Seems like Blogland has been even more ghost-townish than before. That's great! It means everybody has been having a wonderful time with friends and family and enjoying the holdays to the fullest instead of staring with that zombie-like look in their eyes at a computer screen. (I only had to forcably remove my mother from the computer chair one time while she was here. "You're not going to sit there in front of that screen when you're supposed to be spending time with me!" I had to confiscate the mouse, but she didn't put up too much of a fight.)
We had such a great Christmas!!! I am soooooooo glad Mom and Dad were able to be here with us--I just can't even put it into words. God knew. I think we all needed it and it was just so wonderful. Mom was here for 9 or 10 days -- which is pushing the limit, you know. ;-) Dad was here for 5 or 6. We all had plenty of time to enjoy each other, but not enough time to get tired of living together. Perfect!
Mom and I did a whole lot of cooking and baking--she, more than I. I can't even remember the last time I felt hungry. It's my general rule to not eat unless I feel hungry. Ha. That rule was thrown out the window a few weeks ago and my skirts are reminding me of it daily. But hey, that's the true meaning of Christmas, right?! Uncontrolled self-indulgence and gluttony, right?! (Does God have to forgive you for the bad things that you PLAN on doing, then repenting for later?!) We made meatloaf, corn chowder, chicken parmesan, pork chops, clam chowder... and that's aside from the HUGE Christmas dinner and the couple of times we ate out! And as for sweets, I'm sure there are way too many to count. Pumpkin pie, pumpkin roll, pinwheel cookies, peanut butter fudge, Christmas cookies, gingerbread men, pumpkin pudding, frozen fruit cups and who knows what all else. The remainders are still covering the side table in the kitchen. It's pert near impossible to pull yourself out of the grips of gluttony in a place like this. One of these days I'm going to do away with all of the temptation. I'll try to throw some things out, but that's always so hard to do. So I'll probably have one last Gorge the Gluttons day and we'll eat all we can before tossing the rest! Ha! Believe it or not, our holiday wasn't primarily about food. It's just the first thing that got listed here. ;-)
The kids were sooooooo happy to have Grandma and Granddaddy here. Sammy has asked at least a dozen times, "Gamma and Gandaddy comin' back, Mama? Dey come back?" Mom had tea parties with Katie (although she's a complete failure with the Lady Lessons--the kid didn't learn a thing!) and helped her with some of the sewing projects she got for Christmas. Granddaddy helped Joe shoot his new bow in the backyard (a REAL bow and REAL arrows, believe it or not) and had plenty of shoot-outs with both boys over the course of the week. There was lots of wrestling and laughing and singing and just general craziness going on in the house, along with a few spankin's--but we worked hard to not let Granddaddy know about them. As much as he approved of that method while raising his own children, he gets good and fiesty when it concerns the grandkids! We used to try to reason with him but finally came to the conclusion that it's just no use. Anyway... it was a blast!
Strange. Such a wonderful time and so many great things happened... and I can't recall any of them specifically. (So far I've covered food and whip'ins. Hhmmm...) Mom and I thoroughly enjoyed doing the things that we never get to do together anymore. We watched a few movies, usually while putting a puzzle together in front of a cozy fire, sipping hot cider. What could be better than that?! (The only thing would be if we were in a log cabin in the mountains somewhere, surrounded by lots of snow! But I'm not complaining!!!) We played a few games here and there. And Mom did some sewing for Katie. Dad took care of a couple little odd jobs around the house for me, too. What great parents. I'll have to come and post some pictures later. I took a whole bunch of them, but haven't sorted through them yet. I'll get the one picture we took of all of us on Christmas Eve up if I can. I'll do my best to get back into the blogging thing in the next week or so and put some more pictures up.
Before I go, I have to tell you about my marvelous day! But first, let me back up... Mom and Dad left early yesterday morning and my plan was to hit it hard cleaning the house and getting back to normal life. (Gotta get real busy doing stuff like that or you get the after-Christmas-everybody-is-gone-now-and-it's-all-over blues, you know!) Well, I ended up making a necessary (however unscheduled) trip to Midland which ate up most of the day. Got home in time to prepare a nice dinner (fried chicken--more food!) before James got home. So the plan shifted. Today I would get up early and start to work! Well, I got up early... But it was cold and rainy (we've had thunderstorms off and on for the past two weeks. Freaky, hu?! It's December!!!) and just one of those really super blah kind of days. I love days like that! I went out and got some wood and started a fire, then spent all day curled up in the chair reading a novel!!! Can you believe it?! I actually started the book last night (James got me a series of four books for Christmas and I read a few chapters before bed), so I finished it off today in time to get the house cleaned up a bit and have a hot dinner on the table when he got home tonight. *long, contented sigh* This is what dreary days are all about! The kids were great, too. I let them watch a couple of Christmas shows before they get packed away, and they just played and did some reading of their own througout the day. Three more days like this and I could polish off the whole series! Ha! Like that'll happen! I was trying to remember the last time I took a day off to just loaf around and read. I think it was last year--when James got me a series of three novels. Ah, yes. 'Tis a wonderful thing... when it happens so rarely!
