Our Family Circus

Repost from 2008-you can check out other ideas there as well. Another fun way to keep Christ the JOY of Christmas. Shepherds Point of View Here is another option to allow your children the THRILL OF CHRIST in Christmas! Last year, after opening presents, we read the Christmas story in Luke 2. We listened how the shepherds were told about Jesus birth and went to find Him. Here is what to do: Place angels in different rooms of your home like a scavenger hunt. I referred to the children as Shepherd Dolly (age 3) and Shepherd Billy (age 6) and we went on the hunt for Baby Jesus. The angels should be visible from one room to the other so they can spot them. Ours were more like a straight path with angels along the way to reinforce them. The end of the hunt lead us to our unfinished basement-damp and cold, probably like a stable. There, hanging from the ceiling, would be the final angel and under it was the Baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph. That year, behind the figures, we chose to cover and re...

A few years ago, My Dear and I along with Billy were gifted an amazing gift-a trip to Israel. While on the trip we were able to see so much and learn even more! We of course went to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Interesting enough, any place thought to be holy has a church built on top of it. This was the believed birth place of Christ. It was heavily decorated and it was impossible to visualize it as a stable with all of the candles, paintings, and fancy lighting which was needed since we were in a basement. Yep, that is it in the picture above. The location was crowded and people were packed in for a Christmas carol and then lead out like an elementary field trip. Our guide then took us next door. It was not crowded at all, actually our group was the only one there. It looked far more like a stable of that time would appear, stone and cave like. The guide then shared that most groups did not go there but he wanted us to see it. The place where we were was where the Inn wou...

I hope to repost a few of my favorite Christmas activities that we have done over the past 10 years with our children. Billy and Dolly loved this one as preschoolers and now they are the ones helping Miss B. to enjoy it! I use this one every Christmas with the preschoolers I work with at church as well. They LOVE it!! Hope your little people do too! In Mexico, it is tradition for children to march through the town carrying the figures of Mary and Joseph. They knock on doors and ask if anyone has rooms for the figures. They, of course do not. We did this with our children as well. I walked down the hallway with the children while Billy carried Joseph and Dolly carried Mary. They knocked on each door in the hallway. Their quick daddy jumped behind each door to answer their knocks. He changed his approach and character with each knock. They asked if there was room for them to stay the night and each time, My Dear shared that no there was not. When they got close to the last door, My Dear ...

I am sure I have shared this a zillion times but can't help but share it again just incase someone might have missed it! Last year at the end of the season, the children and I wrapped 25 Christmas books including a Bible. As of December 1st, we began to unwrap a book a day to read in preparation for Christmas. I know that sounds like a lot of books but you would be amazed how quickly they accumulate. Because the older kids realized last year that these are the same books, they are on the hunt for their favorites. Miss B. wants the Little Critter book. Dolly is watching out for the Legend of the Candy Cane. Billy enjoys The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey (which is also one of my favorites.) I know there will be a day when they no longer have time for this silly tradition but as of now-it is a gift everyday-for them and for me!

Billy had a cumulative final exam in 4th grade! I was nervous for me and concerned that I had not prepared him for it. I left a couple of days for review and then we went for it. I handed him his test and watched his shoulders slump over. He was already defeated, or so he thought. He then told me that if he scored within a certain percentage, he was going to pay me for being such a good teacher. Cute huh! I graded the test and Billy got 98%! I went to the bathroom to clean up an accident and here comes Billy putting a dollar bill in my pocket! He reminded me that I had earned it. I think I might hang that dollar on the wall by my desk! To make the deal even sweeter, we went to the park and invited some friends to join us. We decided to play soccer and Billy and another little boy chose teams. Billy got to choose and he picked me first! It was a good mama day! I made a buck and made the team! You better believe, I was sure to remind My Dear of how we met-he chose my roommate for his wif...

