Pictures of us preparing for the Holidays

I am always amazed at just how messy our home can get. There are a lot of people using this home and it is never empty. I joke about putting the kiddos in school just so that we can clean the house. I often think of all I could get done if they were just gone for awhile. With homeschooling and J working from home the house never gets a break.



This past week J took a few days of vacation and we started preparing our house for the Holidays. This year it became much more than just cleaning up. Not much money was spent but everything looks good.
All the painting inside was coupled with work outside. The weather was delightful the past few days. Making yard work and outside house work almost enjoyable. The work was tough but the time with each other was fun.
We placed our Mary statue in the back a few years ago. It became the central spot of putting plants. We have never had a plan with it. In fact we never purchase anything for her and yet it all ends up there. If Mary had not said Yes to our Lord then the upcoming seasons of Advent and Christmas would not be. We didn't plan to work on her area at all and yet in the end we spent time there assembling pieces from around the house to create a nice little Mary garden that we view from our breakfast room window. In the end the outside yard look as good as it could. Someday we sill spend more on appearance but now we just try to keep it neat.

The rest of the home got a paint over as well. Everything looks so clean and sharp. Thank you to all the helpers that selflessly worked to create this peaceful home that would be ready to welcome guests.

Getting Ready

The holidays are on their way so we need to get ready. I think that everything has taken on a different meaning for us this year. I sat with Goobers the other evening as we discussed Christmas presents. A few years back we noticed that the season seamed to be more about the gifts and not about the joy of our salvation made possible through the birth of baby. God loved his creation so much that he became part of that creation to save it. He became a human (in a perfect form) but human non the less. He was born as a baby. He humbled himself to live our life out of love. That is a gift of self that is impossible to mirror. We try with trinkets and toys but in reality they are a waste.



I have researched Christmas. I love the season, I love the decorations and I love the joy and peace that we should feel. We made the decision years back to only give each child 3 gifts under the tree. Only we knew which ones came from us and which ones came from Santa. So Goobers and I were discussing how I have grown to dislike the season. I become consumed with guilt and the lack of extra money in the budget to purchase even those 3 gifts per person. This is when my student became the teacher.

Mom, what are you talking about. Christmas isn't about the presents, it never
was. We love Christmas because we spend time together. We focus on Christ and
our faith in a real way. You and dad have made Christmas about so much more than
gifts. That is what is important to us. If you would enjoy what we are supposed
to enjoy without gifts, then don't get gifts.

She is right. The past few years it wasn't a problem for anyone but me. I stress for no reason. It doesn't matter what kind of presents are under the tree. It doesn't even matter what kind of tree or what kind of ornaments. We will make the best of whatever we have because we now have the hope of heaven. This year we have lost close friends. We know they will have a far better Christmas without us than we will without them. We need to focus on the gift that heaven brought all humanity. One perfect child that would give Himself so that we could have heaven.

With that new found respect for the true meaning of all the upcoming holidays we started to clean up the house. No extra money for big purchases. We could use a new coach and refrigerator. We could stand to replace the the floors an put tile throughout. We would love to redo the kitchen and the laundry room. It would be nice to have better cabinets and room for the second dryer. None of that could happen. We did take the extra paints from around the house and touch up everywhere. We cleaned, wiped down and scrubbed to floors and the walls. We created a new feel, a fresh feel. The feel of hope and promise that the season is supposed to bring. This year as we pull out our old decorations and put them around our worn out furniture we will be most joyful.

Our home is now shinning with the little faces of a family that worked hard, worked together and worked with a purpose. I hope and pray that as you prepare for the Holidays you will find the joy and the peace that I have been reminded of. I pray that your heart warms with the love of your family and friends here on earth as you rejoice in the promise of heaven.

Cryin' For Me

So I am sitting here on Saturday morning with J by my side while I fiddle around on the computer. We decided to take things easy this weekend. We want to stick around the house. We need to clean and prepare for Thanksgiving. I know that this year we look around and the people in our lives are are very thankful for all of our friends.

One of the teens that I ran into last weekend sat and talked with us for quit a while. It was nice talking with him for a long time. One of the teens told him to come and he said not yet. I asked if he needed anything. He went on to explain that he learned at the Visitation for Mrs. T that she was an incredible person that thought he was a cool kid. He said he felt a little guilty that he never took the time to get to know her. To him she was just one of his mom's friends. He said that he realized he could have learned a lot about living and a lot about dying with grace from this lady. He was talking to me to live out his new promise to not take anyone for granted and to push himself to be social. That will be the only way he can learn what others have to teach him. Linda loved this teen and I know that she is honored that he learned that lesson from her.

In our homeschool group we still have lots of death all around us. Before the three I lost a neighbor, another friend lost a father-in-law, and this week a member lost her grandmother, all while another is losing her father to stomach cancer. This is hard for all of us. So many lessons all around. Yet we fall to our knees, we pray for each other and we have learned so many lessons from God. It is hard to move past the feelings. We will though.

So sitting here with my honey he settled on a music video, telling me that Pooker had wanted to play this at Miss Linda's funeral. Maybe I will put pictures to the song soon. I cried as I watched the video. As Toby Keith points out, "I am not crying for you but I am crying for me!"

