WOW!!! December 22! Where has the year gone! We have had a great year, with some bumps in the road but still great all the same. God has blessed us again, way beyond what we could ever deserve.
God is good, all the time! All the time, God is good!
I don't think I have bought a single present for anyone other than Mattie May, so I still have lots of shopping to do. This has just been one of those years when I couldn't get it all together. I have reminded myself several times that if it doesn't get done, that it is OK. Getting it done is not what the holiday is all about. We did finally get the Christmas tree decorated. You can check out this post to see some of the ornaments that adorn our tree and if you want the story of my favorite ornament, check out this post.
We also have been busy getting our Christmas cards out. Oh the fun we had doing this one. We have friends that start asking about our cards as early as September! I never dreamed when I sent out that first card in 2006 that they would be such a hit with family and friends, but we are so happy they are. One of our very sweet friends (the wife of one of Frank's co-workers) has made a frame that she puts out each year with all of the pictures in it! If you want to see the previous years cards, start with this post, then look here to see last years card. I have been running late this year getting them out and actually ran out of pictures. I have ordered some more, so those of you that are new to my list, please be patient. You will get one but it may be a day or two after Christmas day!
I'm sorry, but no sneak preview this year! I will tell you, Mattie May has really taken interest in decision making process and this year she chose to go back to the "Reason for the Season"! She is just such a light in our lives: she can make the gloomiest day bright!
Hopefully I will get it all together and have a new post tomorrow! Until next time - God Bless you all!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Friday, December 18, 2009
My Scraggly Little Angel
Earlier this week, I posted this about my favorite ornaments. I also said that if anyone wanted the entire story of this scraggly little angel...
and why she was my favorite, that I would tell you. WOW! Who knew so many would be interested (thanks Julie!)! So for all of you (Julie), here is the story.
Katie was in the third or second grade (I forgot to add the date to the ornament) and her elementary school was having an ornament contest. There were no divisions or categories, just make an ornament, register it with the secretary, the teachers would judge and award a 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize. That simple. A homemade ornament and try to win a prize out of say, 250 students! No big deal, right?
Katie had never really been interested in crafts, but she wanted to make something to enter. I asked someone for suggestions and they gave me this bread dough recipe that would be easy for her to do. I ran it past her and she thought that would be great. How else could she get away with making a mess in the kitchen and get to use paints at the same time? So she went to work.
Now a lot of you may not know, Katie has a really difficult time finishing things, especially if it had anything to do with school. Luckily, this project went pretty fast. I put all the ingredients in the bowl but she had to do the rest until it was time for the oven, and then of course it is safety first. While she kept squishing the mixture between her fingers, I found everything in the kitchen I thought she could use to make her ornament; rolling pin, cookie cutters, garlic press, anything. Once the dough was all mixed she really went to work, rolling cutting shaping; she did it all by herself. Once she said she was done, I put it in the oven to bake.
It didn't take long for it to get hard and ready to come out of the oven, and once it was out she could hardly wait for it to cool before she started painting. Again, I found anything around she could use to paint; brushes, toothpicks, combs, I wanted her imagination to take off. It didn't take her long to get finished, remember she has a very short attention span. Once the ornament was finished, I sprayed it with a glitter sealer and she hung it on our tree until the day she was supposed to turn it in.
My grandmother usually took her to school, but that morning I had made arrangements to be a little late to work so I could help her with her entry, and I am so glad that I did. I went in the school with her to help her get her little angel registered. When we walked in the front door, she stopped dead in her tracks. There were so many ornaments on that tree in the front foyer. She looked up at me with big crocodile tears and said "Momma, they are all so pretty. Take mine home because it is so ugly." My heart sank. Yes, there were a lot of ornaments on that tree. Not only was the tree almost full, but ALL of the ornaments looked like they had either been made by the parent or that the parent had paid a professional to make them. What could I do?
I leaned down to my baby and said "Honey, you have worked so hard on this and you did it all by yourself. I want everyone to see what a beautiful angel you have made me to put on our tree at home. Let's get it on this tree until I can come back to pick it up." She agreed and we got it registered and hung on the school tree.
The teachers did their judging and the prizes would be given out the Friday of the Christmas parties. It was a long wait that week for the results. But it ended up to be well worth the wait. Katie not only one 1st place, they gave her a special best of show prize. I couldn't believe it! That little scraggly bread dough angel won!
That afternoon at the party, the principle pulled me aside and thanked me for not making that ornament myself! "Parents want so badly for their children to do well, that they end up taking over. We could tell that Katie worked very hard on that angel ALL BY HERSELF! Yes she did.
