12/31/06

I figured this picture was appropriate for today since the sun is setting on another year.

The last day of 2006. It is hard to believe that another year has passed. God has been with us through it all and I am thankful for His presence. Here are a few things I thought of in looking back on this year. They are truly in so specific order, some are silly, but the first few really are important as well as the last one. :)

Things I learned in 2006:

1. God wants us to give our best for HIM and not look for the favor of others. If we are pleasing the Lord we are doing what is right.

2. I may think I have finally "got it" but I find more and more each day how inadequate I really am. It is only by the Lord's strength and what He gives me that I can accomplish anything.

3. I never realized that the age of 6 is like the "terrible twos" we never experienced. It certainly has been challenging being a parent this year. At times I feel like I fail them, but I know it is all in the process of child rearing.

4. It is very easy to lose sight of your spouse in the hectic world of work/children/house. Steve and I didn't go on many dates this year and I regret that tremendously. We need to work on that in 2007. He has been wonderful to me all year long but I know our "US" time has been few and far between.

5. I cannot work all day and keep my house spotless. I also can't create gourmet meals. LOL I have had to learn to accept I can't do it all and that it is OK. My house truly frustrates me at times but I have to look past it and do what has to be done.

6. This year has been interesting with certain aches and pains creeping in that I never even THOUGHT of before. I just shake my head sometimes at things I know I could do quite well even last year and now I think twice before doing them. ha!! Hopefully I'll work on that in 2007, too. :)

7. I didn't think it could happen but I get busier with each passing year. I used to think when the twins were little that it was so busy. Now I realize I wasn't as busy as I thought... or maybe it was just different. I guess with them being in school and all that our days seem so much more busy.

8. We can't keep fish alive in our tank. I know that seems silly, but truly we have had issues with that. We have one named "Survivor" that has outlasted most of them. We just lost another guppy the other day.

9. " Live well, laugh often and love much" is such a true statement. We need to be thankful for each day the Lord has given to us.

10. God is still performing miracles. I saw that with my Mom in 2005 but this year we have seen it with our youth pastor, Mike McCaskill. He has a brain tumor as well as complications from that tumor that have caused him to be in the hospital for months. He wasn't supposed to live past September. God is beyond awesome because we found out this past week that his tumor, which usually doubles in size in 30 days, is not showing ANY growth. This is only after 2 chemo treatments. He is starting to come back from the coma he was in for so long and beginning to talk and walk, etc. He is a marvel to the scientific world but we know it is all from God. God is the One Who gets ALL of the credit for what we are seeing in Mike. We are looking forward everyday to see the progress he makes. Steve and I went to see him yesterday and it is so uplifting to talk with his family. They all are blessed with each day they have with him and give God all of the glory for what is taking place. Mike still has a long way to go, but he has come SO far.

I wish you all a wonderful 2007. May the Lord shine His face upon you and give you all peace. He alone can give that peace that so many people are wanting. I am thankful I have Him to carry me through all of the ups and downs I face in a year. I am truly blessed and grateful for all the Lord has done for me in 2006.

Happy New Year!

12/28/06

I guess I need to go out and take more pictures. My Christmas pics will not be very correct since it is now over. If only we could have some snow!!!

I have been cleaning this house for two days straight. I was quite sick of it by this afternoon. The whole house was in such disaster mode that I was quite overwhelmed with it all. Yesterday I tackled all of the Christmas decorations and a few things that needed to be thrown away. (mainly my children's "treasures" that they won't miss...) I also organized some of my Christmas stuff. My ornaments that are not Hallmark ones were really getting on my nerves because they were jumbled together. I bought one of those ornament boxes and that was WONDERFUL. It was nice to see them all stacked neatly and organized.

Today I worked on the entire house. I was throwing away, going through, organizing and getting mess out of my house!! I used up 2 large black trash bags between yesterday and today as well as a few tall kitchen bags. I have some things that need to go to Goodwill and am planning on donating that on Saturday. My house was SO on my nerves but now it is more tolerable. There is just not enough time during the school year to do stuff like that. At least I had a few days to get that off my list.

Tuesday night Steve and I went to a Hurricanes game. They won and it was a good game. It was the first time I have seen them play in person since April and since they won the Stanley Cup. One of our friends has season tickets and he asked us to go since his wife and daughter had other plans that evening. I also got to see one of my students there and catch up on his Christmas.

We had to go to the drugstore tonight to get Mikayla more allergy medicine and I noticed that Christmas is 50% off now, but they are moving in Valentine stuff. You can't get one holiday over before they start a new one!

My vacation is almost over and I have yet to do something I have WANTED to do. Of course, clean my house was an exciting thing but I wanted to scrapbook more. I'm hoping to do a lot of that tomorrow.... we'll see, though. I know how it goes... you plan your day and something steps in and takes it away. I really hope I can.

Wesley and Mikayla got webkinz animals from some of our friends for Christmas. I may have mentioned it earlier. Anyway, they have to go online to take care of the animals by buying them food, clothing and a place to live. They have to check on the pet everyday to make sure it is happy, healthy and not hungry. One way you can earn money to take care of the animals is by playing games or doing a "job." I showed Wesley and Mikayla how to do some of it so they could learn the website. Well, let's just say I have become "addicted" to a game called Cash Cow. I have secretly been playing it when they are asleep so that I can earn them some money and get a fix. How ridiculous is that??? I figure I am doing what a lot of parents do when their children get older and need some help with some things. hee hee Hopefully they will never know about their mother's addiction. Do you think I can keep it from them??? :)

It is kind of "dark" around here without all of our Christmas lights on. I miss my mantle lights and Christmas house lights the most. Our tree was so pitiful that I was glad to get that out. I didn't need a reason for a fire hanging around!! Mikayla was cute yesterday, though. Once I had gottenthe tree outside she decided to decorate it with Camilia petals. It looks quite lovely. She asked me to put a whole bloom at the top for the "star." She's always thinking of things like that.

