Decorating the tree

Keith begins the stringing of the lights.
Konner investigates our tree topper -- the star interlaced with thorns -- I love the significance
Kylie wears her bulbs nicely!
Keva got her snowman pillow as a gift from her school. She absolutely loves it and carries it all around the house. I'm hoping the snowman will survive Kody.
The fun of decorating a tree makes even doing dishes fun!
Wait a minute, Kade, you're not the tree.
Blackmail . . .
. . . and more blackmail!
Konner carefully places his bulbs on the tree.
We have mostly red and gold bulbs, and then more ornamanets that we've collected since our move.
Kathleen
Hey, it's Rudolph!
The kids argued incessantly about the proper placement of the lights.
Kathleen: There are way too many red ones over here people! We do not put SIX red ones together!
Keri Lynn: The ugly plastic ones go on the other side of the tree.
Kade: But people will see the ugly ones from the deck!
Me: No one's going to be looking at our tree from the deck, Kade.
Kathleen: Who hung this one off of the lights? Use the branch!
Kristofer helping with the lights.
So pretty!

So pretty, again!
Another Rudolph!
And Donner or Blitzen!
And a pixie hiding in the trees
It's Kylie's turn to place the star this year.
Keith gets it straightened out and we all stand back to admire the tree. Ahhhhh!
Keri Lynn and Keva
Merry Christmas, everybody!

Sleep-over

Erin, one of our neighbors, joins the girls for a sleep-over. This Christmas vacation has been chock full of kids coming and going!

Christmas blessings

Keva's school picks one family every year to give presents to, and this year, we were picked. Not only did we get a bunch of presents for each of the kids, but we got some gently used clothing and some groceries. Here is Kylie in an outfit she got. Isn't she cute!
Here are some of the clothes as I organized them into kid piles. We also got some wonderful coats, coming just in the nick of time for the cold season. And, as it so happened, Keva's coat had just gotten ripped up by our "beloved" Kody, so I was really glad to see a replacement before I even had time to worry about how we'd get one.
Here's Kathleen with some much needed jeans!

Christmas Caroling

Every year, our church goes in groups throughout the neighborhood to sing Christmas carols. Here we are at the porch of one of the houses.
Keva and Keri Lynn -- Keri Lynn is holding a candle . . .
. . . and Keva is holding her bells. This year, she decided to actually hold on to her bells through the whole time we sang. Last year, she immediately threw her bells down on the ground and laughed uproariously.
You can see Konner in the middle of the group of kids. Somehow, I didn't get a closeup of Konner or Kade, and none at all of Kristofer who was in a different group.
Kylie

Kylie and her books

Kylie loves to read whatever she can get her hands on. Here she has on of Ralph Moody's books. I just got the first of the Boxcar children books from the library that she is also enjoying.

New Year's Resolutions

1) Stop drinking soda (AGAIN!)

I started drinking soda again after I started working. I needed the caffeine lift, but after a short few months, I already feel the negative impact on my body, and I'm reminded of why I quit in the first place! So, I'm drinking the last Coke today or tomorrow (unless Keith drinks it first!) and that's it. I even bought a six-pack of water bottles to take to work and have some Advil on hand for headaches.

2) Watch what I eat and exercise more.

For now, I'm not actually measuring this goal, or at least not until I've found a little rhythm in my life after I start substitute teaching. I will watch what I eat more and generally eat more slowly, less gluttonously . . .

3) And the goal I'm most excited about -- I'm reading through the Bible this year.

I love Bible study. I'm going to read through the Bible chronologically -- AND I'm going to post it right here with an opportunity for questions and discussion. We'll use the comments for questions, answers, discussion and general accountability. I'm going to encourage some neighbor friends and my own kids to read along with me, and if anyone would like to participate, you would be welcome! I realize that a lot of you already have your own Bible studies and devotionals, so please don't feel obligated. BUT, if you don't have anything else going, consider joining me. I'd like it to be a blogger Bible study, of sorts. I'm starting tomorrow!

Here's the plan, if you're interested. I've taken it from http://www.bibleplan.org.


