Monday, December 29, 2008

I have not the words

The Christmas season has been amazing for our family. Amazing and tiring all wrapped up into one.

Remember I told you that Husband was off for a full five days? Well, in this house, that pretty much means that not much laundry gets done, the beds don't always get made and lots of junk food is eaten. Guess what I'm going to be doing this week (on top of the final preparations I have for a New Years Eve fundraising event I am helping coordinate)?

All this to say, I'm having to put blogging on the back burner for a few more days. I so want to catch up with all of you and tell you about what we've been up to. That would take time, though, and extra time I have none of at this point.

I will leave you with one parting picture to give you and idea of how amazingly happy D-Man was on Christmas Day that he was left this at NaNa and PaPa's house by Santa (B, please don't judge because it is the wrong car...there weren't many choices).


Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Wishes, wishes and more!


I'm signing off for a few days to enjoy the season with my family and friends. Husband is off for 5 days straight (someone please write this down because I don't know when this will ever happen again during a holiday) and we are going to have lots of family time.
I wish all of you a joyous holiday season filled with much love and laughter and remembrance of our wonderful Saviour. Merry Christmas everyone!

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Inside Snowstorm

I am almost positive you have never heard of such a thing...an inside snowstorm.


But, with a rambunctious, lively, athletic 3 1/2 year old, inside snowstorms are bound to happen. Especially, if one neighbor friend is over to visit.


Aren't I the coolest mom?

Monday, December 22, 2008

Just consider it an early Christmas present

A dear, sweet lady in our book club brought this dessert to November's meeting. And I didn't just sample the dessert, I ate 2 and then asked for the recipe.

It was that good. And I don't even like pumpkin.

So, because I love you all so much and you have made my 2008 so great, I am passing the recipe on to all of you in hopes that you will make it for me, wrap it up and send it my way...so I can eat 1 or 2 or all of them.

Enjoy!

Individual Pumpkin Cheesecakes
Prep Time: 15 minutes Bake Time: 30-35 minutes Chill Time: 1 Hour
18 paper baking cups (2 1/2")
18 gingersnap cookies
12 ounces cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon corn starch
1 teaspoon Pumpkin pie spice
2 eggs
1cup canned pumpkin
1/3 cup Karo (corn) syrup
Place paper baking cups in muffin pans. Place 1 gingersnap in each cup.
Beat cream cheese, sugar, corn starch, and pumpkin pie spice with an electric mixer until well mixed. Add eggs and blend well. Add pumpkin and syrup. Beat 1 minute.
Pour filling into cups, dividing evenly. Bake in a preheated 325 oven for 30 or 35 minutes, until just set.Chill for 1 hour. Garnish as desired.

Friday, December 19, 2008

There are many who still believe

The Rockette experience with D-Man was great.



The "ladies" (as he called them) kicked and danced and tapped and smiled their way into all of our hearts.



Santa was there...many santas were there and they even found a place to throw in the nutcracker.



But the absolute best part was this (please excuse the videography and concentrate on the song):





Towards the conclusion of the show, they sang "The First Noel" and "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" as the people came from near and far to observe the wonderful, miraculous happenings in the Inn. The Inn at Bethlehem. The Inn where Jesus was born.



How wonderful to see a show so wrapped up in the "commercialization" of our society, actually portray to tens of thousands of people what Christmas is all about. Isn't that great? Doesn't that warm and thrill your heart?



As you head into the weekend and gear up for Christmas in just a few days, dwell on the true reason we celebrate December 25th and find the joy and happiness in it...just as God intended for us to.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

My legs only dream of kicking that high

As you are reading this, Husband, D-Man and I are in the care headed to see the Rockettes perform their Christmas Spectacular.

Here's a little taste of what we will see today.





I'll have a full report on Friday.

Happy Thursday!

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

A digital camera + A three year old + Free Reign

Last night was the annual decorate Granny's Christmas tree party at my Granny and Papa's house.


Granny likes every year to have all the grandkids and great-grandkids who can come to her house and help her finish decorating her tree by adding our own personalized ornaments.


