A photo fresh from Christmas Eve service at church!
We wish you a blessed Christmas!
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Brrr!!!
Here is a look at what is going on outside our back door this afternoon...
Crazy wind, snow and cold temps. I have a feeling this is going to be a looooong winter!
Here a couple of pictures from Friday. They cancelled school so the boys got an early start to their vacation.
It was all fun and games until Kaleb got snow down his neck and back. That's what you get for standing in the path of the snowblower!
Josh helped me out in the kitchen later that day. We made a batch of my favorite German cookies, almond crescents. Yummo!
Hope you are staying warm!!
Josh helped me out in the kitchen later that day. We made a batch of my favorite German cookies, almond crescents. Yummo!
Hope you are staying warm!!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
A Happy Note, fa la la la la
Last night both boys had their holiday band concerts. Luckily they were at the same place and not at the same time! The fifth grade band started it off and did a great job. You can see Kaleb in the percussion section getting ready. We weren't allowed to use flash cameras so we only managed a couple of decent photos. Greg and I sat up in the balcony since that is about the only place you can get a good view of the back of the band. It is cool to see them perform because you finally have proof that they are making progress! Often times their practice at home doesn't seem to amount to much or sound like much. But at the concert it all comes together. They actually do know what they are doing...amazing!
We did get one shot of both boys before the concert. Look at those sharp white shirts and ties.
Thursday nights at our house is often the one night during the week that we are all home together. Tonight, though, Greg had a Boy Scout meeting to go to. Josh worked on more wood turning gifts so Kaleb and I hit the flour and sugar and made cookies. We did 3 different batches. Actually, he helped with the first one and then lost interest until it was time to come to sample the others. Typical! As soon as they cool, they are going in the freezer for Christmas. Otherwise I will be back doing it all again next week.
We did get one shot of both boys before the concert. Look at those sharp white shirts and ties.
Thursday nights at our house is often the one night during the week that we are all home together. Tonight, though, Greg had a Boy Scout meeting to go to. Josh worked on more wood turning gifts so Kaleb and I hit the flour and sugar and made cookies. We did 3 different batches. Actually, he helped with the first one and then lost interest until it was time to come to sample the others. Typical! As soon as they cool, they are going in the freezer for Christmas. Otherwise I will be back doing it all again next week.
Hugs!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Warning! Heavy Load Up Ahead
At church, Pastor Bill is preaching a sermon series entitled "Humbug to Hallelujah". He is using the Dickens classic novel to weave in the Christmas message. He will often ask as he is preaching, "Can I tell you something?" (like we have a choice, lol!!), I too just have to say....I have been bitten by the humbug this year!! It is really rather ugly. I don't want to decorate, and haven't, I don't want to bake, and haven't (gasp!!), shop or anything else that I normally do this time of year. I want to get under the covers and come back out with the groundhog. That will be perfect timing 'cause then I can skip right over turning 41 too!
To add to the foulness of my attitude is the guilt I have about my foulness of attitude. How can a believer, let alone a pastor's wife, not be full of joy during the season of celebrating the birth of Christ??? It really is too much for one person to bear. Those of you that know me, know this is said in humor but also truth. It is a trial that is seeking to over take me.
Why?? I have been asking that question a lot lately. Partly it is the end of year garbage that I hate and wish didn't coincide with the time of Christmas. Like budget talks at church, dealing with health care insurance issues, finances, taxes around the corner. There's a theme building there, can you tell?? There is the raw truth that the easiest way to attack me and my sense of peace is to throw a bunch of money matters at me. Especially when I have gifts to buy. Last week I was making phone calls trying to take care of health insurance stuff and find a way to get orthodontic care for the boys. Someone suggested we look into the dental school at the University of Buffalo. Since they are a teaching facility you can get discounted services and I haven't heard anything bad things about the care. The nice lady at the other end of the phone informed me they just changed their policy and now only accept new patients in October and to call back in September for an appointment! Even then, they will only be accepted if their case is "unique" enough. That was it! I completely lost it! October??? Are you kidding me??? Don't you realize the dentist said we needed to get him started yesterday?? No, I didn't lose it on the nice lady. I just crumpled into a crying mess after I hung up the phone. The poor volunteer in the office that morning! It was the straw that broke the camels back last week. I am better this week so don't send an ambulance for me, lol!
