30 Days of Christmas Coming Soon

I have some friends who have had or are having a rough time this Christmas season. These friends are faithful readers to the blog. So today, as I was shopping at Hobby Lobby, I had a revelation. Some like to call it a "big idea" but I like the way revelation rolls of the ole tongue. Re-vel-at-io-n. (I bet you are trying it out now)

Now, what was I saying? Oh, yeah. Back to the REVELATION from earlier today. I wanted to make the season a little brighter and well, more fun for my faithful reader friends, who are going through a rough patch. And with that thought in mind, this ole blog is going to change it's pace during the holiday season. We are going to bump it up a notch, put on some swanky Christmas tunes and play.

Starting December 1st, keep your eyes on this blog for the 30 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS FUN!

And let's be honest, I am going to be posting by the seat of my pants, no planning, just being festive each day with however the mood hits me. But it will be 30 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS FUN.

Stay tuned.

I will be back December 1st, if I can last that long.

Have you ever noticed that when I say I am on a blog break I always post during that time? Maybe it is because I have never learned to shut thy mouth!

Hmm.

I will try to work on that.

Yeah!!!!

I love Helio! But more than that I am a huge fan of Julianne so I am happy that she won two years in a row. Jeff says to tell you all, "She needs help." (She meaning me!)

God Works In Mysterious Ways

I am one of those people that changes out the background on my computer when the seasons change. Today I sat out to find a Christmas backdrop by first stopping at Revive Our Hearts.
If you have ever visited thier website then you know that they display today's radio program on the front. Friends, God used this little journey of finding a backdrop as a way to prick my heart about my personal quiet time with Him. I will be honest and tell you that as my responsibilites have increased within the church, I have found myself not spending time with God in the morning like I should. And well, I have a problem with that and even prayed to God last night to increase my longing for Him and Him alone.

You know when you ask God to prick your heart you just better get ready for Him to do just that. Click on the link now, it is worth the few minutes to listen to this. You will be glad you did.

Oh and the backdrop that I chose is pictured below.

I think the words are perfect for this phase of my life. Don't you?

Thankful 2007

Early on in my life, my mom taught me to be grateful for the things that we did have and not focus on the things that we don't. Every Thanksgiving as we would drive to Paris, TX, my mom would fill up the time interrogating us on what we were thankful for that year. This time taught us that no matter what was going on in our lives we could always find at least one thing that we were grateful for.

This year, Jeff slept in the car and I was alone so I wasn't able to write out my list on the traditional spiral notebook with my ball roller pen. But I stored it away in my head and have just now carved out the time to put it in writing.

I am thankful for...

God-His grace and love that pours over me, I am grateful that He never gives up on you and me.

Jeff-his love, his laughter, his spiritual growth, his work ethic, oh, I just love him completely

my mom-who taught me to be grateful, who taught me not to sweat the small stuff and who prays for me daily

my dad- We have grown through many trials and have come out better in the end, I am grateful for our renewed friendship and that God has brought us back together

My brother- He is a deep thinker, loving, good natured and funny. He is also a great husband and a wonderful Daddy. It takes a special man to be called Daddy and his kids call him that all the time.

my sister-in-laws: I have always wanted sisters, I now have two and one more coming soon. God has blessed me with 3 women that I am family because of marriage but friends by choice.

my 3 nieces and nephew: they are always making me laugh with their inquisitive minds and curious actions. I love that each one of them loves the Lord. It is a blessing to watch them grow up

my job- working at home, getting holidays off, doing what I love, need I say more?

my cousins-Jeff told me the other day that it amazes me that 2nd generation cousins could be so close. I never even think of them as 2nd cousins. This year we have all connected because of the blog and our little warrior cousin Kanyon. I am so grateful for these (mostly women cousins) who are not only family but sweet friends as well.

my church-I am challenged every week with Scripture. We are blessed. I also am blessed to have the opportunity to serve in an area that I absolutely love.

my friends-the old and new friends. God always brings friendships into your life for every season of life. I thankfully have friendships that have been a part of my entire life. These friends know me better than I sometimes know myself and love me anyway. Praise God for that! and then my new friends that God has brought into my life over the last few years, these friends are fun and challenge me daily to be a better Christian, wife and friend.

contentment-I have grown to relish this season of my life. I am not trying to control the outcome but just take life one day at a time, enjoying the complete process. This comes only from God and to be able to tell you I am happy, truly happy is a blessing indeed.

