Getting an extended family picture takes a lot of work and coordination with twenty-one people and lots of energetic little ones.
A few days prior, Anna and Mary found our general location, and Mary coordinated what colors we could choose outfits from. Then, the evening of, Joseph worked hard to set up lights. That’s right. We didn’t just arrive at the location and snap lots of pictures. Joseph’s lights made for an incredible picture.
We also moved our set up several times, as the first two spots either had sun or not a great backdrop. Thankfully we’d started early enough that it worked out fine time wise.
The little ones arrive! We didn’t like the background with this one. So we rearranged for this area. Talking while others get ready. Christopher working to position people. Notice the difference between natural light here and what the final photo looks like. We weighted the umbrellas down with sandbags so they didn’t tip with wind. What does everyone do while Christopher and Sarah are looking at the camera and seeing how the pictures are turning out? Just don’t move too far, y’all!
“… The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.” Joshua 24:24
November is a special month, a time we celebrate being thankful. Of course, one should always practice gratefulness, but we get more opportunities to outwardly display it.
At last night’s church fellowship, we had a smaller group, due to a variety of reasons (business, illness, etc), but it was still such a blessing. The focus was thankfulness. First, we sang a few hymns, then Abby sang a hymn, followed by Bethany quoting Scripture, and then Christina singing and playing her ukulele. The elderly love the little ones. Then, we opened it up so anyone could share things they were grateful for. Our friends jumped right in, giving thanks.
We ended our time with all-things pumpkin desserts. Delicious.
Love, Sarah
“Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.” 1 Chronicles 16:8
Our family enjoys the special meal we have for Christmas and also for Resurrection Sunday. That meal was originated by my mom. By popular vote, everyone loves the traditional favorites so we keep having that special meal. My mom has handed the responsibility for those meals down to me along with the recipes.
I have a master shopping list that tells me what to buy. There are many dishes in the meal and generally a single recipe is not enough, so that complicates the ingredient list. Why spend time twice a year redoing that? Once I made the list, I could save it on my computer and just open the file the next time I needed it.
Every year we have 3 family barbecues – Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day. We like the same menu that has been fine tuned through the years by popular vote: hamburgers, hot dogs, brats, picnic eggs, baked beans, chips, chip dip, soda, and dessert (that is different each year). How many pounds of ground beef should I buy? How many packages of hot dogs and of brats? What about chips?
I like having enough for the meal, but I don’t want to have too much left over. Therefore I have a master shopping list for our barbecues that I keep on my computer, and then I fine tune it with each event. I note who was there, what I bought, what was left over. It has made those family meals so much easier when I don’t have to start from scratch with the plan and shopping list each time.
For example, at first, we were buying six pounds of ground beef, and we had so many hamburgers left over that we ate them for quite a while. For this year’s Labor Day, we bought three pounds of ground beef, and we had four hamburgers left over. Perfect! Also a couple of years ago, some began having their hot dog or hamburger in a lettuce wrap. Until I put iceberg lettuce on my master shopping list for the barbecue, we were sending someone back to the store the day of the barbecue for the lettuce that hadn’t been purchased. When it is on the list, it isn’t missed or forgotten.
What about you? Are there ways that you can streamline your holiday meals by tracking your menu, saving shopping lists, and writing down after-action reports such as how many you fed, how much was left over, or what you didn’t have enough of?
Trusting in Jesus, Teri
“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
It truly is amazing to have the book in hand and going out the door. I am so grateful for the Lord’s guidance over these past 12 years as I’ve written the Moody books.
I often hear how grateful families are for my writing style and for the blessing of wholesome stories for their children. My next story is already in the planning stages (see last picture as I begin exploring small towns).
Anna’s been shipping Colorado with the Moodyseverywhere. Not only to the United States but to many other countries, so the Moodys go international yet again!
Love, Sarah
It was an exciting day when we went to pick the books up from the printer. A salted caramel mocha on the way back. Anna shipping
Sweet sister times as we explored two small towns today (and yes, another salted caramel mocha!).
“Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.” 2 Corinthians 8:21
“Successful, effective people are those who launch directly into their major tasks and then discipline themselves to work steadily and single-mindedly until those tasks are complete.” (Eat That Frog – 21 Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time)
Aren’t little ones worth scheduling for? (Christopher took this picture of Ruthie on Monday.)
You know what? That’s the beauty of my schedule. It pre-determines my major tasks and carves out the necessary time to work through those jobs. It keeps my focus on my priorities.
Just like the business person wants to be successful in his vocation, we moms want to be successful and effective in the calling the Lord has placed on our lives when He gave us families. There is great satisfaction in accomplishing those special responsibilities the Lord puts into our lives.
If a businessman is effective with his time, he makes more money. If Mom is effective with her time, there are tangible fruits not only for her but also in the lives of her children, and that gives her joy. One result is wood, hay, and stubble. The other has eternal worth. You choose. Thousands of moms have proven scheduling with Managers of Their Homes works!
Trusting in Jesus, Teri
“Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is” (1 Corinthians 3:13).
The Maxwell family and ministry blog of Titus2.com.
