The Best Part of Waking Up . . .

Is fire ants in your pantry. No really that's what I woke up to this morning. We've actually gotten some rain here lately. It rained on and off all day yesterday and is raining again this morning. Yay! for rain. Boo! for fire ants. When we have rain following long periods of no rain the fire ants emerge from deep in the ground and take over. And somehow they found their way into my pantry (which is not on an outside wall but whatever). Thankfully, they didn't get into anything major (food), but they were all over the floor. I hate fire ants . . .

Last night we went to Dickens on the Square which is a little Christmas festival our town puts on every year. Friday night kicks it of with a lighted parade. People decorate trailers and trucks and tractors with lights and kids pile in and on everything, and we have a parade. It's not the most . . . ummmm . . . elaborate (yes, elaborate is a very good word) parade you'll ever see, but it's cute and fun. The parade officiants and the mayor dress up in Dickens period costumes (just a fun fact, the town mayor is also our dentist). Santa even makes an appearance . . . sort of. Since it's a "Dickens" theme he's really Father Christmas, and he dresses differently. Andrew kept screaming, "That's not the real Santa. When can I see the real Santa?" I promise no one stared at us strangely (and if you believe that . . .).

I took my camera but forgot my memory card. Story of my life, but I do have a very small amount of memory built into my camera. Unfortunately, I can't find the cord to my camera so no pics. Sorry.

Here's a cute picture of Andrew with his new light up sword. Yes, I caved and bought him a junk toy. He kept asking for a lightsaber. How could I refuse? He has a new found love for Star Wars. I don't know if I've ever been prouder. (He hasn't actually watched an entire movie, but one day soon my friends . . . one day soon.)

Next week I'm taking Andrew and Anthony to Breakfast with Santa (Sarah and Hector are going to Vegas so I'm in charge of the Santa visit). Anyway, we'll get to see the "real" Santa, and I hope Andrew doesn't change his wish list. If he does, I'll have to go shopping again or risk blowing Santa's cover. ;) I promise I'll have pictures from that. The people there take them and hand you a c.d. I don't think I can mess that up, but that remains to be seen.

Have a good weekend everyone. Only three weeks until Christmas!

Let's See . . . (there's even pictures)

I had an almost four hour math curriculum, strategizing, planning, analyzing meeting today. I actually love planning and curriculum and instruction and math. I'm so fond of it, in fact, that I want to get my Masters in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus in Mathematics . . . someday, when I have buckoos of time on my hands. But gosh, two weeks before Christmas break, in the middle of an incredibly stressful year, I'm just not that into it. We plowed through and got quite a bit accomplished however. So if I happen to teach your kid or a kid you know rest assured that their life and education will now be made even better by today's meeting.

Aren't you glad I don't teach grammar? Wait, I actually do teach grammar. That was a joke. Not the part about teaching grammar, but I don't use improper grammar in class. Just everywhere else in my life.

I'm rambling . . . can you tell?

So we got a new vacuum a couple weeks ago. And it was a little tricky to figure out. Actually, it probably wasn't tricky at all. I'm just not in the least bit mechanically inclined. Anyway, my cleaning lady was coming today, and I was afraid that she's also not mechanically inclined so I printed out some instructions for her . . . in Espanol because I don't think she reads English. Was that insulting or rude? I didn't think it was because the vacuum really wasn't easy to figure out. But then I didn't think the instructions did the greatest job explaining how to use the vacuum (I'm not entirely sure because I don't exactly read or speak Spanish) so I used google translate to add my own notes. That may have insulted her. Or she may just think I'm nuts. And she's not far off.

I tried to help Sarah and Hector and Patrick move our old entertainment center to Andrew's playroom on Sunday. I was able to lift it about a centimeter off the ground. I'm pretty sure I pulled twelve muscles in various places in my body. Which is why I'm best in an advisory position.

I promised you pictures. But I made you wait until the end. I'm nice like that.

Not sure what this is about. It's kind of creeping me out though.

This is his Gone With the Wind pose. He's swooning.

This one he said was (and I quote . . . hence the quotation marks), "beautiful". No insecurities here folks.

It's supposed to get really cold on Sunday. I think the high on Monday is supposed to be in the 40s. That may not be cold if you live in the Arctic Northern part of the United States, but here in Texas, that's pretty dern cold. Time to break out the footy pajamas.

Smile people! Tomorrow's Friday.

Stuff

Edit: In order to see the link to the song click on the word youtube.

