Merry Christmas Everyone!!! As many of you know, this is my most favorite time of the year and this year is no different! Thanks to the acapella group "Pentatonix" this year I have a brand new favorite Christmas song (replacing Jessica Simpson’s “I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus”). If you haven't heard their version of “Drummer Boy”, I suggest you go listen to it on repeat for the rest of the day (I’m not kidding either)!
This Christmas break has been full of sickness in our family. My Mom has had something that has kept her on the couch for the past 5 days, my niece and nephew were both sick so we couldn't see them yesterday or today, and my cousin’s son Hanley was also sick. Although my Dad wont admit it, I think he’s getting sick too because I saw him poppin’ "Emergen-C" while my Grandma, Mom, and I were playing a ‘aggravation’ --- a Marble Game.
During this Marble game I asked both of them what their favorite gifts they ever received were. My Mom instantly said “GO-GO BOOTS” & my Grandma being the typical sweet granny she is said having her family together. I asked again telling her to pick something tangible, she then said “a wooden doll house I never got to play with". When I asked her why she didn't get to play with it and she simply said her mom would never let her and her 5 sisters play inside because they would “mess up” the house. She then proceeded to tell me that when it was cold outside they sat in the car, her & her 5 sisters, in a cold car, on cold days… I don't like the thought of that one bit!
This made me start thinking about my "someday kids". I don't want to be that kind of mom for them, And I also started thinking about how I want a "someday husband" who is active in "our" "someday little peoples" lives. Every holiday I see a father who honestly doesn't care what’s going on or where the family is gathered. Instead he sits in front of the t.v. watching a mixture of sports and cops…. I personally think the solution would be more Jesus! I so look forward to finding my "someone" who loves Jesus more than me and then create mini people who love Jesus from a young age with him! I sometimes wonder how different my life would have been had I been raised according to Proverbs 22:6 which says "Train up a child in the way he should go, & when he is old he will not depart from it.”. I am so very thankful for this Baby who was brought into the world though, the baby that lived a perfect life and was crucified so my sins would be white as snow. My sins have been covered by grace! I think about that this Christmas, MY SINS… are washed and I've done terrible things. I’m coming up on 5 years since i overdosed and I’m still Alive and I’m still drug free!!! My Jesus forgave and still forgives me daily! That's something to remember on this Christmas Day and not all the gifts I do or don't get, I have a very active and present Heavenly Father who Is with me in my everyday, ordinary life and who loves me and knows me. And that, my friends, is gift enough!!!
Because this is Christmas Day and also because I love giving things away, I've decided to do the remainder of the 12 days of giveaways as a BIG GIVEAWAY GIFT that will include the remaining 4 days (a necklace made by my AMAZING Mom (lettered by me!), a Coloring Book of your choice, a set of personalized notecards, & a 5x7 Art Print of your choice)! In order to enter this last Christmas Giveaway, I’m asking that you comment/tag with a friend’s name that you would like to share your gift with. It would be fun to hear why you’re picking them too but I realize some of that may want to keep that private. Maybe it’s someone who is having a rough season and they need a little extra encouragement, or maybe it’s your child who doesn't yet know the love of our God, or maybe it’s your mom (I know I would tag mine!). Enter every day if you’d like, I don't mind... the more the merrier!!! Get your entries in by THIS SATURDAY at 8pm for your chance to win! The winner will be announced this Sunday, December 29th at 12pm and then Jill (one of my #VWELF's) and I will split and ship your gifts packaged all sorts of pretty!
Hand-made Necklace made by my uber-talented Mom (hand-lettered by me)
Coloring Book (Boy, Girl, or Big...Your Choice!)
Personalized note-cards
5x7 of ANY of my Art Prints! (This is just an example!)
Have fun and start sharing, commenting, Pinteresting (is that even a word?!), Tweeting, & tagging! We can't wait to read all of your comments!
Finally, I just want to say a HUGE Thank You again for an amazing first 3 months!. Jill and I work super hard to respond to every message you send us and we have been working incredibly hard this holiday season to help lessen the stress of gift giving! We look forward to a Great 2014 with all of you! You’re making my childhood dreams come true with every purchase and for that, I am also grateful!
Hold on right quick!!!! I can't forget to announce the winner of Day 8's Giveaway! The winner of my watercolor "Merry & Bright" print is Vickie Martindale Downey! Congratulations! If you will email me at valeriewienersart@gmail.com I need to get some information from you so I can get this in the mail to you!
You are Beautiful, Believe It!
