1. A Vacation from the Usual Responsibilities
This past week, we were in Kansas to spend the week with family and friends. It was SO good to have a break from the normal responsibilities of life and just enjoy a week most “unplugged”.
Kathrynne took this picture of the moon and clouds one night and I thought it was such a fitting close to a really refreshing day.
2. Fun Times of Memory-Making With Family & Friends
We had many fun times with family and friends this past week — including a rousing round of Limbo and Yard Stick High Jump. Even I got in on the fun (see video proof here).
The kids also got to decorate the Christmas tree at Grandma & Grandpa’s house.
It never ceases to amaze me that I have three kids who are 10, 8, and 6!! I still feel like I’m 22, and then I look at my kids and realize that I may be a bit delusional when it comes to my age.
I’m so happy that even though my babies are growing up, they are still young enough to revel in the wonder of Christmas.
3. A Good Book: The Art of Losing Yourself
I finished The Art of Losing Yourself this week. If you like Christian fiction that tackles real-life brokenness and doesn’t have Hallmark endings, I’d highly recommend this book.
I loved the character development and it reminded me that everyone has hard burdens they are carrying, and that hurting people need our love not our judgment, ostracizing, or criticism. (Thanks to Lisa-Jo for recommending this book!)
4. Playing Games as a Family
While waiting at the airport to try to fly back to Nashville, I taught the kids how to play one of my favorite games: Dutch Blitz.
They caught on quickly and, after lots of rounds played over the last two days, they can now almost beat me!! It’s always fun to find games that our whole family can really get into and enjoy together!
5. Opportunities to Choose Joy in the Midst of Unexpected Hiccups
We were supposed to fly back to TN on Saturday afternoon, but after a few hours of delay, our flight was cancelled. After making multiple phone calls to American, waiting in multiple lines, and trying to get on other flights tonight to no avail, we just gave up on getting back to Nashville on Saturday.
After exploring a bunch of alternatives, we finally just decided to get tickets on the next flight they could get us on — which left at 8 pm on Sunday night! The joys of winter traveling and ice storms! It’s always an adventure, eh?!
While waiting, we practiced our frowny face selfies, because my kids said I need to work on getting a better frowny face selfie (is that a good thing that I’m not skilled at frowny faces??) Every time we took a picture, they’d be like, “Nope, Mom. Not good. That looks like you’re getting ready to throw up!” 🙂
Saturday morning hadn’t started so well (lots of grumpy and cranky people in this here family — including me!), but I wanted to finish out this trip well. Choosing love. Choosing joy. Choosing gratitude. And choosing to see unexpected travel hiccups and delays as adventures. 🙂
While we really would have loved to make it back to TN on Saturday night like we were scheduled to, Sunday was an unexpected quiet family day and it ended up being the perfect way to finish out such a good Thanksgiving week. The kids all got 13+ hours of sleep (!!) and Jesse and I got to sleep in, too!! All that sleep meant everyone had much better attitudes today — including Mom.
And we finally made it back to Nashville at 1:45 a.m. this morning (Monday morning). And we just got home, put the kids to bed, and now I’m headed to bed myself! What a week!
What are YOU loving right now? Tell us in the comments!
Annette says
Crystal I think your next book should be all about your air travel adventures and how you handle it so well!! I love how real you are with us.
I absolutely LOVE Dutch Blitz!! I just spent Thanksgiving playing it and teaching others how to play. Did you know there is an extension pack so now up to 8 people can play? It comes in a blue box and is cheapest on Christianbooks.com. I could play it day in and day out and not get tired of it. Over the summer I taught my twins and they love it too.
Crystal Paine says
YES! I was SO excited about the extension pack!!
Sally says
Love this post! I always get great ideas from your “5 Things” posts! What I’m loving:
1) A sweet Thanksgiving with my hubby and boys.
2) The beginning of all the Christmas festivities.
3) This Hyaluronic Acid Firming Serum with natural ingredients – http://www.vitacost.com/now-foods-solutions-hyaluronic-acid-firming-serum-1-fl-oz?q=now+hyaluronic+acid&ta=now+hya
4) A steaming cup of Jasmine Green tea.