Well, we are in search of a stirrup from Mikayla's new horse from American Girl. My son decided to pull it out of the saddle and now they are looking for it. They can't watch one of their new movies until they find it. I'm just shaking my head over it...

Have a good one. I'll hopefully get to scrap tomorrow!!!! :)

12/24/06

Today's pictures are all ornaments on our tree I haven't shown yet. The first one is the snowman that I got during the summer for a $1.00 at Hallmark! They were leftovers from last year and they were trying to get rid of them. He is just too cute! I hope we do get some snow this year... The tractor is Wesley's, of course; and the Tinkerbell is Mikayla's new one for this year.

It's Christmas Eve and we are getting ready for the big day. :) We have been so busy the last couple of days getting together with family and friends. We had a great time yesterday but were not home at all. Today we got up later than expected and were late for church but were thankful to get there. Christ is the reason we celebrate and we need to stop and remember that instead of find one more thing to do during this season!!

This afternoon we went to Mom and Dad's for a simple lunch and then one of my best friends called to say they were coming over to OUR house mid-afternoon to see our Christmas tree and do gifts!!!! MY HOUSE... the one that IS NOT clean!! I thought we were going over there... well, I was wrong. I had to fly home and run around like a chicken with my head cut off to get the place tolerable. It wasn't perfect but it was better than it was. My nerves can't take much more of this house. ha!!

Once our friends left we had to feed Santa's reindeer. We didn't have time or ingredients to make reindeer food this year so we had to settle for leftover lettuce in the refrigerator!!! It was so funny. The kids had a great time throwing it all over the front yard.

We went to my Aunt's house tonight. Afterwards we came back to Mom and Dad's to open our ONE gift which is our Christmas Eve tradition. Now we are getting ready for Santa to make his move. Cookies and milk are in place and kiddos have gone to bed. I also have to get their picture of them sleeping. It is the sweetest thing.

Our tree is really on its "last leg" and I hope it makes it past tomorrow.

We found out tonight that we don't have to go to my other Aunt's house till Friday night!! We are quite excited because that means once we do the morning opening of presents we can be HOME ALL DAY!!! We are beside ourselves with excitement. I am planning on giving myself a Christmas present tomorrow...a nap. :)

Have a MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone!!! Thank the Lord for the gift of His Son!!!

12/22/06

Today is my Daddy's birthday. :) We went out to eat in his honor tonight and had a great time. We called him this morning and sang "Happy Birthday" to him. We enjoyed celebrating him as much as possible today!!

It has been a long day but I still have presents to wrap. lol They didn't get done last night like I thought!!

We had the most fun watching a squirrel eat Mikayla's painted pumpkin from our fall decorations. I took pictures and this was one of the cutest. I had to crop it to see him better because I couldn't get as close as I wanted with my lens, but it is adorable. The kids had the best time seeing it.

I am showing a repeat picture of my mantle centerpiece because I took the kids to see The Nativity today. WOW.... wonderful, wonderful movie. Of course, Hollywood doesn't give it a lot of "stars" but it is because they don't want to see the truth right in front of them. It was beautifully done and an awesome movie. I cried a few times during the movie... it was quite moving to view what I have read in God's Word so many times. With me being a visual learner this helped me get a greater view of some of the things Joseph and Mary went through before Jesus was born. It is truly an awesome movie and I recommend it to all. The kids enjoyed it, too, although parts of it were a bit over their head. They at least got to view the true meaning of Christmas. Steve saw a sign on a church the other day that went something like this: "If you take Christ out of Christmas you have HOLLOW days. " People are so absorbed in being politically correct with "Happy Holidays" that they are forgetting about Christ and their lives are HOLLOW. Only the Lord can give true peace... the kind of peace everyone is searching for these days. The movie I saw today brought more to my heart than any Santa Claus movie I have ever seen. If only people would open their hearts to see the true joy and meaning of Christmas.

I really do have to wrap presents. I guess I'll be staying up LATE tonight, but it is my own fault. I have tried to catch up on the house and such in my couple of days off and haven't gotten the wrapping done. But, I can't work and do it all now, can I? The mess will still be here when Christmas is over. hee hee...

Tomorrow is going to be BUSY. We'll see if I have time to post. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

12/21/06

This is my Hershey Kiss ornament I bought in Hershey Park. :) He is so cute!!

My first official day off from school for Christmas break. It started at 3:00 this morning with Wesley telling us he didn't feel well. So much for a restful/late sleep!! I didn't sleep well after that but actually slept in later than I intended!! I called the doctor so BOTH of them could be seen because the colds they have had have been hanging around much too long.

We piddled around and cleaned this morning. It was so good to just be HOME. I made the kids clean their rooms and the office. I worked on the other parts of the house. It is still in desperate need of attention but you can't get everything done in a day.

I took the kids to the doctor around 2:00 and found that they both have the beginnings of an ear infection so off to the pharmacy we went. The prescriptions were going to take an hour so I figured I'd go on home and wrap a few presents while we waited. When it was time to go get them I couldn't find my little wallet that held my check card and such... NOT good. I went into panic mode and checked everywhere I thought it might be... I even called their doctor's office back. Finally, I just decided I would go back to the doctor's office to see if I had dropped it outside. When I was almost there Steve called to tell me that he had found it underneath something I had worked on earlier. I was relieved but quite angry with myself for losing it. I feel so brain-divided lately. ha!!

Tonight we had our Sunday School class dinner for Christmas. Now, we aren't in the normal class for our age... we are in the elderly class! We love it, though, because the people are precious and the teacher is awesome. We don't care. :) We all went out to eat and then just came back home. Some of our friends went to it, too, and their daughters stayed with Wesley and Mikayla. I was glad it wasn't a late night, though. I still have lots of presents to finish wrapping!!!

