I am a princess

For Bible Study this year, we are doing the Beth Moore series on Esther. For our last gathering this calendar year, we had a banquet. My group decided to dress up as princesses of course. We had so much fun waving to the throngs and admiring our tiarras. I of course pulled my best outfit from my closet: my Grandma Sternberg's dress. It is lovely. I added huge bright pink earrings, tacky necklaces, big hair, and a ton of make-up. You can't see in the picture, but zoom in: it is there.

What is funny about this outfit is that I was pulled aside by a dear older woman in the church. She talked to me three different times last Tuesday morning. Why? She wanted to admonish (lightly) me for not wearing this dress to church on Sunday mornings. She also kept exclaiming about my make-up. Now I am far more comfortable in jeans and a sweatshirt with a pony tail atop my head. I don't really wear make-up. It isn't my style and the one to whom I dress up for doesn't really like it. He finds me more attractive without it. She was horrified! Apparently, I look wretched usually and today I finally looked good. Thanks so much! I enjoyed her declarations and stated that I probably wouldn't be showing up at church like this anytime soon. She did find me on Sunday morning and was a little put off that I hadn't heeded her advice.

On a serious note, I love my Bible Study ladies. It is so great to have a group of people that I can discuss Spiritual issues, joys, and concerns. I know that if I ask for prayer from them, they will be praying throughout the week. I love being a part of their spiritual journey and I gladly welcome them on my walk. I thank God so much that I have found such a great home.

My favorite coach

I went to a basketball game on Friday night. I didn't stay until the end and I can't you many names of the players on the team. I didn't wear team colors. I don't teach any of the students. I left with my boys at halftime. It was after all bedtime for them.

I got teary eyed several times during the game. See, my little brother is the coach. Ah, such pride from this big sister. I had my camera out and got photos of his first steps on the home court as the varsity coach. :) I'm not proud because of how they did or how they played basketball. I'm proud because my brother is more than just basketball. See, his philosophy is that he is coaching these guys to be men of character, men who do what is right before God. Basketball is second. I know from listening to him that there are lots of ways that he does this. Let me tell you instead what I see on the court and read in the paper.

1. When the starting players are announced, they do all the special handshake blah blah with their teammates (standard), they shake the hand of the opposing coach (standard), and then they shake the hands of the officials. What?!? That is so very cool.

2. When someone falls down on the court, Kevin's players are there to lend a hand. It doesn't matter what team they are on, they are always there to lend a hand. Love it!

3. When the paper interviews the coach after a tough loss and focuses on what the players did wrong and how the technical foul changed the momentum of a game. . . . Kevin (my brother) talks about how this great kid apologized to his team after the game and what a stand up kid he is. No blame. No frustration. Grace.

I'm looking forward to more games. I'm also praying that God puts people like Kevin in the lives of my kids. It doesn't matter if it is sports, a job, fine arts. . . whatever they choose to be a part of. . . I want men and women of character to coach them and teach them to be young people of God's character.

Aye!

Hey--there is so much that I want to say. Do you ever have that? Thanks by the way for your thoughts on traditions. We have been enjoying ours and will be adding a new event on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Later.

Today, I'm sitting on the couch with my feet up. I'm in pain. Mom's are supposed to "work through it" and keep on keeping on. I did that yesterday. I did that until Gary got home and I showed him my bandaged up foot which was blood soaked through new dressings and my second pair of socks. He wasn't happy with me when I told him I probably should be sitting with my feet up. I had minor surgery yesterday and "enjoyed" (awful!) having the sides of both of my big toenails removed. Not. Fun. It was especially "enjoyable" when one side wasn't numb enough and wham bam thank-you mam the digging began. I digress. The doctor and his lovely assistant gave me instructions to sit down with my feet up during the day. I almost laughed out loud. I assured them I would try. I did try and it just wasn't possible.

