I love Christmas. I love the music, the decorations, the smells, the food, wrapping, and my most favorite is the surprised, thrilled looks on the recipients of mysterious gifts. I cherish the wonderful pictures of a shocked and delighted Princess on many a Christmases.
I love the magic of Santa and how he really knew me when I was a little girl (He must have had an informant). Santa only brought our big gift, never wrapped and always set it up or put it together for special Santa effect. He also filled our stocking with little things and always a family traditional orange.
I love the miracles and special things secret Santas are doing for other families in need. I love the food drives, Toys for Tots, Shop with a Cop, and those Salvation Army bell ringers that are camped out at the entrance of most major chains.
I love the beautiful message of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” (I kind of relate to Imogene), the wonderful fantasy of “The Nutcracker” and the lighthearted comedy “The National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”. I love gingerbread houses, snowmen, lighted court houses, Nativity Scenes, Christmas carols, and fruit cake (my neighbor wins the prize for the best fruit cake in the world!).
I love how Christmas entwines families together from fleeting decades by weaving old traditions with new ones. Reminiscing of Christmases past with Grandparents and sometimes Great Grandparents.
When the Princess was little, I loved that she called it “Chrimas” and each year she wore a big beautiful Christmas dress (sometimes it was hard to get her to not wear it all year long). She has since decided that those billowy dresses should be reserved for Prom and no matter how much I beg she refuses the candy cane tights all together!
I love that she has about a hundred people that she wants to give a gift to. Maybe she gets the same euphoria that I get from watching displays of delight and shock…but my checkbook still doesn’t understand!
When the Princess goes to get a hair cut, she sits in the beautician’s chair and says “Just a couple of inches off, please”, while I’m begging them to take about four off to keep it healthy.
For a while she has been telling me that she wants to cut her hair and have a style. She is required by the dance team to keep it long enough to pull up into a pony tail, so I was reluctant for her to cut it too short.
She asked me to make her an appointment at the
I didn’t go with her. I let her drive there herself and get her hair cut by herself by her friend. I was a chicken! I thought that she would surly cry after it was lopped off. But she LOVES IT! And so do I! And so does her dance coach! Who also told her to make sure that it is long enough to pull into a pony tail by competition next year! So I guess that she is already on the team again next year! Yay!
To my amazement, she was able to donate eight and a half inches to Locks For Love!
Looking back at the last eleven months, I find myself looking forward to 2009. I have been tested, rewarded, and tested again. I can hardly believe that I’m staring at 2009! Where has the time gone?
I’ve learned more about myself this year and hopefully I’ve been there for others during their struggles too. I know that I’m blessed and in everything there is good. Sometimes it’s hard to see at first, but there is always a lesson in it.
Last February I took the princess to the Ophthalmologist to learn if her daily headaches were caused by poor eyesight. The eye doctor insisted that we meet with a Neurologist who prescribed some anti-seizure medicine that made her feel awful. Her blood pressure dropped so low that she couldn’t get out of bed! I was at my wits end! I cried a lot and prayed to figure out where to turn for help. I ended up taking her to my Chiropractor because I know him and trust him. He told me that he couldn’t legally tell me to stop giving her the medicine…twice. Then he adjusted her neck and explained that her heavy school bag was pulling on her neck thus causing the headaches. I threw the meds out and four adjustments later she was headache free!
We had two major spring storms that brought several thousand dollars in damage to our home and car. The hail storm in April was amazing! I’ve never seen baseball size hail before in my life! I happened to be watching the station that I work for on TV that night. The Meteorologist, my friend was on-air giving my little town the ten minute warning to find shelter. I told my husband that I wanted to go to one of the many schools that have storm shelters. As soon as we made our way into the partially filled safe room, the hail hit. The shelter is made out of several layers of steel reinforced concrete walls and ceiling. The siren that was sounding right out the door could not be heard, but the hail hitting into the building was deafening! We waited out the storm for a few hours in the shelter and when we decided that it was safe to go home we waded through knee deep water that was rushing around our car in the parking lot. Our poor car had several hits on the windshield, a through and through hole in the hood, as well as many pock marks. Our house was one of many that needed a new roof, however not near as bad as some had with all of their windows blown out as well as water damage from the rain. The second storm was in June. I happened to be in
In May my stepmom, Kim lost her mother. Myrna was an artist that lived in
My car is fifteen years old and has never had major trouble until this year. But again my hero saved the day and fixed it a few days later. This happened the same day that we were going to
I know that all of these obstacles could have been much worse than they were. I’m blessed with the lessons that came with each situation. For every predicament that we had, we also had joy around each turn. And we had each other. My mom told me once that sometimes the hard times are the best times. I truly believe that.
