A New Commitment

I've noticed a change at our house.

It is coming in the form of a 12 yr old boy.

He seems to be changing right before my very eyes

And the change is happening a little more every day.

The latest change makes me sad
(well they all do-but this one even more so).

He has started calling me "Mom", instead of "Mommy".

Yes, I realize 12 is probably a little old for this, but that's ok.

It's still sad.

It's sad to think that I will no longer be called "Mommy".

That stage of my life (and his) is over.

Now we are fast approaching the teen/puberty stage.

I'm ok with it. (I think ;)

I look forward to seeing the teen and young man he will become.

I just need a moment to mourn the loss of being Mommy.

As I write, I realize I am even more emotional about this than I thought.

When you are a young mom, all you can see are dirty diapers and sleepless nights. You hear, "Treasure these moments, they go by way too fast." But it doesn't sink in. Then one day, you blink your eyes and you are no longer Mommy. You are Mom. And you wonder, "Where did the years go?"

In many ways, I would give anything to go back to the dirty diapers and sleepless nights stage. I would love to have a do-over...to enjoy it more...to maybe get it right. But we don't have that opportunity. We have to live each day as they come and keep short accounts.

As I mourn the loss of being Mommy...

...I am going to make a new commitment to being Mom.

I want to help my son grow into the man of God he is called to be. I will pray and play more, enjoying each moment knowing we are making life long memories. Then hopefully, we will all be able to look back on the teen years with joy, instead of regret.

Take care my sweet friends! I pray each of you are having a great December, enjoying the Christmas season with your precious families.

Just keepin' it real,

A Child is Born

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,

Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

This week I am overwhelmed by the meaning of Christmas.

Jesus, who was fully God, came as a man for our benefit. He didn't have to leave the safety of Heaven. He didn't have to leave God's side. But He did it anyway.

I am overwhelmed by the love, the compassion, the mercy that Jesus felt for us. May you feel that same love, compassion and mercy today, my dear friends. May it encourage you and spur you on toward greater things. And may you know just how special you are to the One who gave it all.

I know I'm early but I just have to say it....

Merry Christmas!

It truly is the most wonderful time of the year!

And happy WFW! For more inspiration this Wednesday, please visit our gracious hostess Penny Raine.

Take care my sweet friends!

Just keepin' it real,

A Great Christmas Present

Since I am determined to enjoy my Christmas season this year, I thought I would share one of our favorite Christmas songs...


I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
Words and music by John Rox
Performed by Gayla Peevey in 1953





Isn't a hippopotamus just what you want for Christmas?

In case you're interested (I know you are), you can read all about the history of this song HERE.

One year I got my son a Hippopotamus beany baby for Christmas. He didn't think that was very funny ;)

BTW, I feel the need to confess that everytime I have written hippopotamus, I have doublechecked my spelling. Believe it or not, hippopotamus is a very difficult word to spell.

Take care my sweet friends!

Hope your week is off to a great start!

Just keepin' it real,

Making the Most of Christmas

I know I've confessed this before, but I feel the need to say it again...

I am NOT ready for my son to grow up!!!!!!

But reality is that he is now 12 years old and growing up fast. This was confirmed when he finally admitted he no longer believes in Santa Claus.

I know 12 is probably a little late for that, but he is a fantasy world child. He loves books (and movies) about imaginary people and places. He has always loved anything to do with Santa, the North Pole and the elves.

Two years ago, I told him the truth about Santa Claus. He chose to continue to believe...or at least acted like he did. So it came as a surprise, when he finally admitted it.

It's just one more reminder that he really is going to grow up.

Since I have to deal with reality and the fact that he is fast approaching the teen years, which in turn means less time with Mom & Dad, I want to make the most of this Christmas season. I want to make memories that will last a lifetime.

I want my son to remember that our house was a place of love and acceptance. I want him to remember that Christmas was a time to enjoy each other and life, while celebrating the birth of our dear, precious Savior.

How am I going to make that happen?

I am going to be intentional.

I don't want to get to January 1st and wonder what happened to Christmas.

This Christmas season is shaping up to be a busy one. But it doesn't have to be stressful. Instead I want it to be a happy time where our home is filled with the peace and joy of Christ.

So, this week I am going to make my home sing by making plans. I am going to look at our schedule and make time for memory making moments. This includes...

baking cookies

playing lots of Christmas music (which he LOVES)

drinking many cups of hot chocolate

watching our favorite Christmas movies

spreading joy to others

going to see Christmas lights

eating yummy sausage balls

but mostly just spending time together as a family.

I also want to make sure we focus on the real meaning of Christmas. It doesn't do any good to make all of these memories, if they are not based in Christ's love.

