I am Alive

I keep getting emails and text messages asking if everything is okay and if I am Alive. The answer is YES........thanks for asking :)

Christmas was so different this year....... Randy and I went to First Baptist McKinney for the Christmas Eve service....it was so very moving, their pastor is an Artist and he did a sand "drawing?" show during a song and it was so awesome. He read a poem about how God looked through the nothingness - down through time and he saw Me. The sand art show started with an eye and then he transformed it into creation then into the nativity scene and on to the cross ending with the empty grave - it was so GREAT!!!!!! I told Randy that even though we were at a service where we knew NO ONE and No One knew us - God knew that it was where we needed to be. It was also very sad because Christmas Eve Service was my favorite time at First Baptist Lutz...... it was also bitter sweet to know that Britt and her Family were there this year - seeing friends and I wasn't. Trace got to love up on one of my dear friends and I know both of them received just what they needed during this special cuddle time....but to be honest I was very green eyed about it - I wanted to be there with them both!

Randy and I got up Christmas morning and watched more of Heroes Season one - (in fact we watched all of Season One this past weekend). We are saving season two for New years weekend. We pretty muched vegged out all weekend. Nyki and her family came over Christmas night and Rylee and Jakob opened their presents and we played Mexican Train game why they played ........then we all loaded up and went and looked at the Christmas lights, which was fun the kids were great and to quote "Rylee - I just can't pick a favorite - so I like them all!" and the day was gone.

Friday Randy and I wondered through downtown McKinney shops (something we had been meaning to do since we moved here and it was very nice......) We then went home and you guessed it watched more TV - hehehe. We had stopped by Michaels on Friday night and I got paint to fix something for the granddaughters - we were up until 3 a.m. with me working on it and us both watching TV. We went to bed and got up at the crack of ohhhhh sometime between 9 -10 and I finished the crafts - I hope their mothers (and the girls of course) like it as much as I do. I will post a picture once they have seen them.......do not want to ruin the surprise.

Shawn called and talked to his dad a couple of times and I talked to the boys Christmas night but we really didn't spend much time talking to anyone, so please do not be offended if I didn't talk to you.

The weirdest part to me is I was so looking forward to a kick back Christmas - which is exactly what we got...........but I discovered the truth to "be careful what you wish for" I know that Randy loved Christmas day and I am glad, I enjoyed it also........but I feel like I didn't have Christmas because to me it is all about family and friends and craziness. I enjoyed Thanksmas but it seems like such a long time ago.

Now you know why I haven't talked to very many people because.....when I thought about hearing how much everyone else was enjoying Christmas I became even more bummed out over it. So now you know why I have been laying low.......next time I promise I will invite you to my Pity Party but this year it was just a select few that got invites.

Hope y'all had a GREAT Christmas and have big plans for New Years.

Christmas Friday Fill In

If you would like to participate go HERE

2008
Fill in the lyrics...with the correct ones or ones of your own :-) Have fun with this, don't worry if you don't know 'em...just make up something silly or do a silly one and a serious one! The most important part is to have fun with it.Here we go!

1. Said the night wind to the little lamb, __Dude did you hear what the shepherds is planning for you tomorrow?___.
2. The first Noel, the angel did say, _I hope someone shares their ham with me____.
3. __The snow is falling___, Over the hills and everywhere.
4. It came upon the midnight clear, __that this baby doesn't like to sleep___.
5. _Drink a wine cooler and_, Let your heart be light.
6. And the thing that will make them ring is the carol that you sing _while in the shower____.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _ well looking forward to is a stretch but cleaning house____, tomorrow my plans include _Christmas shopping with my honey - what do you buy a 1 year old who has everything? I know a Hippotumus____ and Sunday, I want to __Join in with my fellow believers for the Birthday Party for Jesus and host small group at our house then deliver our gifts to a family down on their luck___!

2007
1. Away in a manger, no room for a _dirty diaper - he must be changed!
2. Dashing through the snow, in a _pair of flip flops - freezing off my toes____.
3. Hark! The herald angels __hum - Silent Night___.
4. It's coming on Christmas __and their are presents to still buy___.
5. When I was small I believed in Santa Claus, Though I knew it was __no use because I was always Naughty___.
6. That Christmas magic's brought this tale _of how I rode a whale____.

