Christmas Is...

After talking with Cavett's teacher about his writing skills and conveying the problem to Nana, Nana helped us come up with a solution.  We are now using graphic organizers to help with getting his thoughts down on paper.  He and Nana did a fairly in-depth practice set about our trip to San Diego.  Tonight while waiting for the 4:00 service to start, we worked on a very short practice-6 sentences about Christmas. 

While he came up with the thoughts, I did promt a little and after the main points were determined he was tired of writing it down himself (the opening and closing) and had we had the time or energy, he could have expanded on each sentence.  We talked about them, but he was done.  I mean, it is Christmas Eve after all.  But, without further ado, if you haven't figured it out yet, here it is from a 7 year old perspective.

"Christmas Is" by Cavett Hill (age-almost 7)

Do you know what Christmas is about?  Christmas is not about toys.  It is not about Saint Nick.  Christmas is about Jesus being born.  It is about Jesus being the best present of all.  I hope you have a wonderful "Christ"mas. 

May each of you have a very special wonderful "Christ"mas and remember the true reason we celebrate.

Christmas Program Videos

This is not the real deal, just the rehearsal, but you can get the idea....




Preciousness.

December

When you get behind in your blogging, it is daunting to say the least to poke your head up and try to get through the weeks behind you.  It is my own fault--sickness, trips out of town, programs, costumes, parties, and baking.  By all accounts, it is definitely December.  I did plan ahead though getting all my shopping out of the way very early hoping to focus more on the giving and doing more for others.  I guess I accomplished that and now I'm well on the way to the anticipation of the end of "technical, liturgical" Advent and on with the celebration of the true meaning of Christmas. 

In the mean time, let's recapitulate....

We started the month of with a flesh wound.  The first Wednesday of the month during recess, Cavett hit his head on a pipe protruding from the school building wall.  Unfortunately, my phone was charging and on vibrate.  The school ended up calling the office and I got the message 15 minutes later.  We met at the pediatrician's office and Cavett received 3 stitches.  He was such a trooper and very strong.  I was so proud of him.  I would have been a mess!  In fact, I couldn't even watch him get the stitches or numbing shot.  It healed beautifully and the scar should be minimal.  He said he looked like Frankenstein!  There was also the sickness--me recovering from Mono, Kendrick had a ruptured eardrum and strep throat and I'm pretty sure I'll be taking Cavett in tomorrow for ST as well. 

The next day was Kendrick's school program and I was able to take Grandmama with me while Uncle John got his teeth worked on.  He was just precious and sang like a sweet angel in his Christmas "tie."  He was even able to stand next to his best friend, Luke.  Video to come on the next blog. 

 That Saturday was completely free, so we headed out of town with our friends, the Boatners, to Grand Saline so that the boys could shoot the guns.  Being the only girl in the bunch, I was elected "Storm Trooper" and chased around the field. 

Stephen also shot a few of the nuisances (beavers) in the lake. 

 Wise, he is.  Our church pageant was held and Cavett was one of three wise "persons."  Why we can't call them what the Bible calls them, I'll never know.  They were and still are MEN.  No matter, he was dressed royally in my former couch pillow material and tchotchke.  He delivered his lines with enthusiasm and elegance.  So, proud again.  Video will also be on the next blog. 

Pictured here with Herod.

 The final belt testing and karate tournament of the year were also held in the month of December.  Cavett is now a green belt and Kendrick is a yellow belt.  They both have come a long way since beginning in January and April of 2011, respectively.

And, then there was the baking and hosting of parties.  I ended up baking 16 double loaves of Christmas Bread for friends.  I hosted a Sunday School party, Chancel Choir party and DFW Centenary Alumni Party and a friend after party at my house and also hosted Kendrick's school party and the office party at a restaurant.  I'm pretty done and looking forward to relaxing the rest of the year. 

Thanksgiving

Come this time of year, people on Facebook tend to post a "thanks" everyday.  I decided to take the challenge this year and find things that I'm truly thankful for and blessed by.  Here is a compilation of everything that I posted up to Thanksgiving day.  Advent comes early this year, so that is the reason for stopping at Thanksgiving.  I want to be able to not focus on what God has given me, but how he changed the world one Christmas 2000+ years ago.

November 1st- I'm thankful that Jesus conquered the grave and I have eternal life.
2- I'm thankful for healthy kids and husband.
3- I'm thankful to God for the bountiful provisions of basic needs of food, shelter and clothing.

4- I'm thankful to God for a heritage full of ancestors that paved the way for me, giving me role models for life and showing with their actions: their love for God and their dedication to the church and Centenary College.














5- I'm thankful to God for using A. C. "Cheesy" Voran and Will Andress as match makers, putting my parents together and choosing my best friends and husband.
6- I'm thankful that God gave me an incredible mother and a wonderful mother-in-law.

7- I'm thankful to God for giving us different seasons and changes in weather, even day-light savings time. 
8- I'm thankful to God for the gift on music and my voice, even if it is not solo quality. And, I also give thanks for the beautiful mentors he placed in my life: Debbie Talley and Wendy Sharpless. 
9-I'm thankful to God for friends that you can pick up right where you left off, even if it is years in between.

10- I'm thankful to God for giving me the sweetest sisters (and sister-in-laws) on the planet.

11- I'm thankful to God for all the men and women who have giving their lives to serve this great nation for our freedom. 
12- I'm thankful to God for sweet cousins my kids get to grow up with.

