I'm Heartbroken

This weekend was heartbreaking.

Saturday morning I spent a short time with a friend at church. Mija played with her three daughters while she and I attended to our task at hand and chatted with other moms and dads present.

Little did she know that by the time she got home she would be a widow. 

The how and whys are not my story to tell. In fact, we are only assuming the why until the medical examiner says for sure.

We only know that it was sudden and unexpected.

Another friend who went up to the hospital to be with her said she was amazed at my friend's grace and composure in the situation. The grace and faith in which she explained to her three daughters (10, 8, and 5) that their father was now with the Lord he loved was amazing to say the least.

But her walk of faith only started there. Th witness of her faith continued as she and her daughters walked, weeping, into church this morning. 

Yes, they came to church because she said that is where they were supposed to be. It was heart-wrenching to here the crying in the back of the church during singing, but a blessing to here the quiet while they were ministered to through the preaching of the Word and see the love and hugs of her church family. 

They were one of the many unique homeschool families. My friend works outside the home while her husband stayed home to school the girls. He was a great father and always willing to help in our homeschool group. It was a blessing to see another homeschool dad there in addition to my hubby.

My friend owns her own business which is closely affiliated to a major motor manufacturer here in town. If she does not work, she does not get paid and there is no one else to do it. She thinks she is only going to able to take a week off.

She has already expressed her concern with the girls' schooling. I and several others have assured her that her girls are going to continue to be homeschooled. It would not be the first time I loaded up mija and our schoolwork and take them to another's house that needed help schooling during a family crisis. We do not know what it is going to look like right now, but we have a week to figure it out.

As much as I grieve and pray for my friend, what her husband is experiencing. I cannot imagine what how great the presence of Jesus is that it can wipe away any regret he might have about not being with his "four gorgeous women." 

Please pray for my friends.

She's now Double-Digit and Zebra Print cake

This weekend we had a birthday party for mija. She turned TEN!!

I couldn't help be remember back to the evening we got the call to rush to the hospital. By the time we arrived, she was already snug and wrapped in the hospital bassinet. 

It hardly seems possible that this:

One Month Old

Has become this:

The zebra cake earned many positive comments. I simply frosted the cake with pink frosting. I had purchased a small box of black fondant and rolled it out a little at a time. I cut out pieces initially using a zebra pattern print I printed from the web. Once I got the hang of it, I was able to freehand it. 

It was my first time working with fondant. One thing I will remember for next time is rolling it out thinly and evenly. Some of my stripes were thicker than others.

Regardless, I thought I did a pretty swell job. I woke mija up with my personal adulation such as "Who's the mommy? I'm the mommy! That's right. I'm the mommy!"

Have you heard of Jamberries?---and giveaway!

Sorry I've been absent. A water balloon killed my laptop! And the warranty is expired, so I'm sitting here at the library!

I've recently discovered a new thing that I find really cool. In fact, I'm having an online party and you're invited.

 

Jamberries!

I'm going to let my friend, Ginny, tell you more about them!

Here are some mommy and Jr. designs for
girls 8 and under.

Jamberry Nails are an innovative vinyl wrap that adheres to your nail (natural, acrylics, gels) through heat & pressure! They will last up to 2 weeks on your fingers & 6 weeks on your toes. No chipping, smudging, or dry time! With over 300 designs, including ones for little girls, there is truly something for everyone!!

This is an ONLINE party and will be open until May 26th, but no need to wait; as soon as you place your order, you should receive it at your home in 7-10 days!! Feel free to invite your friends to the "party" as well. The more, the merrier!

I will be playing games and giving out prizes, so make sure to check in often so you don‘t miss anything!!!
Ordering is easy! This party is ONLINE, so you can order anytime day or night! Head on over to Betsy's party website and have fun shopping!
Don’t forget to take advantage of our BUY 3, GET 1 FREE SPECIAL!

Shop here and choose Betsy's Jamberry Jamboree Party at check out!

I wish I could post pictures of my fingers, but it's not working here at the library.

Here is a picture of one of my friend's before using one Jamberry and Sally Henson polish. And after...not even a whole week since she could stand it no longer!


Come play on my Facebook party and I'd love for you to order.

AND here's you chance to actually win some!
My friend Jamberry Ginny is offering you a great deal!