That changed as soon as Gary became aware of the situation. He sat me down, brought me dinner, gave me a foot rest, took care of the kids, and yelled at me when I began "working" on my way back to the couch following a bathroom break. I deserved it. (He didn't really yell at me, but he was quite insistent that I return to my digs.) He got on my case again this morning. Thanks honey. Though I'm very behind on household things, something else happened this morning. I heard all about Noel's dreams while she was sitting beside me on the couch. I read three books to Garrison. I cuddled with Simon for 10 minutes when he got up. I don't ever do that because I'm so busy in the morning. It was quite nice and a great reminder to me that though things in the house need to get done, sometimes it is o.k. to sit and be with your kids. I need to do that more often. Also, my toes aren't throbbing as much. Imagine that.

It's a full life

Thanks for the comments about traditions. I have 136 cookies baked and only eight more to go. We are having our small group over tomorrow night to decorate. I should have 144 total, but I ate one dough ball when I bought them and another dough ball while I was baking. Come to think of it: each kid had a broken cookie to eat. . . and I overdid one batch. . . and I may have eaten one (or two) of the cookies. So, we'll just say we have over 100 cookies for tomorrow night. Bring on the frosting!

I know, I know. You are shocked that I didn't bake them from scratch. This is especially shocking since the decorated cookies with my mamas recipe is among my favorite cookies EVER! I love them. Folks: I just don't have the opportunity this year to make, roll, cut, and bake them all. I turned to my friend "Gordan" and he gave me pre-cut sugar cookies. Forgive me this year please.

I haven't gotten groceries yet this week. We are enjoying interesting combinations of food. It is a little entertaining and frankly kind of fun. I'm reminded of how blessed I am that I can go for long periods of time without going to the grocery store and we still have more than enough. We are in no way hurting. Thanks God.

Kids to school, helping at school, getting a mole removed, Gary working some pretty long days, church on Wednesday night, decorating the tree, getting our kids hand prints up, discovering Oobi, babysitting for a friend, dressing like a princess (yes, I will blog about it when I get the pictures on the computer--see the Gary working long days comment), week-end guests, discovering Pandora. . . it has been a full few days. Simon is busy asking me who put the fire in the Christmas lights. He would also like you to know that he wants to go to his friend Spencer's house because Spencer has bad guys at his house that they can fight together. Noble? Yeah, let's go with that.

Dad drove himself to Traverse City yesterday for more treatment. He was discharged from Holland Hospital and is now in another program. Could this be the time that he is sincere? Could this be the time of his traveling down the road of recovery? Perhaps. Perhaps not. I'd like to say I'm ready for anything, yet God has a way of constantly surprising me. We'll keep you posted as we journey.

It has been great, this past week of my amazing life. Noel is obsessed with Kleenex. Garrison won't stop picking his fingernails and they bleed every day. Penny doesn't like applesauce. Who doesn't like applesauce? Simon is saving the world from bad guys. It is indeed a wonderful life.

Traditions

I love traditions. I love remembering them, participating in them, and creating new ones. Sometimes I think I go overboard---shhh---don't tell Gary that I actually admitted it. :)

This morning at Bible Study (a post for tomorrow!) several people shared traditions that happen in their house in regards to Christmas. I loved it. Loved. It. Delicious eggs dishes, a Christmas quilt that is passed on, favorite games. . . it was so much fun.

Of course, in my own family we have traditions. Gary's family does a sock (stocking) on Christmas morning. It must always include crayons and a coloring book. My family, well my family has TRADITIONS. Clues to discover a present, doing something outside, a big meal involving beef, pajamas for the kids, sharing prayer requests as a family for the coming year, getting fruit snacks from off of the tree, dad writing a Christmas blessing for each of us, some sort of surprise game, a 10 hour celebration, and it used to include jell-o in a cloud.

