Christmas 2012

I know everyone has moved on  and is over Christmas, but I couldn't let the whole month of January pass and not post anything. We love to start off our each Christmas celebration reading Luke 2.

 Caleb was excited about the Lego set he scored.

 Julia loving her Hello Kitty slipper

 Zach sneaking a peak into what he might have under the wrapping

 Lance was glad to add a hatchet to his tool collection

 My in-laws got a beautiful quilt from Grandma Gaerte! The picture doesn't due it justice at all.

Our Thankful Jar

The couple of year for the month of November we have done a couple of fun activities to help our family focus on being thankful. This is a character trait we always strive to focus on in our home. This year I decided we would do a "Thankful Jar".

 A simple jar with pieces of paper to write on.

The top of our jar reminds us who we give our thanks to!

Holiday Happenings....

The night before Christmas Eve my camera decided to take a poop on me! It's been a great little camera for 4.5 years...but really....why did it choose Christmas time to die? So I don't have any photos to share just yet..I have to download them from Hubby's IPhone...sometime. I also have been able to accomplish some fun things over our break...but I can't show you because of my camera situation. Can you see how this not having a camera is killing ME!! I take pictures almost every single day.....I'm feel like an addict having withdrawal (or at least I'm imagining it)! All this whining to say I'm shopping around for people's opinions on what camera they have/love and would recommend. At this point I am thinking of make the leap to an SLR camera. I would love to hear any and all opinions on what brands you LOVE, and which ones to stay away from......I'm ALL EARS...spill it!

In the mean time if you need me I'll be browsing obsessing over websites and reading reviews.

Giving Thanks.....Join the FUN!

 Pinterest

November...really....I can't believe it! I do love fall, I think I might have mentioned it once or twice before. I have always really LOVED NOVEMBER for several reasons. To me, November kicks off the holiday season, setting the mood with the many things that I have to be thankful for! On my FB page I started yesterday listing 5 things each day in November that I am thankful for. I love what making a simple list does for my perspective......getting focused on THE GIVER of all these fantastic things on my list. I know that no matter where I am in my journey in life, there are always things to be thankful for. CHOOSING GRATITUDE IS A CHOICE.......a moment by moment choice. I wish I could say I always choose gratitude, but I'm working hard on it. If your wanting some Fall inspiration you can head over to my PINTERST page and find some!

 Pinterest

I would like to invite you to join me in my list making this month. You don't have to have a blog and make them public, simply grab a piece of paper and start jotting them down each day. I plan to make this a family event at our house with each child making their own list of ONE thing per day they are thankful for, and on THANKSGIVING MORNING will can wake up and share them with each other. Doesn't that sound like a fun way to start off the day?

THANKFUL LIST 2011

Day One

1. My Hubby

2. Hot bubble baths

3. my dream house

4. my four kiddos

5. warm sunny fall days

Day Two

6. grace

7. unconditional love

8. church family

9. a warm bed to sleep in

10. fresh, clean, uncontaminated water

I'll leave you with this quote I found on Pinterest today...you may want to sit down it's a powerful one!

What if today God only gave you the things you thanked Him for yesterday?

A Thankful HEART

In honor of Valentine's Day we made a list of 100 things we are thankful for. We simply went around the table one by one and wrote down our list. (No repeats aloud.) I had to giggle at some of things they said....what a great way to start the day. Have you made a list of things your thankful for lately? Maybe you should. You will quickly realize how very blessed you are!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I had a fun weekend with the special people I LOVE.....we didn't do anything to extra exciting. The three kids went with me to get my hair cut on Saturday and then we went to one of my favorite coffee shop for hot chocolate!!

Then Saturday afternoon we took off on yet another adventure to Menards to get some more house supplies! The kids have been such troopers with all our trips we've been making....Here was one of their hightlights of the way to long trip....

This giant chair had us all giggling! Count em'...six cup holders!

I hope you are spending some time with the special people in your life!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Really 2011.....Happy New Year!!

