Drum roll please....

Why, yes, the grinchiest of grinches did, indeed, send out a photo card with a Christmas letter this Christmas season surprising not only herself but everyone else in blogland. (Especially after my behavior the past week.) It is a "Reader's Digest" version showing the good with the bad. If you are a follower of my blog, many of these things will not be news to you, but most of my family doesn't follow my blog, so new for them!

Drum roll please.... here it is.....

And the letter included:

Christmas Letter 2009

The Reader's Digest Edition

1.  Lisa turned 40 in April, which means she made it another year, and now officially has the gray hair to prove it.

2.  Ladybug's softball team went to the championship game; regretfully, they lost.

3.  KT & Lisa celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary with a trip to Vegas.  It was educational in a not so good way.

4.  Took the kids to visit Their Great Grandma in California with a side trip to Disneyland.  Still paying for that one!

5.  Miguel received his Eagle Scout Award in October.  Way to go Miguel!

6.  KT is still employed despite pay cuts and lay offs.  Some new technology looks promising, but if that doesn't work out, we always have the lottery...

7.  TJ took summer school so he can graduate early from high school.  TJ graduates and starts college in January.  Cha Ching!

We wish you and your family a very Christ centered Christmas.

May the spirit of the season abound in your hearts throughout the year.

**To all my blogging friends, I am taking a break...See you next year!**

WOWW

"Each of us is an innkeeper 

who decides if there is room  

for Jesus"

~Neal A. Maxwell~

I'd like to add a little of my own commentary here. I have felt like Christ was knocking, and I wasn't letting him in. I mean I go to church on Sunday and make good choices most of the time, but I really wasn't knowing Him. I decided that this Christmas I would let my Savior in. I've been trying really hard to get rid of the grinchies and feel the true spirit of Christ. I simplified this Christmas. I didn't send out as many Christmas cards, I haven't done much baking. Extra programs and parties were gracefully declined. I wanted to feel His peace this season. With my daily scripture reading and time to ponder and feel His peace, I can gratefully say, the door is now open.

When the snow won't come to you...

You go to the snow. Our friends in Idaho City had some compassion on us and invited us up for some sledding. We don't have any of the white stuff ourselves, so we partook of their heavenly white snow. Their idea of sledding is to tow tubes behind the 4 wheelers. I officially became photographer...Nothing spells Christmas like S-N-O-W. And, no I never won a spelling bee...

A Christmas from Hell

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YES, you read that right, I said the word HELL as in h-e-double hockey sticks. There are so many heartwarming Christmas stories, I myself have shared a few, but everything is not always perfect.  We had a really sucky year once right at Christmas time. It seemed if something bad was going to happen, then it was going to happen to us that Christmas. I mean, what the crap? Instead of turning to Christ as I should have, laying my burdens at His feet, I just got pissed. It took several years before I felt the same about Christmas again.

I was four months pregnant with two little boys already in tow. We were a one car family and decided to clean out our savings to buy a used car for me to go back and forth to appointments and such. A week after acquiring our new, old car, my baby died. I had to have a D and C and needed to find a babysitter for my two snot nosed boys who were nursing a cold. Without family nearby, I called the people who are supposed to help you in said circumstances. Much to my discouragement, I got "No's" all over the place. I finally found a girlfriend willing to take my little bugs. Two days later a sister at church called me to babysit her kids because her husband was in the hospital. I said yes, of course, not wanting her to feel as forlorn as I had. She then proceeded to call me everyday to watch her kids. I was still nursing my own health issues and had family coming in for the holidays.

A week later car number one died on my dh right at work. On the bright side, it died in the parking lot at work and waited until we had two cars, but at that point there were no bright sides. He wanted me to drive out in a foot of snow 20 miles to his work to meet the tow truck driver. As a dutiful wife, I drove out with my babies. The roads were tricky and my jeep was all over the place. When I met the tow truck driver, he pointed to a flat tire on my jeep. Are you kidding? He noticed my exasperation and in the Christmas spirit, changed my tire for free.

Taking car number one to the GM dealer I listened as they calmly told me the diagnosis for my vehicle. A cracked head gasket something so foreign to my vehically inept mind, I didn't realize the seriousness of the situation until they told me they need $2,000 to get it running again. Standing there staring at the service reps and mechanics I crumbled. I had held in my frustrations and heartbreak too long, I was grieving and stressed and the financial burdens were too heavy, right there I bawled my eyes out hyperventillating and wondering what else could go wrong. The plus side, is that they felt so helpless at my crying they took 10% off and strongly suggested I go home.

I have never dealt with cars since. I still feel mortification over the thought of my melt down in front of a bunch of guys I didn't even know.  One important lesson I've learned besides the fact that I should have relied on the Lord more is now when something crappy happens I always tell myself it could be worse.

