Happy New Year!

Wow, 2009 is drawing to a close and I don't want to let the year end without a shout out to a few people. These people don't even read my blog (I know....there are precious few of you readers out there), but I LOVE looking back at old posts, so I'm doing this more for posterity's sake than to actually thank these terrific people.

To my husband - Wow...our 20th Christmas together. I'm excited to see what happens in the next 20 years. Life with you is always exciting.

To Alyssa - You, my dear daughter, have blossomed into an amazing young woman. I'm privileged to be your mother. Thank you for being my "guinea pig". I'm excited to see what God has in store for you next year.

Kevin - Your desire to serve the Lord here and abroad is such an inspiration to those around you. I'm truly thankful for the "front row seat" that I have been given in your life. I can't wait to see what all God is going to do through you.

Hannah - You are amazing. I love watching you cultivate those things in your life that you are passionate about. Thank you for being patient with me. Sometimes I think we are too alike for our own good. :-)

Victoria - Your zeal for life is precious - thank you for making me smile. I love watching you dance and your stage presence is amazing! You are soon going to be 11 years old...I guess I don't have little girls any more.

To Wendy Jeffries - YOU are a blessing, a true gift from God! You are more than a riding instructor, horse trainer and owner of the most beautiful stables around...you are a tremendous mentor to my daughter. What a privilege to see her blossom under your tutelage.

To Mark Linton - Thank you for imparting life to my children. You inspire them to seek the Lord for themselves, not just attend church because that's what our family does. Your energy and enthusiasm are contagious.

To the friends of Carenet Pregnancy Center of Coastal Georgia - Thank you for your prayers and generosity. In the midst of strange economic times, YOU have been faithful and Carenet is thriving. What a blessing to look back over this past year and see God's faithfulness. It's because of YOU women are served and lives are changed.

May God richly bless you in 2010.

Merry Christmas

As a lover of Christmas music of all kinds, I like to think I'm pretty well versed (no pun intended) in traditional carols. However, at the Christmas Eve service last night I was struck by the richness of the lyrics of some of the lesser known verses of common carols. This one especially caught my attention.

What Child is this who, laid to rest On Mary's lap is sleeping? Whom Angels greet with anthems sweet, While shepherds watch are keeping?

[CHORUS] This, this is Christ the King, Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing; Haste, haste, to bring Him laud, The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Okay...so we all know this part. One of my favorites.

Why lies He in such mean estate, Where ox and ass are feeding? Good Christians, fear, for sinners here The silent Word is pleading.

[CHORUS]

Okay...so we hear this verse occasionally.

Nails, spear shall pierce Him through, The cross be borne for me, for you. Hail, hail the Word made flesh, The Babe, the Son of Mary.

[CHORUS]

Wow...the entire gospel, right here in this hymn. I LOVE this verse.

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh, Come peasant, king to own Him; The King of kings salvation brings, Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

[CHORUS]

Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Hope you have enjoyed the season!

Happy Birthday Patrick!

In the midst of all the Christmas hustle and bustle, we did pause to celebrate Patrick's birthday. All kids were present (no small feat considering everyone's conflicting schedules) and a good time was had by all. After a delicious birthday dinner, some chocolate cake that was to die for, and a couple of presents, we topped the night off with our annual viewing of It's a Wonderful Life.

Mmmm...just gotta love Publix bakery's decadent dessert line.
My goal is to try them all.

Patrick's office is about to be refurnished, so I thought he needed something new on the wall, you know...something trendy and sophisticated...like a quote from Winnie the Pooh.

Christmas with a Toddler

In the midst of my hurried house decorating, I forgot that a toddler roams the house four days a week. I wasn't worried about her getting ornaments from the tree, as she's quite obedient and rarely out of sight. However, Caitlyn did manage, in a brief moment, to find some baubles on a little side table. Most were plastic, so when she threw them down, it was as if she was playing with balls...toys of her own. But when she threw down a glass one, we all came running. We found her staring at the shattered, red ornament saying, "Uh, oh...NO, NO baby!" We all burst out laughing...how do you reprimand a child who chastises herself?

Let's Play Jeopardy

Alex, I’ll take NYC numbers for 100

The answer is: Three

How many college friends met together to reconnect; OR how many seconds did it take to feel like we’d never been apart OR how many times did Natalie buy hot, melt in your mouth coconut, almonds, peanuts and cashews from the Nuts for Nuts vendors on the street? Seriously, it’s a good thing I don’t live near those vendors…they could be addicting.

Alex, I’ll take NYC numbers for 200

The answer is: One

How many times did Laura and Natalie wander aimlessly trying to figure out where they needed to go next. Yes, after leaving the Empire State Building, we circled the entire block once before realizing where we needed to go to catch the subway to Uptown. We were quite pleased with ourselves that we navigated the city by ourselves so well.