It is just me, or does time seem to be moving at an unreal pace as I get older? I mean come one 2011! It's hard to imagine another year flying by me faster than the last....but it's true. 2010 was truly a magical year for our family in so many ways I can't even begin to tell you all the details. What I can tell you, is that I am looking forward to where the Lord will take us in 2011. I am excited about my ministry as a mom, and my children's school teacher. I am passionate about serving my husband and being the best helpmate to him as I can be. I am thrilled with becoming an aunt again in July 2011!!! I hope this holiday season has brought you as much joy as mine has. I look forward to blogging about our adventures in the new year ahead and invite you all to join me along the way.

Blessing to you!

Danielle

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is such a special holiday to me. I love fall! I love the smell of fall, the pumpkins, the playing in the leaves, the harvest parties, hay rides, bonfires, sitting on the porch enjoying the cool air and warm sun....I could go on and on. I love that this time of year is an extra special time spent in reflection of the past year. Praising God for the journey He has carried each of us through in the past months...the good and the bad...and everything in between. As Christians, children of God,  I think we should have this heart attitude year around. We do live in a crazy busy sin cursed world that is constantly pulling us in every direction, which can cause our perspective to stray if we are not careful. So Thanksgiving is just a reflection of what our attitude should be daily....I love that!

2010 has been such an incredible year for us here at the Gaerte Household. So many blessings I could not even list them all....and let's be honest , you probably wouldn't want to read them all either! I did want to share several of them with....giving God ALL the glory for the great things He alone has done.

1. My family's health.

I am forever grateful that we have no food allergies or any other major medical things that would require us to be a high maintenance household. I think a healthy family is something so many of us take for granted.....I try very hard not to because I know it is such a gift.

2. My Hubby's job.

While many people around this great country have lost their jobs, I praise God that we have been spared this hardship. I praise God that my Husband really loves his job and enjoys working with his customers.

3. Our School year.

I am so thankful that even though I thought this school year sounded almost impossible before it began, it has gone smoother than any other year to date. Schooling three kiddos....with a certain three old girl that wants to be in the mix as well scared me to death. It's takes a lot of organization to make it happen, but I am so thankful to be schooling my children and wouldn't have any other way for my family at this point and time.

4. My Marriage.

I am so grateful for the mate the Lord has chosen for me. Married now for 11yrs., and I continue to fall in love with that man more every year. I smile when I think of how much we've grown up from that 19 yr couple when we met...learned so much...learned how to walk together in marriage with Christ the center of it all. 
With that marriage came in-laws....to sum that up I can just say "I am so very blessed, and I treasure that fact each and every day."

5. God's timing and His Blessings.

God's timing is something that I have had to learn and re-learn over and over this year.....I think it's my anthem for 2010. I couldn't even tell you how many times this has been a heart issue for me this year. I can't tell you all the stories or the details of each one, but I CAN tell you a couple of things.  God's timing is WAY better than mine. I am a type A planner/organizer kind of gal and that can often times cause my heart attitude to stray. Throughout the past year when I have willing and honestly given up control over something and lay it at the feet of Jesus, I have received such a blessing......Don't misunderstand this to mean I got what I asked for....because most of time of it DID NOT work that way. Most of time it was God saying NO to what my heart desired. Over the past year of hearing NO often I have learned that no is okay. (It's my heart that Jesus wants...for Him alone and His will for me to be enough.) I have learned to be content in what God has for me and my family....through that contentment he has brought more blessings than I can honestly count. I have also learned that "NO" sometimes just means NO FOR NOW.....thank you God for your grace and your willingness to be so patient.

6. Our New Home.

Just this week we bought a new home. Not just any home....our dream property. I am so humbled by this entire blessing and how it came about. I almost think someone should pinch me, I can't hardly believe it's really happening. Maybe some day I will tell you the whole story which would clearly illistrate to you just how amazingly personal God is. I see God's handprints all over this whole process. Praise be to God.


I could just keep going....but I hope you make time to sit with family or your spouse and say out loud the things you are grateful for...while giving the glory to God. All good things come from Him.

HAPPY  THANKSGIVING FROM THE GAERTEGANG!!!

I would love it if each one of my followers could list one thing they are thankful for (it would bless me so much!)....it's doesn't have to be the #1 thing on your list....just pick one (or two or three)!