Today we went to Bass Pro Shop to get a specific item. We chose that store because there is so much for the kids to see! Well, apparently they have started the Christmas season. Parents and children were lined up through the store to see the Jolly Ole Elf! The line was L O N G! Santa had extra elves on duty just for this purpose. I questioned our sanity even going in! As I walked past, I noticed the children were dressed up for the very important meeting and of course photo! The children seemed to be waiting patiently probably due to the "better not pout" lecture even though the line was way longer than the words to the song. The line seemed to be parent "driven" so to speak, but I am sure none of the children complained! Those folks were willing to wait. We had to fight our way by them again to leave and this time I had a less than happy preschooler. Here are the conclusions that I came to: 1. That would NOT be me waiting in a line that long with children! 2. One w...

It is important to me that our children get to be with other children. It is especially true for our Billy since he is the only, well, "he" in our school. I was tempted to "pad" a group for Billy at AWANA to make sure he had a guy friend in his group. But God was just setting the stage. One of the young men placed in his group is not likely to be someone that Billy would hang out with. Billy is his father's son and likes sports AND likes to win! This little guy had played on a team with Billy years ago and it was his first time playing. We were all his cheerleaders, we just wanted it for him! Billy remembered this child as well and being human, he was not drawn to love him. He admitted this to me and said that the child tells them every week that he is hungry as Billy gave the eye rolling expression. I responded that he probably is hungry. I know that Billy knows the greatness of our country and the poverty in many parts of the world but I am not so sure he ever...

One day, after Billy and I prayed for his wife, he asked me if I prayed for My Dear when I was little. I told him I did not start until I was much older. He responded that God must have really wanted to give me someone special! I am thankful that My Dear knows that after a long day of work, he has an even more important job to do. ...and it looks A WHOLE LOT like this...... Dear, I am thankful for you!

I am no better than our children! Really, I get the gimmies too! Tonight it happened at the Super Center in the toy aisle! Have you seen them??? Hearts 4 Hearts Girls!!! Changing the World One Heart at a Time They are beautiful!!!! The dolls I saw cost just less than $30. I know, so what! Well, the dolls represent different countries where World Vision serves! The doll from the U.S. represents ministries in My Old Kentucky Home-the coal mining, Appalachia Mountains. There is a doll for Ethiopia, India, Belarus, Mexico and Laos also. Oh they are beautiful! Each doll has a "heart" for her area and how she serves the people there. This description is included with her as well as Internet link information. Perhaps the best part is that World Vision gains some of the profits on these precious dolls. The website is http://www.hearts4heartsgirls.com/ Is it wrong that I want to talk the girls into wanting one (or 2)!?

1. Train your hand to hold up 4 fingers! This is essential for taking the first picture of our now 4 year old. 2. Direct (or should I say, command) the decorating for the fan club coming over later. If it is a party, it has got to look like one! Big sisters are GREAT at this and big brothers reach much higher to hang streamers. 3. To insure you get presents. Remind your mom to buy you some a week or so ahead of your birthday. Then remind her of what she already bought you and said you could have it, "on your birthday." Insist that you wrap that gift she forgot and decorate the paper with rolls of princess stamps. 4. Take your BFF to Chuck E. Cheese the night before to play games. Giggle lots! Get daddy's tickets to get big prizes and remind your mom to bring the camera...next time! 5. Wake everyone up to get them to help you bake cake and brownies. 6. Wash the fun decorations you have chosen for your cake. 7. Lick the fun decorations clean after blowing out the candles. ...

Last night, we celebrated the birth of Miss B, 4 years ago. She was beyond exhausted and had trouble calming down to rest. Through her tears, she asked if I would rock her. I had pulled the rocking chair out of her room to give them more play room but now, it was being requested. I pulled the rocking chair back into her room and snuggled up with Miss B in her fuzzy robe, "night hat" on, and blankie in hand. (She wears a hat her Nana made her when she gets out of the warm bathtub and sleeps in it.) I would have never dreamed I would be back in the rocking chair with a 4 year old. As I rocked and Baby Praise played, I was able to once again reflect on all that God has taught me in the seat of that rocking chair. My heart became filled with the honor of rocking a child to sleep, the smell of clean baby shampoo fresh from her little hat wearing head and the responsibility I have to her-to protect her, grow her, and lead her. It leaves me humbled that God would entrust us with suc...

