Busy, Busy, Busy

I have been so busy that the month of December has just passed by without my noticing! So much seems to have taken up my time this month, I'm hoping January will be calm.

My husband and I took a trip a couple of weeks ago. We went to St. Augustine, Florida, and then stopped in Savannah, Georgia (my all time favorite place) on the way home (only a slight detour). I had such a great time in St. Augustine. I took my first run on the beach. It was rainy and cold, but still a great trip. I caught a cold, but it was worth it to get gorgeous pictures of the beach and the city.

I also got to mark something off of my bucket list: See Savannah at Christmas-time. Honestly, it was a complete let down. I did get a few great pictures and an adorable hat, but that was about it. Oh! Can't forget the pralines - YUM!!!

The trip to Savannah did give me a little pearl of wisdom: Just because it's on your bucket list, doesn't mean it'll be perfect. Savannah may not have been what I expected it to be, but it was on my list, and it was an experience.

On the bucket list subject: I'm looking for a 365 project (do something every day for an entire year-most of the time it has to do with photography). I wanted to so one this year, but I came in on it late. Hmmmmm... The only thing I can think of really has nothing to do with photography, but it is something that makes me happy: running. Maybe a mile a day (or more if I feel like it) would be cool. Well, that settles it. Running it is.

Now I have to come up with some resolutions. I may break them before the end of the second week of January, but it's my own personal tradition...

~Amanda~

25 Days of Scripture: Day 25

Merry Christmas to all!!

25 Days of Scripture: Day 24

25 Days of Scripture: Day 23

25 Days of Scripture: Day 22

25 Days of Scripture: Day 21

I can't believe I didn't get this up yesterday! My apologies!

~Amanda~

25 Days of Scripture: Day 20

25 Days of Scripture: Day 19

New Project

I'm so excited to see how these turn out.

I can hear you thinking, "What are they?" Well, right now, they are scraps of fabric that will hopefully turn into some really cute letters for my nephew.

I'll post the results on This Sweet Craziness when I get them done. :)

~Amanda~

25 Days of Scripture: Day 18

25 Days of Scripture: Day 17

25 Days of Scripture: Day 16

25 Days of Scripture: Day 15

25Days of Scripture: Day 14

I am distraught over the shooting in Connecticut. I have been in tears all day, thinking of those children and their families. I thought that Matthew 5:4 would be an appropriate verse for today. It may not have anything to do with Christmas, but there are people that are inconsolable who need our prayers and to feel God's love surrounding them.

Theirs is a situation that I pray no parent finds themselves in ever again, and I am heartbroken for them. I... I just have no more words.

~Amanda~

25 Days of Scripture: Day 13

25 Days of Scripture: Day 12

25 Days of Scripture: Day 11

25 Days of Scripture: Day 10

25 Days of Scripture: Day 9

25 Days of Scripture: Day 8

25 Days of Scripture: Day 7

~Amanda~

25 Days of Scripture: Day 6

The word "revive" has been bouncing around in my head all day, so I thought that I would tie it in with the 25 Days of Scripture.  I love the verse that I found:  Isaiah 57:15, "I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble.  I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts."

God will receive and revive anyone who comes to him with "repentant hearts".  God sent His son to show the lost and broke that those who come to Him will be lifted and made new.  Such a wonderful gift!

~Amanda~

25 Days of Scriptute: Day 5

 



I think this scripture speaks for itself.  ~Love~

~Amanda~

25 Days of Scripture: Day 4

 

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above..." James 1:17 (KJV)

God isn't in the business of giving bad gifts. This is the time of year that people obsess over giving the perfect gift (myself included), but it's also a time to stop and reflect on the perfect gift that God has given us: His son, Jesus Christ.

So, while you're your shopping, or decorating the tree, or observing family traditions this year, please take a moment to thank God for his perfect gift, and to remember that Jesus is the reason we celebrate Christmas.

~Amanda~

Making Christmas Cards

Before I had kids I would have my Christmas cards signed and addressed in August and mailed out the day after Thanksgiving. Not so much anymore. I'm lucky to remember to mail them, if I get some made up to begin with.

This year I've decided to go with an e-card. I found this great app called Red Stamp that has so many different cards! I love it! I took a picture of the boys after we put up our Christmas tree that I used for the card. Most of the time I get a family picture, but, getting everyone to sit still for a picture can be a daunting task.

