The Last Day of 2009

This year has been another great year full of God's provision and blessings.

• We survived Winter Ice Storm 2009 with very little problems. We had 2 days without power, which was nothing in comparison to many people that had to wait weeks.
• We sold our house in Murray! Finally!!!!!
• We bought bikes and have enjoyed doing that as a family
  
• Hannah had to have her tonsils/adenoids removed.
  
• Micah was in "Annie Jr." His very first production of this caliber.
  
• We had a very good and relaxing (and inexpensive) "stay-cation" when Jamie took off from work
• Abbi started soccer and fell in love with the sport (and so did we).
• They each started another year of school in Owensboro in the 1st, 2nd, and 4th grades.
  
• I started teaching the youth girls. What a great group we have!
• We moved into our new sanctuary, which is beautiful.
  
• Chloe and I are enjoying weekly "playdates" from some good friends.
• Micah was in 2 other productions and Hannah started practice in Upward Cheer.
• Jamie and I have enjoyed our first full year at the new church. We are excited about opportunities that God has in store for our future.
  
• This is the first year in our married lives that we've set our minds to become debt free and God has really blessed this. We paid Jamie's car off early and in January we will eliminate 2 more payments from our debt list!
  
• We got to go out on a date without kids (or anybody else).....once.
  
• I attended youth camp for the first time
• I love my family more every day!
  

I could go on and on I suppose. 2009 was a good year. Not majorly eventful, but that is OK too. The kids have found some things that they enjoy. We have settled in a little more in our new surroundings. I can actually get around town fairly well now, we've made some good friends, Jamie is still enjoying his job, and I'm still enjoying being a stay at home mom.

So, tonight we will ring in 2010 (probably a few hours early) with the kids by drinking some "sparkly juice" (as Chloe likes to say it).

Christmas 2009 Was a Blast!

We started out the night before Christmas Eve watching "The Nativity Story". We finally just bought the movie, because we want to watch it every year and love it so much. We were able to use this as an opportunity for our kids to learn a bit more about the birth of Christ. I got a giggle when I found out that Micah didn't realize that Mary had to actually be pregnant with Jesus. How did he miss this part of the story for 10 years? He was just remembering the scripture that said that Jesus would be lying in a manger, and thought that Mary and Joseph had to go find him like everybody else.

On Christmas Eve we went to the movies and watched "The Princess and the Frog". It has been about 2 years since we had been to a movie. Well, I went once with some friends more than a year ago, but Jamie or the kids have not been since "Horton Hears a Who". Chloe just kept saying, "This is the biggest TV I've ever seen!" It was so cute and we all really enjoyed the movie. It was one of the best Disney films I've seen in a long while.

Then it was Christmas Eve service at church, which was very nice. Of course, Chloe had to get up in the middle of service for the bathroom. When we came back into the sanctuary she took off like a bullet down the wrong aisle and I had to chase her down. I could feel every eye boring into the back of my head!

We came home and enjoyed some fondue! We dipped all kinds of things in a cheesy fondue, then had chocolate fondue for dessert. I think that chocolate dipped strawberries were the favorite!

We snuggled up with the movie and we had Norad tracking Santa up on the computer. It was so funny. The kids would turn around every few minutes to make sure Santa was not in the United States yet. He was in South America when they went to bed, so all was well.

Christmas morning was great as usual. Nothing like having kids on Christmas morning with messy hair, paper flying, and squeals of excitement. Every year, Jamie and I almost forget that we have a present to open, because we get so wrapped up into watching and playing with the kids.

That afternoon, we took off to Murray and did Christmas with extended families and got back home Saturday evening. The kids slept all the way home, but Jamie and I were exhausted!!!

Yesterday, my wonderful husband took down all our Christmas decorations while I cleaned the house. I couldn't take one more minute of the craziness!

So, this week we are enjoying being off. Jamie has to work a few days, but has a long weekend, which is nice.


I tried to capture the kids opening their favorite presents:

This is Chloe and her Furreal Cat:

Micah and his Air Hog Helicopter (that thing is pretty cool). We thought it was broke the first day he had it, but turns out Jamie found the problem and was able to fix it.



Abbi and her puppet named Harry. She is a hoot with Harry and he is going to grow to her hand I'm afraid:

Hannah opening her piggy bank. Yep, a piggy bank was her favorite present and what she wanted the most. Not just any piggy bank, but one that she can paint and decorate. Can you believe that the paints that she got were dried out upon opening. Off to the store this afternoon to get some more!