13- I'm thankful to God that we can worship Him wherever we are and that He is in control.
14- I'm thankful to God for my Daddy who I miss very much on this, his birthday.

15- I'm thankful to God for giving me such a sweet husband and best friend who takes care of me and loves me unconditionally.

16- I'm thankful to God for giving me Cavett and for his sweet sense of empathy toward others.
17- I'm thankful to God for giving me Kendrick who keeps making me laugh and his endless supply of hugs.

18- I know I've kinda already said thanks for her but, gotta do it again. I'm thankful to God for my sweet mother-in-law who drove 3 hours round trip just to bring me some soup to help me feel better.
19- I'm thankful to God for quite time and family naps.
20- I'm thankful to God for rain.
21- I'm thankful to God for my BSF class.
22- I'm thankful to God for the Holy Spirit's enabling, strength and endurance that I desparately need today. 
23- I'm thankful for my big families on both sides. 

24- I'm thankful to God for who He is and how he has revealed himself to me. 

Elephant Hands

There comes a time when you get too old for things in life--staying up all hours of the night, drinking too much, mini-skirts, etc.  I'd have to add to that list Mononucleosis. 

Yes, I have it and lucky me, I am a rarity in that you normally don't get it twice in a life time.  (I had it in high school.)  As a mom of two boys, it's miserable to sit on the sofa and do nothing.  Yes, the hugs from the kids are great, and my husband truly stepping in to do all of my job is awesome, but to not be throwing up or have severe fever, showing signs of sickness is rough.  I'm not good at this--laying around and resting. 

I also like to cut my own french toast, wear my wedding rings and open medicine jars by myself, but you can't do that when you have swollen elephant hands....

(I have on my pregnancy wedding band.)

And, please pray that Stephen doesn't catch it!  He never had it!

His First Trophy

It's the first one and he's super proud--Kendrick's first trophy.  Nevermind that it is actually a plaque you hang on the wall.  It doesn't really make a difference.  He earned it and learned a lot this season about actually playing baseball rather than watching it. 

Way to go Kendrick!

Of course there was cake!

Laisse le Bon Temps Rouler!

This past summer Southwest Airlines was having an anniversary sale.  We thought about where we could go and decided it was time to head south and see the Degenharts.  The hard part was that flights couldn't be taken on Friday or Sunday.  Oh well.  We took Cavett out of school and headed to the "Big Easy." 

We had such a great time visiting with our cousins and doing all the touristy things, that we had never done.  Since Cavett was pulled out of school, I tried to make it as educational in every way.  We checked out books from the library on all things Louisiana, Rivers, Wetlands, Mardi Gras, and Cajun culture.  We even learned about column classification while riding on the street car down St. Charles.  We also gave him the old camera and a had a photo scavenger hunt to keep him looking.

For those of you thinking that New Orleans is not a place for kids, think again.  Between the swamp tour, the street musicians and performers, the ferry and street car rides and Mardi Gras world, there is plenty to see and do!  We loved it!  Can't wait to join the Degenharts for a real Mardi Gras Parade one year. 

Boo!

Today was a bit of a downer. On the way to school we discovered that Cavett had a stomach virus and we made the block. He felt pretty good the rest of the day but really didn't eat or drink anything. He complained of a headache about 5, so I started pushing Gatorade. Evidently, that wasn't a good idea either way.



We abandoned the Peanuts gang and Kendrick dressed in his costume from two years ago and went with Dad through the neighborhood to trick-or-treat sweetly asking for extra candy for his "brother who wasn't feeling well." Cavett and I stayed behind passing out candy discovering it is just as much fun to give as receive.

Unfortunately, I put him to bed with a bit of a fever but covered in prayer. It's so hard to see your baby hurting so.

This has got to be the worst day as a kid to be sick. Boo---and not the scary kind.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Home Improvements

We've had a couple of home improvement projects in the back of our mind for sometime now.  For a year, I have been looking at a paint chip in the powder bathroom, wondering if it was too "out there."  Saturday morning I woke up and decided that today was the day.  I was just going to do it.  If I didn't like it, it could always be repainted.  Turns out it was perfect and I love it!  It goes beautifully with the prints I found under the bed at Gran's house.  Maybe it was her brithday coming up that made me decide to do it, and the fact that the bedroom I found the prints in was purple.....

The second project, also related to Gran and Granpaw's house, was the organ pipes.  We found about 50 of them in the attic.  They were from the old organ at Noel Methodist Church (the church I grew up in).  We took about half of them two years ago when we cleaned out the house.  Stephen had always had the idea that they would look great in our rotunda (the round room in the middle of the house, which really has no purpose ecept to house the piano and Christmas tree.)  Stephen engineered a way to hang them without damaging the pipes and working with the round surface and I must say, he did a bang up job.  I think they look perfect.  But, is it bad that I now REALLY want to paint that room now too?  Anyone have a color suggestion? 

I know, I need a plant on the plant stand now...

Fall Fun

The Peanuts Gang

This weekend was full of fall family fun. Kendrick had his last baseball game of the season, while Cavett went to a karate costume party. We dressed the kids up and visited some of Stephen's cousins, Dick and Launa and then spent the rest of the afternoon playing outside and watching Dad carve the pumpkin.  Of course, we made pumpkin pncakes and found a great recipe for toasting the seeds.  (The trick is to boil them in salt water first!)

 Cavett put his hands in and got messy, but Kendrick would have nothing to do with it and instead decided to roll down the hill. 

 Happy Fall Y'all!