Christmas Tree, Big Questions & Heaven......

Dave, the boys and I went to the cemetery today to decorate a small tree for my my Mom's grave. Before we left, Matthew was getting dressed and said "Mommy do I have to tuck in my shirt?" I said, "No, honey it is Saturday". A couple of minutes later, I saw him tucking in his shirt. I asked him why and he said " Because Mommy, I really want to look nice for the cemetery." I tried to explain again that the cemetery was a place for us to visit and that Grammy is not there, that she is heaven. Michael said " Mommy I really miss Grammy, I want her to be done with heaven!" "When can she be done?" He also asked me why she had to be sick. My sweet little boys, are so sensitive and they really miss their Grammy.......

I do my best to explain that she is in a better place now and that one day we will see her again....

What a wonderful day that will be!

*As I was writing this post, I stopped to check my email and my friend Jean just sent

this poem to me.

It is beautiful, thanks so much Jean for thinking of me-it really means a lot, especially today!

MY FIRST CHRISTMAS IN HEAVEN

I see the countless Christmas Trees around the world below.

With tiny lights, like heaven's stars, reflecting on the snow.

The sight is so spectacular!

Please wipe away that tear,for I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear,

but the sounds of music can't compare with the Christmas choir up here.

I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring,

for it is beyond description to hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart,

but I am not so far away,we really aren't apart.

So be happy for me dear ones.

You know I hold you dearand be glad I'm spendingChristmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I send you each a special gift from my heavenly home above.

I send you each a memory of my undying love.

After all "LOVE" is the gift, more precious than pure gold.

It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.

Please love and keep each other, as my Father said to do,

for I can't count the blessings or love He has for you.

So, have a Joyous Christmas and wipe away that tear.

Remember, I'm spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

Anonymous

We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord

2 Corinthians 5:8

Let's Give A Little Jesus.....

Tonight was my churche's Advent by Candlelight dinner.
It is all women, and either you "host" a table, or you are "invited" to one. Dinner is provided and the hostess sets their own table of ten and supplies dessert. I missed last years, so this was my first one. I was invited by my friend Bev, to sit at her table. The table looked beautiful; it was decorated with a silver tree and blue ornaments and decorations. We had beautiful silver accented plates to eat on. We also had ornaments to take home, one silver snowflake and one snowflake with our name on it. After we had dinner, we had a story read to us about CHRISTmas. Then we sang Christmas carols and finished with all of us holding a candle in the dark, singing Silent Night. It was really beautiful! I have to admit, I was a little sad singing the songs. First, I LOVE music and Christmas carols always remind of the reason for the season, the birth of our savior. Also I was thinking of my Mom, I was remembering her singing the same songs, all of my life. I guess that when you spend 34 Christmas's with someone, it is hard to imagine them not there anymore...especially this time of the year!

During the story, this Christmas card was shared with us.... A TRUE reminder of what CHRISTmas is really about!
This Christmas ... Let's Give a Little Jesus, a thoughtful word or deed,
An act of generosity for someone who's in need.
Let's Give a Little Jesus to everyone we meet --
The salesclerk or the server, the person on the street.
Let's Give a Little Jesus, that's what really counts --
Not what's spent or bought, for whom, in what amounts.
Let's give a little Jesus to everyone, large or small...
For Jesus, the Messiah, is the Greatest Gift of All!
Poetry of Lisa Engelhardt

The angel said unto them .... For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:11

It's Blog Comment Day.....

Today is Blog Comment Day....

The idea is to promote conversation across the blogosphere. Anyone who participates leaves a comment on five different blogs, two of which they have not left comments before. This is a nice idea. So have fun, leaving those comments (remember to be nice) with people you have had no connection with yet.
What a fun idea!

*I hope maybe this will bring some "silent readers" to my comments :)

"I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me"

Philippians 4:13

I am writing this post in honor of one of closest friends Vicki. I have been friends with Vicki for almost 14 years, her husband, Hunter is one of Dave's best friends. So we have spent LOTS of time together, especially the four of us. We were in each others weddings and have shared in so many different parts of each others lives over the years, from our first homes, to having children, to moving away, and back, death and now cancer.

