Last year, in what was a total chaotic holiday season, our Christmas tree died on December 10th - 5 days after we purchased it and 15 days before Christmas. It wasn't just a little dead, it was stiff, brown, can't-turn-the-lights-on dead. And during this total chaotic holiday season, there was no time for undecorating the dead and redecorating the new. In my state of trauma, I sat down and typed an email to the Lowes corporate offices to express my frustration surrounding this dead tree in my living room. Kudos to Lowes for showing true customer service.......they called me and offered a new artificial tree and my money back on the dead tree. The only thing they could not provide was someone to come and take down my old tree and replace it with a new one - fully decorated of course. I did request this in my email, but they mentioned something about legal ramifications blah, blah, blah. Nevertheless, I am a loyal Lowes customer because of this.
I did go and retrieve my brand new artificial tree, which brings me (over the river and through the woods) to last night. I should preface by saying I have never had an artificial tree - never, never, never. Everything that is in me is against this concept, but I cannot risk another dead tree 15 days before Christmas. My heart just can't take it! So last night, out of the box it came. Richy and I put it together. Put it together. I don't even like the way that sounds. We fluffed it - I think that's what artificial tree lovers call it when they pull the branches and twigs away from the metal pole they're clinging to. The first glaring issue was that it is too small by about 2 feet. Knowing that I am near tears, Richy decides to use his engineering skills to raise the tree to appear taller. I am not going to reveal his "raising" secret, just in case anyone visits us. I don't want them to know what is under that tree skirt. So we plug the tree in and stare at it. We stare some more. I can tell that Richy is struggling with it too. On the other hand, Richmond absolutely loves it! He thinks it is the most beautiful tree ever. Doesn't he know that this tree was manufactured in some factory in China - not grown on a beautiful mountain farm somewhere in North Carolina?? Well, no......he doesn't know that.....thank goodness. But I do. I gave Richy the look, and he knew. "Box it up, and we'll put it on Craig's List", he says. I loved him so much right in that moment - for knowing that I hated it. I didn't even hesitate for a moment, I was off to get the box. But wait a minute, remember the little boy that thought it was the most beautiful tree ever? When he caught wind of our plans to get rid of this eyesore, he went into a state of 4 year old panic. You would have thought we were on our way to the trash can with his matchbox car set. He went ballistic - not in a temper tantrum sort of way, but in a heart broken way. So what do you do? In the name of love, you suck it up and have a hideous artificial tree. I was not going to break his heart, it just wasn't worth it. We'll decorate it, and it will be beautiful - at least that's what I keep telling myself.
If anyone is in the market for a pre-lit 7 ft artificial tree, I know where you can find a great deal on one after Christmas............only used 1 season.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Food, Family, and Fun
I love, love, love Thanksgiving. Everything about it just makes me warm and fuzzy inside. I love the fact that family and friends gather together over a royal feast that takes days to prepare and eat until they are miserable......all because we are thankful. Thankful for the blessings of our relationships with one another - thankful to the God from whom all blessings flow. God is so faithful to bless us with small glimpses of His heart through our relationships with others. Oh how faithful He has been to me in showing me His heart through the people in my life!
We spent the first part of our Thanksgiving holiday in Carrollton at the Teague's house with Richy's family. We would like for this to become tradition, because it means the Carrollton Trojans are in the playoffs. Yes, we will hope that Thanksgiving is in Carrollton every year that Coach Teague is :) We had a fabulous time with family, food, bonfires, and football. I ask you.....does it get any better than that?? Friday, we packed up Beth's SUV and headed to the Northeast corner of Georgia to watch the Trojans play the Stevens County Indians on "The Reservation" in the 2nd round of the playoffs. It was a thriller with the Trojans coming out on top 24-13. Go Trojans!!
On Saturday morning, we packed up and moved on to Birmingham to visit with my sister and brother and the whole gang. That gang consists of 7 kids under 12, so things were rockin'! It was fun to be with all of them under one roof. My brother and his family live in the same subdivision as my parents, so normally we don't get to have a big slumber party with all of the kids - they just go home to sleep. There's just something about all sleeping under one roof that I love - no matter how crazy it gets!
This was one of the more enjoyable Thanksgivings that I can remember. I can't put my finger on just why.......was it because my kids behaved (for the most part) like little angels or was it the stress-free feeling of not having to go back to work after it was over? Truth is.....this has been a year of change in my life in so many ways. I can never remember a time where I have been more thankful - more aware of God's presence, so thankful that He is loving and merciful.
My cup overfloweth......................
We spent the first part of our Thanksgiving holiday in Carrollton at the Teague's house with Richy's family. We would like for this to become tradition, because it means the Carrollton Trojans are in the playoffs. Yes, we will hope that Thanksgiving is in Carrollton every year that Coach Teague is :) We had a fabulous time with family, food, bonfires, and football. I ask you.....does it get any better than that?? Friday, we packed up Beth's SUV and headed to the Northeast corner of Georgia to watch the Trojans play the Stevens County Indians on "The Reservation" in the 2nd round of the playoffs. It was a thriller with the Trojans coming out on top 24-13. Go Trojans!!
