather was terrible when Matt and the boys got home. So Matt and I decided to make the event tonight a date night. Even though families are welcome. I just still like to do the cancer stuff just us two. I know we are helping host but it is good to look out in the crowd and see people that are just like us making it everyday and having a good life years after they fought for their life. The menu was soups and deserts and the relay team out did themselves. The survivors I think had a wonderful time and we had a great turn out despite the rain. Our guest speaker made me cry talking about never giving up "hope" in your walk day to day. This also goes for people without cancer. We all go through different hardships on a daily bases but we should never give up hope. The survivor baskets were a big hit and we can't wait to start handing them out on the local level. 

In closing today I know you are wondering when am I going to get to "The Angel and Elf" part of the blog. Well I ordered the Angel last Tuesday so I'm sure it will take a week to come in and Red doesn't come till after Thanksgiving. Matt and I have decided that The Christmas Angel will not come till December 1st. But after reading my last 5 blogs I just want you to know I have been writing about some of my true angels and elves.

The Joy of giving and rocking it on a budget.

Today I went to Bryan with a friend and did a little Christmas shopping. I had one mission to decorate Payce's room for Christmas in the Frozen theme for under $30.00. If any of you know me that is REALLY holding back. So I had to really think outside the box and look all around the house for things I already had that would work for this idea. To start with I couldn't find her pink tree anywhere that I have used for her room for years. The only tree I had was a 7ft tall green tree and of course white wire lights that go on a white tree (that I just love). I added 6 blue poinsettias at .98 cents and a large bag of cotton for $5.00 to cover the white cords. The Frozen ornaments were way out of my budget so I went to the Dollar Store and bought some snowflakes. The ending verdict is I spent $16.00 total used white wire lights on a green tree and of course I pulled it off. I am so proud of myself and to top it off my little girl thinks I'm the best mom ever!!!  The Dollar Store had snow in a can while we were there. It was the coolest thing ever. Anyway I picked it up several time and keep putting it back. By the time we finished shopping I was in the check out line and my friend checked out in front of me and donated to the "Joy of Giving" for a dollar. When it was my turn to check out I so wanted that snow in a can. The clerk ask would you like to donate to "Joy of Giving"? With my friend standing their watching me for my response I reluctantly said "Yes". Guilt giving still counts doesn't it? I so wanted that Snow in a can but I know donating to "Joy of Giving" was a much better use of my dollar.

So my question to you is:
If you give from the heart or donate because you feel guilty at the end of the day isn't that the same?

Do you have MSD?

Landon is our middle son. He is 10 and beats to his own drum. He makes me smile everyday and I love being his mom. On Monday morning on the way to school Landon said he had MSD. I was like Landon what is that? He said "Miss Summer Disease". I just died laughing because he was so serious. He does have a little cough. I told him if the nurse calls from school and sends you home because of MSD, I will pick you up and buy you an ice cream. Thomas our oldest and Payce the baby would have been like game on, almost like I issued a challenge. Not Landon! Also on Monday it was our schools last day for catalog fundraiser orders. Landon was the only one out of the kids that wanted to use his own money to buy two Christmas gifts. He looked and looked and spent $28.00. We took his $28 but Matt and I ended up writing the check and put the money back in his saving with out telling him. It was just such a nice thing for him to offer. The fundraiser is over they sold enough to get her the limo ride and Landon got his race car track. Tuesday I woke up with a sore throat and couldn't talk and of course Landon said "Mom you got it". I'm looking at him like what? He said "MSD". I really think he thinks it is a real disease. Now Matt is sick and Landon said "Miss Summer Disease spreads fast" Don't we all have MSD this time of year? As of now there is no cure so we have to suffer in this hot one day, cold the next weather. Just be glad you didn't catch HWD "Hate Winter Disease" that he made up over dinner tonight. If you catch MSD have an ice cream and soda and Thank Landon for catching it and giving it to you. Don't worry you don't have to be quarantined to your house. 

A True Christmas Miracle

One year ago today is the day that changed my way of thinking forever. I had the chance of seeing the true meaning of a Christmas miracle with my own eyes. The county that we live in doesn't have a foster home, so Matt and I were asked to foster two kids over the holidays. I had only been cancer free for about 2 months and what the cancer and medical bills didn't take; the stress of being a one income family for sure sucked us dry. I was in a dark hole where I couldn't even get out of bed. Just when I wanted to give up hope and lay it all down that I can't live this broke country life anymore, God reveled a little of his plan to us. Not only will it work; he will make it work with 2 more mouths to feed. It was great to see a little reason of why we are here and that we were on the right path. Thanksgiving would be our first holiday with the kids. How were we to make it? God provided us with people to help with the day to day food and Thanksgiving meal.

