Friday Feast # 173
Friday Feast!
Appetizer
Name 2 things you would like to accomplish in 2008.
Lose the weight I've regained, plus some AND continue to grow in my faith.
Soup
With which cartoon character do you share personality traits?
Well... I've always been called a TIGGER... I'm pretty bouncy ... and I'm orange!
Salad
What time of day (or night) were you born?
It was just after midnight I believe...
Main Course
Tell us something special about your hometown.
Off the top of my head, I can not think of a single "special" thing about this place. It's very small... very ordinary... I guess maybe the fact that our crime rate is still pretty low -- that's special!
Dessert
If you could receive a letter from anyone in the world, who would you want to get one from?
A friend. Any of them! ( i know... you wanted to hear about some celebrity - but I couldn't care LESS about them!)
It WAS a Merry Christmas!!!
14 Stockings ultimately donned my mantel!
(mine wasn't full yet ... I must have been bad!)
I told Dennis that by the time all the kids are married and have families he's
going to have to build a mantel all the way around the living room!
I DO apologize for my absence of late! (although I'm not one bit sorry!) Christmas is a family time and I know you all understand that! And this year has been ... probably not the best one EVER - I mean Christmas was FABULOUS back when I had 4 little believers of my own runnin' around here! But this WAS the best Christmas in quite some time!!! And not JUST because of Luz either! Also because each of my children has a "significant other" this year ... and that made it more fun for them - and therefor for ME as well! And that fact that I dearly LOVE allllll of their significant others certainly helps! So, yea... it was a very merry time!
This was a very WEIRD Christmas though! Our norm has always been that the kids got up at about 4:30 or 5:00 in the morning, we lit a fire in the fireplace, had coffee and donuts and opened stockings, and then moved straight into presents. THIS year, we slept until 9:00 and I finally gave in and let them open stockings when Amanda texted me to let me know THEY wouldn't be here until around 1:00!!! Things were moving waaaaaay slowly at her house!
So, we opened stockings around 11:30... then Derek's girlfriend, Sarah showed up and she opened her stocking... and then Mathew & Carol showed up around noonish, so they opened their stockings... then Amanda & Hector & Luz finally showed up around 2:00!
Finally Amanda and her entourage showed up and we were able to get down to the business at hand! Can you BELIEVE the scene in this house?
Is there an inch to sit down around here? Is there ANY surface that is not covered with wrapped presents??? Goooood grief! HOW did this happen??? (can any one say "Melli, out of control..." ???) Okay... I admit! I WAS bad this year! Verrrrry bad! BUT... the one's who came brought SOME of this too!!!
I know you were dying to see some pics of Luz LOVING Christmas... but... the fact is that most of our pictures ended up being of the top of her head as we watched her enjoy Christmas! LOL! See?
Luz enjoys the doll house that was Nana's "MUST HAVE, sweeeeet deal, found at the last minute AND for HALF PRICE!" present! Honestly... I drove Krysti CRAZY hitting every toy store and aisle we came NEAR looking for just the "perfect" doll house. It had to be just the RIGHT one, or I wasn't buyin... I would be happy to find it by Easter! It had to be wood, and it had to be sturdy and it couldn't be too BIG, nor could it be too small... and the fact that this one was PINK certainly helped! But it was just perfect in EVERY way -- and Luz LOVES it! YAY!
I have yet to give her the Dora Big Wheel we got her. Honestly, I was amazed that she got through all the presents... she wasn't really "in" to opening them at first... but she got better at it as we went along!
10 for dinner this year!
After all the presents were open, we sat down to our very UNtraditional meal of lasagne and salad -- along with a tray of croissant sandwiches from Safeway - because Krysti doesn't "do" lasagne. We also had deviled eggs and I forgot to put out the black & green olives. USUALLY I forget to put out the cranberry sauce!