And that is why overly sappy Christmas letters can push me over the edge.  It started that dreadful year long ago...

Christmas Letters of the Past #2

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In 2004, I wrote a personal Christmas experience down in story form for our Christmas letter. 

"One busy day during the Christmas season, I found myself hurriedly running from one store to another with three children in tow. The frenzy of the season and all of its activities were bearing down and had left me tired and exhausted. On one of our last stops, I quickly pushed passed the aisle of Christmas decorations, despite the protests of my children, so that I could soon return home. At that moment, I realized that my daughter was missing. A sudden surge of panic came over me, but as I turned to look for her, I heard her call out to me.

“Oh, Mommy,” she exclaimed “Look!”

There was my daughter standing before a light-up yard nativity scene. In the midst of busy shoppers pushing passed, she slowly knelt before the Baby Jesus. The shoppers, still passing by, did not even notice one small girl kneeling before the manger. I reverently watched as she looked on lovingly at the Baby and spoke quiet words to Him. It was as though time stopped for me that night. While the crowds thronged on through the store, there was only a mother, with tears in her eyes, whose heart swelled with love for her daughter and her Savior, and a little girl who took the time to stop, remember and admire the precious Christ child.

When she was through, Ladybug rose to her feet and walked back to join me. As she slipped her hand in mine and we turned to walk away, I said a silent prayer of gratitude to my Heavenly Father for this wonderful gift of a daughter and this sacred Christmas experience. I was reminded of a scripture in Isaiah 11:6 “…and a little child shall lead them.” With all the wisdom of a six year old, Ladybug led me by the hand that night out of a busy store and into a more Christ filled Christmas." ~Lisa Hamer~

I had submitted this to a magazine but was rejected.  Apparently it isn't magazine worthy.  Now I haven't done one since only quick notes in Christmas cards, writing on the back of pictures...Pretty basic, boring stuff..I hear the e-card is going to replace all our personal greetings.  It would have saved me all this Christmas letter fretting as well as the postage!

Things that make you go "Hmmm"...

Last year's Christmas lights...

This year's Christmas lights...

Someone else must be a little grinchy, too!

WOWW

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"We all enjoy giving and receiving presents. 

But there is a difference between presents and gifts. 

The true gifts may be part of ourselves—

giving of the riches of the heart and mind—

and therefore more enduring and of far greater worth 

than presents bought at the store."

~James E. Faust~

Awards, Awards!

Oh my gosh! I am so freaking excited! Did I say freaking? I meant FREAKING!!! I have been honored with a couple of awards from my blogging friend over at Blog-Ignoramus.  She is such an awesome blogger.  I think we are like sisters in the snarkiness factor.  Our sarcastic personalities are a perfect fit.  Well, this is like a Christmas Miracle; A Festivus. Who woulda thunk it? She has bestowed upon me, MOI, The  Five Diamond Award because my blog apparently sparkles.

I love things that are very sparkly and very twinkly, don't you?

I have also received The Circle of Friends Award!  Amazing, Inconceivable.  I didn't even know I had friends!!!I think my grinchy heart has grown two sizes this day!  Thanks, Mary!

Christmas Letter's of the Past #1

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A bit of corny creativity from my past.  I could send this out this year and just change the ages and dates.  Everything would be pretty much the same.

"T'was the year 2001 and all through the house

Not a person was resting, not ONE in the house.

We've all been so busy with activities galore

It's got us going right out that front door.

Ballet, Cub Scouts, Young Men's, and sports.

TJ is nine and thinks he's pretty fine

Miguel is eight and was baptized.

That's great!

Ladybug is three and what's there to say,

She's pretty happy, it just makes our day.

KT is good, he still has a job...

Micron's not hiring, they may start the firing.

We're praying and crossing our fingers, this day

They'll keep him around so we'll get some pay.  

We got a new car.  It's big and posh.

Our pay was cut...Oh my gosh!

I still have my job:  Home Management Specialist.

The pay really stinks!  But, oh what great benefits!

We're really quite happy and grateful to say

We're all feeling well on this fine Holiday.

Please remember to pray for our brave servicemen

And for their families who sacrifice them.

We are grateful for freedom they help to ensure.

"God Bless America" we hope will endure.

As we turn to Christ this Christmas Season,

We pray for your families and here is the reason.

You are our friends and family, we say,

Health, wealth and happiness for you we do pray.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

We hope this season is filled with good cheer!" 

