The Train To Crazy

25 Days of Giving Kick-Off

  Can you believe it is December 1st? Are you ready to prepare your hearts, minds and children for Christmas? I am pumped up this year and I hope you are too. 

Just joining us? We are starting the 25 Days of Giving, which is a daily celebration of giving of ourselves. We are taking advantage of the days leading up to the celebration of Jesus to teach our children the true meaning of Christmas. Tired of your children opening their Christmas presents and then asking if there are more? Frustrated that your children think Christmas is Santa's birthday? It isn't too late to jump on this train! I've written some helpful posts to get you started. 

What is the 25 Days of Giving?

What are some free (or nearly free) activities we can do?

What are some ways we can use our money and resources to give in a way that children understand?

The holidays stress you out? Worried that this will take too much time to organize or will feel unnatural?  Here is a list of 25 activities for you! Just print them out and chose one a day!

Is life hectic for you right now? New baby in the house, 17 house guests? You don't need to do this every day if that doesn't work with your life right now. Last year I had a one month old baby and believe me, there were more than a few days we didn't stick to our schedule and that is okay! This isn't about adding another thing to your "to do list." 

I've heard from nearly a dozen of you that you will be joining us this year and that is so exciting! I'd love to hear more about your ideas!

How are you planning to introduce this to your family?

How are you connecting the idea of giving to Christmas?

Do you plan to document your 25 Days of Giving? We'd love to read about it! 

And finally, there will be a giveaway again this year. The winner will be among those of you who join us on this journey, whether it be for just a handful of days or the full 25 days. Hint: make sure to let me know you are joining us! Once again, this will not be a traditional giveaway but you'll just have to wait to find out what it is!

Day 1 is about to begin!

The 25 Days of Giving is just around the corner?   Can you believe tomorrow is Day One? Are you excited? Be sure to check back tomorrow for the official kick off of the 25 Days of Giving! 

Still trying to decide if you want to participate? It doesn't need to be difficult. This shouldn't be just one more thing that makes you dread Christmas! This should be natural and fun. Just Mothering Through has posted her 25 activities and it really shows how natural this can be. Don't stress about how this is expensive or time consuming. The point is to focus on God's gift to us by learning how to give of ourselves during this season. Our culture has told us is all about focusing on yourself and what you want. This is about focusing on what it is really about.

Still not convinced? Still stressed? Just print out this easy and almost free list of activities. {If you are reading this in a reader you will need to click through to see the list} Make a chain or put them in a jar to do one each day. There, how easy was that? 

25 Days of Giving

Don't forget to stop by tomorrow!! Are you joining us? Feel free to use the button above!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Tonight we'll light the first Advent candle.

 

We had a multitude of illness on Thanksgiving so nome of our guests could come. We made this turkey. He turned out well and the silver lining is that we'll still have some on Christmas!

 Are you decorating for Christmas?

Come on, say hello. It's about dessert.

Alright, I know that there are A LOT more readers out there that have never commented on my blog. I thought I'd give you a chance to comment. I'm throwing you a softball. Really, it's an easy question, but you have to answer! 

So here is the question. What holiday dessert do you absolutely love? And don't say you don't like any because that can't possibly be true. It doesn't even need to be a real holiday dessert but maybe just something that you have on holidays.

Now here is my answer. It is quick and easy.

Chocolate peanut butter balls. Oh my goodness these are so good you really must make them this year.   Please forgive me for tempting you if you have peanut allergies in your house. And trust me when I say that even though this picture might look good, the first bite is 10 times better than the picture looks and the second bite is even better than that. My mom always makes these around Christmas and we line up around the block to get them. I've made them the past few years and I'm sure we'll be making some more this year. And trust me when I say this recipe is 100% better than any other peanut butter ball recipe you'll find out there. Trust me on this one. 

And here is the new Christmas treat I'll be attempting this year. 

Peppermint bark.  Yes, I'm hoping with all my hope that it tastes just like this. Because this, my dear friends, is just how I imagine heaven would taste. Probably. We were given a box of this one time and we didn't open it and even considered giving it away because we aren't really peppermint people. Is that a type of people? Anyway, we decided to taste it before passing it on and OH MY. Needless to say the price is a bit inhibitive so I'm going to try to make this heavenly goodness. I'll let you know how it goes.

So, back to you. What treats do you like during the holidays?

Have you noticed...

...that rounded corners are now really trendy ever since P Dub featured them? I know a few of you were doing it before then, and I actually quite like them. So, here is my first (and probably last) rounded corners photo. Not that there is anything wrong with them...