Krysti's Rick didn't come over until later in the evening. I was actually taking a nap at the time he got here and opened his stocking. I didn't feel too bad though -- Hector and Mathew slept through it too! LOL! Poor Rick... we'll make it up to him another year! At least he and Krysti had plenty of time to visit alone with each other... I'm thinkin' that's probably a good thing! But it also meant I got no new pics of the two of them together. Sorry.
I did manage to catch a cold for Christmas... so I am feeling really rough today. Thankfully, Amanda decided not to go to work this morning and so I have gotten to stay home and rest and sleep and sleep and rest... and that's about all I've done today! I tried to convince Mom to stay in her jammies too... but apparently some habits can NOT be broken and I think the lesson I'm supposed to learn from having her MAY be one of "submission"... sometimes I simply MUST submit to doing things HER way! LOL!
I hope you ALL had a Christmas as happy as mine was!
I'll be around to visit soon... well... sorta soon.
Angels We Have Heard On High...
Then the angel said to them,
“Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
“ Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
~Luke 2:10-14~
One of my many Christmas collections is angels.
I do LOVE them! I don't know how many of them I have had over the years... but I know I've LOST way more of them than I retain! My guess is that is because they are just so much more fragile than say hefty Santa's ... or roly poly snowmen! Their delicate little wings take a beating... as well as halos, trumpets, violins, harps... etc... Of the ones pictured above (this year's display) I used to have 3 of the gold wirey ones with the white robe... I had 2 of the clear glass one (playing the violin) - the other one was holding a book and singing... And of the golden teardrops in the front? I had 3 of them - but even since this picture was taken, I have lost another one... I'm down to ONE. It doesn't seem to matter where I set them up either... they've been on the mantle, on the bay window, on large tables and small... the kitties are just as fascinated with them as I am apparently! And one careless sniff can wipe out a wing! Or shatter an entire angel... So, while I have been trying to limit myself to the sturdier ones in recent years, the delicate ones are just soooooo tempting! And yes... angels come and angels go... it's heartbreaking when they leave!
But... it's soooooooo nice to get new ones! I have a group of on-line friends that I have known for many many years now... well, probably about as long as on-line friendships could have existed! LOL! I don't honestly remember for sure - I think it's in the vacinity of 9-12 years -- somewhere in there! Anyway - we are a spread out bunch with respresentatives from the east coast and the west - as far north as Canada and as far south as Texas! We also have TWO who live in Denmark! The last couple of years we have done a "Secret Santa" exchange of gifts... and this year, MY Secret Santa - Cinders - sent me THIS angel!
It is from Jim Shores Heartwood Creek collection
and you can see it is the 2nd Jim Shore to be added!
This one is special because she is loving on that kitty -
being a protector - and I do LOVE my kitties also!!!
Cinders - thank you sO much!
She is beautiful - and you can bet she will
hold a place of HIGH honor in next year's display!
While I am sharing angels ...
I might as well also share this one...
I bought this one while visiting the
Millennium Theatre last week. I thought
she was very unique and needed to be
in my home... for how ever long she lasts.
*smile*
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~Angels we have on heard high
Sweetly singing ore the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ whose birth the angels sing
Come adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord the newborn King
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Gloria in excelsis Deo
See him in a manger laid
Whom the choirs of angels praise
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid
While our hearts in love we raise
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Gloria in excelsis Deo
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
I doubt that I will be on line again before Christmas...
so I really do want to wish all of you the very Merriest Christmas ever!
Be blessed! And bless others!
I love you all!
I'm Stresssssssed!
LOL! This morning found me in tears, telling Dennis "I'm stressssed!" So when I saw this quiz over at Lazy Daisy's, I knew I had to take it! LOL! Just as I suspected! I am stressed!!! But their solution is no good at all... I need FAMILY around me at Christmas! A solitary vacation to Hawaii would REALLY stress me out!
| Your Holiday Stress Level is High |
Everything about the holidays stresses you out - from your freaky family to packed malls.
