Everyday Blessings...

Family Mom has had this old Santa for as long as I can remember. Sure like this guy. The boys playing 42. Lucy is learning how to play. Mr. Santa saying...good grief, look at all of the food! Mom's tree Only one of the wrestling matches that took place over 4 days. The annual cousins-pile on the bed on Christmas morning picture. We need a bigger bed. Brothers and sister Yes, this is funny Ky. So cute We took turns opening presents so we could see what everyone was given. Fun. This child cracks me up Lucy New pajamas! Interesting. Only Wes Dad is up and doing pretty good after his tractor accident. We were all pretty emotional and thankful that he is still here with us. He wrote a great letter to all of the grand kids about his faith and his love for them. Christmas Breakfast Family picture minus Colt and Rachel. Joseph and Granjan. So good to see him and MaryNell and Uncle Gerald Standing in front of the fire is a full time job. Love it. So, after this fun trip we ca...

We just came home from "Home". What a beautiful time it was. I will write more after the next few days about the holidays... right now I have one million things to do because...tomorrow we have Sid's family coming for a few days for a visit. So excited ...talk to you soon. Blessings.

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there. The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads. And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap. When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below. When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer. With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St Nick. More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name! "Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now,...

We made a trip to Marshall Texas last weekend to see the "lights". It was just pure family Christmas fun. I am blessed and I am thankful. If you want to see some beautiful Christmas lights and lots of people having lots of fun...Marshall, Texas is a good place to visit. Town Square William and his deer friends and happy Mom. They have an ice skating rink right in front of the courthouse. Lots of great Christmas music blasting. If you are not from Texas...this is pretty extraordinary. It gets fairly warm in the daytime here. Ice skating outside is unusual. Usually we only see an ice skating rink in door's in a mall. This was enchanting. (Good ole' refrigeration under that rink.) My boys Two goofy, fun kids. We took them to eat at a nice place on the square. As you can tell they are not used to such nicety's. Taco Bueno and Chick Fil A are more up their alley. :) Gorgeous antique store with coffee bar in it. What a COOL place! Antique store. Three floors high....

Good morning. What a CRAZY few days the last one's have been. Good crazy though. Trying to finish Christmas cards and shopping for the family. In the midst of all of that I met a sweet lady at our church food bank last Wed. She has five children and is keeping three more that are not hers right now. She is struggling to put food on the table and is mourning not being able to have Christmas for them. I had been praying about someone to help or for God to help us to have eyes and open hearts to be able to help someone in some way. I struggle with how insulated our lives are from anyone that is needy or is different from us. We worry about trying to figure out what to give our children or family. It is hard because we have everything and we try to think of something cool that they would like. That is ok , but my heart has sprung to life in these last few days with the thought of being able to help someone who really needs help. Here is a family that needs SO MUCH, and we can be a bles...

Today is our 22 wedding anniversary. What a blessed woman I am. If I had my life to do over again... I'd find you sooner so that I could love you longer. Marriage thought: Want the last word? Apologize. The Art Of A Good Marriage- Wilferd Arlan Peterson Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens. A good marriage must be created. In marriage the little things are the big things. It is never being too old to hold hands. It is remembering to say "I love you" at least once a day. It is never going to sleep angry. It is at no time taking the other for granted; the courtship should not end with the honeymoon, it should continue through the years. It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives. It is standing together facing the world. It is forming a circle of love that gathers the whole family. It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice, but in the spirit of joy. It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstratin...

(please pause the blog music at the bottom of the page and enjoy.) I Need A Silent Night- Amy Grant I've made the same mistake before Too many malls, too many stores December traffic, Christmas rush It breaks me till I push and shove Children are crying while mothers are trying To photograph Santa and sleigh The shopping and buying and standing forever in line What can I say? I need a silent night, a holy night To hear an angel voice through the chaos and the noise I need a midnight clear, a little peace right here To end this crazy day with a silent night December comes then disappears Faster and faster every year Did my own mother keep this pace Or was the world a different place? Where people stayed home wishing for snow Watching three channels on their TV Look at us now rushing around Trying to buy Christmas peace I need a silent night, a holy night To hear an angel voice through the chaos and the noise I need a midnight clear, a little peace right here To end this crazy day wi...

Just of few of my favorite tree ornaments This sweet little horse was one of my grandmother's tree ornaments. Mamamia's little cedar Christmas trees were beautiful to me. She must have loved horses. This was hers also. Sid and I picked this one out in San Francisco one year before Christmas. Strange, but this little troll hides in our tree every year. There is also a bunny that hides, but right now I can't find him. :) Surfing Santa and a lovely school made one from the boys. Love. Homemade one. Old red barn. Sid and I attended his work Christmas party. It was actually called a Gala. It was a gorgeous party. The room was decorated so beautiful, food was delicious and Sid did a great job speaking. I look like an elf. Grrr.... Aren't these table centerpieces gorgeous? It was like they were floating in the air. Wow. Great job honey! Now, I need to get Christmas cards finished and mailed and a little more shopping done, and...well, there is a long list. Love this tim...