Resolutions

OK, so I know everybody makes New Years Resolutions, and most people, (I said most people) don't do them for more than 30 days.

I know I am definitely guilty as well. But this year will be different. Hee! Hee!

The main reason it will be different is because this year I am making some reasonable resolutions. I am not going to vow to lose 20 lbs, because let's face it, Not Gonna Happen!

So here goes.

First, I am going to make time for God, every day. I have said that in the past, and then life gets in the way and I don't do it. But not this year. Surely I can take 15 minutes for the Lord, right? I can, I know I can, and if all else fails, I have a bible at work, I'll just do it on my 15 minute break that the law requires.

Second, I am going to exercise 5 out of 7 days per week. I was doing that, then Thanksgiving came, and went, and I just kind of, you know, stopped. But I have already started that back so I think that one is definitely doable.

Third, I am going to make a conscience effort to have more of a servants attitude. After all, it isn't about me.

Last, I want to try to pay more attention to my kids. They are teenagers, and honestly, we do more stuff as a family than most teenagers they know, but I guess I just want to listen more to what they have to say.

So that's what I've got.

How about you? Anything you want to share?

Christmas Vacation

Over the Christmas holiday's I actually managed to get quite a bit of things accomplished.

My daughter got her braces off, YEAHH!!!!

I painted my bathroom, pictures to come.

We had a holiday basketball tournament that lasted 3 days and we won our first game.
(I know, not really a banner season.)

I cooked my first dish from my new cookbook.

Cowboy Calzones, it was GREAT!!!

I had a great Christmas, really good, we got together with our families and we still managed to leave liking each other. (Not that that is unusual or anything.)

I am looking forward to a great year next year. I have decided to post my New Years Resolutions so that when someone catches me doing something I said I wouldn't do anymore, you might stop me. Or not.

Christmas Images

Just some of my favorite things about the holidays



Christmas trees!!!

Gingerbread houses. (And sweet girls).

Pretty decorations.

Candy!!


All of that is great, as long as we remember what it's really all about!

What a dissapointment!

Well, as usual, we were disappointed in the amount of snowfall we actually received. While they call for 6 inches, we get 1-2.

I did leave work about 15 minutes early on Friday, (so I wouldn't get stranded).

It was beautiful while it was falling, but I really wanted enough to play in, like sled, build a snowman, you know, PLAY!

But that's OK, on Saturday, I baked goodies for Mr. Wonderful's co-workers, and watched Christmas movies, ALL DAY!

It was actually a pretty good day, if it wouldn't have been for the kids bickering that there was nothing to do, it would have been a great day.

Awwww, kids are such a blessing, and a test.

Any hoo, Not much snow = cabin fever = bored kids = crazy mom's.

*I have pictures of the snow, but I have been too busy shopping to put them on, so I will try to do that later.

Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

They are actually calling for an accumulation of snow here!

This really isn't what we call normal winter weather here, and we may not see it again for another 5 years, or more. So when they really think we will get more than a dusting, people get excited!!

Luckily, today is the last day for most schools, and the kids will be home anyway, so why not enjoy some snow.

I really hope we get some snow! I hope it's enough that it looks like this! I've been to the grocery store, so I have all the necessities I could possibly need. But, there's only one bottle of wine so I hope the roads are still OK for travel, after all that's just enough for one snowy night.

Maybe.

What would you like?

OK, lets just pretend that you could have whatever you wanted for Christmas, what would you ask for?


Would it be one of these?



Or maybe one of these.
Maybe it would be one of these.

What's on your wish list?

Favorite Christmas movies

I don't know about your house, but at our house around the holidays there are a few MUST SEE movies that I just have to watch for it to really feel like Christmas.

The first one is It's a Wonderful life. I just love that movie, sometimes I watch it even when it's not Christmas and it still makes me cry every time. I love how innocent Clarence is. And how George really thought people would be better off without him. Great, Great movie.

I also have to watch Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase. This is just a classic, funny, Christmas movie. Love it!!! Who wouldn't love cousin Eddie?

We also make a habit of watching A Christmas Story. It's just as much a classic as Christmas Vacation. HO! HO! HO!

And even though I probably shouldn't, I love the cartoons that come on every year, the old ones, like Peanuts Christmas, and The Year without a Santa Claus. You know, the good ones.

When we were growing up, we would go to my Grandmother P's for Christmas eve, and open presents with my Dads side of the family. We would eat supper and when we all would gather in the living room to open presents, we would read the Christmas story from the bible. Of course as a kid, we just wanted to get to the present part, but even then, we knew it was an important part of why we got to open presents in the first place. When we were done we would be sitting around watching some Christmas cartoon, not sure which one, but I do remember the Santa radar that would come on and tell us where Santa was. I think they still have the Santa radar.

