MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM MY FAMILY TO YOURS!
A dear family friend surprised me with matching Christmas dresses for my girls and I!
May God be glorified in the coming year through our lives and families and friendships. Thanks be to God!
Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. Luke 2:19
Friends and fellow bloggers, Rob, Melissa, Jim and Sarah (a new friend) came to our home for a visit last evening. They’re in town for Chistmas and it’s always a treat to see them. We had a good time eating pizza, visiting, and playing Sudoku. I excitedly showed them my new washer and dryer. My lovely washer sang it’s perky little song for them. I’m sure it had to have been an evening highlight for the guests. I also decided to do a physical demonstration of the immense capacity of my awesome new dryer. If I remember correctly, I was egged on.
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail…but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, “Wow…that was fun!”
It’s so hard to get good pictures while they’re on stage. Afterwards, we had a cookie and punch reception and I snapped a few shots. Elaina was very excited about the program and even more excited to get to sit on Santa’s lap. Elaina sees the world as her playground. James and I don’t think she’s going to grow up. One day she’s going to turn into a fairy, sprout wings and flutter away!!! She’s such a Tink!
Anjelia loved wandering around at the front of the stage, shaking her jingle bells. It was a proud moment for James and I.
“The only real blind person at Christmas-time is he who has not Christmas in his heart.” Helen Keller
I’ve been really busy the last couple of weeks. Every year at this time, I promise myself that I will get a head start on Christmas next year and each year I break my promise. I get down on myself; I feel like I am always last minute and unorganized. I try to remind myself that I am the mother of four young children, but I still feel bummed about it.
On the bright side, I finished shopping for the kiddos yesterday! Their Christmas should be very merry! James’ Aunt Joyce really helped me out. I had purchased a few stocking stuffers. Friday she gave me a bag stuffed full of wrapped stocking stuffers for the girls! Her giving heart in the midst of her busy life totally amazes me! I can only hope to someday be half as generous as she is. She made 22 boxes for Samaritan’s Purse this year!!!
Today I finished shopping for the wonderful teachers in my children’s lives. I had six special teachers to buy for so I am glad that’s done. Yesterday, I bought James a new coat that he desperately needed. I gave it to him as an early gift, but I’ve got one more present to give him on Christmas!
In the midst of all this shopping, Jessica sweetly asked me this evening if I would get her a new dress at Wal-Mart. She is going to the nursing home tomorrow on a field trip to sing carols and she wanted something new to wear. Sometimes it just feels good to buy a brand new outfit for my girls. Girl clothes are sooooo fun! I spend six months of the year picking through garage sales for hand-me-down kids clothes. So, I went to Target and in a moment of weakness, I bought a new outfit for each of my four girls. Lydia is going caroling for the old people tomorrow, too. Elaina and Anjelia are performing for the Mother’s Day Out Christmas program, as well. I am not a big spender, so I am feeling a little stressed!
I guess I am kinda rambling. In the midst of the holiday busyness, I am trying to remember that this season is a celebration of God’s gift to us. Each day I talk to the girls and remind them that this is a celebration of Jesus’ birth. It’s the most important birthday party of all time. The girls relate really well to that. Birthday parties are a huge deal to them.
“There’s nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child.” Erma Bombeck
We went sledding, before the remaining snow melted, after our 10 inch snow storm. We spent the Saturday at Mom and Larry’s. Larry was determined to take the kids sledding. He tinkered with the tractor much of the day, until he had the conditions perfect. You haven’t been sledding until you’ve done so on a car hood being pulled by a tractor!! I screamed a lot. I’m sure that’s hard for most of you to imagine!! 
I’ll leave you with these fun pictures of our sledding adventure!
My 106 year old Great Grandma passed away Sunday night. She was born in 1899!!!! This picture was taken on her 106th birthday. Her funeral will be held Thursday. I just know she is so happy to have left that old wore out body behind. She is with the Lord and our loved ones that have gone before her. I am so thankful that, because of Jesus, we have an eternal hope.
