Flashback Friday - Auld Lang Syne

I am joining Linda at Mocha with Linda for Flashback Friday today.  

Here is her prompt:

How did your family celebrate New Year's when you were growing up? Was staying up on New Year's Eve a big deal? Was it a date night for your parents or was it a family occasion? Did your family have any particular traditions for New Year's? Were resolutions emphasized? Did you do fireworks? Watch parades or bowl games? Were there church activities you attended? Did Christmas activities extend into the new year? Was the Epiphany a focus?

When I was growing up, my parents always threw a New Year's Eve Party at our house.  The same group of people came each year and it was a tradition until people started moving away!  :(  My two favorite parts of the party were first, the cheese puffs my mom always made.  I could probably have eaten my weight in them!!!  Second, the kids always headed off to the back of the house to put together a "show" for the parents.  It usually consisted of take offs of commercials.  We still laugh about one neighbor boy we got to sit in a tall straight back chair, with the most serious face and say "my girdle is killing me". If you are too young to remember that commercial, well......sorry.

Staying up till midnight was a huge deal in our house.  Popping confetti poppers at midnight was always a favorite of mine!  

But the other tradition was staying up to watch Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds.  It came on every New Years Eve and we watched it every year!!!  hmmmmm.....not sure what that says about my parents, ha, but I don't remember having any nightmares!

On New Years day we always watched the parades and of course football was always on for my dad.  New Years day, I looked forward to a BIG bowl of blackeyed peas!!! My family is from the south and you have to have your blackeyed peas for good luck!  It is the only time my mom fixed them and I LOVE them.  

We have kept that tradition in my house.  

However, for the last 20 years, Steve and I have hosted a New Years Day open house for our church and neighborhood.  I think Steve's motivation was to be able to watch football no matter what on New Years, but you know me....any excuse for a party!!  It is crazy, crowded, loud and a lot of fun!! And we have introduced many a yankee to blackeyed peas in our previous churches!!!  

My family was never big on resolutions.  It seems weird to me to resolve to do something that I need to do any way.....but that is just me.

As I am going to be busy on Friday cleaning and cooking for the open house, I wish all of my blogging friends a very Happy New Year!!!  

May you know the PEACE and JOY that come with a relationship with Christ in 2011!!

The Best Part of Christmas

If you have been reading my blog over the years, you know that 3 years ago we started a new Christmas tradition.  That year, we realized that our kids really didn't have any big "wants" and that it was time to make a change.  We decided to give them the money we would spend on a big gift at Thanksgiving.  They then had until Christmas to give it away...any way they wanted.  On Christmas day, instead of opening a big present, we would each tell how we gave our money away and the blessings that came with it.

This has been by far the best tradition we have ever started.  Seeing my kids get creative about giving the $$ away and each year getting so excited to do it again.

You can go here to see where they money went the first year and here to see where it went last year.  It is amazing how each year, there are no duplicates...God directs each of us in very unique directions.

This year was no different.

Alyssa is studying Speech Pathology in School.  She will graduate this May and head to graduate school to focus on stroke victims and brain injuries.  This year, she decided to give her money to the National Stroke Association to enhance awareness and support for stroke victims. This organization puts together pamphlets for stroke victims and their families to help them navigate the recovery process.

Jason has found a wonderful church to attend at college.  Each year, they create a toy store at the church for needy families.  They find out what toys are wanted, purchase them and then set up a room in the church where the kids/families can go in and get their toy.  Jason spent his money on toys for this project.  He also worked the project and actually got to see some of the kids he bought for walk out with their toys....very cool. 

Jared has a new band director at school....she is awesome!!!  He has watched her, this semester, work so hard to not only take the band to a new level but also "win over" that band.  He has watched her spend a lot of her own money on the kids and the program.  So, he and some of the kids went in together to buy her a gift card.  I think they blessed her in ways they don't even realize!

Steve gave his money to KIVA.  Interestingly, this is also where Jared gave his money the first year.

Kiva's mission is to connect people, through lending, for the sake of alleviating poverty.  Kiva empowers individuals to lend to an entrepreneur across the globe. But it is an "on-going" gift.  When the person pays back the loan, your money then goes to a new entrepreneur.  Steve's money went to a man in Jinja, Uganda.  This is also where Steve spent some time on a missions trip years ago and has a connection with.

I gave my money to a friend at church.  She is a single mom who found out in August that she has breast cancer.  Her son is in my Sunday school class.  She has not been able to work much since she started chemo and has been stretched in many areas.  So, before Christmas, I took her out one night and we bought presents for her son. We had so much fun together and it was a joy to be able to serve her this way.  But for me, the real gift was seeing how God used this to bless her even more.  I happened to be at work the next day and one of my regular customers asked me what I had done the night before.  I shared my friend's story and before we were done talking, she had written a check to my friend!!! So cool to see how God multiplies our giving and also how creative He is in taking care of us!!