I was going to bake cookies for Santa tomorrow, but I don't know if we'll have time. We'll have to see.... I already have so many baked goods and such that I don't want to add anymore to this house!! We are working on making our house less tempting as it is!!

Our tree is pitiful. You know we haven't been able to water it in a week because the base cracked... well, it shows now. Ornaments keep falling off and I saw today where the garland is falling off too!! Hopefully it will last a few more days. That tree looks like I feel. hee hee

Well, I need to get busy on wrapping more presents. I am going to get Steve involved, too. :) Have a great CHRISTmas evening!!!

12/20/06

Here is another new ornament for the year. I thought he was so cute!! I actually got him free when I bought two Hallmark ornaments... that made him even cuter! hee hee...
Whew! School is officially out till 2007 and I am rejoicing!! Had a great day with my students and parents. :)

Mikayla went to a cookie exchange party with my best friend's daughter and she was having a blast. I am glad she was able to go. Wesley had to hang out with me and wasn't that thrilled. You know I am NO fun. hee hee We finished up cleaning my room at school and then headed to meet my Daddy for some last minute shopping. We enjoyed our time together looking for stocking stuffers for my Mom. We then had a few more stops after we left Daddy. I am glad to be finished (I THINK!) with Christmas shopping. Now I have the task of wrapping all of those presents!!!!

Yesterday we went to see Charlotte's Web after Wesley and Mikayla's Christmas party at school. It was WONDERFUL and I highly recommend it. I also want to see The Nativity but I am not sure when we'll squeeze that one in before Christmas. We'll see. After we saw the movie we went to see Santa. Mikayla talked Santa's ear off....it was quite funny to watch her. When we told her we were going to see Santa she said "Oh great. I forgot my American Girl magazine to show him everything." I just chuckled. We told her Santa would definitely know what she wanted. :)

Last night we drove around to look at Christmas lights. The kids always get into their pajamas and Steve and I get on our comfy clothes so we can be "cuddly" as we drive around to look at lights. I got a picture of us... Mikayla took the picture of Steve and me. I thought she did a great job! We had a lot of fun driving around but were amazed at the houses that didn't have anything decorated. We did see one, however, that had lighted reindeer pulling a sled! Upon further examination of the "sled" we found out it was a bobcat sitting in the front yard with those reindeer "attached." It cracked us up!!! I even got a picture of it for posterity. :) (look below)

We have our Christmas party for the AWANA kids at church tonight. Should be fun! I am off to watch a Christmas movie with Wesley. Maybe I'll wrap a few of those gifts!!!

12/17/06

I have been crazy since Friday! Yesterday I shopped for and made all of my parent gifts I give out at school. It was a long day and I was quite pooped after the week I have had. They were finished around 11:00, though, and I finished wrapping them up this morning. I am so thankful they are done. Here are a few pictures of my brother and I working on the stuff and the Mozarella balls in olive oil and herbs. I thought they were pretty neat. :) Now I have to work on finishing the ornaments I make for my students. I am SO glad I have no papers to grade this weekend.

Wesley was in our Children's Christmas Musical this morning as a little boy statue/bell ringer. He was the cutest thing. Here he is posing with Mikayla before church and then up on the stage area. Everyone loved him... and he didn't even have a speaking part!! He really did a great job. He had to stand there for 35 or so minutes and be as still as possible (for a 6 year old!) and act like he was ringing the bell when he "came on." I didn't think he did bad at all considering he just found out about it last Saturday!! God took care of everything, though, even his costume. :) He was a bit nervous this morning but was great on stage. Mikayla was a bit jealous, but it was a great opportunity for her to see that sometimes he'll do things she won't and she'll do things he won't. It will be a give and take thing in their life.

This afternoon I "played Santa" to deliver some of my presents I had made. It was fun giving the gifts out. That truly is what Christmas is all about. I hate the hectic part of Christmas, though. I just enjoy the times of being home and with my family making special memories without all of the stress.

It was 70 degrees today.... this is NOT Christmas weather!! I really hope it cools down before next week. We can't even use the woodstove. ha!!

Those ornaments are calling my name so I best get busy again. Enjoy your day and continue to enjoy the wonderful memories you are making this Christmas season!!

12/14/06

"You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch"... everyone sing with me!!! Here is Steve's ornament I bought him this year. It is quite cute. :)

I have officially hit my wall. This has been a hectic and exhausting week. (The play went GREAT at school. The parents loved it and the kids really did well. I am thankful to be done, for a few months, at least. :) ) I have been so busy I haven't been much company at night. Steve told me I am the wife that falls asleep on the couch at 8:00 every night. He isn't too far from the truth. ha!

I came home today as early as I could and we started to work on this house. It really has been needing major attention. I didn't get everything cleaned like I would LIKE, but it is much better than it was. The kids worked on their areas and did a great job. Wesley was so sweet and cleaned the mirror in their bathroom all on his own. He just didn't realize he wasn't supposed to clean it with the stuff we use on the toilet!!! ha!!!! It is looking as bad, if not worse than it did before he cleaned it. :) I'll clean it later when he gets to sleep. I didn't want to hurt his feelings. He told Mikayla at supper that they need to make sure they keep the house clean in the next two weeks for Mom and Daddy. He said Santa would have problems if he came in to a mess. ha!!! Those little comments make up for the week we have had with that child. I know "this too shall pass" but sometimes that boy does things that I have no earthly idea where he got them.

Steve was supposed to be working late tonight but he got somebody to work for him so he could come on home. I was glad because I would have missed him.

When I was about to vaccuum today I found that the Christmas tree skirt was wet... which meant our tree stand has been leaking!!!! We are not going to be able to water the tree anymore. It messed up some of our presents....I hope it was just the box that was messed up and not the actual presents! I just can't see trying to get a new stand with a week or so left till Christmas... that "ain't gonna happen" with everything else going on around here.