Okay, I'm outta here! Hope everybody else had a fantastic Christmas!!! If not before, I'll see you in the New Year!
~Bec~
For those of you crafy people, scroll down--there's more!
Okay, here are some pictures of the calendar! This is actually the one I made for James' Mom, not mine. It's a real shame because Mom's calendar is much better, I thought. But I forgot to take pictures of it before she headed off for Tennessee! I cut a lot of corners on James' Mom's calendar simply because I was WAY short on time and, as much as she appreciates the calendar, she's not the type to really notice and appreciate all of those little "extras," you know? Anyway, here it is...
Sorry I've been such a poor blogger lately. You must've thought that I've gone the way of Lyndi. Never! I've just been a little distracted.
Last week was a crazy one. Tammy and I started baking on Wednesday, then hit it hard on Thursday to be ready for our Bake Sale. I had my WMB service Thursday night (went really well, I thought, for falling in the middle of all the chaos--God really helped me!), then the hugely successful Bake Sale (see the next post for pictures!) was on Friday. I'm always amazed at how much work that is, but then I'm always amazed at how rewarding it is.
After the Bake Sale I dove straight into the calendars for James' and my mother. I make one for them each year--scrapbook style, with pictures of the kids. It's soooooo much work and I just didn't have any time at all this year! In fact, I think I only stamped one thing in the whole calendar! (Isn't that pitiful, Emilee?!) I depended heavily on the papers and embellishments this time. I'll post pictures after Christmas.
Saturday was spent absorbed in the calendars, then we got up early on Sunday to drive over to Merkel to be with them in service. (It's about 2 and a half hours from here.) That was nice. We made it home at about 4:00, I think, at which time I buried myself in the calendars again! I think I finished at about 2:00am.
We got up Monday morning and loaded up to head to Odessa. First stop was Aunt Stacey's shop for haircuts! The boys were looking sooooooo shaggy and just had to be taken care of before the Grandparents came! Then Stacey went to McAllister's with us for lunch. Yum! After that, we all drove over to Midland to see Mardel (where James works) for the first time. It is FABULOUS!!! I think it's safe to say that Family Christian Stores isn't going to last long in the area! Mardel is amazing. They've got sooooo much great stuff! The kid section is the best I've ever seen and the education section is just unbelievable. Anything and everything you'd ever need to homeschool, plus some. They've got TONS of fun stuff there! I could spend hours just looking around. But not with the kids! We were probably there for an hour or more, then we said goodbye to Stacey and ran some errands. We made our last stop at Wal-Mart to do some grocery shopping, then off to the airport to pick up Grandma Vicki!!! Yea!!!
We picked Mom up from the airport, met James at Fazoli's for dinner, then went to Holiday Park to look at the lights. It was sooooo cold that night!!! Brrrrr!!! As we neared the park Mom asks, "This is a drive through park, right?" Ha! Not hardly. You follow a lighted pathway that takes you past several huge displays made entirely out of wire frames covered (and I do mean covered!) in Christmas lights. I still prefer Christmas Mountain in Salida, but this is the best we've got around here so we've got to do it every year! Joe was NOT happy about the cold and wasn't about to enjoy himself. "Joe, what's your favorite display?" Mom asks. "I don't like any of 'em." "Would you like them if it was warmer?" "Yeah." "Okay, well, if it was warmer, which one would you like the best?" His reply? "I'm not going to tell you until it's warm!" Ha! He's such a bum. Although he did race Grandma Vicki back to the van. Had me a little nervous, to tell you the truth. Have you ever watched a 50 year old woman in a race? I just kept yelling, "Don't fall, Mom!!! You'll break a hip!"
Tammy came and spent the day with us on Tuesday and we just hung out and relaxed--even watched a girl movie while the kids were down for a nap. It was great! In the middle of it all, Mom made a skirt and a jumper with a matching scrunchy for Katie. Blows me away. In the same way that I might go to the kitchen and bake a cake, Mom goes to the office and whips out a dress. Like it's nuthin'! Would've taken me at least a week.