Day 1 --- Genesis 1-3
Day 2 --- Genesis 4-7
Day 3 --- Genesis 8-11
Day 4 --- Job 1-5
Day 5 --- Job 6-9
Day 6 --- Job 10-13
Day 7 --- Job 14-16
Day 8 --- Job 17-20
Day 9 --- Job 21-23
Day 10 --- Job 24-28
Day 11 --- Job 29-31
Day 12 --- Job 32-34
Day 13 --- Job 35-37
Day 14 --- Job 38-39
Day 15 --- Job 40-42
Day 16 --- Genesis 12-15
Day 17 --- Genesis 16-18
Day 18 --- Genesis 19-21
Day 19 --- Genesis 22-24
Day 20 --- Genesis 25-26
Day 21 --- Genesis 27-29
Day 22 --- Genesis 30-31
Day 23 --- Genesis 32-34
Day 24 --- Genesis 35-37
Day 25 --- Genesis 38-40
Day 26 --- Genesis 41-42
Day 27 --- Genesis 43-45
Day 28 --- Genesis 46-47
Day 29 --- Genesis 48-50
Day 30 --- Exodus 1-3
Day 31 --- Exodus 4-6
Day 32 --- Exodus 7-9
Day 33 --- Exodus 10-12
Day 34 --- Exodus 13-15
Day 35 --- Exodus 16-18
Day 36 --- Exodus 19-21
Day 37 --- Exodus 22-24
Day 38 --- Exodus 25-27
Day 39 --- Exodus 28-29
Day 40 --- Exodus 30-32
Day 41 --- Exodus 33-35
Day 42 --- Exodus 36-38
Day 43 --- Exodus 39-40
Day 44 --- Leviticus 1-4
Day 45 --- Leviticus 5-7
Day 46 --- Leviticus 8-10
Day 47 --- Leviticus 11-13
Day 48 --- Leviticus 14-15
Day 49 --- Leviticus 16-18
Day 50 --- Leviticus 19-21
Day 51 --- Leviticus 22-23
Day 52 --- Leviticus 24-25
Day 53 --- Leviticus 26-27
Day 54 --- Numbers 1-2
Day 55 --- Numbers 3-4
Day 56 --- Numbers 5-6
Day 57 --- Numbers 7
Day 58 --- Numbers 8-10
Day 59 --- Numbers 11-13
Day 60 --- Numbers 14-15 - Psalm 90
Day 61 --- Numbers 16-17
Day 62 --- Numbers 18-20
Day 63 --- Numbers 21-22
Day 64 --- Numbers 23-25
Day 65 --- Numbers 26-27
Day 66 --- Numbers 28-30
Day 67 --- Numbers 31-32
Day 68 --- Numbers 33-34
Day 69 --- Numbers 35-36
Day 70 --- Deuteronomy 1-2
Day 71 --- Deuteronomy 3-4
Day 72 --- Deuteronomy 5-7
Day 73 --- Deuteronomy 8-10
Day 74 --- Deuteronomy 11-13
Day 75 --- Deuteronomy 14-16
Day 76 --- Deuteronomy 17-20
Day 77 --- Deuteronomy 21-23
Day 78 --- Deuteronomy 24-27
Day 79 --- Deuteronomy 28-29
Day 80 --- Deuteronomy 30-31
Day 81 --- Deuteronomy 32-34 - Psalm 91
Day 82 --- Joshua 1-4
Day 83 --- Joshua 5-8
Day 84 --- Joshua 9-11
Day 85 --- Joshua 12-15
Day 86 --- Joshua 16-18
Day 87 --- Joshua 19-21
Day 88 --- Joshua 22-24
Day 89 --- Judges 1-2
Day 90 --- Judges 3-5
Day 91 --- Judges 6-7
Day 92 --- Judges 8-9
Day 93 --- Judges 10-12
Day 94 --- Judges 13-15
Day 95 --- Judges 16-18
Day 96 --- Judges 19-21
Day 97 --- Ruth 1-4
Day 98 --- 1 Samuel 1-3
Day 99 --- 1 Samuel 4-8
Day 100 --- 1 Samuel 9-12
Day 101 --- 1 Samuel 13-14
Day 102 --- 1 Samuel 15-17
Day 103 --- Psalm 11 - 1 Samuel 18-20 - Psalm 59
Day 104 --- 1 Samuel 21-24
Day 105 --- Psalm 7 - Psalm 27 - Psalm 31 - Psalm 34 - Psalm 52
Day 106 --- Psalm 56 - Psalm 120 - Psalm 140-142
Day 107 --- 1 Samuel 25-27
Day 108 --- Psalm 17 - Psalm 35 - Psalm 54 - Psalm 63
Day 109 --- Psalm 18 - 1 Samuel 28-31
Day 110 --- Psalm 121 - Psalm 123-125 - Psalm 128-130
Day 111 --- 2 Samuel 1-4
Day 112 --- Psalm 6 - Psalm 8-10 - Psalm 14 - Psalm 16 - Psalm 19 - Psalm 21
Day 113 --- 1 Chronicles 1-2
Day 114 --- Psalm 43-45 - Psalm 49 - Psalm 84-85 - Psalm 87
Day 115 --- 1 Chronicles 3-5
Day 116 --- Psalm 73 - Psalm 77-78
Day 117 --- 1 Chronicles 6
Day 118 --- Psalm 81 - Psalm 88 - Psalm 92-93
Day 119 --- 1 Chronicles 7-10
Day 120 --- Psalm 102-104
Day 121 --- 2 Samuel 5:1-10 - 1 Chronicles 11-12
Day 122 --- Psalm 133
Day 123 --- Psalm 106-107
Day 124 --- 2 Samuel 5:11-6:23 - 1 Chronicles 13-16
Day 125 --- Psalm 1-2 - Psalm 15 - Psalm 22-24 - Psalm 47 - Psalm 68
Day 126 --- Psalm 89 - Psalm 96 - Psalm 100 - Psalm 101 - Psalm 105 - Psalm 132
Day 127 --- 2 Samuel 7 - 1 Chronicles 17
Day 128 --- Psalm 25 - Psalm 29 - Psalm 33 - Psalm 36 - Psalm 39