I found out at school today that a family in our school has had personal loss. Their older son and his wife lost their 3 month old last week to SIDS and then yesterday the same son and daughter in law's house burnt down. They lost everything. My heart broke for them. We are going to do what we can to help the family. This is something that is going to take the Lord to see them through it. I know they are questioning "WHY?".....it is only human to feel that way. I am thankful God understands that in us and works with us. Please pray for that family.... I am not sure of their names.

It seems, once again, I have papers to grade before I can crash on the couch. I hope you all have a wonderful Christmasy day. :)

12/10/06

Here is one of my favorite ornaments through which to view light. I thought this was pretty.

Wow it has been a busy weekend!! Friday night was Cinderella with Mikayla and last night our entire family went to see A Christmas Carol performed by a local theater company. It has been performed for 32 years and is always wonderful to watch. It was a couple of late nights, though, and I was quite tired today.

We went to church and then to Mom and Dad's for lunch. Steve had to work this afternoon so I came on home with the kids and got some things done for school. I still need to go grade some papers. :) I am slowly but surely marking things off my list and I am so thankful. After this week I'll have a lot marked off!!!

Steve is about to help me wrap some of the Christmas gifts. I am feeling somewhat overwhelmed with everything going on so he is so sweet to help me with them. Our house is still a disaster. I didn't get to clean it yesterday as I had hoped because I found out at the last minute that Wesley was needed in our Children's Christmas play next weekend and he had to go to practice. My brother and I ran around getting things for presents that I am making and it took a chunk of time out of my day. Then, we had to get ready and go to the play last night. I'll eventually get my house cleaned. At least I cleaned most of our bathroom on Friday afternoon. There is just never enough time....

Well, those papers aren't getting graded with me sitting here. We're going to watch Iron Chef America tonight because a chef from our favorite restaurant, The Angus Barn, is going to be on it! We're looking forward to seeing if he wins or not. :)

Have a wonderful evening!

12/8/06

I took Mikayla to see the play Cinderella tonight. It is performed by a local drama company. It was pretty cute! Mikayla is SO into Cinderella right now that I figured she would enjoy it. She got so excited when she saw Cinderella "transform" into her beautiful dress. They really did a good job of having her in her horse and carriage. Mikayla was so cute after the play. The actors were out in the lobby signing autographs and she stood in line with her friends to get "Cinderella's". She told Cinderella that she was her favorite princess. It was so sweet and innocent. She has been talking her head off about it since she got home. It may not have been the greatest play I have ever seen, but to see how my Mikayla Girl has enjoyed it made it all worth it. I must say, I was so tired from today and the week that I yawned throughout most of it. My eyes always water badly when I yawn so I know that woman next to me was wondering if I was crying! I wish I could have taken a power nap to get me through the evening!!! Today's picture is of Mikayla's Cinderella ornament that I just bought her this year. She loves that one very much.

I have to finish my wood stove story from yesterday... It seems I know how to start a fire now and keep it HOT. I was still under the rememberance of how to keep throwing logs on a fire in a fireplace to keep the room warm. I didn't know any different, so I did the same with the wood stove. Steve used to always get on me that I would let the fire go down too low with the fireplace. Well, last night, I checked on that fire and made sure it was blazing... It was blazing alright!! I started to get warmer and warmer as I was grading papers. It wasn't a bad thing, but it began to feel like summer inside the house! ha!! Well, I began to turn on fans and decided to go into our room to get to bed and cool down!! Steve got home a little after 10:00 and when he walked in he said "WHOA! What in the world? You got it hot in here, don't ya?" :) Well, he chuckled as he looked at the temperature in the house... it was 85 degrees!!! No wonder I was hot!! HA!!!! He told me I didn't need to add but one piece of wood every so often once I got the wood stove hot.... NOW he tells me. He checked the temperature of the wood stove itself and it was over 500 degrees....EEK! ha!!!!! Let's just say that is a lesson I will DEFINITELY remember. :) Live and learn every day....

It is supposed to be 17 degrees around here tonight. It was quite frigid when we walked out from the play so I am so thankful for the heat. If only it would snow. :) BUT...not until after my play at school next week!! :)

Off to spend a little time with my sweet Steve. I will go rest by a warm, but not so HOT fire.....

12/7/06

Today's picture is of our Candy Shop in my lighted village. I just love that little house. Wesley and Mikayla love our lighted scene and Wesley couldn't wait for me to get it up this year. I always miss it when Christmas is over. :)

I did it! I finally started a fire that actually took off. Steve had to work late tonight so it was up to me to start up the fire in the wood stove. He told me exactly what to do and it worked!! This comes from someone who had LOTS of trouble getting the fireplace going in the past. I had to call Steve soon after I saw it had really started going to let him know it worked! :)

I had to take Wesley to the doctor today. He has been complaining of a stomachache and his neck hurting and my first thought was strep throat. He has been ACTING fine, though, which can still be deceiving because I have seen a lot of students with strange symptoms this year. Anyway, took him in and the rapid strep test came back negative. They are doing an overnight culture, though, to be safe, so we'll see if that turns up anything. I will just give him cold medicine and hopefully that will get rid of whatever is starting.

BUSY day... I am amazed at how quickly time flies sometimes. I still have lots of papers to do so I need to get off of here. Hope everyone has a warm and wonderful day. :) I am enjoying the warmth of MY fire right now!! (I am amazed at how quickly that wood stove heats up this house... thank you, Lord!!) :)

12/6/06

You know, I do love the Christmas season but it can be so hectic it is not enjoyable. We are working on our play at school, and while it will be wonderful, I am feeling the pressure and that is not enjoyable. I just have to breathe in and breathe out and make the best of it. :) I truly don't want the season to be like this. I am hoping after next week things will be a little better... maybe. :)

Today's ornaments are new ones for this year. They are just too cute. I do love the chocolate one!!!