The whole reason why I hooked up with facebook is because my sister talked me into it so I could see pictures of a boy that my niece was dating. She and my niece were my first friends. Then a few more were added, which led me to my blog friends.
Personal note here: I’m not one who has a lot of friends.
Most of my facebook friends are from the past. A few shared the elementary school experience with me. One even reminded me of my most horrid memory of 5th grade! Man, I’m still trying to live that one down. However, it was something that she remembered of me, even though it wasn’t my most stellar moment.
As I’ve added new friends some have actually became…well, friends with me all over again! It’s led me to my blog friends which I’m really enjoying and another friend that chats with me via text or cell phone (different states), but if I never signed up for facebook I wouldn’t have all of you, my new old friends! And I cherish all of you! You all have made me feel friend worthy!
The motivation for this topic is an article that I read on MSN about people who don’t want to reconnect with people from the past on facebook. When I read it I was sad for them because it’s sometimes hard to make new friends anyway. I can understand the various reasons behind why someone wouldn’t want their past mistakes drudged back up (like mine from 5th grade) if they are remembered at all, or why someone wouldn’t want an enemy to get info to hurt their reputation etc…
But what is the harm with reconnecting to see if you can actually be friends? If not they can be deleted and no harm done…I know that some of my facebook friends might not even notice if I delete them because we haven’t exchanged one comment.
I’m grateful for all of you who I have reconnected with! Thank you for your friendship! Even if it is over the internet and we don’t get to physically hang out. If you ever find yourself in
It’s a Saturday thing at my house. Weekly grocery shopping! Most women don’t have their heroes doing the shopping with them and for myself, I’m truly blessed with a man who shares in the household responsibilities. I personally don’t enjoy to shop, unless it is for craft stuff. Groceries are not my favorite, but my hero makes it entertaining.
Wal-Mart Fun #1: Wal-Mart worker waved to us that her line was open and started walking toward the other side of the store. A lady in a red sweater weaving in and out of various lines saw the wave. She obviously was looking for a “quick for her” check out. In attempt for an interception she started speed walking with her heavily loaded down cart toward our waving checker...and….in hot pursuit my hero started to brisk walk along side her with our packed cart, occasionally looking over at her and back to the isle, again at her, and back to the isle. The faster she went, the faster he went. The race was on, it was neck and neck. She actually started running!! And so did he! It was interesting watching the other shoppers taking in this crazy contest between two people that had never even met. The lane before the waving checker’s lane was empty. My hero stopped there instead and let the lady go. Not dropping the competition, he egged our checker to go faster. He kept calling out to the red sweater lady that our checker was faster. Major attempts to ignore him, but each and every time that her curiosity overtook her, my hero waved, and told the checker to hurry. We were finished first and my hero had to walk by her and tell her that he won. Just saying…
Wal-Mart Fun #2: It never starts in the check out lane, it’s just worse there. He starts up conversation with them…usually the girls. We buy a lot of water, usually the big Sam’s Choice case. Unsuspecting check out girl thanks my hero for not making her pick it up and scan it, but rather keep it on the bottom rack of our cart. My hero asks, “What? Aren’t you strong enough?” Check out girl says, “Well, not that strong!” This is where the true fun gets started. Hero suggests that she is stronger than the man standing behind her in the next to our check out lane. She giggles, but doesn’t answer. He suggests that they compare. She turns beet red while giggling! Hero says, “Excuse me, Sir?” The blush deepens on embarrassed check out girl. “Sir” ignores him or doesn’t hear him, I can’t really tell. Check out girl is trying to find a “happy place”, because hero is loudly asking man behind her to compare muscle tone with her. Each check out girl then turns to me and asks in different ways “Do you bring him out often?” My answer is usually the same, “It’s never boring!” Seldom does the check out girl clue in that the person behind them knows my hero and is playing along with his outrageousness. He says it’s talent. They think he is creepy, I’m sure. I’m there for entertainment. It’s cheap and well, funny!