Day 129 --- 2 Samuel 8-9 - 1 Chronicles 18
Day 130 --- Psalm 50 - Psalm 53 - Psalm 60 - Psalm 75
Day 131 --- 2 Samuel 10 - 1 Chronicles 19 - Psalm 20
Day 132 --- Psalm 65-67 - Psalm 69-70
Day 133 --- 2 Samuel 11-12 - 1 Chronicles 20
Day 134 --- Psalm 32 - Psalm 51 - Psalm 86 - Psalm 122
Day 135 --- 2 Samuel 13-15
Day 136 --- Psalm 3-4 - Psalm 12-13 - Psalm 28 - Psalm 55
Day 137 --- 2 Samuel 16-18
Day 138 --- Psalm 26 - Psalm 40 - Psalm 58 - Psalm 61-62 - Psalm 64
Day 139 --- 2 Samuel 19-21
Day 140 --- Psalm 5 - Psalm 38 - Psalm 41-42
Day 141 --- 2 Samuel 22-23 - Psalm 57
Day 142 --- Psalm 95 - Psalm 97-99
Day 143 --- 1 Chronicles 21-22 - 2 Samuel 24 - Psalm 30
Day 144 --- Psalm 108-110
Day 145 --- 1 Chronicles 23-25
Day 146 --- Psalm 131 - Psalm 138-139 - Psalm 143-145
Day 147 --- 1 Chronicles 26-29 - Psalm 127
Day 148 --- Psalm 111-118
Day 149 --- 1 Kings 1-2 - Psalm 37 - Psalm 71 - Psalm 94
Day 150 --- Psalm 119:1-88
Day 151 --- 2 Chronicles 1 - 1 Kings 3-4 - Psalm 72
Day 152 --- Psalm 119:89-176
Day 153 --- Song of Solomon 1-8
Day 154 --- Proverbs 1-3
Day 155 --- Proverbs 4-6
Day 156 --- Proverbs 7-9
Day 157 --- Proverbs 10-12
Day 158 --- Proverbs 13-15
Day 159 --- Proverbs 16-18
Day 160 --- Proverbs 19-21
Day 161 --- Proverbs 22-24
Day 162 --- 2 Chronicles 2-3 - 1 Kings 5-6
Day 163 --- 2 Chronicles 4 - 1 Kings 7
Day 164 --- 2 Chronicles 5 - 1 Kings 8
Day 165 --- 2 Chronicles 6-7 - Psalm 136
Day 166 --- Psalm 134 - Psalm 146-150
Day 167 --- 2 Chronicles 8 - 1 Kings 9
Day 168 --- Proverbs 25-26
Day 169 --- Proverbs 27-29
Day 170 --- Ecclesiastes 1-6
Day 171 --- Ecclesiastes 7-12
Day 172 --- 2 Chronicles 9 - 1 Kings 10-11
Day 173 --- Proverbs 30-31
Day 174 --- 1 Kings 12-14
Day 175 --- 2 Chronicles 10-12
Day 176 --- 2 Chronicles 13-16 - 1 Kings 15:1-24
Day 177 --- 1 Kings 15:25-16:34 - 2 Chronicles 17
Day 178 --- 1 Kings 17-19
Day 179 --- 1 Kings 20-21
Day 180 --- 2 Chronicles 18 - 1 Kings 22
Day 181 --- 2 Chronicles 19-23
Day 182 --- Obadiah 1 - Psalm 82-83
Day 183 --- 2 Kings 1-4
Day 184 --- 2 Kings 5-8
Day 185 --- 2 Kings 9-11
Day 186 --- 2 Kings 12-13 - 2 Chronicles 24
Day 187 --- 2 Kings 14 - 2 Chronicles 25
Day 188 --- Jonah 1-4
Day 189 --- 2 Kings 15 - 2 Chronicles 26
Day 190 --- Isaiah 1-4
Day 191 --- Isaiah 5-8
Day 192 --- Amos 1-5
Day 193 --- Amos 6-9
Day 194 --- Isaiah 9-12 - 2 Chronicles 27
Day 195 --- Micah 1-7
Day 196 --- 2 Kings 16-17 - 2 Chronicles 28
Day 197 --- Isaiah 13-17
Day 198 --- Isaiah 18-22
Day 199 --- Isaiah 23-27
Day 200 --- 2 Kings 18:1-8 - 2 Chronicles 29-31 - Psalm 48
Day 201 --- Hosea 1-7
Day 202 --- Hosea 8-14
Day 203 --- Isaiah 28-30
Day 204 --- Isaiah 31-34
Day 205 --- Isaiah 35-36
Day 206 --- Isaiah 37-39 - Psalm 76
Day 207 --- Isaiah 40-43
Day 208 --- Isaiah 44-48
Day 209 --- 2 Kings 18:9-19:37 - Psalm 46 - Psalm 80 - Psalm 135
Day 210 --- Isaiah 49-53
Day 211 --- Isaiah 54-58
Day 212 --- Isaiah 59-63
Day 213 --- Isaiah 64-66
Day 214 --- 2 Kings 20-21
Day 215 --- 2 Chronicles 32-33
Day 216 --- Nahum 1-3
Day 217 --- 2 Kings 22-23 - 2 Chronicles 34-35
Day 218 --- Zephaniah 1-3
Day 219 --- Jeremiah 1-3
Day 220 --- Jeremiah 4-6
Day 221 --- Jeremiah 7-9
Day 222 --- Jeremiah 10-13
Day 223 --- Jeremiah 14-17
Day 224 --- Jeremiah 18-22
Day 225 --- Jeremiah 23-25
Day 226 --- Jeremiah 26-29
Day 227 --- Jeremiah 30-31
Day 228 --- Jeremiah 32-34
Day 229 --- Jeremiah 35-37
Day 230 --- Jeremiah 38-40 - Psalm 74 - Psalm 79
Day 231 --- 2 Kings 24-25 - 2 Chronicles 36
Day 232 --- Habakkuk 1-3
Day 233 --- Jeremiah 41-45
Day 234 --- Jeremiah 46-48
Day 235 --- Jeremiah 49-50
Day 236 --- Jeremiah 51-52