Toby Keith : Cryin' For Me Lyrics
Got the news on Friday morning
But a tear I couldn’t find
You should me how I am supposed to live
Now you should me how to die
I was lost til Sunday morning
I woke up to face my fear
While writing you this good bye song I found a tear

I’m going to miss that smile
I’m going to miss you my friend
Even though it hurts the way it ended up
I’d do it all again

So play it sweet in heaven
Cause that’s right where you want to be
I’m not cryin’ cause I feel so sorry for you
I am cryin’ for me

I got up and dialed your number
Your voice came on the line
That old familiar message
I have heard a thousand times
It just said, sorry that I missed you
Leave a message and god bless
I know that you think I am crazy
But I just had to hear your voice I guess

I’m going to miss that smile
I’m going to miss you my friend
Even though it hurts the way it ended up
I’d do it all again

So play it sweet in heaven
Cause that’s right where you want to be
I’m not cryin’ cause I feel so sorry for you
I am cryin’ for me

Oh

So play your upsidedown, left handed
Backward bass guitar
I’ll see you on the other side superstar

I’m going to miss that smile
I’m going to miss you my friend
Even though it hurts the way it ended up
I’d do it all again

So play it sweet in heaven
Cause that’s right where you want to be
I’m not cryin’ cause I feel so sorry for you
I am cryin’ for me

I’m still cryin’
I’m cryin’ for me
Oh
I’m still cryin’

Pickle is now 9 years old!

Things are slowly getting back to normal. This week was better than last and next week will be even better we hope. The sad event this week was knowing that no cake was going to magically appear from Miss Linda. Pickle's day today was our first one after having her pass away. Without knowing this Miss Linda's mom called and said that she was at the house. I told her we would stop by. It was so nice being able to give Linda's mom a hug.

We asked Pickle what fun thing he hoped to do for his 9Th birthday. Lunch at McDonald's. We wanted to spend time there playing today. It was his call and I was emotional so I figured as long as he was happy then the rest of us would feel better also.
The exciting part was that Pooker had a break from classes and was able to join us. It is a real treat for us all to be able to spend our time together as a group. The kiddos are asking to get out of the house more often and want me to be more demanding with their school work. We decided we would enjoy Pickles day and then plan more work for the next week.
Apparently I wasn't that into the planning. The little ones were climbing and running. They were having fun. I could hear them all. Then I heard Pickle say sarcastically,

"Happy Birthday to me, Mom is having so much fun she can't stay awake."

Poor Pickle I do love spending time with him.
We brought everyone home and Pooker had to study and then off to work. We needed something for dinner that was a little faster to cook than the beef I had thawed for meatloaf. I grabbed dad with Pickle and Jumba and we went to buy the cake. I am sorry Linda, I know that it upsets you that my kiddos have to have store bought on their birthday. Pickle requested that I buy a cheesecake and not even try to make one. He knew that mine would never be as good as yours.
Pickle you are a bright and happy young man. Your dad and I love you very much. I think that your smile is so wonderful. You think about things very clearly. You are very logical. You have a dry sense of humor. You are so kind and compassionate. You love your sisters. My favorite memory from the past week is when you came up to me and proudly said,

"I just spent the past two hours in the room with Sugar and Moogie. We just talked about stuff. I feel like a teenager or something. It is just like how Bear talks to Pooker and Goobers all the time."

Yes it is baby doll, I love that you are growing up into such a kind young man.
9 years old is very mature, it really is. Happy birthday, Pickle Baby, we love you bunches and bunches!

A Much Needed Night Out!

We laughed so hard last night. I did stop at a green light at one point and drive right through a red one. I was hungry people!!! After getting food I was much better. It was a much needed out of the ordinary break from life. We drove all over Houston to find a restaurant that was closed. Finally we tracked down food and it was delicious. We drove home and sat in a dinning room just talking. At 2:00A.M. we decided to call it quits. It was fun fun fun. I am so thankful for such good friends who love me even though I am a tad crazy!

Did You See That Shooting Star?

. . . way way back when we still lived in St. Louis, we had a huge back yard outside of town. When a meteor shower was due to take place I would wake up the kiddos and we would cuddle with sleeping bags in the back part of the yard. We would put out our blankets and grab our pillows. We would all lie down and cuddle together to stay warm while we looked at the stars. The older four all remember. They still talk about how much fun it was. They thought I was such a cool mom because we did this. Imagine lying on the cold ground with your kiddos cuddled up to you, just looking up. You feel like every shooting star is a gift from God (and it is). I treasure most the precious conversations that take place when you have nothing else to do but look at the sky.

My older ones wanted the younger ones to share some of these wonderful memories. We made plans to venture out in 42 degree weather at 3:00A.M. We made 3 gallons of hot chocolate and packed up the blankets. We headed out with everyone except Dad and Jumba. We planned to go to a park close by but they had added parking lot lights.

No friends were around so we drove around trying to find a good spot. We did see another family parked on the side of a dark patch in the road. About 40 minutes after we ventured out we finally agreed on a spot. We unpacked the hot chocolate and laid out the blankets.

I found myself telling the kids to be quiet over and over again. They giggled and laughed the entire time. I was reminded that laughing doesn't keep the stars away. Poor Bagel. She was so tired and very overwhelmed with everything. In the end I am not sure she saw any shooting stars. The rest of us did. It really give a boast to you when you see a star shoot across the sky.

We arrived back home at about 4:30 in the morning. We are all exhausted. I hate being so tired but I love having the new memories to share with the kiddos and the joy in looking forward to doing it again.
We all want to travel more now. We talked about how pretty the stars must be away from all the lights. We hope to see them one day soon. I love all my little stars.

Moogie fights the swine flu or a swine with the flu?

My creative silly girl is fighting the swine flu, kind of?!?