~Lisa Hamer~

A Nice Christmas message

A follow Up to Christmas Letters

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Today I received some very lovely Christmas cards with a Christmas letter inside. They were fun to read and hear all the family updates. In retrospect, maybe I shouldn't have been so hard on Christmas letters. In my defense, I was also trying to be funny...I think that it is the heart of the recipient how the letter is taken. Obviously my heart is hard and shriveled. and I deserve coal in my stocking this year. I will write a future post why my feelings lend themselves to a bit on the bah hum bug side.

Asking your forgiveness,

An Open letter to Santa

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Dear Santa,

I was hoping this year, if you have a little time, could you take my letter into consideration?  Could you grant a few wishes for a girl who is good most of the year?

I would sure love it if you could help my parents sell their house...They were crazy and impetuous and bought a new house before they sold their other.

My brother is real down on himself lately.  Could you help him to feel happy and know he is loved?

I would sure appreciate it if you could make sure that KT continues to be employed.  This seems to be a recurring theme, but money does make the world go around.

Sincerely,

To Christmas Letter or not to Christmas Letter

Sometimes I hate Christmas letters. You know the ones I am talking about. Everyone is so perfect and life is so rosy. You just dread those letters. "My husband has been promoted to Law Firm Partner, my son got a perfect score on his SAT's, my daughter has been chosen to model on the cover of American Girl Magazine, we've taken trips to Europe and Hawaii, THREE TIMES EACH!" Blah, Blah, Blah! Bah humbug!

I'd like to send one sometime that says, "Life sucks! My husband is a real douche, my boys have been arrested, my eleven year old just got her belly button pierced and I haven't gotten out of the trailer in months." You know, just to see what people would say...

But on the other hand, a Christmas letter saves you from writer's cramp. It provides a quick easy way to let people know what is going on in your life. It's nicer than just a plain signed card, I suppose. I have sent two very creative Christmas letters in the past. I've written a Christmas story and a Christmas poem about our family. Needless to say, I'm not feeling very creative at the moment and am leaning toward a traditional Christmas letter.

What are your feelings on a short family update with maybe a favorite Christmas recipe to share?

Or would you dread it all the same?

WoWW

Photo Source:  ME

"This is Christmas: not the tinsel, not the giving and receiving, not even the carols. 

But the humble heart that receives anew the wondrous gift -- the Christ."

~Frank McKibben~

Dancing in the Rain

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While living in the "arm pit" of America, aka Yuma, Arizona, I saw it rain once.  To have a cloudy day was a rarity, but for it to open up and rain was most peculiar.  It was like the heavens opened and dumped on us.  A sudden downpour, a gulley washer.  In most places, the rain cools things down, but the temperature remained the same, HOT.  I took my 18 month old TJ outside to witness such a miracle while leaving 3 month old Miguel in his crib to nap.  The rain was bathwater warm.  Friends and neighbors began to emerge from their homes, too.  We laughed, and danced.  We ran and jumped in puddles.  Our clothing was soaked through.  I threw my arms out wide, turned my face to the heavens and twirled.  Spinning like an airplane, TJ copied me.  The water was cleansing and invigorating.  At 24 years of age, I had never felt so young.  I was a child again.  It was soul cleansing.  When the rain began to slow, we held hands and walked toward the house.  We stripped inside the door of our soaking clothes, with hair dripping down our backs we changed into dry clothes.  Grabbing a blanket, we wrapped up and snuggled.  For me, this is a moment that will last a lifetime, it's like the warm rain seared itself into my memory. 

The Gummy Bear Chronicles...

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It's hard to keep a straight face around my boys...even in Church. I'm sure I'm going to be struck by lightening one of these days because of my irreverent behavior in the Lord's house. Sometimes it is hard being a parent. When Kevin and I were first married, he was laughing at his young cousin's little antics when his Aunt scolded him saying he was encouraging negative behavior. What am I doing as a parent when I laugh at my kids little antics? Even in church?

Recently in church we sat next to TJ's best friend. She had brought a bag of gummy bears to share, much to her mother's dismay. We shared those sweet, chewy bears like a bunch of two year olds that can't go an hour without a snack. My boys began to play with their food like the two year olds they were emulating. Licking the bottom of a gummy bear so it would become sticky, my oldest, mind you, stuck it to the suit clad shoulder of the man in front of us without his even knowing. A snort could be heard coming from me as I tried to stifle a laugh. I scolded as I tried to hold it in, thus encouraging more negative behavior. A little girl sitting in front of said gentleman, was pointing at the gummy bear.  He mistakenly thought she was pointing at him.  As he leaned forward to see what she wanted, the gummy bear stayed planted and leaned forward too.

Have you ever tried to quietly hold a laugh in?  The harder you try the more you want to just bust out laughing?  The laughter was escaping my body through the tears that were running down my face and the sob that burst from my throat.  I'm hoping others may have thought I was deeply moved by the Spirit with my sobs and tears.  I mean Charity is a very moving topic.

