It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

I am amazed at how fast Christmas is approaching. I am usually so prepared and have by now purchased most of my gifts, given some thought to the cards and picture we will be sending out and probably would even have some wrapped gifts already under the tree. This year has been different but now my house has been transformed from Fall leaves to Christmas. I love Christmas lights. The tree is up, the stockings are hung (the mantel is still not fully decorated yet) and the village has been put up again and Mariah Carey is loaded on the ipod. We have part of our outside lights up - the icicle lights will hopefully go up this weekend at some point. Kelsie's Christmas musical at church is Saturday and Sunday and the fam is coming into town to see her. I have purchased a few gifts but have given no thought at all to cards or wrapping. Well, no stress - Christmas season is fun. Parties, shopping, lights, cards in the mail and touching base with friends. But, even with all of that stuff - Christmas is a great time to reflect on what it means that Christ chose to come to earth as a baby and gave up living in heaven in order to make a way for the forgiveness of my sin. I admit - I do love the commercialism of Christmas - all the hustle-bustle and even Santa Clause but mostly I love the God who loved us so much that He sent to earth His Son. It's the reason we are happy and hopeful this time of year - it's Christ! So, as you enjoy all the memories, the songs, the food, the shopping, the cards, and the lights - remember to worship in all things, giving thanks to God that we have a reason to celebrate. Merry Christmas!

A Very Happy Thanksgiving

Well, again no pics yet but I did take some good ones so I hope to post very soon (I know I keep saying that - I MUST get my computer fixed). Anyway, we had a great Thanksgiving. Kelsie had no school all week so we spent the first couple of days just running errands, buying groceries and cleaning the house. Wednesday was more fun b/c Wayne took off work and we got to spend the day with him. Kelsie and I spent the better part of the evening preparing some of our Thanksgiving dishes ahead of time - she LOVES to cook so it was fun for both of us. She made her daddy's favorite, chocolate chip pie. It was a big hit on Thanksgiving Day. On Thursday, Wayne's family came over for lunch, everyone contributed to a yummy meal. Wayne fried the turkey and we had a ham along with all the delicious sides and desserts that everyone brought. We watched the Cowboys play and looked at all the ads in the paper (my personal favorite tradition). The highlight for everyone was the snow. Technically it was probably a "wintry mix" but it was still fun. The kids went out and played for a while in it but it really came down that night. Raider did pretty well with everyone here. He was held a lot b/c he's so cute and little. Friday we did a little shopping (no 5 a.m. this year) and went to see the movie "Enchanted." It was really cute. Today was Brittany's 9th birthday party so we went over to Arlington for cake, presents and skating. A fun weekend. Now for the Christmas decorating - I hope to finish by Monday night then the shopping begins. Hope your holidays were happy and filled with friends and family.

Thankful for the Simple Things

As Thanksgiving approaches, I was thinking about what I am really thankful for. Of course, my health, family, home, church family. I am so blessed beyond what I deserve, thank you God! This year it just came to mind to enjoy the small things. You know, the things I take for granted. So here are some things I have counted as blessings and thanked God for in recent weeks - nothing is too small - just learning to thank God for the things I love and not to take anything for granted.

• sunshine through the windows especially on a cool day
• pulling my car into the garage on a rainy day
• when my mom answers the phone with a hey darling or hey doll
• scrapbooks with pictures and stories of people and events
• reading late at night when the house is quiet and still
• Kelsie's spontaneous hugs and snuggles
• when a magazine I read comes in the mail
• dinner at the Griffs
• keeping up with people online
• catching up with old friends
• diet coke with lime from Sonic
• finding enough change in my car to buy my Sonic drink
• a warm robe
• taking a nap on the couch on Sunday afternoons
• saving money with coupons
• lit candles in the house (especially Harvest)
• listening to Kelsie and Wayne cracking up from her room as he puts her to bed at night
• an exciting football game
• a nice dinner with my husband
• queso and chips
• looking out at Wedgwood and seeing people really engaged with God - not necessarily singing and hearing the stories of how God is working through people in our congregation
• an enlighting revelation from Tom Kemner
• Creativity team at my house Monday nights
• that my husband understands my limitations behind the wheel of a car
• music - all kinds

Well, my list could go on and on but I stopped. The point is that God is teaching me to keep giving Him thanks in ALL things and really notice the small things. They are all God's blessings and it makes my favorite scripture come to life - "the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and He delights in his way. though he may fall, he is not utterly cast down for the Lord upholds him with His hand." Be thankful. What are your small things?

God is Amazing!

Still no pics sad to say. I don't know why it's so hard but it has just not been convenient to get my computer to someone who can fix it so I am still posting from my work laptop. Anyway, I wanted to share a story with you about God and how awesome He is to provide for some people we love dearly. I know when you read this story you will be encouraged and maybe you have experienced God's provision in a similar way (I know we have) but I am so happy for them and it seems like the appropriate time of the year to be thankful and share. So, here's the story:

A while back some friends of ours (Rob and Donna) were praying about a calling to move out of the metroplex to a youth position at a church in Midland, Texas. As they prayed about it over the weeks and months of interviews and trips to Midland, they felt more and more confirmed in their hearts that God was calling them to move and minister there. As they stepped out on faith, God began to provide the things they needed at just the right time - not their time mind you - HIS time. Among other things, God prepared the hearts of their kids and they were receptive to moving and accepting of leaving the metroplex (the only place they have lived). But even though they all knew they were to move, there was one lingering thing in their lives it seems God had forgotten about - Donna's career. Donna has been a teacher for years in the same school and teaching in a very specialized area and had run several cutting edge programs and led out in her field. Moving to Midland meant not only resigning but there were no openings in Midland at all. She still did the things she needed to do like sent a resume and talked to some people but it was all in God's hands, there was nothing else she could do except get on the sub list and she was okay with accepting that and moving forward with whatever God had for her next. Last week Rob spoke with the principal of the school and she all but told Rob that there were no openings and there probably wouldn't be in the near future but to have Donna start substituting and maybe get certified in another area. So, Donna went to visit Rob over the weekend and she received a phone call from the school principal in Midland saying that she had a resignation that morning for the job that Donna is certified in - you know, the one that would not likely ever be an opening. God is so incredible to provide that job for her - it's her passion, her calling. His timing is perfect! Sometimes we think we want to know all of it up front but God just saved His reward for their obedience to step out and trust Him.