I finally got my stamps today so I can mail my Christmas cards! I hope to get them out in the next couple of days. I seem to be having issues with my cards this year. ha!!

We are loving our new wood stove. It does a wonderful job of heating up the house. We are still learning how to use it... when I say "we" I am actually meaning "Steve", but you get the picture. :) I miss the crackling of the fire, but I am surely enjoying the warmth!!!

Well, it is Wednesday night and I have to get some things ready for church. Have a wonderful Christmas moment today! :)

12/2/06

We got our wood stove insert!!!! It was installed on Thursday and we love it. We truly weren't sure how it would look because the warehouse had so many different stoves and they were on big walls and looked so tiny. I got home before Steve so I saw it first. Actually, the kids saw it before I did. ha!! Mikayla "I like the stove and all, but I MISS the cats!!!!!!" If you see in the "before" picture we had cat grates for the wood to sit upon. I was amazed at how much more cozy it made the house look and feel when I saw it. You can see the picture of that below this one. Steve has started it up the last couple of nights to allow the stove to get "ready" to be used full blast. I took a picture of it last night with the fire in it. I think it looks beautiful. :) I also took a picture of it close up. I think it looks quite nice with our Christmas decorations.

I have been enjoying the smell of our Christmas tree. I am really enjoying where it is at this year. (I know I have said that before ...ha!)

Last night Wesley had a friend over for a play date while Mikayla had an "American Girl party" at some friend's house. She had a blast. They are having to learn about giving their sibling space when friends are over. They are so used to playing everything together that friends are the same. I tried to help Mikayla understand that before she went to the party yesterday. It wasn't received well at first, but she had to get over it and allow Wesley that privilege of playing alone with his friend. Steve had to work last night so me and the boys got a pizza and then I let them watch CARS. They played tractors and trucks while watching the movie. While they did that, I passed out on the couch. I had hit a wall yesterday and just wasn't a lot of fun last night. ha!! OH well...they had each other, right?

Tonight we are going to see one of my best friends daughters in a local Christmas parade. We are excited. It is going to be cold, which is how it should be, and we will get to stand out and watch them do their thing. :) (They are in a local dance school which will be performing.)

Steve had to work again today. He'll be home in time to go to the parade, though. I have been trying to get this house in more order today. It is so out of control at times. Between everything I have to do at school right now, Christmas, making ornaments for my children at school, etc... there is not an option of a sparkling clean home. We LIVE in our home... it definitely isn't a museum. ha!!

Well, sitting here typing isn't getting those clothes folded, is it? Enjoy the pics and enjoy the season. MERRY CHRISTMAS for without Christ we have nothing!

11/28/06

The week is starting off with a bang and busy as always. I am thoroughly enjoying my lights and Christmas decorations, though. :) Last night I just sat on the couch with Wesley... he read to me but I kind of fell asleep for a few minutes... and then I just looked at the Christmas tree and other lights. I just enjoy them all.

Steve picked up our new woodstove insert yesterday. It is sitting in our garage waiting to be installed on Thursday. We are really excited about it. Steve just had to take a peek. :) I will probably take a picture of it so don't be surprised. hee hee

Here is a picture of the middle of my mantle today. It is a porcelain set that used to be my grandmother's. I love it. I used to have it on the table in the foyer but decided to move it to where I had Mary and baby Jesus last year. I don't do change well, but sometimes it IS OK. :)

Wesley is now in the bathtub so Mikayla is waiting to take hers and is serving all of us "coffee" and such. She calls us her customers. I think she's going to enjoy cooking a lot more than her mother. At least, I hope so. ha!!

Well, no papers to grade tonight! YIPEE! I plan on finishing my Christmas cards. Gotta get 'em out soon!!

Have a great day and go enjoy your Christmas decorations...or someone else's. :)

11/26/06

We have had a great weekend following a downpour rainy week. We were able to get some of our Christmas up through my days off and got our tree on Friday. Our tree is quite cute and we were tickled with it when we found it. I don't always have to have "the perfect tree" but a cost- effective one is nice. ha!!! Steve and I put the lights on it on Friday night and the kids and I decorated it last night. We had to move it from the "normal" spot this year because of our wood stove insert we are getting. Steve was afraid it would get a little too hot. I actually think I like it better where we moved it. Not that we moved it across the whole room or anything, but change for me is hard in any aspect so this was BIG for me. ha! You wouldn't believe how many times Steve and I moved furniture to get the room looking right...and all for a Christmas tree!!!

Usually I put the round ball red, green, gold and glittery ornaments on my tree. Well, this year, that didn't happen. lol Wesley and Mikayla were so excited about their ornaments that they started on those. I used to have a "system" but now that is all out the window. ;) They were thrilled to see all of the ornament boxes with their names on them. I LOVE Hallmark ornaments so I always put their names on the ornaments bought for them. They pulled out all of those and left mine in the box. Our tree this year is filled with homemade ornaments, Hallmark ornaments (mainly) and those that were given to me or ones Steve and I had bought when we were first married. Our tree is one of wonderful ornaments that fill me with memories each time I look at them. I will be sharing some of them up close during the season.

I gave Wesley and Mikayla each 3 new Hallmark ornaments this year. My tradition started out with one. Last year I went up to two, and this year it became three. ha!! I just can't help myself. I got one that is a box of chocolates. ;) I'll definitely share that one this week!! I got Steve the "Grinch" ornament as well as the movie because he has been "complaining" that he never sees it on TV anymore. I solved that problem for him. I gave Mikayla the Cinderella Slipper, Tinkerbell and Pansy Fairy. Wesley got the John Deere tractor, old Ford truck, and Chevrolet car from 1961. They were so excited.

The kids had fun decorating the tree. They did better this year than last year. They loved all of the memories they had of their ornaments, too. I was able to share with them some tidbits about their ornaments they may not have remembered.

