Life with Lily ~ Giveaway

Winter and Christmas time always brings me many fond memories from my childhood when we would all gather in the evening to listen to Mom read several chapters from a book before bedtime. We would eat popcorn and apples, or sometimes enjoy a mug of hot chocolate, or a glass of apple cider while we listened.

Christmas time always meant new books. Or at least new to us. It was around Christmas time when my parents would first go to the library and bring home armloads of books, which would then continue until spring came and things got too busy to do loads of extra reading.

With winter and Christmas just around the corner I decided I would like to give my dear readers a chance to win the entire set of Lily books. You can keep them for yourself and give them to someone on your Christmas gift giving list.

To enter all you have to do is leave a comment telling me of one of your favorite winter evening activities.

For a second entry post a link to this giveaway to your blog or Facebook and then come back and leave another comment telling me you did.

Since I'm in the Christmas mood I'm giving you a third entry if you either like this Facebook page or send me a friend request on my personal page.

I will be choosing a winner on Monday November 28th just in time to kick off the official Christmas season.

Giveaway is now closed and a winner has been chosen.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Let's all think happy thoughts...share one of yours here.

Thinking of celebrating Thanksgiving next week, is one of my happy thoughts.
 

2. There's a Chinese proverb that says, "If you want happiness for an hour take a nap, if you want happiness for a day-go fishing...." What say you? If you want happiness for a day _____________.

Spending uninterrupted time with a good book sounds like a perfect way to have happiness for a day.

On the other hand spending a day making other people happy ... you couldn't help but being happy too.
 

3. Where do you go to decompress from the world around you? 

Home. It's the happiest place I know.
 

4. What song never fails to make you happy? 

Be Still my Soul by Scripture Lullabies never fails to make me feel peaceful and happy.
 

5. Wednesday is National Fast Food Day. Should that be a thing? Apparently it is, so tell us what's the last 'fast food' you consumed? If you were putting together your own version of a 'happy meal' what would you include? 

I can't even remember the last time I had fast food. I'm sure it included fries, but other than that I'm clueless.
My idea of a 'happy meal' would include my favorite fried chicken, broccoli salad, and cheesy potatoes.
 

6. In a few sentences tell us why you blog. 

The reason I started blogging was because I wanted to share my memories of growing up Amish for my children to be able to read and understand more of their heritage.

The reason I'm still blogging is because I love all the friends I've made in the 'bloggy' world. And I like being able to keep tidbits and slices of life to look back on in the years to come.
 

7. List seven things you're feeling especially grateful for today. 

First and foremost I'm especially grateful for the gift of Salvation. A furnace to keep our house warm. Cold, clean water straight from the faucet. Plenty of food in the refrigerator. A happy healthy family. Electricity. Music. Books.
 

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Some days ....

It all started when a part LV had ordered for a repair job he is working on arrived, but the company had sent the wrong thing. They provided a FedEx label to send it back and yesterday I was going to drop it off at a store on our way to the library.

Arriving at the store I lugged the big awkward package inside. The lady behind the shipping desk cheerfully informed me they no longer accept FedEx packages and I'll have to go to a town thirty miles away to get it shipped.

I wasn't thrilled with that idea, but I hoisted the box and proceeded to the door. Before I got there I came to an abrupt halt when my forehead met a very solid post/sign. I was stunned for a second, but quickly resumed my walking toward the exit, my head now throbbing viciously. I was greeted in the van with concerned children. "Why is your head bleeding?"

"I'm resurrecting my teenage klutziness," I informed them. They found the fact that I walked into something hilarious.

Since I don't have a cell phone, I decided to stop in at LV's workplace and find out where I'm supposed to go to get rid of this package. He wasn't there when I arrived, but his boss's wife after she got done laughing at what happened to my poor head was most helpful in finding a place that accepts FedEx packages.

I was happy to learn it was in the general vicinity of the library we were planning to visit. So off we went. Arriving at my destination I was dismayed to find the drop off was for tiny boxes and envelopes only. My box was bigger than the drop box. The very unfriendly guy there seemed happy at my predicament but when a friendly young lady noticed what I needed she directed me to another store.

Upon arriving I was finally able to get rid of that wretched package and we headed for the library. The books we wanted weren't in, so with my burning, throbbing head we quickly selected a few others and headed home. As I was driving along a bird flew over us and deposited a big splat on the windshield. The perfect ending to my less than perfect morning.

