Surviving Christmas 2009

At first glance you would think....wow...that fire seems so nice. How peaceful it must be to sit there and relax. Well in front of that fire and behind the camera was 4 couples, 6 grandkids, 4 dogs ....an no partridge in a pear tree! I had hip surgery on the 22nd so my family decided to come to us so we didn't have to travel. We couldn't wait to host everyone!


My mom and I about to head to the hospital for my surgery. We had to be there at 6am in Dallas....ugh! I am so thankful that my parents came in early to help Gene and I juggle everything. Gene is in basketball season and with 3 kiddos...I could use all the help I could get.


After I returned home, I received a yummy cookie bouquet from my All Saints' Family. It was outpatient surgery but it took 3.5 hours to get all the junk out of my hip socket. I would post the picture that they gave me of what they took out but it would gross y'all out!

A couple days later...I'm feeling a bit more mobile. I'm not good at sittin still so this has been really tough for me. I can always find something to clean or organize. My mom made sure I didn't do anything....but take a goofy picture in front of the fireplace.haha

The before picture....when all 6 grandkids got a hold of this room...it was Mayhem at it's finest!

A few of the kiddos getting ready to partake in the snow.

And there's the snow....we had a white Christmas! It's not a whole lot but enough to play in for 10 minutes or til they couldn't feel their hands! I had to take pictures from inside cause I wasn't allowed out with the crutches...hmmff!

The kiddos getting into their stockings. Logan is a TCU and Texas fan. Hopefully when he is ready to graduate from high school, he will get to pick from wherever he wants to go!

Logan with his Big Buck Hunter so he can practice bein a hunter likes his cousin Cody and his Papa. The first thing he said when he woke up Christmas morning was "It's Jesus' Birthday!" that made me smile!

The girls and their Printies....sleepy smiles...just love em!

Well as you can see, we didn't get any family pictures this Christmas. Things were so busy and I think I set the trend with hanging out in sweats and no make-up cause of my surgery. Hopefully I will be up and around soon and able to clean house and maybe even do my hair. I am very thankful for my family. My mom was a huge help and Gene and I are so glad she and my dad were here to help. Hope y'all had a Merry Christmas!

Christmas Break Is Finally Here!!!

I think they are fired up that Christmas break is finally here! That has to be the goofiest smile I have ever seen on Kansas! haha

Logan and his classmates making crafts

The kids had their Christmas parties but before that they got to have Pat Green sing Christmas carols to them. How cool is that! He is a really nice guy and I love his wife...she is so sweet. That was really nice of him to take the time out of his hectic schedule.

Our school helps with an orphanage in Kenya and two of the girls were able to come visit us. What a long journey!They even sang in chapel for everyone and their voices are absolutely beautiful!

Kansas and her friends enjoying their lunch in all their festive wear! It feels like just yesterday this group was in Kindergarten. Where does the time go?

Gene and I had to bounce between classrooms. He didn't want a picture because he just came from practice and was all sweaty....yuck! :) So he took a picture of me and my sweet middle child. I love her scarf....I want to find one big momma size! :)

Now that's the Kansas smile I know and love! :)
We are officially on Christmas break!!! Next week our family will be in town to spend the holidays with us. We can't wait. I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and safe travels!

Happy Holidays!

Shopping for Juan

Every year the Kindergarten class sales "Angel Pops" (aka the popsicles in a tube) to raise money for their Angel Tree person. Logan and his group of buddies had a little boy named Juan to shop for. Each of the kiddos had certain items they had to pick out for Juan. They were so excited every time they found what he wanted. My friend Vicki and I were in charge of 4 boys and man they kept us on our toes! Above, Logan is showing off the list he made for Juan's presents.

The boys finished shopping and Mrs. Yater gave them the money that they raised to pay for the Christmas gifts for Juan. They look pretty darn proud!

And now they are back to being just plain goofy kinders! Before we took them shopping, we stopped by The Love Shack for some yummy burgers and hot dogs! If you are in the Fort Worth area, you've got to check it out! Thank you to the Love Family for taking good care of us!

Have a Merry Christmas everyone!

Adjust Your Sails

Sometimes these devotionals don't get to me but most of the time I feel as though they were written just for me.....

Adjust Your Sails
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.
— 2 Corinthians 4:8–9
Sometimes people think they will have smooth sailing as long as they are in the will of God. But that wasn't true of the apostle Paul. He seemed to face every kind of adversity imaginable, from enemies who tried to destroy him to physical suffering to being shipwrecked three times.We all will have shipwrecks in our lives in some way, shape, or form. The reality of life is that we are either coming out of a storm or we are going into one. That is just the way it is. There are times when we will have smooth sailing. There are times when the sky will be blue and the sun will be shining. There will be beautiful moments in our lives in between the storms. Thank God for those moments.But the reality is that we can live a prosperous life in the will of God and still face conflict. Paul went through a shipwreck on his way to Rome, but he had a prosperous journey by the will of God because of what it ultimately accomplished. That is a different definition of prosperity than we may normally think of.It has been said that you can't direct the wind, but you can adjust your sails. I cannot control the world. I would love to if I could. Nor can I control the circumstances that come my way. But I can control my reaction to them. I can redirect my sails and adapt.We all will face storms, difficulties, and even shipwrecks. So it is time for us to develop our sea legs and not focus so much on how to avoid storms, but on how to get through them, how to survive them, and how to learn the lessons that we can only learn in such places.

Thunderbolts 2009

My MVP!!! I think he looks so grown up in this picture. He has had a blast playing with his All Saints' buddies during this flag football season. For those of you that know Logan ;) he sort of likes sports!Haha

Thunderbolts 2009

I think it is funny that Logan is the only one not smiling...I mean the only one with his game face on!! These poor dads that coach have to corral these 11 kindergarteners and that is not an easy task! It is quite comical to watch them on the field. Last weekend it was absolutely freezing for the game. I didn't dress Logan warm enough and he was miserable the entire time. He did manage to score 2 touchdowns in between the crying sessions to me about how he couldn't feel his hands. What a momma's boy....oh wait... :) The Thunderbolts have 2 more games and then it is basketball season. I'm looking forward to that because 1. it's indoors and 2. it's indoors! :) Well it's late and the rest of the week is busy busy...Nite everyone!

Happy Birthday to the BEST MOM EVER!

I have the best Mom in the world and I want to wish her a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
(no, I didn't inherit her dance moves ;)
She was a single Mom for many years and I don't know how she did it! Raising 3 girls by yourself...couldn't have been easy. She was always there for us and did her best to juggle all of our different needs and schedules. I was her athlete, Jessica was her social butterfly and Mill was her baby. :) I remember her taking me to my 6:30am basketball and volleyball practice and then heading to work. She watched me grow up and supported me as I continued with my athletic endeavors.

She was there when I graduated from high school and college and when I was a bride, she was there to do my hair for my big day! Anytime I need her, she is there.

Every grandchild that was born...she was there.

Not only is she there when you need a shoulder to cry on, she is there to make you laugh....until you cry and pee your pants! :) The good Lord blessed me with a wonderful mother and I am so thankful for her.

Happy Birthday Mom and thank you for being you!

Love you lots!!!

Your middle child :)