A CHRISTMAS ROMANTIC

I love Christmas lights. I don't know if I always have, but I remember as a teenager being enthralled with the beauty of our Christmas tree. I would sit in the dark room, alone, with nothing but the tree lights on and love every minute of it. It was peaceful to me. At A&M, the city of College Station would decorate its park and I would always try to convince a friend to go with me. I love driving around and looking at lights as well. It is a passion I have passed on the MC 2. He LOVES Christmas lights. He loves spotting them. He loves describing them as we drive by. He uses words like beautiful and bright and Santa Land.

One word I often think of when I look at lights is romance.

Romance?

Yep, you read it right. I think Christmas lights are romantic. It is odd I am sure. It is not like I ever had a romantic moment one under the magic of some Christmas lights. Granted, HH, did confirm our engagement at Christmas of 1997, but I don't really count chunking a stuffed animal with a ring attached at me and saying here you go terribly romantic, even if it was Winnie the Pooh.

But it never fails, every Christmas my heart swoons with romance at the sight of Christmas lights.

Lights....Bing Crosby....Nat King Cole....fireplace roaring.... I would be one big old Hallmark movie in the making.

Thinking about it tonight, I think maybe "romantic" isn't such an odd choice after all. I mean the story of Christmas itself is full of what I call romance. A girl willing to stand firm on her faith in God, regardless of the cost. A man willing to stand firm on his convictions, his faith in God, and right beside the woman he loves, or at least likes a little if he was willing to marry her. A couple setting off together, with no one to count on but themselves and God, not knowing where they are headed or what lies before them, but confident they can face whatever comes together and in the strength the Lord provides.

However, those are not the greatest examples of romance in the story. A Prince, willing to humble Himself to a pauper, out of love for His Father and His people. A Father, who saw His people's demise coming, saw their weaknesses being preyed upon by His enemy, knowing they could do nothing to save themselves, willing sent His Son on a mission that would end in His suffering and death.

All out of love.

What is more romantic than that?

What is greater love than that?

So maybe when my heart swoons at Christmas lights, perhaps it is only responding to the reality of what Christmas is.

The greatest act of love mankind has ever known.

The ultimate sacrifice made for each and every one of us.

In all our frailty.

In all our sin.

In our mess ups.

In our prideful flare ups.

Love.

Constant Love.

Abiding Love.

Secure love.

Wooing us to a better life.

Drawing us to a destiny that will stand the test of all time.

Now that's romance......

A DAY WITH STREPTOCOCCUS

MC 2 and I spent the day together, thanks to his diagnosis of strep throat. We cleaned house, we did laundry, we totally got our Christmas on listening to Toby Mac's new Christmas CD. MC 2 desired to hear it so badly he braved to cold to get it out of the truck. I would have said my truck but my truck is dead so it is a loaner per the in-laws. So is the one HH is driving because his truck went belly up this weekend as well. Like it got the stomach virus and strep throat all at the same time.
We are waiting on getting a tree until school is out. Honestly, I could wait until Christmas Eve, when they all go one sale and you can get a glorious tree for SUPER CHEAP! I am afraid HH won't be able to hold out though. He may just show up with a tree one of these days. I do have 2 presents wrapped which is huge for me because I am a fan of Christmas Eve shopping. I plan on taking the MCs this year to buy for our immediately family, but they will go one separate days because that was a fiasco LAST YEAR!
Tomorrow it is back to the grindstone. I am sure the darlings missed me....yeah... I am sure they did.
Have a great Wednesday!

IT HAD ITS MOMENTS

The weekend was jam packed from the start. At least that is how it was planned. Friday was to be our only night home. The MCs and HH went fishing while I cleaned a little bit of house and made up some good ole chicken fried steak. Saturday was our last rodeo. I had a picture, but my new iPhone, which it seems can track my every move and keystroke, can't seem to email me my own photos. The boys did really well and walked out with a halter, spur straps, and the all important belt buckle. We dashed home, took naps, and HH and I got gussied up to see David Crowder in his last Texas performance. We dropped the MCs off with the MIL, and headed to dinner and the concert. The ill fated concert that was not meant to be for three songs into it we had to leave. MC 1 decided to throw up EVERYTHING he had eaten all day. We ran by the dollar store to pick up supplies, worked through HH's reality check that the term "dollar" store does not necessarily mean A dollar, and managed to get out unscathed when he said he could get Lysol cheaper at Wally World. I attribute our safe exit to my charming rapport with the cashier and the fact that he didn't see the dirty look she gave him. Recalling a comment from Big Mama's blog, I gave MC 1 Coca-Cola, the trademarked stuff, to see if it would help. Seems it did and he slept the night away. MC 2, however, got up twice to tell me his throat hurt. Why he couldn't tell HH, who was right next to him in bed, I don't know, but it would appear these things only a mama can hear. Sunday found us at home, recovering, and watching it rain.
The countdown is on for the end of school. Plans are being made for teacher gifts, holiday shopping and traditions to keep up. Hope you guys have a great week!