Today I Am Thankful

I am thankful today for so many things, in fact so many things that this is my longest post in the history of blogging. So sit back, relax and enjoy the pictures.

I am thankful for a husband who did not complain when he stayed up a full 24 hours just so I could drive to Paris to be with my side of the family this year. Seriously, not once but he did use the sleet that was in the metroplex for his sign to head home. We didn't even make it out of Paris and he was sound asleep in the passenger seat. Poor guy!



And in the last few weeks, I have noticed little signs that God is doing amazing things in Jeff's heart. It started with his play time with Elijah last week and then today I noticed him playing with Cousin Roselyn. If my heart wasn't so full of joy I could of easily cried me some happy tears. The next two pictures are proof that God's timing is perfect and it is better to enjoy the ride instead of try to control the ride. God is good!





And the picture below makes me think of so many things that I am thankful for this year. One, is back in the corner sleeping, you will have to enlarge to see little Kanyon. Yes, the Kanyon that we prayed for long and hard this year. It was bittersweet since Jayde is in heaven. I imagine her eating turkey with Nanny Betty, my great grandmother Mom Bonner, Mama Denton and many more of our family members who have gone on to Heaven the last few years. Okay allow me to lighten it up a bit, I am a mess on my side of the screen.

The last picture also serves as proof that the torch has officially been passed to the next generation. Back in the day, we girls, got our hand slapped if we touched the stuffing pan. Nanny Betty guarded this tub like it was the Ark of the Covenant or something. Paige and Jaymie, you have done good, Nanny Betty would be proud.

And now for the cousins who were stuck in Iowa, Alaska and at work in Waco. Here is the only group shot we got today. It was super cold in Paris, 34 degrees to be exact, and well you know us Texans like to stay warm. So the next three pictures are the closest things you will get to a pile of leaves photo.



The next picture below is Cousin Jay praying for our dinner and thanking all of us for the prayer and support we (all 60+ of us) offered this year. I started crying at this point but what's new, I cry everytime I pray these days. Happy, Blessed tears though.


On to the 4th generation photos from today

There is a name for families who multiply like ours. Rabbits. I'm just saying...

Elijah and Roselyn meet for the first time.

I thankfully was not one of those strange people looking at Roselyn. She recognized me and reached out for me to hold her. I guess it helped that I went shopping with her for a car seat a few weeks ago because we obviously bonded that day.

Cousin Paige puts her kids in a corner when they eat. Let me borrow a line from Dirty Dancing, "No one puts baby in a corner!" Elijah LOVES Airplanes! He is making his plane noises in this picture. I love the fact that I caught his face here. Have I ever told you how much I love this little man? I was just making sure I met my qotta for the year!



Braxton calling his aunt and uncle who are in Iowa awaiting thier own addition to the 4th generation.
Sweet Emaline. What fun it was to see her in 3-D.
Playing with the ole kitchen set that we chicks used to play with when we were young.
And now I am just trying to see how many pictures blogger will let me post.

Paige and I took pictures of each other. Isn't Emalines bows so cute! Oh and let me tell you about Emalines shoe, that was thrown over the railing by her brother and landed into Jeff's cup. Oh we laughed but recovered quick when Paige realized she needed to discipline her child. Don't you just hate being the grown up, Paige?

Missy and Jeff were taking the pictures.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!

sorry guys!

My scanner is not working right so I can't load the old school Thanksgiving pictures. I will have to get Jeff to look at it some day soon.

Speaking of Jeff...Poor, poor Jeff, he has to work tomorrow night and when we get off work we head straight to Paris, TX. He will have no sleep. NONE! But he has not complained yet but I can see it in his eyes that he knows tomorrow is going to be a beating since he will have no sleep.

I guess I should say this year that I am most thankful for Jeff. Jeff who knows that spending time with my cousins, especially this year, is so important to me. Jeff who will be working and not resting tonight. Who would probably rather stay home and sleep than drive in a car and hang out all day. But who has told me time and time again that it's okay since it is my year to be with my family. He said, "What's Friday for anyway?" I don't think, in fact, I know I wouldn't be as gracious as he is if the tables were reversed.

Sigh.

"Dear Lord, I am so ready to see my sweet family. This year especially it will be good to have hugs and to laugh. Laughter is so sweet. Lord, I know that Jeff is making a huge sacrafice and I love him for it. Lord help me to be quiet to listen to his needs and to drive safely so he doesn't feel like he must keep one eye open while taking his nap. Thank you Lord for all you do. Thank you Lord for all you are going to do. Thank you Lord for a day where we can spend time with the ones we love, eat lots of good food and laugh. We love you Lord."

