2008

Here I am on New Years Eve typing on my Blog Site. OMG I have no life! Dearest Hubby ( okay I know you are hearing the sarcaism beyond the title) is bringing in the New Year AGAIN this year at WYCE from 9:00-midnight. Which leaves me where you ask??????? Right here typing on my keyboard.

So for now I am not going to look back and note all the positive events of the last year-'cause right now I am hard pressed to think of any! Being alone on New Years Eve does not tend to leave a person in the happiest of moods. I spent several days of my vacation and more hours than I care to recall helping folks fix their computer, setting up neighbors homework assignments, and watching another neighbor's dog for 10 days. Those said neighbors are all out tonight at parties! There is something WRONG with this picture-Wrong I Say!!
I totally forgot to have any fun this vacation!

So my New Years Resolution is Less Free Tech. Support- unless bribed by a nice bottle of wine or Diet Coke.

Okay enough ranting- Tomorrow is the New Year so I will leave all my grumbling back here in the old one...or at least I will try

362 Days to go!

This morning coming down the stairs I discovered the count down to "Christmas Santa" had a new block added to it. Timmy "borrowed" A die from one of his games and added it to the counter-so it now reads 362 days to go! What can I say we Love Christmas here! I have agreed to leave the Santa counter up even after January 1st when we take down the Christmas decorations, Known as the De Christmasing Party! Now normall I leave all the decorations up until Epiphany but I am back to work next week Thursday the 3rd -so I will need to use the time I have.
What is a De-Christmasing Party you ask??? Every year I do 2 themed Christmas trees. When it is De-Christmasing time the children take turns choosing the themed ornaments to add to their Christmas boxes. Now you can imagine Jamie and KayLee have enough ornaments after 20 plus years to fully decorate their own full sized tree- however Timmy is still excited and growing his collection. During the De-Christmasing Party we also make a final decision on our themes for the following year. So far the basement tree theme that is winning is a "tool" theme, and the upstairs Theme is between Peace and Star Light Star bright. Jamie will have to email in his vote as he is still in California.
It is the fourth day of Christmas here and the snow is falling again! The Twelve Days of Christmas is probably the most misunderstood part of the church year . Contrary to much popular belief, these are not the twelve days before Christmas, but in most of the Western Church are the twelve days from Christmas until the beginning of Epiphany (January 6th; the 12 days count from December 25th until January 5th). Epiphany is usually celebrated as the time the Wise Men or Magi arrived to present gifts to the young Jesus (Matt. 2:1-12). Traditionally there were three Magi, probably from the fact of three gifts, even though the biblical narrative never says how many Magi came.
On the 1st day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
A Partridge in a Pear Tree

The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, whose birthday we celebrate on December 25, the first day of Christmas.

On the 2nd day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Two Turtle DovesThe Old and New Testaments, which together bear witness to God's self-revelation in history and the creation of a people to tell the Story of God to the world.


On the 3rd day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Three French HensThe Three Theological Virtues: 1) Faith, 2) Hope, and 3) Love (1 Corinthians 13:13)


On the 4th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Four Calling BirdsThe Four Gospels: 1) Matthew, 2) Mark, 3) Luke, and 4) John,

On the 5th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Five Gold RingsThe first Five Books of the Old Testament, known as the Torah or the Pentateuch: 1) Genesis, 2) Exodus, 3) Leviticus, 4) Numbers, and 5) Deuteronomy

On the 6th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Six Geese A-layingThe six days of creation that confesses God as Creator and Sustainer of the world (Genesis 1).


On the 7th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Seven Swans A-swimmingThe seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: 1) prophecy, 2) ministry, 3) teaching, 4) exhortation, 5) giving, 6) leading, and 7) compassion

On the 8th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Eight Maids A-milkingThe eight Beatitudes: 1) Blessed are the poor in spirit, 2) those who mourn, 3) the meek, 4) those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 5) the merciful, 6) the pure in heart, 7) the peacemakers, 8) those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake.

On the 9th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Nine Ladies DancingThe nine Fruit of the Holy Spirit: 1) love, 2) joy, 3) peace, 4) patience, 5) kindness,6) generosity, 7) faithfulness, 8) gentleness, and 9) self-control.

On the 10th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Ten Lords A-leapingThe ten commandments: 1) You shall have no other gods before me; 2) Do not make an idol; 3) Do not take God's name in vain; 4) Remember the Sabbath Day; 5) Honor your father and mother; 6) Do not murder; 7) Do not commit adultery; 8) Do not steal; 9) Do not bear false witness; 10) Do not covet.