Two years ago, we did a paper chain craft that focused on prophecies surrounding the coming Messiah. This year I hope to do a Jesse tree. I would give you a link, but I don't have one yet. I just know I want to do one. So this week, I will figure out how to do it. Hopefully, it's not too late to get started.

And hopefully, we will all look back with fondness on this Christmas season, remembering all of the great memories we made and the many cups of hot chocoate that we drank.

Then maybe...just maybe...the good memories will help make the growing up process a little less painful for this mama ;)

What are you doing to make your home sing this week? Take a minute to visit my sweet friend, Nan @ Momstheword and join Making Your Home Sing Monday? It's always lots of fun to see what others are doing and to learn from them. It's a great way to start the week!

Take care my sweet friends!

I pray you have a blessed week!

Thankful for Love

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;

his love endures forever.
Psalm 118:1

Lately I've been looking at my life as a whole...

...the past...

...the present...

...the future...

Through the past, I see evidence of God's love as his hand of protection has gently guided me along each step of my journey.

In the present, I feel God's love with me each day, reminding me that He is still there and He has not forgotten me.

Looking to the future, I trust God's love to carry me through any difficulties that may lay ahead.

So this Thanksgiving, I am focusing on God's love.

It never ceases to amaze me that this great big God, who created the universe, could love me. In the whole grand scheme of things, who am I really? I am an insignificant piece of dust.

Yet as unbelievable as it might seem, He really does love me. And I am so very thankful because I don't know where I would be without His love.

His love defines me.

His love gives me life.

His love strengthens me.

His love gives me hope.

Do you know that love, my friend?

Do you know how deeply your Heavenly Father loves and cares for you?

You are not an accident.

You were planned for.

Every detail of you was carefully thought out and masterfully created, from the color of your hair to the length of your toes. You have a purpose and a reason for being here. I pray that you never forget that.

I also pray that you would always know just how much you are loved by your sweet Heavenly Father. May He daily woo you with His great love and devotion.

Take care my sweet friends!

and Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Americans!

Oh and don't forget to visit sweet Susan at Forever His for more inspiring Word Filled Wednesday posts.

Just keepin' it real,

Keepin' It Real

AAAAHHHHHH!!!!

You know how I like to keep it real,

So, can I just express my extreme frustration with you?

Do you remember THIS post back in the summer where I told you all about my secret desire to write more? After I wrote that post, I received two requests to write for other websites. I was very excited and pleased. It felt like confirmation.

And that was it!

I haven't been able to write since then.

Oh, I've written a few here and there. But lately it's getting harder.

I sit down to write a blog post and nothing comes. Or I start a post and I can't finish it. I can't tell you how often that has happened. It has been very frustrating.

I have prayed about it and still nothing. I don't know exactly why I have not been able to write.

It has happened again this morning. I have been working on a post all morning and it is just not coming together. So I give up!

Well, at least for today ;)

But I am confessing my frustration.

Maybe I'll try again later. For now, I have some pictures to share with you.

Well, I did have some pictures I wanted to share with you. But now I can't find them. I uploaded them. They are no longer on the memory card. But I can't find them!

AAAAHHHH!!!!

Are you feeling my frustration?

I give up!

I will get back to writing. I know I will. And I will continue to pray about it. I just felt like I needed to confess this problem with you my dear friends. You have been so faithful and so sweet. Thank you for being such great blog friends!

But before I close, I do have to share one scripture with you. I can't leave you totally frustrated...after all it is the week of Thanksgiving.

I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. Psalm 34:1

I pray you having a great week my friends!

Take care my sweet friends!

Just keepin' it real,





I am now hitting the publish post and going to do something that feels a little bit more constructive today....

Let Everything That Has Breath

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.

Praise the LORD. Psalm 150:6

I am celebrating a week of worship here at Confessions of a Snowflake.

Monday I started off confessing my own need for more worship in my life. I discussed the importance of spending time in worship and how much it is for us as much as it is God. I asked the question, "How do you incorporate worship in your life?" If you have not answered, would you please do so. Tomorrow I am going to post comments from that post in order to encourage one another in worshipping our Lord and Savior.

Tuesday I shared the love of the Father that is poured back into us when we open our hearts to worship. My heart is to help us all remember just how much He loves us.

I know WFW is all about God's Word. But since I am celebrating worship this week, I can't help sharing the worship song based on today's scripture. I hope it encourages you to spend some time in worship this week.

Let Everything That Has Breath
Matt Redman

Take care my sweet friends! I pray you are having a wonderful week of worship. Please visit Christy @ Critty Joy for more inspiring Word Filled Wednesday posts.

Just keepin' it real,