The Shack

Let me introduce you to a book that will change your life forever. It was a Christmas gift for me from my best friend. She gave it to me with tears in her eyes as she explained what she could of the book to me. It is not easy reading. It is the story of a man named Mack, and of his struggle to deal with the kidnapping and murder of his 6 year old little girl. This is not a grusome book...but a book about life, and how we can live it to it's fullest. Mack has an experience with God that we should all be blessed enough to experience...and can through reading these pages. I actually had to stop reading at points in the book to allow my mind and heart to absorb all I had read. I shed tears in almost every chapter...tears of joy, tears of compassion, tears of reconciliation...I know I have been genuinly changed. I have a better comprehension of who we, as the human race, are and how we are made react to and with one another and with God. This book didn't tell me anything I didn't already know inside...it just made it all transparently clear. The cost of the book is about $15.oo and well worth every penny

Although this book is fictional, it certainly does not effect it's ability to be life changing.

Happy Birthday

Today is my birthday and I am not sure how I feel about it. Hubby is sick and sleeping so my 'dinner and a movie' date is out. I guess I may be feeling a bit sorry for myself. I was thinking that it has been about 25 years since anyone has given me a birthday party or a cake. I don't know where we get the idea that birthdays become less significant with age. I am 43 today...to me that is even more of an accomplishment than 16, or 18 or even 21!! I have survived so much in my 43 years. I have learned, laughed, loved and cried. Everyone else had a party this year...all the kids and hubby too...(boy I am feeling sorry for myself!!). I got a phone call this morning from my mom and stepdad and instead of Happy Birthday I got asked to take them to Walmart so they could pick up a new battery for their truck. No mention of the day there either....

I am not in need of a bunch of gifts or elaborate measures...just a small cake and a few friends would be nice. I even, very out of characterly, dropped a few hints over the past few months of how nice it would be to have a small party...intimate, with friends.

Ok, I guess it's not that big of a deal right? There is always next year...

Almost Christmas...

Christmas is almost here and the stores are packed. I am completely finished with my shopping but it seems like I cannot avoid having to go back out into the rush of it all. I will be sure I have everything I need and then some little important item will be needed and I am forced out into the rush again. Yesterday it was boxes, I realized in the midst of all the wrapping that I was three boxes short, so it was off to Walmart. I pulled into the parking lot and was amazed at the chaos. I found a spot...after 20 minutes of searching...and made my way into the store. Somehow, even though the pack of boxes was only 3 dollars I ended up with almost $100.00 of merchandise!! How in the world did I do that!!

So today my one item that popped up was Tostitos Scoops per requested by my mother in law...I thought I had read the email right and I got Tostitos chips...but then when I re-read the email it said Scoops. Well no way was showing up with regular Tostitos when she specifically requested the Scoops....so off to Walmart. I did better today and only spent $58.00, well thats better than $100.00 right?

The funniest thing of all....on the way home I realized we needed carrots and celery for the reindeer! Oh well...tomorrow I will just run out to Walmart and pick some up!

Christmas Decorations

Last weekend, amidst all the Black Friday chaos, dinners and friends, we decorated for Christmas. It is our family tradition to decorate the weekend after Thanksgiving. I love tradition. I remember when I was growing up the security I felt in knowing that some things always stay the same. Life happens, good and bad, so I always remember to keep some things solid and consistant, no matter what, for my girls to depend on. Of course they have their daddy and me and our love which will always remain consistant...but some things need to remain the same for the sake of feeling that no matter what life continues.

So we decorated even though inside I was so very tired that all I really wanted to do was sleep, (you know, the mom kind of sleep where you still hear everything but somehow you look like you are sleeping!). I went Black Friday shopping this year and I am so glad I did as I had more fun than I have had in awhile, as a woman, not a wife or mom, just as me! So I battled the sleepiness as we decorated our home.

They talked me into putting some of the presents under the tree, because it looks so pretty! Now every morning G asks if they can open some "today" and I have to say..."not today".

G enjoyed helping her sisters build this gingerbread train, and giggled as daddy threatened to eat it bit by bit. We still have a gingerbread house to build too.






Most of my decorations I have had for many years and still love to bring them out every year to look at. We also buy each of the kids a yearly ornament for the tree, so every year there are three new ones added to the bunch. I also add a few more if I see something I just can't resist. We have actually moved away from the traditional breakable balls to more of the homemade or personalized ornaments. I still have all the ones the kids made in grade school of course and to their dismay sometimes! And every year the day after Christmas I go out and get the decorations I had my eye on at 75% off and store them away so the next year when we pull them out there are a few new surprises.




Of course the rain over the weekend dampened our outside decorating but we will sure take care of that this weekend! So do you all have your decorations up yet?