Merry Christmas to Me!

I did it!  I finally broke down and bought a new TV! While I’m certainly glad I did it, and have NO regrets, it took a lot to make the final decision. I’ve been considering the idea for awhile.

Here’s my old TV. Seven years ago I bought it from Tina and Chris for $75 and they’d had it since them married in ’93. (And it was used then.) It had a great picture and met my needs perfectly.

For Christmas I’m getting TiVo!! Yes, I’m finally stepping into the 20th century and digital recording! I can’t wait!! With this new addition coupled with the amazing deals of the weekend, I just couldn’t resist any longer and decided to buy a new TV.

In looking for something new, I knew I wanted something bigger than 32’’. I wanted something that would fit in the cabinet I currently have, but also feel like I was still getting a bigger TV. They were all sold out of the 37’’. I noticed that the 40’’ measured 38 and 1/16. Mom said my cabinet measure about 38’’. Thankfully Matt made an extra trip to my house to get an exact measurement and said we had a solid 38 and ¼ to work with. I was thrilled to be able to get a 40’’ and for such an amazing price, too!!

We were a little nervous when we got it home, but it fit. We had to take the doors off while we put it in, but it fit! I think it looks great and couldn't be more happy!!!

Black Friday

I can’t remember how many years ago Mom, Tina, Tonya, and I started shopping on this crazy day!  We’ve done it differently every year.  We gone from starting at Kohl’s to Target to Walmart.  (Walmart being the only way to go as you don’t have to stand outside in the cold.)  Even extremely claustrophobic me can handle Walmart.  There’s not a line pushing to get inside, and when they cut open those pallets of goodies, people are pretty decent. 

 We had everything out and up in record time, so we decided to hit a few stores in Springfield.  To us, things didn’t seem as crazy this year.  When I got home later that night, I cleaned the house.

I got all the gifts bought for my nephews and niece.   I only have three left to get.  Christmas shopping and decorating!  All in all I’d say it was quite a productive day!

This year we hit the midnight sales at Walmart.  We left Mom’s at 11:00 to give ourselves plenty of time.  Being the night owl that I am, this was SO much easier for me than getting up at 3:00!  We found some great deals.  Tonya and I saved $30 on one gift alone!  (So, yes, Dad, it really pays to go.)

Tina needed to get some bigger items, and people were already lining up, so we just decided to go ahead and hop in line, too.  It worked out quite well.  We took turns standing in lines, making friends, with those in line with us (Mom more so than Tina or I) and just looking around the store, walking instead of just standing.  After a few hours of this, we finally just sat down.  Walmart came around with granola bars and energy drinks and a few chairs.  I kind of felt like the girl in the movie “Where the Heart Is” who lived in the Walmart.  People would “borrow” camping chairs.  I went to the front and “borrowed” a magazine (which helped pass the time greatly!).  Others brought their own pillows and blankets and layed down.  We were first and third in line for the things Tina needed and we were able to leave at 5:30 with everything we came for!!

After dropping Tina home, Mom and I went home and slept for a couple of hours, then headed to my house to decorate for Christmas.  She insists on putting up my tree because my allergies are so bad.  It’s really such a blessing!

Thanksgiving 2010

Usually I have to work half a day on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.  This year we had the day off!!  I can’t even begin to tell you how much I enjoyed it!  I spent this day keeping old traditions and maybe starting a new one.  We all (except for Dad and Chase who were hunting and Matt who was working) met for lunch at Cheddars.  I love that place purely for their delicious spinach dip!!  During lunch we made out Christmas lists, well the kids did anyway.  It was so cute to hear them talking about what they wanted.  It was cute to just to listen them talk to each other about it, too!  Especially Jacob and Ethan.  They got so excited!

After lunch we headed over to P3 in Ozark so the kids could each make an ornament.  While they didn’t enjoy the several coats of paint it took, they all seemed very excited about the finished product.  Garrett made an ornament that says "Garrett Rocks!", Jacob painted one with an unique design, Ethan painted a gingerbread man, and Abby made a penguin with the most beautiful, red eyes.  (That's right, red!  Who knows, her ornament may become legendary like the teddy bear I painted in second grade.)  