I truly hope the Lord has a sense of humor, otherwise, I'm screwed!

Woww

  Photo Source

Remember this December,

That love weighs more than gold!

~Josephine Dodge Daskam Bacon~

Anti - Napite

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KT frequently refers to me as an Anti - Napite. He likes to take naps, I don't. It's not that I don't like sleep, it's that I have a hard time relaxing enough to fall asleep if there is so much that needs doing. My brain rarely shuts off during the day enough to embrace sleep. Not to mention, my body automatically just wants to stay up if the sun is up. Daytime isn't the time for sleeping.

But, the other day I put my nap prejudices aside. After a busy week of work/school, basketball practice, games, and all my other mom duties, I found myself overwhelmingly tired. I came home at noon to a quiet house and thought, "What the heck?" I got more comfortable, closed the blinds and pulled back the blankets. I had to pile on extra blankets because without my personal furnace in bed to keep me warm (he's like a Jacob in that capacity), it just wasn't going to happen. Then, I found myself burrowing under the covers pulled up over my head, like a fort to block out more light. Within a short time, I was out and it was divine. I think I am cured of my Anti - Napiteness.  I think a nap a day is just the answer for more energy in the evening.

Giving Thanks

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What a wonderful time of the year to count our blessings and express our gratitude! So many bloggers have been taking the whole month of November to express something they are grateful for each day.  I decided to do it today, Thanksgiving, even though I truly am thankful for these little babies every day!  While you are reading this, I will be in the kitchen cooking.

1. KT - my eternal companion, hard worker, self-sacrificing, my best friend

2. TJ - my oldest son, funny, helpful, grown up, my friend

3. Miguel - 2nd oldest son - HILARIOUS, full of energy, happy, spiritual rock

4. Ladybug - my baby girl, fun, helpful, dependable, my mini me

5. My Parents - my friends, live close, family dinners, my rock

6. My brother & his family - great cooks, family get togethers, fun to be around. baby Z satiates my baby craving.

7. My Home - needs new carpet, but has a new strong roof to weather the storms. My shelter from this world.

8. My mini van - I complain because it isn't cool and it's old, but it's PAID FOR.

9. My job - reliable, fun, great people to work with, being around youth, allows me to be there for my kids.

10. My Savior Jesus Christ - Yeah, He probably should have been at the top. My Brother, my Redeemer, loves me unconditionally.

11. My Church - great people, sense of belonging, gives me direction, helps me live a good life.

12. Health - you don't realize how grateful you are for it until you are sick. I am SO GRATEFUL for all the days I am normally healthy.

13. Running - I am grateful that my body has the strength to let me do this. Happy endorphins, endurance, exercise, feels great

14.  Marriage - 20 years!  Reliable, stable, comfortable, nurturing

15.  Micron - It still pays the bills despite pay cuts and layoffs.

16.  Books - reading, escape, entertainment, drinking in good words.

17.  Food - I am always battling with a few pounds here or there.  I should be grateful because it means I always have good food to eat.
18.  Quiet afternoons - time to catch up on cleaning, reading or exercise before everyone comes home.  I am able to collect myself.
19.  Music - guitar, piano, country, lifts my spirits, brings joy
20.  Chocolate - need I say more?

Definition of my worth

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Contentedness fills my soul today. My clean home sparkles and the smells of fresh baked bread is emanating from the kitchen. Clean fresh laundry is stacked and waiting to be put away. Service to my family is what can bring me the most pleasure. I am so grateful for my womanhood. I love and embrace my role as a mother and wife. It is the job that the Lord meant for me to have. As a natural born nurturer, my jobs at home are the ones that bring the most reward and the most pleasure. I have decided that my paycheck is not what defines my worth, but the happy, contented smiles of my husband and children. Thank you Lord, for making me who I am.

Woww

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"Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare.

They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. 

This is not coincidence."

~Erma Bombeck~

The Other Day I was Dorothy...

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Sometimes I feel like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, the whirlwind and tornadoes of life often whisk me away to various appointments, meetings, sporting events, performing arts, etc. Often these myriad of activities has me plodding through from one thing to another when secretly I long to just be home. I am a self-professed homebody. What is more divine than the a warm cozy home surround by those you love? Longingly I wish to click my heels and chant, "There's no place like home, there's no place like home" where I would then be magically taken back into the safe comforts of my home. Instead, as I check my watch, the steady rumble of my tires on the pavement slowly propels me back toward my oasis.

I love running, but?

I love running, but not this much! This is so dang gross, screw the win, go use the bathroom not your shorts! This is why I don't run marathons; First of all, I know my limitations, second, this picture.

Woww

"Success is always temporary.

When all is said and done, 

the only thing you'll have left is your character."

~Vince Gill~