Gram's Place

  These yummy little guys were delivered to our house from Germany - from our Julia. Thank you Julia!  I feel so guilty eating these cute little Santas...but that won't last long. I may not be blogging for a couple of days.  Our internet doesn't work at home right now so unless my husband has some superhuman hours to get the washer fixed, the office cleaned, the garage cleaned out, the shelves hung, and then, the computer modem fixed, you won't be hearing from me no sireee. Things I'm looking forward to over Christmas break: 1. witnessing my big brother Todd beat the pants off of everyone with his sweet pool playing skills (i live for this because normally I am the loser... you know... big brother doing my dirty work for me). 2. singing 80's karaoke mercilessly while my children listens with jealousy that they do not know all the words to the songs. 3. screaming ball-room blitz at the top of our lungs while returning from shopping (oh wait...that was ...

There are 3 days to Christmas.  And I'm not ready. All of our events from our busy week were canceled this past weekend due to inclement weather.  Which freed up a lot of time to do NOTHING.  Because we couldn't leave our house.  These pictures really don't do it justice.  We had about 10 inches of snow.  It took my husband 4 hours to blow the driveway open.  Then, the following night, we had high winds, and it blew shut... another hour to clear. We did, however, have the concert on Friday night.  Emily sang so sweet.  I was so proud of her.  They wore their pajamas and sang a song from the Polar Express. Lindsey made it home.... we're still waiting for Haleigh to show up.  Weather was too bad. Tonight, I'm going to brave the below ZERO temperatures and go to Target. I have to. HAVE to. Tomorrow after work, I will wrap. and wrap. and wrap. and wrap. Technorati Tags: family , photography , holidays , weather...

Tonight, 7 days before Christmas... we're all bracing for a snow storm. It's supposed to be a big one. But, so far, nothin. Tonight, 7 days before Christmas, my 9 year old will sing a duet at the HS Orchestra concert - a song from the Polar Express... and she's praying there is no snow storm (until after the concert). Tonight, 7 days before Christmas, my 16 year old will also sing in the same concert. Tonight, 7 days before Christmas, my 19 year old is coming home.... hopefully before the storm hits. Tonight, 7 days before Christmas, my dad's train rolls in from California.. hopefully before the storm hits. My 21 year old comes home in a couple of days... there is something about having all of your loved ones home.

8 days to Christmas and this is what I'm doing... I made these cute little cookie gifts. They are filled with eggnog spritz cookies. I bought the containers at a consignment store for under a dollar and baked cookies to put inside them... And then THIS... this is something you have NEVER seen from me before.... Yes, dear internets, it's a home-made Christmas! I'm right proud of myself. This is my dear mother-in-law and sewing mentor Marge. I'm glad she doesn't read my blog or she'll kill me for posting this picture. She has helped me so much with my little sewing project. She's been real encouraging at all my crooked stitches.

Yesterday I wasn't panicked. I was great. Because I knew that today I was going to get in a vehicle with my husband and drive to a city nearby. We were going for other reasons, but I knew there was a mall there... and a fabulous TJ Maxx (oh TJ how I love you), and I could finish my really-close-to-being-done Christmas shopping. But, for some reason, the weather man had to deliver bad bad bad news. To the tune of 4 to 6 inches. Therefore, no shopping will occur. none. zippo. And it's 9 days to Christmas. 9 days. 9. (((( sigh ))))

A few years ago, we began implementing a new family Christmas tradition in the form of an advent calendar similar to this one. Ours is a bit different but the same concept. Instead of candy, which by the way is a great idea, each slot is filled with a note. The note is a family activity that we get to do together. Sometimes our schedules are a bit hectic so we don't always do it ALL together. I usually put the notes in and before I do, I look ahead at the holiday calendar to see which days will be crazy and which can accomodate more time. Some of the things that have been done this year include "Subway Eat Fresh for supper!" "Call a Grandparent and sing a holiday song" "say a prayer for someone in need" "bake cookies" "watch a Christmas movie" "play a family game - Dad's choice" "play a card game" It's a fun way for us to be purposeful at spending time together when the days and nights seem to be...

Last night we went to the annual downtown Christmas Greetings Windows in our town. We have a business on the main street so this Jolly fellow was in our window. 13 Days to Christmas. The schedule is full and crazy. Tonight - Santa Sing at the Bank Tomorrow - kids sing at church service Sunday - sing at church service again Monday - HS choir concert Thursday- Orchestra concert singing Friday - Christmas party Saturday - Dance Recital All of those things have practices and rehearsals all over the place... it's making me dizzy. But, truth be told... I wouldn't trade it for the world.

The previous post was the "before" and this is the "after". She got 8 inches taken off and sent them to Locks of Love.

  This morning in my daily Bible reading, I started reading 2 Corinthians.  I really needed to hear from Paul this morning! This verse really hit home: 6 Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. I took some time and meditated on this verse.  This idea of comfort.... I realized that there have been lots of times in my life that I have looked back on something and realized that God had used a particular set of circumstances in my life to give me compassion and be available to comfort others going through the same thing.  Lots of them. However, I didn't always know it at the time I was suffering.  It was some time... hours, days, weeks, months, even at times years later that I would realize what I had gone through was useful to pray for and minister with and alongside a...

Technorati Tags: Abbie , music , photography

  Before...... After...... Technorati Tags: family , photography , haircuts

Technorati Tags: family , holidays , thanksgiving , photography