Wednesday, December 30, 2009

My Word, 2010 Edition

Last year I choose a word for the year instead of a resolution. I love how that worked out last year. The Lord taught me many things through the study and focus on the word ‘Courage’. I think I will write up a recap of my courageous year perhaps later in the week.

I have been pondering and praying over what my word for 2010 should be.



I choose ‘encourage’ because it occurred to me how encouraging words are like a balm to my soul, like food to the starving or water to the thirsty.

When I’ve had, for instance, another mother tell me something positive about my children it makes up for an entire day of hard parenting. When I have someone complement me on my writing or parenting or cooking (rare!) or whatever it may be, when it is specific and sincere it fills me up. It occurred to me that I’m probably not the only one who feels this way.

I think encouraging things all the time. I think the complements and the kind thoughts all the time but I don’t often verbalize them. I’m not sure why but I’ve given it some thought.

I think part of the reason I often don’t express encouragement is because I don’t want to seem arrogant. Like I’m the expert on parenting and I am deigning to offer you a token of praise for a job well done from the master. I don’t want to seem patronizing or like I have it all together myself. I don’t want to appear that I think myself the expert in whatever field I am encouraging someone else in. But as I was praying over this word I realized that I have never once been encouraged myself and taken it this way.

So this year I choose to be actively, verbally, encouraging; to my children, to my husband, to my extended family, to friends and acquaintances, and even to strangers on the street. I’m asking God to show me circumstances where I can use the courage he taught me about last year and do His work by speaking life into others with encouraging words.





Sunday, December 27, 2009

After

I think I shall call this photo 'Anticipation'.



We hadn't even come downstairs yet. It was about 6ish in the morning. To say she was excited would be an understatement.

This next photo we shall call 'The Aftermath'



And this next photo shall be called 'Since Then' because that pretty much sums up my attire since then.



Also, I think someone needs to make it law that Christmas is from now on and forever, to be followed by a weekend.

That is all.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Marry Christmas from the Hilltop

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.







May you all have a blessed Christmas and be surrounded by those you love, and maybe even a little snow.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

In case you're wondering...

...where I have disappeared too.



I'm under here. I may be out sometime after Christmas.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Pay no attention to the crazy lady in the Excursion driving like a nut.



I was driving down I20 at a speed that may or may not have been in excess of the posted limit, in the far left lane when I noticed the hood on the Excursion begin to shimmy and shake up and down, like it was not properly latched. I had visions of the hood flying up and momentarily blinding me as I swerved all over the highway narrowly missing other drivers, before it flew off and crashed into a vehicle behind me, causing a 50 car pileup shutting down I20 completely. Then my life flashed before my eyes, which was much less interesting than my previous imaginations.

As my mind was occupied with all this panicked thinking, I made my way, ever so carefully to the exit, all while watching my hood bounce up an inch, down an inch, up an inch, down an inch, over and over and over.

Please, please don't fly up! Please, please don't fly up, I pleaded with the inanimate object that is the hood of my Excursion.

I made my way off the highway and into a nearby parking lot. I sang praises to the Lord as I put the Ex in park and hopped out. I walked to the front of the vehicle and pushed down the hood, hearing the blessed sound of the latch catching. I glanced to my right to see two police officers gaping at me from their cruiser. I smiled, waved, and hopped back in the Ex and on my merry way, praying they would not pull me over and ticket me for generally recklessness and idiocy.

I then called Bob, the last person to open the hood of my car and told him of all the ways his life would be awful if I were not in it, and could he please not try to kill the Mama in the future.




Monday, December 7, 2009

Christmas decorations 09

Here are some photos of our living room all decked out for Christmas.

These stockings (only the kids are hanging here) were quilted by my aunt. I LOVE these stockings!


Here is our Christmas Tree and our Advent wreath. Now I just need to fill up under the tree!


These are two wall hangings my aunt quilted for me as well. She is so talented! THe nativity we keep on our front door.


Notice my Christmas Cactus is blooming! This is the one I bought last year. I kept it alive all year! Yeah me!