Okay - here is what's up with our fam.....Kelsie finished school today until the 26th! We all need the break - she is still doing very well, all A's to this point. Wayne's family is coming here for Thanksgiving Day. We are all getting excited to eat fried turkey! Raider is doing well - he is chewing everything and we have to watch him all the time so he doesn't chew furniture or pee pee on the carpet. He is doing okay in his crate at night and generally sleeps until 6 a.m. Kelsie is in children's choir at church and they are in the middle of preparing "Christmas in Reverse" which will be the first weekend in December. They are working hard and getting excited. Upward basketball also starts after Thanksgiving and Wayne is assistant coaching again and Kelsie is playing - should be lots of fun. Hope all is well with you and Happy Thanksgiving.

Happy Birthday, MaMaw

We went to Waco today to spend some time with MaMaw (Wayne's mom) and take her out to eat for her birthday. We had a good visit and she chose Texas Roadhouse for her meal. It was yummy. Of course, Wayne told the waitress that it was her birthday so they rolled in the saddle for her to sit on while they sang. She didn't dare but she did agree to wave the napkin around like a rope while they sang. Embarrassing but funny - Kelsie kept trying to talk her into leaving before they came to sing but we didn't make it out the door until afterward. We ended up taking Raider with us because we were going to be gone for so long and he is still a baby. He did very well - slept in the car both there and back. Once we got there, he played outside and didn't have any accidents in the house or the car!! We put him in his crate at MaMaw's house while we went to eat and he didn't seem to mind at all. The downside is he slept so much that he is wide awake now and playing at midnight but we are hoping that means he will sleep past 6 a.m. Better go - I'm very tired and we have a big day of washing windows tomorrow.

Welcome, Raider

If you read the previous post, you know that our precious baby Bogey died last week. After several days of Kelsie crying every time she woke up and went to bed and all of us crying every time we entered into an empty house or thought about our routine of playing at night, we decided not to wait too long to buy a new puppy. It's all Kelsie could talk about. So, we welcome Raider - a 9 week old Yorkie, black and gold. He is 3 1/2 pounds and fluffy. He is very playful and is into everything - learning his way around our home. He has his own little personality, no dog will replace our Bogey but spending time with him is keeping our mind off the tragedy. Thankfully, he does sleep until 6 a.m. when he barks to let us know he needs to go out and has only had 2 accidents in the house - very good for a tiny thing his age. We hope to keep it to a minimum so we can have the carpets cleaned before we have a house full at Thanksgiving.

Also, I want to say thank you to so many friends and family who wrote sweet cards, e-mails and notes to us. Kelsie really saw an example of the body of Christ as our encourager and God as our comforter. Thank you. It meant a lot to us to see many of you praying with her at church and giving her messages of comfort and assurance that God is who we lean on in our sadness. She received flowers from friends in Cincinnati and she felt so special and loved.

I'm hoping for pictures soon - I'm sure it will take several posts. Also, on a funny note - if you haven't seen the hilarious clip of our band, go to the Wedgworship Blog and click on the post from Oct. 31st. You will lol!!! Love to you all.

News with no pics

Hey all! I am still a little afraid to load pics on my computer b/c ours still is having problems in spite of loading a spyware blocker program. Chris Quick (our resident computer genius) is going to take a look at it and see what we need to do. In the world of digital pics, we had to back everything up on an external hard drive so we won't lose those if the computer gets wiped out. WHEW!

To catch you up, we had a fun Halloween. Kelsie was a rock star and Wayne and I dressed up as hippies. We went trick or treating with Morgan in her neighborhood and then off to the church's festival. It was fun seeing everyone dressed up. After the church, we headed to Sonic for 39 cent corn dogs. I have some cute pics which I will share at another time.

On a very sad note, November 1st was a tragic day for our family. Our backyard gate was left open and when we let Bogey outside to do his business he got out without us knowing it. He was out for about 10 minutes and we thought that was strange so Wayne went to look outside and discovered the gate open. He then ran to the front to go and look for him and I was prepared with treats to call him knowing he couldn't have gone too far in that time. He was right in front of our house and had been hit by a car. He was alive so Wayne took him straight to the vet hospital where they were able to stabilize him from the seizures he was having and take x-rays. What they found was not good and the prognosis was bad so we had to make the decision to put him down. It was very hard. Thankfully, Kelsie and I had made it to the hospital in time for her and Wayne (I couldn't do it) to go in and see him one last time (they were sweet and cleaned him up and gave him a sedative to sleep first). We all took it really hard b/c he was such a part of our family and our extended family has taken it just as hard as we have. He was such a loving and playful dog, everyone that met him just loved his personality. The good part is that we have such loving friends and have received lots of calls and e-mails and even flowers from Cincinnati to Kelsie that are coming on Tuesday. Kelsie (and the rest of our family) have truly experienced the love that is shown by Christian brothers and sisters. I pray that Kelsie will look back on this sad experience and remember the Body of Christ, good friends and family just loving on us all. Thank you for being so good to us. We love you all! More soon (maybe someday with pics).