NYC Numbers for 300

The answer is: 3000

Approx- imately how many calories were in the cheese cake and frozen hot chocolate Laura and Natalie sampled at Serendipity 3? For a fleeting moment, we considered a third dessert when we heard a waiter tell a neighboring table that the peanut butter frozen hot chocolate is like drinking Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Yummmm……

Alex, I’ll take NYC Numbers for 400

The Answer is: 12 Million

How many 19^th and 20^th Century paintings did we look at in the MET? Okay, maybe that’s an exag- geration, but it was a lot; or how many people were AT the MET while we were there? I hate crowds, so it was sensory overload in each and every way possible.

NYC Numbers for 500, Alex

The Answer is: 12 or more

How many Broadway shows would Natalie see if she had the time and money to see them? Alas…I settled for one, South Pacific. We fell in love with Paulo Szot's (Emile de Becque) voice. Oh my…hearing him sing Some Enchanted Evening is enough to make any young woman fall in love with him.

I can now say I’ve seen Times Square, Central Park, the Empire State Building, and Ground Zero. I’ve shopped on Canal Street (no, I don’t want a Gucci, Coach OR Chanel bag), bought $5 pashminas and walked more in one weekend that I ever imagined. I’m hoping this is the first of many reunions with dear friends. Angelique and Laura, my life is richer when you are a part of it.

Skipping the Rambling

You'll be relieved to have me simply post pictures and skip the 1000 words.

Here's what my weekend looked like.



And then on Sunday.




And, before you ask; no, I did not make the cookies. I could have, if I had the time and talent. As it is, I just have connections to people with the time and talent.

Also, if you are in the neighborhood, drop by for some tiramisu. I begged the owner of a local Italian place to let me buy a pan of his Godiva cocoa sprinkled tiramisu for the baby shower. He reluctantly agreed and gave me a fair price for what I thought was going to be a 10x13 pan of deliciousness. Turns out, he only had a monster size pan and so made me enough tiramisu for the whole neighborhood. Seriously, the pan barely fit in my refrigerator. I feel a little bad...as he probably lost money on the proposition; but I did tell everyone where it came from, so I guess he could just consider it an advertising expense.

Oops...sorry. I guess I just can't help a little rambling.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

Since I seem to have no time to think up clever, pithy blog posts (especially like my dear friend Micki) I'll steal an idea from another homeschool mom. Here is: The Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside My Window -- it's dark, not even any moonlight. Is it a new moon?

I am thinking.... how glad I am that one of my dear friend's husband is running for a State Senate seat. I'm thinking how glad I am that it's her getting to be the congenial trophy wife and not me. We attended the Brunswick Stewbilee in 90+ degree weather today. I got to go home after only and hour and a half of sweat and misery. She stayed for hours "meeting and greeting". Lord bless 'em...that's all I got to say.

I am thankful for.... great kids. Really, they are so much better than I deserve.

From the learning room.... I started reading Robinson Crusoe to Hannah and Victoria. I didn't exactly love it when I read it for the first time a few years ago and but it seems a bit more palatable the second go around. Hannah in particular seems to be enjoying it.

From the kitchen.... Hannah made cherry turnovers for dessert tonight. Quite yummy!

I am wearing.... shorts and a tank top. Yes, I know...it's supposed to be autumn. Southeast Georgia didn't get the memo and thinks it's still the peak of summer.

I am reading.....Paul Johnson's A History of the American People. I love his style...In talking about the original settlers he says, "America had the liberty of vast size. That was a luxury denied to the English; the constraints of their small island made dissent a danger and conformity a virtue. That indeed was why English settlers came to America. A man could stand on Cape Cod with his face to the sea and feel all the immensity of the Atlantic Ocean in front of him, separating him, like a benevolent moat, from the the restrictions and conformities of narrow Europe. And, equally, he could feel behind him---and, if he turned round, see it---the immensity of the land, undiscovered, unexplored, scarcely populated at all, a huge, experimental theater of liberty...Here was the dominant geopolitical fact which bore down upon the settlers from their first days on the new continent: if they did not like the system they found on the coast, and if they had the courage, they could go on. Nothing would stop them, except their own fear." The man can turn a phrase: benevolent moat, dissent a danger and conformity a virtue...love it!

I am hoping.... I can really implement Ambleside Online with Hannah this year, and even some with Victoria. I'm sensing the need for some beauty in our lives...studying some composers, artists...doing the things I've always wanted to do in our school but haven't. We're going to slow down and smell the flowers along the way, and maybe sketch then as well.

I am hearing.... a Georgia Tech football game. Go Yellow Jackets!

A few plans for the rest of the week.... Ummm...well...the week ends in less than 30 minutes, but for next week, I'll be planning a baby shower to be held here next Sunday afternoon, doing a normal school week, teaching a Bible study at Carenet on Monday, attending the Kingsland fundraising banquet on Thursday, and watching Hannah's second horse show of the season on Saturday.

This is written in the tradition of The Simple Woman's Daybook.