This year was no different and a great time was had. One thing Granny has always been known for is her "photography skills." I use the term skills very loosely because she has been known to not get the full person in her pictures (i.e. she cuts their heads off or her fingers are in the way). But she is consistent and laughs about it so it's all good.


And I'm now convinced that D-Man might have inherited some of her skills. I have been gathering research to prove it.


Exhibit A:



Exhibit B:
Exhibit C:

Exhibit D:
Exhibit E:
I rest my case.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Without further adieu...

Winter has officially hit our small, rural Arkansas town. But, no, we couldn't have the white, pretty stuff to accent the cold, terribly cold temperatures. Instead, we had to have freezing rain and sleet accompany the bitter cold.

So, here I am, still looking at all the homes on BooMama and Julia's Christmas home tours, drinking hot, hot, hot cocoa and dreaming of days when I see the sun and it looks like this


Oh, and I'm trying to find ways to occupy and contain a three year old. This is going to be a long winter.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Tis the Season to Celebrate the Real Reason

(Knock, Knock)


Oh hello! Welcome to my home. I am so delighted that you could come by and take the tour hosted by BooMama and Julia from Hooked on Houses. What? You love my wreath? Well, me too! Thanks Mrs. K for making it so special for the D-House last year.



May I take your coat? Here's a cup of hot, marshmallow-filled cocoa to warm you as you make your way through.



Christmas is my absolute favorite time of the year. First and foremost, I love it because of what it represents...my Savior and the miraculous events that surrounded His birth. Second, I love it because of the excitement that I see in my son, D-Man's, eyes as the days unfold. And third, I love it because the decorations make me happy.





That's why I'm glad you stopped by. This way I can show you all the things that are special to me...all the things that make me happy this time of year...and all the things that remind us of the true reason for the season.


My entryway is decked out with much red and green and gold. What? Things look a little blurry? Must be that morning fog rolling in.









The first tree that you are seeing is my "woodsy"tree complete with candy cane sticks and big red berries. And feathers...lots and lots of feathers. Love the feathers!













The second tree you see is my decked to the nines with red and gold and lots of it. What do you think about my topper? And the mantle...so very fun and festive and full of lights. Man, that morning fog is sure causing lots of blurriness today. Please forgive.










Here are five of my nativity scenes that I have displayed. Each one has special meaning.





The first one is the very first nativity scene Husband and I bought for $1 the year we were married. We were poor, poor college students, but knew how important displaying Jesus in the manger was to us.










The second was given to us by my Granny and PaPa several years ago.











The third was the second nativity Husband and I purchased for $5 after being married for a few years.





The fourth was given to D-Man the first year he was born by NaNa RAD and PaPa. We've added to it each year since then and it is so great to bring it out every year and have him be able to see it and touch it and talk about what it means.









The fifth was carved by someone in Africa and so greatly depicts how precious the relationship between Joseph, Mary and Jesus really was.










Here are some other fun splashes of Christmas cheer that I have spread throughout the house.










Oh, let's take a quick peak in the playroom at one of D-Man's trees.








And here's the other one that is in his room.






D-Man has become very partial to snow globes and here's the start of what I'm sure will be a lifelong collection.












And I'd like to end our tour in the kitchen I need to take some cookies out of the oven and would like you to sit a spell and enjoy one.



Isn't the red bird cute at the table?







And here's proof that making those cookies was fun and games.







Aren't the cookies tasty? And the cocoa, oh sure, let me fill your cup again.



I'm so glad you could come by. I hope that my home felt warm, cozy and inviting to you and I invite you to come back everyday of the year to be treated with southern hospitality. Our home is always open, come back again soon.



Enjoy the rest of the Christmas season and don't ever take the Christ out of Christmas.



God bless! Be safe! Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!


Oh, and D-Man wanted to say something while laying down on the deck (or he could be on his side due to my lack of camera skills...I prefer the first reason).


Friday, December 12, 2008

My cup is not overflowing

In fact, my cup is a bit dry today.

This has been an insane week.

Last night we hosted a Christmas party for 30 at our house.

Tonight we have another Christmas party.

Tomorrow we have a college graduation.

Sunday we have our choir Christmas musical.

Monday I will rest.

