The 12 Days of Christmas

The holiday season proves difficult for some, delightful for others, and then the rest of us get so bogged down in the commercialization of Christmas, we forget to reflect on what is most important.   It is no different for our family.  With 5 kids, Christmas seems like one giant headache. Not wanting to disappoint, but also not wanting to send our pocketbook to the funny farm.  Credit cards are a big no,.. seasonal toys are not worth the interest rate, for these passing fads will have been played through and tossed aside much sooner than you can finish paying for it.   This year I am trying hard to turn a blind eye to commercialization. My Christmas shopping has been mostly from the homemade category.  I have thus far, a knitted hat ans scarf for my youngest son, homemade sweets for all my kids, homemade Christmas tree skirt and nativity scene. Homemade Christmas tree ornaments and Christmas cards and tags.  My sister says to me, "Yeah, but YOU can do all that... what about those of us who don't have a creative bone in their body?!" Then let those of us who are creative help you!  There is a worldwide handmade community right at your fingertips,.. it is called Etsy.com. Also, check your local newspaper, schools and churches for craft fairs locally. Some of those crafters wait all year to offer you some homemade goods.   My children and I have our own Etsy store... www.etsy.com/shop/knottmom. There you will find some of our handmade cards & ornaments, enchanted reindeer nibbles to sprinkle in the yard to help lure Rudolph to your home Christmas eve... and lots of other neat things. Right now we are having our very own "12 Days of Christmas" Sale! Now thru the 12th of December...  and for all my blog and Facebook followers, enter coupon code "GINGERBREAD" for a sweet 10% extra off your entire order!

Did you know that the 12 items in the "12 Days of Christmas" are actually religious symbols??

1 True Love refers to God
2 Turtle Doves refers to the Old and New Testaments
3 French Hens refers to Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues
4 Calling Birds refers to the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5 Golden Rings refers to the first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch", which gives the history of man's fall from grace.
6 Geese A-laying refers to the six days of creation
7 Swans A-swimming refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the sacraments
8 Maids A-milking refers to the eight beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing refers to the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 Lords A-leaping refers to the ten commandments
11 Pipers Piping refers to the eleven faithful apostles
12 Drummers Drumming refers to the points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed

I think I may share this at the dinner table this evening!!!  

Now I'm off to make some paper snowflakes with my kids...

Blessings to all, see you real soon!

Thanksgivings come and past...

With Thanksgiving under our belt (literally) things are moving forward.  Things have been really interesting on the Louis front.  We figured out he is having memories of his biological mom and whatever those memories are all the bad memories he has transposed onto me. So we have started the un-raveling process of that rats nest! We started a "Life Book" basically a scrapbook of louis life. It contains pictures of him as a baby, all those hard to look at photos of the past along with his birth certificate and so forth.  He was reinterduced to bio-mom through these photos.  In therapy sessions she is referred to as "Mommy #1" and I am "Mommy #2"...
...that was the first shift in the foundation....
During Louis' last home pass, we decided to bring in some of the Christmas decorations and put up the tree.  Louis and Zoe decorated the tree together, we wrote letters to Santa, and Louis got to meet Toby; our latest addition to the family! (Toby is a [from what i can gather] cross between a St. Bernard and a Golden retriever. Though he is just a pup {around 2yrs} he is NOT hyper, doesn't jump and tolerates every pull of the tail, yank of the fir, and poke to the eyes!  The perfect "therapy" dog for our family)
Louis was looking at the stockings on the wall that i had hung and was asking about his stocking. I pointed it out to him and he ran to yank it off of the wall.  I stopped him and he said "But i want to take it home with me." I said "Louis, this is your home."     Can you hear the Hallelujah chorus?!?!?!    he has finally made that difference/connection in his mind!
....another shift to the foundation....
As we go further into the Christmas season, it will prove interesting. This is the worst time of year for some people, but a wonderful opportunity to show him even though he doesnt always get what he wants, he will always get what he needs!

As time goes on, I will be adding more to this blog about our adventures with Louis. Struggles, mile-stones,... and anything else I come up with... It isnt exclusively a RAD blog,.. but more a life blog...

On another note, after Christmas, my etsy shop will still be there, but I wont be adding to it as frequently.  There is just way to  much going on in our childrens lives for me to tuck away in a corner making things... As me and the children make things, they will go up in the shop, but we are at a turning point it seems and i don't want to miss any of it!