Day 237 --- Lamentations 1:1-3:36
Day 238 --- Lamentations 3:37-5:22
Day 239 --- Ezekiel 1-4
Day 240 --- Ezekiel 5-8
Day 241 --- Ezekiel 9-12
Day 242 --- Ezekiel 13-15
Day 243 --- Ezekiel 16-17
Day 244 --- Ezekiel 18-19
Day 245 --- Ezekiel 20-21
Day 246 --- Ezekiel 22-23
Day 247 --- Ezekiel 24-27
Day 248 --- Ezekiel 28-31
Day 249 --- Ezekiel 32-34
Day 250 --- Ezekiel 35-37
Day 251 --- Ezekiel 38-39
Day 252 --- Ezekiel 40-41
Day 253 --- Ezekiel 42-43
Day 254 --- Ezekiel 44-45
Day 255 --- Ezekiel 46-48
Day 256 --- Joel 1-3
Day 257 --- Daniel 1-3
Day 258 --- Daniel 4-6
Day 259 --- Daniel 7-9
Day 260 --- Daniel 10-12
Day 261 --- Ezra 1-3
Day 262 --- Ezra 4-6 - Psalm 137
Day 263 --- Haggai 1-2
Day 264 --- Zechariah 1-7
Day 265 --- Zechariah 8-14
Day 266 --- Esther 1-5
Day 267 --- Esther 6-10
Day 268 --- Ezra 7-10
Day 269 --- Nehemiah 1-5
Day 270 --- Nehemiah 6-7
Day 271 --- Nehemiah 8-10
Day 272 --- Nehemiah 11-13 - Psalm 126
Day 273 --- Malachi 1-4
Day 274 --- Luke 1 - John 1:1-14
Day 275 --- Matthew 1 - Luke 2:1-38
Day 276 --- Matthew 2 - Luke 2:39-52
Day 277 --- Mark 1 - Luke 3 - Matthew 3
Day 278 --- John 1:15-51 - Matthew 4 - Luke 4-5
Day 279 --- John 2-4
Day 280 --- Mark 2
Day 281 --- John 5
Day 282 --- Mark 3 - Luke 6 - Matthew 12:1-21
Day 283 --- Matthew 5-7
Day 284 --- Luke 7 - Matthew 8:1-13
Day 285 --- Matthew 11
Day 286 --- Luke 11 - Matthew 12:22-50
Day 287 --- Luke 8 - Matthew 13
Day 288 --- Mark 4-5 - Matthew 8:14-34
Day 289 --- Matthew 9-10
Day 290 --- Mark 6 - Luke 9:1-17 - Matthew 14
Day 291 --- John 6
Day 292 --- Mark 7 - Matthew 15
Day 293 --- Mark 8 - Luke 9:18-27 - Matthew 16
Day 294 --- Mark 9 - Luke 9:28-62 - Matthew 17
Day 295 --- Matthew 18
Day 296 --- John 7-8
Day 297 --- John 9:1-10:21
Day 298 --- John 10:22-42 - Luke 10-11
Day 299 --- Luke 12-13
Day 300 --- Luke 14-15
Day 301 --- Luke 16:1-17:10
Day 302 --- John 11
Day 303 --- Luke 17:11-18:14
Day 304 --- Mark 10 - Matthew 19
Day 305 --- Matthew 20-21
Day 306 --- Luke 18:15-19:48
Day 307 --- Mark 11 - John 12
Day 308 --- Mark 12 - Matthew 22
Day 309 --- Luke 20-21 - Matthew 23
Day 310 --- Mark 13
Day 311 --- Matthew 24
Day 312 --- Matthew 25
Day 313 --- Mark 14 - Matthew 26
Day 314 --- John 13 - Luke 22
Day 315 --- John 14-17
Day 316 --- Mark 15 - Matthew 27
Day 317 --- John 18-19 - Luke 23
Day 318 --- Mark 16 - Matthew 28
Day 319 --- John 20-21 - Luke 24
Day 320 --- Acts 1-3
Day 321 --- Acts 4-6
Day 322 --- Acts 7-8
Day 323 --- Acts 9-10
Day 324 --- Acts 11-12
Day 325 --- Acts 13-14
Day 326 --- James 1-5
Day 327 --- Acts 15-16
Day 328 --- Galatians 1-3
Day 329 --- Galatians 4-6
Day 330 --- Acts 17:1-18:18
Day 331 --- 1 Thessalonians 1-5 - 2 Thessalonians 1-3
Day 332 --- Acts 18:19-19:41
Day 333 --- 1 Corinthians 1-4
Day 334 --- 1 Corinthians 5-8
Day 335 --- 1 Corinthians 9-11
Day 336 --- 1 Corinthians 12-14
Day 337 --- 1 Corinthians 15-16
Day 338 --- 2 Corinthians 1-4
Day 339 --- 2 Corinthians 5-9
Day 340 --- 2 Corinthians 10-13
Day 341 --- Romans 1-3 - Acts 20:1-3
Day 342 --- Romans 4-7
Day 343 --- Romans 8-10
Day 344 --- Romans 11-13
Day 345 --- Romans 14-16
Day 346 --- Acts 20:4-23:35
Day 347 --- Acts 24-26
Day 348 --- Acts 27-28
Day 349 --- Philemon 1 - Colossians 1-4
Day 350 --- Ephesians 1-6
Day 351 --- Philippians 1-4
Day 352 --- 1 Timothy 1-6
Day 353 --- Titus 1-3
Day 354 --- 1 Peter 1-5
Day 355 --- Hebrews 1-6
Day 356 --- Hebrews 7-10
Day 357 --- Hebrews 11-13
Day 358 --- 2 Timothy 1-4
Day 359 --- Jude 1 - 2 Peter 1-3
Day 360 --- 1 John 1-5
Day 361 --- 2 John 1 - 3 John 1
Day 362 --- Revelation 1-5
Day 363 --- Revelation 6-11
Day 364 --- Revelation 12-18
Day 365 --- Revelation 19-22

