Making A Home And Family

I’m looking forward to an afternoon with my family for a BBQ at my sister’s house.  Cousins playing, adults chatting, and good food while celebrating Father’s Day – sounds like a great day to me!

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A Happy Father’s Day to my Dad always took the time to color or draw on the living room floor, taught me how to ride my bike and drive (he has the patience of a saint when teaching someone) and even built me custom go-karts, read so many stories after a hard days work, and worked so many hours so that we could travel and so that I could have a lot of fun opportunities growing up.  He still saves the day by showing up to help with farm work and his skills are unmatched.  I love you, Dad!  You rock!

A Happy Father’s Day to the man who is the DaDa to my own children.  He is the rock of our family supporting us all in so many ways.  He makes my kiddos smile, laugh, and play in a way only a DaDa can do.  Read that as “rough housing” and that’s when MaMa leaves the room and cringes at every sound in hopes something or someone isn’t broken.  That’s what Dads are for though, right?   We love you DaDa!!!

To all the Fathers out there, and many people who take on that role without the name of Daddy, I hope you have a wonderful day today!

This holiday season, we are simplifying.  It’s a little bit out of need to stay sane, to save some cash, but really it’s to ENJOY the season and teach our children what it’s really all about.  It’s about being kind and giving to others from the heart and being with the ones we love.  With that focus, I have done a few things differently this year.

::I bought all my purchased gifts online.  I don’t like going to a packed mall to shop because people are rude and makes me angry in the season where I shouldn’t hold that feeling.  It was so much easier just to shop while the kids napped rather than taking them out and causing stress for all of us.  I understand the sentiment of buying local, but my focus wasn’t there this year.

::We didn’t purchase any fancy decorations.  Val and I made decorations together and we really enjoyed our time together making salt dough ornaments and chain garland.  It’s so cool to look around and see our work making beauty in our home.

::We cut a tree from our own property instead of going to a tree lot.  We definitely plan on planting more trees and replenishing, so I don’t feel guilty getting a real tree.  Val and I have plans to put it back outside after we have used it and decorate it with edible things for the birds.  Maybe some peanut butter covered pinecones dipped in bird seed and strings of popcorn.

::We will be baking for some of our gifts using zucchini from our garden and eggs from our chickens.  Who doesn’t love desserts made from real food and lots of love?

::As usual, Val will be gifting some of her crafts too.  There’s beauty, creativity, and so much joy in her paint strokes.

HOW ARE YOU SIMPLIFYING THIS YEAR TO FOCUS ON WHAT REALLY MATTERS MOST TO YOU?

What really kicked off my thoughtfulness of this topic was The Organic Sister’s coaching calls related to the holiday season and how to thrive through it all.  For only a few more days, you can treat yourself to the holiday thriving kit or a mindfulness meditation too.  Go grab it for yourself.  You and your family deserve for you to be calm, mindful, and thriving this year

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I hope you have a wonderful day with family, friends, and good food.  

Picture courtesy of ~ http://www.girard248.org/holidays/thanksgiving/hornofplenty.gif