It's a zippered cosmetic bag, manicure kit, jamberry buffer, and sheet of your choice of Jamberry nail wraps! I'll be running this giveaway until my party ends on Tuesday, May 27.
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/5731e36/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thoughtful Thursday---Handling Moving Hurdles

(Warning: this is an extremely long post. If your short on time, read the beginning, skim the bullet points and jump to the end!)

We have needed to move for awhile. We knew Christmas would be the Rubicon. Once it was passed, we needed to seriously start looking for a new place to live.

Well, God provided a great 2-bedroom apartment for us. It was the first place we looked at, in fact. It’s part of an old elementary school building that has been revamped. What makes it’s really cool is that at one point, it was the elementary school for the Christian high school from which I graduated. 

But getting here has not been an easy process.

 We were supposed to be move in on the 18th, but between a creditor putting a hold on the checking account, a garnishment on my husband’s paycheck AND an error on his paycheck all in the same week, we had to put it off until Feb. 1.

 Another paycheck error with the continued hold and garnishment put the move in jeopardy again. God provided this time. 

 A winter storm brought about 3 inches of sleet postponing the move about 5 hours in hopes of better road conditions.

 Because it was postponed, we couldn't use the free moving van we had planned on, and ended up having to rent a moving van. Of course, we hadn't planned that expense.

 We get the moving truck back to the house only to get stuck in the ice/mud! Took about an hour, kitty litter, and a tow from a friend’s truck to get it out of the yard.

 My husband falls off the ramp of the truck messing up his left side and muddying up our mattress.

 We woke up Sunday morning and have to take the moving van back. Started our car to find the cold and ice had gotten into the door that triggered the car alarm—which we didn’t know we had! Not a great introduction to the new neighbors. 

 Because we had to work on the car alarm issue for an hour in the single digits, we didn’t get a chance to gas up the moving van before returning which resulted in astronomical additional charges.

 Did I mention that except for the day of the move, my husband continued to work 12-hour shifts throughout this process? The only reason he didn’t work on Saturday was because he was so sore from falling off the ramp!

 As a result of sleepiness and soreness, and a small car, we were unable to totally finish up on Sunday and Monday. I mention the small car because we still had a lot of small things left to move. 

 We were unable to finish up Tuesday or Wednesday thanks to the 10 INCHES OF SNOW that fell on Tuesday.

We obviously live on an Emergency Snow Route! ;-)

So, here we are almost a week after the move preparing to deal with snow covered streets, in the midst of hubby’s 12 hour shift, on a day when the high will be a single digit, we will return to the house one last time to finish moving and cleaning and hoping that our few remaining belongings are not out on the curb.
(For extra credit, have your child diagram the previous sentence!) ;-)

Needless to say, all those bullet points can lead one to question and even doubt the move.

I asked my hubby why he thought we were dealing with so many hurdles.

He said he thought it was because God had great plans for us at our new place. God was allowing the enemy to challenge and test us.

That was reassuring. 

It’s one thing to face hurdle after hurdle not knowing why. It’s totally another thing to accept hurdles knowing it a promise of great things to come!

(Sorry there weren’t many humorous highlights in this post. You don’t always see the humor in a hurdle until it is history…and sometimes not even then!)

All this mess is "because he has dealt bountifully with me."

Last night was Cubbies. The director/leader didn't make it.

Why?

We had a flat tire. And a poor donut (replacement tire not pastry!)

Hubby even had to call in for work last night.

Had to cancel my appointment to get new eyeglasses today because the money had to go to replace the tire.

Then in my morning Bible reading, I read Psalm 13.

After complaining to God about the situation, David ends the Psalm in praise. In verse six he states, "I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me."

Things haven't seemed very bountiful in the last 24 hours.

I remembered, however, what I actually deserve. I deserve hell. Anything besides eternal damnation is God dealing with me more bountifully than I deserve. 

Phone worked. I was able to let the Commander know and call and ask a friend to help in Cubbies. The computer and internet were working which allowed me to email lesson plans and worksheets to the church secretary to get to the class. Hubby's call in will be covered meaning no loss in pay. We had the money set aside for my glasses which we could use for the replacement tire.

Yes, "He has dealt bountifully with me."

I am still alive...

Have you missed me at all?

If you check out my Facebook page, you know that my computer checked out back in August, it took me over a week to get it back from the shop, and now I'm fighting for the data on my hard drive which they replaced.