It's been kind of a rough day back. Nothing major just a lot of minor stuff. That's all. I don't really like asking for this because I prefer to seem like I've got it all together, but if you've got a moment and feel so inclined would you please say a quick prayer for me? Sometimes all that minor "stuff" can really start to wear on a person.

I'm pretty tired and don't have much to say so I thought I'd share this youtube link to one of my favorite Christmas songs. For the most part I'm a Christmas music purist. I prefer the traditional songs, but occasionally (very occasionally) something new catches my ear. This isn't normally a Christmas Song, and it's certainly not traditional. It's also not new. It's just done in a new way. It's (based on) Pachelbel's Canon in D and is performed by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra (I think it's called the Canon Christmas Rock). Anyway, I love it. (Also this isn't a "wedding" song . . . my husband seems to think it is since it's very popular at weddings. Sorry had to throw that in there.)

Hope everyone had a fantastic start to their week.

Qualified

As a mother I often feel so underqualified. I'm sure I'm not alone in this. I sometimes wonder if I'm crazy. Am I really qualified to be the mother of two children one of whom may come with some pretty hefty baggage even at a very young age? Am I really qualified to mother a little girl? I mean that's a job. And honestly, I think that mothering a daughter is much more difficult than mothering a son. They both have there challenges, but as a woman you have to be so careful not to push your own issues and insecurities on your daughter.

There are no college courses for motherhood. There are advice books, there are parenting books, but in the end they are really only some man or woman's opinion about how to parent. And the truth is I think that the devil wants nothing more than to make women feel underqualified. He wants nothing more than to make us feel like we just aren't good enough.

And that ladies, is where the real manual comes in. God's Word. I've been really focused on Proverbs 31 lately:

The Virtuous Wife (Proverbs 31:10-31 NKJV)

    ¹⁰ Who can find a virtuous wife?

      For her worth is far above rubies.

       ¹¹ The heart of her husband safely trusts her;

      So he will have no lack of gain.

       ¹² She does him good and not evil

      All the days of her life.

       ¹³ She seeks wool and flax,

      And willingly works with her hands.

       ¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,

      She brings her food from afar.

       ¹⁵ She also rises while it is yet night,

      And provides food for her household,

      And a portion for her maidservants.

       ¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;

      From her profits she plants a vineyard.

       ¹⁷ She girds herself with strength,

      And strengthens her arms.

       ¹⁸ She perceives that her merchandise is good,

      And her lamp does not go out by night.

       ¹⁹ She stretches out her hands to the distaff,

      And her hand holds the spindle.

       ²⁰ She extends her hand to the poor,

      Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.

       ²¹ She is not afraid of snow for her household,

      For all her household is clothed with scarlet.

       ²² She makes tapestry for herself;

      Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

       ²³ Her husband is known in the gates,

      When he sits among the elders of the land.

       ²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,

      And supplies sashes for the merchants.

       ²⁵ Strength and honor are her clothing;

      She shall rejoice in time to come.

       ²⁶ She opens her mouth with wisdom,

      And on her tongue is the law of kindness.

       ²⁷ She watches over the ways of her household,

      And does not eat the bread of idleness.

       ²⁸ Her children rise up and call her blessed;

      Her husband also, and he praises her:

       ²⁹ “ Many daughters have done well,

      But you excel them all.”

       ³⁰ Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,

      But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

       ³¹ Give her of the fruit of her hands,

      And let her own works praise her in the gates.

When I first began studying this I'll be real honest, my initial thought was, "Seriously! This woman apparently doesn't sleep. She never whines. She's always working. She's the picture of perfection. No woman can live up to this." And y'all in our, "Me, me, me . . . I need time for myself society" this just doesn't fit in.

But before you have a full on fit (much like myself), I want you to read vs. 30. "Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised." There's the key. Fear of the Lord. If you go back to vs. 10, according to Strong's Concordance the word "virtuous" comes from the Hebrew word "chayil" and it means:

1) strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army

    a) strength

    b) ability, efficiency

    c) wealth

    d) force, army

It is the same word that was used to refer to the thirty thousand "mighty men of valour" in Joshua 8:3.

Y'all this isn't some wimpy timid woman. She's an amazing woman. She has strength, ability, efficiency . . . Which brings us full circle to vs. 30. In order to be any of these things we have to "fear the Lord". Fear of the Lord brings with it an ability to function in this world to our fullest potential. The word fear comes from the Hebrew word "yare'" which means:

1) fearing, reverent, afraid

That's what this whole "Virtuous Woman" thing is about. It's not about being perfect or qualified. It's not about running around like a mad woman trying to perform to please others. It's about holding God in the highest regard. It's literally about putting Him before everyone and everything else . . . our husbands, our kids, ourselves.

