Thank you!

At our Christmas Tea Party the other day I heard from several of you that have been reading this little blog o' mine.  I just wanted to say, "Thank you!!!"  I appreciate you taking the time to read.

I write for lots of reasons and I'm grateful when you take a peek here.

- I love to write!  It helps me to sort my thoughts.  It is also an outlet to share what's on my mind - things that the Lord brings into my heart, the things that He brings me through.  I feel very strongly that the Lord wants me to write, in much the same way that I felt very strongly that God wanted me to preach in an earlier season of my life.

- I love sharing my experiences/experience.  The Bible says that the older women should teach the younger women.  I figure that there's someone out there younger than me, who can learn from me - my experiences, my good days, my hard days, my pain and my victories.  I've benefited so much from the wisdom of my mother and friends who are always willing to share their motherhood wisdom with me.  I like to pass it along to you.

- I love our life that God ordained for us here in this little Hollow.  Sharing the joy of the blessings He has given us is a way to be a witness... to show our real life, that we really try every day to live for Him.  It's just another way to let our little light shine.

So thanks for stopping by.  Know that it truly is appreciated.

How It Went

I think it may safely be said that the Mother Daughter Christmas Tea Party was a smashing success.  Last year, I created the menu with only the budget in mind and ended up with several items that needed only Mommy's delicate touches.  And, the prep was very stressful, which was counter-productive to the point of this party:

Teaching our children how to be hospitable. 

I can honestly say that I enjoyed this party prep, which, if you're a Mom, you know that's a really.big.deal.

#partiesareusuallynotfunformommies

Other themes I desire to get across to the girlies through this party:
- Give of what you have.
- Perfection does not equal hospitality.
- More money does not necessarily make a better party.  

So, this year, I took the previously mentioned lessons and the menu was budget AND kid-friendly. 

Check out the Glitter Playdoh in progress!

All hands on deck!

This Taco Dip was such a hit.  So easy and so yummy.  Blossom1 was thoroughly disappointed that there were no leftovers.  (I'm tellin' you, the bowl looked like it had been LICKED clean!)

 

We made mini brownie trifles too.  Box mixes of brownies from the local Bent N Dent store, plus cool whip, mini chocolate chips and sugared strawberries.  I'd love to do them up nice in those perfectly clear plastic cups, but have you seen the price of those fancier cups???  (I promised my husband four years ago when we hatched this idea, that it would not become a burden on us.  So far, so good.) 

(Note beautiful Golden fur in background patiently awaiting dropped crumbs.)

Blossom4 busyness.

This is what happens when you plan your party when Grandma's in town instead of at some tropical island.  She takes a nap with Blossom3!  And helps with anything and everything.  YAY!

She also brings things like special Mary Kay stuff to bless the Mommies with favors and prizes! 

Her generosity MADE the Mommies' day!!

Snowman Olaf Bowling!  Such an easy and cute game.  Blossom2, Blossom1 and I had a great time doing the Olaf faces.  During the games part of our party, the one little baby child boy, who tagged along with his Mama, jumped off her lap, toddled over and knocked over the snowman bowling tower.  You could tell he was thinking, "I get this game.  You knock things over!"  I chuckled over his gleeful smile!

"C'mon girls, we're gonna have an assembly line!"

"What's an assembly line?" 

It's Mommy's favorite way to efficiently do things!
Homemade favor bags - check!
Frozen themed Chex Mix - check!
Aforementioned Glitter Playdoh - check!
Dollar Store Cookie Cutter - check!
Blue Candy Canes - check!

You rocked the favors, girls!

(Have you noticed that this a very kid-involved party??)

(Can I just say that I love free printables?  The links on my Pinterest Christmas Tea Party board were total winners!  The Blossoms were so happy with them!)

 

They're all dressed up and putting the finishing touches on the Mini Brownie Trifles. 

 

Do you see those snowflakes hanging from the ceiling?  Six for a DOLLAR at the Dollar Store!  I think I was awarded Mom of the Year from the Blossoms for those.  (I love how much they appreciate the little things!)  I already had to promise that we'd leave them up for a couple more days.  They will be reused since Blossom3 chose Frozen for the theme of her birthday party in a month.  Yay for reusing stuff!!!

At the end of the day, as I wrangled Blossom4 into bed to get her to wind down, I found this waiting for me. 

Gratitude.  It makes it all worth while. 

I've never been a fan of talking about money.  The Rugged Mountain Man says it isn't polite because there's always gonna be someone who has more than you and someone who has less than you (so it either breeds discontent or discomfort.)  Additionally, I feel like if I say it's a budget party, people will view my choices as cheap, even when I try to accomplish them tastefully.  But, I've decided to be frank with you about this budget-friendly party because I once attended my friend Linda's budget friendly party.  I.was.so.inspired.  Her games were SO creative and inexpensive.  My girlies THOROUGHLY enjoyed themselves.  I realized that "cheap" is rooted in selfishness, but budget-friendly can have hospitality as the point.  An attitude of hospitality is what makes a guest have a good time.  So, we may not be able to drop $150 for a perfect party, but we CAN make sure you feel welcome, have yummy food to eat and have someone to talk to when you come over to our place.  Last night, I couldn't sleep after the party.  I felt so blessed, because I felt like our home had been a vehicle of blessing to others.  And the Blossoms got to be a part of that.

Christmas Tea Party To Do List

Those with toddlers might appreciate what it takes to get ready for a party:

- Wipe the Chocolate Chip smudges off the bathroom sink/faucet/switchplate and counter.

- Remove my homemade anti-toddler-lock-yourself-in mechanism (aka TAPE) from the guest bathroom door.

- Fold up all the "Throws" and arrange them neatly on the couches... AGAIN.