Sir D and I have our stockings hanging on the bannister since they won't fit where the kids stockings are.



This is my favorite ornament. There is a story behind it and it makes me smile every year. 14 years ago, I had a miscarriage. That baby was due on Dec 8th. My SIL also had a miscarriage that year. My sweet MIL bought my SIL and I these glass baby angel ornaments. Every year, we set up our tree right around the time of what would have been that baby's birthday. It's a nice reminder to me that I have a baby waiting for me in Heaven.

It is really a happy thing. I have 4 wonderful children, a wonderful husband. I have a full happy life. I did not loose a child I knew and loved, nor was it a late term miscarriage. It was very early in the pregnancy, but every Christmas I think of that baby waiting for me up there with Jesus.

If you have your Christmas up on your blog, leave me a comment and I'll come see! I love to see how people decorate for Christmas!


Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Advent

I thought I'd post some photos of our Christmas Card photo attempts. Always good for a laugh!







And here is our Advent wreath this year. I added the sprkley pot this year. One of my girls stuck the Jesus candle in there and set it in the middle and I thought it looked lovely and festive so there it sits! That's last year's Jesus candle. It yellowed a bit in storage. I'm going to get a new one before Christmas. There is something about lighting a Jesus candle that's brand new.




Hoping your Advent season is Blessed!!!


Saturday, November 28, 2009

Happy Spray

This is what happens around my home when we don't have school. My Ev and Ann, and their two neighborhood friends created and directed this commercial.



If Happy Spray really existed, I'd buy a case!

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving!



For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Crazy in the Woods

Something really weird and scary happened yesterday. Bob had a friend over and they wanted to walk through the few acres of woods behind our house to the neighborhood on the other side to go see their other friend. There are many trails on this several acres that actually belongs to the Mission organization that is on the other side of the street from our neighborhood.

It is not uncommon for my kids to take these trails. I feel like it’s safer than walking along the road.

Anyway, after a few hours of being at their friend’s house I picked up Bob and dropped David off at his house. At dinner that night Bob told us his ‘funny story’. He said that he and David were about halfway there (in the middle of the woods) when they came upon this guy. Bob described him as probably in his 30’s, tall and skinny. He was without shoes and carrying a stick. He stopped the boys and asked them if either of them had a phone he could use. He said he’d been lost in the woods for 2 days and he’d give the boys $100 if they’d let him use their phone.

Bob immediately felt the possible danger in this situation and told the man no and kept walking. David on the other hand, said yes and handed him his phone. David (who is a VERY sweet kid) told my Bob that they needed to tell this guy about Jesus. Bob felt that they needed to get the heck out of there and call the police. Bob noted to David that there is no possible way to be lost in the woods for 2 days. From where they were standing you could hear cars go by. He also told David that they guy either was on drugs or should be, and was off them.

The guy finished his calls, which Bob said were weird and sort of incoherent, from his end of things, and gave them back their phone. He pulled out his walled offering again to give the boys some $ (they declined and started to walk away). Apparently the guy called after them for a while telling them how thankful he was and that they should take his $100 (they never actually saw any cash, only the wallet). David wanted to talk to him some more, but Bob told David they needed to go. David is such a sweet kid and wanted to witness to this guy.

I told Bob how scary of a situation they were in. The guy was obviously not right, they were totally isolated. ANYTHING could have happened.

Bob said he was watching the guy the whole time. My Bob is a big kid, almost 6 ft and very strong. He said he was standing back from the guy and felt sure he could ‘take him’ or out run him if necessary. I reminded him that the guy could have had a weapon. You can’t really outrun a bullet!

Bob also said he learned some new colorful vocabulary from this guy.

Anyway, I just was so shaken after he told me this. We live in such a safe little bubble of DFW here next to the mission organization. We all know our neighbors; it’s like living in the 50’s most of the time. This just served to remind me that nowhere is safe! I am SO thankful God took care of those boys yesterday. I just can’t get it out of my mind, the ‘what if’s’ are plaguing me!