Now I can Focus on Christmas

It is a good thing that I'm finished shopping, because the past few weeks have been incredibly busy. We've not been home in the evening all together for more than 2 weeks now. It is nuts! But, now I feel like I can sit back and enjoy this Christmas week. The kids are out of school, Jamie only works 2 days, and although we have a few things planned for the week, we aren't all that "scheduled" either. It will be a nice breather for us all.

Micah's play has come and gone. It was a good play. Jamie and I each saw it 3 times. Each time I noticed little things that I hadn't noticed the time before. It was an excellent production and the kids have worked very hard that were in it. I heard them say that it was the biggest cast they had ever worked with (50 kids) and the most music that they have ever had in a production that was not a musical. Micah really enjoyed himself and even though he was happy to have his evenings back, he is always a little sad for it to be over too. He always makes us so proud! My budding little actor!

It is nice to not have to set the alarm for 6am for a couple of weeks, wonderful that Christmas is this week (I still can't believe it is THIS week though). Nice to have some family time too.




Here is Micah with his Drama Club for fall 2009. It will crank up again in January with a whole new group of kids.

First Lord Micah at the 2009 Renaissance Fair

Last night I attended the annual Highland Renaissance fair. It was an amazing program and you almost forgot that the whole thing wasn't "professional" as you watched. There were amazing costumes, props and the kids displayed their talents from singing, bells, harps, recorders, gymnastics, and much much more. The tables were served with some cookies, pudding, and Wassel while we watched.

And, I know that many schools do Christmas programs that include an array of kids dressed as snowflakes, elves, and presents. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that (my kids have been involved with many) however, I almost forgot that I was sitting in a public school during this program. They sang and played songs that celebrated Jesus. They even mentioned that one song was to "honor our Lord Jesus Christ". I was amazed! Not to mention that this program has a lot of historical elements to it as well.

Micah did wonderful! He had a lot of difficult lines to memorize and he never slipped. He was very articulate and expressive when he spoke. Not to brag (Ok, maybe just a little) he got a ton of compliments after the show. There was actually one couple sitting at another table beside me and I heard them saying, "that little boy is so good" and they had no idea who I was. Yes, I was a proud Mama and I'll admit that I'm amazed at the talents he has been given. He didn't get that from me, I tell ya.

So, Prince Micah has come and gone. It was his biggest role yet and I think it is just a spark of many to come if he sticks with this.

Here is the royal court as they arrived at the banquet:

The royal table:

Lord Micah speaking to the crowd:

Leaving the royal banquet after the entertainment and festivities (notice the little blonde he is holding hands with. This is the young lady that has given him his first "real" crush. So cute! I think he will miss holding hands with her. LOL!):

Directing the crowd to go to the "marketplace". He was not shy doing this either. He was very much still in "character".

Tonight I have a ticket to the 5th grade performance to watch him sing in the choir so I get to watch it all over again with different performers.

Raccoon Preview

Micah has been in dress rehearsals all weekend. This is a picture of him in the finished costume. I don't understand the colors the director chose for him to wear, but who are we to question? All I have to say is that I think this woman is a city girl, because there is no way that she has ever seen a real raccoon! But, nevertheless, he is a real cutie in his costume.

Today is the day we get to see him be "Lord Micah" in the school play. Jamie is going at noon and I'm going tonight. I'm looking forward to him shining up there on that stage! I know that I'll have to embarrassingly fight back the tears! I just bubble over with pride when my kids do something fabulous. This is the biggest role he has had so far too.

Divide and Conquer

So, the next 9 days will be jam packed! Tonight I have Girl's Bible Study (youth), but this is the last night for the next week and a half that my kids don't have anything penciled on the calendar. It is going to get crazy around here (as if it wasn't already!).

• Saturday--The girls and I heading towards Murray at 6:30am for MSU graduation . Micah has dress rehearsal for Narnia from 2-5 and Jamie has to be at the church around 2:00 for a children's event.

• Sunday--Besides the normal church stuff, Micah has another 3 hours of dress rehearsal. Oh goodness, it just occurred to me that he will have raccoon paint on his face for church that night. Gotta figure that one out.
• Monday--At noon and 6:00 Micah will become "Lord Micah" and has a leading part in his school play. Very proud of him! Jamie is going to one and I'm going to the other. Jamie and the girls are headed to the Deacon's Christmas party that evening as well.
• Tuesday--At noon and 6:00 Micah will be singing in the Highland choir as part of the 5th grade program. He will be missing his Narnia dress rehearsal as a result.
• Wednesday--They have a Christmas program at church in which we have to be there early for and they are also having a party after..
• Thursday--Parties at school, full on dress rehearsal that night (the parents can come and take pictures), and Hannah has cheer practice at the same time.
  