That night Sam and Tammy and Mom and I played games for a while. That was great, although Sam's syrupy behavior toward Mom inspired lots of gagging by me. It was ridiculous. I'm glad it's over, really, and they're gone to Kentucky now. *wink*
Wednesday Mom and I did some cooking and baking, then we had our Nursing Home service that night. Afterwards, we had an impromptu Christmas caroling expedition--it was so much fun!!! We went to five or six houses and it was amazing how excited people were to have carolers! What fun. I think it's a lost art nowadays.
That brings us up to yesterday, right? Another full day! We picked Tammy up and went to Mardel so she and Mom could have a look around, then had lunch at a nice little restaurant called the Cotton Patch. We had a few errands to run, including getting a rental car for Tammy for their trip. Then we went to see James' booth (it's doing great!), then to Wal-Mart for yet more grocery shopping. Last night we had our ABM service here at the house, then everybody stayed and we had punch and lots of Christmas goodies. After all of that, we are worn out!!!
Right now Mom is working at Sue's store with her -- it' s a crazy busy week there. That's why I'm blogging, I'm sure! I just can't make myself sit down to blog when there are PEOPLE (or even just a PERSON) at my house! Dad will be coming in this afternoon and the kids are sooooo excited! (Me, too!) We've got so very much to be thankful for and the best thing in the world for me is just being with my Mom and Dad this Christmas. God's been so good to us and I love Him so very, very much.
Gotta run. There are some things I'd like to get done before Dad gets here and before Mom gets back from "work." If you don't hear from me before, I hope you all have a very, very Merry Christmas!!!
~Rebekah~
Scroll down--there's more!
We made $367 this time!!! Can you believe that?! Praise the Lord!!! We were sooooo excited! We worked so hard and it's just so rewarding to be able to come away with that much money for a good cause. The only bad part about the whole deal is that we sold almost everything... We missed the left-overs! Oh well, we've made more since then. Our families greatly appreciate it! Here are some pictures. Notice the snowmen on the table--they're my favorites from here at home. Several people tried to buy them! Ha!
Okay, here are the cards I made this Christmas -- all 12 of them!!! Ha! It can't compare to some people's work (you know who you are!!!), but I was happy to have actually made any at all this year!
Well, we made it through the weekend, plus a day. We had a good service on Sunday--really good Spirit throughout--then loaded up and drove the hour over to Hobbs, New Mexico to do some much needed shopping. We were finally able to get some firewood (they were sold out the last two times we checked), so now we're really and truly set for the perfect Christmas. ;-) Nothing better than sitting in the den next to a nice cozy fire on Christmas Eve with your family, nibbling on fresh gingerbread men and watching It's a Wonderful Life.
We bought TONS of stuff for the bake sale this Friday. I'm so looking forward to it! And I'm already looking forward to it being over with, too!!! Then I'll have two or three days to try to do "everything else" before Mom gets here Monday night. I feel like I'm already running on adrenalin. And what am I doing with this extra surge of energy? Blogging, of course!!! Smart. Real smart.
Before I go into my next kid story I have to ask... do anybody else's kids ask if they can play such-and-such? Different characters or professions, I mean. For example, I hear at least a dozen times a day, "Hey, Mom, can I be the Marshall?" What this really means is, "Hey, Mom, can I have dibs on this before somebody else wants to be the same thing?" Sam is the worst. The other day he came to me and said, "Hey, Mom, can I be da a-domino snow monster of a noiff?" (For those who may not be Rudolph fans: the abominable snow monster of the north.) I said sure. He raised his arms above his head and started chasing his siblings, making a deep, throaty, rumbling growl--impressive for any 3 year old. Katie & Joe must've thought so, too because they took off running, screaming like a couple of banshies. Before too long Joe was the only one screaming because Katie had become the "adominal's wife" and was helping growl. Katie's always got to be the wife, you know. She seems to be sinking to new levels, though, with the characters she's deciding to wed.
And speaking of screaming children, I got Joe sooooooo good last night. Often times after we've done devotions and such, I'll say, "You'd better run!" and the kids will all scatter, trying to make it safely into their beds before I can catch them. Well, I did that to Joe last night, but he ran the wrong way. Rather than chasing him, I just slipped behind a doorway and waited for him to come back. When he rounded the corner I jumped out and did my best "a-domino" impersonation. It was the classic cartoon scare--he leapt straight up and seemed to stay suspended for the longest time, with eyes bulging and feet scrambling beneath him in the air. Even when he finally touched ground his little body was still trying to figure out how to do whatever his little brain was trying to tell it to. His legs took off toward the bedroom, and his torso followed a second or two later. All of this while emitting a shrill girl-worthy scream at ear-piercing volume. And believe it or not, Mosey Joe actually made it into bed before I could catch him. I was laughing sooooooo hard. I was just as incapable of running as he was. Oh, to have a video camera set up and ready to go at moments like that.