So in the end, we learned a very valuable lesson about following the rules, honesty, and doing your best no matter what. Beauty really is in the eye of the beholder!
and why she was my favorite, that I would tell you. WOW! Who knew so many would be interested (thanks Julie!)! So for all of you (Julie), here is the story.Katie was in the third or second grade (I forgot to add the date to the ornament) and her elementary school was having an ornament contest. There were no divisions or categories, just make an ornament, register it with the secretary, the teachers would judge and award a 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize. That simple. A homemade ornament and try to win a prize out of say, 250 students! No big deal, right?
Katie had never really been interested in crafts, but she wanted to make something to enter. I asked someone for suggestions and they gave me this bread dough recipe that would be easy for her to do. I ran it past her and she thought that would be great. How else could she get away with making a mess in the kitchen and get to use paints at the same time? So she went to work.
Now a lot of you may not know, Katie has a really difficult time finishing things, especially if it had anything to do with school. Luckily, this project went pretty fast. I put all the ingredients in the bowl but she had to do the rest until it was time for the oven, and then of course it is safety first. While she kept squishing the mixture between her fingers, I found everything in the kitchen I thought she could use to make her ornament; rolling pin, cookie cutters, garlic press, anything. Once the dough was all mixed she really went to work, rolling cutting shaping; she did it all by herself. Once she said she was done, I put it in the oven to bake.
It didn't take long for it to get hard and ready to come out of the oven, and once it was out she could hardly wait for it to cool before she started painting. Again, I found anything around she could use to paint; brushes, toothpicks, combs, I wanted her imagination to take off. It didn't take her long to get finished, remember she has a very short attention span. Once the ornament was finished, I sprayed it with a glitter sealer and she hung it on our tree until the day she was supposed to turn it in.
My grandmother usually took her to school, but that morning I had made arrangements to be a little late to work so I could help her with her entry, and I am so glad that I did. I went in the school with her to help her get her little angel registered. When we walked in the front door, she stopped dead in her tracks. There were so many ornaments on that tree in the front foyer. She looked up at me with big crocodile tears and said "Momma, they are all so pretty. Take mine home because it is so ugly." My heart sank. Yes, there were a lot of ornaments on that tree. Not only was the tree almost full, but ALL of the ornaments looked like they had either been made by the parent or that the parent had paid a professional to make them. What could I do?
I leaned down to my baby and said "Honey, you have worked so hard on this and you did it all by yourself. I want everyone to see what a beautiful angel you have made me to put on our tree at home. Let's get it on this tree until I can come back to pick it up." She agreed and we got it registered and hung on the school tree.
The teachers did their judging and the prizes would be given out the Friday of the Christmas parties. It was a long wait that week for the results. But it ended up to be well worth the wait. Katie not only one 1st place, they gave her a special best of show prize. I couldn't believe it! That little scraggly bread dough angel won!
That afternoon at the party, the principle pulled me aside and thanked me for not making that ornament myself! "Parents want so badly for their children to do well, that they end up taking over. We could tell that Katie worked very hard on that angel ALL BY HERSELF! Yes she did.
So in the end, we learned a very valuable lesson about following the rules, honesty, and doing your best no matter what. Beauty really is in the eye of the beholder!
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Ornaments
I have seen several of my bloggy buddies showing pictures of their homes all decorated for Christmas and some of their favorite items. Well since I don't decorate my entire house, I decided to show you some of our ornaments.
And now the birth of our grandchild.
There are ornaments that tell us of homes we have visited,
and where our home and heart are.
and loves to fish,
and that most of the time we fish together.
We have reminders of crafts made when Katie was a child and starting to learn crafts,
and that Mattie May is following in that tradition.
Katie has a pretty extensive collection of memories of her favorite movie,
and reminders that Mattie May is beginning to form her own opinions on movies.
There are Santas of all sizes
and shapes.
and one on top to make it complete.
If you look deep into the branches, you'll find one that reminds us of the blood He shed on a different type of tree.
But of all the ornaments, no matter how big or small, shiny of dull, this angel is my favorite. It reminds me of a time I had to push my daughter to do something out of her comfort zone and how we all learned a valuable lesson in honesty and character.
So that is our tree.
If enough of you ask, I will tell you the story of the scraggly little angel you see above. I promise, it is a lesson everyone can learn from!
Merry Christmas!
We have ornaments that commemorate our child's birth,
And now the birth of our grandchild.
There are ornaments that tell us of homes we have visited,
and when we purchased our new home,
and where our home and heart are.
You will find ornaments that let you know someone likes to hunt,
and loves to fish,
and that most of the time we fish together.
We have reminders of crafts made when Katie was a child and starting to learn crafts,
and that Mattie May is following in that tradition.
Katie has a pretty extensive collection of memories of her favorite movie,
and reminders that Mattie May is beginning to form her own opinions on movies.
