New Camera and Activator!

NO, I do not have a new camera!  If I did there would be no need to blog it because you could hear me shouting for joy all over the world!!!  However, Elleigh’s best friend Sarah who does photography does have a new camera.  Elleigh went to FW this past week and they are currently celebrating the new year at the beach so before they left for the beach Sarah tried out her new camera with Ell as her model! 

These are a few of my favorite shots

Ell has always loved being behind the camera!  This may be one of my all time favorite pics of her!

I know she is mine but she sure is pretty!  She was blessed with some great hair too!

Her physical attributes aren’t the part we are most proud of though! 

She applied and we found out just before Christmas was accepted to be an Acteen Activator.  This is a program through WMU.  She will begin training soon for a mission trip in the states this summer where she will spend time working with a North American Missionary for a week.  Then next summer she will go on an international trip for 2 weeks and will work with an IMB Missionary.  She has to have a sponsor to go with her so Melbie is going as her sponsor.  They are both excited!  Hopefully soon we will know the dates they will be going and their location assignment.  We are excited for her to have this wonderful opportunity!

The Rest of Christmas 2011

Picking up from my previous post…

This year we had a Christmas Eve Service at church.  It went really well and we had a great turnout.  From the past in other churches it was always one of my favorites.  It is nice to get to that point and just stop and prepare for the next day and the real meaning of Christmas. 

A and I before the serviceLizz and Mill waiting with Daddy for the service to beginAnd Sall had to have her pic made with Daddy!THIS is what happens when a 4 or 5 yr old gets your camera (during service) and you do not realize they have it.  Just found out as I was looking through the pics!And another…AND Another…  Guess I was really paying attention!We came home and ate dinner and then got ready for bed.  I LOVE THIS PICTURE SO MUCH!!!My always favorite Christmas shot!  A reading the Christmas Story to the girls as they prepare for bed.I actually had to wake the girls!  They all slept in Elleigh and Sallie’s room.  Is this not precious?  Look at Millie’s hand on Lizzie’s leg!  All up!  Can you tell Ell is excited?!  YES, I will pay for this pic!

It doesn’t happen very often that Christmas falls on Sunday like this yr.  I kept thinking about how rushed our morning was going to be but it really was not bad at all.  The girls ready for church!Our family after church.  I could not think of a better way to spend the day we celebrate our Savior’s birth than in His house with our church family.  It was really wonderful!  We were very pleased with our crowd Christmas morning as well.  Always thankful for our Melbie!Back home to play some more!  (Pretend as if you never saw all this stuff on our living room floor!)  We did not make them clean at all Christmas Day!

So, that ends our Christmas festivities.  We did go yesterday to see Alvin and the Chipmunks and went to a few stores.  Everywhere was really crowded.  Today was back to reality.  A went back to work and it was just a normal day here. 

This Christmas was very different for our family for several reasons.

First we attempted to change our focus.  Yes, we have always told our girls about the real meaning of Christmas and reminded them of that, and we always read the Christmas story to them, etc.  but over the past couple of months we have both really been convicted about instilling this is them and showing them the importance of this day and not confusing them.  So, we really played down everything else and tried to focus. 

For the past couple of yrs we have not been “home” on Christmas Day but we travelled the day after Christmas.  This yr because of various reasons we were unable to go home at all.  How did I do?  I had/have my moments.  Sunday nt was the hardest for me.  All the excitement was over and I wanted to be with our families.  I admit, I said “this is not fair and that is not fair”.  I tried to go to sleep and I just couldn’t and I prayed for the Lord to take that bitterness toward my situation and the circumstances away.  Within minutes I was asleep.  Will I allow those feelings to come back?  I am sure but I am thankful they are gone for now.  A deals with this so much better than me.  Of course he misses our families but it is just not the same for him BUT he hurts for me and for the girls when they are longing for family.  I think sometimes it may be perceived as he could care less and I just do whatever he wants and although I do whatever he wants there is SO MUCH more to it than that.  He is so attentive to me when I am homesick and he feels absolutely helpless.  I really can’t stand to see him so helpless.  I do not like to see him long for things he can’t give us.  Not things like material things (although I see those desires too) but things as in being closer to our families.  However, as much as it hurts him to see us long for those things he never waivers because he knows he is where God would have him to be for now and that I respect and value more than anything he could ever give us, as hard as it may be sometimes…

Christmas Week in Review

Our Christmas Week was full of lots of different things and some unexpected.  I had intended to finish up my shopping on Monday and then get everything in order for the weekend.  Well, as often happens my plans do not prevail! 

Monday:  Sallie was sick-terrible cough, fever, just overall feeling yuck.  Home from school

Tuesday:  Sallie seemed a little better but still not great.  Still home from school

Lizzie lost her first tooth!  I tried to take a picture but unfortunately she inherited my overbite and the lost tooth is on the bottom so I couldn’t get a pic that really shows it.