My Favorite Things

Here is another installment of my favorite thing list.

Feel Free to Share Your Favorite Things About the Holidays Too!

1. Shopping at The Sample House

2. Drinking Coffee and Talking with good friends.

3. This Music playing on my strero during the Christmas season

4) Even better than hearing the music is seeing the Nutcracker Ballet every Christmas

5) A Charlie Brown Christmas who year after year reminds you the true meaning of Christmas

housecleaning fun

I love a clean house.

And yet I realize once I have kids that I am going to have to set my limits a little lower. I mean who wants to be bending over cleaning all day when there is fun to be had with the kiddos? I think I will choose coloring with the kids over cleaning any ole day.

But there does come a time where you must take a time out to get a few things done.

Last night was one of these fine occasions, only because I didn't want Missy to have to come home to a total mess. Would you want to clean after coming back from California? I don't think so.

So I tell the girls, "Time to clean."

Faith was on board the minute I told her it was going to be fun. I insist on making cleaning fun...if I am going to do it. We pretended we were princesses locked in the castle and the only way we could eat yummy lasagna and get a HOT COCOA treat after dinner, was if the mean old evil granny (my mom) gave us the all clear. So we, the pretty princesses, needed to hurry because we only had 15 minutes to get things in tip top shape. But there was one little princess who DID NOT WANT TO CLEAN.

Katy says, "I hate cleaning. It isn't a game it is work!" (oh I wish you could of heard her say work. Too cute!)

This conversation lead to another conversation about what would happen if she became a mother one day. "My kids will clean." I was thinking to myself that's what I am trying to have happen here, right now, this present moment. My mind went into overdrive trying to figure a way to hold my ground but still have fun cleaning.

"Katy, let's race. I bet I will pick up more things than you in the fifteen minutes."

Long story made shorter: she didn't buy that either

So I did what any other good Aunt would do. I tickled her until she said, "Okay, okay, okay. I will clean."

This started us running all over the house as fast as we could. And when they started to lose momentum, I would run to the window and pretend I was looking for the mean old evil grandmother's car. This really got them moving. And I am proud to say that Katy the princess who doesn't want to clean, cleaned her room very nice and even came in and helped Faith make her bed and clean off the her sister's dresser.

And I thought you didn't like to clean Miss Thang?

Here are some pictures of the last time we had to play this game. The day that little Elijah came home from the hospital when he was born. Oh and Elijah now almost two years old, was helping by screaming "No, I want that!" Or something that sounded very similar to that. Let's just say he was the mean ole troll that worked for the mean old evil grandmother by making sure we didn't get our job done.




And for those of you who made it to the end of this post, here is my new all time favorite blog. This woman is one of those women who puts Martha Stewart to shame and inspires you to do the same.

So there, now you know my plans for the weekend, I will be putting my house back in order.

I will catch you on the flip side.

Stay tuned for the Cagle cousin Thanksgiving flashback photos.

Elijah's Laugh

I am understanding a little more why God gives us laughter.

It for those of us "moms" who are tired and worn out from running after a nearly two year old. But your weariness is washed away when the child starts to laugh. Doesn't it seem to make the world a better place to hear a child laugh.

Let me tell you, I am at a complete awe for mothers who work full time. I am at more of an awe for those of you who work at home and succeed. Jeff and I may have one more thing to add to our prayer list because working at home with a toddler is IMPOSSIBLE. Fun but impossible.

Anyway, I don't want this to sound like I am complaining because the truth is I have soaked up every minute and the best part is the point of all this post.

Eli has the greatest laugh.

He puts the babies on You Tube to shame. It is so sweet! Oh and when he cackles, melts my heart like butter.

Today I was holding him and a friend did a post of her babies laughing at each other. He heard it and pointed to the computer screen saying, "Babies? Again." So I played it over and over and over. Finally because I didn't want them to think I was camping out at their blog I pulled up You Tube and played a few of their babies laughing. He laughed right along with them.

Later we were playing "Tickle Monster" an Aunt Sue Sue speciality. Oh to hear him laugh was just so sweet. I am staying up late tonight to finish today's work but it is all worth it. Because today my day was filled with a nearly two year old' laughter.

