Catchin' Up

Here is the quick version of what's been going on:

• We had to send our #1 laptop off to get fixed.
• #2 laptop crashed on Christmas day.
• When we get home, I will not have a computer. :(
• Finished my baking extravaganza without any meltdowns.
• Wonderful Christmas day spent with Richard's family at our house.
• Richard turned the big 4-0.
• Spent some time at my mom's house.
• Saw Blind Side and HIGHLY recommend it!
• Possibly gained 10 pounds over the past two weeks.
• Will start a new eating plan when we get home!
• Rudolph drank out of a bucket of water at our house and turned it bright red. So red, that it looked like Santa gutted him. When Matt saw it, he exclaimed "I knew he was real!!"
• Matt is the KING of Lego's. We spent a total of 5 hours building a police semi Christmas Day. Thanks Uncle Earnie and Aunt Chrissy.
• Matt is also the king of toys. I feel guilty for the amount of toys my child received. Does anyone else feel this way?
• We laid new flooring in the kitchen, dining room, and in Matt's bathroom. It looks fabulous!

That's it for now. I hope you had a blessed Christmas and have a wonderful New Year!

Christmas Baking

Christmas time is here...Happiness and cheer.

Fun for all that children call

Their favorite time of the year.

Snowflakes in the air

Carols everywhere

Olden times and ancient rhymes

Of love and dreams to share

Two of my favorite Christmas traditions are baking and A Charlie Brown Christmas. The above photos are homemade peppermint marshmallows, snow cookies, and reindeer poop. Tonight I spent about 4 hours in the kitchen and baked more snow cookies and reindeer poop, fudge, and Christmas Mice. Tomorrow I will wrap up my baking frenzy with Santa cookies.

(I cannot post any current pictures because my laptop is in the shop.)

My baking frenzy's used to drive Richard crazy but now he has come to accept them. Actually, I think he looks forward to the endless buffet of sweets and spatulas that need to be tasted.

Christmas

Ever since I became a mother, I look at Christmas differently. Don't misunderstand me, I have always celebrated Christ's birth. However, after having a child, it makes me think of things that I had never thought before. I'm not sure if that even makes sense or if this post will make sense at all. I am not a philosopher or theologian at all. Just a mom trying to express some thoughts.

A couple of years ago I participated in a Beth Moore bible study titled Jesus, The One and Only. One of the most vivid discussion memories I have is when we were talking about His birth and what Mary must have been thinking. As a mom have you ever wondered what kind of pregnancy she had? Was it easy or did she have complications? Was her labor hard? Did He arrive on schedule or was he late? This was a group of moms, so you can imagine what the discussion was like.

Then I think about the manger. When I was pregnant a few months ago, I was freaked out about our local hospital and if it was "good enough". Looking back, that is pretty ridiculous considering our Saviour was born in a dirty, stinky, stable amongst the animals. I don't think we can comprehend the conditions Jesus was born in. At least I can't. I have always imagined the quaint little mangers we see on display or the church pageants done with fresh hay and clean animals. In reality, it was nothing like that. It amazes me that God chose that humbling beginning for His son.

This morning I was driving back home, listening to Christmas music, and I started thinking about Mary again. Thinking of her cradling her newborn son and stroking his face, I wondered if she had any idea. Did she realize she what the future held for her son? Did she know that one day, her sweet precious baby boy would be nailed to a cross and crucified for our sins?

So many question race through my mind about that day in the manger.

However, there is one thing that I don't have to question. God's love. I know that God loves us like crazy. His word says that "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." That is amazing love!

Another "Matt"versation

Yesterday afternoon we wrapped up (no pun intended) our Christmas shopping with a stop at Starbucks. Rich and Matt went in to get Dad's cup of coffee and the following took place while they were getting back in the car.



Matt: I wish I was a grown up so I could drink coffee.

ME: Really??

Matt: No, I hate coffee!

*long dramatic pause*

Matt: But I still wish I was a grown up and could drink coffee.

Look Before You Buy

Today I went to Walgreens to purchase some stocking stuffers and candy for Matt's class. While I was shopping, I noticed a sign that said if you spend $25, you will receive $5 Register Reward. I wasn't too concerned about this because I didn't think I was going to spend that much.

Of course, when everything rang up and the coupons were subtracted I spent $24.01. I asked the lady if I could grab one more item, but when I turned around, the line was quite long. Feeling five pairs of eyeballs glaring at me, I frantically scanned the counter shelf for anything of use. Amidst the mini bottles of energy drinks, cigarette lighters, and travel meds, I see a bottle of hand sanitizer. I didn't really need it but it made the most sense. So I grabbed it and finished my transaction.

Once home I was scanning my receipt and noticed the price of the hand sanitizer, $2.99!! That kind of defeated the purpose of trying to save money. You can imagine how thrilled I was to realize that I had spent $3 on a bottle of hand sanitizer that I really did not need. To make matters worse, when I pulled the bottle of sanitizer out of the bag, it was used. About a quarter of the gel was missing! I think it was the desk sanitizer and someone mistakenly placed it on the shelf.

I felt like an absolute genius at that moment.

Not!

I went back to Walgreens and explained my problem. I showed the used bottle of sanitizer and explained why I purchased it. I also told them I really did not need the sanitizer and asked if I could exchange it for something that I really needed. Thankfully, they said yes.

This time I knew exactly what I needed to buy and I made sure it wasn't half empty.

Toilet bowl cleaner!

Who Knew

I am happy to say that I am finally back to feeling like my old self. I almost hate to make that statement because of Murphy's Law, but I am going to chance it. I have been taking vitamins like a mad woman the past couple of weeks and a few days ago I added something extra to the mix, liquid chlorophyll.

Some of you are probably thinking "what is THAT!?" I know I did the first time I read about it. I learned about LC the week after the miscarriage in the comment section of a blog. There was a large group of woman who had experienced the same sudden blood loss that I had and used this product to help increase their blood count. After reading up on it, I finally decided to give it a try. I add one teaspoon of LC to a small glass of ice water and drink it in the morning. This particular brand has a minty taste, I'm not sure all of them do, so it taste like a watered down ice mint tea.

I have been using LC for four days and I already feel much better. I'm not even sure if it is because of this or that my body has finally had time to heal. Whatever the reason, I am thankful that God has answered my prayers and I am feeling better.

Snow Day!!

Can you believe it? It snowed!

I'm so glad it did because Matt's teachers told him that there was a chance of snow. Do you think a four year old understands the word chance? No. In his little mind, chance means yes.

We did have one small problem this morning. Matt thought it was Christmas and did not take it well when I told him otherwise.

This little girl did not like the snow much. She spent her time outside shivering and trying to drag us back into the house.

What a great day! I am so thankful I am home to share these moments with my little man.

A Doggone Thanksgiving

There were three ladies that attended our Thanksgiving holiday and made it very memorable and entertaining.

First, there was our little cutie, Lola. This picture makes me laugh because it reminds me of "Where's Waldo?" She kind of blends right in to the background.

Next, we have everyone's favorite shepherd mutt, Angel. This sweet girl is my mom's dog and she is as country as a country dog gets.

Finally, my in-laws slightly neurotic mutt, Sissy. She spent the majority of her time in my in-law's bus because she would not play nice with the other two dogs. However, in Sissy's defense, she has always been an "only dog".

The girls were so cute when they played in the leaves. Lola was as bad as Matt in the morning; she would wake up super early and cry to go outside. Once out, she would immediately jump on Angel and then they would take off running.