And by the way, I know Thanksgiving isn't over yet but I've waited as long as I could to put up my Christmas banner.

Stocking stuffers

So, I think I've collected the majority of the stocking stuffers I'm giving the girls. Simple things like a little wooden spoon, some wiki stix (but the generic cheap $1 ones), an ugly scarf I found for 50 cents, you know, good stuff. This isn't random stuff but "stuff" they'll actually love and use.  I've been eyeing a few cute things over at Land of Nod. These "All Mixed Up Stacking Puzzles" are SO cute! And right now Land of Nod has free shipping on all their stocking stuffers. So, if you could, be a doll and head on over there. Just be sure you click the link on the left! Or, if you've already planned out what you are getting your kids but really want a cute little play kitchen are some super fun bedding for your little one, just Create a Gift Registry for Baby at The Land of Nod

So, while we are trying to make sure our Christmas isn't focused on the receiving end of things, we are still giving our girls a few gift and a stocking. If you narrow the number of gifts down, it really forces you to think more about each purchase. I think we've decided on 4 gifts. Probably. One outfit (I'm making them), one stuffed animal (also homemade), one book and one toy. I think we can stick to this. I think. We don't have a great track record in this department, however. 

And, since my girls don't know what the word "blog" is, and they never surf the web, I think I'll divulge some of my gifts ahead of time!

The 4 "and a half" year old:

The Book: Dr. Suess Beginner books set. Like 10 books in one for about $10 from Costco. Can't beat it.

The outfit: can you say plaid?

The stuffed animal: either an elephant or maybe Molly Monkey. Can't decide. She IS super cute. And I could give her a matching plaid outfit... hmmm....

The 3 year old:

The Book: Where the Sidewalk Ends 30th Anniversary Edition: Poems and Drawings  Did you ever read this as a kid? I LOVED it. I know most of the poems are a bit above a 3 year old's head but she just loves poems and rhymes right now. In fact, she also loves to mimic- in rhyme. So, if you say "let's go" she says "mets ko". You get the picture. Constantly. It is actually humorous and if she's going to mimic I'll take the rhyming mimic any day.

Outfit: more plaid, but different.

The stuffed animal: more of the same.

The not so baby, baby:

The book: a Lift-the-Flap Board Book  I love lift the flap books. So much more interaction and fun. But, they have to be the sturdy board book variety or those flaps don't last as long as they should... at least around here.

The outfit: more plaid. Oh, she is going to be so cute!

The stuffed animal: seriously torn. Leaning toward the elephant for ease but that monkey is too cute.

The toy: We have a tradition of giving the girls a puzzle of their name. They love them so the not so baby will be getting her own this year.

Notice I left off the toy part for the older girls? I really don't know! No idea. I was thinking about this awesome calendar at One Step Ahead. The price was throwing me off. In fact, I've been eyeing it for months, and months. But that 3 year old, the one with the internal alarm clock of steel, has a really difficult time grasping the concept of "last week" and "yesterday" and lots of other related words. So, after hearing a friend of mine may be getting this my jealousy took over and now I am considering it again. And while we are on the topic of ridiculously cute and expensive wall hangings. How about this one? And this idea is amazing, but probably ridiculously easy to make yourself.

Anther idea I had was to make them some doll diapers and clothes. BUT, that sounds like more work. And let's be honest. IT IS THE END OF NOVEMBER. Sorry for the shouting, but I think I'd better get sewing!

Now, that's enough procrastinating. Tomorrow night I'll actually get some of this done. Probably.

What are you doing for gifts this year? any great ideas?

On vacation I saw the sunrise too many times

You all know (maybe) the phrase "straight out of the camera". This one is straight out of the phone.

While Mexico was beautiful and warm and a ton of fun, my middle child has an internal clock made of steel. It doesn't budge. We were up at 4:30 a.m. daily. I saw this sunset more than once but never managed to stumble out of bed at that hour and remember to bring my camera. On the last day I had my phone.

Check out more sunrises and sunsets at You Capture (when it is posted).

Are you joining us for the 25 Days of Giving? I'd love to hear from you! 

Reconsidering

I love the title of my blog. I really do. But, in all seriousness, I wish I had named it The Train FROM Crazy because isn't that what it is all about? Finding your way out of the crazy, into the calm? Journeying into a life of inner peace and grace. Though, on most days, I really do feel the train pulling into a station clearly marked Crazy. And frankly, I don't often do what needs to be done to leave that station. 