What we are working on as a homeschool group.

We also started school, I started being the new director/leader of Cubbies when I've never worked in AWANA before, AND my hubby and I are heading up our revamped homeschool group at church.

To be honest, not having to do a daily blog post has lightened my load a lot. 

While my hubby thinks I should take a sabbatical, he's agreed that I could just post occasionally as the Spirit move me. More from desire and availability than from responsibility and compulsion.

So, you'll be hearing from me but not regularly. In fact, I have a cool freebie I'm going to share in a bit. Hope you'll keep following!

Betsy Day---a sweet remnant from my infertility

Mother's Day was always a challenge before we adopted mija. I shared about some of my experience in my Non-Mother's Day article for Home Educating Family Blog last year.

Photo Credit: Home Educating Family Blog

This last Sunday, however, I was blessed to be remembered for Betsy Day which is the Sunday after  Mother's Day.

You see, while dealing with my infertility, my hubby established a new holiday. 

Betsy Day

He said that Mother's Day is the day we honor mother's, and Betsy Day is the day he honors Betsy.

(Yes, massive brownie points were scored!)

It usually consisted of lunch out and a gift.

He said it would continue, but it's just been mostly a pleasant memory.

Until this past Sunday.

My husband came in from work as we were getting ready for church. As he gave me a kiss he said, "Happy Betsy Day." I was so touched that he remembered!

He then let me choose a place to eat lunch after church. For the sake of the finances and family, I chose Cici's Pizza where...

...carrots and dip can be part of a dessert plate. Mija actually left the brownies behind in favor of the carrots!

I had a blessed Betsy Day!

 

Job's Wife--A Reality Check

I was honored this week to be a guest blogger over at Eternal Encouragement. It was definitely written from real life experience!! Please check it out!

Call me, Sherah--Destroyer of Mice

I really don’t like mice.

Before we got married, my husband used to have pet rodents of different varieties. I told him he could have rodents or a wife. Since he’s my husband, it’s pretty obvious that I won that battle

We lived in a mobile home once with mice. I woke up one morning to see blood on top of my stove with a little tail trail running off into the burners. My husband explained (remember, he had been a rodent person) that two male mice probably got into battle over territory. All I could think of were the Jets and the Sharks from West Side Story.

Depiction of the possible fight scene on top of my stove.

Well, the house we are living in now has mice. Usually, it's my husband's job to deal with it, but last Thursday, he was working a 12-hour shift. I had to make the "mouse call".

First, mija let me know that there was a mouse stuck to one of the sticky mouse traps. I took a deep breath but knew I could handle it. All I would have to do is pick up the sticky paper, put it in a bag, and take it out to the big trash can.

But what I found made me stop and reckon.

For demonstration purposes only

That's right. The mouse was stuck on top of the mouse cord. There was a mouse on the mouse...or a mouse under the mouse depending on your perspective. 

My first thought was to just throw the whole thing away.

But, no. I took the bull by the horns, or in this case, the mouse by the cord and slowly slid the cord out from under the mouse. The mouse was very small, so I had to be careful not to dislodge the mouse...the animal not the computer part. The real challenge came when I had to slide the USB plug underneath. I was holding it over the big trash can just in case, but I DID IT!  I removed the mouse from the mouse! 

Okay, so mija accidentally spelled tea all over the mouse (computer part not animal) later in the the day resulting in the the mouse being thrown away in the end, but the victory was still mine.

I was on a high. So that night, I was ready to take on the mouse in the stove. Yup, deja vu. Mice in stove number two.

I was working at the computer doing taxes and started seeing the mouse sneak out from under the burner and look around. Testing the waters. I was really surprised by how fast that little thing could move. First, popping out from one burner and then under another burner within seconds. Then I saw this:

Reenactment. Not the actual stove or the actual mice.

There were two mice in the stove. The way they were popping up and down reminded me strongly of the "Whack a Mole" game at Chuck E. Cheese.

I was already ticked about one, but two was too much!

Well, I brought the trash can out beside the counter, grabbed an oven mitt in one hand and my Tupperware colander in the other, and waited. I waited until one of them had traveled to the far end of the counter and made my move. It didn't go quite as I had planned.

I made it to the counter before it made it to the stove. I slammed down the colander and actually hit the mouse across the back with the edge. I flipped it onto the floor and covered it with the colander.