Friday Fill In & Funny

And...here we go! If you want to join pop over here

1. Friends _are the family you get to choose for yourself.
2. __Good___ health; it's _non-existant in my house currently someone is always SICK.
3. I'm ready for _the flu bug to be flushed for good from our house____.
4. _ Aramis____ is one of my favorite perfumes or aftershaves or smells.
5. The oldest ornament I have was taken when our storage was emptied- it was Our First Christmas Together 1979!
6. Take some __family and alcohol___, mix it all together and you have _a party or a fight depending on the mixture of each____.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _snuggle time with my hubby :)____, tomorrow my plans include going to downtown Dallas to minister to the homeless (praying that God doesn't put me on the foot washing line but am willing to serve where he does put me so.........we shall see)_____ and Sunday, I want to _See my grandsons perform before the church (Britt's 3 that is.......unless Nyki decides to bring her kids to join them)!



Now here is a newpaper add that just hit my funny bone! I should call since I'm NOT looking for a car!

'Twas Weeks Before Christmas

‘written by Twila & Brittney

'Twas weeks before Christmas, when all in our new house
The grandkids were stirring, Kailey squealing like a mouse;
The turkey was cooking in the house we all share,
Knowing the rest of the family soon would be there;
The children took sleeping bags over their beds,
So Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins could rest their heads;
Aunt Nyki & Uncle Jeremy bought each a Santa cap,
Moms knew it would be 3 days without a nap,
Uncle Shawn hit the garage door making such a clatter,
I screamed, AC came running to see what was the matter.
Andrew and Trace were in Tasha’s arms in a flash,
All thoughts of the rest of the house cleaning were trashed.
Upstairs in the closets were presents with bows
but first to McKinney’s tree lighting we would go,
Getting ready to leave when who should appear,
It was Santa without any of his reindeer,
Rylee and Jakob whispered their wants so quick,
I couldn’t hear them, "I’ll have to ask St. Nick."
After supper the begging and whining for presents came,
Off to bed with kids, Adults all settled in to playing a game;
"Now, Randy! now, Twila! now, Nyki and Jeremy!
On, Shawn! on Tasha! on, RC and Brittney!
Played the train game until the clock on the wall!
2 a.m. it did chime, to bed with us all!"
At 7 the kids awoke, to be quiet they did try,
Brittney took them to the park, the sun barely in the sky,
Off to the playground they marched two by two,
But the slide was damp and the cold wind blew.
So all headed back home when RC appeared with a poof
All six climbed into the van, excited to be under a roof.
So fixing breakfast was a challenge with all 14 around,
We didn’t go hungry, we each might have added a pound.
Clean up was fun with the chatting and kids under foot,
A big dinner in the oven soon was put;
A bundle of joy all the kids in a pack,
Randy and I agree, TEXAS, it’s great to be back.
Kids eyes -- how they twinkled! Their smiles so merry!
Memories were made that we will always carry!
After Dinner the kids lined up in a row,
The presents were passed out, each ready to go;
From the youngest to oldest each turn was took,
So much love and laughter the house practically shook;
Each voiced their thankfulness to God Above
Our Hearts were so full from His blessing and Love
A tradition was started, mixing Thanksgiving and Christmas
Creating in our family a new Holiday called Thanksmas,

So from Our House to Yours we want you to Hear
"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good-year."

Snow Ella

Remember when Ella went to the Gaylord Texan with us? She found snow and commented on how she thought snow was cold? No you don't remember will here's a link to the blog POST if you do not want to go back and read through the whole thing here's a picture of what she thought was snow. Okay now that I have jogged your memory I will tell you about a trip coming home from Amarillo.......we are driving along, if the truth be known I was napping and all of the sudden Ella starts trumpeting she was so excited "SNOW, SNOW, SNOW" is all she could say. We looked up and had to laugh she thought she had discovered the beginnings of a snow storm. Randy of course stopped so that she could see for herself it wasn't really snow but a cotton field....which is only fitting since it was cotton that she thought was snow earlier in her visit. Here's Ella learning the difference. Also remember the technical difficulties I was having with the Sleigh picture....ummmm I kind of forgot to make it smaller so it was trying to load full size so it was taking forever.....here you go for your visual pleasure Ella in Santa's sleigh and Ella thinking it is super cool that Santa has a cowboy hat just like hers!

Ella a normal couple of weeks

Ella has fit right in with the family.........it hasn't taken long for her to become such a part that we have created a RUT Day in and day out she has spent her days playing and learning and learning to play with the grandkids.

Wait wait I have gotten ahead of myself some of the fun and unusual things she has been doing is

riding a horse...

Hiding amongst the bottles..(trying to get away from the grandkids probably... )

Climbing Windmills....this was before we made her come down a little bit.

This is after....

She decided to try a new hair style.......my great nephew helped her out....we discouraged it after seeing her - but thought y'all might want a chance to see it also.