Life is always a bit chaotic for me. Sure, I know that comes with the territory. Having a 1, 3, and 4 year old isn't easy. But it doesn't need to be quite as hard as it seems. I don't mind the outer chaos. It is the inner chaos that disturbs me. Sometimes I have lists of lists of things to do. Do you ever do that? Make a list of all the lists you need to write? I'm talking about lists of good things, things like reading and creating and playing. Things like pick up your bible. But they don't get done. Not always. I've thought, in the past, that if I could only check things off a list, I will feel that inner peace. I've prioritized things I need to get done and things I want to get done. I've let things slide during certain seasons of life when they needed to. But still no peace. I've seen a lot of systems, bought a lot of books, but I know where the problem lies. It is me. It is.

I'm always in the way. Always thinking. Always becoming overwhelmed and frustrated. Always avoiding the things that truly matter. The things that will bring the peace I really need. My problem is, I know how to fix it. I just don't. Not always. I can't seem to take that step when I need to.

Are you like me? Do you find yourself getting in your way? Do you know where the peace is but fail to reach for it?

For he himself is our peace... 

Ephesians 2:14

Hola

I spent the last week in Mexico. It was warm, and warm, and sunny, and warm. Did I mention it was warm? We had a blast. I'm currently compiling the vacation video. It will be my first real home movie I've actually put together. I always have grand intentions but this time it will become reality. It is nearly complete. It is way too long, but the kids will love it. I had to insert a few still photos too because the video didn't capture all our experiences. Here is one of my favorites.

Good times. Now, the laundry.

More ideas for 25 Days

Now that you have some free ways to show kindness to others for your 25 Days of Giving, here are some not so free ideas. Please remember that one of the goals of giving is to include your child so if you are sending money to an organization that might not connect with them emotionally. Be creative, educate them about what the organization is trying to do. Teach them about poverty, homelessness, global poverty and the lack of clean water, or whatever you are donating to. If you are giving food to the food bank or donating clothes, have the children take it themselves. Let their 5 senses experience the activity. If you are buying a gift for someone, let them help pick it out and wrap it.

• Contact your local mission and adopt a family for Christmas.
• Create care package for children in hiding in the jungles of Burma through Christians Concerned for Burma. I wrote more about it last March.
• Chose a child to give to through a giving tree or Angel Tree.
• Sign up to sponsor a child through World Vision, Compassion International, Children's Hope Chest or other child sponsorship organization. You might consider choosing a child that has the exact birthday as your child to create a bond. 
• Contact your favorite local charities and find out what items are on their "wish list". Have your children help you purchase items on that list and deliver them.
• Donate food to a local animal shelter.
• Donate to Toys for Tots.
• Buy a needy family a Christmas Tree.
• Hand out flowers to strangers. I think next time we do this we'll have a note attached to each flower.
• Donate warm clothes to shelters.
• Choose a gift in a charity's Christmas giving catalog such as World Vision, Orphan Relief & Rescue, Compassion International, World Concern. There are many, many more organizations out there that you can donate to.

Any great organizations you want to share? What are some other creative ways to bless others?

Organizing our 25 Days

We've started lining up our activities for the 25 Days of Giving. I'd like to encourage you to join us. This doesn't have to be a difficult, expensive endeavor. There are many, many ways you can teach your children about how to show kindness and love to others without spending a dime.

To get your ideas flowing, here are a handful of free (or nearly free) activities for you to consider this year.

• Making cards to give to friends telling them what is special about them. 
• Calling a family member they don't normally talk to on the phone.
• Making artwork or cards and taking them to a nursing home.
• Baking cookies for neighbors.
• Baking cookies for firefighters and delivering them on Christmas.
• Tidying up the neighborhood. Picking up trash.
• Making a list of things they love about each of their family members and share with the family.
• Do something kind for someone secretly. 
• Have a free car wash (warmer climates obviously).
• Make sandwiches to hand out to homeless people.
• Visit an animal shelter and pet the kitties & puppies.
• Visit family and neighbors collecting scarves and hats for homeless people.
• Do a chore for a neighbor or a grandparent.
• Taking some canned food to the food bank (or the grocery store donation bin).
• Donating some of their outgrown clothes to an organization that gives them to children in need.
• Donate a pair of gently worn shoes to Soles 4 Souls.
• Walk the neighbor's dog.
• Host a party to collect needed items for a local charity.
• Scrape the ice off your neighbor's car as a surprise.
• Volunteer to serve a meal at a local soup kitchen.
• Make a meal together to bring to a family that is sick or has a new baby.
• Purposefully play with someone who your child doesn't normally play with.
• Stay late at school or sunday school to help clean up.
• Write notes of appreciation to coaches and teachers.
• Have a bake sale or a lemonade stand to raise money for your favorite cause.
• Take a day to educate your children about poverty and pray for those suffering.
• Visit a nursing home.
• Draw a picture/make a card for your pilot (if you are flying)
• Drop change in a Salvation Army bucket.
• Write personal notes & cards to family members.
• Send a Christmas card to a recovering soldier. 