On the 11th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Eleven Pipers PipingThe eleven Faithful Apostles: 1) Simon Peter, 2) Andrew, 3) James, 4) John, 5) Philip, 6) Bartholomew, 7) Matthew, 8) Thomas, 9) James bar Alphaeus, 10) Simon the Zealot, 11) Judas bar James.

On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Twelve Drummers DrummingThe twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles' Creed: 1) I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. 2) I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. 3) He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. 4) He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell [the grave]. 5) On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. 6) He will come again to judge the living and the dead. 7) I believe in the Holy Spirit, 8) the holy catholic Church, 9) the communion of saints, 10) the forgiveness of sins, 11) the resurrection of the body, 12) and life everlasting.
Epiphany, January 6

So enjoys these days of Christmas- Reread the Christmas Cards- look at the pictures- remember the magic and keep in alive in your heart for at least another 8 days.

Christmas 07

Twas the Night before Christmas

And at our little place
the computer had on NORAd to track santa's chase!

After a story Timmy was off to bed-
where he listened for the sound of bells in his head.

Up and down the stairs almost all night
It's amazing he didn't give santa a fright

But somehow Santa managed to make it this year
with the help from elf Tom and Karen to bring in the cheer

Around 4:30 in the Am I will tell
"Santa came !" was said with an excited yell!

The sound of tearing paper and ooh's and ahh's
made this Christmas special after all!

After a call from our oldest son Jamie we are blessed to remember the meaning this year- of family and friends who hold us so dear.

So this holiday we learned Christmas is more than a gift
It's the feeling of magic that gave us a lift.

We are hopeful 2008 will be something great!

KayLee shows off her gift

Tim made a granite chess set for the kids

It was a white Christmas here for sure

Hudson's/De La Rosa's house

Timmy shows off his bionicle from Tom

Window to the North Pole

Count down to Christmas

Timmy is excited it's fair to say
He is counting down to that special day

He's done extra chores just to make sure
that the guy dressed in red, stops by here this year

He's pulled out of the cupboard a special cup and plate
To leave a snack for the man on his special date

He's bookmark NORAD on his computer's list
So he can track Santa and won't be missed

He checked the fireplace and opened the flu
Made sure the opening was big enough for him to get through

He research the very nature of space
Decided Santa folds it in order to race

He's looked at the stars and planet from above
His belief is founded on pure simple love

So if you see him be sure to say
Santa will soon be by on his way

To visit a boy who lives in the wood
who always tries to be very good



Thank you dear Lord for the gift of your son, who shows us the way our lives should be run. So as we pinch our pennies and budget this year, we are not sad but instead full of cheer. For the good Lord has blessed us with family and friends, and those are the true gifts of love without end.

It's Beginning to Look A lot Like Christmas

Some of the white stuff fell last night- okay-a lot of the white stuff fell last night.

Our neighborhood here in Oliver Woods looks like a Christmas Card. The trees have a blanket of white snow resting on their branches, and the Christmas lights are all twinkling. While Tim was at the radio station yesterday and today Timmy and I watched the Polar Express and my all time favorite movie -Prancer! We had hot cocoa with little marshmellows and we laughed until we cried watching Victor tunnel through the snow. That crazy dog loves the snow!

On the other side of the coin is my better half who reminds me that SNOW IS a 4 letter word. He often remarks that the white stuff is cold, and icy and nasty. I don't think I will ever get him to admit how much fun he has playing with the snow blower, or even snuggling on the sofa. He keeps telling me that 1/2 of the fifty states are NOT as cold as here!

I must admit to actually liking the snow! I love the chill on my breath, and laughter of children as they build snowforts and snowmen, and being able to snuggle up in a warm blankey and watch old movies. Even the deer runing through the nighborhood seem to be in their element, and since my plants lay under a cool white blanket I can even allow myself to enjoy the deer.

Just 9 more days until Santa comes- This year it looks like their should be plenty of snow to land the sleigh on..

Favorites

My mother was one of 7 children and my father one of 5. Both grandparents had more grandchildren that most people would care to count. I recall all of us trying to figure out who was the "favorite". Growing up I remember being close to a certain Uncle and Aunt. I made the mistake one time of saying to my Uncle that he was my favorite. This was dealt with with a smile and a bit of a lecture. I remember him sitting beside and telling me he loved me very much and he was going to tell me something very important! He told me that when he was little he had asked his mother the same question and he was now going to tell me what my grandmother had said.