So, another Christmas has gone by and I truly feel that my kids get it......that it really is better to give than receive.  That when we are generous and look out for others, the blessings we get in return are truly amazing and that there is no better feeling that to be God's hand and feet to someone else.

As we close this year, I am looking forward to see what God has in store for my family in 2011!!

Happy New Year!!

 

Christmas 2010

On Christmas Eve, I posted all of our traditions.  So I thought I would re-post them here with an attached picture.......

* 1st we will be heading to church for our Christmas Eve service

* Then we head home to our traditional CE dinner (shrimp, cheese...yummy good cheeses, summer sausage, crackers) and talk about all the ways that God has blessed us this year.

* after dinner my kids will share their letters to their siblings and exchange their gifts (I will cry!)

and yes, I did cry!

This is a tradition we started when they were little.  They each write a letter to the other telling them why they love them and what they appreciate about them. We started when they were too young to write, so they drew a picture at first...so sweet.   It is one of the best traditions we ever started and I am praying that as they get older, they will continue it no matter where they live!

* We will enjoy the evening and then send the kids to their rooms (they all start out sleeping in one room every year, but end up in their own beds...even now and it cracks me up)

 

*  Steve and I will put their stockings together and then exchange our gifts to each other and of course, our love letters to each other....my favorite part!

Guess what's in mine?!
this tradition was started when Steve and I were poor seminary students.  We couldn't afford presents one year and unbeknownst to the other, we each put a piece of fruit and a love letter in their stocking...and it became a tradition!!! This is also what started the kids letter writing years later.

* Christmas morning, we will get up early (the kids STILL get up by 7:00am....no kidding..college kids!) and make coffee...I will get one chugged down so I can be pleasant...

 You don't want to see this picture...it wasn't pretty!  
Steve woke me up at 6:55 AM, from a DEAD sleep, to tell me the kids would most likely be coming in in a few minutes.  It wasn't 5 seconds later that they all came in and jumped on me!
They are lucky to be alive.

* the kids will do the "Bowyer dance" out to the advent calendar and put the angel on top

 This year we got sprayed with confetti poppers as the kids danced by!!

* We will start with stockings and Santa bags (from my mom)

* and then head to the gifts

 Jared wanted a new robe.  This kid is always cold...maybe it is the fact that he has zero body fat?

 Jason was pretty excited about some gadget for his guitar.

 it's amazing how fast a room can get destroyed!

* and the BEST part....hear how each person gave their $$ away!!

 stories to come in another post!!!
This one is already getting long!

* then we will eat our cinnamon roll Christmas tree

* hang out all day in our PJs

 Alyssa watching some movie she got, while popping the bubble wrap.

 Jason got new strings for his guitar....love this

 board games...always a must for the Bowyer house.

* and end the day with a wonderful dinner of beef tenderloin

After cooking, I didn't get ONE picture of the dinner!!  
But it was DEElish!!

What a wonderful Christmas we had....full of fun and lots of memories.
But now I am done with all the Christmas stuff and we took it all down yesterday!!  The house always seem a bit bare without the decorations but at the same time seems cleaner and neater.

Now on to New Years!

The Winner!!!

 This is my Blurb book that I made last year of my Project 365 pictures...

 I love it!!

And everyone that comes to my house comments on it.

I love looking through it and seeing my year through the eye of the camera and I can't wait to make one for 2010. 

One of you lucky 365ers will get a head start on yours this year....

...random.org picked

The Bug!!!!

Congrats!!!

Send me your email address and I will get the $20 gift certificate to you!!

Tomorrow I hope to get my post up of where each of my kids gave their money this year!  But we have been spending way too much time playing the Wii..... my muscles are screaming at me about it....and I have to get ready for our annual New Years day open house....
....so we'll see!

Update on the baby

Back in this post I asked you to pray for my friend's daughter and her baby. 

 

The baby was taken off life support last night.

I so appreciate all the comments and prayers on my last post and have passed them on.  Please continue to pray for this sweet family.  The mama is having an especially hard time.  Please pray that she would allow God to comfort her heart.  

And pray for my friend, as she needs to grieve, but is busy taking care of all the family.

Thanks friends.

Project 365 - Week 52

 Week FIFTY TWO!!!!

 We did it!!!!  Granted there are 6 more days in the year, but this is the last week!!!  So be sure to link up this week, I will be choosing a name for the $20 gift card from blurb from those who linked up for the last 3 weeks!!

Well, I think I had one of the best Christmas' ever!  I can't wait to tell you about it, but that will have to wait....I need to get back to the movie we are watching!!!  I hope that each of you had a wonderful time with your families and are still enjoying the holiday!

Here's my week:

 Sunday

 We started our Christmas puzzle yesterday..

 ...and we finished it today!

I'm going to have to get a new puzzle!

Monday

We got a new game...Blokus

Very fun and pretty fast paced

Tuesday

Alyssa and I made these today!!!  yum!

Wednesday

The church youth Christmas party is tonight.  

My kids have a tradition of dressing crazy for it.....

....they are so much fun!

Thursday

This.....is my downfall.