This was super simple. Love it! Love anything that will keep my life simple!

:)

~Amanda~

25 Days of Scripture: Day 3

 

"The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace." Psalms 29:11 (NLT)

I don't know if there's anything I can say about this verse, it says it all.

I rely on my Lord for strength and he blesses me with an internal peace, knowing that he is in charge, and he will take care of me. I can rest easy, peacefully, if you will, because my Lord is with me.

~Amanda~

25 Days of Scripture: Day 2

I probably should have started this series with today's verse: Isaiah 7:14.

"...The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means God is with us)."

I can only imagine how stressful that news would have been to Mary and Joseph, but they had faith that God would see them through, and they were faithful to him. What a blessing that was bestowed upon them, and in turn, bestowed upon us all!


~Amanda~

Instagram and Twitter Addiction

Good day. I just wanted to let you guys know that you can follow me on Instagram (thissweetcraziness) and Twitter (@sweetcraziness). I'd love to see ya there!

~Amanda~

25 Days of Scripture: Day 1

This little series I'm doing is called "25 Days of Scripture". I guess the title says it all, huh? I'm counting down The days until Christmas with a scripture verse every day. I'm not the first person to have though of this, however. The internet is full of different verses to use during the Christmas season. I'm going to use some of the verses I've found online, and maybe find some on my own that speak to me.

Today's verse is Psalm 98:4, "Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music;" (NLT).

This time of the year, I can't help but to be joyous, to share with my children the reason that we celebrate Christmas: the wondrous birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I love to see the looks on my children's faces as they see houses decked out with Christmas lights. I've even gone crazy getting pictures of them underneath the Christmas tree this year.

Just joyous!

~Amanda~

"Unplug" Wednesday

So, you know how I've been doing "Stress Free Day" lately, mostly on Fridays? Well, I've decided to have have one fay a week where I completely unplug from my electronics. No iPad, no computer, no internet...

Well, I know today is Wednesday, but I have something that I have to email my oldest son's teacher, so I have to be online. But, after that begins the first of many "Unplug Wednesdays".

I think/hope this will give me more quality time with my God, my family, my chores, and my crafts.

I like these themed days. They speak to the odd OCD in me (I say odd because I'm not the clean, organized OCD, I'm more the list maker, weirdly structured OCD, if that makes sense).

Either way, I'm excited to start the day. Lets see how crazy it makes me. :)

~Amanda~

P.S. It didn't work. I'm addicted to my electronics! :)

Giving Thanks: Day 7

I am thankful for all the time I've gotten to spend with my husband and kids over the Thanksgiving holiday. It's been so much fun!

I'm also thankful for the great lunch I had, the snuggly nap I'm about to take, and the invigorating run I'll have this evening.

Just trying to enjoy it all before it's back to the old grind tomorrow.

~Amanda~

Giving Thanks: Day 6

Today I am thankful I woke up in a crafty mood. Maybe I can tick off some of the things on my craft to-do list. On a side note, I've also decided to give crocheting a try. Looks pretty cool.

~Amanda~

Giving Thanks: Day 5

Today I am thankful that I don't feel the need to go shopping. I may go to a grocery store, but I don't t think that anyone has been camping outside the doors of Kroger or Publix all night, so I probably won't have to fight anyone for Q-Tips and flour.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and they stay safe today while they are out hunting for great deals!

~Amanda~

Giving Thanks: Day 4

I am so thankful for my wonderful family.  I had two (yes two) awesome Thanksgiving meals today, but the best part of it was that I got to spend all day with my families.  My families are full of such great people, and it is always fun when we get together!

~Amanda~

Giving Thanks: Day 3

 

I am so thankful for my two wonderful boys. They have so much love in their hearts, and they show it readily. They always keep me busy, on my toes. Being their mom is the best job I could ever ask for, that I could ever have. I don't know what I would do without my boys.  I love them so much.  They are the world to me.

~Amanda~

Giving Thanks: Day 2

Today I am expressing my thankfulness and gratitude for my husband. I'm not only thankful today, but every day. He is so strong and so caring. He loves me and our kids, and he shows it every day! He never takes advantage or speaks unkindly towards us. His hugs make my problems seem distant. He is perfect for me, and I love him dearly.