A similar colander acting like it's on the floor covering up the half dead mouse.

Whew! It happened quicker than I could type it. 

I gently lifted the colander to see a dying mouse instead of an attempted escapee. I must have broken it's back when I hit it. I scooped it up in a bag and threw it away.

Tada!! I was so proud of myself both times! I definitely overcame some big challenges by dealing with little things. Some more battles won!

Just call me, Sherah, Destroyer of Mice!

Sorry I've been hit and miss...explanation

I haven't been as regular as I normally have on my blog the past few weeks. A lot of things have been happening which have called me to focus on the tyranny of the urgent!

I've been fighting a sinus infection which is possibly starting to focus on upper respiratory. That's enough to suck the energy from you.

We started school this week. Unfortunately, it hasn't been a stable start either.

What's been taking most of my energy and attention has been my husband. This is what he looks like since Tuesday AM. 

It appears as if he has a third foot!

The saga began last Tuesday. I came home from an errand to find mija informing me that daddy cut himself very badly. I checked. Yup. It was very badly. I had placed a broken vase in the trash and neglected to mention it to him. He decided to condense the trash with his right fist and....
laceration about an inch long directly over his right index finger knuckle with this little white thing sticking out. 

We went to the emergency room. Turns out that little white thing sticking out was a tendon. A severed tendon. Here, let me make it educational for you!

But it was the right hand instead of this left hand.

The ER doc just sewed it up and sent us to the specialist. When we saw the specialist on Thursday, she couldn't really see it, of course, because it was sealed with 3 stitches, but instead scheduled surgery to determine that needed to be done and then do it.

You see, there are those two tendons close together, and if one is severed, it's okay. She would just seal it back up and let it heal. BUT if the EDC one was severed, well, that's a really important one. The laceration would need to be extended and the tendon reattached.

The only work he's been able to find has been two part-time jobs during this past month. He's been working 7 days a week between the two and 3 days a week, he worked both! Well, it was pretty clear that stocking shelves at the grocery store was going to be out of the question. He tried to continue to pizza delivery job, however, but after the second night, the restaurant fired him because he was too slow.

We were at the hospital this past Tuesday morning at 6 AM getting him ready for surgery. It turned out it was the EDC which meant it was the worse case scenario. We've have him schedule for physical therapy. It's going to be about 3 months before he can even gently grasp something with his right hand.

Of course, he's dealing with the pain and discomfort of the hand AND the pain of discomfort of being totally unemployed again and not being likely to find some in his current physical state.

And I'm dealing the guilt of it being my fault.

I continue to be confused by what God is doing in our lives, but I'm attempting also continue to trust that God knows what His is doing and it will be for my best and His glory.

So, if I'm hit and miss for awhile, please think to pray for us. I'm just trying to  "do the next thing".

Used Curriculum Sale = temptation and failure (sigh)

UofSLibrary Photo

I was so thankful for the used curriculum sale this past weekend. I quickly   labeled over 60 items, prayed my items would find favor and be purchased, and dropped them off on Friday with my hubby and mija in tow.  We can really use the money because we only have $10 to our name! (Praise God my husband just got hired for 2 part-time jobs, but that money hasn't started yet!)

So, we go over there to drop off my goodies and the workers offered us the chance to go through the sale early since we were sellers. I asked my husband if we could and he said, "No." That simple.

Obviously, he hadn't understood my request.

I said, "Puhleeeease, can I just look. I'm not going to buy."

"No"

After several exchanges, he finally said yes. I probably would have called it nagging and whining if mija had behaved the way I did.  Of course, I didn't nag or whine. I merely expressed sincere desire until I got my way.

First failure.  Not accepting "no" the first time I was told.

So, I proceeded to look. There are only two areas we are missing something and that is literature/language and science. While we are missing "official" curriculum, I do have plans of things to piece together as needed for those subjects until things change financially.

Well, I found something. A teacher guide and student workbook for a science curriculum for only $3!  That's right. Both items together for only $3.  The teacher guide alone is worth $40 new!  It really doesn't matter what curriculum it was, but it would have been nice to have "a reason for" science, if you get my drift.

I thought for sure purchasing this would be a slam dunk.  I mean, it was only $3. We'd still have $7. AND it was science. Hubby loves science.  All I had to do was show it to him.

And he said, "No."

