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Merry Christmas!

WOW! What a great day! We awoke around 8:30 to the excited chatter of our 3 youngest daughters who were peering over the balcony at the bounty 'round the fireplace below. They were well aware of the rule: "No Going Downstairs Until Grandparents And Parents Have Coffee In Hand!" (It's our way of making sure we are present for the fun.) Our lovely girls get to open stockings first thing each Christmas. The wrapped gifts wait for breakfast and family to arrive, but the stockings are laid out and filled up waiting only to be discovered one treat at a time! I think they are enjoyed at least as much as all the other festivities.

This year "Santa" was tired when "he" put out the stockings, and mixed up a couple of things, but it all worked out. There were goodies from Bath and Body Works, there were festive pens, lots of candy and gum (chocolates too!), lip gloss, bangles, key chains, knee-high stockings, shiny rings, Lisa Frank portfolios, coin purses, and all manner of little treasures to be enjoyed. I must say, I do love this time of year. I love sitting in my jammies alongside my jammie-clad-clan, just enjoying these moments.

How long will they be little, those girls of mine? Two of them are bigger than I am already! These past 19 Christmases that I've shared with my honey have flown past, each one coming and passing faster than the last. This reality does not make me panic and get tensed up, rather, I am more determined than ever to just relax, do my best, not freak or stress out, and savor this life at every stage. I am tempted to view these years as the best, but that would throw the rest of my life into a lesser light in my own perception, and I don't want to do that. I had a lovely childhood and a magical romance with the man of my life. That romance-filled marriage has been blessed with 4 awesome daughters. They are growing in grace, and they fill my days with life. As they mature and leave, God will show me where to spend my time and energies, and hopefully my girls will not be far, and we will still maintain a good relationship.

In any case, this time of year is a wonderful reminder of the blessing of life and family. I endeavor to hold it all lightly and lovingly.

Sweet!

Christmas Eve'

I can NOT believe it's here again! Wow! We are at my in-laws' home as usual. I told my mil tonight that it just would not be Christmas if we were not with them. They are part of the season of celebration. Every married Christmas I've experienced (save for one) has been with them. My children would be devastated if we were not with "Granny and PaPa" for Christmas. Well, maybe not "devastated," but certainly sad. I am realizing how few years we may have left with my in-laws, and am enjoying them more and more. They are such a blessing.

Also my hubby's sister's family shares the holiday with us, and we have a blast together. I just can't imagine a more amicable family relationship. I truly enjoy my in-laws. They are fun, deep, reliable, caring people. I am indeed blessed.

Narnia

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We went to NCC Friday afternoon to see what my brother and his wife did to prepare for the Youth Banquet. They re-created Narnia with the wardrobe and the wintry land beyond. I tried to take some pictures but I'm afraid it doesn't do justice to the real experience. It was so cool!

'Tis the Season!

I finally have the Sitting Room decorated! It's been cold enough to have a fire there. Love that! I've not scrapped like I would like to. I'm looking forward to making tags for our Christmas gifts. I'm sewing some things, so it's taking some time.

I'm also in the process of making mini albums for the guests of my oldest daughter's birthday celebration. I had all 8 girls make a small blessing note to each of the other guests, and I'm assembling them into albums with pictures of each writer for each note. I've made the albums complete with sewn pages, but have yet to assemble the notes and pics with embellishments. That's my favorite part! I asked each girl what three of her favorite colors were, and have made it my own challenge to combine those colors into her "blessing book" from her other 7 friends. How cool would that be to have a reminder of an awesome time together, eh? Call it vicarious if you will, but it gives me joy to be making this small contribution to my sweet girl's friendships.

Home Again...

We are home from Thanksgiving. This is our first day home, and I'm leaving in less than an hour to pick my parents up from the Airport. They have been in the Philippines for 3 weeks. It takes such a very long time to get home, bless their hearts. I know they will be just exhausted! They like to come home to our house because they miss us so much, and where they can re-acclimate to the time zone. The Philippines is exactly 12 hours ahead of us. I'm thinking I would just want my own bed, but they seem to enjoy stopping here for a few days first. I'm glad.

They are going to have to make themselves at home though because I'm so tired from our trip I'm afraid I'll not make a very good hostess! I'll try, but I know they'll love me even if all is not in perfect order.

