Winter Storm 2010

Looks like we might get another snow day on Friday. This has been the topic of much of the conversation at work today, and I have a feeling that we will get something on the ground on Friday. (Usually when there is a big build-up of excitement before, nothing major happens). But what I'm concerned with is losing electricity! Fortunately we can cook on the stove and have hot showers, but we dont' have a fireplace. So to keep warm, we might have to put on all of the clothes we can manage to wear and play charades. (I swear that was a suggestion on a website I saw today). ha!

We will be making a trip tonight to the Kroger in order to purchase up some candles, Diet Mt. Dew, eggs, cheese, and bread. You know - all of the essentials for the Winter Storm of 2010.

Two Weeks!

This is where I'll be in two weeks and I can hardly wait!

This will be my seventh trip to the country of Honduras, and it really is more exciting each time that I go. Last year's trip was a very hard year for me personally because it was so different, but this year all of the old group will be there, including my mom, dad and Monkey! This group is my extended family and I love them all dearly.

When I was in middle school, my dad went to Venezula a couple of times, and each time he came back he send his film off to be developed into slides. You know - like the kind in the carosel. I would roll my eyes when it was time to watch them, but it's amazing how things stick with you. In 2001, I decided that I wanted to go. That trip changed my life, and I will never be the same again. This week, I was showing a co-worker my pictures from last year's trip, and I thought "Oh man - I've turned into that person who is excited to get the slides out." And you know what? I wouldn't have it any other way.

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."  -Matthew 28:19

It's Not You, It's Me

Everyday I get on my blog and read all of my friends who have updated their blog, and today I realized that I haven't written anything in almost two weeks. We've been busy with just typical, every day life stuff, but somehow I feel guilty for not writing anything. I haven't taken any pictures since the big snow (it was 65 degrees today), and I don't want to write a big long post about all of the little things we have done without some pictures.

So here's an update of what we've been doing these past two weeks:

• Started school - I have 22 in my class this semester and Brent is in three classes at UALR.
• Wallered in the house weekend before last. Yes, wallering is a real word meaning "you wore out that part of the soft and you have to move to another seat to wear it down, and then you repeat the process over again."
• Last week at work, I was in charge of coordinating health screenings from the Heart Hospital. They sent some really nice ladies and I enjoyed getting to know them, but being out of my normal routine completely wore me out.
• Saw God answer some prayers - big and small - and tried to pray for others more.
• Had lunch with my friend Kristen Black.
• Celebrated Jeremy Clement's 31st birthday with mexican food and Rock Band - enjoyed being goofy with old and new friends.
• Went to West Memphis to see Brent's dad and stepmom. Whole. other. story. Decided I needed to pray harder.
• Watched a movie and had chicken wings with Monkey and the Hubs.
• Had a good old-fashioned Sunday night fellowship at my house last night. The girls and babies came over at 5, and then the guys and bigger kids showed up around 6:30. I hadn't thought my house was too small until last night when we had almost 30 people in the kitchen and living room. But I loved it! I think I've inherited the gift of hospitality from my grandfather, and it gives me great joy to make sandwiches for my friends. I have said it before, but it wasn't for our friends at FBC Cabot, then I probably wouldn't stay in Lonoke County. They are all so special to us, and I felt like God was saying to me last night "You're right where you need to be."
• I'm reading the Five Love Languages and trying to figure out what mine is. I'm pretty sure Brent's is Quality Time.

Well, it's been a long, slow Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and I'm ready to go home and enjoy a free night. Maybe it won't be so long before I write another post.

Warm Winter Wishes

Arkansas weather has just been crazy lately. It rained in Arkansas while we were in Arizona, and came home to find widespread flooding and a new title of "2009 the Wettest Year Ever." But after a week of super cold temperatures, it snowed on the first Monday of the new year. I love a good snow day, but on this particular day I was actually ready to go back to work. (I missed my regular routine).  We stayed home part of the morning until the sun came and cleared the roadways for us, but this is what it looked like when we got up. (This is my winter garden flag and I love it!)

So tonight they are calling for more winter weather - a 90% chance of something sticking on the ground. But what really is amazing is the temperatures. We're talking single digits and negative numbers for degrees and wind chills. While I love a good winter, this is almost too cold for me. If we had a fire place, it would be roaring, but since we don't I'll have to settle for an extra degree on the thermostat and some extra blankets. Oh, and last night we stocked up on Diet Mt. Dew and shredded cheese. Because what is a snow day without a frosty Dew and some cheddar on whatever you can find in the fridge.

Happy Sledding!

P.S. I know I skipped New Year's Eve, but I actually didn't take any pictures. We had a small gathering, and I was asleep by 1. (Would have gone sooner if I hadn't had company). Oh well - such is the life.

Christmas Again!

On Saturday night, my mom, dad, Sarah, and Josh came to my house and we had our Christmas together. This is a compromise, and we had a lovely time hanging out, eating, watching movies, and  playing games. My piano did turn out to be a good place for Santa to deliver the goods.

This particular Christmas gathering we ate breakfast, drank a lot of coffee (seriously - I made 4 full pots in about 32 hours), and we also open one gift at a time. We can still do that right now, and I love seeing them open their gifts. But the sad part is that I wrapped most of them before we left for Phoenix, and there were a few that I couldn't remember what it was.

After presents, the boys went to Academy in North Little Rock, and my mom, sister and I went to Walmart to buy a few groceries and look at the leftover Christmas stuff. That night, we played a movie game and watched Christmas Vacation (on Blu-Ray). At the end, we all got so tickled at the rant that Chevy Chase's character did. It was so funny to watch my dad loose his breath laughing.

The next day, we slept in, drank more coffee, and then everybody packed up and headed home. It was a very good Christmas for sure.

Fireball!

Our family Christmases really seem to work out beautifully. Christmas Eve is with my family, and Christmas night is with the Gardners, Oxners, Morris, Kirk, (et. al) families. Our favorite New Yorker was home, and we were so thrilled to get to see Whitney and her sisters Natalie and Heather. They are all really fun and have always welcomed me as one of the family.

Some of you might have heard us talking about this, but if you have not, then you're in for a treat. Every year, Brent's family does something so crazy on Christmas night. We throw the fireball. Oh yes - I didn't believe it either until I saw it, but it exists. The tradition started over 80 years ago when some poor sharecroppers in Marianna didn't have anything else to do ball an old sweater into a ball and set it on fire. That started the most extreme game of hot potato you have ever heard of, and the tradition continues. 

After dinner, everyone rushes to put on their old clothes (yard, hunting, etc), and we head outside. We stand in a circle and light the fireball, and throw it like you would throw an egg to each person. I actually threw it a few years ago, but didn't this year because I like being the photographer.

And here's proof that it actually happens:

Kerosene- the smell of Christmas!

Christmas at the Bayou

When we got off the plane in Little Rock, we headed straight down to south Arkansas to see my family. I thought we might have to miss Christmas Eve dinner at Ma's house, and I started tearing up just thinking about it, but we made it. Exhausted, but we were glad to be there.  Bet you can't figure out who was the center of attention this year? (His name is Cade!)

Here's my Uncle Sluggo with Cade - his grandchild, and the first great-grandchild.

This is Ma's nativity scene from the Holy Land.

This living room has seen lots of love...and it's where we read the Christmas Story from Luke every year.

Ma and Cade. My grandmother is so beautiful!

My dad and his siblings...

My cousins...

Four Generations