I explained the benefits, the deal, the fact it would make my life easier. It included the topics I wanted to cover this year.

"No"

I conjoled which is just a cool word for sustained nagging coaxing.

"No"  He kept declining my request!!!

Then I looked around. Mija had found a book for $0.50 and asked to purchase it. Daddy said, "No." She asked again and started to whine. He said, "No."

Just as I was going to get after her for nagging and not listening to her daddy when he said no, I stopped a minute and wondered "Where in the world did she pick up this nagging and not accepting "no" for an answer?"

{gulp}

I had to explain that Daddy had told both of us "no," and we need to accept it with a good attitude (which was REALLY hard...it was a great deal!...and it met a need...and...{sigh} Let it go.)

I also told her if we had listened to Daddy in the first place and not looked at the books, we never would have been tempted in the first place.

I'll admit. I was trying to demonstrate submission on the outside, but inside I was still "not very happy" (After all, it did included both the teacher's and students books for only $3. $3!!! {sigh} Let it go.)  After we drove down the road awhile, I was able to get my insides to agree more with my outsides.  I apologized to mija for setting a wrong example. I wanted her to really understand how I acted was wrong AND that when you do the wrong thing you apologize.

Oh, and I apologized to my hubby, too. (Although I'm sure, if I could have just explained the great deal and great product it was he would...{sigh} Let it go.)


Linked to:
  

My Broken Leg--Possible Misdiagnosis

As you're reading this, it's Mondy (or later!) Our move in two weeks time from a mobile home to a 3-bedroom home owned by friends has happened.  I'm assuming it went well since I'm writing this on Friday beforehand! We'll be without phone and internet for a few days, so I'm working ahead!


A few days ago I wrote an update in which I compared our situation seems to be broken leg which God keeps applying band-aids to. I said, "I'm thankful for them [band-aids] but long for the leg to be set, casted, and the bone to be knitted back together."

God continues to work on our behalf and in my heart. 

I realized that I'm not the Great Physician. Who am I to diagnose our issue as a broken leg? Maybe our situation is blocked arteries or a common cold. Or maybe we really do need only band-aids! 

To put it in the mundane, my husband needs a job that will support us and preferable provide insurance. Or at least that is what I assume we need. Maybe we need more. Maybe we need less. Maybe it's something totally different that we need. 
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts (Is. 55:9).

I don't know what we need, but obviously it involves a lot of well-timed, needed band-aids!

Just asking for prayer and encouragement

You know I try to keep it real. Well, my family and I could really use some prayer right now.
The past 2 years has been, well, very challenging. Here are the highlights.

• Foreclosure
• Diagnosed with high blood pressure and diabetes
• Husband unemployed after 12 years on the job
• Repo of one vehicle
• Husband got a job paying half of previous job
• Repo of second vehicle, no vehicle
• Purchased a van with tax refund as down payment
• Husband let go of new job a week after we purchased the van. 
• My step-father died three days after my husband lost his job.
• Husband got another job paying less than half what he was making
• Finally get the guts to check my blood sugar only to find it's astronomical. (One morning is was over 400...could have gone into a coma but thankfully didn't)
• Husband let go of new job after a month.

I think I got everything. In fact, the last half of these bullets happened in the last 3-4 months. The last bullet happened yesterday.

{sigh}

If you're out there, could you pray for us? Also, could you please comment with some Bible verse(s) that encourages you. I'm trying to focus up instead of horizontal, so any promises that can help me do that would be great.

Thanks.

My Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills...

 While driving to grandma's house on Thanksgiving, we passed some low rolling hills with cows on them. 

And I said,
"My Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills."

And mija said,
"Wow!  Your daddy must have been rich!"

After a little giggle, I assured her my Father is rich and explained to her that I was referring to a verse in the Bible (Psalm 50:10).

Here's the question I've never had answered.  If God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, who owns the ones in the valleys?  Okay, I ask that in a joking manner...kinda.

Definitely have been in a valley this past weekend.

But regardless of my location, my little discourse with mija just goes to show me how much more she needs to learn, and how much I still need to teach her. 

For instance, I need to teach her that even when a valley comes your way, the Father is with you and comforts you (Psalm 23:4). 

I just hope I can actually live it in a way that teaches her through example and not just explanation.

A little "nuts" after The Nutcracker

Well, we have finished our big "Nutcracker" weekend. We will have one more performance next weekend.