 

10 Things That Make me Happy

1. I don't think of myself as a cat person at all. I have absolutely no desire to pet or hold a cat, but there's something about our seven cats, and seeing how much the rest of the family loves them that makes me happy.
2. Walking into a sparkling clean kitchen always makes me feel happy.
3. Looking at the clock and seeing that I still have thirty minutes or so before bedtime to curl up in my favorite chair to read.
4. Opening my email or Facebook and seeing a cheerful message from a friend always makes me smile.
5. Rain, clouds, snow, fog .... basically any type of bad weather makes me feel happy. It evokes feelings of singing, crafting, baking, reading, games, and overall delightful family togetherness time. Even though I don't do all those things every time the weather is bad, I still get to enjoy the feeling.
6. Having everyone gather around the supper table every evening always makes me feel happy and content.
7. Spending time outside soaking in the beauty of nature.
8. Homeschooling ... spending time with our children, and books, learning new things together.
9. Sewing, crafting, cooking, baking for the ones I love.
10. Conversations with our children. They cover a wide, wide range of topics. I really enjoy them so.

Christmas Preparations

Yes, I'm fully aware that we haven't celebrated Thanksgiving yet, and I'm about to ramble on about Christmas preparations.

Christmas is such a fun time of year, why limit it to only a few weeks?

Since we do a lot of homemade type things for Christmas we like getting a head start. We've been eyeing the fabric stash, and the shelves of crafting supplies are being poked and prodded a lot lately. The sewing machines are coming out of their summer time hibernation and are made to hum once again.

There are things being written and designed on the computer with strict no peeking in my folder rules from several different members of the family. I'm especially looking forward to reading the stories and admiring other things that have been created.

So many secrets to keep, and gifts to hide. Sometimes though gifts can be made in plain sight and the recipient has no idea.

My favorite not so secret, secret so far is one of the gifts Sunbeam has planned for Buddy. With the huge maple tree here in front of the house losing its leaves and dropping thousands of seeds, Buddy has been having a lot of fun gathering a handful of seeds and bringing them up on the porch and dropping them one by one over the railing and watching them spin and float down to the ground.

It gave Sunbeam an idea and she went outside with a container to fill with the seeds to give them to him for Christmas. Buddy helped her fill it, and so far has no idea he will be the lucky recipient on Christmas day.

Thinking of the hours of fun he'll have with them makes me smile. Thinking about all the fun he had helping his sister get his Christmas gift ready makes me smile even bigger.

Daybook

For Today ... Monday, November 7th 2016

Looking out my window ... the sun is shining brightly and the sky is a lovely blue. A soft breeze is making the wind chimes play their lovely tunes, a few stubborn maple leaves are dancing as they're clinging tightly to the tree in front of the house. Dry corn is rustling in the field above the barn as it waits patiently for the day when it will be picked. Weather wise it seems as if it should be mid October instead of November.

I am thinking ... I should take advantage of this beautiful weather and wash the windows on the outside.

I am thankful ... for all the many blessings we get to enjoy. Things we often take for granted.

One of my favorite things .... old photos of our children. This one of Sailor and his beloved pup .... melts my heart!

I am creating ... not exactly creating, but I'm in the process of getting the fruit ready for our 45 day fruitcake I make every year.

I am wearing... A comfy and quite unfashionable brown shirt with blue accents and a charcoal gray skirt.
I am reading... in the Bible I'm reading Corinthians this week. As far as other books, I'm rereading my favorite series for the umpteenth time.
 

I am watching ... the girls and I have been semi enjoying a few Hallmark Christmas movies. I say semi, because they're simply too cheesy for us to fully enjoy.
 

I am listening to ... the Piano Guys. Rosebud and her love of instrumental music seems to be rubbing off on me.
 

I am hoping ... that waking up on Wednesday morning will be happy.
 

I am learning ... more than I had ever thought I would about marine biology, and health/nutrition, and political history. It's what happens when you have three children with varied interests that they love studying, and somehow I learn along with them.
 

In my kitchen ... I have pork chops thawing for supper. We love the oven baked, melt in your mouth chops with a delicious gravy.
 

In the school room ... Buddy has been enjoying creating lapbooks and doing memory work while the older three are enjoying their studies as well, especially digging deeper into the areas that they're interested in.

A moment from my day ... technically I would be supposed to share a picture here, but I don't enjoy selfies and my day so far has mostly consisted of holding Buddy. He's sick today and wants to be held. He would be fine tucked on the couch, but he's only going to be four once, and I don't think I'll ever regret taking the day off to hold him.

If you'd like to join the daybook, you can do so here.