Christmas blessings

I glanced down at the milk jug yesterday and saw a January 4, 2008 expiration date. This stunned me for a few minutes, and quite honestly I thought it was a misprint . . . 2008? . . . it couldn't be! Then it dawned on me that I'd better start getting used to a new year soon.

I'm tired.

I'm all cashiered out. This morning, I started work with my mind in a bit of a muddle. It took me a full 30 minutes to quit saying "Merry Christmas!" after each transaction. I finally transitioned into "Happy New Year!" while ringing up all kinds of 50% off Christmas paraphernalia and new VALENTINE stuff. Then, finally, I got to come home and promptly sent Keith off to get some pizza at Papa Johns -- THANK YOU, Danny and Jessica for gift cards for pizza. What a huge treat!

Someday I will give some very interesting details to our Christmas 2007 and really the whole last three months. But for now, suffice it to say that God blessed us with a wonderful time of celebration. We knew going into the holidays that we wouldn't be able to buy presents for the kids or even a tree. Our budget was extremely tight, so we prayed. Kade and Kylie prayed in the car several weeks ago, as we drove home from Wednesday night church, for a Christmas tree. I prayed that the Lord would provide for our needs just as He provided for Elijah and the widow and her son -- a jar of oil and a jar of flour that never emptied for the entire duration of famine. Keith prayed for provision in our evening family prayer time. Not only did He provide for our needs during the holidays, but He blessed us with a tree and several sets of presents, mostly from anonymous providers. We also had several turkeys to cook with all of the fixings, so we invited Keith's friend, Miss Carol, from work to come over to celebrate Christmas with us. Some friends from church also popped over to say hi and to bring some more gifts. Our day was full and blessed.

Highlights: presents, Scrabble, chocolate milk, turkey and gravy, presents, family phone calls, presents, and presents!

I also did laundry on Christmas day. Lots and lots of laundry. Mostly because the kids had absolutely nothing to wear except for the clothes they unwrapped from presents. I barely made a dent in the mountain that was our laundry room. Scary.

Interestingly, Target did not schedule me for work for the next six days. I almost don't want to call in to see if there are some extra hours. Keith has had this week off and also the next, and we have a lot that we can get done together. (And a lot that we can NOT get done together.) But it is nice to get a paycheck, so we'll see. At the very least, I'm paying some bills and doing some more laundry!