 
 

FREE 50 Holiday Greeting Cards for Bloggers from Shutterfly

The holidays are quickly approaching, that means several things at our home. First all the Thanksgiving prepartions begin...turkey, sweet potatoes, rolls, pumpkin pie.....followed by eating WAY TO MUCH of all those things plus some. Our family is a family of deer hunters, so we have to throw in some single parenting for a little bit while the men folk are out bringing home some meat....hopefully anyway.
Now we approach December...that means buying presents, decorating the house, putting up the tree, baking things to give to people we love.......and then one of the most FUN things.....getting a picture done to put on the greeting cards we send out. The picture part of this process always seems to be the most challenging....just to get it scheduled to be done...then to have all six of us looking and smiling in the same direction! It always  seems to take a small miracle just to make that happen...but the really fun part I think is then picking out and designing the card!
That's were Shutterfly comes into the picture.....they are offering 50 FREE greeting cards to bloggers! Gotta LOVE this promotion.....it costs enough to send them out...so getting them printed for FREE...yep sign me up!
Here are few of my favorite picks.....

I love the collage look so many photos can be included!

We might have to go with one like this to fit our whole family in.....

If you want to see all the choices to choose from go HERE

Shutterfly also offers many other products that you can personalize for gifts and keepsakes....go check out all their options and get a jump on your holiday cards this year!

Mother's Day

 I hope you all were able to enjoy this weekend and celebrate Mother's Day in some way. We had a busy weekend, but we were able to sneak in some relaxing time on Sunday. Last week Julia & I were invited to a Mother/Daughter Banquet.

 "Say cheese!"

 Here is Aunt Christa, Julia, Me, My mom

 

 Aunt Janelle, Maggie, Grandma Gaerte (my mother-in-law)

A nice night with the girls, and they even provided super for us all as well....BONUS!
(Although we missed Aunt Jessica....she's was still working)

DANIELLE

Easter Celebration Pics

I know I told you all that we had some sick little ones over the Easter weekend. So we had to celebrate a few days later. Here are some shots of the get together with my family. We had a SUPER great meal, then some egg hunting..beautiful day for it...then rounded it off with a FUN game of kickball....good times....

 Stayed tuned for lots of garden & flower updates this week!!

DANIELLE

Easter Sunday Celebration

Happy Easter! I hope you had a great morning of worship as I did. Justin and I tag teamed church today...meaning since Miss Julia is still running a fever and feeling terrible I went to early service and then came home so Justin & the boys could enjoy Sunday School and Church. What a beautiful day to celebrate Easter..the sun shining in all it's splendor for us to enjoy! Well after church, Justin and the boys headed to a family Easter while I am here holding down the fort with "sickie" (and the kitten of course). Don't feel bad for me though....while I am sad I couldn't go hang out with everyone to celebrate the day, I have been having a great day focusing on what today means to me. I also have been able to do some stamping! Here are a few projects I have completed this weekend.

I got my new stuff on Friday night.....and couldn't hardly wait to use them! I got these card ideas off You Tube of all places. Lots of great tutorials on there in case you want some inspiration of your own! I think the last card is my favorite!! It is an accordion style card, I have never made one if these before. Can't say that anymore can I? Happy Easter....isn't it so great to know we serve a RISEN Savior? You betcha!!

DANIELLE

Happy Valentine's Day!!

 We are having a great V-Day...relaxing and hanging out....hope you are too! Last night the kids got some goodies & cards to celebrate.

 

 Yep, this is Lance looking totally wired and excited...this is all without a bite of candy yet.....ohhhh how little boys do not need any help being excitable!

  

 Each of them got a fun activity book along with some pencils to occupy some of their time!

  

 Such a cutie, my Zach is! He was so happy to be getting his own bag of stuff.

 

Well the little heart box of candy says it all....DRAMA.....such a funny girl my sweet Julia. She loved that the girl was wearing a crown..."like I have" she said. She was happy with the girl on the box...she didn't even know there was candy inside....BONUS!

Most of all I hope you have been able to enjoy YOUR FIRST LOVE, Jesus Christ, on this Valentine's Day. He loved us before we were even created. So much that He gave up His life for us. I can't think of a more Loving person to have in my life. Thank you Lord for your unconditional LOVE for me! If you have not experienced the LOVE of Christ in your own life it is my prayer that today, the day of love, you would seek Him out. Grab a hold of LOVE He so freely gives.

