Merry Christmas

How many of our trees have tons of these underneath? And yet we worry about giving enough....will they like them....are they the right size.....did I get enough....did I go overboard (Amy!).

All the while, the fact that we are beyond blessed is over shadowed by this store and that store, and this sale and that gift.

How sad to see everyone shoving and shouting because they just can't bear for someone to be in front of them for the 1 close parking spot. Come on people! It's Christmas. Have we forgotten the true meaning?

Our Savior was born on Christmas day! That's why it's so wonderful. The kiddos love the season anyway, but for us adults, we need to focus on peace in our hearts, not the commercialized holiday that has taken over.

Is it too much to ask that we read the real Christmas story from the Bible and remember the true reason we even have this holiday to celebrate? Thank you God for loving us enough that you gave your only son for us. Please help us to remember and give thanks for that this Christmas!

So this is definitely what my calling is....it has to be. Otherwise I am completely submerged in over my head to no avail.

I am beginning my study courses for the Texas Bar Exam. Already - heck - on the first day...we were in over our heads. A few of our lecturers have commented on the blank faces staring back at them.

The thought is that we will cram enough law into our heads in the next 2 months to successfully solve a legal problem in all areas of law on the BAR.


Bottom line - - the BAR is a BEAR. But we, like so many others, will make it through. And it is a small price to pay.

For me, I am consumed by the pressure of it all, but on the silver lining there is something else.....purpose. I can feel God telling me that I'm getting close. I know there is somewhere he wants me to be.....that I don't quite know yet, but I will when I'm supposed to. And another thing....clarity - (oh sweet clarity where have you been? and welcome back!) -

I feel the pull more and more to criminal law. It is my first love ( I have a BS in Criminal Justice) and each time I cover even a part of it in study time...I fall for it all over again. It just might be my calling.

Anyhoot! Just wanted to say hey and sorry to all the family and friends who feel I don't have time for you - I miss ya like crazy - and it's hard to even spend time with The D right now. The totality of our conversations goes something like this - "Good morning. Love you! Have a good day!.....Good night. Love you! Sleep good." So please don't feel left out.

Such a great pic from our Christmas party I just had to share! It's the last pic I got before she ran away! J/K love ya!

So...By fend...See you soon. We actually haven't said bye at all. We've been texting since she left yesterday. lol Today I talked to her from I-20 to Alabama (I think that's where she was).

I can't wait till she makes it "home." They are going to have a fabulous holiday - and we are already making plans for Summer.

Holiday Spirit

Today was just one of those days...you know busier than you can imagine and not much going your way. Usually on days like today I'll have a short pity party and move on with my life. But today I fought the urge to feel bad about my situation.

Instead I took the time to remember that our family is healthy, we still have jobs in this horrendous economy, and we are born again because our Savior is Risen!

So, since I was letting a little Christmas cheer in my day after all (who cares that it was at the end of it?), I decided to take sometime to make some treats!

I picked up these cute mini-loaf pans at Michaels a while back and thought they'd be cute little treats. I decided to make them for a few of The D's co-workers. We got to go bowling with them on Saturday and I always forget how awesome they are! We always have sooo much fun!

Inside the loaf pans is my Diet Cake (just the ordinary diet soda cake recipe). On top I drizzled chocolate and covered with crushed candy cans to make them more Christmasy!

They turned out pretty cute and....today turned out pretty freakin good, thank you. Enjoy the treats guys! Merry Christmas!

Dear Husband,

I like you most days
I love you everyday
I'm so glad God brought us together
I wish everyone had a chance to feel love like we have
Thank you for being you
And for making our life so dreamy!

Love, ME

Mother

I don't remember the last thing we laughed about - - because we just cracked the heck up. It was at Mother and Dad's...usually is. We all have such a good time doing nothing there!

Never thought I'd call my Mom Mother. But eventually, despite my best efforts, it trickled down. See I always called her Mommy or Mom. But she always called her mom 'Mother.' I guess now that she has held the position of family Matriarch for so long, Mother is well deserved.

Moms generally take the backseat for their families, but I think my Mother has done this to the Nth degree. You see, just as her youngest child (yours truly) got out of the house, she had 8 grandchildren. She's always a busy bee, but you'd never know. She never runs out of time for any of us.

Since Dad's stroke, I have been even more amazed. She STILL has time for every person in our family! I know, I know....amazingness. I am so glad God blessed us with our SuperMom. And no, you cannot borrow her - she's ours.

Don't have a clue what we'd do without her. She's going in for a heart cath very soon. As of 6 years ago, she is a member of the 'zipper club' - her and Dad have both had open heart surgery. But it's time for another cath for my Mother.

God will be with her and she will do fine, but I wanted to let her know how very much we appreciate her selflessness. The picture above captures it perfectly. To Mother, it's not about her, it's about her loved ones - - - and each one of us are better people because of the 'Mother' that she is. Thanks Mother. :) Love you!

Cotton

We woke up to a beautiful snow-covered ground. It looked like there was a thin cotton layer on the grass. It was beautiful. We were excited.

Dear snow,

Please stick around. If it's going to be miserably cold anyway, you make it fun!

Love,
Me

But it didn't want to stay. Nothing but water is left of the white fluffy blanket the ground wore this morning.

Please come back soon!

My Fend

Christy. Sweet Christy. Soft spoken...sometimes. Beautiful. Caring. Kind. Gentle hearted. A bit naive at times. Sincere...so sincere. Generous. Gracious. Humble. Full of love.

Fend - She is my friend. We say "fend" because Nate did. I love her dearly. She will be gone soon. I'm sad. But happy for her. We are going to miss her like crazy. But we are friends that can pick up where we left off no matter how long it has been.

Patient - she may not think she is. But she has been for long enough. Now she will go start her own family. Too far away. Thank goodness for technology. We must call. We will text. We may IM. We'll definitely e-mail.

Forever - we will be friends. Women are fickle. We don't keep friends long. But every blue moon we find one. A friend we understand. A friend who understands us. Those are the friends we must hold on to.

Memories - Even though she's leaving soon, I'm holding on to my fend. I must. We have so many awesome memories. We cry together. We laugh together. And now, we'll both grow, but never apart.

Yuh Yooh Kiki!

"Just a Lighter"

It's a lighter. I get it. Turquoise. See through. Random palm trees. It's message: "I need a vacation." Clever idea.

But it's much more than just a lighter to me. It is a symbol. Past. Change. New beginnings.

You see I found this lighter when my Dad was in the hospital the week we got back from Iran. I took his robe to him (aren't hospitals always freezing...brr) and when I checked the pockets the lighter was in there.

I don't think he remembered it, but it was there. From before. Prob from late one night. He always looked so pensive when he smoked. He never cared much for it. But he never completely quit.

Until then. After the stroke. "I have no desire," he says. "I don't even think about it."

Like I said. Past. Change. New beginnings. Our lives have been full of those lately. And I thank God for each and every one.

I may hold onto this lighter forever. Just because. It has meaning. It's a symbol. Thanks Dad. I love you.