Welcome Christmas

I am so happy that it's now officially the Christmas Season.
Thanksgiving was lovely, with delicious food and an abundance of gratitude or was that family. Either way, we has a great time.
Somehow, I have still managed to find something to complain about... so here it is.
Is it just me, or did Fall last WAY TOO long this year! I was getting so tired of looking at my fall decor that I was tempted to start chucking pumpkins around my house.
Yes, I know that's Alex & Ty's job, so I used some self control & settled for listening to Christmas music... So, I'm glad we can all finally focus on,

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, because don't we all, Need a Little Christmas

Welcome Christmas!!!! Here's a You Tube video link of old school Grinch video/song:
http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=P_GwSN_tNN0

My next holiday confession, is while most people prefer ducking the crowds & avoid shopping at the busy hours, I LOVE crowds especially Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving)
This year I didn't find time to get out with the early shoppers however, I did manage to shop for a couple of hours after my boys went to sleep.
Yes, I Love good deals, but more then that, I love to see Moms & Dads, brothers & sisters, and all sorts of funny looking people who live all types of lifestyles run around like shopping is a sport...which it totally is!

Shopping with crowds really can be it's own kind of chaotic fun...if you follow a few rules.

1)There's no need to hurry".
This takes more practice for some of us. Believe me, one of my favorite songs is, "I'm in a hurry" . We all know that being anxious & in a hurry doesn't make the water boil faster or the check-out line move at a more rapid pace. So, here are a few ideas for passing the time at check-out.
2) Learn to Enjoy Check-out time
Try taking your ques from Santa, He was, "Making a list, checking it twice." Use your wait in line as productive time. Plan what you need to do next, or check off the things you just did.
Make notes on your recites while you recall which items were for which person just-in-case you have to return something later.
Sometimes it's fun to make random conversation while your with other shoppers.
try to reminding yourself that, the cooties don't really exist... that helps when some over-anxious shopper decides to stand really really close. If all else fails, read a tabloid, it will help you realize that your life isn't quite as messed-up as you think.
3) If the stores don't carry exactly what you are looking for, chances are good, that Christmas will still be Merry without it.
(This one is really hard for me. I have been known to go to multiple stores for a single item)
And while the gift may be retrieved, by running around like a chicken with your head cut off, I can never regain the time that was lost and rarely can I justify the sacrifices I made to obtain the desired item.)
Regardless of how you manage your shopping this season, I'm wishing you a Merry Christmas!

Tis a Gift to be Simple

One culture that I respect more then many is that of the Amish. At 8 years old, I had the opportunity to visit a settlement near the NY & Pennsylvania border.
As we entered village, I was in utter shock, as the people there patterned a life that I thought ceased in the early 1900's. While these people avoided the use of many of our modern technologies, they also maintained focus on love, hard work, industry and above all, gratitude for all the blessings that God has given us.
Here are the words to one of my favorite hymns. It a the very similar theme (one that I hope to someday master).

'Tis the gift to be simple,
'tis the gift to be free,
'tis the gift to come down
where we ought to be,
and when we find ourselves in the place just right,
'twill be in the valley of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gained
to bow and to bend we shan't be ashamed,
to turn, turn, will be our delight
till by turning, turning we come round right.
Words: Shaker song, eighteenth century

Freedom has a Price

Yesterday I, like many Americans stood in a polling booth to connect simple lines. To me, those little arrows meant more then any others ever connected.
They symbolize a freedom that is so easily taken for granted.
And yet, until the final hour before I voted, I was still waffling back and forth about who the best candidate was.
For me, the hardest part of Presidential elections are, hearing "honest men" lie.
The emotional manipulation that occurs during the Presidential debates alone is absolutely appalling.
Do we really know why these men were selected as the best MEN IN AMERICA to Lead Our Country?
This is the 1st election where I felt like both leading candidates were severely flawed characters. Now more then ever, I find consolation in the fact that our country runs on a system of checks & balances including a bicameral legislature & the Supreme Court.
If you listen to any news or radio, you've probably heard that, many political analysts believe that historically speaking, our economy stands the best chance now that Oboma has been elected.
It is my hope & prayer that President Obama will serves our county with integrity.
I believe that the most important thing to remember is, who we are & where we came from! Our freedom has come at such a great cost. We must NEVER forget that, regardless of the price, it is ALWAYS work fighting for!

Happy Halloween

Our theme, as Matthew noted, was Alex's Garden. Alex was more then happy to hold his "flowerpot" for his candy.
Doesn't Sage look like such a little beauty!
Alex had a great time trick-or-treating & running around with his cousins.
This is Ty w/ his light saber. Once the kid received this glowing stick, it was like everyone & everything else was irrelevant.

Me attempting to give Ty his honey bucket.

Note this very symbolic rendition of Halloween being a bit of a pain-in-the rear for the moms.
Thank you G'ma Shumway for helping get my busy boys ready.
Also, Papa Foote & G'ma, thanks for coming to see us & taking these photos.
The Boys had a lot of fun, & we had our hands full!