Maybe this is the perfect time of year for you to take a solo vacation to Hawaii. |
Christmas Tour of Homes
I didn't realize that the tour was something that had to be signed up for in advance - so I guess I'm not officially participating -- my name is not on the "list"... but I had a little time today and so I decided to play! Oooops! Thanks to all who told me to sign the Linky on BooMama's today post! Christmas decorating at my house is (of late) more about displaying collections than it is about overall decorating. Back in the day I used to adorn every doorway and window with ribbons and garland - but since the kids have grown I've cut back quite a bit. I know -- I SHOULD have gone all out for Luz this year... but somehow I just can't get motivated to DO it! Soooooo... with that said, I give you MY tour of mOst of my Christmas home... all images are "biggable" for a closer look.
Upon entering my foyer...
my nutcrackers
The fireplace... where the stockings are hung with care.
Small Santa display to the right of the fireplace.
A couple of more to the left.
The tree is in the corner this year.
Some cheer beside the tree...
In the Kitchen we find...
My angels.
This collection grows and shrinks EVERY year!
The cats have already broken two this year -- but I
believe I have a new one coming on Christmas Day!
I made this wall hanging about
15 years ago.
This year the snowmen gather in the family room.
That is the majority of it -- of course there are other bits
and pieces here and there... but you really don't want to see
every square inch of my house!!! LOL!
Merry Christmas to ALL!
I'm HERE! I'm HERE already!!!
Gooood grief! Okay... I know... it's SUNDAY! I went on the bus trip on Thursday - since then we've lived 4 days of life and you haven't heard a word about it... I'm ever so sorry! I don't have a Sunday Seven... and if I don't do it right this minute you'll never hear any stories!
So... the bus trip to the Millennium Theatre was awesome/horrific! The trip up wasn't too bad - Everyone was excited and very chatty and Mom just sort of sat and listened - chimed in when asked a specific question - that's her normal. The play was SO FANTASTIC I can't even begin to TELL you! It was GLORIOUS! It was sO well done and because this theatre is "set up" for these performances all the time, the scenery is UNbelievable! It was sO authentic and just absolutely AWEsome! And the actors and actresses just did a fabulous job. God has sURely blessed that performance! Photography was not allowed under ANY circumstances -- and I did NOT want to risk being tossed out - so I have no pictures to share. I'm positive my camera could not have done them justice anyway. Soooooo... how was it horrific? Well... for starters Mom thought that several other people were wearing HER coat (and she must have had several different colors and styles along the way!) and kept putting her hands into peoples POCKETS to see what was IN them to find out if it WAS her coat! OY! This was something that no matter HOW I reprimanded her, she just LAUGHED at me and said "well I have to know if it's MY coat!" Dear me... Then, about 10 minutes down the road on the bus, I tried to talk to her about something in the play and THAT quick she forgot that she had been to a play! So all that GLORY, all that SPLENDOR, all that wonder and beauty and AWE was totally lost on her. I had so hoped that she would remember SOMEthing from it! And certainly for more than 10 minutes WHAT WAS I THINKING??? *knocks head against wall!* It didn't help that the ride home was dark and snowy/icy/drizzly and that the people were quiet and peaceful. It wasn't long before it suddenly struck Mom that she should have a suitcase. If she's on a bus trip, she must need a suitcase... so for the entire rest of the 3.5 hour trip home I explained about every 3.5 minutes that No, we didn't BRING her suitcase - that we didn't go visiting and that her suitcase was home safe and sound in her closet. In between bouts of suitcase I reminded her that I am Melli, she lives with me and Dennis. And that Dennis is her son. *knock knock knock* bang bang bang* You see? God BLESSED me with that play to make up for the ride! By the time we got back to my church, my fellow members - and even Pastor - were drawing up papers of Cannonization for me! I told them not to bother because while they THINK I'm a saint, God not only reads my mind - but also my heart - and he knOws I'm a SINNER!!! He knew I spent half my day in confession!!! However... I did come away with a couple of sweeeet souvenirs from the trip too! These two nativities....
