Did YOU hear about the MORGANS?: 2016

Saturday, December 31, 2016

Maddox {Week 29}

Day 197:

Day 198:

Day 199:

Day 200:

Day 201:

Day 202:

Day 203: Maddox's First Christmas!!

Books I Read {2016}

Books I Read to Review:

1. Safe House by Joshua Straub

2. Strong and Kind by Korie Robertson

3. The Secret to Hummingbird Cake by Celeste Fletcher McHale

4. In A Different Key: The Story of Autism by John Donvan & Caren Zucker

5. I Said Yes by Emily Maynard Johnson

6. Pocket Prayers by Max Lucado

7. Simple Pleasures by Marianne Jantzi

8. Fast Food Maniac by Jon Hein

9. Forgiving my Daughter's Killer by Kate Grosmaire

10. The Goodbye Bride by Denise Hunter

11. The Illustrated Compendium of Amazing Animal Facts by Maja Safstrom

12. Mother, can you NOT? by Kate Siegel

13. Like Never Before by Melissa Tagg

14. Black and White Bible, Black and Blue Wife by Ruth A. Tucker

15. Together at the Table by Hillary Manton Lodge

16. Counting Blessings by Eileen Spinelli

17. Giddy Up, Eunice by Sophie Hudson (Reviewed on Amazon)

18. Jilted by Varna Denman

19. Bat Dad: A Parody by Blake Wilson

20. Wild and Free by Haley Morgan and Jess Connolly

21. Bossy Flossy by Paulette Bogan

22. Wreck My Life by Mo Isom

23. The Things We Knew by Catherine West

24. When Mountains Move by Julie Cantrell

25. Starry-Eyed by Mandy Arioto

26. A Sister's wish by Shelley Shepard Gray

27. Everything is Possible by Jen Bricker

28. An Amish Family Christmas by Shelley Shepard Gray

29. Discipline that Connects with Your Child's Heart by Jim and Lynne Jackson

30. She Reads Truth (reviewed on Amazon)

31. 40 Days to a Joyful Motherhood by Sarah Humphrey

32. Shaken by Tim Tebow

33. The Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Ace Collins

34. The Berenstain Bears and The Christmas Angel by Mike Berenstain

35. God Bless My Friends by Hannah C. Hall

36. The Temple and the Tabernacle by J. Daniel Hays

37. You're Saying it Wrong by Ross Petras and Kathryn Petras

38. Rad Women Worldwide

39. Scripture Doodle by April Knight

40. Miscarried Joy by Tanika Fitzgerald

41. A Royal Christmas Wedding by Rachel Hauck

Friday, December 30, 2016

A Royal Christmas Wedding by Rachel Hauck {A Book Review}

Within the last two years, I have read nearly all of Rachel Hauck's books. Those books included The Royal Wedding Series. A Royal Christmas Wedding is the final book in that series and I was anxious to get my hands on it.

This final book in the Royal Wedding Series focused on the story of Prince Colin and Avery Truitt. I don't wan to give away much of the story, as usual, but especially in case you haven't read the other books in the series. But I do want to share a few thought about this particular book in the series.

First, if you haven't read the series, add it to your list. These books are mostly light-hearted Christian fiction and just fun reads. Rachel's writing style is consistent throughout her books and as far as I can recall, I liked all of her books. :)

This book was good, too, however, I did feel like it was a little too predictable. Yes, I know that adds to the easy to read aspect of it but I needed a little bit of intrigue. That being said, I did like the ending of the book.

The epilogue of the book was one of my favorite parts of the whole series. The two pages wrap up the entire series by including nearly 60 years worth of information in just a short space. I thought that was super fun and unexpected.

If you are looking for an easy, fun read, this is it!

Advent 2016

This year, we tried to be more intentional about the season of Advent. I purchased a wooden tree advent calendar last year and this year we pulled it out. I put a piece of candy in each drawer for Mason to have each day and I tried to do activities each day with him.

Day 1: We made some Christmas paintings.

Day 2: We sent a card to someone we love. Mason picked Anna. :)

Day 3: We sang Christmas Carols at Breakfast.

Day 4: We baked gingerbread cookies.

Day 5-7: Nada...oops!

Day 8: Making muffins, Christmas Movie and Christmas Lights

Day 9: nothing

Day 10: purchased a few gifts for Mason's speech therapist and his speech buddy

Day 11, 12, 13: nothing

Day 14: We had more plans but Maddox' well visit turned into a sick visit so we came home and watched Christmas movies.

Day 15: delivered cookies to Grandmom and Granddad and visited with them for a while.

Day 16: We drove around town looking at Christmas lights as a family.

Day 17: We bought a ginormous $5 bucket of popcorn and spent much of the day together.

Day 18: We were at home all day. Maddox was still a little snotty so we were able to attend church online and we watched Christmas movies and played.

Day 19: Mason and I baked cookies to give to our neighbors, Mr. Dean and Mrs. Phoebe, and also to Matt's co-worker, Mr. Larry.

Day 20, 21 and 22: VERY laid back at home because Matt came down with a stomach bug and I wanted to make sure that I was home to take are of him as well as make sure we didn't over-exert ourselves in case we were getting it.

Day 23: We got hot chocolate and snacks and headed to Pacolet to look at Christmas lights and the boys met Santa Claus for the first time.