We bought TONS of stuff for the bake sale this Friday. I'm so looking forward to it! And I'm already looking forward to it being over with, too!!! Then I'll have two or three days to try to do "everything else" before Mom gets here Monday night. I feel like I'm already running on adrenalin. And what am I doing with this extra surge of energy? Blogging, of course!!! Smart. Real smart.
Before I go into my next kid story I have to ask... do anybody else's kids ask if they can play such-and-such? Different characters or professions, I mean. For example, I hear at least a dozen times a day, "Hey, Mom, can I be the Marshall?" What this really means is, "Hey, Mom, can I have dibs on this before somebody else wants to be the same thing?" Sam is the worst. The other day he came to me and said, "Hey, Mom, can I be da a-domino snow monster of a noiff?" (For those who may not be Rudolph fans: the abominable snow monster of the north.) I said sure. He raised his arms above his head and started chasing his siblings, making a deep, throaty, rumbling growl--impressive for any 3 year old. Katie & Joe must've thought so, too because they took off running, screaming like a couple of banshies. Before too long Joe was the only one screaming because Katie had become the "adominal's wife" and was helping growl. Katie's always got to be the wife, you know. She seems to be sinking to new levels, though, with the characters she's deciding to wed.
And speaking of screaming children, I got Joe sooooooo good last night. Often times after we've done devotions and such, I'll say, "You'd better run!" and the kids will all scatter, trying to make it safely into their beds before I can catch them. Well, I did that to Joe last night, but he ran the wrong way. Rather than chasing him, I just slipped behind a doorway and waited for him to come back. When he rounded the corner I jumped out and did my best "a-domino" impersonation. It was the classic cartoon scare--he leapt straight up and seemed to stay suspended for the longest time, with eyes bulging and feet scrambling beneath him in the air. Even when he finally touched ground his little body was still trying to figure out how to do whatever his little brain was trying to tell it to. His legs took off toward the bedroom, and his torso followed a second or two later. All of this while emitting a shrill girl-worthy scream at ear-piercing volume. And believe it or not, Mosey Joe actually made it into bed before I could catch him. I was laughing sooooooo hard. I was just as incapable of running as he was. Oh, to have a video camera set up and ready to go at moments like that.
Okay, I've got to put my efforts elsewhere. Scaring small children and taking the time to tell all of my cyber friends about it isn't getting me any closer to ready for any of the many things that are coming up in the next week or two. So I'm outta here!
~The A-Domino Mom~
(Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!)
I just got home from a Christmas Party and I'm so confused. Tammy called yesterday and told me to bring the kids to this party tonight--it would be fun. So I did. We loaded up (James was still at work), went down to the J.R. Center, walked in the door and signed the guest book, then some lady handed me a tin of cookies and a ticket. We went in and enjoyed a big ham and turkey dinner, then the guy who was throwing the party went up front and started drawing ticket numbers and giving away gifts. Before I knew it, Joe and Sam had both won presents (a robot and a remote controlled car thing--not junky gifts) and I'd won a $20 gift certificate to the steakhouse here in town. Then the lady sitting across from us felt bad because Katie didn't win anything, so she gave her her own tin of cookies. I felt sooooo guilty! Here I am, eating free food and gathering up all kinds of loot for me and my kids... and I never even figured out the name of the man who threw the party or what business it is that he owns. I guess he throws this big party every year as a way to give back to the community and to thank God for making him so successful. That's all great, but I still don't have a clue who he is or what he does. I was going to go up to him afterward and introduce myself and thank him for everything, but when I got up to him he just threw his arms around me and hugged me and thanked me for coming! What could I say?! "Great party!" He didn't know who I was and didn't care--he was just glad I was there and had won whatever I had won! Oh yeah, and "Santa" was there and all the kids at the party went and got their picture taken with them and he gave them all little bags of candy. Just what we need.