On Saturday morning, we packed up and moved on to Birmingham to visit with my sister and brother and the whole gang. That gang consists of 7 kids under 12, so things were rockin'! It was fun to be with all of them under one roof. My brother and his family live in the same subdivision as my parents, so normally we don't get to have a big slumber party with all of the kids - they just go home to sleep. There's just something about all sleeping under one roof that I love - no matter how crazy it gets!
This was one of the more enjoyable Thanksgivings that I can remember. I can't put my finger on just why.......was it because my kids behaved (for the most part) like little angels or was it the stress-free feeling of not having to go back to work after it was over? Truth is.....this has been a year of change in my life in so many ways. I can never remember a time where I have been more thankful - more aware of God's presence, so thankful that He is loving and merciful.
My cup overfloweth......................
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Giving Thanks.....The Original Way
Prompted by one of my favorite bloggers, Heather Bruce, I surfed the net this morning to find Abraham Lincoln's Proclamation which established a day of Thanksgiving. I wanted to post it as a reminder for all of us on this Thanksgiving - a wonderful reminder of a time in our country's history when our government freely acknowledged the blessings of our Almighty God upon this nation!
Proclamation Establishing Thanksgiving Day
October 3, 1863
The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years, with large increase of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.
It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, this third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the independence of the United States the eighty-eighth.
A. Lincoln
Happy Thanksgiving to all!!
Proclamation Establishing Thanksgiving Day
October 3, 1863
The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years, with large increase of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.
It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, this third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the independence of the United States the eighty-eighth.
A. Lincoln
Happy Thanksgiving to all!!
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
The Blogger Blues
OK.....nobody said it was going to be easy. I mean, I had my doubts going into this whole thing. But who knew there would be so much pressure to document all details of daily life, and if you get behind - the stress of it can send you into a tailspin. Not only is there the failure to document, but the fear of alienating family and friends. At the risk of sounding like I believe that more than 5 people actually read my blog, I do sometimes feel guilty if I don't blog about a special/fun time that I have spent with someone - like it wasn't worthy. I can assure you that it is not personal but merely a lack of organization and discipline on my part. (Unfortunately, this problem, lack of organization and discipline, was pre-existing and is unlikely to be cured by a personal blog site). At this point, I am so far behind that the thought of going back and trying to catch up makes my head hurt. So what's a blogger to do? Hang it up??
Well, I am not going to hang it up. I am going to press on with a renewed blogging spirit. In doing so, I am going to attempt to "bullet point" a few highlights from the last 4 or 5 weeks.......in hopes that I may salvage any harm done to the feelings of those 5 people that read my blog. After all, a fabulous time has been had in those weeks - so fabulous that I haven't had time to blog about it!!!
So here goes:
Well, I am not going to hang it up. I am going to press on with a renewed blogging spirit. In doing so, I am going to attempt to "bullet point" a few highlights from the last 4 or 5 weeks.......in hopes that I may salvage any harm done to the feelings of those 5 people that read my blog. After all, a fabulous time has been had in those weeks - so fabulous that I haven't had time to blog about it!!!
So here goes:
- Fun times were spent with my family back in early October. We went to Jefferson City and made an appearance at my alma mater, Carson-Newman, for homecoming. Celebrated my birthday with my Oct birthday buds......Linzee and Papa.
- Thanks to my Milly and Laura for the fun birthday lunch at The Veranda.
- The pumpkin patch with the boys was loads of fun despite the unexpected chilly temps and the extremely small size of the pumpkins in the patch. Strictly for decoration - not for carving.
- Richy and I attended the UT/USC game in Columbia with our USC friends, Jonathon and Deanna. We also met some new UT friends - Lincoln (who could be the subject of an entire blog), Chris and Angie. We had such a fun time - great tailgate party with our USC friends - great atmosphere. Thanks Jonathon and Deanna for hosting us! Jonathon, sorry about your phone. Also, thanks to Granddad and Grandmommy for hosting Richmond and Knox for the weekend so we could go to Columbia. We loved the bonfire!
- Thanks to Cami and Carter for going with me to the Lifeway live taping of Angela Thomas' new bible study series. How cool was that?
- Halloween was a blast this year. Knox, the pumpkin, was too funny! Richmond was so excited to be Dash - and with good reason - he looked just like him. This was his first year to really "get it". He was on a mission for the candy! Please don't leak it that I sent 3/4 of the candy to work with Richy the next day.....
- We are hosting Will Barrett during the daytime hours for the next couple of months until a spot opens up at his daycare. He is such a sweet baby and has been a joy to have around. Does it make me have the fever for 3? Ummmm.......he is really sweet - I mean super sweet and I love him to death..........but he goes home at 5. So, I don't know. If any baby could give me "the fever", it would be Will Barrett!
- Happy Birthday, Milly! You are the best!!
Well, there it is.......my sad, doesn't-nearly-do-it-justice attempt to recap the last couple of weeks. I really hope I don't have to do that again because it is really sad......and boring. But I can't promise it won't happen again. Did I mention that I have a problem with organization and self-discipline????
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