A whole lotta love this Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! Acacia is 3 months old!

Christmas Card

This year's Christmas Card (for those of you who didn't see it.)

A Little Snowman Humor on this 1st Day of Winter

For God's fridge

The first time I watched the Veggietales "A Snoodle's Tale" I wept and today while driving I had the same reaction when I listened to the Christmas song "The Little Drummer Boy" on the radio, I believe for the same reason.

Essentially they both speak to how we often feel as though we have nothing significant to offer but that God loves us and accepts whatever we can bring Him. In 'A Snoodles Tale' the little snoodle's efforts were belittled & mocked by the other snoodles but when he encounters the Creator, he is told that what the others see & say is irrelavant--all that matters is how He sees the little snoodle. And He tells him that the pictures the snoodle draws will be placed on His refrigerator! In the 'Little Drummer Boy', the boy realizes that he is poor and cannot give the baby Jesus anything of monetary value...the only thing he can do is play his drum. He takes what little he has & put forth his very best effort in offering his small song to the Lord.

I want to remember that God loves me the way I love my children and is pleased with my meager efforts & gifts but that He is worthy of so much more than I can give. I want to always "play my best for Him" yet remember that even when my best falls short...He is still pleased to place my work on His refrigerator!

Eden's First Haircut

So I know it seems crazy but at the age of 4 1/2, Eden finally got her first haircut. I have trimmed her bangs several times over the last couple of years but never touched the back or sides. Her hair just doesn't grow fast enough on the sides to keep up with all the tearing & damage it endures. But the back was finally really getting pretty long and looking pretty scraggly so after several weeks of telling myself to just do it...I finally got out the scissors yesterday and evened it out in the back a bit.

Here is the "Before" picture:


And the "After" pictures:

Looks quite a bit better I think. I can't believe it took me this long to get up the guts to cut it!

Font Conference Video

One of my friends shared this video on Facebook and I found it so amusing I wanted to share it here. Perhaps it confirms how nerdy I am that I found this as funny as I did but...I was an English major in college! And Comic Sans always has been my favorite font!

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Modern Musical Numbers to Enjoy

I love musicals! I'm not sure what it is but when I hear a good musical number it brings a tear to my eye...and I'm not just talking about stuff like Phantom of the Opera & Cats. You know there is something more when you cry while listening to "Status Quo" and "Guy Love" I've seen three Broadway musicals so far (CATS, Le' Miserable, & The King and I) and I can't wait to see more. But for now I am content to get my fix by watching high school productions & TV versions. Here are a few modern musical numbers I've enjoyed all in one convenient location. ;)


From Enchanted: 'That's How You Know'


From High School Musical: 'Stick to the Status Quo'
(I know that this movie is kinda cheesy but the musical numbers in it are fantastic!)


From Scrubs Episode 'My Musical': 'Guy Love'
(Oh...and by the way, I just have to say that that Scrubs episode was the best single TV episode ever. Love it! It was hard to choose which song to put on here.)

Princess Jasmine has been dethroned...and boy is she upset!

Before the baby was born I was only a little worried as to how the other girls would react to her. I remember being concerned back when Jasmine was born about how Eden would take to being 'dethroned' but she actually did really well transitioning to her big sister role. This time I anticipated that Jasmine may have a problem with welcoming another sister to the family but she also seemed to be dealing with it quite well...until this week. This week Jasmine has grown more and more hostile toward Acacia and the time mommy dedicates to her. A few nights ago we were all watching a movie together and Jasmine and I were snuggling on the couch when Acacia woke up and started crying. I turned to Jasmine and said, "The baby is crying. She's probably hungry. Should I pick her up?" "Uunhh uh." She shook her head no. 'I want daddy to hold her." "But she's hungry & only mommy can feed her." Russ tells her. At this she gets really upset and starts screaming "Nooo." and crying as I get up to get the baby. Today a similar situation occurred...but this time after I had sat down & started nursing, Jasmine comes over and hits the baby on the head with great conviction! When I start to scold her she takes another forceful swing at her intruding little sister! I grabbed her hand that time & Russ came to intervene.

I shouldn't be suprised...Jasmine has always dealt with stress & her emotions in a more flamboyant manner than Eden ever does but even so I was a bit suprised because it seems that what is upsetting her is Acacia's time with me and I've always thought of her as a daddy's girl. Hopefully she'll quickly be convinced that Mama has plenty of room in her heart (and lap) for all her girls.

There is just something about a book.

There is just something about a book
by Gina K.

There is just something about a book.

There is just something about the feel of a volume in my hand;
the way the spine is unyielding to my touch.
There is just something about the smell of its pages
and the potential of the words that fill that gap between the covers.
There is just something about how they gather in organized families on my shelves;
the way their bold titles entice my eye as I gaze upon them.

There is just something about the way they speak to me;
the way their phrases enchant my mind & tantalize my sensibilities.
There is just something about how they transform me;
how their conversations mold how I see myself & the world around me.
There is just something in the way their discourses lift me to other lands
and their accounts transport me to other times.

There is just something about a book.

----------------------------------------------------

I love to read. But more than that...I love books. While I would in no way consider myself a book-aholic, I certainly admit to being a bibliophile. I have a hard time parting with books...even if I've already read them...or even if I suspect I will never read them. My house is filled with books--books from my childhood, books from my college classes, books I got from bookstores, bookmooch & Goodwill. I love shopping for books at Goodwill because it gives me the opportunity to find & read books that I never would have found or purchased otherwise. When I lived in the city I used to love going to the library for this same reason but since moving to a more rural area (where the library selection is a bit more limited) I've found that Goodwill works better for me because I can take them all home right away and don't have to rush or stress over due dates. The problem with this is that unless I really hate the book, I can't bring myself to get rid of it. So the books keep piling up. Russ covered one whole wall in our basement with shelves and that was filled before the screws he used to put them up with had cooled. I recently informed him that we need more shelf space & he joked that every wall in the house could be lined with shelves and it still wouldn't be enough. While that is currently a gross exaggeration--I know that I can't go my whole life hanging on to every book that crosses my path or it may not be too far from the truth! However, for now, I am enjoying expanding my collection. So if you are ever are in need of a gift ideas or a place to send your strays--know that books are always welcome in my home. The ones that don't join the family will be traded on bookmooch for books that will join the family. There is no such thing as an unwanted book in this house. (We may have a problem finding a place for them to sleep, however. ;))

I have a working stove!

We are seventy-two days into our kitchen remodel & I am excited to report that I once again have a working stove!! Yay! We all celebrated with a glass of sparkling grape juice. Now, I'm off to bake some muffins.





For photos of our remodel progress go here.

Fall photos of Acacia at 6 weeks