Our New Year’s Eve in a Nutshell + Enter to Win $500 Target Giveaway!

Our New Year’s Eve in a Nutshell + Enter to Win $500 Target Giveaway!

Happy New Year my friends! Thank you so much for spending 2018 with me. Looking forward to sharing even more with you this year! We had a casual evening at home celebrating with our two younger kids while Emi (our teen) attended NYE dance with her friends our church hosted. Albert opened a bottle of Martinelli’s apple cider and we toasted as a family to ring in the new year. I had to convince Elijah that it wasn’t alcohol. He is such a cute little boy. We watched what we could on YouTube through our TV of the Time’s Square Celebration. I had no idea you would have to pay to watch the popular New Year’s Eve show? We don’t have TV and for moments like this – I miss it.

Keep Dreaming

Earlier that day, my husband finally bought the car of his dreams! We have been saving for years. A couple of days ago, we drove to Costa Mesa, CA to view a beautiful 7 series BMW for Albert. I could see the excitement in his eyes. Though, the car color wasn’t his ideal…a dark black-ish green and it was 7 years old, it was in pristine condition, well-maintained, and could fit our entire family comfortably. It was also in our price range. The car also has a lot of power and unique features like night vision that made this car stellar and one to really consider seriously.

Albert is much more conservative and cautious than I am. So, he needed time to think about it. Unfortunately, the next day he received a call that someone was interested and it was going to be sold. He was really bummed. I felt bad because I knew the little car he was currently driving was falling apart. He also wanted something nice to drive the girls to school in.

However, a couple days later he got the call that the sale fell through. What a miracle! He asked me if he should buy it and I said: “heck, yes!”

Pave the Way

He drove home with his new car on New Year’s Eve and I am so happy for him! My husband is a hard-working, self-sacrificing loyal husband and father. He is always going without so we can have more. To see him finally buy a car that he loves and is absolutely excited about was the best feeling. And to think it all happened on New Year’s day was serendipitous. All his years of researching, saving money, driving our crappy old cars (my old mama van still suits me fine and I think we have more years on her), and his ability to negotiate well — paid off in the long run! It feels good to say, we were able to pay for the car in cash. I am truly grateful for all of Heavenly Father’s blessings and the lessons He teaches us. How powerful it is to work hard, have patience and to wait.

New Celebrations

Another fun part of New Year’s Day is having Elijah’s Initiation Celebration. This “celebration” is the code word for the “birds and the bees talk” that happens our kids turn 8 and also after their baptism. It felt so easy and comfortable to explain it to the girls. But, with Elijah, it was uniquely different. The responses and faces he made were both hilarious and uncomfortable. I don’t know if it is because this is how a boy responds to matters like this? Or if Elijah just understands more than what the girls did at his age? Or he is more vocal? Or all of the above?

I started to doubt the teaching moment. But, after praying about it again and researching this topic again…it is better to present the information soon than later. He was showing interest and curiosity as his sisters told him how cool Initiation Celebration is. Elijah is also mature for his age and Albert and I felt he could process the information well with his 8-year-old understanding. We discussed how babies are really made with the humor and honesty of this cute and helpful book “Where Did I Come From” The facts of life without any nonsense and with illustrations. Written by bestselling author Peter Mayle.  I told him we can always talk about this and he can come to Albert and me anytime he has questions. Gotta keep the dialogue open and comfortable.

Goal Setter

Anyway, it has been a great New Year! And, before I close…I want to share with you my five New Year Resolution in which I am really excited about!

1. Be the kind of mother my children need. Hone in on becoming more compassionate, patient, wise and present with each of my three kids.
2. Create a home that is a refuge. A place the family wants to be at all times. Make more effort to provide home-cooked meals together and create more order and less clutter around the house.
3. Make time for my husband. Become a more attentive, understanding and caring wife. Set aside time to spend together alone and away from parenting duties.
4. Believe in me. Lead my life with faith, courage, authenticity, and joy. Remove self-limiting beliefs and negativity from others.
5. Nurture my physical, emotional and spiritual body. Self-care is absolutely important and a divine practice.

I would love to hear your New Year’s Resolution. Do you enjoy setting them? Some people don’t but I do. I love a new start on life goals! It is so refreshing.

2019 is here and we are celebrating the New Year with a Target giveaway! One lucky winner will bring in the New Year with a Target shopping spree. Woo hoo!

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