Are you Ready for Christmas?

Today, we opened up our 7th door of Advent.
Inside, there was a skiing wind-up snowman. Super fun!

I decided to make the rest of the day a crafting, baking, special day( I have to subsititute teach for the next two days, so I am trying to get in as much fun as I can).
First, we busted out our paints.

We made a Christmas Tree with Audrey's Feet.
Then, we made a hand print wreath, which went a little awry. but she loved it anyway.

Eventually, Audrey had paint everywhere. Thank God it is washable.

It was so much fun!
I found Toy Story on VHS in our craft closet, so we enjoyed seeing it while we painted and played. And then we watched, The Ant Bully. So good!

Then, we ran to the grocery store and gathered ingredients to bake some of the recipes we found in our Disney Family Fun Magazine.

First we made Reindeer Munch, which was AWESOME! We will definately make more of this!

Then, we made cinnamon Almond and Peanut Brittle. I JUST CAN"T GET IT RIGHT! I follow the recipe and for two years, it comes out too chewy...lose a filling chewy!

I think I will stick to buying Old Dominion...LOL!
We will be reading our Christmas Story at bedtime today with a puppet. :)
We will Jingle the neighbors and friends when it stops raining! HAHA!
For me today, I sat down and enjoyed one of my Girlfriends in God Devotionals. Here is the poem they shared today. Are you Ready for Christmas?
“Ready for Christmas,” she said with a sigh
As she gave a last touch to the gifts piled high…
Then wearily sat for a moment and read,
Til soon, very soon, she was nodding her head.
Then quietly spoke a voice in her dream,
“Ready for Christmas, what do you mean?”
She woke with a start and a cry of despair.
“There’s so little time and I’ve still to prepare.
Oh, Father! Forgive me, I see what You mean!
To be ready means more than a house swept clean.
Yes, more than the giving of gifts and a tree.
It’s the heart swept clean that He wanted to see,
A heart that is free from bitterness and sin.”
So be ready for Christmas - and ready for Him.

In the devotional it says:
It seems like everywhere you go during the month of December people ask the same question. At the grocery checkout counter - “Are you ready for Christmas?” At the bank drive-through window - “Are you ready for Christmas?” At the doctor’s office - “Are you ready for Christmas?”

I am always taken aback when my friend Jeanne says, if God comes tomorrow, I will be happy.
I dont want to go yet, but it doesnt mean that I am not ready.
Listen when I write this: I AM A SINNER. I swear, I fail God EVERY SINGLE DAY....That is why I am so happy to say with 100% of my heart, that I am READY! God loves everyone even me, STACY SALTER. When I fail, he fails me not, even me, the swearing loud driven in the wrong direction woman he stares down at everyday.

So I am challenging myself today and for the rest of my days to strive everyday to be a person he can be proud of.

This is my truth in the midst of being me:
Romans 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

YES, I am READY for Christmas