So, with all that said, come back Monday when I give you a tour of my home as BooMama hosts her 2008 Christmas Tour of Homes!

Have a GREAT weekend!

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Are you first, last or somewhere in the middle?

So how's the shopping going for you?

Have you checked everything off your list and now in the wrapping phase?

Is there something that is hard to find this year for that special someone?

I would love to hear how the Christmas shopping season is progressing for all of you.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Never Quite Right

Are you like me and have a lot of trouble getting those pics that you take of yourself to turn out just right?

Case in point...
Too much of me, not enough of D-Man.
I look scary (could have something to do with how the flash colored my skin) and D-Man looks so sweet and innocent (don't let him fool you).

This is definitely a skill I need to work on.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

I think mine might be from Pluto

Husbands.

That really should be enough said.

Aren't they the greatest...most of the time.

I love mine to death, but I think that he really must be from a far, far distant planet sometime.

Case in point...

Child + water = MESS

As in mess all over the bathroom floor and shower curtain.

But, when the day is done, despite the 27 extra messes that both my boys cause me, I still love them.

What about you? Do your husbands make you smile and then drive you CRAZY?

Monday, December 8, 2008

Cheeseburgers & Dennys

This is what I have had to listen to all weekend. It is running through my head CONSTANTLY.



Now you will have it running through your head.

Good luck with that.

Happy Monday!

Sunday, December 7, 2008

The winner

Congrats Queen B! You were the winner of my Christmas Shoes giveaway!



I hope that it makes your season a little merrier and a little brighter!

Friday, December 5, 2008

Apparently his view is different than mine

D-Man and I are about two hours east of where we live visiting my sis and her husband.

A fantabulous time is being had by all...obviously because I am here and I make everyone's day better, right?

Anyway, last night as D-Man was winding down from our day of fun, we were watching some previews on a movie. The movie happened to be made by that company in Florida (Orlando to be exact) that every child (and many adults) want to visit.

When it got to the end of the intro, the fireworks exploded and the castle appeared. That, is where D-Man said we lived.

Apparently, though, the butler and housekeeper and cook have forgotten to show up everyday and perform their duties at the castle.

Oh wait...those are my jobs, aren't they?

Have a great weekend...and if you find any extra "clothes-folding-present-wrapping-floor-sweeping" time, please let me know. I may know somewhere you can use that time.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

The deck that broke the fall

I told you about a week ago that we may or may not have been in the ER with D-Man and that we may or may not have had stitches.

Well, we did and we do.

There.

Does that clear it up for you?

Oh...you mean you might want details? Oh, all right.

It'll give me something to blog about, so here goes.

Husband was home for a nice, long three day weekend. The weather had turned out to be a sunny day with a bit of a chill in the air, but not enough to keep any of us inside.

After a hearty breakfast of frozen pancakes (they were frozen by me that is...as in, I made them and then froze them), fruit and milk, we all set outside to begin some much needed "projects."

I was in the front yard raking the leaves from what appeared to be every tree in a tri-state area and Husband and D-Man were in the back working on D-Man's fort.

After what appeared like days (really just a few hours) and a hearty lunch from old Ronald himself, we all got up on the 2nd story of the fort to nail on the last few boards for the day.

Husband and I were chatting about our evening plans which included D-Man spending the night with NaNa Lu and he and I getting some Christmas shopping completed and taking in a movie.

We also made the mistake of talking about how great it had been that we hadn't had any accidents on the fort since beginning it's construction in late summer.

Can we say, "Spoke to soon?"

Only moments after making that comment, D-Man wasn't paying attention and he fell through the ladder hole that leads to the 2nd story. He not only fell, he fell 5 feet, face first, onto a solid deck of boards.

Right then and there, my heart dropped. I frantically got myself down the stairs and picked him up, not really knowing what I was going to see.

I wasn't prepared for it. Blood on your child is not something that you want to see, and he had it gushing out of his mouth and chin.

I handed him off to Husband and ran ahead of them into the house to get a towel to stop the bleeding. Husband assessed the situation from a medical standpoint and announced that he would be the one sewing him up.