- Have someone dustbust all the paper clipping/scraps off the floor.

It's times like these that most of us are tempted to flip out over how much still needs to be done.  You all know that I try to keep our house tidy and the girlies do their best to help.  And yet, the temptation is there.

Mamas, remember this-
My house isn't gonna be stunning for the magazine perfect Frozen themed Mother Daughter Christmas Tea Party.  However, it is ready to be warm, inviting and welcoming for a fun-filled evenings with friends. 

Just in case you ever think I've got it all together...

just remember, I don't.  But, every day I wake up and keep trying.  And although today was tiring and I've resorted to calling our home, "Crazytown, USA," tomorrow morning, I'm going to get up, educate our children, continue tidying our home and keep on throwing wash in the washer. 

 

One random thing - Blossom3 observed me ironing Daddy's shirt not long ago.  Since then, she dug out my hand mixer and was lugging that around the house "ironing" all blankets and throws.  (I'm the lucky one that gets to fold them up twenty times a day to put back on the couches.)  I didn't like the cord that was tagging along.  It said DANGER to me.  So, I snipped the cord off my old iron and gave it to her. 

Every day, I notice this iron in random spots around the house.  My heart skips a beat because it looks like my dining room table is going to be uber-hot!  My strange sense of humor (Thanks, Dad) gets a wry chuckle out of it.

My Mom came over today to do some Christmas baking with us.  I thought "Frozen" themed Chex mix was adorable. 

 

Blossom4 thought it was highly entertaining, as she dumped the remaining contents of blue sugar all over the floor.  For about the fortieth time, I was cleaning up one of her little messes and then struggling to remember what in the world I was doing before that.  (Dipping Peanut Butter Balls?  Making lunch?  Packaging cookies?)

I totally had to show you my Mom's beat up old cookbook.  It's the one she used all of my growing up years.  Don't think she needs a new one... no way... the best cookbooks are the ones that are falling apart!

 

Yes, we actually did get some stuff done.  Don't believe the above picture.  That was the only corner of the kitchen that didn't look like a cookie-baking battlefield.  (My kitchen does not look Pinterest-worthy when we are bakin' up a storm and DEFINITELY not when Blossom4 is roaming around helping herself to chocolate chips and begging Grandma for m&ms!)

Blossom1 and Grandma got a huge kick out of carefully placing each m&m on these cookies. 

As if I didn't think the kitchen looked bad enough, I let the girlies paint tonight. 

 

#whatwasithinking

I'm telling you Blossom4 is FAST, faster than Calamity Jane.  I turned around to wash a dish.  She spilled her water.  I cleaned that up.  I turned around to remember what I was doing.  Oh ya, washing dishes.  She painted her mouth.  I wiped her up.  I leaned over to check my email.  She's DRINKING her paint water.  I cleaned her up.  I'm standing there scratching my head, trying to remember what I was doing.  She decided to refill her own water.  I clean up the floor, the faucet, the counter AND her.  I decided to lay out Daddy's breakfast stuff and now she is PAINTING my cupboards.  She does it so carefully and sweetly though... Ya, I finally just gave up doing anything and put Blossom3 and Blossom4 in the tub.  I stared at the wall like a crazy person while they giddily splashed and sloshed.

Then, I called my Mom and asked her if I will survive this stage of motherhood.  She said I will.  Thank God for this stage and thank God for grace.

On Favoritism

I don't think anyone realizes how much favoritism hurts, until you're on the wrong side of it.  I've been on both sides of it.  I've been the favorite and I've been the forgotten.  My children have been the favorites at times, and they've also been the forgotten.  I've also unwittingly shown favoritism, though now I realize how awful it is. 

Let's go back to my gymnastics coaching days.  There was a little girl who was lovable and cute with a warm personality.  Everyone doted on her.  She got lots of hugs from me.  While there was another little girl who had more of a reserved personality.  I didn't hug her.  Later, I overheard her mom expressing, "Why doesn't my daughter get any hugs?"  Yes, I was a teenager.  And, I endeavored to be more fair after that.  For my part, I didn't really know that the other girl wanted any hugs, but no matter... favoritism hurts, whether we know it or not. 

I also was a normal teenage girl in that I loved snatching a baby before or after church and toting him/her around.  Babies are like living dolls, only they cry and coo better than dolls.  Yes, I had a favorite baby and favorite toddlers.  (They had special nicknames for me and would take me if they couldn't have Mommy - teenage heart melting...)  I showed favoritism. 

Fast forward.  I once walked in the church foyer with our two girlies (at the time) and no one said a word.  (This is fine with me.)  However, then, another child entered and there was a huge to-do.  It was the blaring contrast that caught my attention and grieved me.  I don't think our children noticed and I sure wasn't going to point it out to them.  They didn't need the attention.  It was the favoritism that bothered me. 

I was chatting with another mom and found that her heart hurt her when she saw her children on the wrong side of favoritism.  How can this be so in the church?!

Do you remember the story of Jacob and Leah?  The fact that God hates favoritism is plain to me.  Jacob loved Rachel better.  Yes, that was the wife he actually wanted.  He never wanted to marry Leah in the first place, but God expected him to act fairly and nobly even then.  Leah doesn't even sound like she had a nice personality (she was mean to Rachel!)  And what kind of woman would go along with a scheme like tricking a man out of the wife he wanted?!?!  Yet, God wouldn't let Jacob get away with favoritism.

Just because someone is cuter,
sweeter,
in a better (or worse) family situation,
nicer,
funnier,
more accepting to love,
wears trendier clothes...
you fill in the blank....
doesn't mean that it is ok to favor them. 

And, a child is a someone, as much as an adult is a someone.