Speaking of Santa, did you know that can be a very sore subject with some people? I know there are some people who are offended at the very idea of Santa for religious reasons, but did you know that other people are offended at the idea that there isn't a Santa? At story time at the library this past week the librarian said something about Santa and Katie laughed and said, "Yeah. But, of course, there isn't really a Santa. It's just a guy who dresses up like that." The lady got all weird about it and insisted, "No, that really is Santa," etc., etc., etc. When we were leaving she pulled me aside and said, "Rebekah, could you please talk to Katie and tell her not to say that there isn't a Santa in front of the others?" I was surprised, but apologized and told her I'd talk to Katie about it. Just for the record, we've always told our kids the truth about Santa--that there really is no such thing. Kind of like Veggie Tales. There's really no such thing as talking vegetables, but we still enjoy the shows depicting such. Santa isn't real, but some kids have fun pretending that he is. We've never made it into a big, heathenistic thing that only wicked people talk about (!), just told them the simple truth. Anyway... I got to thinking later about what the librarian had said and how offended she acted that a kid had stated publicly that there is no Santa. I had to laugh. I mean, for goodness' sake--I tell my kids the truth about Santa. If somebody else tells them otherwise, they look at me and I'll tell them the truth again. No biggie. If some parents tell their kids that there really is a Santa, what's the big deal if somebody else says there isn't one?! I mean, all the parent would have to do is say, "Some people just don't believe in Santa. Isn't that sad?!" But nooooo, I'm made to feel like "the bad Mom" 'cause my kid happened to say Santa's not real?! Ha! That's so great!!! What a crazy world. People offended over Santa Clause.
And to add to the record, despite the truth I've always told my kids about Santa, I'm not so sure they're believing me any more. They've run into him twice in the past week and he was quite convincing--gave them candy canes once and little bags of candy the next time. And he remembered them. Probably because of Joe's request for a bow and arrow for Christmas. He was a little concerned about that one. "You ain't gonna hurt nobody with it, are ya'?" he said, with a thick southern drawl. I've never been much of a Santa fan myself, but I must say that I'm rather taken with this Texan Santa. He's a breed far different than any I've encountered before and I really enjoy the twist he puts on the traditional character we all envision. Even his "Ho, ho, ho's" come with a strong Texas accent. Ya' gotta love that.
The kids have been dying to build a snowman, but since there's no snow in Texas they've been improvising. Joe has a giant ball (intended for sitting on and bouncing) and created a "snowman" yesterday. He put a bowl upside down on top of it, then a smaller bowl on top of that, then a hat. Then he came to me and asked for some tape. He had a bowl of popcorn with him, so I had to ask. He explained that he was going to tape a two pieces of popcorn on for the eyes. I kind of laughed and gave him some tape. He ran to the other room and they I heard him start yelling, "Hey!!! Mom!!! Hershey ate one of the eyes!!!" Then I really laughed.
Christmas cards are DONE! Actually, they're sitting in a bin by the front door, ready to go to the Post Office. Feels good to have that behind me. It took longer than I expected, which puts me behind schedule on the big "Things To Do Before Mom Gets Here" list. Oh well. She may just have to help me make her Christmas present this year! Ha!
James is in the other room watching It's a Wonderful Life. I was hoping to save that one for Christmas Eve. Not a chance. I'm going to go join him and take a notebook with me. Gotta start planning what I'm going to make for the bake sale this coming Friday so I can figure ingredients. We'll go shopping after church tomorrow. So I'm outta here! Have a great night!!!
~Becki~
I'm really struggling, here. I've been wanting to blog for a few days now, but I guess I'm in a slump. Just can't think of anything to say, you know? And most of you out there are no help at all. You haven't been blogging much either. What's the bean, anyway?! I guess I could do like Lyndi and just forsake the mission entirely, only to make surpise appearances on random months throughout the year. Nah. I choose, rather, to blog even when I have nothing at all to say. At least, that's my story tonight. Besides, I have another new song!!! *big, toothy smile*
I finished up on my "job" that I was working on--some more typing for the Church--on Sunday night, so that put me in the clear to start doing the FUN December things. Namely, making Christmas cards!!! It's been sooooooo great. I made a total of 12 homemade cards this year! That may not seem very impressive to some of you hardcore card makers, but for me it beats last year's total by, well, 12. ;-) They're all different designs (except two) and I just had so much fun working on them! I wish I could find/make the time to do that more often. I even made 2 thank you cards today! That puts the total up to 14 which, I'm sure, is a new record. I'll post pictures of them, but not for another few weeks. (Until they've been received in the mail, of course.) That's right, 12 lucky people will receive handmade cards. Too bad there are 80+ people on our list! But really, who has time to make 80 cards?! Anybody who does that is just NUTS. (That is, indeed, a direct reference to you, Sister Clarkson!)
We went to sing at the nursing home again tonight. We do that every other Wednesday, but we missed our last service there because it was the day before Thanksgiving and most of us were gone. The folks were sooooo happy to see us back tonight and we thoroughly enjoyed being there. Although I'm not sure how much of a blessing we were. We went and just sang our hearts out, but when we looked out at the crowd, they were all just watching Sam and grinning ear to ear. Sam (my Sam, that is--not our pastor!) is usually rather shy with strangers (downright rude would be more accurate), but he was remarkably outgoing tonight and he put on quite a show. He played his guitar and made faces at people and stole candy canes off the Christmas tree... Made his mother rather tense, but the old people sure did seem to enjoy it.