Stitches? Stitches? My baby needs stitches was all that I could think about. And the fact that I was not going to let the emotional Daddy sew his own child up. So, I did what any mother in my situation who has a father-in-law who is a physician as well would do, I called him.

He met us at the hospital, several rounds of sedatives were given to no avail and D-Man was finally strapped to the papoose board and held down by 4 people so that stitches could be given.

I wasn't in the room...I couldn't be in the room...being in the room might have sent me over the edge. I wasn't being heartless, I was just being a mom who knew that Dad and PaPa and NaNa RAD were in there taking care of the situation and my presence or lack of if I had passed out would have not helped the situation.

And now I am happy to report that the stitches have come out (except for one in the lip that we are praying comes out on it's own because taking the stitches out has almost been as dramatic as putting them in) and aside from irritation on his chin from the band aids, D-Man is almost healed.

We thank God everyday that the accident was not worse than it was. It is a miracle that our sweet, precious little one did not break a bone in the fall. And although Husband initially apologized profusely to D-Man for the fall (feeling that his building of the fort was the underlying cause of the fall) and threatened to burn it down, we have all returned to a normal life.

Wow...that may have been the longest post ever written. But, I was able to tell the story and give you a bit more insight to the D-Household.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Saying hello from beneath the laundry pile

It's true...I've fallen off the last few days.

And the laundry, well...it's gotten a little out of hand.

I've been having too much fun with D-Man and so...

Anyone out there want to fold some socks? How about some underwear? Maybe some towels?

I hated to have to ask for assistance, but a girls got to do what a girls got to do.

(I've always wanted to say that thing about girls doing what they've got to do).

((The phrase added a riveting amount of literary excellence to the post, I know)).

Well, if I have no takers on the laundry, I guess I'll be settling in for the long haul.

I only wish that D-Man got as much enjoyment out of folding his underwear and socks as he got out of playing Hungry, Hungry Hippo.

Go figure...

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

For me? Oh, you shouldn't have

Jules from The Roost totally made my week last week.


Her boost came at a totally needed point in my blogging career and I am forever indebted to you for it, Jules.


She most graciously awarded me the "Bloggy Goodness Award."



I am totally honored, Jules, that you think that By His Grace has bloggy goodness. And, I am excited to pass this award along to some of my favorites who radiate bloggy goodness as well.
First, there is Rachel from Just Another Day in Paradise. She is a speech pathologist and I have a special appreciate for speech pathologist because my sister, A-Girl, is one. Rachel is also just plain funny when telling us her tales of life and family.
Then, we've got Kelly at Kelly's Korner. I cannot tell you how amazing it has been to watch her journey of faithfulness in Christ as she and her husband have tried to have a child. God has been good to them and they will welcome their first child, a girl (Harper), very soon.
And finally, I almost daily check out what has been said at Lots of Scotts. To see this woman's journey through pregnancy, childbirth, near death and then life as she is raising triplets is amazing. You will find so much in reading her daily posts.
I hope you will check these blogs out and let me know if there are ones out there that you read that you'd like to tell me about. I am always looking for a new blog to add to my collection.

Monday, December 1, 2008

To kick myself in gear and kick the holidays off right

Ever since the virus hit, I've had trouble being a consistent blogger.



Anyone out there know what I mean?



But, today is the day. The day that I kick off the 25 days till Christmas by kicking myself in the backside and kicking a giveaway your way.



I want you all to get into the spirit of Christmas.



Not the worldly-I've-got-to-get-all-the-latest-for-those-on-my-list spirit, I'm talking about the true spirit of Christmas.



So during this week I want you to leave me your comments telling me what Christmas means to you. In return, I'll close the comments Friday, December 5 at 5 pm and choose a random winner who will receive a copy of The Christmas Shoes by Donna VanLiere.



I chose this book because it reflects the true meaning of giving being more important than receiving on Christmas. It is important because it reflects the giving nature of God when He gave us Jesus Christ who ultimately died on the cross so that all of our sins would be forgiven.



So, get your thinking caps on...go to the comment section and tell me how you feel. You don't have to be a blogger to participate, just be sure and leave me a way to contact you should you win. Only one entry per person.



Now, let the season officially begin.