I picked up a box of flashcards in the $1 section of the states with some information on each card as well as location. We do what we call, "The Nifty 50 States." The children have developed a journal with a spread for each state. Dolly started her journal last year. As she read or learned about a landmark, she recorded it in her journal. It was her journal that assisted in our trip to D.C. this year. Each of the big kids draw 2 cards every other day or so. They list the state and capitol in their journal as well as anything else they know about that state from their cards and from their sibling's cards. They locate the state on the map and practice saying the capitol. Billy is learning to spell the states as well. He is quite proud of spelling Massachusetts and Dolly is of course proud of M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I! They are making travel plans and hopefully all of the early American History stuff we just learned is falling into place for them as they see the locations. They ...

On this day in 1789, Benjamin Franklin organized the first United States Post Office. It is located in Philly! While we were in Philly we stopped by the B. Free Franklin Post Office which is still in operation. Franklin named it B. Free to aggreviate the British. With that being said, we say "HAPPY BIRTHDAY UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE!" Thank you to the men and women that work in all kinds of conditions to bring us greetings, magazines, packages from grandparents and Amazon and for bills....(well, 4 out of 5 goodness is not bad!) Our family says, "SALUTE!"

Remember when I posted a picture of the "Welcome" sign. Well, our family has changed a bit. We have added teenagers to the mix. We are parenting backwards! One wonderful perk is that I know when they are on youth trips, they are in the BEST hands! Of course, I am VERY partail to the minister! We are integrated everyone into the new schedule, routines, and responsibilities. I enjoy sticking notes in their stuff with silly comments. Today someone had the word BEHAVE written on the outside of a pack of notebook paper. Tomorrow morning when someone gets the peanut butter out for breakfast, they will find this note. I am truly enjoying these people and the fun of leaving little notes!

As a little girl, no one is stronger than your Daddy! My parents were very affectionate toward us growing up and still are. They hugged tight- none of those framed armed hugs. My dad's arms could squeeze me like a snake with his prey and I loved it! The feel of his tight hug became a part of me. As I worked with children with special needs I realized I had my own occupational therapy need. I need deep pressure at times, the deep pressure my parents offered when they hugged me. My dad's hugs were especially special. After I went to college, met My Dear and married I could still receive my dad's tight hugs but My Dear's hugs were needed as well. My dad is a much bigger man than My Dear so their hugs are different. When I self diagnosed my need for deep pressure, My Dear quickly learned the Boa Constrictor Squeeze and since he was far more accessible to me, those hugs worked. My Dear knows that when I flop toward him like a wet noodle that is when I need the tightest...

The last of my 8 cousins got married in the D.C. area so we partied with the family then headed out for our field trip! We pricelined a hotel and had a yard sale to pay for it and packed up the darlings and went! What a GREAT TRIP! We loved it! I follow www.aquiverfull-christy.blogspot.com and they have made the trip twice. She has excellent suggestions and well, it was indeed awesome! We used the metro and spent a couple of days there with our picnic lunches. We may make a quick trip to a museum and we may come back for more. Since the majority of attractions are free in D.C., My Dear and I could say "yes" and say it often. Dolly wanted to see the flag that flew over Ft. McHenry from the War of 1812. It is the flag that inspired the Star Spangled Banner. We read every word of information in that are at the Museum of American History. In fact, we did this museum two days because of the "kid" areas in the basement. Billy, My Dear and I all loved Ford's...