~Amanda~

Giving Thanks: Day 1

My favorite Bible verse:  Isaiah 40:31

I have seen a lot of people on Facebook and Twitter giving thanks all month long, and I love the idea, I just came in on it a bit late. Because I didn't start on it at the beginning of November, I didn't want to go through the entire month and only express thanks and appreciation on one day, between mouthfuls of turkey, so I put my own little spin on it. I'm going to make it a week long project. I'll even get my boys involved.

I should have started it on Thursday, and made Thanksgiving the last day of the week, but I'm not sure that it matters. I think that appreciation and thankfulness should be acknowledged every day, all year long.

So, what am I thankful for? My God! He has watched over me every day, and comforted me in my darkest times.  He has blessed me with a wonderful husband and two awesome kids. He has blessed us in so many ways, and I thank Him for that each and every day!

~Amanda~

Rough Day

 

Today has been a terribly rough day, an incredibly sad day. I am so thankful for my husband. He has been by my side all day, ready to hold me, to comfort me.

He even agreed to play my favorite game... Mancala (that's it, in the picture). I played this game in high school and I've loved it ever since. I mentioned it to my awesome husband (before we were even married) and he bought it for me. Even though he doesn't like the game he played two rounds with me.

He is so understanding and sympathetic to me. I am so happy that I've been blessed with his love!

~Amanda~

Stress Free Day!!

I've been a little stressed out this past week (kind of an understatement). I'm trying to simplify my life, and to make myself happy while making others happy. It can be done, I've found. All I did was figure out that when I'm miserable and stressed, I make everyone else around me unhappy (the saying "If mommy isn't happy, then no one's happy" actually rings true).

Well, I got tired of the stress. I wanted one day, just one day a week that I didn't stress, so I did it. Today was a super busy day, with a lot of driving and running and time constraints, but I did it! I just decided not to get too upset and to take my time. I made it everywhere I needed, and on time , and with no stress at all.

Now, every week I'm going to take one day and have a Stress Free Day. I'm not going to let anything bother me at all on that day. Maybe I can build up to two days, three days, all the way to seven days of stress free living.

I believe I have heard my Lord and Savior more today than I've heard in the past few months. Of course, I'm sure I'll slip up every now and then, but right now, I'm enjoying the laid back, relaxed feeling, and the feeling of being nearer to my God.

~Amanda~

Today I Want To Be...

Organized.

I have such a hard time getting organized and staying organized. I want/need to just get everything in order and KEEP it that way!

Maybe today I can do that.

~Amanda~

Ready For Christmas?

little bitty Christmas trees

 
Normally I would be more than a little upset that the Christmas season has started before Thanksgiving. I mean, really? It seems to start earlier and earlier every year.

Well, this year I'm pretty excited. I'm going to buy one of the little Christmas trees to put by the fire place (we have an artificial tree, but it doesn't have the same effect as a live tree).

The boys are excited, too. They’ve already started compiling their Christmas lists and we’re going to sit down next week to write out their letters to Santa.

I just love to explain the that Christ was born on that day, to open the little doors on their advent calendars, to see their faces every time they look at the tree. Their excitement is simply contagious. Such a wonderful time!

~Amanda~

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Frosty Morning

 

 

I'm a warm weather type of person. I like the sun and pools and beaches, but I have found myself enjoying cooler weather more and more.

Maybe "enjoying" is the wrong word. I appreciate the cool weather more and more (as log as I don't have to venture out in it for too long). I love sitting under a warm blanket with a steaming mug of hot tea, I get almost giddy at the thought of snow, and I'm downright ecstatic about Christmas.

It's very possible that my excitement is fueled by my own children's excitement. That is perfectly fine with me. I love to see them get excited about all the great things that happen in the cooler months.

I will always be rooted in the warmer seasons, but I'm learning through my children to appreciate all seasons and to focus on the great happenings, not just that my toes are so cold they feel like they could fall off.

~Amanda~

Great Day!!

 

Great day today!  Voted, ate a great lunch, a little shopping, and a nap.  Awesome.

Old Hobbies

I spent yesterday afternoon dabbling in an old hobby.  It felt great!  The boys and I also started another project.  It'll take about a week to show results, so if it works I'll post it next week.

~Amanda~

My new running shoes.  Feels like I'm running on clouds!  Bring on the road!

Just a few things I purchased.  Can't wait to start something new with them.