A Special Gift...

I left home one day shortly before Christmas to go run errands... I barely was a mile away when the girls called me. There was crying in the background. Not-there's something terrible wrong- crying... more-uh-oh, we're in trouble now- crying.

I have a very small (3) collection of Christmas snow globes. I haven't actively tried to collect them, but the few I have are very special to me.

The first snow globe is a Peanut's snow globe I got from Larry and Sally Blanc. They are Godparents to my girls. Sally was one of my first friends when I moved to Pendleton. We only worked together for a year or so, but the trauma of that job (ok, it wasn't really that bad) bonded us tight. She and her family are very special to us and I think of them every year I take it out.

The second snow globe I got from my mom. It is shiny, elegant, and grand. The music box base is silver. Inside is a vintage looking glass Santa. I put it in the center of my Santa display.

My third snow globe I got at a Christmas exchange. It has a wooden base and holds a Nativity scene. It clearly was the least expensive of the bunch... but it held an important place on my Nativity table for Christmas.

You can imagine that the snow globes are very enticing to little girls. I don't hover around my decorations telling them to keep their hands off ~ but they have been reminded numerous times that many of them are fragile.

On this day... Jesus, Mary & Joseph came crashing down onto the hard wood floor. Shattered. There are conflicting alibi's regarding the location of each child at the time of the accident. I did a lot of 'self talk' on the way home. I knew from the crying on the phone that they already felt bad... I figured my remaining two snow globes would lead safe lives. The consequences of a dropped snow globe would be etched in their minds for a long time.

Imagine my delight when I unwrapped this globe for Christmas. Girls, I love you and we all must remember that 'things' can always be replaced.

Random Christmas Photos

Eager anticipation!

Round one of opening presents was in Klamath Falls at my families house.
Nice hair Marc.

The girls and I got lots of paper so we can start creating fun things on my Cricut*
*My get up at 3:30 am the day after Thanksgiving best buy!

Mom opening her water bottle.
(Note to mom: There were other photos worse that this one)
(Remember when you told me not look at pictures of myself until
5 years later...
and then I would love them all because I would look younger?)

Dad loves his Girls Scout chocolates...
Gotta love when the store bag is pretty enough to be the gift bag too...

Uncle Jason always spoils the girls ~ translation ~
He sends me a generous check and I pick out wonderful
goodies for my girls. He feels a little out of touch with what
their interests might be.

We got him a really cool OSU sweatshirt.
Same as last year.
I'm kinda out of touch with what to get him too.
Maybe I should just send a check?
Naw, I think I am safe with OSU gear.

What she looks like...

This is one of Taryn's many looks when she steals my camera and takes self portraits.



This is what Grace looks like when she is sick. Poor thing got the pukes the morning we needed to drive to Klamath Falls. (Best trip ever for mom and dad. A puny sick little girl = a quiet little girl.)



This is what Reagan looks like when she is singing her first (and probably last) solo at her Christmas concert.

The Christmas Card

Taryn - 12.5

Grace 9.5

Reagan

7.9260273
(She turns 8 on Jan. 23rd)

Let's see... about 20 people actually received their Christmas card from us this year. It looked like this...


Wait... no it wasn't this one - the one I copied had all girls looking good. This must be the one where I used Photo Shop to copy Taryn's head from this photo onto this photo:


Yep...this is the picture I used...except with Taryn's head from the first photo. WHAT WAS SHE THINKING? -She usually is so good when we take pictures. -There were about 5 other shots that looked just like this one and I never noticed. -She felt really, really, really bad when I freaked out. -She apologized a lot. -I could have felt equally bad and just sent out the cards without editing. -We would have laughed later. -It would have made her sad.

Now all this was really just a distraction... I did do Christmas cards. I will send them out. I didn't write a letter. So now when you get a card it will be just to let you know that you are 'worth' a Forever Stamp to me. You've already seen the picture, there is no letter...and nope I haven't and won't hand write any special sentiments to you either. And if you don't get one, maybe I don't have your address or maybe I just got lazy... but just so you know... you are still worth a Forever Stamp to me.

None the less... Here's hoping you had a very Merry Christmas and that the New Year will be blessed with Goodness!

Phil 4:4-7

Today, maybe because I had read of a single mother who is raising 4 children on her own, three of which are autistic; maybe, I had a moment today because it is Christmas. For what ever reason, the second reading today spoke to me. It could be that this verse spoke to me so clearly because right now life is really great. It isn't picture perfect, but it is pretty amazing. So I really wanted to write this down for those days when things are not all in order. I am getting much better at letting go of things that I can not control. This verse needs to be my verse. I need to let it speak to me when my imagination of 'what-if's' gets the best of me. I hope to be able to live this verse, through the good times and through times of struggle.

Phil 4:4-7

Brothers and sisters:
Rejoice in the Lord always.
I shall say it again: rejoice!
Your kindness should be known to all.
The Lord is near.
Have no anxiety at all, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
make your requests known to God.
Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding
will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Rejoice in kindness, without fear and anxiety.

Merry Christmas to my friends & family ~ near and far!

Karo Syrup Paintings...

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care...

I printed pictures of bricks off the internet and then laminated them.
I can use them again & again & again....

We painted the candle holders for our mantel with corn syrup and food coloring on foil.
They look just like stained glass.

For gift exchange the kids will each bring in 23 small items (stickers, bookmarks, etc) and then the elves will fill our stockings. If a student forgets, it is no big deal, none of the kids will take the time to count items. I will also get a supply of small items that I can add to the mix.

This little light of mine...
I'm gonna let it shine...
This little light of mine...
I'm gonna let it shine...
Let it shine,
Let it shine,
All the time!