I skip church on Sunday nights, I confess, I do! To make matters worse, I drop the kids off for childcare at the church and then leave-it is typically a no, no but... I skip church and go up the street to my neighbor's home where I get to hang out with some precious young woman! It is without a doubt one of the highlights of my week! We challenge one another! This past week it was to learn a few scripture verses. As the girls recited, I allowed them to reach into my goodie bag and draw out a prize but I wanted to let them know how precious they are to me as well, so this is what God put on my heart..... It is a tiny thing but I hope as they head back to school they will be reminded of how precious they are! Go ahead, STEAL this idea for a student you love! SHOUT OUT....thanks Katie for taking a picture!

This month we celebrated a very special birthday at our house! If you count by 10s, you will say the age that someone in our home turned. Billy will soon fit this description as well but this person is a bit older and seeing that this is my blog, you know IT'S NOT ME!! I love birthdays with children because they love birthdays. They love to give gifts, decorate and gift wrap. Thought you might enjoy a picture of My Dear's packages compliments of Dolly and Miss B. I purchased the bows with Christmas clearance. I think we got our 13 cents out of them! Too precious to open arent' they!! (Unless you are the birthday boy!) Two weekends in a row we were on the road to visit family. This visit with Pops proved to make everyone feel as if they were royality. Lucky for the children, their aunt lives in the same neighborhood so they could ride to see her. This vehicle only has seatbelts in the front seat and making car seats difficult. This is the part where our parents wondered how ...

This is what Miss B looked like on a Friday when we went on a field trip. She and Dolly enjoyed trying on the pioneer type clothing from the Civil War era. Dolly likes the Little House picture books so this was right up her alley! (note the outlet in the background!) The following Saturday, the 2 oldest children and I were preparing for a trip out of state to attend my niece's high school graduation. I knew the event would be too much for Miss B and we agreed that she and daddy (who had to work) would stay home. In the busyness of packing suitcases and doing chores at the house, I was doing laundry. The large capacity washer and dryer can hold a lot of little clothes and those were the ones I was washing. I folded them all in the basement and headed upstairs to find these out on the bathroom counter... a wastepaper basket pulled out with shiny, long, red deposits in it and this little face, Proud as Peacock! This is picture was taken after she was informed that cutting her own h...

My sister was to celebrate her Big 4-0 so KY seemed the place to be for Derby Weekend! The children and I had fun with aunts, uncles, cousins, and horses! Growing up in KY, I just assumed all kids could tell a horse from a cow from a distance. It is hard for me to swallow that my younger 2 can not. I also assumed that everyone had historical stone fences that went along the road with hills of grass. Nope! I miss that! My allergies do not, but I do! Isn't it beautiful! The kids and I enjoyed the Kentucky Horse Park and we learned some cool stuff about horses! Like, those tiny horses are not ponies, they are indeed horses and were bred to be small to work in the coal mines-cool huh! Our Dolly loves animals! A few weeks ago, she asked me how to tell a boy dog from a girl dog. I told her the same way a doctor tells a boy baby from a girl baby. She found a picture of a dog and knew the gender. So, you can imagine her generalization at the Horse Park-the special educator in me appreciate...

In doing the laundry today, I pulled out a pair of underwear that belongs to Billy. He will be so thankful that I am talking about his underwear on the web! Honestly, he belly laughs at this story so I think I am in the clear to share...that and....well, he does not read my blog. Several years ago, Billy was in need of new underwear. He was ready for a pair that did not have Grover or Thomas the Train on them. Let's be honest, those little guy undies get yucky fast. It is part of the toddler years. So while we were out and about, I picked up a package of boy's underwear. I was not sure what size to get because every size is not represented and some shrink. BUT they do offer the chart on the back to help you pick the size that would work best for your child. So I read the chart and decided on getting the size 6 underwear for our 4 year old according to his weight and height. I talked hype about the new underwear and how they really were big boy underwear with motorcycles on them...