Upon arriving home, Dennis took Mom off my hands and I chilled with a book before I killed somebody! Krysti got home just a little while later -- she had been driving home from Keuka in snowy/icy/drizzly conditions and was THRILLED to come in the door! I, of course, was thrilled to have her come in the door too! :) Rick came over to visit with her, and we all chatted and had a good time.
Even though I don't babysit Luz on Fridays - Krysti had not had the pleasure of "meeting" her yet -- so Amanda said I could have her that day and that Krys and I could take her to the Mall. Dennis had planned to have Mom that day - but it fell through because we had not yet received George's death certificates - so he couldn't get the things taken care of that he needed to. Sooooooo Mom came along to the mall too! (which is fine - she loves the mall!) Krysti had an eye doctor appt, so we got that out of the way and then took Luz to see Santa! Hector AND Amanda had BOTH said we could. Well, it turned out the only reason Amanda agreed to it was because she was CERTAIN Luz wouldn't sit on his lap. Luz is very shy. Turns out she's not too shy with Santa! The minute it was her turn she went running to him and gave him a humongous hug!!!
more Luz News on her blog...
After her visit with Santa we took her down to the Mall playground to play for a little while. When it was time to go, we walked out of the playground, and an elderly woman approached Mom. I was trying to keep track of Luz, and so I wasn't right "with" Mom... the next thing I know I turn around and the two women are talking and LAUGHING! I had my camera in my hand anyway, so I snapped a picture!
A second later, I heard Mom say, "well, I've gotta go now... those people are waiting for me" - and she and this woman embraced. I snapped another photo!
As Mom walked back over to us, I asked her who that was. She said "I don't have any idea! She just thought she knew me, so I played along!" ROFLMBO!!! Dennis and I decided it was probably one of the women Mom used to walk with over at another mall several years ago! I laughed though!On another note... So many funny things, or sometimes sad things happen during the course of the day -- and Dennis and I never have time alone to talk -- but I can't just "tell him" because, of course, it upsets her. So I've developed "my friend, Missy" and Dennis and the kids know that if I start to tell a story about my friend, Missy I'm talking about mom! So now I can share all of her escapades without her knowing that I'm talking about HER! And it is sooooooo funny - because Mom LOVES to hear about the antics of My Friend, Missy!!! She laughs her butt off everytime I tell a story! What a hoot!
So, ya wanna know what ELSE has been going on to keep me away from you bloggers? I bet you THINK I've been doing something sensible like Christmas SHOPPING, Christmas BAKING, or Christmas WRAPPING - right? Psssh! Guess again!!! No... No.... Not even close!!! Here is what we DO these days....
Mom likes to try do puzzles!
Sometimes Dennis helps too! For the moment this seems to keep her happy ... so long as at least ONE of us does it with her! She doesn't really DO them... but she thinks she does... mostly it just gives us something to keep our sanity while we entertain her.
So... shopping, baking, and wrapping still await me! HOW many more days until Christmas?
Sunday Seven ... Answered Prayers
Seven prayers God has answered this year.
1. I told God that I wanted to grow in my relationship with Him and He took me to heart and our relationship has G-R-O-W-N!!!2. I asked God to help me find my perfect church, and he lead me to First Lutheran which is certainly it.3. I asked the Lord to guide me in decisions about my marriage, and He has made my marriage stronger than it has been in a long, long time. It's still a work in progress - but He continues to show me that our marriage IS His desire and that it is meant to last.4. I asked him to send our church a dynamite music director who knew a little something of Matt Redman, and he sent us one who delivers a great variety - including Matt Redman!5. I've prayed for a grandbaby for many years! THIS year God has blessed me! And in so doing He has blessed my whole entire family!6. I asked God to give me a purpose in my life. ( I should have asked Him to give me a passion... but...) Silly me, when I heard I was getting that grandbaby, I thought SHE was going to be my purpose. hehehe... instead, He sent my mother-in-law to live with us. My life now has purpose. Be very careful what you ask God for... He has a great sense of humor! AND... HE has a purpose!7. I also asked God to make me a more patient, compassionate person. Thus He made sure I have multitudinous opportunity each and every day to practice patience and compassion. Now I need to remember to ask him to GIFT me with those qualities! I think there just might be such thing as tooooooo much practice!Labels: Sunday Seven
Knocking My Head Against The Wall...
