Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! From Jan, Joyce, Mark, Tom and I. We went to Metzger's and had lots of delicious things. We then came back to my house where we got frustrated waiting for my computer to cooperate, but finally (thanks to Joyce showing me how to resize my pictures) got to post a picture. It will be a good new year!

Christmas Week Almost Over

Christmas week is almost over and I haven't posted one picture from my new digital camera. I don't know if it's my errors or bloggers, but I'm having no luck posting pictures! I'm trying once more on this new post--

Using My New Christmas Gift

Yeaa! Now I can post my own pictures! My children gave me a digital camera and my husband gave me some of the accessories I need to go with it. I'm trying hard to learn all the intricacies of taking and posting pictures with it!

Yesterday was a trip to Christmas Babyland! Here are some pictures! Sorry to those of you that I saw earlier in the day - I hadn't figured out how to take pictures yet.

It was great to see most of the people I love yesterday--and to those of you I didn't see, Merry Christmas!

Well--Phooey! Blogger isn't cooperating in posting my pictures. I'll try again later!

Another Birthday Party Completed!

Kaleigh wasn't the only one who had a birthday party this weekend! Our Christmas program was "A Birthday Party for Jesus". We had a huge gift--opened to reveal the stable, manger, and Baby Jesus. We had puppet guests, balloons, birthday cake and party hats. The children brought their gifts. They sang beautifully and they did a wonderful job! Even the 3 or 4 "challenges" came through and did a fine job. Only one 4 year old tried to undress on stage. It was lots of fun!

A Day Off?

I decided to take a day off today! It's only a half day for me and all of my students will be involved most of the morning in a Christmas Program rehearsal so I can use my time a lot more productively at home.

I wish I was taking the day off to go Christmas shopping in Chicago like Mark and Joyce, but instead I will get caught up on things at home. This weekend will be busy with Praise Team practice, Christmas program practice, Kaleigh's birthday party, Sunday worship and the Christmas program so I probably won't get much done then. Next week I have something every night except Monday and I'm hosting a Christ Our King Staff Dinner here Friday night so I better get my act in gear.

I was all prepared to sign up for Beta this morning but when I log on to blog it no longer gives me the option to switch. Have Joyce and I lost our opportunity? Help, Amanda!

Well I better get busy with my day off? Paying bills, laundry, cleaning, finishing Christmas cards, wrapping presents, planning a menu, etc. etc. etc.!

Not "With It"

Okay, I guess I'm not with it anymore. I thought I was doing pretty well as a blogger, but now I don't seem to be "with it" because those of you that have signed on to the "better than me" "Beta" account won't allow me to comment anymore. Every time I try, beta gives me this ominous exclamation point and read letters saying that either my password is wrong or to try again later. I would sign up for beta, but I'm still not sure it will work with my antiquated dial-up at home. Any suggestions?

My Mental Pictures!

I wish I had had a camera with me--in particular two times this weekend. Instead I have my mental pictures.

Saturday morning, after our Christmas program rehearsal and most had left, I looked up on the stage and there was Avery with her cute red fur collared hat and coat standing adoringly at the manger saying goodbye to Baby Jesus!

Last night the grandchildren and their parent's came over to help "decorate" our house for Christmas. Grampy decided to get his Lionel train out and set it up with strict instructions that they should not touch it unless Grampy was right there and watching them. They all stood around taking their turns running it and oohing and aahing over it. When that was all over with and the children went on their merry ways playing and "decorating" the rest of the house, I looked over and there sat Kaleigh right next to the train. It was a picture of self-control and restraint. She sat with her fingers wiggling in her lap just itching to touch the train again. Every once in a while she'd look up at us and look back at the train, raise her hands to touch it, and put them back down again-- all with a look on her face that showed it took every ounce of strength in her not to break the rule.

These two mental pictures stand out in my mind as every Christian's daily walk in the faith. Standing next to Jesus adoring Him, and using every ounce of strength in our souls to follow His ways!

Officially "Advil" Season

Some child (I think it was at St. John's) when asked if he/she knew what season it was replied, "Advil" season. Probably true!

But my "Advent" season was kicked off this week in fine fashion. Some great Advent hymns and message on Sunday and Wednesday night, and a beautiful "Advent by Candlelight" last night. I sat at a beautiful table hosted by Heidi, worshipped in a beautiful sanctuary filled with candles, and heard beautiful music provided by "Arborsong" of Concordia. It was truly a lovely evening!

My "Advil" season has also been started with a doozy of a cold and not much voice--this will be tricky for our first Christmas program practice and Praise Team practice tomorrow morning.

My heart feels prepared for the reason for the season--but my home--not so much, yet. Perhaps this weekend I'll get some decorating done.

Merry "Advent" everyone!

I Don't Get It!

Yesterday, I blogged and it is not showing up on my computer, but when I go into my blogger dashboard it's there and Joyce has commented. I'm assuming it's showing up on your computers, but why not mine?

I'm gearing up this morning for constant sessions with students today from 7:50 until 3:15 with no breaks except to drive from one school to another. I'm even squeezing in a parent meeting! I'm also fighting the beginnings of a cold, so please pray for me. God bless all of you today!

Blog "Blogcked"

I'm here! My brain has just been "blogcked" for things to blog about!
This past week filled with busy school schedule, a lot of time with grandkids, Christmas program "stuff" and I'm not sure what else.

I spent Saturday with some dear friends touring some Flat Rock homes on a Christmas decoration tour. Less than impressive, but fun! Diane and Ron-- I'm thinking your village display would have been much more interesting.

Friday night I tried to stay awake to watch "Polar Express". I was awed by the graphics and even more so when we were at Em and Bob's last night and watched part of it on their new 50" HDTV screen (they had TIVO'd it). I'm so behind the times technologically speaking.

We went to their house to have semi-pro photographer Bob take our pictures for our Christmas letter. Perhaps I'll leave it out. Not that Bob isn't a great picture taker. It's the material he had to work with. I've spent my lifetime thinking I don't resemble anyone is my family, but in this new picture I see a resemblance to a couple of my North Dakota aunts (I believe it's the jowels I seem to have developed.)

It's time to start my school day! I'll try harder to blog more often this week.