Every Wednesday night before Thanksgiving I spend the night at Mom and Dad’s. I make pumpkin pies and watch/sing-a-long with “White Christmas”. This year Chase joined us for the fun. (I think he really came over to play his PlayStation on the HD television, but I’ll take it! He sure does enjoy picking on me, though.

Thanksgiving was a day filled with family, food, and fun!  This year it was bitterly cold and even snowed!

 I love this picture of them watching it snow!

 Is there a "grown-up" table at every house?

 The "kid" table.

This was Ethan’s first time ever to have turkey!  He LOVED it!!

What’s a holiday without games?

Look at this sweet girl I found upstairs, entertaining herself.  Apparently she got lonely, though, because it wasn’t long after this that she took Chloe prisoner!

We also celebrated Grana’s birthday!

This just makes my heart happy!  They entertained themselves for the longest time with paper cups!  Aunt Meme is so proud to see that creativity and imaginary play isn’t lost on them!!

We love Cranium!  (Wow!  Look at that beautiful sunset in the background!)

More games!  Bet ‘ya can’t guess who won…

We didn’t let her win either!  She’s quite the Memory mastermind!!

I think this picture of Chloe summed up how everyone felt at the end of the day.  

Thanksgiving is my very favorite holiday because the focus of the day is family and remembering all that you have to be thankful for!  I'm so blessed!

Attitude of Gratitude

I recently heard someone say that if you fail to be thankful, there may come a time when you won't be able to see all you have to be thankful for.  I can't even begin to count all the time I've spent wishing and hoping and praying for a family of my own.  But, recently I've recognized a huge blessing that has come with being single.  I get to know my nephews and niece in a way I wouldn't have been able to if I had kids of my own.

A few weeks ago Tonya and Matt helped Mom and Dad put up their new TV.  I went over just to hang out and add moral support.  It was such a joy to watch Abby play with all those cardboard boxes and turn them into a house or a fence.  She has such an imagination!  Jacob is the ever-quite one.  I love to watch him study things.  At the end of the night, he shared his deer hunting video with us. It was so sweet to hear him ask his daddy to pray and thank God for what they were able to do!

Just last week I spent Wednesday joining Tina and her boys for dinner at Mom and Dad's. Mom fixed the boys' favorite: chicken & dumplings and, for dessert, homemade doughnuts. I remember driving home that night praying I'd always remember these sweet memories. The way Ethan beamed as he showed me how he'd set the table and assigned each of us a seat. The way we all had to share high/lows. They way Ethan held his tea glass and talked with hands. They way Garrett wants me to help him study for a test. The way Chase likes to give me a hard time. The way Garrett looks up to Chase and longs to hear just a few words of praise from him. The way Chase refers to Dad as the "bear" who hangs out in his den. (aka the basement) The way all three of them love to watch "Wild Hogs" with Pop and how all of them laugh and laugh.

Tonight Chase came over to eat pizza and watch the Biggest Loser with me.  When I picked him up we went to Price Cutter to get him some soda and Oreos.  He made my night when we told me he didn't really care about watching all of the show because he just came over to eat and talk to me.  Thirteen and he still wants to hang out with his Aunt.  How blessed am I!

Chase, Garrett, Jacob, Ethan, and Abby help fill such a void in my life right now. I adore them and love spending time with them. I'm so thankful I get to share so much of their lives!! There's not a luckier aunt around!!



Brushy Creek - October 2010

No cell phones, no television, no kids, no radio.  This little get-away was perfect!!

We didn't leave until I got out of school Thursday.  We arrived sometime after 7:00 and set up in the dark.  We were so excited it didn't matter!

The next morning we rode up to the lodge for breakfast.  (Dad says it's mile there and back.)  Can you see all the frost?  Let me tell you, it was COLD in the mornings!!  Friday and Saturday mornings were 27 degrees.  Brrr!!

