Beginning of Those Canaan Days

Sunday Evening Post

I had a great weekend with my family and the show and I have lots and lots of pictures and videos to post but I'm just too tired to do it tonight.  I was going to, that was my plan and I did get Hannah's main song posted but I'm just too wiped out to do anymore tonight.  Tomorrow starts my Christmas vacation and I couldn't be more excited.  I've been on a crazy and fun, but exhausting roller coaster called, "Christmas Neverrest," and I'm ready to get off now.  I have a few things I need to do before we leave on our vacation but nothing too much.  I can wake up in the morning without a to do list running through my head.  I've decided to take a break from Facebook--at least a month.  I've gotten out of control with checking it and getting caught up in other people's drama and I'm tired of letting this stuff take time away from more important pursuits.  So, with a feeling of great freedom I took the Facebook app off of my iPod and checked it one last time on the computer.  I'm starting with a 30 day hiatus that may extend to forever but we'll see.  Well, I'm off to bed for a good night's sleep...peace out!

Song of the King

Some Pictures and Chatter

Here's my new happy place, for the Christmas season at least. The computer isn't always there...but the puzzle is! I finished my first Christmas puzzle of the season and have another one started--barely started but started nonetheless. It's a new one that I just got last week and I love it. Below is a picture of the room from the hallway (it's blurry--sorry!) and I just love it at Christmas. We have a lot of Christmas decorations--really too much for the room but I like it anyway. I love sitting at my puzzle table with all the hustle and bustle around. Also, as you can see, we are fully stocked with toilet paper. Just gives me warm fuzzies. :0)

We've had a really busy couple of weeks--something going on almost every night and an endless to-do list to work through every day. Thankfully, as of Monday most everything will be done--there is a light at the end of the tunnel! Here are some pictures from our visit to Santa's Tree Farm. They have a great little place out there--for a very cheap price you can buy hot dogs and S'mores kits to roast over the fire and they have a "Reindeer Ride" and a maze, hay to play in, and a petting zoo. The moms just chillaxed at a picnic table while our kids played and played and played. They even had a game of hide and seek out in the Christmas trees. It was a nice day and a nice break from being productive.








This weekend is "show weekend," the kids are doing "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." They've done two shows so far and they've been great. I'll have some pictures and video up a little later (I started this post yesterday and needed to finish it). My mom, dad, sis, and nephew are here as well so that makes for an especially fun weekend. We had so much fun last night that no one wants to wake up today. It's almost 9:30 and everybody in the house is still asleep. We have a big day ahead of us--opening presents, visiting, another show, more visiting. Woohoo! I love it! Stay tuned for pictures...

An Answered Prayer

A very sweet lady in our church lost her house and her dog last week in a house fire.  I spoke with her at church on Sunday and was asking if she needed anything and she asked if I would help her find a new dog for her husband.  He was really upset and so was she over the loss of their dog, a dorkie, and she wanted to get him another dorkie for Christmas.  Yes, a dorkie.  In case you hadn't heard of this breed--it is a mix between a dachsund and a yorkie and they are very hard to find.  I have scoured the internet, posted on Facebook, and we e-mailed everyone in church to see if anyone knew of any dorkies for sale.  I even went in a super stinky pet store today to see if by chance they had a dorkie.  These dogs are not a very common breed and seemingly impossible to find.  Well, today another woman from church was at a client's house and commented on how sweet this client's dog was and it turns out that the dog is a dorkie and in need of a new home!!  The baby is allergic to the dog and they need to find it a home right away.  Total answer to prayer!!  I called Pat and she was thrilled and was following up right away.  What a blessing to see God provide for Pat and her husband not only in practical matters but also heart matters.  God is truly amazing!

Ramblings on a Tuesday

I am in the industrious phase of my monthly cycle--this time is great in many ways--boundless energy and the motivation to do it all! But--I ultimately wear myself out and take pretty much no time to rest. Yesterday I made two pots of soup, pretzel yummies, reindeer food, three loads of laundry (washed, dried, folded, AND put away!!), and dyed a skirt, robe, and sweater, and later took my kids to perform at a retirement home, and then home to sit with Hannah offering moral support while she took her Spanish final and then did dishes and finally crashed at about 9:30. I love having productive days but some days are too productive and leave no time to just spend time with my family, my God, or just having some down time. Yesterday was one of those days. Today will be a little less hectic but still lots to do. Top on my list is to get two raffle prizes donated for the show this weekend. This involves making cold calls to various restaurants and establishments and asking for a gift certificate. I try to vary the places I go to and today it's going to be the downtown area. While down there I plan to buy myself an awesome new Christmas puzzle (and force myself to slow down and take the time to do the puzzle!!) and check out one of the newer shops that supposedly has a used books/reading area in the back. I'll have the kids with me so we'll get some time together and they love walking around downtown--although it's going to be a cold walk today! After that I plan to eat too much pizza at the local Pizza Hut buffet. The kids have Book It coupons for a free buffet that need to be used this week. I love Pizza Hut buffet but always, always eat way too much.
My mom, dad, sister, and nephew come to town on Friday afternoon to see the kids in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," and to celebrate Christmas with us. We are all very excited to see them and for this fun weekend. Show weekends are crazy and exhausting but so fun! I love all the excited energy and the fun of seeing all the kids put on such a great show.
I finally got our Christmas card picture in the mail yesterday so I have a bunch of envelopes to stuff and send out. I am bummed though because I chose a different border this time and part of Grace's headpiece (a Christmas star) is cut off. It's still a cute picture but not as cute as it was originally. I guess I should do a better job of previewing before ordering.
Well, that's enough rambling...time to go get busy!! I hope you have a blessed day!

This Year's Photo Ornament

Starting a few years ago (and skipping last year)--I have pulled out the kids' handy dandy "How to Draw Christmas" book and use it to craft a really corny, but super fun photo ornament. I get pictures of the kids, cut out the heads and then draw a picture and color it on regular white paper. Then I take it to Office Depot and have it reduced and made into 4 smaller prints. Then I laminate it, punch a hole, and tie a ribbon and hang it on the tree. I think this year's is my favorite.