  A Recovering American Soldier c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center 6900 Georgia Avenue NW Washington,D.C. 20307-5001

You get the idea!! There are tons of things you and your children can do that don't cost much money! Even if you can't commit to 25 Days of Giving, try committing to 10, or 15!

What are other free or very low cost ways children can bless others?

25 Days of Giving

When I began parenting, I was challenged by some people to have goals for my children. These aren't the kind of goals that have to do with "success" or money or college educations, but goals about their character. I was challenged to think about what kind of people I wanted my children to become. 

We want to raise children that are kind, loving, compassionate, thoughtful, passionate, bold, empathetic, happy, strong, patient, humble, etc. We want them to understand that they were born into privilege and with that comes great responsibility. We want to encourage our children to really be the people they were created to be. 

We started the 25 Days of Giving in 2008 as a way of preparing our girls for Christmas. We want them to understand the true meaning of Christmas. It isn't just about waking up early and seeing what presents showed up under the tree. Christmas is about the birth of Jesus and the gift God gave to the world. Because of that, we celebrate by doing 25 days of activities to bless other people. 

We want to encourage others to join us in our journey. Please consider starting a 25 Days of Giving with your family. In the coming days I will be giving you lots of ideas of ways to participate. If you are worried that this sounds like an expensive project, stop worrying! It doesn't have to be. I have many free and very low cost ideas to get your creative juices flowing!

UPDATED: Please read our list of FREE (and nearly free) giving activities as well as our slightly more expensive giving activities.

We'll be kicking our 25 Days of Giving off on December 1st. We've kicked off our 25 Days of Giving! Would you dare to join us? It isn't too late!

Orphan Sunday

Did you know tomorrow is Orphan Sunday? 

Do you think about orphans? Does it seem like a problem a world away? I encourage you to take the day to think about them. Think about what your life would have been like if you were an orphan, alone, hungry, without hope. Take the day to pray for the orphans. Just one day. One day out of your life to think about orphans as people, as children with names and hopes and dreams. Take one day to truly love them. See if that one day changes the rest of your days.

How they get here

Google search is a funny thing. I don't consider this a big blog by any means but it comes up in the top 3 for a whole bunch of searches. Top 10 for a handful more. It pretty much humbles me and makes me think I should be writing something more profound. Granted, not a whole lot of people make these searches that I speak of, but still.

Every now and then someone will post her top 10 searches people make to come to her blog. They are always funny! I always wish I had funny reasons people stop by here. Oh sure, there are a few that are strange and a couple that are almost humorous. You want to know what people are searching for when they stumble on this blog? 

• How to put elastic in skirts/how to make an elastic waist skirt and every combination of that question you can think of. 
• Sensory tub ideas. 
• Help, my crazy preschooler doesn't sleep well (and every variation of preschooler sleep issue question).

Really, that's about it. There are some other random ones but these are the ones I get daily. You know what? I've seen a million better explanations for making skirts out there, I usually only put rice in the sensory tub, and my kids aren't sleeping that well. 

So, in conclusion, if you found my blog hoping to figure out how to get your children to sleep past 6 a.m. I am sorry. I am no help. I can't get mine to sleep past 6 either.

From the nightstand

As I've mentioned before, I read to many books at once. I've been known to read 75% of a lot of books.

Here is what I'm reading now. 

Raising Kids for True Greatness: Redefine Success for You and Your Child So far I'm loving it. Highly recommend.

Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality Oh wow was I loving this until I lost it...

Cold Tangerines: Celebrating the Extraordinary Nature of Everyday Life This is a lovely book about living in today. Beautifully written.

What are you reading?

A day off

After a few days of feeling run down, exhausted and sick I was able to take the day off. Nearly a whole day off. I slept and rested and slept and relaxed and then did a little reading and planning. Ahhh. Then I felt well enough to heat up dinner and clean up the dishes. I'm thinking this day off was just what I needed. Now I'm ready to take on the week!

Do you ever get a day off?