Let Christmas Come

I have my Christmas tree up!  I didn't put one up last year due to the fact that I didn't have any of my sons here to retrieve the tree and ornaments from the attic.  (I am banned from attics, but that is a different story.)  Also, we were going to be gone for most of December and it seemed like a whole lot of trouble for MY few days of enjoyment.  Anyhoo, I missed it too much to skip another year, also, I have a new grandbaby who will most likely be by the house at least once before Christmas!   Photo ops!   I am going to hang up the stockings-15 this year!  I hope our mantel is long enough!  I guess I'll have to pin the dogs' and cat's stockings to their owner's stockings, which brings it up to 18.  Then, my decorating will officially be finished for this year.

I love the Christmas season, most of all for the joy of knowing Whose birth I celebrate at this time.  As a child, of course, it was all about the toys and other presents, but now, I am aware of the sacrifice Jesus made to come to earth as a human baby, to grow up as a young man, and to make the decision to go through the horrors of the crucifixion.  Although Easter is the ultimate high point of the Christian year, His resurrection fulfilling the prophecies of the Messiah, the fact of His birth in a stable moves me, especially this year.  Maybe it was hearing the first cry of our newest grandchild, and the joy that brought to all of us waiting.   Whatever caused it, I am again thankful for the Savior.

Thanksgiving

I have so many things to be thankful for this year. I have a precious new grandson who is by far and away the cutest thing to come down the pike this year in our family. My husband, TBO, puts up with all my whinging and only really gets torqued when I am waaay out of line. I have wonderful sons and daughters-in-law, and six other terrific grandchildren.

But I have had a rough time the last few weeks. I have never thought that I could be depressed. I found out differently. It seemed as though my life had totally spun out of MY control, my control being the operative words here. I discovered that I lack the ability in my own strength and self to control anything.

Life is sometimes tedious, as my Mom says every once in a while. I believe the tediousness just kind of overtook me for a few weeks. I wallowed in unhappiness and ungratefulness until I finally realized what was happening...I had truly forgotten to be thankful for all my blessings and for the One Who has been so extravagant with them to me.

I have a loving husband who would do anything for me, if I would remember to ask him, not expect him to read my mind. I have a beautiful home for which I have, to my shame, not shown much gratitude for lately.

I merely forgot to continue to be thankful. So tonight, on the eve of Thanksgiving, I say, thank you, Lord, for always providing for me and my family. Thank you, TBO, for loving me when I am lovable and when I am a pain. Thank you, my sweet sons and daughters-in-law and grandchildren for just letting me be me-sometimes good, sometimes, not so good! Thank you to my friends who put up with my stuff, who hold me accountable, who love me through the good times and the bad ones.

More Wedding Festivities

Our friends had their last child get married this weekend...number six!  It was a groom, so Mom and Dad were a little less stressed than when it was one of their girls!  We were asked to the rehearsal dinner as well as the wedding itself.  I'm sure some of the bride's family was wondering what we were doing there, but, the Lord put these special ones in our lives and we feel like we are part of their family.  The rehearsal dinner was really fun and following the tradition they began when their oldest daughter got married, people shared fun stories about the bride and groom. Hearing some of the stories from their childhoods was priceless.  Some of the stories about not so long ago were also amazing!

The wedding itself could not have been more beautiful.  The ceremony took place outside in a vineyard here in North Texas.  This bride had a lot of faith for the weather, I must say! Everything went as planned and the weather cooperated fully.  

The aunt of the groom invited TBO and me to come to her home for breakfast on Sunday morning...once again, I am thinking some of these people don't even know me, but we went!  It was such a fun time getting to know Auntie's in-laws, and hearing the story of their courtship. TBO said it seemed as if they were doing a stand-up routine it was so funny and well done.  They will have been married fifty years in a couple of months.  I love hearing of marriages like that. We only have fifteen more to go to make it to fifty...ooh, I am feeling kind of old all of a sudden!

So tonight, I am vegging.  Seriously vegging.  I cannot find a thing on DirectTV I want to see, so as soon as I finish this post, I am going to locate my favorite chick flick, pop some popcorn and veg out to the max!

The Queen

Many of you know about our almost 18 year old Yorkshire Terrier, Sweet Pea, aka the Queen.  She lived with us for the last 5 years of her life, and I think she enjoyed her life with us.  Yesterday, I had to make that decision which all owners of older pets dread.  The Queen left us quietly, in my arms to go to the place where her deafness, blindness, arthritis, confusion, and "inappropriate eliminations" will no longer be  problems.  She will be missed.