Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

Today is my last day at work, I cannot guarantee that I'll write while on vacation at home. I hoped to be more productive than sitting in front of the computer and if I find myself doing so; it's more likely that I'll be on bigfishgames.com - I really like that site, lots of free on line games. Check it out, you'll soon be addicted too.

Last night I FINISHED Christmas shopping and wrapping all the presents I had. I hope to get the last one in the mail today.

I haven't even started wrting out my Christmas cards. I feel awful about that since I've received some pretty cool ones. Even one spelled with an 'i'! ; )

If you find yourself on vacation from now and untill the 4th, give me a call and let's do something together! ; )

Love you all!
Peace

How can a short order cook mess up a grilled cheese?

I have had it to my wits end with the cafeteria at work. So much I was lead to write this today to the manager...

I have ordered grilled cheese for some time now and have always enjoyed the sandwich. It used to be the best. Until the dark hair kid came along and got in a hurry. He likes to serve cheese sandwiches. I have asked him politely time and time again to put it back on the grill. Once he talked back to me with attitude, "Just how done do you want it?" I didn't appreciate it at all. Today I ordered again the grilled cheese requesting it be 'extra done'. I get back to my desk only to find the top was descent but the bottom... The butter wasn't even brown or toasty. It was soft. I pay too much money for my lunches for them to be like this. Please, please, please teach the boy to make a proper grilled cheese. I know for a fact I am not a solitary case , I have had many discussions with people in line and at work he does the same thing to. I would love to be able to come down, order a grilled cheese and it be perfect as they once were. Thank you for your assistance in resolving this matter. Best regards.

May all your grilled cheese sandwiches be grilled!
Peace

It's beginning to "feel" like Christmas...

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ~Norman Vincent Peale

Except for the driving and parking at Summit Woods shopping center, I found a lot of scrooges there! This weekend, knowing full good and well NOT to go, I went at the prime time of 12:30p on Saturday. I should have just waited - but I didn't. With the winds bustling at 35+ mph it knocked down a temporary stop sign and people were just driving on through the intersection. After making my stop, I dared someone to come on through and hit me! Before that I had a parking spot stolen, that hasn't happened to me in ages. I was sitting patiently with my turn signal on and from the other side a gal(on her phone no less) whipped right in! ERR!!! I honked to let her know she infuriated me! She probably didn't see me since she was too busy talking on the phone and had a friend and a car load of kids with her. I felt somewhat embarrassed as I drove a few feet further to see all kinds of parking to the right on me. Still she took my spot! I did glare at her and the car load letting her know I knew! Oh well, a few extra steps didn't kill me. Then I had to wait in line so a gal could do seven different transactions for her one purchase. I 'mall walked' to Chipotle got lunch for us all and headed home so that we could eat and rush on to Ty's BB game.

Now that I got my rant out of the way, it never fails that we find ourselves with a busy weekend! Friday night the neighborhood had their first annual Christmas open houses. It was small but successful for the first time doing it and in addition we met some really nice neighbors & extended families. We toured 3 homes having food and fellowship at each of the homes and it lasted over 3 hours.

Saturday I had errands to run in the morning then headed to Ty's game. That evening we went to Sheffield Family Life Center to see Tribulation Christmas. This was the first time I saw this even though it's been around for years and many of my friends have seen it. It's not your typical heart warming story but rather a powerful, strong message of what happens after the rapture (when Jesus returns). And with my anxiety - its makes me uncomfortable... but with God all things are possible!!! ; ) Aside from this years production being long and drawn out (from what I am told) it was so moving, it really opens the eyes of people if not plants the seed for things to come.

Sunday was the busiest day of all. When we left for church it 60 degrees, I knew a cold front was coming but I thought it would happen late afternoon/ early evening. When church let out it was 33 degrees! Brr - We had lunch with our friends at Chili's and the husband got called into work (works for the city) so he'd be ready to plow when the storm hit. After lunch I made a mad dash to the store where everyone else had the same idea. I loaded up for this week - lots of comfort food on the menu. (Chicken Parmesan, tacos, Mexican Chicken, homemade potato soup, breakfast pizza) Once I got home we had minutes to put the refrigerated and frozen food up before we left to see First Baptist of Raytown's Christmas program, "A Shepard's Story". It would be the last time they'd show it for the season so I didn't think it would be too packed... I had us leaving an hour before the show and I'm glad we did! At 40 mins before show time we had trouble finding seats. It too was a good play, told the story of Jesus's like in 90 mins. I looked over to the family of the right of me - they enjoyed it so much they all were sleeping! I so wished I could have gotten a picture! Dad was slouched down, moms head on his shoulder and the kids got his head cocked back with his mouth open! WHAT A SIGHT! The ride home was cold - temp plummeted to 18 degrees! Got home, got dinner made in the nick of time to see Survivor's season finale. I was happy with the winner - they were my favorite! I scanned the Sunday paper while watching too. At 9:30p I was up stairs cleaning the kitchen and making egg salad for this week's lunches while fretting about the drive in Monday morning.