Just 12 days until Mom gets here! Wa-Hoo!!! WOW. I just looked at the calendar to figure that out and now I'm rather nervous. There's so much to be done before then!!! Now that I've piddled around and made 12 whole cards (which is seeming less impressive at this moment than it did a little while ago), I've got to prepare and mail to however many make the list this year (ha! That sounds so stuck-up!!! Like everybody is just dying to "make the list" and receive a card from the Hornes!), I've got TWO calendars to make (scrapbook style) which is a HUGE project (much more in depth than 12 measly cards, I assure you!), I've got to take Katie to the pajama party at Aunt Sue's store tomorrow night, I've got a WMB service to put together for next week, then a Church bake sale that Friday... What on earth am I doing blogging?! Who has time for this??? I'd better go do...something!!! There's no way I'll get everything done... *sigh* Guess I'll just go to bed. That sounds a lot better. "I'll get a fresh start in the morning and..." Most of my days end with that thought. :-)
Until next time...
~ Rebekah ~
Hershey Dog has become rather fond of the Santa hats he's found lying around the house this past week.
As you can see, he's even become a wee bit possessive of them...
The boys have been sleeping in their Santa hats at night (if they can wrestle them away from the dog) and Sam even hid an empty bullet shell in his the other night. (I don't know how, but they ended up bringing it home from your house last week, Emilee!) He was so happy. "Mom!," he whispered to me, "there's a bullet in my hat!!!" Big blue eyes just sparkling. Crazy kid.
Anyway, here's a picture of Cowboy Joe at naptime. A real cowboy always sleeps with his boots on, right?! And his holster and gun. Sam even sleeps in his cowboy hat on occassion, if you can imagine that.
Sorry I couldn't get these on my post last night, but that rotten computer twerp was at work again. No matter, we've got him beat again now! ;-)
...to say, that is. I'm drawing a complete blank, to tell you the truth. But I've got a new song!!! Isn't that worth anything?!
Things have been good around here lately and the kids have been up to the usual craziness. Unfortunately I can't recall anything specific at the moment. I'm going to have to start taking notes, I guess, so I'll have something to blog about later.
There have been a lot of things going on lately, it seems. Lots of needs and problems and sicknesses and burdens. Not in my immediate family, but the burden is still heavy at times. That's how it works in the Church, right? When one hurts, we all hurt. It's a blessing. There's been an awful lot of bad news this past week. But there are so many good things about that! For starters, it pulls you to your knees and adds fervency to your prayers. It humbles you and lets you see and feel all over again how much we need God. And it makes you sooooooo thankful just to be serving God; so thankful that God is not bound by seemingly hopeless situations or by the laws of nature or by what the doctors say... It is just so wonderful to serve the God who holds it all in His hands. What peace that affords us, even in the darkest trials! I pray for that peace to be present in the lives of those who are in the middle of those trials.
On a brighter note, James got home a little bit earlier last night and tonight. He started working at Mardel this past Monday and since they're trying to get the store ready to open by December 18th they're doing lots of physical labor and long hours! He usually leaves just after 7:00 in the morning and gets home between 6 and 7:00 at night. He'll be working Monday-Saturday until they open up and things get "normal," whatever that means. He's worn out already! But he made it home earlier tonight, so I fixed a filling meal of fish sticks and macaroni and cheese (I didn't know he'd be home for dinner!) and then we got the kids in their pj's and loaded up in the van to go look at Christmas lights. That's always fun. We even took the dog with us this time. Ah yes... I took some pictures of the dog today. He seems to be enjoying the holidays, too. I'll try to post one a little later on. Anyway, we listened to Christmas music and drove around and ooh-ed and aah-ed and had a great time.
We're home now, the kids are cleaning up the house before bedtime, and I'm blogging before going back to work. I've got some things I need to take care of before I can get into the FUN things such as Christmas cards and puzzles. Oh! Great news! Mom and Dad are definitely coming for Christmas! Wa-Hooo!!! Since Ike passed away a few days ago Mom is planning to go to Arizona to stay with Grandma Bunny for about a week and a half. Then she'll be flying here on the 18th. Dad will be driving in a few days later and we'll all be here for Christmas! I am sooooooo excited!!! Everything is so much more fun just thinking about having them here to share in it all!