I'm still a huge work in progress. I think I fail at this on a daily basis. But it brings me so much relief to know that I don't have to be "qualified". That the more I seek God, the more He changes me. And the more He changes me the more "qualified" I become. Not because of anything I do or can do, but because of who He is in me.

Christmas "Descorations"

Disclaimer: I acknowledge that this is a totally shallow post. I acknowledge the ridiculousness of all these pictures. I acknowledge that most of you couldn't care less. I also acknowledge, that I'm nosey, and since I like looking at other people's decorations, I figured there may actually one or two of you out there who give a rip what my decorations look like. Otherwise, you can totally skip this post. My feelings will not be hurt. ;)

That's what Andrew calls them . . . descorations.

Anyway, I took a few (or 545 pictures . . . just kidding) of our Christmas descorations, and I thought I would show you.

I take no responsibility for the fact that these aren't the greatest pictures ever. Blame it on the camera. Oh and my house is not crooked. Apparently, I take crooked pictures. There was a crooked man, who had a crooked house . . . nevermind.

Our entryway and the view as you enter our house. (That monstrosity of an entertainment center is about say goodbye. All we need is about 10 strong men to help us move it. Any takers?)

 See Daisy? Patrick was trying to straighten the tree, and she made herself "comfortable".

Again, the tree is not leaning nor is the room. I consistently take crooked pictures.

Our tree is nine and a half feet tall. Every year I risk my life to decorate it. I stand on the top of a ladder and pray I don't fall off and hit the fireplace. Then I scream at Patrick to help me before I fall and die. It's a special time of tradition and togetherness in our family.

Sorry about the glare. Also, I know that the left picture of Andrew as a baby is crooked. I fixed it.

Our dining area. You see that nativity? It took me years to find a nativity I liked. I wanted something that looked somewhat realistic. Seriously, why do people think that baby Jesus should have blonde hair and blue eyes? Not only is that ridiculous, but it annoys the fire out of me. Anyway, I found that nativity at Dollar General a couple years ago. It was only $10, and I haven't seen one that I like nearly as much (and yes I'm aware that the wise men didn't actually come to the manger . . . I'm a preacher's kid . . . believe me I know). Two of my other favorite things are my night before Christmas plates and my snow villages.

These are my dining room Snow Villages. Not all of them are Department 56 Snow Villages (those things are 'spensive). The Candy Store (from "A Christmas Story"), the Dickens Clock Tower and the two houses to the right of it are true Snow Villages. The others are from various discount stores. The other thing you'll notice is that I have a mix matched set of houses. I like it that way. Which goes against my extremely OCD tendencies. 

The little brown cottage was one of my mom's first Snow Villages, and she gave it to me after we got married (awww . . . sniff . . . tear . . . how sweet . . . I wonder if she'd be willing to donate anymore of her Snow Villages to the cause?). She also bought me the white house for our first Christmas as a married couple. The second year we had it the dumb cat knocked it off the table and broke the chimney. Which is why there are wreaths glued to all sides of the chimney. Trying to hide the damage. I'm classy that way.

This is Pulaski's Candy Store from "A Christmas Story". I know a lot of people who can't stand the movie, but I grew up watching it. Some of my best Christmas memories are sitting beside my dad on my grandmother's couch laughing at the dogs eating the turkey and the infamous leg lamp. Anyway, a few years ago Department 56 had a whole line of Snow Village houses from the movie, and I got this one for a bargain price (probably because they discontinued them).

This is from The North Pole Series of Villages. I have these sitting on the table outside of my kitchen. My grandmother got us this for our first Christmas after we got married. Patrick was really excited (you'll need to say that with a lot of sarcasm). The train really goes. The track is magnetized. Andrew loves to "play" with it. I probably shouldn't let him, but well, anyway . . .

These are my Night Before Christmas dishes up close. Ain't they perty?

Kitchen table . . . since we eat here on a daily basis, I keep it simple. I threw those apples in the fruit basket for your benefit. There was nothing there. Either that means we eat a lot of fruit, or I need to go to the store.

My kitchen tree full of yummy treats.

So that's it. I don't really decorate the other rooms. Try not to be too relieved.

Maybe someday, when and if Patrick puts up the lights outside I'll show y'all what those look like. Otherwise you'll just have to survive on all of my beautiful indoor decor.