We have had a tree in our yard that has been dead since we moved her almost 7 years ago. It seemed tricky, at least for me, to take down because it is on a property line and could easily fall and damage a fence, a house, a play set , an outbuilding.... you name it- risky. I used to fear any strong wind, that it would blow the tree over our neighbor's fence damaging their property. I have lost sleep over that silly tree! Well, the weather has been quite interesting around her the past few weeks. Last Friday night, we woke the children at 2 a.m. to move to our "mostly" unfinished basement due to a tornado or 2 in our area. The storms have been so often that Miss B. is not quite as rattled by the thunder. When she does get upset, she just runs to our bedroom and assumes the position-you know the one right between mommy and daddy! Apparently, last night was just as eventful but I too have learned to sleep through the excitement. When I went toward the restroom this morning, ...

Over the past couple of weeks the Holy Spirit has shown me a couple of aspects about His death on the cross. Maybe you already, "got this" but here it is. The sign language for Jesus is the middle finger touching the palm of the opposite hand and then repeated for the other hand. It helps to remember the nails that were placed in His hands (or wrist.) As I was teaching this sign to a group of little girls, I was able to tell them the significance of the middle finger in signing. It is an "emotion" finger. It shows mercy, love, those kinda things. It occurred to me as I explained the sign to the girls that it was because of God's Mercy for us that Jesus died. A person could have decided that the sign was with the pointer finger and no big deal, but it is not. It is with the love, mercy finger-that is what held Him to the cross. Our Mercy is through Jesus. The sign is Biblically correct and well, it preaches! Along with this point, I learned this weekend that it...

As soon as the children get their chores and school work finished, I can answer "yes" to most anything they ask. This keeps them pretty motivated. So motivated in fact that this is what I found after a little "break" in our day. You might be a homeschooler if...............

The week prior to our Spring Break, we were loading buses and vans to send children home from AWANA . As we were lining up and getting head counts a 12 year old decided she needed to go find her friend. I told her no that she needed to stay with the group and we would insure that her friend was on the bus. The child, same height as I am, pulled away in anger and giving me an ear full. I held on to her until I was able to position her in a corner for her to calm down. The entire time I am in this situation, she continues to "let me have it" and I continue to repeat the instructions to her. Two things that went through my head....#1. I am not very strong, mental note to eat before AWANA because this confrontation was physical draining. #2. So this God, is why you had me teaching special education and going through the training for safe physical management. You will be pleased to know that "the friend" was on the bus the entire time, but I now had a new enemy and a b...

Our AWANA ministry has grown into more of an outreach then a ministry within the church. A couple of weeks ago, it occurred to me that the children from the bus ministry would not be going anywhere for Spring Break! Our church family would visit family and vacation but those kids would have zero plans. In fact, their being home would be a financial hardship on most families. They would have to feed the children 3 meals a day instead of just one. I mentioned an idea to a couple of ladies and as always they responded, "Let's Do IT" and more! A grocery list was established and we asked for volunteers within the church to fill them. We requested foods that the children could prepare for themselves knowing that many of them would be home alone. Bread, PBJ , fresh fruits and veggies along with cereal and milk were presented to families! A few of us meet to pray and go deliver. As I was driving a church van, I looked at my co-pilot Janet. I asked her if she remembered where we...

My Dear and I were college students when we got married. Two other couples, our friends, married the summer before. They were students too. My childhood best friend had prearranged my friendship with Christy before I transferred to this college, she knew we would love one another and she was right! Christy's best friend was Nancy-I won her friendship by default, lucky me!! It just so happened that My Dear was friends with the men who became their husbands. We were poor, married students. We were one another's entertainment- livin ' on love! These 2 couples were a STRONG support for us as students, as a couple, and as followers of Jesus Christ. They were such a blessing to us and provided such sweet memories and accountability. They asked the hard questions. Facebook and blogging have made it easier to keep up with one another. Last summer, we were able to get together for the first time in at least 10 years. Among us we have 11 children, we all homescho...

What if we all approached the offering plate to give as UNDIGNIFIED as this guy?