Ah yes, James has sold several things out of his little booth already. I know it's way too soon to get our hopes up, but if it's any indication of how business is going to be then this will have been a great investment! It would be fantastic if he could just have two or three booths set up in the area and do well enough that he wouldn't have to work a "real job," too. It would be the perfect thing to enable him to do the Overseer stuff full-time.
I made a commitment a long time ago that I wasn't going to write long blogs unless there was something at least mildly entertaining therein. Who wants to read about you going to the bank and Post Office?! They're really only interested in hearing that you tripped on your way in and did a bug-on-the-windshield impression on the glass doors. If nothing like that has happened, just skip it, you know?! Having kids around provides lots of entertaining blog material, but only if you can remember what they've been up to. My point is this: I think I've broken my own rule. Way too long of a post with way too few things to laugh about. My apologies. I'll go find a picture or two of the dog. That shoud fix it all. Right???
Things have been good around here lately and the kids have been up to the usual craziness. Unfortunately I can't recall anything specific at the moment. I'm going to have to start taking notes, I guess, so I'll have something to blog about later.
There have been a lot of things going on lately, it seems. Lots of needs and problems and sicknesses and burdens. Not in my immediate family, but the burden is still heavy at times. That's how it works in the Church, right? When one hurts, we all hurt. It's a blessing. There's been an awful lot of bad news this past week. But there are so many good things about that! For starters, it pulls you to your knees and adds fervency to your prayers. It humbles you and lets you see and feel all over again how much we need God. And it makes you sooooooo thankful just to be serving God; so thankful that God is not bound by seemingly hopeless situations or by the laws of nature or by what the doctors say... It is just so wonderful to serve the God who holds it all in His hands. What peace that affords us, even in the darkest trials! I pray for that peace to be present in the lives of those who are in the middle of those trials.
On a brighter note, James got home a little bit earlier last night and tonight. He started working at Mardel this past Monday and since they're trying to get the store ready to open by December 18th they're doing lots of physical labor and long hours! He usually leaves just after 7:00 in the morning and gets home between 6 and 7:00 at night. He'll be working Monday-Saturday until they open up and things get "normal," whatever that means. He's worn out already! But he made it home earlier tonight, so I fixed a filling meal of fish sticks and macaroni and cheese (I didn't know he'd be home for dinner!) and then we got the kids in their pj's and loaded up in the van to go look at Christmas lights. That's always fun. We even took the dog with us this time. Ah yes... I took some pictures of the dog today. He seems to be enjoying the holidays, too. I'll try to post one a little later on. Anyway, we listened to Christmas music and drove around and ooh-ed and aah-ed and had a great time.
We're home now, the kids are cleaning up the house before bedtime, and I'm blogging before going back to work. I've got some things I need to take care of before I can get into the FUN things such as Christmas cards and puzzles. Oh! Great news! Mom and Dad are definitely coming for Christmas! Wa-Hooo!!! Since Ike passed away a few days ago Mom is planning to go to Arizona to stay with Grandma Bunny for about a week and a half. Then she'll be flying here on the 18th. Dad will be driving in a few days later and we'll all be here for Christmas! I am sooooooo excited!!! Everything is so much more fun just thinking about having them here to share in it all!
Ah yes, James has sold several things out of his little booth already. I know it's way too soon to get our hopes up, but if it's any indication of how business is going to be then this will have been a great investment! It would be fantastic if he could just have two or three booths set up in the area and do well enough that he wouldn't have to work a "real job," too. It would be the perfect thing to enable him to do the Overseer stuff full-time.
I made a commitment a long time ago that I wasn't going to write long blogs unless there was something at least mildly entertaining therein. Who wants to read about you going to the bank and Post Office?! They're really only interested in hearing that you tripped on your way in and did a bug-on-the-windshield impression on the glass doors. If nothing like that has happened, just skip it, you know?! Having kids around provides lots of entertaining blog material, but only if you can remember what they've been up to. My point is this: I think I've broken my own rule. Way too long of a post with way too few things to laugh about. My apologies. I'll go find a picture or two of the dog. That shoud fix it all. Right???
Guess what?!?!? The crummy computer creep is back!!! That's right--no pictures tonight, folks! Whoever has the official Blog bat, please return it to me so I can take care of him. I hope to have him beaten again by tomorrow. Until then, my apologies for a long, boring AND pictureless post.
G'night!
