A Handmade Christmas {And a Giveaway!}

Because of seriously tight finances, Christmas this year was a handmade affair. At first I was pretty bummed about the whole thing....and a little embarrassed. But, as the gifts came together, I started to really appreciate the situation. I don't know how to explain it, really, but it just felt right......like somehow, we were suddenly really getting the point of Christmas in a way we never had before.  We've always said the holidays were about family and the time spent together and I think we've always believed that, but this year was just different. I liked it. A lot.

There were aprons for my nieces and a jar cookie mix so they could bake with their Mommy.

There was homemade rub mix and BBQ sauce for my brothers and Dad- plenty there for a family cookout!

I made these fun jar cups and wraps as a test run for future craft sales. I loved them enough that several people got one for Christmas.

The darling jewelry holder was a perfect gift for Jenna's BFF.

I even made myself a little gift and I thought it was so cute I made one for my mom, too!

Knit dishcloths are a huge hit for my mom and my mother-in-law so they were gifted all around.

The thing about handmade is, there is no way to make someone a gift without really thinking about them. You can still give them something they don't like or won't use, of course, but you can't give them something that lacks thought and love when it's homemade. That's just the nature of making something for someone....you give a piece of yourself, too. And that, I think, is what it's really supposed to be about....the whole reason gift giving ever became a part of the celebrating. It was minimal, but meaningful. Like so many aspects of our new life, it's something I intend to keep- even when I don't have to.

And speaking of gifts- I have one for you!

One of the goals I have for 2015 is to get the blog reaching more people and to do that I need your help. Follow the blog for an entry in the drawing, comment here for another, and share on Facebook for another- a total of three chances! Make sure you let me know each thing you've done so I can give you credit. I will draw a winner on Wednesday January 21.

The prize? Something handmade, of course!

I knit this scarf using a rayon/metallic blend in a falling waters pattern. It has a lovely gold thread winding through it and it's soft and light- perfect for spring or fall.

Simple, purposeful, meaningful.....our goal for life at the Heap, may you find it in your life too!

Tonia

Resolved

Resolved: I will acknowledge technology as the tool it is meant to be. I will not allow it to distract me, destroy my peace, or create feelings of discontent and/or disharmony.

I've come to really appreciate Paul's instruction in Titus 2, that younger women should be "busy at home". When I'm working on things that really matter I am more content and more peaceful. When I let Facebook distract me I end up with hurt feelings or I find myself judging people and feeling disgusted with them. These are not qualities I want to feed. Over the past few months I've changed how I deal with Facebook, emails, and the internet in general......

* Anyone who isn't immediate family or someone I interact with on a regular basis is "unfollowed". The brutal truth is I don't need to know where the girl I sat behind in high school history class went on vacation and I sure don't need to know she thinks all conservatives are brain dead and should be shipped to a desert island. Facebook can be useful for knowing the day to day details of close friends....and using that knowledge to help them, but when it takes me an hour to check in with everyone and I leave with a pain in my heart, things have gone too far.

* Notifications in all groups are shut off. Only groups that serve a very specific purpose are followed at all.  If I have a specific question about a specific topic the groups I am a part of can be very helpful, but they can be a huge time waster otherwise.

* Emails and Facebook are checked twice a day- morning and evening. I'm not nearly as important as I like to think I am and anybody who needs an immediate answer from me should have a more direct way of contacting me. When I'm on the computer I'm not doing something else I could be accomplishing. All of real life happens far away from the computer.

Resolved: I will live in peace about my decisions. I do not need to justify them and I do not need to convince anyone that they are good. As long as I'm walking in God's will I am free.

From homeschooling to drinking raw milk, every decision we have made for our family has been made thoughtfully, prayerfully, and after much research. I have spent way too much time carrying the baggage of other people's judgement and it steals my peace and my joy. At the end of the day, that's not their fault- it's mine. I can live in gratitude and contentment or I can live on the defensive- I choose gratitude.

Resolved: I will make the most of every day with my children and treat this job as the calling it is. I will not apologize for investing my time and energy into them- these moments are fleeting and the most important things are happening right now.

What I do day by day is making all the difference to two people in this world. It's not wasted time and it's not unimportant. It also impacts an infinite number of others in ways I may never know. I have a necklace that says, "Raising Generations" on it- and that's exactly what I'm doing. What my kids learn today they will teach tomorrow. With everything I have I will teach them to love God, love family, and live in gratitude.

I'm excited to see what 2015 brings for the Heap! Blessings to you and yours in the New Year!

Tonia

FreeLoaders

Just in time for me to have the ability to wash them, 3 of the 4 freeloaders have developed diarrhea. Oh joy.

Who are the freeloaders you ask? Well, let me introduce you!

There's Sam, the Coton-Poodle mix. He lives his life for the next moment someone will pet him. He is also high maintenance- his hair is very soft and very prone to tangles, burrs, and getting way too long. Not exactly a country dog we have here folks.

 

There's Sadie, the miniature dachshund. She is old (15years) and has two speeds: molasses and sleeping. We are convinced she will live to be 30 because she is such an expert at conserving energy. The only thing that has changed for her over the years is her breath- it gets a little more horrendous every year- other than that she may as well be the puppy we brought home 15 years ago.

 

There's Jazzy, the diva in a cat suit. Her given name is Princess Jasmine Meow. Bug named her when she picked her out 5 years ago. You will not find a cat more bi-polar than this one. For real. She terrorizes everyone she meets, but is very sweet to Bug and I. She has never realized her claws have been removed and attacks anyone who walks within 3 feet of her without her express consent.

And last, but not least, there is Cosmo, the hamster. He is currently my favorite, mainly because he does not have diarrhea.

When you start looking at homesteading you quickly realize everyone must do their part. There is just too much to do and never enough time to do it. Those who do nothing more than make messes and eat are the freeloaders. Now we love our freeloaders and they are with us for the duration, but they are the LAST of the freeloaders. From here on out, all those who eat, must also work. We will have more cats, but they will live in the garage and outbuildings and catch rodents. We will have more dogs, but they will live outside, eat scraps, and provide a level of security. We will have chickens, pigs, goats....all will provide us food. We will not have rabbits- the kids and I are in agreement that we cannot stomach eating the bunnies, so no bunnies will come to live here.

It's all just another change in our lifestyle that we're all coming to grips with. Thankfully, it's a change that will happen gradually since it's likely some of the freeloaders are going to be here for many more years. Which means plenty more emergency baths are in my future. Oh joy.

Tonia