Our Weekend...

Wow... really. We had a good busy weekend.

Friday... Friday evening we stopped by some friend's of our Open House party. It was so good. Lot's of food, lot's of friends. We didn't really want to leave but our special needs group, Hearts and Hands, were having a parents night out and me and Jeff were going to take full advantage of it. That is the one thing we have learned is that mom and dad have to have dates. So, we got 2 1/2 hours to ourselves. It was much needed. The kiddos had fun too. They made pictures and ornaments and then watched a movie. There was also games in the gym they got to play and the older girls were playing pool with some of the older kids. (Advantage to the parents night out being in the youth center at church) Afterwards we dropped Britt of with her dad for the weekend.

Saturday.. Me and Kimmie got up ridiculously early to get to McGavock High School in Nashville. Her band director nominated her for mid-state band. We had to be there by 8:50am... 1hr 15min drive... I had to get up at 6:30am... anybody remember that I don't do mornings?

While we were at midstate, Jeff, the boys and Allie decorated one of our outside trees with ornaments and lights. It was cute for the boys to do it. I think even Scrooge had fun. :o) Check out Benji's blog for Jingle Benji... I promise they had way too much fun with us gone.

Thankfully at mid-state we had the "golden" ticket and got to skip line... there were over 150 Clarinets. We had to be back into White Bluff for the parade at 4pm.

We went to the parade that was VERY cold. Thankfully we were able to stay close to the truck and stay warm. Kimmie went to her friend's sleep over party afterwards. During the parade it was cute, the kids were grabbing gobs of candy and because we forgot a bag they kept stuffing it into my pockets in my coat. I gained like 15 lbs standing on the side of the road. LOL.

After the parade we stopped over at Nana and Papa's house to warm up. It took a good 30 minutes to be able to feel my hands again! About 5:40pm we remembered the Saving Little Hearts Christmas Party... that started at 6pm.

Better late than never...

The kiddos had fun, especially Benji. The other 3 enjoyed eating pizza, cookies and watching Santa Claus is Coming to Town (the old one with Mikey Runey) For Benji's fun see his post about it.

We finally got home about 8:30pm and we were all wiped out.

Yesterday we had a wonderful church service even though we missed Sunday School. The message was Have a Mary Christmas. (I will link to it once they have it up on the site)

For the afternoon, we stopped by Goody's since the y still had the sale on the purses. I was really hoping that they would restock the one I saw on black friday. Well, they didn't restock, but one was returned! So I got my $30 purple purse for $12 PLUS... Ms. Murphy got her Christmas present of a brand new nice and warm cat bed for $5. Two happy customers.

We got Benji's swing fixed and re-hung once we got home. Let me tell you. Talk about a happy customer. LOL

When we picked up Britt she wanted to get the pitch back with her allowance/Christmas money... so we went in to Walmart. This was when my head said enough and unleased a nasty migraine. Before walmart though we stopped by Claire's with my $10 gift card. Got another purse (lol... I buy maybe one a year... plus it is SO cute.)

I spent the evening in the dark and in bed. It was a crazy but mostly good weekend. And oh... Kimmie didn't make the mid-state band. She's a bit upset but realizes she didn't really practice enough too. There is next year.

Gotcha some savings!

So... I just got my Christmas picture order in that I ordered Sunday. Yes I said Sunday! I ordered them Sunday afternoon and got them today! I love them. They look great and I am sure the relatives that get them in their Christmas Cards will enjoy them too.

So where did I order these cards? I got them from Shutterfly! I am including several links below for you to use too... These are only good until the 12th. So you have roughly a week. Order away!

New Member's Offer - Get 25 FREE 4x6 Prints when you join Shutterfly! Limited Time Offer.

Buy an 8x8 photo book, get 30 free 4x6 prints. Use promotion code: AF73-SAVE. Expires 1.6.09.

We have 2 of the photo books and I absolutely love them! They are great and very nicely printed. We did one of Benji's first year and then one of this past summer. It's a great way to keep a season or a year of pictures organized and together. Plus you can share them online.

Free shipping on orders $50+ (promo code SHIP50). See site for details.

Buy 50 cards, get 25 more free! See site for details.

This is great for Christmas or New Years cards. Order them today and you can mail them out by the end of next week!

Buy 1 calendar, get 30% off additional calendars! See site for details.

Christmas is coming!

So... it's the 4th of December. Just one week from Thanksgiving. Who all has their decorating done?

LOL... We have what we are doing outside done. Inside we need to finish up tonight and tomorrow.

St. Nicholas day is the 6th. Anybody use it to avoid Santa? We do. Sorta became necessary when we brought our two families together. I had never really done Santa and with my kids we emphasis that Jesus provides our needs and wants so, Jesus is who the presents come from. With Jeff's two they were all about Santa and the materialism of the commercialism of Christmas. So the compromise is that we do a devotion on St. Nicholas and explain who he was and why he is associated with Christmas. (I'll post the devotion later today)

It seems to be working out. On St. Nick's eve the kiddos leave their shoes by their doors and in the morning find a little present in them. (VERY inexpensive and nothing that big)

We still need to figure out what exactly we are doing for Christmas. We had thought about having a friends party the Saturday after Christmas. I don't know though. I would love to have friends over but the business is going crazy.

This weekend is busy. Tomorrow evening the elementary school aged kids are performing in the city park in Dickson as a premiere for "Miracle on Main St." The actual performance is Sunday night at church.

Next week Britt has practice for the band concert on Monday. Both Kimmie and Britt have the Band Concert on Tuesday. Wednesday is church, Thursday is Kimmie Drama performance, Saturday (13th) Kimmie has mid state auditions at McGavock in Nashville.

I am sure there is more going on too. Wouldn't have it any other way.

I forgot... Benji has his Echo on Monday. We are praying his heart is healed.

Merry Christmas

At that time Emperor Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Roman Empire. When this first census took place, Quirinius was the governor of Syria. Everyone, then, went to register himself, each to his own hometown. Joseph went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to the town of Bethlehem in Judea, the birthplace of King David. Joseph went there because he was a descendant of David. He went to register with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him. She was pregnant, and while they were in Bethlehem, the time came for her to have her baby. She gave birth to her first son, wrapped him in cloths and laid him in a manger---there was no room for them to stay in the inn. There were some shepherds in that part of the country who were spending the night in the fields, taking care of their flocks. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone over them. They were terribly afraid, but the angel said to them, "Don't be afraid! I am here with good news for you, which will bring great joy to all the people. This very day in David's town your Savior was born---Christ the Lord! And this is what will prove it to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great army of heaven's angels appeared with the angel, singing praises to God: "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom he is pleased!" When the angels went away from them back into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and saw the baby lying in the manger. When the shepherds saw him, they told them what the angel had said about the child. All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said. Mary remembered all these things and thought deeply about them. The shepherds went back, singing praises to God for all they had heard and seen; it had been just as the angel had told them.
(Luke 2:1-20 GNB)


Nearly 2000 years ago, the Christ child was born. The most valuable gift we could have ever been given is what we celebrate on Christmas. The birth of Christ. Through the birth of Jesus, we were given the gift of Salvation. All that is required of us is to accept that gift.

And believe me when I saw that gift is better than a laptop or an iPod or a diamond necklace or money. The gift of Salvation is the ultimate gift.

I pray that your Christmas is a blessed one and that you at least pause for a moment to look to the Lord and thank Him.