Christmas Re-Cap

I SURVIVED!

Here's a re-cap of what I accomplished this Christmas:

I decorated the house, the trees, and the stockings were hung by the chimney with care. All the gifts were even wrapped before Christmas Eve!

We took a family photo under the decorated tree. Surprisingly, we all managed to look in the direction of the camera at the same time.

I dressed the kiddos up in their cute Christmas jammies for a Christmas Eve photo. Kellie-Laine hated hers and wants me to take them back. But the girls look cute. Right? I have the photo...that's all that matters.

We shopped early and bought the girls appropriate, practical, useful Christmas gifts. Okay, well maybe Cody went overboard with the Barbie Jeep, but he's such an easy target at Christmas. He's sappy, and sentimental, and nostalgic. And he's a pushover.

I made four baking sheet advent calendars as gifts. It took approximately 3 days and lots of ignoring the children and husband. They turned out pretty darn cute. But Cody has forbidden me to make another one. Ever again.

I read and posted each one of the Christmas cards we received. The card collage has grown considerably since this photo. I feel so loved...and guilty that I only hang the cards with photos. Sorry, folks. There's not that much wall space in my house for each and every card!

I bought my husband the coolest, most perfect gift. A Keurig single-brew coffee maker! It is so cool!! I think he loves it more than he loves me. Okay, well maybe I'm exaggerating. But he definitely loves it more than the children.

I also hosted guests for 5 days straight. All the cooking...the cleaning...and more ignoring of the children and husband...

The house is now quiet. The gifts are put away. My cleaning ladies are coming tomorrow to restore order once again to my domain. The girls are back to whining and arguing. My husband is avoiding the final Christmas $$$ total. And me?

I hit the after-Christmas sales. Shopping....man, it felt good!

A Caroling We Will Go....

"JOY TO THE WORLD, THE LORD IS COME..."

How many of you have ever gone Christmas caroling? I'm talking the real deal....acapella Christmas tunes, flashlights or candles, knocking on the doors of people you may or may not know, etc. Ever done it? Not many have. It is, in my opinion, a tradition that has landed on the "possible extinction list" and this year I set out to SAVE THE CAROLERS.

A few of my fellow-Beth-Moore-Bible-Studiers and I gathered tonight for a Cookies-N-Caroling party. Inspired by Beth's statement that "we are but a vapor here on earth (compared to eternity)" and we need to "make it count." Make it count...make it count...make it count...that phrase has resonated in my mind and heart ever since I heard it. But how? Then the cookies-n-caroling idea hit me. This idea, coupled with some amazing and unconditionally-supportive Christian girlfriends, took on a life of it's own. Tonight we were able to see how God plants a seed and with just enough watering, attention, and sunlight....it grows beautifully.

The houses we chose were both random and pre-selected. Our criteria was that we wanted to bless those who were not churched or simply needed encouragement. We didn't want the "easy" road. We wanted to share the love of Christ with people who didn't know us...people who were randomly selected (but divinely purposed). And God provided. No doors were slammed in our faces...all received our angelic voice with smiles...and we, in turn, were on a spiritual high for the joy we were spreading to others. It really was amazing...and fun. And something I hope we'll do again. (SAVE THE CAROLERS)

We sang for a widowed woman with a pistol; we sang for a lady who thought we were seeking donations; we sang for moms and dads and their kids; we sang for grandmas; and the highlight of the night: we sang for a middle-age man in satin boxers. Nothing else...just the boxers.

The true purpose of tonight will probably not be seen with our own human eyes. Only God knows what will happen when the door shuts and the grandmas, moms, dads, and kids look in their goodie bags and discover sweet eats, an encouraging card, and a book explaining Christ to Calvary. Only God sees the outcome of the plan He so carefully knit together.

But we planted seeds.

We may not always be able to watch it grow beautifully. But we have faith that it will.

Point of Grace and Spanks

What do these two things have in common? They are the answers to the following questions:

1. What was the highlight of my week?

and

2. How come I look so amazingly skinny lately?

Perhaps I have a little explaining to do...let's start with #1...our church hosted Point of Grace's "Winter Wonderland" tour this past Sunday evening at Baylor's Ferrell Center. Since our church was the host, our choir had the opportunity to sing on stage with Point of Grace.

