Thursday, December 29, 2005

I took the Christmas tree down today. This is one Christmas that I am very thankful to have behind me. Everything that could possibly go wrong, went wrong. The kids had a great time, and that's what counts. But if I didn't have Jesus to center myself on, I'm not sure what I would've done.

Dwane had surgery yesterday. He had the incisional hernia repaired. We were at the hospital almost all day yesterday. Dwane is able to kindda be up and around, but he's still quite sore. He can't lift anything over 25 pounds for 4 weeks (that means he can't lift Caleb even), so I'll be doing the "heavy-duty" work around here. Shouldn't be too bad.

I took Eben to see "Cheaper by the Dozen 2" this afternoon. I thought it was pretty good for not being a "chick flick". (I'm really into chick flicks.) I ate WAY too much popcorn, though. My stomach is just begging for mercy!

Thursday, December 22, 2005

Well, Christmas is almost here. Eben is having his Christmas Party at school today. They're having a little gift exchange, and Eben is taking in the Polar Express and The Grinch. They're going to watch one of those during the day today.

Dwane is having a procedure in the doctor's office today, and then next Wednesday he's having day surgery. He has a hernia caused from the incision from his open heart surgery. He's having that repaired.

Saturday we go to Dwane's Dad's at lunch time, my grandmother's at supper time, and then church at 6:00. I've put together the program for the Christmas Eve Service, so hopefully that will go well.

I guess there's not a whole lot going on, other than the normal busyness of Christmas.

I can add this:

Eben and my Mom went into Rockland on Tuesday. While they were looking at the first star that came out, Eben said that he saw Grampy in the clouds. He saw only his head, not his body, and he was not wearing glasses. Could Eben be so intuitive that he would realize that Grampy wouldn't needed glasses in Heaven, or did he really see something? Combined with the "vision" he saw on the morning of Dad's funeral, I'm really beginning to wonder...Is there a Biblical gift for seeing visions??

Monday, December 12, 2005

Just some miscellaneous thoughts...

Happy Aniversary to Mike and Ronda. 19 years. Wow! I knew it would last. When you have two awesome people like that, you're bound to have an awesome marriage.

The Sunday School Christmas Program was last night, and went really well. Mom and Cathy did a great job putting it all together.

Another storm coming Friday. This one is supposed to be messier than last Friday. Guess we're supposed to be getting ice along with the snow. Depends on the track. That's what they always say. Interpreted, it means, "maybe a flurry."

I was a little disappointed in Survivor last night. I really wanted Stephenie to win. I think she had a "plan" and "worked the plan". I think Danni just was carried along, and didn't really have a plan. Or maybe that was her plan--to just get carried along. I didn't follow Survivor as closely this time as before, so maybe I'm wrong here. Next season looks interesting, though, with the Exile Island. I'll be interested to see how that works.

I found this on Lisa Whelchel's website (one of my favorite sites). There was no author listed, so I can't give any more credit than that. If it will fit, I think I'll put it in the church bulletin this week:

FIRST CORINTHIANS 13: THE CHRISTMAS VERSION

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child; Love sets aside the decorating to kiss teh spouse; Love is kind, even when harried and tired.

Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.

Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust. But giving the gift of LOVE will endure.

Saturday, December 03, 2005

I'm sitting here watching Crossroads on CMT. I LOVE that show! Today its Lionel Richie and Kenny Rogers. I'm hoping that some day they will produce a DVD set with all of the concerts. I have loved all of them. (Especially Bon Jovi with Sugarland, and Martina McBride and Pat Benetar.)

Dwane and I are just getting back from Boston. Mass A/V had their Christmas Party last night at the Top of the Hub at the Prudential Building. It was lovely. The view was absolutely amazing! (We were on the 50th floor.) There were waiters walking around with little hors d'oers (I have no clue how to spell that). They had bacon-wrapped scallops, spring rolls, stuffed mushrooms, coconut chicken, and shrimp cocktail. They had an open bar (although we just drank Coke and Diet Coke). Supper will pretty much buffet style with salad, clam chowder (good, but a little spicy), thick slices of turkey breast, and roast beef with madiera sauce and hollandaise(?). Both turkey and the beef had a thick pepper coating on the outside, and since I am not a pepper fan, I kindda scraped that off, but I really like the madeira sauce. The desserts were unbelievable. The Samoset is pretty impressive with their dessert buffets, but this was just amazing. They had these thick chocolate cups with a chocolate mousse thing inside. They had chocolate cream rolls. All kinds of things. They were all so beautiful. There was a short award ceremony after dinner, where employees were honored for their years of service. Then there was dancing to a DJ. We didn't stay for the dancing, as it was after 10:00 at that point. And we had a 30 minute walk back to our hotel in 30 degree weather with 30 mph winds.

Oh--the hotel! We stayed at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel. Courtesy of Dwane's company. What an amazing thing! Especially since today is our 11th wedding anniversary. The whole thing was like a free "second honeymoon"!

We woke up about 5:45 this AM. Our throats were incredibly dry, and the air seemed "dirty" (from the city, I think--definitely not from the hotel). Anyway, we figured we might as well get an early start. Besides, this was the first time I had left Caleb overnight, and I was anxious to get home. We had breakfast at IHOP in the area of Portsmouth, NH. I eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, and a caramel apple crepe, which was really good. We stopped at a couple of stores to find little gifts for the boys, and then stopped for an early lunch to have chicken and biscuits at Popeye's, and a Cinnabon for dessert. We made it back to Mom's at about 2:45 this afternoon.

Although I had a really great time, I also did a lot of crying today. I think it was being in Boston. It seemed like everywhere I looked there were memories of my Dad. I don't think it is the holiday season--I think it was being in Boston. I told Dwane that if we had been in NYC, I don't think I would've been as emotional. It was being in Boston, where Dad had so many doctor's appointments. And I'm so proud of my Mom--now that I've taken the route that they always took, I can't believe that my Mom drove in that traffic. I'm not sure that I could've done it. I know she would say that you "have to do what you hae to do." Still--it just reminds me about just how much of a saint my mother really is. I love you, Mom.