My memories were a bit saddened, though, at the realization that some who were here last year aren't here this year. I thought of my adopted grandfather who passed away in August, and Miss Pearl who passed away at the end of October. She dearly loved Christmas and looking at our tree when she kept the twins. I still can't believe they are gone.

I still have a few things to decorate around the house, but they'll get out eventually. I changed around my mantle a little bit this year so I'll share that. I always want Christ as the focus on my mantle. I treasure the porcelain pieces that were my grandmothers. I look forward to seeing those each year.

Well, it is back to reality and school tomorrow so I need to get off of here and get some things done. I'll be back soon with another picture of Christmas. :)

OH..forgot...I recently found out that none of my pictures I entered in two contests won anything. That is alright...I truly didn't think they would. There are just too many people out there that entered. Truly, as long as I enjoy my pictures it really doesn't matter what other people think. I know I am still a work in progress. lol

11/23/06

Another year for which to thank the Lord. I am humbled each day when He shows me areas I need to work on improving. He continues to show me I need to make sure I stop whining and start trusting Him in everything. I have grown so much in that, but I also know I have so much more to learn. I am thankful for the Lord's patience.

I thought I'd share today what I am most thankful for this year. The list will seem a lot like times in the past, but today I just want to praise the Lord for His goodness to me.

1. My salvation through Jesus Christ.

2. My family
-Mom and Dad...they have been through a lot but show that true love lasts the test of time.
-brother...who teaches me so many things that I am listening to and learning from
-Steve...who loves me unconditionally and helps me SO much. He also makes me laugh. :)
-my sweet children...who just act a little too much like their mother sometimes..

3. Friends who make me laugh and let me cry...who love me unconditionally for who I am.

4. The warmth of hugs

5. The feel of my children's feet in my hands. Mikayla's are still soft, but Wesley is beginning to get that "boy" feel to his...more rough. I cherish those sweet feet.

6. Food...why should I even complain about what is in front of me? I have so much more than others..

7. My home...it is ours and God has blessed us so much for there are so many who have nothing.

8. Warmth of heat....and a new stove insert on its way. I thought so much in the past few days as we have had the Noreaster of those without heat. I was thankful I still had heat even though I didn't have my fireplace.

9. Clothes to wear....It is so easy to go shopping and look at all you DON'T have, but when you look at what you DO have it is a humbling thing. I am thankful I have warm clothes to put on my body. I just need to make sure I still fit in them. :)

10. The ability to hear, speak, touch, taste and see. I have been able to see many wondrous things this year that are a part of God's Creation. He blesses us each day with another day of His glory.

11. My cat...she keeps me company and loves to be near me. :)

12. Our dogs...they love Steve and I love them from afar. :)

13. My children's laughter

14. A job that I enjoy

15. My extended family/ inlaws

16. My children's accepting of the Lord as their Savior this year.

17. Tractors and butterflies

18. A clean home...when it can happen. :)

19. Christmas tree ornaments!!!

20. God giving me the ability to learn how to photograph objects and people. I DO NOT know it all by any means, but I am thankful He is giving me the ability to learn more and more each time I take photographs. I am thankful to those who have given me the opportunity to take photos of their children/families. What valuable experience I have gained from that. I am also thankful for my photography friends who give me pointers. I love my little hobby. :)

The list could truly go on and on but I guess I need to finish up. God is good all the time...All the time God is good. Thank Him today for His goodness and remember that without Him you are nothing. He holds those who know Him in the palm of His hands and He will never leave us nor forsake us. I am so thankful. Try your hand at a list of thankfulness today. You will be amazed at all of your blessings.

11/21/06

Short week at school. I am thankful. :)

We are having a Noreaster around here and it is COLD. It feels so much colder because of all the rain. It is amazing how that will chill you to the bone. It makes me so thankful for my home and the warmth it has in it.

We are getting our wood stove insert next week sometime. I am looking forward to it because I have missed our fireplace!!! It is amazing how much I have missed it. Just for old time sake I posted my fireplace picture. It surely would be nice to have that right now. ha!

I am going shopping with one of my best friends tomorrow. I am excited... it has been a long time since I have done something like this. Steve is watching our kids and hers. Of course, her kids are my daughters best friends so she is in hog heaven over that. We're supposed to go bowling with everyone later on. It should be a lot of fun.

I'm working on my Christmas cards. I find that I never fully get certain things done because I add another thing to my list. ha! It won't take me long to finish them, but I know that I am may not work on them tonight because I just want to crash. I need to get back into my hot chocolate mode but my friend got me hooked on sherbert floats. hee hee

You know, I just realized I have had my digital camera for a year now. I believe I got it a year ago this past weekend. Have I said lately how much I love that thing? What a joy it is not to waste film anymore and take as many pictures as my heart desires. :)

I don't have papers to grade tonight so I am off to chill by the fireplace with no fire. I'm just glad to be still for a few moments. Enjoy your evening and if you live in my area... try not to get too wet. :)

11/19/06

Here are a couple more pictures from the lake yesterday. It was such a beautiful day.

Well, this morning Mikayla woke up with a high fever again so I took her to an Urgent Care. The doctor said her throat was bad and her lungs sounded bad. He gave her a strep test and a chest x-ray. Thankfully, her chest was clear so he felt she had bronchitis instead of pneumonia. Her strep test came back negative, but he said many times they give a false read. If you had seen her throat like I did then it would be evident something was wrong. He put her on a strong antibiotic and a stronger cough syrup. She is feeling much better tonight.

Wesley is doing a lot better, too. None of us went to church today. It was a bit of a weird day.

