friday, huh?

So this week has come to an end.

Calla is out of school for two full weeks. Woop! We love having our Calla-girl home.

The preparations for our children's program are finalized. Well, the church responsibilities are done. Our practice and Sunday School party are finished. This lazy mom still has some sewing and twirling and tulle-ing to do so that my little ladies are dressed to the nines by program time.

Our adult cantata was cancelled last week due to crazy snowstorms. We will attempt to put it on this Sunday instead. After I teach Sunday School. Without a dozen college extension students who have now made their way home for Christmas break. Without a practice in over a week. But God is sovereign and will be glorified if we are performing for the right reasons.

I have finally taken care of a long-standing issue with my knee. After 5 doctor appointments in a week and a half, I am scheduled for surgery on Wednesday of next week to have a ganglion cyst removed. I will gingerly walk to each Christmas activity and spend a bit more time on the couch next weekend.

So, this weekend will bring just as much activity and responsibility as the past few weeks have held. But I will take time in the busy-ness to "Be still, and know I am God." After all, that is what we're busy for...

a word fitly spoken...or not...

So, I often have things that I think about saying and quickly realize that it might not be the right company to express my thoughts to. Case in point...

As I treacherously tiptoed across a labyrinth like parking lot that was so mucky and slushy that the once-gleaming-white-but-now-nasty-brown snow seeped through my leather shoes and soaked my toes, I thought, "Slushy parking lots are depressing and totally squelch the Christmas spirit."

Luckily, I thought that this sentiment was better suited for a friend-to-friend conversation rather than the clerk who was possibly responsible for making sure the parking lot was cleared. No need to squelch two people's Christmas spirits...

oh baby, it's coooold outside...

Our computer weather reader tells me it's -13 degrees outside. Our van thermometer read a balmy -4 degrees.

I had bundled up kiddos with warm fleece blankets wrapped around their legs trekking through the snow and ice -packed streets while our van chug, chug, chugged to try and warm up.

I have to admit that these bitter cold days have a tendency to make me very discontent.

Oh for a garage to warm up our car.

Oh, for a van that didn't creek and groan in the cold.

Oh, for a van that didn't have trouble switching gears once the weather turns under 45 degrees.

Oh, for tires that weren't so bald that I feel like I am ice skating rather than driving.

But I can only be discontent so long. I have a hard time feeling sorry for myself. How could I possibly be discontent when I have been given such a life! I am so blessed.

I have a van.

It gets warm in the 5 minute ride to school.

My kids all have numerous coats and hats and gloves to choose from.

If our clothes aren't warm enough, we have closets full of other choices.

We have a warm house to exit to our awaiting warming chariot - just a 15 step jaunt in this amazingly cold weather.

No walking to school for us.

No bus waiting to take my kids to school. I get to be home and be their driver.

We can afford to replace our bald tires.

And 10 minutes later, we can come home. 10 minutes.

So, I'll take a lesson. Satan would love to steal my joy today. But God would love to reveal to me a gigantic list of blessings...

busy little bees...

Where does a week of time go?

It is so easy to fret away a few days. Sewing. Errands hither and yon. Fundraisers. Kids. ER trip. The flu. A child with the flu. More sewing. More errands.

Yep. That about sums up my last few days. And I'm tired. But the house is quiet and I may do some sewing, interrupted only by Mr. Bocelli's melodious voice...

Let's go pick out our tree!

Running through the rows.

Calla and Daddy measuring to see if the tree will fit in our corner.

My girls with their pick of the year.

Oh, the sacrifices we mommas make when allowing our children to do the tree picking!

My tree prerequisites...

tall - check

full - no check

round - no check

long-ish needles - no check

Amelia's pride and smile knowing she got to pick her tree - o.k., that deserves a big check mark!

The stockings are hung...

The girls' stockings are hung on our make-shift mantle.

My gorgeous nativity is making an appearance for its first Christmas. My wonderful Momma bought me the set for my birthday and I have patiently waited two months

to put it out for display.

This is a fantastic Santa ceramic my talented Grandma painted years ago.

It is among my favorite decorations.

This lovely angel tree had a place in my Mother's home while I was growing up. It reminds me of her and my childhood Christmases whenever I set it out.

I thoroughly enjoy pulling out my Christmas decorations each year. I have somewhat thinned out the excess adornments and narrowed it down to the beautiful and the nostalgic. Each one brings me joy as I set it on a shelf. I love Christmas decorations because I love Christmas and all it brings with it...

December is in full swing...

We walked out of the house today to see snowflakes. Sticking to the ground and the van.

Oi vay!

Here it comes...

( I will admit, in a very low whisper, that the first few snowflakes are quite beautiful.)

I marveled at the precious little flakes that stuck to my windshield.

They really are a marvelous creation.

The girls sang the word "snoooooooow" all the way to school.

I am thankful that our first real snowflags have waited until December to make their appearance. And now I find myself dreaming of a White Christmas...