Okay, like, how COOL is that?! I've been singing with our choir for a little over two years, and this was one of the neatest "perks" I've had yet! The other cool thing was that the children's choir was also able to sing a few numbers on stage, and Kellie-Laine was part of that. Can you spot us in the above photos? No? Me either. I guess my quest for being "discovered" while on stage is but a fleeting memory. It was totally worth it, though. And if you haven't heard their new song, "How You Live"...you've got to check it out. It's one of those "stop and smell the roses and don't get consumed with dishes or laundry" kind of songs. I need to listen to that song, like, every four minutes. Maybe then I'll be a good mom who does nothing but play, play, play with my kids all day long and enjoy, enjoy, enjoy every minute of it! Oh wait, I forgot -- I'm SuperMom and, of course, I play with my children everyday and love every stinkin' moment of it. I do. Really. Savoring every moment of play. Yep, that's me. Now, moving on...

#2 ...Why do I look so amazingly skinny lately you ask? Because I've just discovered "spanks." Have you heard of them? Basically, it is a panty hose-like thing that is about 12 sizes too small. You can get all sorts of coverage depending on your "problem areas"---leg to rear, rear to chest, thigh to tummy, rear only, etc.

Unfortunately, they do not have full head-to-toe coverage, which was what I was originally looking for. I'm sure it's because most women are not into the "bank robber" look, but I was hoping for a miraculous re-shaping of my entire body; face included. Oprah swears by these things, so you know they've got to be good.! Anyway, I tried the thigh-to-tummy style. I was so impressed by what I saw that I immediately slipped on a pair of pants and turtleneck that hadn't seen the light of day since pre-baby #2 and baby #3. I looked goooood. And skinny. And uncomfortable since the circulation in my thigh-to-tummy area was cut off. But I looked goooood, so I chose to suffer through the lack of circulation.

Let's be real here, having a baby changes the shape of your body. Many changes occur--some good; some bad. After baby #1, the changes are pleasantly minimal. Fast forward to baby #3 and you'll find that the extra skin left behind from baby #3 will entertain your kiddos for hours since fatty extra skin doesn't seem to dry up and turn hard like play-dough does when you leave the cap off the container. (How's that for a word picture??!!)

But back to the main point...I have a few extra pounds to get rid of. Nothing major, just the tummy area. While 3 pregnancies definitely changed my body, it's really not that bad. Nothing a few months in the gym wouldn't take care of, but who has time for that???!! I'm playing with my kids and loving every minute of it, remember?

My solution: SPANKS...

And a vasectomy for Cody.

Conversations with a Four Year Old

CONVERSATIONS WITH A FOUR YEAR OLD~

(aka: "why I so desperately need more adult interaction")

(aka "why I need a nanny")

Landrie: "Mommy, watch this!" (she hops on one foot)

Me: "OOoh, that's good, Landrie!" ( with full enthusiasm)

Landrie: "Watch this!" (she hops on other foot)

Me: "Wow! Cool!" (still enthusiastic)

Landrie: "Now watch this!" (she bends over backwards across the chair)

Me: "Good, Landrie." ( a little less enthusiastic)

Landrie: "Hey, watch this!" (more bending over the chair)

Me: "Uh huh, good job."

Landrie: "Look at this!" (she makes a fish face)

Me: "Ummmm...." (completely distracted)

Landrie: "Hey, look at this!" (she makes a circle with her fingers)

Me: "Okay, Landrie...." (approaching annoyance)

Landrie: "See this, Mommy?" (she draws the letter "L" in the air)

Me: (Silence.)

Landrie: "Did you see that, Mom? Did you?"

Me: "Yes, Landrie."

Landrie: "Watch me spell my whole name now."

Me: (with irritation) "Lan, Mommy's busy working on the computer."

Landrie: "Why?"

Me: "Because I've got to send some email to people."

Landrie: "What people?"

Me: (with more irritation) "Just some people, Landrie."

Landrie: "Where do they live?"

Me: "All over."

Landrie: "All over the whole world?"

Me: "Yes...Lan, no more questions okay?"

Landrie: "Okay, mommy."

(Pause. Silence. Pause.)

(More pause. More silence. More pause.)

Landrie: "Um, Mommy?"

Me: "Yes, Landrie."

Landrie: "Watch this, Mommy!"


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I'm sure I'll look back and appreciate this one day. But not today.