There are Santas of all sizes
and shapes.
And of course it wouldn't be Christmas without angels on the tree
and one on top to make it complete.
If you look deep into the branches, you'll find one that reminds us of the blood He shed on a different type of tree.
But of all the ornaments, no matter how big or small, shiny of dull, this angel is my favorite. It reminds me of a time I had to push my daughter to do something out of her comfort zone and how we all learned a valuable lesson in honesty and character.
So that is our tree.
If enough of you ask, I will tell you the story of the scraggly little angel you see above. I promise, it is a lesson everyone can learn from!
Merry Christmas!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Mattie May's Merry Musings - Christmas Tree
Yesterday, my dear sweet husband finished all the outside Christmas decor and moved inside setting up the Christmas tree. He got all the timers set up and everything looks great other than the fact that it is now my turn to get all the ornaments on the tree and finish with the decorating.
About the time he was finishing setting up the timer on the tree, Mattie May walked in.
"Oh Grumpy! It is so pretty! But where all the presents?"
"Santa will bring them when your asleep on Christmas eve."
"Oh yeah. I forgot." and she walks out of the room.
Such a silly willy! But ya' gotta love her!
About the time he was finishing setting up the timer on the tree, Mattie May walked in.
"Oh Grumpy! It is so pretty! But where all the presents?"
"Santa will bring them when your asleep on Christmas eve."
"Oh yeah. I forgot." and she walks out of the room.
Such a silly willy! But ya' gotta love her!
Monday, November 16, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Vicki is Having a Give Away!
Click here to visit Vicki Courtney and check out the book she is giving away! It sounds perfect for my Mattie May!
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Mattie May's Merry Musings - Halloween Addition
After we went to visit Granny, so she could see Mattie May in her costume, we headed over to trunk or treat. It was a lot of fun and met up with some friends of ours. Then we went home so she could go visit our neighbors then we handed out candy. I think she enjoyed that more than she did actually going herself.
She kept us laughing all night long. She wanted to play a game (Candy Land - how appropriate for Halloween!) while we waited for trick or treaters to come to our house. Frank sat in the front room watching the UT game so we went to the back to play! Every time he would tell her someone was coming, she would grab her tiara and run down the hall shouting "Customers, customers, we have customers!", all the while trying to get her tiara on while she ran!
One time, Frank called to her that some were coming and she got to the door before they actually got in our driveway. She leaned her head on the glass door and started saying "Waiting, waiting, waiting." Then when she could finally see them, she shouted "There they are" like they were long lost friends or something, those blue eyes just gleaming.
After we finished our game, she wanted to go set on the front porch to wait for "customers" to come. It was a nice night so we didn't have a problem with that. When the kids would come up, every time she put the candy in their bags she would say "I present you, and I present you..." This went one for several "customers" and Frank and I just couldn't help but laugh along with the other parents. Maybe because she was a princess, but I really don't know where she came up with that.
During half time, Frank came out to join us and she decided they were going to play football. Frank told her we didn't have a football to play with and her reaction? "Yes we do Grumpy!" as she threw the imaginary ball to him! They played for about fifteen minutes before the alligator in the neighbors shrubs ate the ball. Then she was back on the front porch with me.
But Frank and I agree that the funniest thing all night was a visitor we had show up. A black cat! We have cats come up all the time, but this was the first time for this one. We don't like them hanging out on our porch and making it home, so Frank would come out and shoo him away every time he walked up behind us. Well this just cracked Mattie May up so she started watching for this cat. When she would see him, she would motion to Frank through the glass that he was there and Frank would come out and shoo him again. Well of course the poor cat would run out of there like cats do and for some reason this would have Mattie May laughing. She would actually lay on the porch holding her stomach laughing until tears ran down her cheeks!
During half time, Frank came out to join us and she decided they were going to play football. Frank told her we didn't have a football to play with and her reaction? "Yes we do Grumpy!" as she threw the imaginary ball to him! They played for about fifteen minutes before the alligator in the neighbors shrubs ate the ball. Then she was back on the front porch with me.
But Frank and I agree that the funniest thing all night was a visitor we had show up. A black cat! We have cats come up all the time, but this was the first time for this one. We don't like them hanging out on our porch and making it home, so Frank would come out and shoo him away every time he walked up behind us. Well this just cracked Mattie May up so she started watching for this cat. When she would see him, she would motion to Frank through the glass that he was there and Frank would come out and shoo him again. Well of course the poor cat would run out of there like cats do and for some reason this would have Mattie May laughing. She would actually lay on the porch holding her stomach laughing until tears ran down her cheeks!
October was a fast month and we had lots of fun things to do. I made a short scrapbook of our month. Hope you enjoy it!
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