I talked to Bob again today about how dangerous that situation was and what could have happened and he said it was over and why worry now. He said God protected them so I should just let it go. Teenagers! UGH! One day he’ll be a daddy and he’ll understand.

I have MUCH to be thankful for and this served as a reminder of that! Also, I bet David’s parents will never let him come over to our house again. We let our children go play in the woods with the Craaazzyyys!

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Let the Cooking Commence!

If there were an award for messiest cook on the planet, I would totally win.

And there will be no photos to accompany this post because I still have some self-respect.

Happy Cooking the Turkey Day!


Monday, November 23, 2009

Just like the Pilgrims did it.

I am going grocery shopping today.

The Monday before Thanksgiving. It will be my own personal Hell, but it only gets worse from here. I am not a big fan of grocery shopping on a good day, but the closer we get to Thanksgiving the nuttier it gets. And my stupid grocery store likes to put all these dumb displays in the isles. Isles that are just big enough to let two carts pass each other...except when the put dumb displays in the isle!

I have a bad grocery shopping attitude. I don't have to drag little ones around with me, it's not as hard as it used to be. In fact I usually bring one of the kids to help.


It's just kinda funny to watch people with that crazy look in there eye the closer it gets to Thanksgiving. Like their entire existence depends on getting the right brand of canned cranberry sauce. And they'll knock over grandma to get it first if they have to. I'm telling you it's nutty out there.

If I'm not back in a few hours, please send reinforcements.


Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Don't let those serious faces fool you.


If a picture is worth a thousand words, then I should really just let this photo speak for itself, but I think we all know that's not going to happen.

My SIL sent me that photo and I just cracked up! I LOVE it! We went hunting/camping this weekend with Sir D's Brother D and his family. We had a BLAST. I just love camping. No cell reception, no internet, no interruptions. Just family and laughing and conversations and making memories. It's really want it's all about.



It makes my heart melt to see Sir D traipsing off to the pond with the girls and fishing poles or off to the woods with the boys and their guns. I almost burst with contentment when I sit around the campfire listening to Sir D and His Brother D telling stories from when they were kids growing up in the jungle. The kids laughing and listening intently for the ending of the story like they haven't heard it a thousand times.



To me those are the moments that make the family. Those are the memories my children will take into their families. I pray that they will one day, sit around with their siblings surrounded by all their kids and tell the stories like the ones they lived this weekend.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Thank you seems so inadequate



We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would harm us. - George Orwell

Thank you Veterans, that I and my family, slept safely in our beds one more night.

Monday, November 9, 2009

Yet another addiction.

I am addicted to this site.



I need professional help.

Last night I saw warthogs. And antelope.

I. Can't. Stop.

By the way, the best way to begin your addiction is to visit the site at dawn and sunset. That's when all the animals visit to drink. It's opposite from ours so the sun is coming up there at about 7pm here.

Enjoy, just know...there is no cure.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Homeschool Skip Day

Yesterday the girls and I skipped school. We even went so far as to recruit one of their friends to skip with us.

It was just so nice yesterday. It seems it has done nothing but rain for the whole month of October and in Tx Oct is usually one of the few months you want to be outside here.

So we've gotten a bit of a warm trend (big surprise) for November and yesterday we took advantage of it.

The leaves are all changing right now and are more beautiful then I've seen them in years, I think because we've had so much rain, and the temps were hovering around 78. How do you possible justify staying inside on a day like that?

Eve had some volunteer work she does at a pre school nearby, but when she was done with that, we headed out to grab some fast food and go feed the ducks! Here are my girls and their friend that we grabbed on the way there.



This was our view from our bench.



Here are the three girls deciding the best way to get the attention of the ducks.



Once the girls left to go to the other side of the lake, I sat back and read my book. This was my view.



I love Fall. Honestly though, I would have loved to go look at the lovely Fall colors and be able to wear a sweater while doing it, but this is Texas. We wear shorts and T-shirts in Nov.



Happy Fall!