Brain Mush

Today is Kade's eighth birthday. This does not help my sense of complete and utter brainlessness. I pretty much try to take one day at a time, no matter that it's Christmas when there are hundreds of things that need to get done. I just need to get through the day.

It's not necessarily that things are particularly difficult or that I'm particularly tired or that we have more to do than any other family in the USA. It's just that things are different. Going to work has added a completely different aspect to my regular day. And I only work an average of six hours a day at a Target register. However, laundry still gets dirty, dishes still need to be washed and floors still need to be vacuumed whether I go to work or not! Imagine that!

Yesterday, we all went to Kade's Christmas program at The Performing Arts Center. He was one of four boys who were in a toy band. The play was mainly about a little Christmas tree who knows the true meaning of Christmas. Santa, at one point, panned out to the audience, "Do you know the true meaning of Christmas?" I wanted to yell it out, but thought that perhaps that would defeat my purpose. But I did watch with great interest as the little Christmas tree sang out the true meaning . . . it's LOVE! How about that? But as she sang, I thought, well they've got it nearly right. It is love, but it's actually Love, with a capital "L". (But more on that, later.)

Then, today, I took Kade out for his birthday for a lunch date at Steak and Shake, his choice, where we enjoyed his favorite french fries. We polished off lunch with a fudge brownie sundae for him and the world's yummiest eggnog shake for me. Mmmmm-mmmmm! THEN, the serious shopping began. He had eight dollars from Papa Stan that had been burning a whole in his pocket for days, so to his utter relief we went to go spend it! It had to be done! He finally settled on three balls from Target -- a football (his current favorite sport), a basketball and a bouncy ball -- all of them blue.

Then, we detoured to his school to see if his teacher had his jacket that he had left before the Christmas play at the Performing Arts Center. (I mention this little trip, because it showcases the state of my brain at this point.) We were driving down a long stretch of road that we take all the time to get to our home. There is one intersection that leads to the elementary school . . .

"There it is! You passed it, Mom!" Kade told me.

"Oh, I wasn't even paying attention! Thank you, Kade!"

So, I turned around at the next intersection. And headed back the other way, marveling at how I could have missed my turn and wondering at how us city folk had ended up living just outside of Mayberry.

"You passed it again!" Kade cried, just minutes later.

I couldn't believe it! How had that happened? So, I turned around AGAIN a mile down the road muttering to myself that my brain was really screwed on weird when it came to directions. However, when Kade told me that I had missed my turn a third time, I realized that he was seeing a road that was not the right turn. It looked somewhat like the turn that led to the school, but that turn was still several miles further down! We had just turned and back-tracked THREE times at the wrong section of the road and I had not figured it out until then. Yes, that's my driving acuity in a nutshell.

Now, I'm home. I should be madly cleaning because in two short days we'll be having a huge birthday bash for Kade, Kristofer, Kylie, Konner and Keva . . . all the kids that we just couldn't swing a birthday party for this year because of our financial issues. We're going to do a big bash on Friday, but SHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!, it's a surprise! Hopefully we'll get most of the neighborhood kids to come before too many families are gone for Christmas. I'm going to make a huge cake in various flavors and one icing. We'll play a lot of goofy games. It should be fun.

This year, Keri Lynn and Kathleen were able to finagle birthday parties, and even those were creatively cheap, but the rest weren't so lucky. So before Konner's birthday comes around again in two weeks we're going to cover them all. Keri Lynn and Kathleen are masterminding the major details while I act as a kind of behind-the-desk general from my Target register.

Then there's the whole problem with the Christmas letter. I think I'm going to do what only was going to be inevitable. I'm going to write my Christmas letter on my blog instead of on paper. First and foremost, at this time, it's plainly more affordable. Secondly, I just don't have the time to do a letter. I think it's been about three years since I've sent one out anyway, so I really need to at least send out a postcard to my regular recipients, who aren't on this email list, with our Georgia address and blog information! We got our first Christmas letters a few weeks ago. It's always so nice to get a real card in the mail!

We're on track better than last year, though. We had a Christmas tree donated to us last week and it is now up and decorated! It looks beautiful! Keith also put up the lights that he'd bought two years ago when he didn't have a ladder big enough to do the job. He nearly killed himself trying to put up lights. I'm sure he nearly killed himself this year, too, but I was at work and blissfully unaware. I came home that night and he brought me right back outside to stand and watch as Kristofer turned the lights on. It looks so pretty! He has only one more eave to do, the tallest one of course, but that may wait until next year, which is fine with me!

One last story and then I'm going to do some more cleaning.

Kylie sang with her choir in church a few weeks ago. I loved watching her sing the words of a beautiful Christmas song. Her little blond head among the other singers, always in the front row because she's so short. Her mouth formed the words and even though I couldn't hear her specifically, I could tell she was forming the words with the tiniest hint of a childhood lisp. So precious. My heart just burst over with love for her. I had eyes only for her.