Happy LOVE day!

DANIELLE

Random Thoughts~~Because that's all I got in me today....

Well I hope you are finding some peace amongst the Christmas craziness. We have baked, wrapped (even re-wrapped a present that Julia thought was for her to open), and of course decorated. We are ready for all the family festivities to begin. We kick things off tonight like all other Americans, with a Bluegrass jam, okay so maybe not everyone does this....grins....just my husband and some others. Saturday and Sunday we have get togethers with extended family. It should be a good time....the kids can hardly stand all the excited that Christmas brings! I am not sure how many more "How many days till we open presents?" I can handle!!!  At the same time, I remember feeling that same way at their age....yes I can remember that long ago! One issue that is bothering me.....I CAN NOT find our stockings anywhere....grrr!!!! I guess I will just have to get creative and think of something else to use...shouldn't be to much of a challenge.....I am open to ideas you might have though......leave me a comment!!!

I would ask that you pray for Miss. Julia and myself. We both went to the doctor on Wednesday both diagnosed with sinus infections....nice of her to share, huh? Not so much! I'm totally annoyed and want to start feeling better. So pray the medicines will start doing their job FASTER!!! Also prayers that we don't pass it on to the rest of the brood in the mean time.....although Hubby has been complaining of a sore throat the past couple of days....which how mine started...ugh! Of course, he's not to sick to play some music tonight though...funny how that works....grins....

Well I am hoping to maybe post some pictures on Monday or Tuesday about our Christmas's this weekend, but I am not making any promises. (I figured you all are going to be busy yourself and probably won't even notice.) I am thinking it's time for a little blogging break during the holidays.... HEY!!!! DON'T forget to enter my current giveaway for that adorable Breezy hat!!!! (ends 12/31)


Remember leave me comments on what I could use instead of the stockings I can't find.....

What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions you do with your family!

Here are a few of ours:
1. Load up and go check out Christmas lights!!!
2. Have Lance read Luke 2 before opening gifts.
3. We open stockings together & then go around room opening one present at a time (it makes the gift opening last a little longer instead of everyone tearing into everything and being done in 5 minutes.)
4. At Justin's grandparents, we start with the youngest in the family and they open all their gifts....then we move to the next youngest...and so on.....builds character in the kids because they have to wait their turn......plus we can actually see what everyone gets..LOVE that!
5. To share the love a little, one year we go to my in-laws for Christmas day and the next year we are at my parents house for Christmas day......to me it never really matters what day we get together, but it does to some.....we started this when we had our first child...worked ever since!

Merry CHRISTmas and thanks for stopping in to visit The Gaertegang.....much appreciated!



DANIELLE

Never Buy Wrapping Paper Again!!

Good Wednesday to you all! I wanted to share some fun news with you...yesterday was my ONE year blogging anniversary and was also the day my 100th follower signed on.....FUN HUH??!! Okay so I am sure you really don't care, but I am tickled pink about it...grins....

So VOCAL POINT sent me an email on this article that I thought I would share with you all.....Some super great ideas on things around the house you could use to wrap your Christmas presents this year! I am so relieved that last night I finished wrapping EVERY present!!!! (Pause, because I am doing a little celebration dance....) So HERE is the link.....Check it out!!

DANIELLE

~~Thanksgiving 2009~~

I know I am going backwards a bit, but I just realized that I didn't share any photos from Thanksgiving yet! With the wirl wind of get together and then leaving for our trip I guess I just overlooked it. So here are a couple of pictures of all the fun....

 Well we started off eating......

 

 and we kept eating.......

 

 then we played....

 

 then we relaxed with some good book reading.....

 

 then we cuddled...

 

 even remembered to take a family photo (although not our best one, it works!)
 

DANIELLE

A Week of Gift Ideas!

I thought is would be fun to pass some gift ideas along to you all. All ideas will be things we have either bought ourselves, gifts we have been given, or products we have reviewed....I am not being compensated by any of these companies and of course are all based on my personal opinion.....so feel free to take it or leave it! Either way I thought it would be fun and something great to kick off the holiday shopping season. So starting Monday, November 30th, we will start our FUN!! So I hope you'll stop be each day and join me.....

DANIELLE

Give THANKS With A Grateful Heart.....

