Christmas highlights

We had a fabulous time this Christmas season. We stayed home and enjoyed a quiet holiday. We will visit our extended families in 2008. We started our Christmas holiday by going to see a presentation of The Nutcracker at the Dallas Children's Theater on Sunday Dec.23rd. We all really enjoyed the puppet interpretation of the classic. It was a great way to introduce such a timeless fun story to small children. Seeing the show together was like opening our first present. I loved watching Mason and Andrew sitting by each other and laughing together at the silly puppets. I could write a Citibank commercial... starting a new Christmas traditions - PRICELESS.On Christmas eve we went to the candlelight service at our church and came home to start our Christmas eve traditions. We eat a snack dinner and OPEN PRESENTS.ANDREW SAYS "HMMMM, WHAT'S THIS?...A COOL SWEATSHIRT!"LOOK ANDREW ANOTHER SWEATSHIRT!OK, I CAN'T MUSTER ANY MORE EXCITEMENT OVER THESE CLOTHES.AUNT WAWEE, I KNEW YOU WOULD COME THROUGH!NOT ONLY DID SHE NOT SEND CLOTHES...SHE SENT MY FAVORITE...CARS!I GAVE MOMMY MY FAVORITE BOOK FOR CHRISTMAS. SHE SEEMS TO REALLY LIKE IT TOO.
MASON SAYS, "YES! GRANDMA AND GRANDPA GOT ME SOMETHING I HAVE BEEN WANTING FOR A WHILE!"I LOVE MY ALUMINUM CAN CRUSHER...I'M GONNA GET RICH!I PICKED OUT A RED HOODIE FOR MY DAD AND BOUGHT IT WITH MY OWN MONEY. IT FELT GOOD TO GIVE MY DAD SOMETHING JUST FROM ME...AND HE SURE LIKES IT.

And if this all wasn't enough...SANTA CAME!HE LEFT THE LOOT BY THE FIREPLACE
MASON ROCKS OUT ON HIS DRUMS AT 6:00AM...HE EVEN HAS ROCKIN' HAIR.
ANDREW GETS READY TO BURN SOME SERIOUS RUBBER.FOR THE REST OF THE DAY MASON SERENADES US WITH FINE MUSIC!
AND THE RACE IS ON IN THE BACKYARD.
OUR CHRISTMAS WITH THE BOYS WAS PURE...

2008

BOY IS THIS HARD FOR ME! I try to please everyone and in the process forfiet what really matters. This year I am going to make the changes necessary to see that I prioritize things better in my life. I am going to say NO to a lot of good things to be sure I don't miss the greatest things. To do this I am going to ask Mark to hold me accountable to what we consider the priorities of our faith, family and home. The rest is secondary. Maybe if we do this together we will all be happier and less stressed in 2008.

I know this is a long clip but well worth the great feeling. This is my all time favorite holiday movie. We watched it every year as a family growing up. A tradition that continues in my home. It constantly reminds me how the smallest things we do can touch another person's life immeasurably. Merry Christmas everyone. We hope you have made some wonderful memories together...because those are the things that will last. Remember to thank the Lord for our "Wonderful Lives" and the promise his birth brings to the world.

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS...

That old tooth finally gave way last night. I couldn't resist posting the cutest toothless grin ever!

SHALL I PLAY FOR HIM?

When I was a little girl, I remember sitting with my mother in the kitchen while my older sisters were getting our Christmas decorations down and ready to “deck the halls” of our humble home. We were listening to Christmas carols and having a great time in all the excitement of the season. I looked across our small kitchen and saw my mother crying. I remember wondering, “Why is she crying? In my little mind I thought tears were only for sadness and this was the best time of the whole year! I asked my mother the question “Why are you sad” and she answered, “I’m not sad, this is just my favorite Christmas song”. But still, I did not understand what the tears were for as “The Little Drummer Boy” played joyously in our home.

Now that I am older, I find myself brought to tears when I hear “The Little Drummer Boy”. The verse that expresses, “I have no gift to bring that’s fit to give our King” does it to me every time! None of us have anything in ourselves fit to give our glorious King. But what do we offer to “play for Him”? I know I feel like what I offer him in my “playing” is so feeble and small. That is what starts the tears when I hear that precious song. Our lives should reflect the gift of love He gave us that Christmas night that leads to the forgiveness He so freely gives. How do we do that; by sharing that wonderful love and forgiveness with others in our words and deeds.

As I look at my refrigerator covered with novice artwork created by my sweet sons; some of which are unidentifiable objects; I have to feel a little of the love God has for us. I’m sure the Lord looks at my attempts to please him with my “Playing” like I look at those meager pictures. They are so valuable to me because they were created by someone I love unconditionally that is trying to show me that he loves me too. Those pictures may not meet any design plans in my home but I wouldn’t hang the most prized Picasso in their place.

Knowing this, I will continue to “play my drum” before the Lord. My rhythm may be poor and the song unidentifiable, but it is my prayer that it still be pleasing to Him. I am His child and long to show Him I love Him.

My sons may find themselves wondering, just as I did, why mom is crying because of a Christmas song. I pray that they grow to understand where those tears come from, just as I now do when I think back to that Christmas with my mother so many years ago. I am thankful for a tender mother that taught me so much in that moment without speaking a word. So, this Christmas, I’ll hold my children a little tighter and pray that our Lord will do the same to us all this holiday season.