The princess' High School dance team "The Prancers" made history this weekend! They won the first State Championship for their school ever and the first year that dance is recognized by the Arkansas Athletic Association! It was fun to see the girls proud of themselves! They have such school spirit that when it was announced that they won they all cried and then they sang their school's Alma Matter!
We are “schedule” people. Monday through Friday are work days. Up at seven, leave by eight fifteen, home by five, dinner is usually served around six or six-thirty and we sit as a family. The Princess is in bed by ten. We are in bed by eleven or twelve depending on what I’m doing. There are also the shows on TV each night and are DVR’d so we can forward through the commercials later.
Until the recent addition of Friday night football games, Friday was “dinner out” night and we rotated who chose the restaurant. Saturday is whatever days. So if my friends call and want to go shopping or scrapbooking that day is wide open! Sunday we rotate who cleans what room, and in addition I’m always blessed with laundry…(sarcastic undertone) my favorite!
I used to decorate for fall the first weekend in October, but then I started working full time and I haven’t since. That was three years ago. I miss it because I have such a cute witch, but haven’t put her out to enjoy.
I never put my Christmas tree up until after my birthday, December 3rd and never had the desire to, until this year! I’ve had the itch to put it up NOW! (it’s gotten to me too! EEEK!)
Two days after Halloween I went Christmas (décor) shopping with my friends. One of them already has her TREE up! And her
This is totally out of my routine! My hero has specifically asked me not to put up the tree…but it may stimulate the economy if I do….(grin).
When children are 15 years old, they are still innocent to most adult situations. Of course, they hear stuff at school and use crude language that is used by others in their peer groups, but for the most part they don’t really have all of the information, only bits and pieces of it. So when a racy commercial airs over and over again, the 15 year old is compelled to call their parent at work and ask what it all means… “because I must know now mom!”
To the makers of the KY Pleasure Jelly For Him and For Her Commercial: Please know that 15 year olds watch MTV and whatever other Cable, Dish, Satellite, channel that air your adult oriented commercials! I will forever be horrified with memories of an office filled with smirky, wide eyed people who always have a perked ear for information (I work at a News Station for heaven sake!!) and over heard my end of the conversation explaining to a young teen what they use that for!
Panic! Thoughts of the mandatory sexual harassment training video came flooding into mind and all the raised eyebrows staring at me…can I get into trouble talking with my child on my cell phone at work about this? Hummm… I told her that we could talk about it when I got home. Big sigh when we hung up, but sad that I couldn’t tackle the subject right then.
I’ve always told her that she can ask me anything and get the straight and honest answer. Sometimes I wish that I never said such a thing and sometimes I brace myself and wince, buying time to offer a prayer to get me through this delicate conversation without turning her onto the subject or scaring her for life! It’s a difficult balance!
The King and Queen of Hearts! And in my humble opinion, the best dress couple at the Halloween party on Saturday night!
hers and keeping the peace. 
This last weekend I went to “Tales of the Crypt” located in
I learned that the cemetery was recently placed on the National Historical Registry. It has Confederate soldiers, slaves, criminals, and the town founders buried there. The earliest grave there was one of
Tales from the crypt is the reenactment of six persons who are buried in the cemetery. They dress as the person did when they were living and tell a story about their accomplishments, trials, family, and anything else about their lives. It was fascinating learning about each them. One in particular was a man named Dr. Addison Bourland. He was born in
All of the “actors” stood above the graves and talked about their loved ones and it got me thinking of all the wonderful stories that I have of my own ancestors buried in the cemeteries in
It would be really fun to hear stories of yours and see pictures of them if you have them. Maybe our ancestors were friends or helped each other on their way to
3. My last name:
4. My bad habit: Tardy. I'm terminally late everywhere I go!
5. What I'm doing right now: Relaxing
6. My Grandma's name is Fay and this woman looks like she did when she was younger!
7. My first job: I was the Hardee's Clown! My clown name was Bubbles and my daughter makes fun of me by saying it in a scary voice "Hi kids! I'm Bubbles the clown!"
