Our last Christmas of 09

the cousins were all enjoying each other so much
and Lolli was having a good time with each child
the girl cousins surprised us this time by spending almost the whole time outside = they had reasons...

this ride was sweet, especially down the hilly driveways of our cul de sac
we had to call the girls in to eat (usually it is the boys)-they were having too much fun on the rip sticks
speaking of eatting, the adults are gonna kill me for this picture - catching them with their mouths full :)
Everyone took a walk with us this time to feed the horses! We stopped by the creek along the way for a family shot-I think we made a family memory here :)
the horses were so glad to see all of us and to meet these kid's parents!

Two people are missing from this family picture - Corey got sick and Kimberly stayed home with him.
I can't remember a time when all these children got to see the horses together like this. It was a fun way to end Christmas 2009.

Our Christmas Day

I have to be one of the most traditional people there is on earth, but today, Christmas Day 2009, was anything BUT traditional for Jack and me.
We have a story to tell, now that this day is almost over, but so much can not be told in a blog post. Yet so much CAN be shared with you in this post by giving you 4 special pictures from our day. Meet our new friends, Miss Mary 1, Miss Mary 2. Mr. Jack, and Miss Eula. THEY were OUR very special Christmas gift this year.

Twas the day before Christmas and all through ...

Twas the day before Christmas and all through my pictures, I found such delight

that two little girls were sitting on Santa's lap and one said "I have something to tell you dear jolly old Santa"
"what did you say" said jolly old Santa, "did you say your sister has been naughty?"
"that's what I said dear jolly old saint Nick"

and with no great surprise,the little sister sprang to her feet and ran for cover!

and jolly old Santa hollered out "someone catch that runaway sister"!

Christmas time

We had our Christmas time with these kids last Saturday in BHam and a good time was had by all. We tried a new thing this year which proved to be lots of fun -we played the white elephant game or secret santa or dirty santa (lots of names out there for this game) with the adults instead of exchanging gifts. We all really liked what we ended up with and that is most unusual for this game! Jack ended up with a new tin of pecans(his favorite)and I ended up with a new box of note cards :)

Joey built the girls a stage in their playroom and they are having a ball with it! (This picture does not really do it justice )Jessica made the curtains and it is quite "the show" at their house right now.
We were all entertained by the dancing and the singing on stage. Not only were we wined and dined but entertained too :)
This is Knox's first Christmas season and he was also entertainment for us all just with his precious little smile!
the girls have a new ride!
Annie loved being the driver
you can't really tell in this picture but Lily Kate was doing the homecoming wave constantly. She never preferred to ride on the drivers side (good thing) and just kept waving to all of us as if she is the queen!
as for Knox, he would have waved if he could! He also was having a good ride in his new jogging stroller!

Seeing the grandkids with their gifts was the most fun :)

here are a few more of my favorite shots from this day:

like grandmother, like granddaughter...say cheese :)

Lk does not like hats!
toooo cute for words
Lolli and Pops enjoyed their time together with these three cherubs!

Beth Moore words

If you are not familiar with Beth Moore and her blog, I will copy a few parts of her post today for you. She is so gifted with her delivery of words and her life makes me want to walk behind her every day. She recently had a medical scare and here is what she said and how it affected her.
"He's not finished with me yet." He loves us all extravagantly, whatever the outcome of medical tests. He does not play favorites. He hears each desperate cry and esteems the groanings of our souls. He doesn't let our lives be touched or even ravaged by disease because we didn't get our words exactly right or because we yelped, "Help my unbelief!" He's not a mean, distant God playing Monopoly with human lives. And He's not finished with a single one of us or we wouldn't be drawing terrestrial air into our lungs and coursing our eyes over words on a computer screen. The fact is, He has a sovereign plan that is for good and not evil and He is writing a story of on-going redemption with each of our lives. Our lives are woven together through seasons. It's one person's season to experience this. And another person's season to experience that. Neither is loved more. Neither is more dispensible.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (KJV)
1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 sums up the segment in a few simple, powerful words:
11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time.

His time. His time. His time. HIS TIME. "

I still don't know how to copy the links to a blog but just google Living Proof and you should find her blog if you want to keep tuned in to her. God has used her mightly in my own life through some of her Bible studies and her book on prayer. I pray He will in yours too.

Taking a break, leaning to the left and getting a balance

It has been a while since I last blogged, right? I ran into 3 people today who asked if I am ok, why haven't I blogged, and said that they missed me.
I have been taking a break from the blogging for many reasons. And I hate to admit it but I got a lot more done when I would normally be blogging and I spent a lot more time reading and resting, 2 things that are kind of hard for me to settle down and do. On the other hand, I felt distant knowing there were friends out there that enjoy hearing from me through my blog. And that I would never catch up if I started back to the blog world.
So I am working on getting it all balanced out in my life. Balance is so very hard when you lean to the left brain more than to the right brain :)
Here are some photos in no certain order to let you know Lolli was still having fun with her loves while leaning to the left.
We loved taking the Downes kids to the Opelika Railroad Christmas festival
the balloon man had a good time with our grandkids at the festival as our grandkids had a good time with him too.

the pony rides are always exciting for any age kid, Chad asked if this one bucked before he got on!!! (look back on my summer post of the boys weekend with us)

did I mention that it rained all day of this weekend that we had the 4 Downes, ages 5 - 20! Making Christmas cookies was a nice activity for that kind of day :) it took 3 hours to clean up all the sprinkles and sugar but that was ok :)
well it is Lolli and Pops house isn't it? It just wouldn't be right if we didn't have a lollipop on our visit.
This family loves us some dressup and skits! These clowns were at it again. My very very old bathing suit has gotten its share of laughs too :)

Cold weather brought out the hot chocolate in the house!

Annie and Lily Kate enjoyed seeing Aubie at an Auburn basketball game recently
Aubie likes the kids to tickle his feet :)
Baby Knox is growing so fast


Two little girls are so excited that Christmas time is here!
Yall come back cause there is likely to be more about Christmas here soon!

Thanks for hanging in here while I get my balancing act together!