I call this picture-pitiful! We have been sick more this year then any year! This was a 24 hour stomach bug for one while the other just slept the bad germs off. Needless to say, that DVD player was burning it up this day! Thankfully it only hit these 2. Dolly had a math lesson at the store last week and came out $1.25 richer! We have a pump and she wanted balloons. Making animals was not as easy as they thought but the swords were way doable so the battles have been frequent. We got a book at the library and look what Daddy can do....with some artistic help from Dolly. The boy builds bathrooms and balloon animals! Look at this floor! It took him days to get a roller coaster built! He loves models like these especially when they work afterwords! Isn't it romantic! His and Her computers! My Dear does his work in the living room and I in the bedroom but with the help of a wireless router.....love can keep us together! It is amazing how much more I got done with a little bit of comp...

I see several folks on Facebook comment on Karma. So here are my thoughts. What comes around, goes around....but maybe not the same way you would think. 2 Cornithians 1:3-4 says, Praise be to God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comforts, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves received in Christ. So all the mistakes, hurts, habits, hang ups, heart breaks that I have survived and received comfort for, I am to share that same comfort with others, the comfort that only Christ can give. My sweater vest wearing friend Bob reminded me, it is like stepping in a big hole and looking back at others coming and saying, "WATCH OUT FOR THAT HOLE!" Some will see the hole due to the warning but others will fall into it just as I did. Then I can share that comfort that I received. So, what comes around, goes around. I did not survive those situations for nothing...

WOW! The strangest thing happened a week or so ago. My Dear left for work and returned home around lunch time to find me on the couch with all kinds of activity going on around me. This happened the next day too but instead of coming home he got a phone call from Billy saying, "We are hungry, come get us." Momma was sick! We were pretty sure it was flu. I could not hold my eyes open but would go to the couch to be in the middle of the activity during the day. The children continued to work in some workbooks with math and language getting done everyday. They would wake me with questions or Billy would help Dolly. At one time, I heard someone reading. The vocabulary seemed a bit hard for who I thought I heard reading. My eyes popped open to see Dolly have "story time" in her little rocking chair with B. parked on a blanket just like at the library. I would have never invited Dolly to read that book but she was knocking it out and so back to sleep I went...

Sunday evenings My Dear and I split to two different locations and the children to another. My Dear loads them up for the drop off before heading to his small group of Jr. and Srs. My study is in our neighborhood so I get the children ready and he takes them. Works great-MOST OF THE TIME! While preparing to load the children in the vehicle, Miss B. dropped to the floor in a crying heap. I scooped her up and loved on her a bit then buckled her in her seat. While I did that My Dear ran back into the house to retrieve the bb blanket-it was an obvious bb moment! His phone rang as he was pulling out-someone from another church I think. I walked back toward the house to prepare for group. Use the bathroom, put shoes on instead of slippers, get my Bible, fix my hair from laying around all day.....you know, those things. I went to turn the handle of the door but My Dear had shut both doors and they were LOCKED! He was still in view so this would be an easy fix. In fact, he was still in the dri...

It is D Now weekend!!!! Teenagers go to live in small herds together in the homes of church members. A Bible study leader is assigned to live with them as well. It is like a mini camp! Our friends come to do the worship music and we get to hang for just a bit! I know I wanted to be a part of the large group sessions and " Mami " our adopted(well, you name it, she is it) agreed to hang with what ever little people would rather stay with her. We were able to hang with our friends for a bit last night and made plans to meet up for lunch today and their daughter to come play. As we talked last night, I shared with my friend Joanna that I knew that more then anything God has called me to minister to our children because the season is just 18 years. I was so looking forward to what God would do over the weekend, then Man Cub got sick. So, today, I am thinking and praying for those kids while we lay around the house and watching far too much television. Wishing I could be ...