HAVE YOU BEEN NAUGHTY OR NICE

HE HAS MADE HIS LIST AND CHECKED IT TWICE...

HE'S


FOUND


OUT!

(click on photo to enlarge)
Now really, they both have made the NICE list. I just couldn't resist the fun of these hats. They picked which they wanted to role play with so don't tell me I'm going to scar Andrew for life by labeling him NAUGHTY. He loves being dramatic. Can't you tell from the picture?

Merry Christmas to you all. I hope you get more than a lump of coal!

UNCLE BOBBY

My sweet Uncle Bobby passed away very suddenly this October. He had a heart attack while driving to the grocery store. He was 74 so it may not seem like too much of a shocker, but he was very active and pretty healthy. He was running a foot race with my 15 year old Nephew just a couple of years ago! It certainly goes to show that you never know when it will be the last time you see someone.

His passing made me think about all the years with him. Christmases were the most memorable. We spent many of them cutting down cedar trees on his property and shooting mistletoe out of the treetops. He always thought of others first and encouraged EVERYONE. I NEVER heard him speak unkindly of anyone or to anyone. He just had such a spirit of humility and service. I honestly can't say I've ever known a kinder, gentler, more wonderful man.

He and my Daddy were only a year apart and were VERY close. They spoke to each other every day. This is an old picture I found of them from one of our Christmas visits. My dad is really missing him so keep him in your prayers.

THE MAGIC OF THE FIRST SNOW

While we were at Granny and Grandpa's for Thanksgiving the first snow of the season fell. Andrew is too little to remember the last snow to fall in Texas where we live so I woke him up to see the snow before it melted away. When he looked out the window he said "Is it Christmas?". That is so sweet that his concept of snow is only from Christmas cartoons and decorations. I snapped this picture as he crawled behind the sheer curtains at granny's to get a better look at the beautiful white stuff.

GAME NIGHT HAS A NEW PLAYER

We finally had a long awaited guest in our home for "game night". After many nights of dinner and games with our friends Kim and Paul where we discussed how SOMEDAY we would have another little one playing in the house while we played our games...it happened. Mr. Max joined us and we had a BLAST. It was so fun to see them all play together. Mason just doted over him all night. He absolutely loves him. Andrew loves to play with Max, he just wants to constantly remind Max that he is bigger. I guess that comes with being the little brother. It was so fun for Kim and I to see them have so much fun and be so at ease with each other. I know this is just the beginning of many days of fun together. It made me feel so good when Kim and Max dropped by the next day for just a minute and Max wanted to stay and play. I hope he always has fun in our home. WE LOVE YOU MAX...Oh, and you too Kimmi and Paul :-)
ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WERE 3 LITTLE BOYS...
HEY MOM, I THINK I LIKE THESE TRAINS
OK, NOW I KNOW I LIKE THEM.
THERE'S A BOY IN MY BUCKET, DEAR LIZA DEAR LIZA!

WORKING MOTHERS

AS A WORKING MOTHER, I FULLY KNOW HOW HECTIC YOUR SCHEDULE CAN BECOME, ESPECIALLY AT CHRISTMAS TIME. THE HOLIDAYS ARE SO MUCH FUN BUT TAKE MUCH PREPARATION. THE END OF YEAR AT WORK CAN ALSO INCLUDE ADDED DEMANDS. THIS WAS DEFINATELY THE CASE FOR ME THIS WEEK. SEVERAL PROJECTS ARE COMING TOGETHER ALL AT ONCE AT WORK SO MY SCHEDULE IN THE OFFICE IS TIGHT. ALL OF THIS IS TRUE FOR MY FRIEND, NITA. SHE IS A SUPER SINGLE WORKING MOM. SOMEHOW I SEE HER JUGGLE WHAT SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE AND STILL DO A STELLAR JOB. I AM SO GLAD TO HAVE HER ON MY TEAM.

NITA AND I HAD A MEETING SCHEDULED TO GO OVER OUR GAMEPLAN FOR A SALES MEETING THE FOLLOWING DAY BUT OUR MEETING TIME WAS INTERRUPTED BY SOMETHING URGENT. WE BOTH DECIDED WE WOULD HAVE TO CONDUCT OUR DISCUSSION OVER LUNCH TO STAY ON SCHEDULE. THE PROBLEM WAS, WE BOTH HAD TO RUN OUR PERSONAL ERRANDS AT LUNCH. SO WHAT ARE WORKING MOMS TO DO IN SUCH A DELIMA? WE HAD OUR MEETING WHILE WE SHOPPED FOR GROCERIES FOR OUR FAMILIES! OUR STRATEGY WAS DISCUSSED AND DINNER WAS READY TO BE PREPARED ON THE HOMEFRONT. NOW THAT IS WHAT I CALL MULTI-TASKING. NOW I KNOW MEN HAVE BUSINESS LUNCHES BUT I HAVE YET TO SEE TWO MEN PUSHING BUGGIES THROUGH WAL-MART DISCUSSING THEIR BUSINESS PLAN. I GUESS THIS IS ANOTHER MOMENT IN LIFE RESERVED FOR MOTHERS. THANK GOODNESS WE HAVE A GREAT ABILITY TO LAUGH AT OURSELVES.