We watched a lot of movies this afternoon to give the kids time to be quiet and rest. That is what they needed more than anything else right now. I am so glad they are feeling somewhat better. Unfortunately, Mikayla will miss her Thanksgiving Feast at school tomorrow. Wesley missed it last year because of an ear infection. I was so hoping they both would get a chance to be there this year, but it is not to be. We'll have to celebrate hers tomorrow night like we did Wesley's last year.

I am off to grade all the papers I brought home for the weekend. It definitely hasn't been a normal one!!! God is good...He took care of us through it all. For that I am truly thankful. Have a blessed day!

11/18/06

First of all.... we found Mam!!!! God was so good to lead us to where he was. None of us slept well last night. Wesley cried a lot of the night and I shed a few tears myself. I kept having weird dreams all night, too. Mikayla was precious, though, and drew Wesley a picture and told him he could keep her lamb until he found his. The faith of a child!!! This morning I asked Steve if we could check school one more time before we went to his dad's and he agreed it would be a good idea. I told the Lord that I knew HE knew where Mam was and to please lead us there. When we got back to school we checked my room and then Wesley went to check out the bathroom... and he found him!! He must have taken him with him there before we left for the doctor. I told him that we needed to thank somebody and he said "Jesus!" He prayed right then and thanked the Lord for helping him find Mam. I felt so much relief.

We went to Steve's Dad's and Step-Mom's today to celebrate Thanksgiving. It was a beautiful day and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Steve and I went for a walk with all of the kids. I was lagging behind a lot because I was taking pictures. :) Who would have thought THAT? I got some pretty pictures of leaves that I am sharing with you in this post! :)

When we left we got home and found that Mikayla girl had 103 degree temperature!! It jumped on her all of a sudden!!! I couldn't believe it. She doesn't hurt anywhere so we're thinking it is viral, but she has had a cough for a long time and I am concerned that it is walking pneumonia or something. Between Wesley and now Mikayla we aren't going to church tomorrow... I think we may be taking her to the doctor tomorrow, too. It seems we are having one saga after another this weekend!!!

Enjoy the pictures. :) Hopefully tomorrow will be better for Mikayla Girl.

11/17/06

We are in a bit of distress around here tonight. Wesley has lost "Mam"..his beloved Lamb he has had since he was three weeks old. I had to take him to the doctor after school today because he was not feeling well and his ears were hurting. He said he remembers throwing "Mam" back into the van when he got out at the doctors but doesn't remember anything else. We had to pick Mikayla up from her play date afterwards and I was so hoping that he had carried it in there and accidentally left it. They have searched their house, too, and haven't found him. I even went back to school to see if we actually left him there instead, but I couldn't find him.

I must say that this is affecting me as badly as Wesley. I want to sit down and cry!! Mam is so much a part of our family and I always said that when they grew out of their "lovies" I would take them and keep them myself. I truly am "sick" about this.

I was so upset that Wesley misplaced him that I haven't brought myself to think about asking the Lord to help us. Total shame on me. My daughter was the one to put me in my place. She ran in to ask me to come see what she typed to God on the computer. I walk in and this is what is in a Word document: "dear god ples hep as to fid mem ples god ples hep as to fid mem htac you" (dear God, please help us to find Mam, please God, please help us to find Mam. Thank you.) First of all...how precious is that...and second of all it made me feel like someone had slapped me for me to be so upset over this and not take it to the Lord.

I truly don't know if we'll find Mam....Steve has now gone back to the doctor's office to see if maybe he fell out of the van and could still be in the parking lot. Mikayla gave Wesley her lamb that is just like his but has pink on its feet instead of blue. That was precious, too. Everyone...just pray that we truly do find Mam...

I have papers to grade but am not in the right frame of mind for it. I'll just go do what my daughter has already done and ask the Lord to guide us. I realize it is only a stuffed animal, but what memories and special moments we have had with Mam. I just didn't want them to be over at age six!!!

11/15/06

Just thought I'd share a few fall pictures today. When I got home from school I actually had a little bit of time to enjoy walking around the yard and take a few pictures. I actually took quite a bit but only a few turned out. I knew it wouldn't be much. :) That last one is of the sun going down in our back yard. The clouds were kind of neat looking so I tried to capture it. Enjoy the pictures today!!

11/11/06

Today I finally took some pictures of fall leaves. Two of the trees in our front yard were looking very pretty in the morning sun. I still didn't capture what I had hoped, but they didn't turn out terrible. I took a ton of pictures and only selected a few. It is hard to deal with the sun coming through the trees. Here is one of my favorites. You can click on it to see it larger. :)

I did scrapbook today, however, I had "things" that distracted me. One example: wasps. It seems we have wasps entering our house somehow. Between Thursday night and today we have killed about a dozen. They are just flying in our house. Steve seems to think they are coming from the chimney. I can't understand how since we just had it cleaned, but it could be a possibility. There were two that came in this morning. I was brave and killed one of them, but the other one was big and I needed Steve to help me with that one. He made fun of me.... I will be the first to say I don't do critters very well. The insect kind or the small mammal kind. Other distractions were washing clothes, the beauty of the day and wandering outside taking pictures of leaves and going shopping with my Daddy. All in all it was a nice, relaxing day, though. I cherish these kinds of days!!!

My brother's friend bought Cars and The Little Mermaid for Wesley and Mikayla. They came yesterday so my brother brought them down. We are going to watch Cars tonight and Mermaid tomorrow night. The kids are quite excited. It will be fun to curl up together again. I'm off now to get ready for that. Enjoy your evening. :)

11/10/06

This is one of my favorite flower pics from the fair. It is of morning glories. I LOVE morning glories, but most people hate them. I just see a lot of beauty and elegance in them. They were pretty with the barn as the back drop.

Here is my weekly post, it seems. ha! Another busy week but a lot was accomplished.

