Peace out, 2013!!!

It has arrived! New Year's Eve; the one holiday that gives you a fresh start. What's this mama doing?? Pshh.. I'm putting on my finest PJ's, fuzzy socks, having a movie marathon and pretending for the last time that I can eat however I want! Don't be jealous! This year was rough for me, to say the least. It has been filled with many trials and struggles as a mother especially. So, I would be lying if I said I was "sad" to see 2013 go.. NOPE! Be gone 2013!!!! lol
So we do it every year...the infamous "new year's resolutions." We are motivated, going to lose those 15 lbs, and then by about May, we have completely forgotten or abandoned our resolution(s) all together. Yes, I am quite guilty of this. BUT, since I am blogging my resolutions, I have no excuse; I will forever have them in front of me where I cannot lose them and I will have all year to work on them. I never have just ONE resolution, and I aim to make them lifetime resolutions, not just for the new year, but at least making it through one year is a small step.  I have a total of 2 "followers" on this blog, and I don't expect anyone else to actually take the time to read through it but if my resolutions help to motivate anyone else beside myself, that would be AMAZING! So behold, I give you my 2014 resolutions!!

1. Do more/be more involved with my family--Turning off the electronics, going on walks together, having game nights, doing crafts, as long as we are spending quality time.

2. Never miss a day of devotions, personal or with the family--for those who may not know, "devotions" are time spent with the Lord in Bible study, prayer, meditation and worship. This requires extra discipline on my side, there are days where I get so busy and make excuses..there are no excuses, I MUST do them!

3. Be healthier--of course that includes losing weight for me but I also mean no more JUNK. Not just food, but junk tv, junk sites, junk anything! Healthy physically, mentally, AND spiritually!

4. Don't sweat the small stuff--sometimes we try so hard to be in control, but God is in ULTIMATE control! When something doesn't go our way, or according to our plans or wishes, we have meltdowns and hissy fits. It's not the end of the world if my house is a mess for one day, it's not the end of the world if the kids are fussing, it's not the end of the world if no one comments on my blog or social media-No. Big. Deal.

5. Be more patient/loving--this is especially true for me as a mother. I have allowed myself to lose my temper too often and have not shown my children love by example. I have a best friend (love you Britt!) who gives me a hard dose of TRUTH in love and is constantly reminding me of this when I cry to her about my kids.

6. Get our finances in order--we have a plan this year, we NEED to see it through!!!

7. Have at least ONE date with my husband every month--this doesn't mean we have to spend money or go out. We can do it at home after the kids are in bed, we can go for a walk, whatever it takes.

8. Get a new tattoo--I decided that any tattoo I get will be honoring to my faith, and I have a really good one in mind for my number 2!!!

9. Be mindful of social media--it can be both a blessing and a curse. I have lost friendships over things I post on my OWN page. Someone out there will always disagree with your opinions or views, and most of them choose to cause drama, if not careful, we end up opening a can of worms and doing more damage than we set out to. I plan to get on once in a great while, manage what I need, and get off. otherwise, we can spend hours and getting sucked into what we don't need.

10. LAUGH MORE--pretty self explanatory. Just need to enjoy every day more, find the happiness and live it!

So there you have it! I will be held especially accountable, at times I'm sure I will fail, but the thing is to keep going! Get up and dust yourself off and try again! HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all! May you have a blessed year and a safe one! God bless!
                                                                       Love,
                                                                          Lisette 
                                                                      

Dear Mary...

"Mary did you know that your baby boy would some day walk on water?
Mary did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you.

Mary did you know that your baby boy would give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know that your baby boy would calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when your kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God."


Dear Mary,
2013 years ago, you were approached by an Angel of the Lord who told you that you would bear the Son of God, as a virgin, chosen by God Himself. You were so young, were you afraid? All the emotions you must have experienced at that moment, the fear, the uncertainty, the excitement? Of all the people on the planet at that time, you and you alone would bear God in your womb. As your belly grew, what was it like? The connection of feeling this most important miracle move inside your body. God watched over you and protected you, Mary. You could have easily been stoned to death when the people saw that you were pregnant before marriage, but you weren't. He kept you safe and healthy until that most fateful day. As you felt ready to give birth to God, were you afraid? Knowing you were running out of time and still had not found shelter? But you did.