I also am hit harder this year by my loss of friends. I have made some new ones but as the saying goes, "it takes a long time to grow an old friend." Moving is just a part of being in ministry. I have a bit of a "why bother?" attitude and so things are lonely despite a full calendar.
Then of all things.....last week when the family was all together for Thanksgiving, Thom suggests we have a Harp version of the Biggest Loser. Each month the family (couple) with the least percentage of weight loss has to pay $10.00 into the kitty. Next Thanksgiving, the family with the biggest percentage of weight lost wins the kitty. So of course being the person with the most weight to lose, I can't so no thanks to the challenge!! But now, before Christmas?? Before cookies and candy and ham?? Are you crazy?? No wonder I don't want to bake. Thom, I love ya but you are killin' me!! Of course the rest of them look fine so I think it is just a big hoax to get me on a diet. Blast those evil schemers, lol!!
Identifying the whys is good, then I can tackle them. But I am trying to move to the "what now" stage. What do I do to get beyond the humbug stage? I did try the fake it til you make it approach. Last week I put on my finest holiday clothing, socks and earrings in an attempt to at least look festive. Didn't fool anyone! So now I am trying to give it to God. No use trying to hide it, He knows it anyway. God can handle it. I am daily listing things I am grateful for and repeat them often. Today I wrote out our family Christmas letter. It was hanging over my head, adding to my grief, but just as always, it was good to write it. The letter forces me to think back over the whole year, think about the highs, lows, activities, accomplishments, etc. Time is an amazing thing for perspective. Reflecting makes you more aware of God's faithfulness through the journey. Yes, life can be hard and frustrating at times but not always. It is also filled with many joys and blessings. We are healthy, have a roof over our heads, a job, food to eat and each other. So many of those things are luxuries for many people.
Just yesterday the husband of one the ladies at church was in a head-on car accident. He has just started coming to our Saturday evening services. He is banged up but will be okay. The driver of the other car died. Just like that, one slippery road later, some family is without their loved one this Christmas. Lift them all up in prayer if you would.
Are ya still with me?? Bless your heart and bottom for sticking through my catharsis.
Keep an eye to your mailbox, a letter from us is on it's way.
To add to the foulness of my attitude is the guilt I have about my foulness of attitude. How can a believer, let alone a pastor's wife, not be full of joy during the season of celebrating the birth of Christ??? It really is too much for one person to bear. Those of you that know me, know this is said in humor but also truth. It is a trial that is seeking to over take me.
Why?? I have been asking that question a lot lately. Partly it is the end of year garbage that I hate and wish didn't coincide with the time of Christmas. Like budget talks at church, dealing with health care insurance issues, finances, taxes around the corner. There's a theme building there, can you tell?? There is the raw truth that the easiest way to attack me and my sense of peace is to throw a bunch of money matters at me. Especially when I have gifts to buy. Last week I was making phone calls trying to take care of health insurance stuff and find a way to get orthodontic care for the boys. Someone suggested we look into the dental school at the University of Buffalo. Since they are a teaching facility you can get discounted services and I haven't heard anything bad things about the care. The nice lady at the other end of the phone informed me they just changed their policy and now only accept new patients in October and to call back in September for an appointment! Even then, they will only be accepted if their case is "unique" enough. That was it! I completely lost it! October??? Are you kidding me??? Don't you realize the dentist said we needed to get him started yesterday?? No, I didn't lose it on the nice lady. I just crumpled into a crying mess after I hung up the phone. The poor volunteer in the office that morning! It was the straw that broke the camels back last week. I am better this week so don't send an ambulance for me, lol!
I also am hit harder this year by my loss of friends. I have made some new ones but as the saying goes, "it takes a long time to grow an old friend." Moving is just a part of being in ministry. I have a bit of a "why bother?" attitude and so things are lonely despite a full calendar.
Then of all things.....last week when the family was all together for Thanksgiving, Thom suggests we have a Harp version of the Biggest Loser. Each month the family (couple) with the least percentage of weight loss has to pay $10.00 into the kitty. Next Thanksgiving, the family with the biggest percentage of weight lost wins the kitty. So of course being the person with the most weight to lose, I can't so no thanks to the challenge!! But now, before Christmas?? Before cookies and candy and ham?? Are you crazy?? No wonder I don't want to bake. Thom, I love ya but you are killin' me!! Of course the rest of them look fine so I think it is just a big hoax to get me on a diet. Blast those evil schemers, lol!!
