Happy New Year Everyone! :D See ya in 2016!

Welp, that is it ladies and gents. Another year has come and gone and I have to say it was a good one.  My family and I are in North Carolina vacationing and visiting with family. I am excited to say that I brought in the New Year with a peaceful Bubble Bath and book...that was swiftly turned pool party when my 2 year old joined me. Best way to start off a New Year in this Mommy's opinion! Happy New Year! :D Oh, and there was also yummy pie... :p

Thanksgiving Poem

So, I wrote a Thanksgiving Poem this year. I have been so busy that I did not get around to posting it on here, even though it did find it's way onto some of my other "social media" places. I wrote this poem because I have a strong dislike of Thanksgiving being taken over by Black Friday shopping. I mean, I LOVE Black Friday! LOVE IT! Shopping, deals, the rush, SO much fun! ...but why does it have to now start on Thursday? Anyways, I had to put in my two cents because pennies burn my hands. :p

The Thanksgiving Thief

Thanksgiving is being stolen

By a thief in black

What once was a holiday for all

Is now under attack

A day of giving thanks 

Surrounded by family and friends

Large feasts and laughter

Beginning to end

Memories not made

Moments not shared

Too many corporations

We thought cared

Food not eaten together

No prayers or thanks said

Empty chairs at empty tables

Because they are working instead

No football Rivalry

And games to be enjoyed

No watching the parade 

Of floats all convoyed

Employees forced to work

Forced to miss

Forced to wish

That others would stand up, Stop this

End the madness 

Mourn the missing

Instead of taking

Let's be Giving

And bring back our holiday 

The one for all

Where no person should miss

Let's answer the call 

Let's silence the thief

And right what is wrong 

Put Black Friday

Back where she belongs!

By: Tiphanie Brooke Johnston

Favorite Christmas Songs of 2015 (What has been playing in my home and annoying all my neighbors and family all December)

It is December! As if you couldn't tell from all the LACK of posting happening on this Blog. I have been SUPER busy. Between caroling, cooking, attending Christmas Parties, Church Events, Volunteering, and visiting with friends and family it has been crazy...and tons of fun of course! Anyways, in those snatches of time I enjoy listening to the Radio while I bake, do chores or cruise in the car. I enjoy listening to Christmas music the whole month of December...and maybe September, October, and November... Religious, Fun, Traditional...I don't care I love it all! Anyways, this is my top 10 list for this year. Basically the songs I keep having stuck in my head. I hope you think it is a fun list and get to experience a new one along with some old faves. :D

I am posting these videos via Youtube. I do not take credit for ANY of it. I did not make the video, sing the songs, write the songs, or post the videos. Thank you to all who did. :D

1. So, I am not gonna lie, I have cried many MANY times listening to this . I just heard it for the first time this year (I believe it is new). This is my top pick for Christmas 2015. It is "Just a Girl" by Brandon Heath.

2. This song is also sad but I keep finding it stuck in my head and I love her version of it. This was released in 2014 and I somehow missed it last year so now I am loving it this year. It is "River" by Idina Menzel.

3. I really love the group Pentatonix and I first discovered them because of this song. This song is so clear and beautiful...it often gives me chills. This song is nothing but their voices! Pretty amazing! I hope you enjoy it. "Little Drummer Boy" by Pentatonix.

4. This song has been stuck in my head on and off and I have even randomly started singing "you look naughty, but I'm sure your nice" to a few select friends. lol. "Christmas in the Sand" by Colbie Caillat.

5. This song has not even been stuck in my head for Christmas. I have been listening to this song all year. I absolutely love the story in this song. You can almost hear the pain and anyone with a lost love can relate. You have probably heard it before but I love it and wanted to share it. At number 5 I have "Same Old Lang Syne" by Dan Fogelberg.

6. So, if you haven't noticed by now I love a good story in a song. This one has a pretty great one and the song is fairly catchy. Number 6 is "His Favorite Christmas Story" by Capitol Lights.

7. The video to this one is great! This has Charlie Brown, Christmas, and old people all mixed in! What isn't to love?! "Charlie Brown Medley" performed by The Piano Guys.

8. I love Lindsey Sterling. I usually love her for her Video Game medleys/performances/videos but I also found I love her Christmas music too. This is "What Child is This" performed by Lindsey Sterling.

9. I also enjoy Nightcore songs, which are basically sped up and "chipmunk-a-fied" as some of my friends have described, lol. So, here is a Nightcore version of "Carol of the Bells" by Barlow Girl.

10. Owl City is always a great listen. At number 10 we have "Peppermint Winter" by Owl City.

Operation Christmas Child

Operation Christmas Child is one of my favorite charities! Every year, we celebrate the Holidays and it brings out a real feeling of Joy and wanting to do for others. If you feel the urge to make someone's Christmas amazing for not a ton of money then please check out this video and the Website link below.

This is one of their 2015 promotion videos via Youtube. 

I have participated in Operation Christmas Child (sometimes known as Operation Shoe Box) the last couple of years and will continue to do so every year I am able. I love putting together a box of toys, necessities, letters, and pictures knowing that a child somewhere in the world is going to receive this box and the love that was put into it. If you want more information on this wonderful charity or would like to donate or participate you can go to this link: Operation Christmas Child 

This year, I packed boxes with my AHG (American Heritage Girls) troop. For those that do not know about American Heritage Girls you can check them out via the link. :D

This was our end product! Over 30 Boxes for Boys and Girls of all ages!

You start by getting your shoe box and then labeling it with the Boy/Girl Tag and then marking an age (below).

We used a wide variety of toys/clothing/hygiene products

This is a Letter we let all of our girls fill out for our boxes so the children will know where we are located. I thought this was pretty neat.

With my little helper here, we packed 3 boxes together. 

One of our finished boxes. I liked to pack them as full as possible! :p

Updating!

Wow! It has been awhile since I posted! Sorry, but Holidays will probably always be a crazy time for me. It is a time I wholly try to focus on family, friends, and doing as many fun activities with them as possible! I will be back blogging a week or two after most major holidays. Even bloggers need breaks. :p