Then, I thought of our Father's love for His only son. How He must have looked on Jesus, His beloved. How proud He must have been to see Him laying in Mary's arms, so precious. And yet God gave His Son, His only Son, as a sacrifice for us, that we might live. That's what we celebrate this season. We celebrate the coming of God's Son to this earth . . .

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

Send some bloggy love!

My 16-year-old daughter, Keri Lynn, is listed in my blog roll to the right, but she would like a little more bloggy love than just a comment or two from her own mom. So go on over to her blog and tell her how great she is! Because she is great, you know. A teenaged girl who loves the Lord and desires to please Him in all that she does. I'm so proud of her!

Crime Scene

This weekend, Kathleen had a friend from school come for a sleep-over. We had never had this particular girl over before, but all was going fine. In fact, I was looking forward to sleeping in a little on Saturday before going into work at 11:00. Finally an opportunity to take it easy . . . maybe Keith could take me out to a little breakfast, too!

We were both startled out of dead sleep at 7:30 Saturday morning by a big crashing sound and a blood-curdling scream.

Side note: When you are a mother of seven, you learn over the course of time, that usually only one parent is needed for most emergencies and that blood curdling screams can be as serious as blood-spurting injuries or as mundane as seeing a big spider.

So, I let Keith go off to check out the screamer while I turned back over in bed to go back to sleep. I heard gentle voices and movements in the kitchen and decided that I would not be needed.

Keith came in a few minutes later.

"She got cut."

"Stitches?"

"Yeah, stitches. Big gash on her foot."

So, it was a two-parent deal after all. I dragged myself out of a nice comfy bed and went to investigate, still not sure exactly who the victim was, and really hoping it wasn't our sleep-over guest. I stopped trying to compose reasonable explanations in my head to Kayla's mother when I saw Kathleen laying on the floor, her head cradled in Kayla's lap and her foot nicely bandaged up. She looked okay, though, but blood was puddled all over the kitchen floor like it was a crime scene.

"What happened?!" I asked incredulously.

Keith explained, as he fit a tall lethal shard of glass back into a big glass to determine whether or not there were any other pieces, "They were trying to make hot cocoa."

"And you filled the glass with BOILING water?"

"We didn't know!" Kathleen protested from the floor.

"She's got burns, too," Keith said, indicating Kathleen's thigh.

So, as Keith is the designated wound-treatment parent and I am the designated emergency room parent, I got dressed and gathered up everything I needed to take Kathleen to urgent care. First, I called to find out urgent care hours; we still had another hour before it opened. Then, I put together a crochet project, my jacket, and a blanket for Kathleen who was still in pajamas. Another trip to urgent care. How many did that make this year for us? Would we see Dr. Bergen again? (He looks like Uncle Marvin -- which cracks me up, since our pediatrician looks like my brother Danny.)

Anyway, we took ourselves off. Kathleen was brave, as all the kids always are while stitches are being put in. We were both a little green, though, at the sight of the gash in her foot. It was pretty disgusting, even by Johnson standards. We got a collection of burn ointment and bandages from the doctor and then we were done. She got the okay to sing in the Christmas program that night, she'd be able to take a shower by the next day, and she was to come back in 11 days for stitch removal.

Another crisis completed!

Keith met me at McDonald's afterward with my Target work clothes. We did the exchange -- bandaged and stitched kid for red shirt and khakis -- and I went off to work with no further incident that day.

The next incident, though, happened to me the next day when I was called in for some extra hours at Target on Sunday afternoon. The Sunday afternoon in which I was planning to take a nap and get caught up on a little rest since the Saturday morning plan had been so rudely interrupted. Still, after much negotiation with Keith who was suddenly thrust into the designated taxi parent, I made my way to work.

All was going fine. I was keeping my register speed up well over acceptable levels. Time was going by quickly, when I got one customer with a big purchase. She decided to pay $300 in cash and the rest on her credit card. However, when there's a big purchase on a credit card, the register computer asks the cashier to input the last four digits of the credit card being used, as a precautionary method. Well this was all fine and good, but the customer couldn't' find her credit card. She looked everywhere for it, while I continued to stand there holding the $300 cash. (The register won't open until the purchase is completely paid for -- Purchase isn't completely paid for until I input the last four digits . . . ) We were at an impasse. So, to keep the $300 safe, I rolled it up and put it in my back pocket while I went around the counter to the other side to help the customer look for her credit card. Maybe it had fallen in the bags. I didn't even THINK how bad that looked! (Don't mind me, just the cashier stuffing a wad of money in my pocket!)