Identifying the whys is good, then I can tackle them. But I am trying to move to the "what now" stage. What do I do to get beyond the humbug stage? I did try the fake it til you make it approach. Last week I put on my finest holiday clothing, socks and earrings in an attempt to at least look festive. Didn't fool anyone! So now I am trying to give it to God. No use trying to hide it, He knows it anyway. God can handle it. I am daily listing things I am grateful for and repeat them often. Today I wrote out our family Christmas letter. It was hanging over my head, adding to my grief, but just as always, it was good to write it. The letter forces me to think back over the whole year, think about the highs, lows, activities, accomplishments, etc. Time is an amazing thing for perspective. Reflecting makes you more aware of God's faithfulness through the journey. Yes, life can be hard and frustrating at times but not always. It is also filled with many joys and blessings. We are healthy, have a roof over our heads, a job, food to eat and each other. So many of those things are luxuries for many people.
Just yesterday the husband of one the ladies at church was in a head-on car accident. He has just started coming to our Saturday evening services. He is banged up but will be okay. The driver of the other car died. Just like that, one slippery road later, some family is without their loved one this Christmas. Lift them all up in prayer if you would.
Are ya still with me?? Bless your heart and bottom for sticking through my catharsis.
Keep an eye to your mailbox, a letter from us is on it's way.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Back From the Abyss
Don't ask me where time goes! The faster I go, the behinder I get definitely describes me these days.
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving last week. We were at mom and dad's along with the rest of the family. Sadly, we hadn't seen them since last Christmas. The kids grew so much in that time. I only took a few photos and somehow missed all of the gals! We had a great time, we ate tons of food, played games, exchanged gifts, watched movies, played ball and more.
We tried to get all the cousins together for a photo but it never quite works out like you hope, lol! The sun was in their eyes and they had ants in their pants. This is the best I could get.
Josh is going to catch Uncle Jon in height real soon. J tried to agitate Jon all weekend, he hasn't learned that isn't a good idea. We tried to warn him but he was feeling feisty! Jon showed him who's boss. Give Josh a couple more years though and the story may be different. I took this photo right after Jon picked Josh up off the ground. It was all in fun as you can see my their smiles.
Greg scooped up the nieces and nephew for a quick shot. Everyone was smiles because we had just exchanged our gifts.
Josh made his own gifts to give family this year. He put his new lathe to work and spent hours turning wood and acrylic pens. His first two came out a bit shaky but after that he got the feel for it and did a great job. He gave the ladies the acrylic pens and the men got the wood ones.
He plans to make some for his school friends too. I hope the other winners of those lathes are getting as much use from theirs as Josh is!
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving last week. We were at mom and dad's along with the rest of the family. Sadly, we hadn't seen them since last Christmas. The kids grew so much in that time. I only took a few photos and somehow missed all of the gals! We had a great time, we ate tons of food, played games, exchanged gifts, watched movies, played ball and more.
We tried to get all the cousins together for a photo but it never quite works out like you hope, lol! The sun was in their eyes and they had ants in their pants. This is the best I could get.
Josh is going to catch Uncle Jon in height real soon. J tried to agitate Jon all weekend, he hasn't learned that isn't a good idea. We tried to warn him but he was feeling feisty! Jon showed him who's boss. Give Josh a couple more years though and the story may be different. I took this photo right after Jon picked Josh up off the ground. It was all in fun as you can see my their smiles.
Greg scooped up the nieces and nephew for a quick shot. Everyone was smiles because we had just exchanged our gifts.
Josh made his own gifts to give family this year. He put his new lathe to work and spent hours turning wood and acrylic pens. His first two came out a bit shaky but after that he got the feel for it and did a great job. He gave the ladies the acrylic pens and the men got the wood ones.
He plans to make some for his school friends too. I hope the other winners of those lathes are getting as much use from theirs as Josh is!
We are entering uncharted territory these days with the boys. Both of them have now been approached by a GIRL!!! Oh the giggles and red cheeks as I squeeze the tales from them!! I try to keep it light but inside I am so not ready for all of this.
Tonight we are all going to Rochester. I have my annual ornament exchange party and the guys are taking in a movie.
{{{hugs}}} from all of us
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