"So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them at the inn." Luke 2:6-7

As you watched your Son grow, He must have been the most joyous child and the most helpful one! For 30 years, your Son, the Son of man, the only perfect being to have ever walked this planet, lived with you and you beheld Him. What was it like? Was He funny? Was He sweet? I'm sure you never had to ask if He was telling the truth, because you heard truth itself whenever He spoke. He must have been the most incredible and fulfilling thing to have ever happened in your life! When you asked Him to do something, He must have done it with beyond perfection! When He had to leave home for His ministry, it must have been so hard for you to see Him leave you after having Him by your side for so many beautiful years. Were you proud, Mary? When word reached your ears about His healing the lame, the lepers, the blind, the sick, even the dead? Were you surprised at all that your Son was walking on water and calming storms? You knew time was drawing near, you heard Him speak about it many times. I would have hoped and prayed that there was some other way, but you were a servant of God and trusted Him.

The day arrived; that most terrible day for you to have witnessed, for any mother to have to witness. How your heart must have been bleeding inside as you watched your sweet and innocent child being beaten, shamed, flesh being torn from his raw wounds. How were you able to bear it? As a mother myself, I could hardly allow the faintest of thoughts about my children being hurt without tears burning my eyes and pain in my heart.. but you chose to stay and see, He must have felt comfort knowing you were there, His mother. You must have been overwhelmed and overjoyed when at last He rose and defeated death and sin itself! Did you know the impact His death and resurrection would have 2013 years later?? He has changed my life, Mary. I have accepted Him as my beautiful Savior. I know that you are in blissful paradise now by His side  forevermore. I wanted to thank you, Mary. Thank you for obeying God and carrying this miracle. Thank you for raising Him and loving and caring for Him. Thank you for allowing Him to die for my sins.

                                                              Yours Truly,
                                                             Lisette Lopez

A touch of Christmas; Decorating Lisette Style

IT'S HERE!!!! The most wonderful time of the year!! Like fall, I couldn't wait to put up my stuff like I usually do the day after Thanksgiving. I did two weeks early. Every year, I add just a little bit more or change just a little bit here and there as far as what I put up or make. When it comes to the holidays, I tend to veer away from traditional colors and find a way to always incorporate my favorite shades of course. So the question is, what is my Christmas decorating style? Is it beachy? Is it rustic? Is it whimsical? Is it shabby chic, or vintage-inspired? I really couldn't peg it down to any single one. I think it's very me, which seems to satisfy everyone else in the house. So BEHOLD! I give you Christmas-Lisette style! (warning-there will be LOTS of pics)

My mantle. My newest addition is the mercury glass owl and the amazing string art by Thread therapy. Oh and a few feathers in a blue mason jar never hurt anyone ;) I made the stockings two years ago out of felt and added little clusters of buttons in the top corner of them. The sign I recently made with a homemade turquoise stain and silhouetted letters and nativity modpodged on with the shelter being made of burlap. the window shutter is our newest Advent calendar!

The entry way table. The basket is filled with fresh pine clippings from my backyard and I threw in a few pine cones and cedar roses.

The Nativity-we are missing one wise man thanks to my daughter who decided these were fun to play with last year. We got these as a wedding gift 9 years ago and have stuck with them since.

This is a wreath we got years ago and I hang it on the interior side of the front door.

I made this wreath two years ago as well-just a Styrofoam ring wrapped in yarn and the "merry Christmas" is made out of jute string. And of course throw in a couple seashells, burlap and felt roses and voila!

I saw a tutorial on making cone trees out of cereal boxes. I downloaded the templet for them and had fun using materials I had on hand to finally have little cone trees!

After I started having kids, it wasn't very practical having glass ornaments anymore. Being on a tight budget, I got creative in finding ways to replace just about all of the fragile ones with handmade ones, I even recycled some of the old glass ones by wrapping them in yarn or jute-making them unbreakable.

I had an old King James Bible that we never used and it had some water damage, so I took out the pages with the Christmas story from Luke 2 and mod-podged them onto old glass ornaments.

Every year, I make it a point to buy at least one new ornament for the tree. Last year it was the white owl, this year it was this mercury glass vintage key via Threshold at Target, and the glittery pine cone was from Hobby Lobby.

Here's the tree!

What better way to end a day of decorating than a cup of hot cocoa! The rainbow marshmellows were just a bonus ;)

This was an amazing sunset after putting up the outside decor. God is the ultimate artist! <3

The lights we got last year are LED and these change into an array of different vibrant colors! We LOVE them!

What is your Christmas style? Whatever you like, use it! Make it your own and don't worry about "rules" or "perfection." And the most important thing is to remember to keep CHRIST in Christmas!!

"For unto us a child is born..." Isaiah 9:6