~Becki~
We need big help around here. That little girly-girl of mine is in sad shape. She absolutely loves all things girly and is forever wearing pink, collecting flowers, dressing up like a bride, wanting to wear good "twirling" dresses, having tea parties and so on. I was the complete opposite of that in every possible way when I was a kid, so I have a hard time relating and knowing how to direct her. Her biggest problem? With all of that girliness coursing through her veins, somehow there's not a single drop of it that's actually lady-like! She is wild and klutzy and bumbles her way through each and every day. If she ever actually sits down her legs are sprawled out like a daddy-long-legs, and she has a tendency to tear through the house at break-neck speed. I (being not so dainty and proper, myself) rarely notice that anything is out of place. But just now Kate sat down with Sam to host a tea party. In these girly-girl situations I notice anew how much training she needs. She guzzles and gulps like a thirsty camel, for starters. She filled her cup up too full once and was afraid of spilling it if she picked it up. So she puckered up and stuck both lips right down into the middle of the cup (not even one lip on the edge!) and began slurping it up. When she does swallow, it's always followed by a loud smacking noise and then a satisfied, "Aaaaaahhhhhh." (Like a guy guzzling a coke or something, you know?) All of this while she's wearing her pretty white hat and plastic high heel shoes, holding her pinkie high in the air... It just doesn't seem to go together very well! I'm obviously not the person to teach her to be the little lady she really wants to be, so I need help. MOM, THAT MEANS YOU!!! Come and straighten this kid out! She's a mess and it's a lot bigger project than I'm capable of handling. So when you come for Christmas, she's all yours! I expect you to do a quick work in her. ;-)
I was all set to throw a few pictures on here and go to bed. I picked 5 and posted them, or so I thought. But this thing only lets me put 4 pictures on at a time. Ah, yes! I remember now!!! So since I'm having to do another post for the last picture, I thought I'd pick a few from the Colorado trip last week, too.
Nathan and Katie enjoying a nice afternoon climb.
Caleb, Nathan & Katie
Granddaddy trying to learn how to play a computer game so he can teach the grandkids. HA! (Looks like Sam is getting rather impatient!)
Okay, this picture actually goes with the next post down. This is the tree in the boys' room. I think it's the best one of all! We used rope for garland, tore strips of bandana to tie to the branches, and there are some miniature western ornaments on there, too. (Hobby Lobby; 50% off a few weeks ago.) And you've gotta love the Marshall's badge for the tree topper! Another bandana for the tree skirt, some little books and blocks and such wrapped in brown craft paper and tied with more strips of bandana and voila! A terrific little tree for a couple of terrific little cowboys!
Not much to say tonight and I'm too tired to say it anyway, so here are a few pictures.
The tree! I didn't think to take a picture using the flash--I wanted to get the affect of how all the lights look, you know. I'll have to take another one so you can see how great it looks with the room lit, too. :-)
Some of my favorite snowmen! The best ones are the two tall ones on the left. They're bendable and you can pose them any way you want to. Last year I thought they looked like they were doing the Hokey Pokey. This time it looks like they're leaning in to have their picture taken. *sigh* Snowmen make me happy.
The den. Can you read the sign up on the left? It's one of my favorites. :-)
Katie decorated her own tree for her room. Can you tell?! Made her a very happy girl!
Okay, so I'll admit that it's a little out of place to post Thanksgiving pictures on a page crawling with candy canes and Christmas lights (not to mention that very happy Christmassy song that you all love -- admit it, you can't help but dance in your office chair when it starts!)... but I didn't want to skip these all together. So here they are!
This is a picture of our Thankful tree. (Thank you, Shulers, for the idea!) We began on November 1st and every night after devotions we would each write something on a leaf that we are thankful for. Most of my leaves said things like "bedtime" or "vacations." James had three leaves that indicated different things about his wife he was thankful for...each one hinting at something he was hoping I would accomplish soon. ;-) Katie was thankful for such things as weddings, Jesus, and Mom & Dad. Joe wrote down cowboys and guns and guitars and such. Sam was thankful for his friend Malachi, toys, the leaves themselves, and the upcoming Christmas shows: Rudolph, Frosty, etc.
This is a picture of our Thankful tree. (Thank you, Shulers, for the idea!) We began on November 1st and every night after devotions we would each write something on a leaf that we are thankful for. Most of my leaves said things like "bedtime" or "vacations." James had three leaves that indicated different things about his wife he was thankful for...each one hinting at something he was hoping I would accomplish soon. ;-) Katie was thankful for such things as weddings, Jesus, and Mom & Dad. Joe wrote down cowboys and guns and guitars and such. Sam was thankful for his friend Malachi, toys, the leaves themselves, and the upcoming Christmas shows: Rudolph, Frosty, etc.
Here it is on November 1st
And this is what it looked like on Thanksgiving!
Sam and Katie had a blast in the pile of leaves at Aunt Sue's house! I hadn't planned on giving them baths that night, but...! It was so fun watching them. Oh, to be a kid again!
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