WHY DO I always do things the hard way?
Dennis and I jusssst wanted a couple of hours in which to talk. That's all. So when we gave mom her night time meds we added one tiny little additional pill. Just an over the counter sleep aid... something to make bed time come just a little bit earlier tonight. (she hangs in until we go to bed every night... and we're just not used to this... ) So we gave her a pill. The LAST one in my house. (this is important) ...
... Because ... at 3:00 am I was suddenly awakened by Derek -- who is prone to anxiety attacks and who is OUT of his Xanax (anti-anxiety meds) and has no more refills. He's not actually having a panic attack... but he can't sleep. He wonders do I have a sleeping pill. I wonder if this is God's way of saying "shame on you". Soooooo after tearing the house apart looking everywhere for just ONE MORE teeny tiny little sleep aid... you know... hiding in a purse or a pocket or waaaaay in the back of a medicine chest... and not finding one... I hit the road. Because, you know, one does NOT stop being a "mom" when one becomes a Nana OR a daughter-in-law... so I slipped on my Mom Hat, and I trudged out, into the rainy night in search of a sleeping pill.
First I drove 13 miles south to Town A... where the Giant Food USED to be open all night. It wasn't. But the night crew WAS out in the parking lot ... playing frisbee in the rain. They did invite me to play. I declined. Another time maybe - but right now I have a kid in need a sleep aid. ... ... Well, it's Christmas season - Walmart should be doing there 24 / 7 thing, right? Nope. They were closed up tight. Seems the world has gotten wise this year and decided they can accomplish all their Christmas shopping between the hours of 8:00 am and 11:00 pm. WAY TO GO World! I'm so proud of them! But why THIS year??? Surely sOMeplace has got to be open ... but no. Safeway was closed. Rite-Aid was not only closed - but DARK as well! Wow.
Okay... well, admittedly, Town A is just a little po-dunk town, so I drove north past Home Town, and continued 13 miles in the other direction to Town B. I don't know what I was thinking... we are still in the same county! So, no... the Giant, Safeway, Walmart and CVS in Town B were all closed up tight too. And now I'm thinking I might have to drive 35 miles up the road to BIG CITY to get the boy ONE lousy little sleeping pill. So, I call home and I ask him... do you really think this is going to be necessary? Can you maybe stay awake for 3 more hours until the grocery stores DO open? Or will we have a full blown anxiety attack by then? It's so hard to know with matters of the mind WHAT's going to happen. Anyway... he says no... he doesn't want me to go all the way to Big City... but Mom, doesn't 7-11 have any? Silly boy. 7-11 is a convenience store - not a drug store. No babe... 7-11 barely carries an aspirin. But I'll stop and SEE on my way back -- maybe they'll have something we can use!
Sooooo... 13 miles south back to Home Town... in the rain... at now 3:45 am... I stop in at the 7-11 (which happens to be 4 miles from my house) ... and on the first aisle as I walk in the door, what should stare me in the face but a bright blue box with the words Simply Sleep printed in white. 7-11 has come a looooong way baby! Just wish I'd realized it 45 minutes sooner... *sigh*
I'm going back to bed now... g'night.
Sad Blessing...
Well... when I told you about my brother-in-law, George being diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease a few weeks ago, I never in my wildest dreams imagined how quickly it could take a life. George passed away early yesterday morning. We believe he went quietly in his sleep. My thanks to all of you who were praying for him, and for our family. We are greatly relieved to know that he has be rescued from the long drawn out torture that this disease could have been for him. God is very good! Though we are sad, we are all feeling that blessing. Peace be with you George...