Mom and Tonya at breakfast.

Me and Dad  (If you'll notice, I'm wearing 3 layers of clothing!!  Very uncommon for me!)

This was the near the end of the second ride on Friday.  Can you tell that Tonya is, well, uncomfortable?

Hi, Dad!

Look at that nice trail - no rocks!!  Great for lots of foxtrotting!!

Some of the trees had already lost their leaves.  It was nice, though, because you could see so clearly through the timber.

Meet Jo-Jo!  He's half Jack Russell, half chihuahua(sp?).  So cute and SO full of energy.  He came over to our trailer everyday for lunch.  Out of the goodies we had (ham, triskets, 7-layer dip, pickles, no-bake cookies, chocolate chip cookies) he loved the spicy Harry & David dip the most!  He couldn't get enough.

Every night we would drive the truck up to the lodge to shower.  There was wifi there so I was able to communicate with Tina through email.  We could also check twitter, and that's how Tonya kept in touch with Matt.  The only way you could get cell phone service was to ride to the top.  Saturday we made a trip up just to make a few calls.  Here's Dad checking in with work.

Look at that gorgeous smile!  I'd say she's having fun!

Right by where we camped they had an obstacle course for your horse.  You could walk them through tents, over tarps, through a car wash looking thing, over a teeter-totter, etc...  It was kind of fun.  Last time we went Dad took Stormy through all it!  Here's Dad showing Harley that all those milk jugs tied together weren't really that scary.  If you notice, Rowdy is right there with 'em.  He was just hanging around to make sure there wasn't any food!  :)

Everyone is stopped while I take off one of the many layers of clothes!  After just a couple of hours of riding, it was warm enough to ride in a long sleeve t-shirt.  Perfect riding weather if you ask me!

Thanks, Dad, for storing my extra shirts!!

The scenery was gorgeous!  I can't tell you what a stress reliever this trip was!

My favorite memories from this trip were the times we spent in the trailer before falling asleep.  We pulled out Tonya's delicious chocolate chip cookies pieces and enjoyed a cold glass of milk.  Then we talked and laughed until we fell asleep, or least until Dad started snoring anyway! 

Thanks, Mom and Dad for taking us!

An Encouraging Word

A friend called the other night.  She called to pass along some kind words she'd heard spoken that very day.  She'll never know the way those words encouraged me and gave the boost I needed.  She didn't have to do it, but I'm so glad she did!!

Running on Empty

Truth: No matter how hard I've tried to tell myself otherwise, there have been more days that I haven't enjoyed my job this year than in the previous 10 years combined!

Truth: This school year my quiet time has been minimal.

Coincident?  I think not!

Last Wednesday at Prayer Meeting it hit me.  When the job is done right, teachers give all day long.  Because I wasn't filling myself back up, it was hard to find more to give.  That's why I felt exhausted and depleted.  I left Prayer Meeting that night, called Kelly, and told her that we needed to started the Bible study we'd been talking about for several, several months.  She told me she'd planned on talking to me about that exact same thing.  Coincident?  I think not! 

I can't begin to tell you how my perspective has changed or all the ways I've seen God working just since I've spent more time seeking Him!  It's been amazing!!  It's so embarrassing to admit how I let busyness selfishness get in the way. By doing this, I had defeated myself.

I'm happy to say that we started the Beth Moore study of Esther today after school in my classroom.  It's my second time to do it, but I can't wait!!  There's an intimate group of five, and  I can't wait to share this journey with them.  Fill me up, Lord, I want more of You and can't wait to know you more!!

These lyrics from Hillsong's "You" is SO the prayer of my heart right now!!

"Steal all that is within me, 'cause I all want in this world is more of You.

In the less of me it is You.  Increasing as I fade away, your light for all the world to see.

God it is you, who breaks the chains.  It is you, who lights the way. 

And everything I am cries out for you.

  So make my life transparent.  Your life in mine displayed. 

And let every earthly glory go back to you."