Isaiah 9:2 (NKJV)

"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined."

A BLACK FRIDAY INDEED

it was for many an Ag. Honestly, I usually do not get emotionally involved in A&M's football games, but I felt myself wanting to cry after this one. I mean like even days later. It was the pinnacle of heartache.

The obligatory Thanksgiving recap - here we go.

First,the week went nothing like I had planned. I think I stayed home exactly ZERO days. I spent the first part of the week purchasing turkeys for HH so he could smoke them.

I never understand why he has me buy pre-made marinades and such. He always makes up his own. The man is not a recipe follower. AT ALL. Which, at times, can drive his rule follower of a wife crazy. A free spirit in the kitchen.

Thursday was spent doing what most of you did - eating, watching football, eating some more. The MCs and I were going to take in a movie, but we took in a nap instead.

Friday, we ventured to the movie theater and stayed away from stores as much as possible.

Saturday we made an impromptu trip to Bass Pro, because it is the Christmas season and I am all about free ornaments made out of those fishing bobber things and a FREE picture with Santa. However, it seems everyone else in the area was all about a FREE picture with Santa as well, and while I am a fan of FREE, I value my time. Standing in line for an hour plus was more than I was willing to pay. But we will be back Santa, don't you worry, 'cause I am getting me my FREE picture. It is worth all the other money someone finds to spend in the store while we wait. Sunday, the MCs and I headed to church while HH worked. After lunch we went jeans shopping for MC 2 at Target. A complete bust in the jean department, but a total score for Charlie Brown and Rudolph Christmas propaganda. I am sucker for it every year.

I just realized I left out that we started decorating for Christmas on Saturday as well. We watched Christmas movies, had hot chocolate, and completely abandoned my plans for simplicity and all natural decorations. There are lights around our door, across our mantle, and at one point in time, completely strung across my living room and wrapped around HH's recliner.

I am a hold out for not decorating until after Thanksgiving, so to be up and going this soon is huge.

Then the Sunday night reality check came in when I realized I had not done a single thing for work like I had planned. Nor had I made the MCs do any school work as I had planned. I hadn't froze any leftovers like I meant to. I did not have my kitchen table cleared off like I wanted to. Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

So this morning, I got up at what I thought was 4:30am, only to discover it was 3:30am (I have got to set those clocks on the phone back!), and instead of doing anything about all that I didn't do, I am here talking to you. By now it is 4:30, which makes it much too late to go back to bed and think I will get up in time to get everyone ready and out the door.

So....

Up and at 'em.

Yep....here I go.

Getting the day started.

No burning daylight for me............

Okay, I really am going now.

Have a wonderful Monday!

BEAT THE....

you know....

outta t.u.

WHOOP!

TALKING TURKEY....

Cooking tips?

Nah.

I am going to talk about these turkeys.

See this?

This is not what they are doing this morning,

Or have been doing all week.

And when they do, it is not even in their own bed.

Monday we went "shopping".

MC 1 declared it the best day ever.

As much as I would like to think it was spending the day together he enjoyed so much, I am pretty sure his grand sentiments had much more to do with him getting a jacket he has wanted for what seems like all his life. A jacket he has slept in for the last two nights and worn for the last two days.

MC 2 got some cop cars that I have yet to see him play with.

And this turkey....

discovered the joy of smoking his own turkeys last year and is in full turkey smoking mode again this year.
Which means I am in full turkey smoking mode.
It also means some of us will be up all night tonight because we like nothing better than waiting until the last minute.
The pressure....we live for the pressure.

So as I scavenge the store for the last of the fresh birds, I hope your preparations are going great. I hope you get to spend Thanksgiving with the turkeys you love and cherish. I hope your faraway turkeys come home to roost for a few days.
Do turkeys roost?
I think they do.
I think I heard that in a hunting show one time.
Probably Waddell...yep, I bet it was him.

I pray, for me as much as you, that we remember in all our doings, to be thankful for the very ones we are doing for.
Above all, thankful to Christ Jesus, the One who did all for us.

I SEE A PATTERN HERE....

At first I thought it was an accident,

because these things get loose and fall off....

then I found these and I think it was no accident.