When one of the managers came to help me with the trouble over not finding the card, she canceled payment and out popped the credit card from the key pad where she had put her credit card in to begin with. Normally, the credit card is shot out after the initial transaction, but this time it had been in the machine all along while we had both been frantically looking for it! So, with the manager still there, I pulled out the $300 and she asked me why I had it in my pocket! I explained to her and she told me to NEVER put cash register money in my pocket, that it looked bad. And sure enough, even as I pulled out the $300, out came a five dollar bill that I had had in my back pocket, too. It was folded weird, so I knew it was mine, but even as I put in the $300, I was stuffing my $5 back in my pocket, and thinking that, yes indeed, that looked VERY bad in front of the security camera!

I was SHAKING, I was so upset about this little turn of events. The manager said nothing more about it, but the more I thought about it, the more I thought that I better make sure that I protected myself. So I called the manager over and told her that I needed to report what had happened so that if someone looked at the incident on camera later, they'd know that I had not been trying to steal the money.

At first, the higher-up manager that talked with me was not very happy, not understanding what I had been doing, but as she heard the whole story, she understood my motivation in trying to keep the money safe and gave me another way to handle the money should another situation come up like that. Then, she said that she had done something BIG stupid yesterday and understood how I was feeling . . . that made me feel a lot better . . . mostly because I could see that she was trusting what I was saying.

When I went in to work yesterday, nothing further was said about it, so apparently the cash drawer was balanced and all is well again.

I have a few hours before I go into work today. I only work a four hour shift, though. It's been working to about 30 hours a week. I'd rather have 40, but 30 is definitely better than nothing. I can't believe the time is going by so fast. December is nearly halfway over. Before I know it, January will be upon us as well as a shift in work. From retail to education . . . Oh, boy!

It's COLD!

I had a little time before going to work today so I returned my book on tape (Yippee!), got my hair cut and bought another Target work outfit -- khakis and a red shirt, but this time with a white V-neck long sleeve shirt to go under it and keep me warmer on these cold days. It's only getting colder. Brrrrrr. Too cold for this California girl.

So, now that I'm stylin' with my new clothes and 'do, I'm feeling pretty spunky.

Kathleen has a friend from school over for the night. Kristofer just got back from dinner at a friend's house. Keri Lynn took off with Keith for some much-needed father/daughter time, and I'm waiting for dinner to finish up in the oven so that I can feed the rest of the starving minions. I'm just a cooking machine.

I only have about five hours to work tomorrow and that's it for the weekend. This is good, because the three big kids are all taking part in the Christmas music program tomorrow night and Sunday night. Kathleen's choir was practicing last night with the bell choir. It was really beautiful.

Since I don't go in until 11:00 tomorrow morning, I'm hoping to work out a little breakfast date out with my husband for our traditional Saturday morning get-together. We have always been able to go out together, but lately it's been a challenge with my new schedule. The kids are always glad to see me home, though, when Keith is in charge on the weekends. He gets them to do all kinds of chores around the house and yard.

I've also gotten back into a crochet fest. Unfortunately, I took up my crochet hook too late in the Christmas season to get a lot of gifts done for this year, but at least I'll be able to make a few hats for the bus driver and assistant and maybe for some of the teachers as thank you gifts. I've really been enjoying taking up crochet again because I can make all kinds of stuff that's not just a fashion statement like it is in California. Here in Georgia, you actually NEED a scarf and hat and slippers! Did I mention that it's COOOOOOLD!

Thanksgiving pictures

Time to cook 23 pounds of turkey!
There are few things as disgusting as preparing a big naked bird . . .
. . . nor few things as fun!
Kylie peels a potato
Around our household, the mashed potatoes are serious business. Everyone pitches in.
Kathleen gets the bag ready for the turkey. I've cooked the Thanksgiving turkey in a bag for as long as I've been cooking turkeys. It always comes out moist and perfect.
Keri Lynn and Kathleen prepare the green bean casserole, also a must for Thanksgiving.
I love this picture that captures our day perfectly. On the left side, a group plays a computer game together while on the right side, a group peels endless potatoes.
Keith installed Rayman and proceeded to hog the computer for most of the morning!
Here Konner helps with the table preparation. He really enjoys getting food ready.
Kathleen was the mastermind behind the table settings -- dishes, silverware, goblets, brown placemats and brown napkins in red napkin holders.
This picture is my absolute favorite picture of Keva, EVER. Is she just so cute! I can't get over how she smiles into the camera now!
The final preparation of the main Thanksgiving dinner menu item. You thought it was turkey, didn't you!
Mmmmm, butter!
Kristofer looks frantically about for another masher to help with the potatoes.
Keith carves the turkey.
The spread, and as always, served buffet style.
Kody is one very dejected dog as he does not get to participate in the eating, not until Keva has something to say about that.
I think the goblets were the biggest hit of the day. We all had soda.
One happy teenager
Don't worry, Kade, you'll get your turn eventually.
Total bliss
See what I mean about the goblet?
Kathleen eats up a turkey leg!

I think what I enjoyed most about Thanksgiving was that we all hung out together and worked to get the meal cooked. Everyone pitched in, even with the cleaning afterwards.

Thank You, Lord, for the blessings of family.