Lost time?

I guess here would be a good place to announce that I have a new part time job (but it's something I've been doing as a volunteer for months, so it's not earth-shattering). I'm excited to be the Children's Ministry Coordinator for our church, officially, for 10 hours a week now. It's a long story that basically comes down to, God made me...He's definitely shown His sense of humor this past several months as we've wrestled about this. God won, if you dozed off there. I'm really happy He won, and grateful to serve, but it's been a rough year and I think it's going to take me a while to wrap my brain around where I'm heading next.

This is the only reason I can think of for how I missed an entire WEEk of my Project Real Life class.

Seriously?

What does it say about me that I was too disorganized and missed the week on organization? Yowza.




Looks like I'll be playing catch up
this weekend after I finish my must-dos for my other jobs that I've pushed til today due to a pesky cold. Although "cold" seems too small of a word for the sheer amount of mucus and nausea and fever and coughing I've enjoyed this week. Have I mentioned I'm grateful for my preschool teacher's immune system? I rarely get sick, so when I spend a day on the couch you know it's bad. On the upside, it was the day Melanie Shankle's new book was released, so that helped tremendously. :D

Lemonade from the snotty lemons, y'all.

What's new in your world?

Knowing and being known...

1 word for 2014

so many things I want to change/improve/expand all come back to this one word:  love.

the first 3 are from Dougal, and I was floored in church Sunday morning when his sermon so echoed what's been in my heart this past couple of weeks:  love God, love His Word, love people (most especially my husband and children, but also the people I come into contact with at church and work and everywhere), focus on doing what I love, love myself (eat better, move more, make time for ME), spending time with people I love (family and friends).  love--kind of covers all the bases for me right now.

that's my to-do list for 2014:  love.

what's your word?

Merry Christmas!

Yesterday was the first Christmas Eve in recent memory with no travel plans. We didn't go ANYwhere until it was time for church-and it. Was. Lovely.

After church Grandma and our pastor's family came over for pizza (Kayci is convinced it's our after Christmas Eve service tradition...sigh) and cookie decorating.






The funny thing was, Noble has been asleep by 7 PM every night since we got home from Disneyland. After church last night BOTH knuckleheads wanted to go to sleep but Daddy and I had visions of a 3 am wake-up, so we made them stay up for the fun. :)

And it was fun, and they got a second wind. After our company left, we got ready for Santa and his reindeer and opened our one gift. Then we took a picture and Daddy read the Christmas story from Luke chapter 2.









The kids pretty well put themselves to bed right after-they didn't even stick around for "The Night Before Christmas!" There were strict do NOT get up before 5 am instructions.

Daddy and I dozed off watching the end of "Christmas Vacation," then we headed off for our own sugarplum visions.

Noble came in at 3:30...but I just CAN'T stay in bed until 5. He did, but it's our bed. The cats woke me up at 4:22, and I've been up since making coffee, prepping buttermilk crumb cake...waiting.



It's 5:20 and Daddy just wandered through on his way to the coffee maker...this is the latest he's slept in months!

Wonder how long until the kids come out? :)

Merry Christmas, y'all!

Breaking all the rules-boyfriend jeans

Breaking all the rules-boyfriend jeans by kristi-viii featuring a white t shirt

Tree of Light--12/3/13

I can't believe I never published this one!  Last Tuesday, we took the kids to Huntsville for the 93rd annual Tree of Light ceremony.  James and I actually met at the Tree of Light our freshman year (November 30, 1993).  The Freshman Leaders helped host that year, and I reworked "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" as "Professor Grinch."  I have no idea if it was actually any good, but I know I worked hard.  :)  And, as it was 1993, I typed one copy on Beth's word processor and didn't get it back from the girl who read it.  (Who's now semi-famous, wonder if my writing contributed?  Nah...)

Anyway, the important part:  I was serving gingerbread and wassail.  A cocky boy walked up in his Top Gun knockoff leather jacket and asked for more wassail, and I said, simply, "No."  I remember it vividly, which is weird because I'm a smartass every day.  Now, I would have said "yes" if he'd asked again nicely, but he didn't give me a chance--he just turned around and walked away.

And hated me for 2 years.  :)  Like, made fun of me when he saw me hated me.

Then we met again because of Program Council, and eventually he loooooooved me.

And lucky me, the Boy I like loves me still and we have two great kids we like and love.

Life is good.  :)


My own little throwback Thursday:

Balcony Outfit-Photographer's Assistant

Balcony Outfit-Photographer's Assistant by kristi-viii featuring a tan dress