She told him that ,"God gave each of us an endless capacity to love, and to say one child was more special than any other would be like saying your feet were more important than your hands. That a mother loves all of her children in different ways- that to have a favorite would not only be unfair to the rest of the children but it would unfair to the one who was the "favorite" as well. " By making one person "the favorite" you were somehow saying the rest were somehow less. No one person should ever be raised to feel they were better than anyone else. And in that moment I did feel loved by my uncle -because I knew he cared-not just about me -but about the person I would become. In our family he said We Do NOT Have Favorites-we are a family which means everyone of us counts.

Just recently I have had time to think about what being a "favorite" means. I have had children ask me if they were my favorite class, my favorite school ect. So my grandmothers words through my uncle have taken on a deeper meaning. I have replied to those statements in kind. "I have been privileged to teach so many children and to say one was a favorite would say that the others were somehow less-and I could never do that! I will tell you that I enjoy your class and you do hold a special place in my heart- but asking me to pick a favorite would be like asking me if my hands were more important than my feet." What they were really asking was , "Are we important?" And of course they are-each and every one of them.

My Darling husband has always insisted that each of our children have the same number of gifts and the same amount of money spent on each child within five dollars. He wants them to know they are all equally loved. You can imagine with the age span between my children how this has been no small task. But just the other day I understood why he had instilled this practice. I listened to my daughter explain to her friend that having favorites was just not fair and that her parents had always made sure everything was equal!

The burden that is placed on the "Favorite classroom or child" cannot be dismissed. Parents and teachers who have favorites are kidding themselves if they think the rest of the children don't know who the favorite is. This breeds resentment-the rest of the children end up hating the "favorite" children ,and the "favorite" child is torn between basking in the adult adoration and being judged harshly by their peers. We have all seen this in family where there is a favorite child or grandchild. The child themelves might be quite delightful-but the special treatment they receive-sets them apart from the rest of the group. "Favorite" children grow up with entitlement issues, and their peers, or siblings often delight when the "favorite" falls from favor. So having favorites is not only unfair to the children not chosen, but also to the child "labeled" as the favorite.

If you only ever ate your "favorite" ice cream you would miss experiencing the sensory delights in so many other flavors. If you favor one child over another you are missing some incredible experiences you might have had with one of the others.

I realize life is not fair, and that it is impossible to always do and treat everyone the same. I do know that our example in Christ shows us that he loves all of us. So in our family-no favorites-love enough to go around for all!

Cookies, Cookies, Cookies

By: Timmy

My mom loves to bake cookies and my dad and I love to eat them. Mom dumps flours eggs and oil into a bowl and we all get to stir. We roll up little balls of the dough and put them on a giant sheet . The sheet is put in the oven and the cookies bake. You can smell them from all over the house even in the basement!
The best time to eat cookies is right after they come out of the oven-they are hot and tasty!. The extra cookies get put in the cookie jar. You can eat them later with a big glass of milk. I like to dunk my cookies in the milk. My mom thinks that is gross but my dad dies it too.

During Christmas time my mom bakes lots of cookies. We have chocolate cookies, sugar cookies, peanut butter cookies and even brownies. One of the best parts of Christmas is all the cookies! My favorite cookie is Chocolate chip =that is a really popular one.

Snow Day Snow Day Snow Day

There is a special thrill like no other thrill that can be described . ..when you see the name of the school you work at...scroll across the bottom of the T.V. ...with the word CLOSED after it! It's like getting an extra Saturday. Now all of you who work in offices are groaning and I bet you are thinking that I get to roll over and go back to sleep. However sleep on the day that has been given as a gift-no way!



First there is the "Snow Day...Snow Day...Snow Day" dance that takes place on the landing in the upstairs as Timmy and I celebrate. If you close you eyes I swear you can almost hear the similar cries from children all across the area. All the excitement of course leaves one wide awake. Now I actually have the time to make a warm breakfast, like eggs and bacon. Life slows down..the minutes do not rush by ..they instead pass at a leisurely pace. As I write this it is 11:23 and I am still in my Jammie's. This day, this gift of time should be savored, appreciated, and revealed in.

I could do laundry-but I won't.
I could clean-okay I did a little.

The possiblities are endless.

Ho Ho Ho

Do you recognize that man in the red suit?? Look closely!!! Come on guess???????????

Enough Recalls Already!

So today I heard of another toy recall- and I said to myself--okay self -everyone says you have to buy stuff made over seas, because we don't make anything over here any more. Then I reminded myself that I am not a person who easily believes others so.... I looked and guess what I found???????????????????