I never should have made it!!!

Friday

 We started the evening at church.

Then came home to our traditional dinner of cheeses, shrimp, sausage, etc.

 The kids read their Christmas letters to each other and exchanged their presents.

 It was a beautiful evening and reminded me again what a wonderful family I have!

Saturday

Merry Christmas!!!!

Ok, so I just realized that I screwed up on my numbers somewhere along the way and found it was too far back to change them all....so I am just righting it today!

The kids showered us with confetti poppers when the came out doing the Bowyer Dance today...

  

   The most creative gift of the day.....

Can you tell there are pictures of my husband and the kids on the M&Ms!

This was SO cool!!!

And the best image for me.....

my son working out a lego set I put in his stocking as a joke.

This is a sweet picture!

Our holiday is still in full swing!  enjoy your week and have a wonderful New Year!!!!

It's official........I Win 2010!!

 Santa has been here for the last 3+ days....

 Can you see him?  

No?  

Neither could Jason...

....and he concedes...

I win!!!

Merry Christmas!

From our house to yours!!!

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

I am so excited for tonight!!!

My favorite traditions start tonight...and we have a lot of them!

* 1st we will be heading to church for our Christmas Eve service

 

* Then we head home to our traditional CE dinner (shrimp, cheese...yummy good cheeses, summer sausage, crackers) and talk about all the ways that God has blessed us this year.

 

* after dinner my kids will share their letters to their siblings and exchange their gifts (I will cry!)

 

* We will enjoy the evening and then send the kids to their rooms (they all start out sleeping in one room every year, but end up in their own beds...even now and it cracks me up)

 

*  Steve and I will put their stockings together and then exchange our gifts to each other and of course, our love letters to each other....my favorite part!

 

* Christmas morning, we will get up early (the kids STILL get up by 7:00am....no kidding..college kids!) and make coffee...I will get one chugged down so I can be pleasant...

 

* the kids will do the "Bowyer dance" out to the advent calendar and put the angel on top

 

* We will start with stockings and Santa bags (from my mom)

 

* and then head to the gifts

 

* and the BEST part....hear how each person gave their $$ away!!

 

* then we will eat our cinnamon roll Christmas tree

 

* hang out all day in our PJs

 

* and end the day with a wonderful dinner of beef tenderloin

...seriously, I can't wait!!!!

I hope each of you has a very Merry Christmas and thoroughly enjoys the time with your family.  

But most importantly, I pray that each of you know the JOY and HOPE that came with the birth of a baby....the Savior, Jesus Christ.....who died for YOU.

Merry Christmas!

an appearance...

I don't have any new news about the baby. 

They are waiting to hear the results of an MRI today.

Please keep praying for this family....thank you!

On a lighter note....

Someone finally made an appearance today....

.....ya, I so win.

prayer request

***update***
The baby is on life support and I am afraid some difficult decisions will have to be made in the next 24 hours.
Please continue to pray for this family.

 There is so much hustle and bustle this time of year, I sometimes forget to recognize all the blessings in my life.

Sure the big ones are obvious, but God blesses me daily with so many small things.

As I sit in a quiet house this morning feeling so happy that my family is all together, I am reminded how blessed I am to have healthy children.  

This morning I am praying for a friend's daughter, whose 7 day old baby girl is fighting for it's life.

Yesterday, the mom woke up and the baby was not breathing.  She has been in ICU since then fighting seizures.  They don't know what the brain activity is due to some medications given, but should know something today.

Would you pray with me for this family and for this baby girl?

Project 365 - Week 51

 Week 51.

As you can imagine (it's not like I say it ALL the time on here), I am SO HAPPY to have my kids home!!!  My house feels.....well....right.  I just can't explain it to you if you haven't gone through it.  But if you have, then you know how wonderful it is!

Can you believe we have only one full week left in this project.  The end of the month will be included in the start of next year!!!  So keep up the good work and link up so you can be entered into the giveaway for a $20 blurb gift certificate!!!!

 Sunday

Didn't get a picture today, but did go to see this movie!

It was very fun and worth seeing in 3D!

Monday

It was actually cold enough today for a fire!!!!

Now it seems like Christmas!!!

Tuesday

 I might....no promises....but I just might get my Christmas cards out before Christmas!!!  That hasn't happened in, oh.....about 6 years!!!!

Wednesday

 Made chili tonight for dinner.  It was COLD today and it tasted so good!

Thursday

One kid home....

....and music is already filling the house!!

You don't realize just how quiet your house has been until it is filled with sound again.

Friday

it's 5:00 somewhere..right?

Met with some great friends today that I don't get to see very often.  We exchanged gifts, got caught up on each other's lives and thoroughly enjoyed our time.  Not sure why we wait so long between seeing each other.....maybe busy lives and 30 miles is the reason.  I think we are going to have to work on that!!

Saturday

Jason and I went on a date today to see the new Narnia movie.

Have a wonderful Christmas ya'll.

Don't forget to link up next week!!!

Ok, now it's your turn!