• Friday--Opening night of Narnia (Family coming in from Murray)
  
• Saturday--Drama Club party that morning where Micah is in a skit, then 2 Narnia performances (some more family coming in from Murray)
  
• Sunday--Church, Narnia, Church

Whew! It makes me tired just thinking about it. Jamie and I will indeed have to divide and conquer to get this all accomplished since there are several instances of having to be 2 places at once. I swear, I needed more on my plate right here at Christmas!

Very Kissable!

I have a tube of clear lip gloss that my girls like to apply when they see me putting on my make-up. Chloe loves to sit in the bathroom with me when I'm getting ready. Of course she asks a million questions about every little thing I'm doing too. I have a variety of shades of gloss and lipstick, but I only let my girls put on the clear. They know this and it has been the rule forever.

The other day, Chloe asked me if she could put on some lip gloss. I told that it was fine, but to be sure and use "hers". I was in the other room and when she came around the corner, she looked like this:


I'm not sure if she thought I wouldn't notice, if she could just slip by me, or if I wouldn't care. Neither of those were correct and I promptly washed her face!

Problem Solved!

The Upward Director just called me and she was a very sweet lady. They are switching her so that she won't even miss a practice. Her first practice is tonight. She will be so excited!

Your Witness Follows you Everywhere

As Christians, we need to be fully aware that we are always witnessing whether or not we are trying to. We are witnessing through our words, actions, patience, care, reactions, and much much more. People should be able to see Jesus through us in every situation and circumstance.

There have been many people in life that I have known automatically that they were Christian just by the way they acted. I hope that people see that in me, but I'm sure I come short many times. I tend to be very passionate about certain things in life. If I you hit my hot button in the opposite direction, you might see some of that passion, and I fully admit that. God has really held my tongue in the past few years though. I'm not saying that I never fail. I do, but the past few years, God has really taken those snappy comebacks away from my lips. Usually I end up just removing myself from the situation and going to pray. It works much better in the end.

Hannah has signed up for Upward Cheer. I had never received the phone call from the coach about practices, so I called the church and tracked her down. To make a very long story short, she was rude and snotty about had many excuses for not contacting me (which was her responsibility in the first place). She really did not say one kind word to me in the 3 minute conversation and was defensive from the beginning of the phone call. I was appalled quite frankly. This is a Christian organization and yes, I expect to be treated as such.

So, I hung up the phone, vented to Jamie a bit, and called the church. I'm now awaiting a phone call from the director of the Upward program, because I put in a request to change squads. This is not like me in the least. In life, sometimes we are dealt people that are harder to work with and I think sometimes that means sucking it up and dealing with it and making the best of the situation. Life is not all peachy and happy.

However, this is a Church program and I refuse to be treated like I don't matter. I do not expect people to be perfect. Nobody is, but I do expect a mutual respect. So, I hope that we can get switched. After all, she has already missed her first practice either way, so what difference would it make?

So, I've been pondering about my feelings and the conversation that the coach and I had. I don't feel that I said anything wrong (but I'm sure she may have taken my words in a different one than they were meant). I told her that I was never contacted (nicely) and she flew off the handle and gave me one of those "Sorry MAAM!" when it sounds like a dirty word to be called "Maam". You know what I mean? We've all been on the other end of that from one time or another where the words don't really match up with the tone or attitude combined with it.

I was thinking about why it bothered me so much. Well, because I expected for the coaches and volunteers in this program to reflect Jesus. Maybe she was having a bad day and I was just one more thing on her "to do list". Maybe she took my phone call in a different manner than it was intended (I just wanted the information). Maybe she didn't mean to be so curt and have a tone of distaste in her words. Maybe the list could go on and on and quite frankly, I'm probably not her favorite person right now either.

It just got me thinking about how we are always witnessing. Whether or not we meaning to. It doesn't really matter and that is not what God says. We are suppose to be different. Jesus is inside of us, and our actions, and attitude and words should reflect HIM. It has nothing to do with us.

So, while I await this phone call, I hope that no matter what my witness stands true to who I am.

In Honor of the Shopping Season

Happy Christmas shopping!