 This time of year I so enjoy hearing what others and THANKFUL for....and I love how most of us seem to make it a conscious effort to stop and meditate on all the MANY blessings we have experienced throughout  the last year. I think the older I seem to get the more I try to focus daily on the blessings around me, and give THANKS even when I don't feel like it. So in the spirit of THANKSGIVING I wanted to share some things with you all that I am truly grateful for in 2009.

*Most important and FIRST on my "List" The GOD I serve...THANKFUL for his grace, patience, and loving spirit all which I am totally undeserving and unworthy of, but he gives them abundantly anyway.
*My wonderful hubby, Justin, and loving father to our troop. I am THANKFUL for his hardworking and persistent character. I am thankful that he has been blessed by God with gifts that allow him to provide for our family and for me to be at home.
*My energetic children....even though I sometimes moan and complain about a "bad day"...I am still THANKFUL that God had entrusted these four kiddos to me for a time. I am thankful for the opportunity to be a mommy and wouldn't trade it for anything.
*Coffee in the morning....this may seem silly, but oh how I am THANKFUL for my cup of sugary, creamy, coffee each day.
*Sitting by the stove...we have a "corn stove" totally LOVE it! I am THANKFUL for the heat it provides and curling up beside of it in a chair with a good book...
*A good book....I have been very blessed this year by authors and publishing companies to be able to review several GREAT books. I love to read and I am so THANKFUL for these opportunities to give my opinion on the books..THANK YOU!
*My Mother and Father-In Law...seriously I have the best in-laws! I realize not everyone feels this way about in-laws. From the first day I met them over 11 years ago they have always made me feel like I was one of their own. The LOVE they have shown to me and my children is really amazing, and not something I take for granted. I am so THANKFUL that the Lord has placed me in this family!
*Girlfriends...Nothing can lift my spirits when I need a mommy-day-out better than spending time with women I care about! I am THANKFUL for the women God has placed in my life throughout the years. I cherish their encouragement, advice, wisdom they share with me. Because of the season of life I am in, I don't get as much "girl time" as I would like, which makes me treasure it all the more when it does happen!
*Church...I am so THANKFUL for our church family! I am grateful that our pastors preach from the Bible. They doesn't sugar coat the messages. They tells it how it is, but with LOVE and then emphasize how we, as a church body, can personally apply Scripture to our lives. THANK YOU to all of our pastors!!

*Spiritual growth....I am THANKFUL for the time I spend in God's word and the conviction I feel to always be striving to be more in line with God's plan for my life. I can't think of a better way to begin my days, then  to be at His feet, in His word, feeling His presence.

My prayer for each of you is that you will take some time to reflect on what you are THANKFUL for...even if your going through hard times...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING...Have a great holiday weekend....with too much food....and lots of family time.....GIVE THANKS!!!

DANIELLE

Happy 2009!!!!

Happy New Year everyone!!! Well I was thinking today as I totally finished my testimony, that I really hadn't thought about any new years resolutions.....which is okay because rarely do any of us every stick to them. Think about what things you would normally list

1. Things you need to accomplish in the new year....ex. To Do List
2. What we can do to make ourselves feel better or look better....ex. loose weight, exercise more

I would say that pretty much covers what the resolution list would entail with just those two categories. This year I am scrapping it all!!!! This year I don't want any of the focus to be on my or my endless "To Do Lists". I want this year to be a focus on my SAVIOR and what he has in store for me. I want to focus on what I can do to help out others. Whether it's watch my girlfriends kids while she grocery shops in peace and quiet, helping out my neighbor lady with one of her projects, devoting my time to sit and listen to someone else's life issues, I could go on and on. Point being I don't want my life to become so busy that I don't feel like I have the time to serve others. I want to focus on being more Christ like in all ways. I know it is easy to say and think but I want to really put the whole notion into practice. I want my children to see how great it feels to be selfless, and to give our time and energy to others. I want to be a better example of the character traits I am trying to teach them each day. Ambitious I know, but I feel ready for the calling. I feel the Lord had laid these things on my heart and set me on fire to accomplish them. So pray for me about it, because I know I will face opposition, and encounter a lot of distractions along the way. Please pray for perseverance, endurance, and strength throughout this new year.