And I tell you another thing that melts my heart. Before the tickle monster debut, he was sitting in my lap having a bit of cuddle time that is another favorite for me. He leaned up to me, hugged me tight, and kissed my cheek...just because. Oh how I will miss my daily tickles and pecks on my cheek from sweet little E.

So this ends Camp Keep the Kiddos post.

I will be laying low the next few days trying to get caught up on all that has been pushed to the back burner this week so I can play with my nephew.

Camp Keep the Kiddos Is Still Moving Right Along

2 hour naps ROCK! Missy, I put him down at 1:00 each day and tell him it's naptime, play a video and tell him he can't get off the couch until the video is done. He falls asleep every time! I thought I would try to get him used to it so maybe he would do it for you too. Wouldn't that be nice?!?! (We can dream can't we?)


Sidewalk chalk is super fun!
Singing with his Praise Baby CD. I turned off the radio just to hear his sweet voice sing. The sound was only coming through his headphones and not the speakers so I only heard his little voice. Best praise time ever! I cried a little but what's new.

Faith has already read her 100 minutes for the week. Rock on sister friend. She says she will read more to get ahead. Now that is one smart chick. Katy showed me the ant trail, "It starts right here and goes allllll the way to here!'
We all 4 jumped for over 30 minutes-that was my excercise for the day.
Playing chase with Uncle Jeff, this was his workout for the day. He told me yesterday that it only takes him 5 minutes to get to work. I think we maybe moving close to you all one day
Walking to school this morning. Katy picked out her clothes. She wanted to look cute. Her words not mine.
Dropping the chicks off, I just had to get a picture. I am Aunt Sue Sue and that's the way I roll.
Elijah and I strolled over to the park. We did so much stuff later I jogged while pushing the stroller, when I stopped to walk, Eli yelled "Go Fast!" Sorry I may have started something guys.

"Sue Sue!"
"Peek a Boo!" Sweet smile

Camp Keep the Kiddos-Day 2

I will have you know, last night I posted a funny post but forgot the pictures. When I inserted the pictures the text became micro size and I couldn't get the pictures right. That post is now in the trash and today I am starting fresh.


Yesterday Elijah and I played, played, played with a few work related things for good measure. We went to the library where he did his tricks for the librarian. My favorite is the one where he says "Whoa" like he is falling and then falls in slow motion. We then went to the grocery store where he helped me pick out yummy snacks for snack time at Aunt Sue Sue's. He say the Goldfish on the cracker aisle and yelled "FISH! Mmm!" Who could resist that logic? In the bag they went. We side walked chalked on my patio and played peek-a-boo non-stop. We watched a copy of Benji that I picked up at the library and the pretended that we were puppy dogs.

The Puppy Dog is starting to get tired.




Then the little puppy climbed in my lap and fell asleep. I moved him to the couch where he slept for 2 and 1/2 hours. Oh bless you Lord! I really got my work done then.

Later when we headed home he started to do his chores around the house, wiped down the tub and washed a few windows. He will be a great husband one day if he continues to help out around the house like he did today.

Now to Katy and Faith



They were very happy to see us. They asked me at dinner if I would pick them up from school. Sadly, I am still working but I promised them that I would give Elijah a nap earlier so that I could be there by 4 instead of 5.



Katy told me yesterday that she had to tell her teacher a few things she was thankful for at school today. I asked here what she said and she said, "Sadie, my dog."



(Pausing for the parents to laugh)



You see fellow readers, Sadie is a dog that Gunnar and Missy had when they were first married and if I remember correctly this dog became an angel before Katelyn was born or when she was a little baby. "But Katy, " I say, "That dog is in Heaven, right?"



"Yeah but I know that if I had a dog I would be thankful for it so I said that."



Hmm, works for me.


This is what she was wearing when I came to the house, MeMe had put lipstick on her. Doesn't it scare you a bit how grown up she looks?



No funny stories about Faith. She has been very, very good. She has been very helpful with Elijah. She was even making her lunch for tomorrow when I came in. She said she wanted to make her morning easier. I told her how proud I was of her for thinking ahead. She is growing up so fast and I love watching this beautiful girl blossom from the inside out.



Okay that is all for now.

Today (Tuesday) Elijah has been very cuddly. We sat and watched Sesame Street and he fell asleep. Lynnie said he was up at 5:30 am this morning. Now after a 30 minute morning nap we are watching Dora The Explorer. I better get to work while he is entertaining himself with Dora.