Wednesday:  Sallie was worse.  Still home from school.  We took her to the Dr and she had something viral (like the flu but not the flu) and had developed bronchitis.  One word-STEROIDS!  Steroids and Sall do not mix!  WOW!

A’s Birthday!  Bless his heart he didn’t get much of a celebration…  However, his mom and dad got him a Kindle which he wanted A LOT so he was happy! 

Thursday:  Sallie was  better but she missed her last day of school before Christmas break. 

Lizzie had her class Christmas Party!

We were thrilled that she and Ell were FINALLY out for Christmas break!

A and I were FINALLY able to finish up some shopping and buy groceries that night.

 

Lizzie’s teacher reading a book to the class while we set up for the partyI thought these water bottles that one of the moms did for the party were so cute!  They had paper mustaches attached and a flavor pack so the kids could make their own and they were all green or red.Hard to believe she is nearly half way through Kindergarten…Millie was excited to have her sister’s home!Friday:  We spent much of the day cooking. We mostly did finger foods to have for the next few days. 

Sallie was much better but did I mention she was on STEROIDS???  Terrible pic but she did a lot of this (along with anger outbursts!)

Christmas Eve morning we went to Hanna’s so that she and Sallie could exchange Christmas gifts since they had not seen each other all week.  I can not say enough how thankful we are for sweet Hanna!  I called her mom and told her we would be there in about 25 min. and her mom said she set a timer to countdown.  Wish I had a picture of the bracelet Hanna gave her.  It says Best Friends Forever! 

This takes us through Christmas Eve at lunch.  Stay tuned for the rest of Christmas!

1 WEEK!?! REALLY???

All day I have been thinking CHRISTMAS EVE IS IN 1 WEEK!  I am probably thinking that because I have shopping left to do!  I know better! 

We have been busy getting ready for Christmas.  We had a big night Wed nt with our Awana kids because it was their last night until the new year.  We had our leaders Christmas party here Thursday night.  We had a lot of fun but I am also relieved it is over.

I really have not taken many pics lately but these are a few to share

Because I love me a smocked dress (and Christmas makes it even better) and because I know my days of smocked dresses are numbered….LOVE the red tights!!!  How sweet are they???  I SO wish I could keep them little.  This growing up stuff is no fun!We always have to end with a silly pic!  I guess this is a semi-monster and chipmunk!Today A and Ell went with the youth from church to Holiday in the Park at Six Flags so the little girls and I had the afternoon and night together.  We made the pretzel rolo things.  They are really good!Notice Sallie does not mind letting the little sisters do the work while she watches!

Nanna gave A money for Christmas for books.  These pics are mainly for her.  The man LOVES books!!! 

I tell him these books are over my head!  Seriously!  They are deep!

I just finished my Christmas decorating this past week before the party here.  I love my Santas that my sister Connie has given to me over the years.  Last yr was our first yr in this house and I could never find a place I liked my Santas.  A was in a town with a WM so I sent him by last week to pick up a few poinsettias for the tables for our party but these just didn’t work.  So, I put them on this little divider between our living and dining room and then later I put the Santas there and I really like them here. 

After 10 years of using the same wreaths I re-did my wreaths this year.  Well, I used the same wreaths but I changed the ribbon.  I was so excited about this green ribbon.  I got 50 yards for $7.98 at Sam’s!  I made 7 big bows and I still have some left.  It looks really great with spotlights.  I couldn’t decide whether to add something else to this wreath or not but I ended up leaving it alone (at least for this yr)  The mesh stuff was hard to find!  The H was the plain white ones from Hobby Lobby and I spray painted it with a glitter silver. 

The other wreaths on all the windows on the front are just plain with the matching ribbon.  I am probably the only person in the state of TX with wreaths on my windows and spotlights!  This is not a TX thing!  They do lights on the house and many decorate the door and frame, etc but not windows!  Oh well, I AM an AL girl and we do wreaths and spotlights!!!

Now on to finish shopping, Lizzie’s class party, and they will finally be on Christmas Break Fri. 

First Snow of the Season!!!

Monday we woke up to our first snow of the season and it was so pretty!  The wind must not have been bad while it was falling so it did not blow it everywhere.  It was more even.  We got a couple of inches and it was enough for the girls to enjoy!  It has been really cold so it stuck around for a while.  It was all gone today.

View from our back doorLooking out the front doorFront yard

Side view of church

Time to play!

The horse that is behind our house was going crazy!

The girls insist on A pulling them like this every time it snows

She is looking so growny these days…  No toddler look left at allMillie with her dump truck!

Love this!This is as excited as Ell got!  She did love the 2 hr delay on school beginning!”Come on Mill Mill”Snow Angels!