Sunday Mornings

What is it about Sunday mornings?? My morning started out with putting on a sweater that I love and realizing it had a hole in it, right in the front. Did my wood shelf snag it or is something in my closet eating holes in my clothes? Then my children continue to fight over EVERYTHING which causes my husband and I to fight due to our frustration. I started feeling a little better after watching my family perform in a Sunday School skit. My husband was one of the three wise men (or Magi), my daughter the star child and my son...King Herod ( a role that fits him perfect right now). ;) After realizing one of my good friends was in the same mood I was...because of similar reasons, I started feeling better. As my friend said "Misery loves company". I thought things were better as we sat down as a family for Worship. I have been looking forward to hearing the sermon all week. About the time during the sermon I was remembering my own sons birth and reliving those amazing feelings you have when you first hold your child, my son says...."MOM, what time........". I immediately cut him off by holding up one finger...no, not that one, the finger you hold up as if to say...one minute. So he preceded to write me a note and held it in front of me. When I grabbed it and didn't read it, he kept tapping it. It took everything I had not to elbow him in the chest!!! After the service we had a talk about letting me worship even if he didn't want too. His comment...."Mom all I wanted to know is when my friend can come over" UUUUGGGGHHHH.
So, my dear friend, what I heard of your sermon today was wonderful. Thank you for helping me relive that first moment I held my son. It has kept me from sending him away today. :)
I know I am blessed to have two incredible kids. They make me laugh, they make me cry, they make me angry, happy and proud. But what is it about Sunday mornings?

Wii

"Wii" had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends. It is awesome to have family you love to spend time with but also to have friends you love enough to consider family! It has been a relaxing, low stress Christmas this year!!

The highlight of this Christmas has to be playing "Wii" with my family, including my parents. How many people can say they bowled, played baseball,and tennis on Christmas. We had fun. We probably even worked off some of the cookies we ate. I never thought I would enjoy a video system this much but it's fun. Let the Wii tournaments begin!!

Happy Holidays

Recently at work, we were having a conversation about retailers not saying Merry Christmas but saying Happy Holidays. My friends/co-workers were surprised that as a christian I wasn't more upset about it. Some comments were made that "they" are trying to take Christ out of Christmas. My thought was...(and I wish now I would have spoken up, but the words weren't there) nobody can take Christ out of Christmas. That is what Christmas is about. Regardless of how we greet someone during the holidays...oops...Christmas season. As I learned today in a Sunday School class, Christmas is also about a lot of other things. I am not less of a christian because I smile and feel warm inside when I hear the story...Twas the Night before Christmas or I say Happy Holidays.

In the car on the way home from church today we were talking about this subject. My 11 year son said..."What is wrong with saying Happy Holidays? Then all the people who celebrate through other religions are included. " Thank You. My comment was...why can't we all just get along. Why does it matter if Santa comes to your house? My kids know the reason we celebrate Christmas but they still love getting presents. I love seeing their faces light up when they get exactly what they asked for. Do we talk about Jesus birth? You bet. Usually one of the kids will sing Happy Birthday to Jesus on Christmas day. Do we read or watch movies about Santa? You bet. We watched the Jim Carrey version of "The Grinch who stole Christmas" the other night. The best part of the movie for me is when the Mayor is very upset that the Grinch stole Christmas (because all the presents were gone) but the father of Cindy Lou who says something like...even the Grinch can't steal Christmas. We still have each other.

I guess what I am trying to say is, Christmas is about family, friends, presents and so many other things including Jesus birth. Its all in what you make it. Why argue or get offended because someone is celebrating differently than you or not greeting you the way you want them too. I think God just wants us all to get along. Let's be happy for goodness sake it's Christmas.

So, Happy Holidays everyone. I will see you at the recycle bin with all the wrapping paper. I have to go help the kids get cookies ready for Santa and make sure we have enough carrots for all the reindeer.

Ready for Christmas

Only a few days left before Christmas. I am actually ready. Today we had our annual cookie baking/hang out and visit party. It has grown from 4 families to 8 families. Just the moms and kids come. The husbands are on their own. Usually it ends up that the moms bake, the kids play and then we all eat. It was a fun time. My kids had their closest friends over for at least 4 hours and now all I am hearing is....."I'm bored". UUUGGGHHH what is a mother to do. Of course they don't like my idea of cleaning their rooms. No, they actually have the nerve to ask me if they can have a friend over. "WHAT, You just had about 10 friends over here." "WE'RE BORED" wow. When is Christmas break over?? Another week and a half....uuuggghh. I'm sure it's just the pre-Christmas excitement. After Christmas we will have all kinds of things to do.

I am looking forward to a few relaxed days without big plans. Tomorrow we will go to church and.... uuuhhh thats really all we have planned. I love being ready and relaxed and able to actually enjoy Christmas. Maybe this year I won't have the big Christmas let down/Christmas Blues. Now all I need is enough snow to make it a white Christmas but not enough to cause traffic troubles.

I wish everyone who reads this a wonderful, relaxed, peaceful Christmas.

Happy Birthday Jesus.

National Young Scholar

For the second year in a row, my little drummer boy has been nominated for the National Young Scholars Program. This year his band instructor nominated him as well as 5 other students from his school. This nomination gives him the opportunity to go to a University, spend a week with other Young National Scholars and take fun advanced courses and also learn leadership skills. It seems like an incredible experience. It is very expensive and we wouldn't be able to see him the entire week. He could call us, on a cell phone we provide, in the morning and in the evening. I have mixed emotions about letting him go/not letting him go. If I let him go, I will wonder about his safety (mom won't have control). If I don't let him go, will he be losing an opportunity to increase his knowledge and challenge himself? He is such a bright kid, most of the time the way his brain works amazes me. There is also the expense, but you can't put a price on a good education. UUUUGGGGHHHH what's a mother to do?
Here is the website.... http://www.nationalyoungscholars.org/
If you have time, take a look at it and tell me what you think.
We decided not to send him last year because of the expense and because of his age. I'm starting to wonder if that was the right decision.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas....

The first snow fall of the season and its a good one for our area. We started out with about 2 inches of snow, then some rain and now a beautiful thick fluffy snow fall. We are supposed to get anywhere between 3-9 inches. It is so beautiful with the Christmas lights.