 I notice I wrote "we". Sure mija danced her heart out, but I was backstage supervising costume changes, and making sure knees didn't get dirty, performers are on stage on time, and dancers are entertained and fed while not on stage.

Mija's dance school did two school performances on Friday and THREE public performances on Saturday.  The "official" Kansas City Ballet only do two performances each Saturday, so our kids are troopers!

Here are some highlights from my weekend.

Besides performing, wearing makeup is a big deal.  Also, smiling now includes making sure people can tell that I'm missing two teeth!


Snowbird

  Killing time while playing with Barbie dolls that she's not allowed to have at home.  Pretty much everyone just brings toys to share with all.


Hamming it up backstage.

But she did have her times onstage as well.

 

Everyone loves the buffoons.  Mija got to come out from under the mother's skirt this year!

It was also cool, because in the performance we watched, Clara and the prince were played by a homeschooling brother and sister!

We had to make sure to get a picture with her teacher Miss Sarah, and her mother, Mrs. Ames who owns the Ballet Conservatory.

The Kansas City Star actually had a nice article about Mrs. Ames and our Nutcracker HERE just go down to "Another Nutcracker."

If you're interested in adding "The Nutcracker" into your curriculum this December, you might get some ideas from  The Ballet Conservatory's curriculum link.

After one more performance next week, we'll purchase our nutcracker for the year.  Then we'll dream of sugar plum fairies until next year!

And....we're off....

The holiday season if off and running. 

Thanksgiving was a success and great fun.

I was in charge bring mashed potatoes. Mija even helped by peeling 3 small potatoes!  I mixed things up by adding cream cheese and half and half to the recipe, and it was very well received.  You always have walk gingerly when changing traditions, you know.  Even if it's just a recipe!

Mija really wanted to make some recipe by herself.  I suggest 5-cup salad which is also often called ambrosia.  I purposely called it 5-cup salad to make it easier for her to remember how to make it.  Five ingredients.  One cup each.  But I had to get my home ed. momma on and double the recipe which added a touch of math without her knowing it!

It gave her good practice with her "folding" vs. "stirring" skills!

She was very satisfied with her finished product, she received compliments including one from Grandma!

Surprisingly, dinner started relatively on time (which is a "relatively" rare event with my "relatives"), and we even had time to visit and play some SkipBo before having to leave.

On Friday, the tree went up.  We practice eclectic tree decorations.  Some have pretty color coordinated trees, but ours has ornaments of various ages, styles, colors, shapes and most especially various stories.  As we unpack ornaments, we tell mija stories about where we got certain ornaments or whom we received them from.

Like ornaments that have been around longer than I have.

Or the set of ornaments we purchased after Sept. 11.

Or compare the ornament I made when I was in first grade with the one she made when she was in first grade.

And while some hang the greens in the kirk, my family hangs the Kirk in the greens.


Yes, there are other Star Trek ornaments!

A fairly new tradition is The Nutcracker.  Mija is getting ready to perform in her third performance of The Nutcracker.  We've started getting a nutcracker each year.  I label the year on the bottom, as well as, her parts and one major thing that happened that year.

Unfortunately, there's one tradition started 5 years ago that I would like to bring to a close...so I can actually start it!

I started a cross-stitched advent calendar.  Last year, I finally finished the actual calendar although I still don't have put together.

I know, four years for just the calendar seems a long time.  However, I did usually only work on it in the fall, AND it's very detailed.


There is TONS of shading involved even if you can't tell in the photo.

So, I've been working on the daily ornaments for the calendar.  Umm, I have some work to do.



Still need to do the detailing.

I'm thinking if I get the calendar together and continue to work steadily even after December starts, I might be able to use it this year. 

It would be pretty important to do so. As my SIL pointed out, the world will end next year according to the Mayan calendar, so this will be about the only year I'll really get good use of it!  ;-D  (Joking, of course.)

Well, one last tradition I'll share.  Micki assembled our Nativity scene.

It's tradition.  You see, this is the exact same scene I set up when I was a child.  In fact, this set is older than my mom!  I know!  It's old!  ;-)

But what's even more important than passing on these traditions is passing on the faith that sparks them. I'm glad it's the weekend in which we can be thankful for so many things and begin to celebrate the birth of the one to whom we are thankful.