I have told you about bb before. BB is a small blanket that our Little Miss B. carries. She uses it mainly at nap time but for many other "hard times" she brings it along. The bb used to be pink but it is now an indescribable color although we still refer to it as being pink. Last week the bb was hauled often. Not sure why more that week then this week....but aren't some days, weeks, months....just like that. The bb has been tossed on the kitchen table, dropped on the kitchen floor and even taken to the bathroom. I asked if I could have it to wash because frankly, it was grossing me out!!! It resembled more of a rag then a blanket. As I looked at that nasty, filthy dirty blanket held close to the face of our precious daughter I knew she did not care how dirty it was. She loves her bb! Isn't it just like God. He created us perfectly. He had plans set for us and directions in the Bible for us to follow. We are all clean, pink, soft, and beautiful. But then,...

Both children had writing assignments a week or so ago that I wanted to share. Dolly's topic was Freedom of Worship and here is what she had to say....although it would be much cuter to see her handwriting with giant and some backwards letters. I will try to type as she wrote. I LiKe my Church. We donot have to go to church But we choose to. I LiKe Kids Church. I am glad we can pray. I Love America!!!!!! Billy made a book called, I LIKE AMERICA. I like America because it is a good place. I like it because we have money to buy food and shelter and DSi (he has been saving his money and just purchased this handheld game system.) We have tools to make and fix "thinks." We have doctors to help us. We have school to learn. And that is why I like America. The End Reminder to me of the wealth of our nation and that God will hold us accountable to what we do with what He has given us.....including these 3 little people wrestling in my home right now!

Too often bedtime is a mess! If I get started later then scheduled, it is a rushed process. In the rush, the little ladies have a hard time falling asleep. My impatience carries right over to them! It seems most likely to happen when the day has been long for both My Dear and I or when My Dear is away at bedtime. It eventually comes down to the girls needing a back rub, an extra million hugs, a song, or for Miss B. to be rocked. I know it would take about 10 or 15 minutes but I am still too anxious to do it. But when I put the me aside, I climb to the top bunk to whisper sweets into Dolly's ear and give her those extra squeezes. It is like medicine for her she goes to sleep feeling calm and loved. Miss B. grabs her bb and is ready to "wock." She even makes a request of what song she wants me to sing. On those nights, in the dark of the girls' bedroom, with the sound of a squeaky glider, the warmth of a sleepy toddler against me, and the sound of sweet voices, I enter ...

Grumpy me loaded the recyclables and the children to get to the recycling center. We had a LOAD! Grumpy's children were uninterested in helping. Well, I thought one was but after getting out of the vehicle in the cold they confessed they did not want to help only to go into the Reuse it store. Just what we need MORE STUFF!!! Grumpy ordered that child back to the vehicle-too cold and dangerous to be standing around not working. Grumpy was so grumpy that others heard the sharp tone in her voice and even passed a glance my way. There goes mom of the year and we are in the first days of January! I unloaded my stuff and jumped in the vehicle to leave. I saw a older lady out of the corner of my eye (and activity) getting out of her stuffed vehicle. She was moving slow and it was cold. I took note of her and began to pull out. It was going to take her awhile and with it being so cold, she will be a "cube" (of ice that is.) She is small as well, can she even reach? I pulled out ...

Christmas Day I got a sweet phone call from a lady I met in Vnam ! We chatted and teased and then Amy asked if I would be home the following weekend. I told her yes. She said she had a gift for me, assured me it was not carrot juice (which she had me drink for tummy troubles in Vnam -yuck!) and that I would like it! I watched the mail for an arrival. I got a phone call from another lady I met on the trip a week later. She is the missionary wife here in the states. I found it odd that she would call. I shared with her that My Dear's family were coming to visit. She wanted to meet up with me to give me Amy's gift and that weekend...when the fam was here. Then the phone rang again-it was Amy! How odd is that!? I get to talk with both of them right after one another.....well, because they were together! Our sweet Amy who lived on the west coast was in our state!!! She wanted to surprise us but was getting no where. I asked permission from My Dear's family to leave that evenin...