Angels

A long time ago (04/08/07 to be exact), I randomly clicked on a blog to see what it was about. It had an intresting title and I was new to the blogging word, so I checked it out.

http://marisavanderveen.wordpress.com/2007/04/08/dear-cancer/

Every day since that very first day, I have checked in on my friend Marissa and her family. I don't personally know Marissa, but she has touched my heart. I cannot even begin to understand what it is that she and her adoring husband and her children must be going through right now.

I pray for Marissa. I really really pray for Marissa. What a beautiful beautiful person. I know that our God has a plan. Please join me in saying a prayer for her and her family.

http://marisavanderveen.wordpress.com/

Tree Ha Ha

Can you believe that a few folks have made comments to us (the kids) about us cutting down the Christmas tree. We live in an area where everyone has an opinion (that they openly share) about how we should all be more enviromentally friendly. Our family does our part. We recycle. We use the long lasting light bulbs. So to all you people that think we are hurting the earth by cutting our tree down - read the article at the link below.

http://green.yahoo.com/blog/greenpicks/46/oh-christmas-tree-oh-green-christmas-tree.html

www.elginchristmastreefarm.com
LOCAL FARM
ORGANTIC FERTILIZER

BTW all of you enviro-nazi's...practically everyone in Alvin and in small town Texas recycle straight to the dump.

cheers!

Shocking

A while back, JC put a sitemeter on my blog so that I could tell if anyone was actually looking at it. Well, low and behold, someone is!!! The numbers below are for the last day and a half. How in the world are all of these people finding my blog? And why do they care to read it? I guess I need to start thinking of something a little more profound to say. I think I'm gonna get with my friend CG and see if she can teach me a little more about the world-o-blog.

1 United States Austin, Texas
2 United States Austin, Texas
3 United States Brooklyn, New York
4 United States Austin, Texas
5 United States Houston, Texas
6 United States Mesa, Arizona
7 Colombia Bogot, Cundinamarca
8 United States Austin, Texas
9 United States Austin, Texas
10 Italy Milan, Lombardia
11 United States Austin, Texas
12 Greece Kavla, Kavala
13 Germany Leimen, Baden-Wurttemberg
14 United States Austin, Texas
15 Germany Berlin
16 Turkey Karabk, Kastamonu
17 United States Austin, Texas
18 United States Eden Prairie, Minnesota
19 United States Austin, Texas
20 United States Austin, Texas
21 United States Leander, Texas
22 United States Austin, Texas
23 United States Austin, Texas
24 Australia Kingswood, New South Wales
25 Spain Madrid
26 United States Austin, Texas
27 United States Austin, Texas
28 United States Austin, Texas
29 United States Ithaca, New York
30 United States Austin, Texas
31 United States Georgetown, Texas
32 United States Reno, Nevada
33 United States Austin, Texas
34 United States Georgetown, Texas
35 United States
36 United States Austin, Texas
37 United States Houston, Texas
38 United States Austin, Texas
39 United States Houston, Texas
40 United States Reno, Nevada

Timber!!!

Friday morning we got up and made our annual trip to the Elgin Christmas Tree farm to cut down our tree. I was trying to remember just how many years we have had this tradition...I am pretty certain that we have been doing this since 1998. So basically this is the only way that our kids will remember getting a tree. Over the years, we have invited many friends and family to join us on our hunt for the big tree. This year we decided to do it with just the six of us. What an incredible time. We got to the farm and bundled up. The high for the day was about 43 degrees! We took the hayride out to the field and spent just a little bit of time trying to find the right tree for us. And before I knew it, we had found the one that ALL of us agreed upon. We all took a turn cutting her down with JC finishing the job. Naturally, there were a couple of kids in the way and the tree literally fell right on top of them. After getting back on the hayride and making our way back to the front of the tree farm, the kids all played around while JC got our tree out to the car and I browsed in the Christmas cottage. I love all of the items that are for sale in the cottage. They always have lots of beautiful Christ centered ornaments and trinkets for Christmas. After we were all paid up, we went to the front of the farm where all of the animals are kept. The kids love seeing the llamas, goats, chickens, ducks, bunnies, pig and horse. But what they love the most is the two giant hay bales that sit in the front of the animal pens. We were seriously there for about an hour with the kids playing and being happy in and on this hay. They were laughing and jumping and throwing hay and just having the very best time. This is one of those moments that I will never ever forget in my whole life. My six...all together...all sharing the most perfect love that comes when you are a family. I know that they will always remember this day - maybe not the details, but they will remember the love. Once we left the Christmas tree farm, we made our traditional stop at our second favorite bar-b-que restaurant - Southside Market in Elgin. As always, the food was the tops and we had a great family meal. The kids were all so happy and full of life and love. We brought the tree home and had it fully decorated in no time at all. Everyone participated in hanging the lights and ornaments. It was #4's turn for the angel on top - he was REALLY excited to do it. I am so glad to have the tree here. It is so beautiful.

Santa Won't Miss Our House!

After our delicious Thanksgiving feast, we continued putting the lights on the house. I did around the front windows, the door and the garage doors. I went out one of the upstairs windows onto the roof and got yelled at by the kids and they told on me...so JC came out and made me get down. ARGH!!!!

Needless to say, he got out the ladder and put the lights on the downstairs trim. Somehow I'm gonna get lights on the top portion of the house too. Just gotta figure out a plan!!!

Rethink

Last Tuesday, the girls had their end of season softball party at the South Austin fields. The sky was incredible. I took this picture of these beautiful clouds and had a few moments where I was so thankful for the great camera that we have. And then it struck me that I was missing the point. I needed to rethink my thankfulness and focus on the Creator of the clouds. Everyday I realize how often I forget to thank God for all of the things that he has given us.

These powerful clouds are just one example.

Turkey Day at Our House

It is becoming our family tradition to have Thanksgiving at our house, with just the six of us. So here is how it all went down this year...

#1 was in charge of mashed potatoes and salad

#2 was in charge of the green bean casserole.

#3 was in charge of the stuffing and the fancy new placecards for the table

#4 was in charge of the corn and the rolls, but decided to nap instead.

Finally the food is ready and everyone is thrilled - except for #4 who has the post nap funk. (or PNF as it is affectionately referred to in our home)

Everyone is happy when they start to pour their fancy grape soda.


We had the very best time. What a wonderful thanksgiving. Before we ate, we all took a moment to give thanks to God and talk about the things we are thankful for...

Dad - Our family, the kid's school and friends
Mom - the mighty six
#1 - the pets
#2 - our family
#3 - family, friends and pets
#4 - our family and preschool

Everyone was in the very best mood - we even had grape soda shot through the nose in the middle of dinner. Now that is the sign of a wonderful day!

P.S. You'll notice that #3 was the secretary while the family was choosing the menu (first photo). She made sure to leave us a note of her dislike of pie. :)