5) Your “Choose Gratitude” journal – I’m also giving away a copy on my blog – http://thehealthyhappywoman.com/joybundlegive-a-way/
Crystal Paine says
LOVE it! And thank you so much for giving away a copy of the Gratitude Journal!
Mary B says
I loved The Art of Losing Yourself too! Katie Ganshert is such a gifted writer! I highly recommend all her books! If you like something YA that is a real adventure – read her book The Gifting! (By KE Ganshert). It’s currently free on Kindle or iBooks and is such a thriller.
I’m excited to get back to our homeschool routine this week and to eat healthier until Christmas.
I hosted our family’s Thanksgiving this year. It was such a joy and a blessing to use our home to serve our families!
Crystal Paine says
I’ve never heard of her books before so I’m excited to find a new author that I love!
Renee says
5 things I’m loving this week: 1. As I started to bake desserts, and make homemade yeast rolls on Wednesday in prep for Thanksgiving, our 16 year old daughter said “I want to help, Mommy” We had a wonderful 3 or 4 hours together with no interrupting texting to her friends. 2. Our 3 pecan trees that have allowed us to collect over 50 lbs of pecans this fall. We have been able to use them for baking, sharing with friends, and just plain eating them. 3. Our nightly family devotions, and my morning devotions with my husband. 4. Had a tight paycheck week due to the holiday for my hubby, and between the 4 of us, we were able to cut our grocery bill by over $100.00 this week. 5. Being a stay at home Wife and Momma and being able to homeschool our children.
Reelika @Financially Wise On Heels says
What a great post 🙂 I always enjoy reading what you are loving this week. Here are mine:
1. Snow 😉
2. Family time
3. Giving away two scholarships for my new online cours
4. Launching my online program
5. Movie night at home with my dear husband 🙂
Have a wonderful week everyone 🙂
Crystal Paine says
Yay for snow and launching your online program — congratulations!
Sarah@TheOrthodoxMama says
What a travel adventure! I often struggle with maintaining a positive attitude in the middle of setbacks and changes in plans. Thanks for the reminder. This week I’m loving: playing games as a family, reading with my kids, and having a vacation from school (I’m a teacher).
Crystal Paine says
I think the biggest help for me when traveling is to plan for the unexpected and plan for delays. That way, if they don’t happen, I feel like I’ve been given a gift. And if they do happen, I’ve planned for it! 🙂
Kalie @ Pretend to Be Poor says
Sounds like a great family weekend. Glad you made it back! That book also sounds really good. Being a mom requires learning the art of losing yourself for sure.
Victoria says
You used an “eh” ! That makes my Canadian heart swoon. I have never played Dutch Blitz. Oh and I totally have to check out that book it sounds like one I would love.
5 Thing I’m Loving This Week.
1. Having older kids: I loved my kids when they were little too but this weekend I could not help but notice how much help older children are. My sons moved all the furniture around so we could fit the Christmas tree in (small home problems). It is a huge undertaking involving swapping furniture around in 3 rooms. They didn’t complain once! Then later in the weekend my daughter helped make gingerbread cookies as well as cook part of our Thanksgiving dinner.
2. My health: I have developed minor health issues over the past year or two but—they are minor.
3. Christmas decorations: I dreaded the work of getting the Christmas decorations all out but thanks to having older kids (see #1) it really wasn’t that much work for me and I do so enjoy them.
4. Morning Quiet: I spend a lot of time during the holiday season reflecting on the year that is almost over and on the year to come and most of it is done in the early morning hours while staring at the Christmas tree lights.
5. For Friends: A family we made friends with shortly after arriving in Indiana over 13 years ago invite us to their Thanksgiving dinner every year and I love being a part of a big American family for an afternoon.
Crystal Paine says
I’ve picked up a little Canadian from my friends! I love “eh?” for some reason! 🙂
I loved your list!
Sue says
We love Dutch Blitz! We got Sleeping Queens recently and are enjoying it!
Crystal Paine says
Oh, I’ve not heard of Sleeping Queens — thanks for the recommendation!
Lori Ewart says
Thanks for sharing your week… and “Counting it all joy…” We LOVE Dutch Blitz in our family too! My 4 year-old grandson loves playing. Playing games helps develop all kinds of character traits and learning skills. 🙂
Crystal Paine says
That’s SO true about what skills developed through games!