I will start with the generosity of our very small community. The out pouring of support we received was amazing to say the least. We ended up with more food then we knew what to do with. Everything from people cooking meals for us, leaving grocery bags full of food in Matt's truck, our local B&B grocery store donating a gift card and several Churches providing food and the schools collecting monetary gift for clothes and a trip to The Duck Dynasty Warehouse. So many local people we didn't even know stopping us to give us encouraging words and giving us thanks for what we were doing. It was great for the kids to be with us over Thanksgiving because in 2013 we had so much to be Thankful for.

I was still worried because the Christmas season was rapidly approaching and I know we didn't have much to give anyone this season. Once again God provided! We had several friends and family members send PayPal donations and a dear friend got us tickets to Santa's Wonderland in Bryan. If you haven’t ever been there it is very magical and my favorite place to go during the holidays. We have gone for the past 10 years straight. With this being our foster kids first time to ever see Santa, I wanted them to see the best. In Santa's Workshop the kids were looking at Santa so mesmerized and Matt and I were looking to Heaven thanking God for this wonderful experience. It was truly a magical moments Disney couldn't touch. For those of you that know me you know it was very hard for me to say that but it is the truth.  Some days were hair pulling and very stressful. We lived in a very small house having 2 teenagers, two 9 year old boys and one princess. Once again I was like Matt we can't do it anymore. It is too hard and I don’t think we have anymore to give. We had a court case the next day and Matt and I decided we just couldn't do it anymore. After praying all night for God to have us make the right decision for everyone involved. We knew we needed a Christmas miracle and boy did God deliver tenfold on that prayer. I woke up like I do every morning early so I can scroll Facebook and there it was Beverly's post. I will never forget the shock that I felt while reading it. God reviled that we were doing the right thing and he will always provide. The post was to let us know we were adopted by a Pageant Group called Stina's Ultimate Supreme Team. We were going to be their Christmas Pay it Forward. Every day I got a box in the mail for 30 days of gifts for the kids and us. By the way, yes I cried everyday a box would show up. Some went under the tree, some were Christmas activities and someone sent a whole dinner. I have never seen anything like this in my life. Then after all the boxes arrived we received a monetary donation from them too. Again… yes I cried. All of this restored my Faith not only in the world but in the love Jesus has for us all. I will never forget the Christmas Miracle that saved our Christmas in 2013.  It allowed us to show 2 kids what a real Christmas was and show our family what the true meaning of Christmas is. Matt and I learned a valuable lesson in 2013; to give it all up to God. It’s not easy to do but when you allow him to take control of life it will be better then you could ever imagine.

Update on the kids and us. Matt and I finally got a house close to where he works and I have three part time jobs but I'm off every day to pick up the kids and run them around to all their activities. Our kids are doing amazing and our other babies are home with their parents, she is still valedictorian of her class and I still have a great relationship with them and I love and pray for them daily. As I cry writing this post I'm reminded how it was important to me that 2014 needed to be more about Jesus and less about the holidays. I still would never be able to repay any of you for what you did for my family, but every day I look for a way to pay it forward. Thanks you and God bless. 

The beginning of Our Christmas Season

To start from the beginning of us and how we got here would take years and years and a lot of laughs and tears, so I decided we should start from today. I am going to tell you about our Christmas traditions, tips, activities, funny things the kids say and pictures that makes us, The Martin's. I'm sure I will blog about years past from time to time, but I really want the blog to be about The Angel and Elf 2014. Did someone say Angel? What Angel?? We have a new addition to the family. No... Nobody is pregnant. I ordered The Christmas Angel today. We have been going to church more this year and wanted to add more of the true meaning to Christmas in our day to day routine during this season. I was so excited when I found the Christmas Angel and can't wait for our new Christmas tradition to come in the mail. However we could never forget about "Red" our Elf on the Shelf.
Santa delivered him to the Sugar Shack in Bastrop, Texas. If you have never been there it is a great locally owned and operated shop that truly cares about their customer. Drusilla, helped me set up a great surprise for the kids when Red arrived at the Sugar Shack that day. She was very dramatic about the gift Santa had left them to open when they got home. The Kid's were so excited and couldn't wait to see what Santa had left for them. Now fast forward 5 years and YES we are that annoying couple that has an over the top Elf. Everything from mini breakfast items(pancakes,sausages, muffins,etc) to Elf gifts and any mischief he could get in to around the house. Please know some morning we forgot to move him and would throw him with the hope he would land somewhere other then the floor. We have had to build an Elf hospital in the freezer because we've forgotten to move him a time or two. Our Elf is dirty, old and worn out but every time I pick up a New Elf to buy I always end up putting it back. I just can't seem to part with our, Red.
I hope that all of the good deeds that the Angel will have us do will off set Reds mischievous deeds. I am truly looking forward to the Angel showing all of us what the true meaning of this season is!!
So this Christmas season I hope you enjoy our Holiday traditions and we will try to incorporate The Angel also and hopefully you will remember the reason for this Christmas Season.
The Christmas Angel - http://www.yourchristmasangel.com/home/
Elf on the Shelf -  http://www.elfontheshelf.com/

The Sugar Shack - http://www.sugarshackbastrop.com/