Day 24: We celebrated Christmas Even all together included lunch at a local dive that we hope becomes tradition.

Day 25: CHRISTMAS!!!

Next year, I hope we are able to incorporate even more into the Advent season than we did this year but it was a start. :)

Friday, December 23, 2016

A Woman At the Well by Rachel Tucker {A Bible Study Spotlight}

I was asked by iRead book Tours to spotlight The Woman At The Well by Rachel Tucker. The Woman At The Well is a rigorous spiritual bootcamp, a 4-week intensive Bible Study about a journey of self discovery. It will incite and ignite something amazing and wonderful in you. This is the story of how one person's transformation can create a massive wave of change for Jesus Christ in the world.

While I haven't completed this study, it sounds incredible and I'm adding it to my wish list!

Here's a bit about Rachel Tucker:

Rachel was born in Dayton Ohio to a already large family of 5. She was the baby of the family, and literally about killed her Mother on her entrance into the world. Rachel was the 5th child to a school teacher and truck driver and soon found herself as a child of a single Mom of 5 who was forced to work 3 jobs to support her children. So Rachel is no stranger to seeing and living what it means to be a virtuous woman, as she watched her Mother do it, and continue to do it. Rachel is a devoted wife, Mother of 4 and Founder of Women at the Well Ministries. She is an author and currently writing her first in-depth Bible Study. She has been the keynote speaker at Mother’s of Israel conference, and several of her local church’s women’s events.

Her passion is studying scripture and then teaching those lessons to others, with the goal that they will then turn around and pay it forward. Her #each one #teach one philosophy is her mission. She is passionate about helping women by giving them tools to help them break strong holds so they can pursue whatever the Lord has for them. So, training them up for the call! That is what spurred her ministry.

She knows that God didn’t create women to just sit around and get pedicures and swap recipes and tackle the dust bunnies everyday, but to be side by side with the men in fighting the war against evil and taking as many people to heaven with them as possible.

She now does life with her best friend, her husband Curt and will tell you, her children are the best kids on the earth. They love to do Bible studies together and love traveling with their family.

If she isn’t at home with her family, you will find her checking something off her bucket list! Her biggest so far would be competing in figure competitions, competing at the Arnold class in fitness, being in a beauty pageant representing her county as Mrs. Miami County in the Mrs. Ohio America pageant, and authoring a 30 day bible study devotional. And, she is only getting started.

She loves to weave her own personal stories in with her message, because she believes she is living her calling day by day, and sometimes it gets pretty funny!

Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram

You can purchase the book on Amazon HERE!

Thursday, December 22, 2016

The Morgan's Movements {Mid-December 2016}

Christmas is 3 days away. Oh my mercy. How is it so? We have enjoyed December for the most part. It has been COLD! I honestly like the cold but these dreary days have about done me in!

Anyway, let's see what we have been up to these days. We got all bundled up for church one Sunday and I asked for pictures. Mason gets our crazy, Maddox is still unsure. Bahaha.

This little bit is so serious. My mom has nicknamed him "The Professor." :)

Little bitty smile.

Oh wait! He likes to smile. Also, he's looking at himself in the phone so obviously he likes himself.

Mason made his first train track and I was so proud! He's getting there. He LOVES playing with his train set.

Then, we made a bigger one together.

I was feeding Maddox and Mason grabbed his hand. Gah, I can hardly handle it!

And I also caught a good look at those eyelashes. Can you even?

Brotherly love

We have missed our Wednesday afternoon storytime and I finally got to take Mason next week. He loved it. I really do hope we can get back to it.

That same evening at dinner, he got into trouble for something and he came back into the dining room with this face. Oh the drama!

Potato Head play before bedtime is always a good idea!

That next morning, we went to visit Grandmom and Granddad. We LOVE our time with them. We played, ate cookies and drank hot chocolate and just visited.

Grandmom and Granddad have a box of toys that Mason plays with every time we visit. He has never asked to take any of them home until this visit. He picked up the bear and asked to take it home. On the way home, he was in the back seat saying, "I love you, bear. I really really love you."

Mason's other Great Grandmother, Mom-Mom sent Mason (and Maddox) a Christmas card and he was so excited to open it. He carried it around all afternoon.

Our sweet boy has dealt with the WORST diaper rash so after bath, he got to hang out with his bum out. He loved it! haha!

Goodness, I love him.

Both of my little bits. Hi, Smiling Maddox!

Mason put toys all around the blanket so he and his brother could play.

Friday afternoon, we dropped the car for an oil change and went to Barnes and Noble to play with their train table.

We had a BOGO coupon for Bojangles so we used that and splurged on cinnamon biscuits. YUM!

That night, we headed out for Christmas lights after dinner. That was fun!

I headed to work Saturday morning and these sillies sent me pictures. Haha!

After nap, I found them like this!

My big boy...

I tried some fun new hair products Saturday night and then I braided my hair...

and Matt gave it a shot, too. :)

Saturday, JCPenney had a coupon giveaway so I went and got one. I also had a return so with the return and coupon, I got this awesome blanket for $3!!! It is so soft and I love it. My guys keep stealing it!

Little Mister is sitting up alone and trying to drink my water. :)

Sweet snuggles between Daddy and Big brother.

Monday morning, I read Mason the Charlie Brown Christmas story and then we watched the movie. Maddox was supposed to be eating but he kept sneaking peeks. It was hilarious!