In honor of Veteran's Day we had a special chapel on Wednesday that was WONDERFUL. I was brought to tears many times during the chapel just thinking about what these men and women have done to preserve our country. So many times we whine and complain when really we should be down on our knees thanking the Lord we are FREE. That freedom definitely came with a price. One of the speakers brought up a good point. Freedom isn't really FREE...it is paid for with a lot of lives. I am so thankful for those lives... those that fought long ago as well as those fighting now. It was a beautiful celebration honoring our Veteran's. I hope we do it every year.

Our weather is doing the typical fall time stuff right now. Very cold one day and hot the next. Today it was near 80 and this past Monday it was only in the 50's. My poor body is feeling it, too. ha!! I now have a cold that I am fighting. It is par for the course this time of year, though. You just deal with it and move on. It was a BEAUTIFUL day today and this weekend it is supposed to be the same. If I am to get out and take fall pictures I had BETTER do it quickly. Those leaves are going to be gone before I can turn around.

You know how I wrote about our fireplace being messed up? Well, we have looked into a wood stove insert. At first we were thinking we were going to have to wait to get one because they "ain't cheap"...but it seems as though the Lord is making a way for us to go ahead and get one. This past weekend when we had such cold, damp weather I was missing our fireplace something awful. I didn't realize how much I would miss it... figured I could do the "mind over matter" thing, but it DID NOT work. lol Still, though, I was content to deal with it unless the Lord showed us another way. I have prayed specifically for the Lord to work it out. We are still waiting to know for sure, but it looks as though we'll be having one for the winter. I am still sad that I won't hear the crackle of my fireplace, but the warmth will be there. We have also learned they are more efficient and we won't go through as much firewood. All I know is that I have left it in the Lord's hands and He will do what He sees fit.

My Daddy just called...we are going on a "secret" mission tomorrow to buy Mom's Christmas gifts. hee heee....I am glad he is doing it now and not December 21. He has done that before and it has been interesting... I was going to scrapbook all day tomorrow, but this will not be that much time. It will be time well spent with my Daddy. :)

The kids got to go home at 1:30 twice this week. They were SO excited. I am so thankful they have those chances. They need a break. Today they came home and finished cleaning the house (I started last night) and did their responsibilities and then they got to play while Steve mowed the grass. (He was off today for Veteran's Day) Apparently, they were down in the barn area where Steve had built a ramp for his lawnmower and log splitter and were pretending that was their house. Steve said they had all the bikes and stuff there. Mikayla told us that it was their house and there had been some robbers there that they had to get rid of. She said they were even in the back yard! To hear her tell the story is quite funny. :) I LOVE hearing their tales of adventure with their imaginations. I miss hearing them as often. School doesn't allow for that type of play as much as we would like.

Tonight we went out to eat (what is new?) and went on an errand. On the way home we listened to one of our favorite Christmas CD's (Patti Loveless Bluegrass, White Snow) and we were all singing together. It was wonderful hearing Wesley and Mikayla's voices with ours. Of course, to other people it may not have been pretty, but for us it was great. Steve said we should go on the road as the "Fowler Family Singers"... I think not. lol BUT...how sweet were those voices with ours. We had a "movie night". The kids watched the movie and Steve and I "passed out" in the recliner and on the couch. We are a wild bunch, you know. At least the kids had fun and got to watch the movie. They are now having a "sleepover" in Mikayla's room. :) Memories...that is what it is all about.

Well, I guess I should try to read my book. Steve has already finished the book before the one I am on and is needing to start this one. Unfortunately for him, I fall asleep too easily and do not get much read ...if any pages at all. I'll try to stay up tonight and read since I have had a nap already. lol Have a good one. Just remember... I may not post as often right now, but that doens't mean my life is boring. hee hee

11/4/06

Here is a picture of my sillies from Halloween. They were so fun and cute that night. :)

A good day today. I got up late and did a few things that needed to be done but did them at a slower pace. :) Then, I got myself presentable and was able to work on my scrapbooking for a bit. (something that has been SO neglected lately) Then, some friends of ours came over and we went out for a "photo shoot." I took them to a local park and took pictures of their family and then individually. I loved it. If it hadn't of been so chilly I would have probably taken more! ha!! It was a great day to be JUST ME. Sometimes I feel that I lose who I am in my daily responsibilities. It is so easy to do when you are pulled in so many directions.

I was talking with my friends tonight about how the Lord works and moves in our lives. I talked about how my week was a bit stressful at times but how the Lord stepped in and showed me what I needed to see and hear. He purposefully puts people and events in our paths to make us look more to HIM and not try to do it ourselves. I am finding that with raising these precious children I need Him more and more each day to guide me because I can feel so lost. As I was cleaning up the other night and reviewing the week I had had I began to think. (May I just say that vacuuming is a great time to pray and talk to the Lord because you HAVE to tune all other things out because you truly can't hear them! lol) I began to ask the Lord, "WHY can't this be easier? Why are things always so hard?" A still small voice said to me "If everything in life was easy you wouldn't need Me." Oh, how true that is!! When we are weak, HE is strong. When we fail, HE succeeds. When we are at our limit, HE supplies more.

I was also reminded during that cleaning moment that God loves us no matter what. He loves us when we don't obey Him for the fiftieth time. He never gives up on us. He loved me so much He sent His Son to die for me. WOW. The older I get the more I understand. I am so thankful He never gives up on me. Even though this week has been difficult in the parenting world, I can look back and see that the Lord has allowed some pruning in my life to help me depend upon Him. May God get the full glory for the pruning. May God continue to help me with the parenting trials I face. Only He can give us the help we need to raise these children to honor and glorify Him. It isn't easy in this world we live in.

Steve had to work for most of the day and all night again today. We have missed him. He has to work tomorrow, too. The kids fell asleep watching a movie and I just put them to bed. It was priceless seeing them asleep like that. I am thankful for those moments. I guess I'm going to go put myself to bed, too. Steve won't get home until late. I don't know if I can stay awake that long. lol Have a wonderful day. :)