Vicki was diagnosed in May of this year with Stage 2 Hodgkin's Lymphoma and Thyroid cancer. Vicki is the wife to Hunter, and the Mommy of two precious girls, Elizabeth(6) and Lauren(3).
Vicki found out that she had cancer, right after Hunter got an incredible promotion that moved them to Dyersburg Tennessee(which is in the middle of "nowhere land" compared to here or Nashville). So not only did Vicki have to begin the fight of her life, she had to do it away from her family and friends and the Doctors that she felt comfortable with. I have been amazed at Vicki's strength through theses past 6 months and I am so proud of her!
A few weeks ago, we had a special dinner at this restaurant to celebrate Vicki's last round of chemotherapy. Let the remission begin! There were 9 of us including Vicki and we had such a great time!

These are some pictures from our celebration dinner, Vicki & her sister Angie, Vicki with her Mom, and her sisters Angie & Julie.

A few pictures from over the years....New Years 2001, Meeting Matthew, 6 Flags, Michael's Easter Birthday Party.....

I am so thankful to God that Vicki is doing so well!

"Truly great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to ever forget."

Always remember that I love ya Vicki, and will be here for you no matter what!

Love,

These are some pictures from our Thanksgiving....Our "new" family photo

Our 1st visit to a Tree Farm


It's a bird, it's a plane, it's "Super Elf" :)


We had a nice Thanksgiving "break". We had Thanksgiving with Dave's Dad and family on Wed. night. Then on Thursday AM, we had brunch at Natalie's with her and Brent's parents and family. Then we came home to begin the cooking for our Thanksgiving dinner. I made turkey, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, peas, broccoli cheese casserole, cranberry fluff, rolls and pumpkin trifle. We had dinner with my Dad, my brother, Dave's mom and my Aunt Susie. It was a wonderful Thanksgiving Day. It was bittersweet not having my Mom here. I was thinking that I spent 34 Thanksgivings with her, 34! So of course it is going to be different, not having her here for holidays and other special occasions.
My Dad wrote this prayer for us, it was really beautiful!

Father, there is someone conspicuously absent from our table today...a sister, a wife, a mother, a grandmother.
Lord, any tears we have shed are for ourselves, not for her, for we have complete faith in where she is this very minute, where every day is a thanksgiving unto you and your son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Father today, we truly and humbly give thanks that you have released her from the earthly body that had become her prison, to a place with no more pain, no braces, no crutches, no wheelchairs, no oxygen tanks, and yes, no nursing homes.

Thanks Dad, I know you miss her, and so do we!!


Friday, I met Natalie at 5:20 AM and we spent the next 7 hours shopping for DEALS! We had a great time and came home with lots of things... mostly for the kids. Last year, was our 1st year for this, and now it has become "our tradition".
Friday night, we went too dinner with our friends Hunter & Vicki. They were in from Tennessee and it was so great to see them and hang out. We miss them so much... *Look for a special post about my friend Vicki this week.....


On Saturday, we went to a tree farm, in the "country" to pick out the "perfect" tree..... We normally use an artificial tree, but this year ours got wet and we had to throw it away. Since we are still in "construction mode", and are not sure how big of a tree we want to buy, we thought it would be fun for the kids and us to experience the fun cutting down your own tree. It was the perfect cold and crisp day. We rode in a wagon, out to the field, and picked our tree. Afterwords, we enjoyed a nice cup of hot chocolate and let the kids ride the little train around the trees....It was a great day. I will post pictures of our decorated tree, later this week.....

We adopted a new tradition this year, Elf On The Shelf, Thanksgiving night, when we read the book and introduced our new friend(they named "Super Elf"), the boys were a little unsure. Matthew said, he was not sure if he "believed" or not, and Michael was scared to death!
The last 3 mornings have been spent with searching for Super Elf the minute their feet hit the floor. They are so excited and I have heard them tell each other more than once, that "The elf is watching"..... This is such a wonderful tradition to start with your family.

We spent today celebrating Thanksgiving with Dave's Mom and family. Tonight we had our small group bible study, we are still studying Fireproof. I am really enjoying it!

I hope everyone has a wonderful week!
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.....we even had a couple inches of snow here today :)

*P.S. This is my 50th post!