It was one of my favorite things about Christmas.

Do you have any favorites?

What Christmas means. . . . .

I subscribe to a e-letter from Proverbs 31 ministry. Today's was something that I was just thinking about, how we "over do" Christmas. Christmas is about love, family, genuine caring that doesn't have to come in a box.

As my kids get older, it is so easy to see how caught up we can get in trying to keep up with the Jones', by getting them the latest and greatest gadget. And I hate to say it but the more they get, the less grateful some of them become. When we were growing up, there were 4 of us kids, and my mom didn't work so that she could be at home with us. So we did good to get a few things per child. But we didn't care, we never knew that we got any less than any one else. We had each other and a whole lot of love. That's what God wants for us, love, relationships, and genuine caring for him and each other.

I hope it means as much to you as it does to me.


"For where your treasure is, there your heart is also." Matthew 6:21 (NIV)

It was 38 degrees when I woke the day after Thanksgiving. Yet, willing to brave chilly temps and frenzied crowds in search of crazy deals, I headed out shopping.

As I walked the aisles past slick gadgets, plush robes, and animated toys, one thought kept coming to my mind: The gifts we long for—the ones we ask for, save for, shop for, and wrap up in shiny paper with bows—will disappoint, eventually. They will age, wear, scratch, stain, fade or break. They may even get lost or stolen. Not long after the shiny newness wears off, the realization sets in that these objects don't provide the lasting happiness we'd hoped they would.

Am I a Christmas scrooge? Not at all! Beneath my tree sits several lovely gifts I look forward to giving my family. And I'm hoping one will appear there for me before Christmas Eve. But this thought, this realistic view of the contents of those packages, helps me keep the material aspects of this holiday in perspective — eternal perspective.

It's so easy to get caught up in the commercial fervor that is Christmas. It's easy to think we must show our love through bought gifts. But often a warm hug and some relaxed hospitality, time spent together on a hobby, or a letter detailing your appreciation would mean so much more than another coffee mug or gift basket. And for those of us facing hard financial times this year, that's welcome news.

If I could give you one fantastic gift today, I'd take your hand and cause us both to travel back in time some 33 years after the birth of Christ. We'd sit together on the hillside and listen to Jesus teach the Sermon on the Mount. We would hear our Savior say , "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:19-21, NIV).

Perhaps hearing it from the Savior's lips would help us believe that it's important what we treasure. It's important where our heart is. And to remember that the objects we ask for, give, and receive are temporary, just like the pleasure they bring.

God, however, gives gifts that are eternal. They never age, fade, deteriorate or fail to delight. He gave the gift of love with a baby in a manger. He gave the gift of truth through the teaching of Rabbi Jesus. And He gave the gift of eternal life in the form of the crucified and risen Christ. God gives the best gifts!

I found a few good deals at the mall that early Friday morning, but no thing like the deal I found at a little church almost two decades ago when I met this risen Lord and exchanged my sins for His grace.

In the days of the Bible, times of great joy were frequently accompanied by the giving of gifts (e.g. Nehemiah 8:10; Esther 9:22; Revelation 11:10). This ancient custom, practiced in all nations throughout history, finds its greatest expression today at Christmas. As we participate in gift-giving this year, let's follow God's lead and look for ways to also share love, truth and the path to eternal life with those we care about. Perhaps we can help another to find the greatest gift of all, or to treasure it rightly.

*This came from Proverbs 31 Ministries daily devotions.

Mountain trip

Here we are after hiking to the top!



This is where we stayed. You will see on the next picture one of the reasons I love this place so much!!!
These beds are like sleeping on a cloud people!!!


This is Louise's, it has the BEST homemade jelly in 3 counties!

One of the waterfalls we saw on out hike.



This is at the bottom of Linville Gorge. It was just beautiful!

I'm still here!!

We got home from the mountains Sunday afternoon, and we have been running around like chickens with our heads cut off since then.

I have come to the conclusion that when you pick out your tree while standing on the mountain, you need to remember that your living room is much smaller than the great outdoors. Our tree stands about 8 feet tall, and it looks like it's about 4 feet around when you walk in the door and see it.

But that's the fun part of getting your Christmas tree isn't it? I mean that and putting on the lights, of course.

Our trip was amazing!!!! I have some great pictures but I haven't had time to put them on yet due to Basketball, and Senior projects and just stuff.

We went hiking to what felt like the bottom of what felt like Mr. Crumpet, but once we got to the bottom it was breathtaking. So the next day, we hiked to the top. Another beautiful sight. God does good work!! After we recouped from our hiking we went to Sugar Plum Farms to get our tree.

While we were there, both husbands slipped in the mud. Hee! Hee! Hee!
One was laughing at the other one when he fell. Men, they are so silly aren't they?

Pictures to come tomorrow!