Speaking of that, I felt I needed to get my meal plans in order first, and it took me all day to do it! I also had to deal with some financial problems (ugh, overdrafts and insufficient funds really bite!) in the middle of the meal planning and shopping, and it slowed me down. My big girls didn't get out of their beds until after 11 this morning! I was a little put out with them since I had told them I would need help getting the house ready for my parents. None the less, I went upstairs (after 11:30 and I still had not seen them up), and asked them to dust and vacuum the downstairs while I took the little ones with me grocery shopping. We would all have to convene in Emily and Samantha's room to clean it out after I got groceries.

"Grocery Getting" took extra time. I didn't get home until after 5:30. We were all ready for dinner by then! I was surprised to find the big girls still in their jammies and un-showered state. I figured they'd taken their time getting the chores done though. Charlie helped me get the Talapia seasoned and garlic pasta cooked. I served dinner with a crisp green salad too. Sitting at the table I thought about the mess in the little girls' room, and when I would ever get to it since I had to go get my parents so soon. That's when the big girls sprung their surprise on us. They had not only taken care of the downstairs living areas, but also cleaned up the little girls' room AND Kathryn's (my parents' room when they come)! I was almost speechless with relief. And wonder.


I am unworthy.

Kath's Freaked Out Dream

We were in Thomasville.

She saw New Covenant Church Parking lot. Emily and Kath were fussing at each other. Kthryn had to go back inside to get someone or something. Hillary seemed to be irritated at her for some unknown reason, then it seemed that Hillary was not irritated at Kathryn but was frustrated , and was trying to get some music for the laptop in the oasis where there were tables and people eating. Melissa was there eating also. Some of Kath's friends went out with her to the car.
Pastor Barry was in the parking lot talking to someone in a suit holding a Bible.

Then we were in McDonald's parking lot. We were walking into the restaurant, and there was a black or hispanic man in a gray sweatshirt with the hood up, black pants, and a gray scarf wrapped around his face, concealing all but his dark eyes and some of his nose which was sharp. He looked scary. I told Kath not to look at him. Kath looked anyway, and he grabbed her wrist. She jerked away, and glared at him until we entered Micky D's.

Inside we walked around the restaurant until we reached the place where Pastor Steve was standing with his Bible in his hand. He was dressed casually in khakies and a polo shirt. Kath sat down by Sarah Taylor. Others present included Erin DuBose and family, our family, and other random people. At one point a younger version of Pastor Steve was sitting beside Kath. He grinned at her. The more mature (graying) version was still standing in front. He offered for folks to move from their seats and switch around to feel more safe. Charlie moved to a larger table (which had crumbs on it and needed to be cleaned), and then Kath and Sarah moved to Charlie's table. Then it seemed he was at a row of two seaters, but they were still with him. Kath noticed Pastor Barry was there at a table for four by himself, making it seem odd that he was alone. He was still in his suit, but was really discouraged with his head in his hands. Emily joined his table at one place in the dream, then it seemed it was not Emily, but Rebekah who was seated with him. They had asked if they could join him, and he said sure. He was not a part of the group, but he listened when Steve spoke.

We found out pillars of fire were coming to Thomasville. Kath saw this from high up, like three or four lasars moving along the ground, burning up the countryside. She had this flash while we were at McDonalds. She thinks others may have seen it too. It was a prophetic flash of vision. Kath asked when this would happen. Erin DuBose answered "August or September" and maybe added "11." At that time it was about a week out.

Also, she may have said God was sending blood. Lots of it. It was moving along, coming, but not rushing. Kath was worried about this, but Charlie told her the blood was for the unrighteous, so she was comforted. The pillars of fire would destroy our homes, but if we left, we would be safe from them. It wasn't nationwide at the time, mostly in Georgia.

Also the beach was stormy and being beaten my dark seas. Something inside the sea was churning and boiling it up.

Then we were at home, and casually getting ready to leave (packing?), and we had at this time spent positive time with Pastor Barry. Almost like we were helping him to see our vision for the church. The depression seemed to be lifting off him. Then we heard that he had tragically died. Either it was a car wreck, or suicide, something like that. Really tragic. Kath was so sad at this news. She cried.

Then Kath was standing in the street watching all the power go out. On her left was the theater which had just played "Left Behind 4." Adam Jones made a comical comment.