Our kids are at a great age for beginning some traditions. Gary and I are trying some things. . . thinking about what we'd like to pass on to them. There are too many things I'd like to do, so we must narrow it down. The kids always do their hand prints at Christmas. We do the Christmas stockings. We always take a drive and listen to Christmas music and look at the lights. We deviated this year from getting our usual "kind" of Christmas tree and instead went with a Frasier Fir. A welcome change I think. The kids will be remembering more and more about Christmas and what we do in our house. Do you have any favorites? I'd love to hear.

Here's hoping

Yup, I still have hope. I think God intended it that way. I don't think that I could ever lose all hope. I love the guy! I love love love him. How could I not keep hoping that my dad will get well enough to come home and be a functioning member our our family?

It makes it easier when you have a visit with him like my mom and I did last night. His eyes were clear. There was no anger in his voice. He even listened to us and asked us questions--and the questions weren't manipulative in nature! He laughed and we laughed with him.

I know, I know. I know that he could be different today. I know that everything that he said to us yesterday could have been a lie. He is after all an addict. He does seem to be more together. He is identifying that HE needs to work to get better. HE needs to make some decisions regarding his life. Usually, all we hear is him blaming others for his troubles. It seems like the work he is doing at Holland Hospital right now has been helpful. His time there is limited though. He has to choose a new place to live. The hospital is working with him to find a place that will continue to help him. It is totally his decision as this is his recovery. Will you join us in praying that he'll make a good decision regarding his future care? My mom and I ended our time with dad by praying together while holding hands. It is the first time I've held his hand and I liked it. I hope that we get to pray together again soon.

Especially in this holiday season I need to think and hope that maybe next year we'll be celebrating Christmas as a whole family.

On a side note, mom and I left with a spring in our step. We looked at each other and laughed in the elevator at what we had just experienced together. We blessed God! As we stepped out of the elevator we were confronted by someone who had heard of our situation. This person was critical of our family, judged us, and wanted us to "be on the same page". I think they wanted us to be on their page. Though it shook us a bit, I did find myself laughing about it. God was working in dad's life and so we needed to be attacked. Do you ever have that? You are walking with God so the evil one needs to throw some weight around. I was thankful that we were worthy of such an attack. It didn't stop me from replaying the scene over and over in my head. I'm so thankful for friends who support us and trust that all the professional and spiritual help we are getting is right. I'm so thankful for friends who may not have a clue about what is happening, yet they continue to pray for us. I'm thankful for people who want to judge, yet refrain from doing so because they realize that they don't "know everything". I'm living it and I still don't know everything. :) Thanks for being a positive part of our journey.

The first snow

I think the first snowfall of the year is amazing--and quite funny. Amazing because my God decided to give it to us. He could have chosen so many other ways, way less boring and beautiful, to water the earth. But instead, He gave us not only snow, but many different kinds of snow. I just love Him and I clapped for Him today. I know He'll give me an encore.

The first snowfall is funny as well. First, Garrison was my first one up with me this morning. I noticed the snow and turned all of the lights out in the house. I called him over to me by the sliders and turned on the outside Christmas lights. I will forever remember his face. Pure awe with a side of joy. He was so excited he almost couldn't speak (crazy for my Garrison!). We talked about snow, about when he could go outside, about what he wanted for breakfast. We moved on with the morning and I turned the lights back on so I could indulge my son and get him some food. While I was in the kitchen I heard a shriek from the living room. Garrison began shouting to me (not a good idea in a house with four sleeping people in it!) that there was snow in the front of the house too! Isn't this amazing!?! Yes, I laughed. It is so cool how there is snow in the front and the back of the house.

The other thing I find funny about the first snowfall is that it seems people can't talk about anything else! There were millions (well maybe 20) posts on facebook about snow. People at school, comments on the radio. . . it amuses (which should be spelled with a "z" by the way) me that we suddenly have to announce the obvious to each other. I've smiled many times today.

So friends in West Michigan, enjoy the first snow. It certainly is beautiful. . . although not as beautiful as the precious baby sleeping in my arms right now--yup, I'm multi-talented. Now ya know.