Had a weird dream - dreamt I was living with a straight and narrow family who did no wrong - I was scarred I'd screw up some how - but I was there to learn about their ways....

I think it might have had to been since I was JESUS'FIED this weekend! ; )

Peace!

A must see at 75th & Falmouth

My mom told me about this house a few years back and have tried to make the visit each year since then. The gentleman who puts the display together each year does it because he loves to visit with the people that come to see it. Tyler really gets a kick out of it - probably more so than the neighbors do. It's a neighborhood street with not a lot of parking. It is worth the trip - hope you can make it - you've never seen anything like it. :)



Peace

Grandpa Wayne

A child needs a grandparent, any body's grandparent, to grow a little more securely into an unfamiliar world. ~Charles and Ann Morse

My grandpa is back in the hospital, this is his second trip there this year. He's unstable on his feet and a little disoriented. I went to see him on Monday night and hope to see visit him again tonight. As I have made a tradition from this past spring, I bring him a shake whether strawberry or vanilla and in cold or warm weather. It's my treat for him!

My grandpa is 89, in my mind I've always imagined him to live well past 100. Because well, because that's just the way I saw him. He's strong, active, smart, caring... But a stroke stole from him a few years back. I have over 30 years of memories to cherish about him.

Such as his Iced Tea with Country Time Lemonade drinks, his garden, his tomato and cheese sandwiches he'd eat while at home for lunch from working at Rent All. His time volunteering with me and Linds on field trips at school. Or that he volunteered in the classrooms in junior high long after we were gone. Picking us up for church on Sunday mornings. The way his 'trucker' hat sat on his head just so. Or the first time he brought home his new mini van and we took it to the Royals game! I could go on and on and on.

My wish this year is for him to be home at Christmas time, because this year we talked about getting the photo slides out and walking down memory lane. :)

Peace

Migraine, Migraine go away...

It gives me a headache to think about that stuff. I'm just a kid. I don't need that kind of trouble. ~Kenny, age 7

Well this weekend really didn't go as planned. Thanks to the wonderful migraine headache I endured Saturday afternoon. Normally I can pop 2 migraine Excedrin's and within 20 mins, it will be alright. This time is went to a dull pain until I awoke early Sunday morning to a full on throbbing pain. And that's how it pretty much stayed the entire day. So I didn't even changes out of my jams nor take a shower and stayed put in my chair almost the entire day.

We did watch the season finale of Amazing Race and the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie
"Front of the Class". I was amazed Brian and Ty watched it with me. It was a good movie about a gentlemen with Tourettes never giving up his dream of becoming a teacher.

Again, I am here early at work so that I can be home with Ty when he gets off the bus. Not much else to report.

Take care and have a good day.

Peace!

Happy 100th Post

It isn't the size of the gift that matters, but the size of the heart that gives it. ~Quoted in The Angels' Little Instruction Book by Eileen Elias Freeman, 1994

Yesterday evening I was wrapping gifts and Ty asked that I wrap his too. So while he stayed away I wrapped a few of his gifts and then called him into the room so that he could work on his Itunes account. Once he came into the room and looked around he said, "You did get me what I asked for, right?" ; ) I only wrapped the "not-so-fun" gifts. You know, like the dreadful clothes and socks. The good stuff hasn't arrived yet.

I enjoy wrapping gifts. I was short on boxes this year so I cleaned out the supply cabinet here at work. People will think they are getting file folders, printer paper and hanging folders for Christmas. Gotta use your resources. I even went as far as contemplating using FedEx boxes in the mail room.

While I continued to wrap Brian and Tyler were creating an Itune account. With that Tyler also created his own e-mail account. I cringed, my baby is growing up! While he doesn't understand now we had to tell him "BigT69" wasn't a good address to use. Big T is his nick name in baseball and 69 is his number in football. I forget exactly what he choose.