8. My age: I haven't had my birthday yet this year!
9. I grew up in Cottonwood heights, UT.
10. A past crush: Who didn't like Patrick Swazy?
11. My favorite place to be: Bear Lake!!!!
12. If I went back to school, I'd study to be a Forensic Scientist.
13. A place that I'd like to visit is Ireland:
14. My favorite color is sage green:
15. My favorite food is Guacamole:
We haven’t had a super bad day in a long time, so I guess that yesterday was just our turn.
7:30am: Sister (daughter) decided to tell me that she had yet another (4 in two weeks!) project to do for school. But since we had tickets to the “So You Think You Can Dance” Tour in
Hobby Lobby opens at 9am…it’s about a 20 minute drive…She needs to get a good grade…I’m the mom who comes to the rescue…I’m already late for work…I could just get them and ask my hero to pick them up from my work…she can just work on project in the car on the way to the show….he has a busy work day…I could stop at Sonic on the way…
They were $3.79 for 12 at Hobby Lobby! I got 2 bags just in case!
Back in the car, I figure that I’m late to work anyway! It would make my husband and daughter’s lives easier if I just take them back home for her to do the project when she gets home from school.
Getting on the freeway, Betsy (my car) does a kinda chug chug thing and once I get going it seems alright…
As I exited the interstate I get a phone call from my other Hero at the driver control office who tells me that Sister was approved for her age waiver driver’s license! (YAY!) During which Betsy was acting really strange, chug chug chugging and then my other Hero tells me to have a blessed day…at those very words, Betsy pulled it’s last chug and completely died on the side of the road! Blessed huh? Ok.
I called my real hero to rescue the rescuer of science project paraphernalia who is extremely later for work that originally planned. An hour and a tow later, my hero promises to pick up Sister at 3pm from school so she has a least an hour to do the project. Betsy will be dealt with over the weekend.
At work, Sister (daughter) sent a text that she gets out of school at 2:00! Pros say she has an extra hour to work on project and cons tell me my real hero might have a problem getting her an hour earlier than planned. Hero picks her up after learning that the real time changed to 2:30pm…
4:30pm: project done and we depart for the show in
11:30pm: On the interstate in
12:30am: RainX and Wal Mart are our friends! Hey, there is a Hilton across the parking lot! Hero said let’s see how the RainX does.
RainX on the windshield and 7 miles from Wal Mart it stops raining! Onward with the 2 ½ hour drive home!
2:30am: Home again, home again jiggity jig!
It really was a blessed day!
Saturday was what we used to call “Regional” Dance Competition. At the end of last year The Arkansas Athletic Association decided to recognize dancers and cheerleaders as athletes. Many rule changes have taken place, for example: “Regional” Competition is now called “Invitational” Competition.
22 dance teams squared off on Saturday at K’s high school. It was really exciting that it was in our hometown because the last two years we’ve had to travel to both Regional and State. It was more work but well worth the savings in gas, food and hotel!
The Prancers won first place for their Jazz, Hip Hop, and Pom dances, and second place for their Kick dance! And the Blazerettes’ (K’s junior high school team) won first place for their Jazz, Kick and Pom dances too! It was a really entertaining day. All three of us were exhausted from all the hard work that we put in that day!
Congratulations Ladies!
I read an article about a woman who let her nine year old son navigate the
The article goes onto telling how after she was on all kinds of talk shows and radio programs, people inundated her with letters about how they don’t allow their kids to play in their own driveway, or walk to their friends house without calling home with news that they arrived there safely. Her answer to this was and I quote “Playing has morphed into an act of daring, like shark hunting in a hamburger suit.”
Ok, I agree that kids need to be able to play outside, but how is allowing a nine year old unattended on the subway an act of play?
Programs like Oprah shows about human trafficking, and the many amber alerts over the internet has made me into a paranoid parent. I have no plans of taking a cruise because someone may take my daughter off the boat and force her to be a sex slave (Thanks Oprah!)! I do let my daughter go to her friend’s house but usually we drive because they don’t live within walking distance. I have allowed my daughter to walk alone to school for the last three years because it is down the street. No other kids do you see walking to school or playing in our neighborhood.
Here are the stats listed in the article: “Crime against children is down to levels that we haven’t seen since the ‘70s” - Is that maybe because the kids are less accessible? “The typical child abuse case involves an acquaintance of the child” - Again is that maybe because the kids are less accessible except for perverts who know people with kids?
What “play” do you allow your kids to participate in alone? And what do you find to be a bit over the top?