A list of toys made in the USA: • Battleship• Bicycle Playing Cards• Boggle Jr.• Candyland

• Chutes and Ladders• Clue• Connect Four• Crayola Crayons *• Life• Louisville Slugger

• Monopoly• Mouse Trap• Operation• Parcheesi• Play-Doh *• Pop-O-Matic Trouble

• Radio Flyer Discovery Wagon- so glad to hear this one-it's so American

• Scrabble• Sorry• Stratego• Tri-ominos• Trivial Pursuit• Yahtzee

• Melissa and Doug U.S.A. Floor Puzzle (Most puzzles are made in the USA!)
* Note: Not all packages of Crayola Crayons and Play-Doh are made in the USA -- please check the label.

WOW_ We do actually still make stuff here- This what I found online:

You know I love toys so they are listed first!
http://www.zebulonusa.com/
http://www.usmadetoys.com/
http://www.holgatetoy.com/
http://www.maplelandmark.com/
http://www.kathyskreations.com/
http://www.lauritoys.com/
http://www.scalemodeltoys.com/
http://www.tigercandyarts.com/
http://www.fingazinga.com/
http://www.turnertoys.com/
http://www.knex.com/
http://www.step2.com/
http://www.imaginationboxco.com/
http://www.zometool.com/
http://www.marxtrains.com/
http://www.bekainc.com/
http://www.channelcraft.com/
http://www.woodentrain.com/
http://www.unclegoose.com/
http://www.ez2love.com/
http://www.froebelgifts.com/
http://www.storyboardtoys.com/
http://www.tagtoys.com/
http://www.taurustoy.com/
http://www.underthegreenroof.com/
http://www.fractiles.com/
http://www.adoptablekinders.com/

http://www.creativeeducationaltoys.com/index.php?main_page=page_2

http://www.usmadetoys.com/

http://www.lehmans.com/jump.jsp?

http://www.shopforamerica.com/

http://www.zebulonusa.com/

http://www.holgatetoy.com/

http://www.maplelandmark.com/

http://www.stillmadeinusa.com/virtualholiday2007/holidaypicks5.htm

http://www.stillmadeinusa.com/shoppingindex.html http://www.madeinusa.org/nav.cgi?data/kids

http://www.madebyyankees.net/

Buying it also means you are employing American Workers who are the wheel that drives the economy. Guess what the next surprise was??? Things made here are not all that more expensive than the junk we import-plus everything made here has to comply to product safety regulations! So I am sharing my web sites with everyone I can think of...No lead paint used products made in America. And we are supporting our own businesses.

For more information on how to buy American, visit: http://www.howtobuyamerican.com/

Guess I am in a patrotic mood!

Pray for Peace...and remember

This is indeed the season we all pray for peace-let's not forget it comes at a price! My third greatgrandfather served in the civil War two of my great grandfathers served in the Great War WWI, My aunt was a WAVE, my Uncle served in the army, my father-in-law served on the Navy,cousins served during Vietname, and my husband served in the navy as well. This past month one of my daughters friends came back from "OVER THERE"-but not everyone in her company was so lucky!

Let it Snow

Somehow the word busy just doesn't seem to do justice to describe the last 4 weeks. First I graded 505 report cards for two schools. I had two weeks of late night conferences 5 nights in all, next came Timmy's birthday on the 6th and then Kaylee's on the 16th. All of this was followed by Thanksgiving. The day after Thanksgiving the decorating began. The downstairs tree was decorated in the Theme of the Ginderbread man, and the upstairs tree all white to represent "Hope". Garland was drapped in the doorways, the porch decked in garland, Santa sitting on the porch, a decorated slide and two hand painted panels handing from the brick. When all was said and done the house boasted 2 manger scenes 6 christmas trees, a mantle full of collector Santa, and I THINK A TOTAL of 5 wreathes.

Not to be outdone Tim had his inflatable Santa and trees on display along with lights on both stories of the house.

Here is a quick look at the Cousins Christmas we held this past Saturday. I cooked 2 turkey's an 18 pounder and a 12 pounder, a pecan pie, a giant plate of cookies,and sweet potaotes with marshmellows on the top. Everyone who attended brought along food as well, so is was a feast for sure. The children decorated cookies and cracker houses and this year each made a gift for an aunt , uncle, or grandparent. The gifts were so percious.

The highlight of the evening for me was seeing Tim dressed as Santa handing out ornaments to the children. The laughter in the house made the hours and hours of cleaning before and after worth it.