My dad stopped by to visit Monday morning. We were visiting and he asked about Grandma Pearl. As we were talking about her, my mom called to pass on the news of her death. When I told my dad about it, he looked a little startled. He shared with me that the reason he had asked about her was because he had dreamed the previous night that she had passed away. This was the same night that she had died. Very odd.
I had a good visit with my dad. He usually stays for the day when he stops by. Sometimes, he calls into work and comes to visit. I really enjoy the company. He always buys Pizza Hut pizza so that he can have a pizza party with Elaina. It’s cute watching them sit on the floor together and eat pizza and watch tv or play video games. They banter back and forth with each other!
Daddy went on and on about what a good person Grandma Pearl was. He said he can’t think of one negative thing to say about her, which is a big deal for my dad!!
“Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose.” Kevin Arnold
I just received bad news. A life long family friend of Janet and Richard’s was killed in a car accident this morning, after he dropped his grandson off at work. Janet and Richard are on their way over to be with his wife Marge now. James has known them since he was very small. Please pray for this family. Please pray for the grandson. All the grandsons have been trying to get their lives together since their father, Marge’s son, passed away. George and Marge have been helping them. Awhile back, I posted pictures of a couple of the grandsons working on James’ shop roof. Thanks.
My apologies for the potty humor!!! I have changed so many dirty diapers and cleaned up so many poopy messes, that I must see the humor in it!!
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“Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water.”
“To appreciate the beauty of a snow flake, it is necessary to stand out in the cold.”
Today was a snow day! The kids were so excited about the snow and the school cancellation!
A pitiful snowman, but cute nonetheless!
A ragtag band of snow bunnies!
I laughed so hard, watching Anjelia eat snow!
One winter day when I was a little girl, it began snowing hard while I was at school. When I got off the bus I had a terrific surprise waiting for me. My mom had made me an igloo!! It was so warm on the inside. I had a blanket for the door.
In elementary school I had a friend who had a big hill behind her house. We had a lot of snow and she invited me over to go sledding. We went fast down that big hill on tractor innertubes. It was a great fun!
I remember having snow ball fights with my dad. One time he accidentally hit me with one in the face and I started crying! He bought us really neat wooden slides with red runners. I also had the silver disk made famous by the Griswalds.
Those are my favorite snow memories. What are yours?
“Kindness is like snow – it beautifies everything it covers”
Yesterday, was my mom-in-law Janet’s birthday! I know I’m a day late, but this just helps the birthday stretch and last longer!
Janet and Richard, sporting their matching bibs, pose with Jessica at Grandparents’ Day, a couple of weeks ago.
I don’t have mother-in-law horror stories. Janet is so giving and encouraging. She often cheers me on, and has been a big support in my decision to be a stay-at-home mom. When I feel down, she encourages me about how important my role is. There are two kinds of people — balcony people and basement people. One cheers you on from the balcony, excitedly clapping for you, and the other’s negative words and attititude drag you down. (Guess where I learned this from?) Mom D is definitely a balcony person. She has taught Sunday School for years and is always talking about how much she tries to encourage the young people with her bible teaching, wisdom and practical advice.
Happy Birthday week, Janet!!!!
“Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest.” ~Father Larry Lorenzoni
You must buy these and try them. They are sooooo yummy. The kids and I have a sugar cookie day, once a year, at Christmas. It’s very fun to make the dough and do the cut outs and decorate the cookies. However, it’s messy and a lot of work. I am so glad I’ve discovered these. The pack comes with the frosting and the edible images. The kids bake them and decorate them all by theirselves, with NO mess! Elaina, my four year old, decorated these! Get them before they sell out!
“Think what a better world it would be if we all, the whole world, had cookies and milk about three o’clock every afternoon and then lay down on our blankets for a nap.” ~Barbara Jordan