We have another busy weekend ahead of us. Besides the normal ball game it's also picture day. Then we have a friends get together Saturday night. Then Sunday I'm hoping to make the play at First Baptist Church of Raytown called A Shepard's Story. A gal at work was kind enough to give me tickets.

I've changed my work schedule for the sake of Ty. Working 7-3:30p so that I can be home with him after he gets out of school. Since it's becoming darker earlier his imagination runs wild when we are not there.

I'll leave you with this, we were reminiscing this morning about Sesame Street and how I loved the pinball clip. So much that I wanted to "ride" the pinball ride!


Then while watching that clip I saw these off to the side and watched them and instantly remembered these as well.




Peace

Jesus is the reason for the season

Perhaps the best Yuletide decoration is being wreathed in smiles. ~Author Unknown

My most fondest memory of a outdoor Nativity scene is the one of a house nearby my childhood church. There was nothing special about it per say. It was one of those 2-3 foot tall hard plastic groupings made up of lighted figurines. Just that for years and years and time after time they would display it each Christmas season. I would look forward to seeing it and it had definitely shown its wear over the years.

Many years had past since I had attended that church. We started attending again when Ty was almost 2. That Christmas season I was floored to see that same house had the same Nativity set! I was so touched that I wrote an anonymous letter to the owners of the home letting them know how much I enjoyed seeing it every year. I think the owners have since moved on as I don't see it any more, I would have loved to have bought the set from them so that I could have displayed it as proudly as they once had.


For several years I have wanted an outdoor nativity scene at Christmas time. I have always been on the look out for one I liked. I searched stores and on-line, but nothing I liked was in my budget. Anymore, like anything, it's all massed produced without care and quality. Sad to say that I called a store to inquire if they carried Nativity scenes and the kid on the other end didn't know what I was talking about!!! I said, "A Nativity Scene - like as in baby Jesus???" It took him a second to realize what I was talking about. I knew Seasonal Concepts was too expensive but I called them anyway... They had a set for $600!!! If that just isn't a high ransom for trying to spread the word of Jesus! Goodness, I asked them what the thought Jesus would think of them selling it for such top dollar! So I have been on the look out ever since.

Until this past weekend, Tyler and I stopped at a local hardware store. Again, we found the cheaply made and poorly painted hard plastic set for too much money. And I am not crazy about the inflatable decors that have been populating all over the place. BUT, Tyler and I spied one that we liked... I stood there a moment and pondered. I said, "OK let's get it." Tyler was instantly elated.

So much that he bugged and bugged to put it up. Against my better parenting, I went out fuming during Sunday's blustering cold weather to set this bad boy up! The winds were high therefore this thing wasn't setting up with a darn. Brian came out sick and in a bad mood trying to help... By the time it was all done and said with - I felt terrible. I felt terrible about the way I handled the situation. :( I apologized to Ty about stealing his thunder.

It's still not sitting pretty in the yard and needs to be adjusted some. And not to mention replace a light bulb already. So this weekend, if it's 'nice' plan to work out the kinks and also add lights to our 2 trees in front. I know it will look good once we're done.

Oh yes, I wanted to share a picture with you of what we got - listed below is a picture I found on the Internet. Hopefully ours will set this pretty too. : )



Peace

Turkey Wrap Up

We give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way. ~Author Unknown

Only 17 more days until my next vacation and I came back from this one shaking my head, "What was I thinking?" I spent the last 5 days cooped up with my rambunctious son that had a goal to drive me nuts! I am about to endure 17 more days with this child!!! - I still wouldn't trade him for the world! : )

I chuckled for as Sunday night I went to use the restroom and what do I see? Except for the same picture I described to you last week!!!

Highlights from the past Thanksgiving holiday...

Made my pumpkin pies and Watergate salad Wednesday and cleaned the rest of the house. Brian was a doll and did the vacuuming. We've made a tradition of going to see Christmas in the Sky presented by KUDL at Longview Lake. This is our 10th year! We went to Subway grabbed sandwiches and then to QT for coffee & cocoa. We headed to 'our spot' to nestle in and wait for the show to begin. Even though it wasn't their best show, the fireworks were still nice. They also have been using more contemporary music in their show for the last few years and I don't like it as much as I did when they played the traditional music.

Thursday we had my mom & step daddy, sister, & Bri's folks out to our house. SO MUCH FOOD, I would have loved to have been able to eat more. Everything was delicious! All my 'homemades' came out perfect - even the 'Susan' rolls. :D My mom even surprised the boys with a peanut butter pie! After dinner we played games - Mad Gab (in which Wanda was the pro), then Loaded Questions followed by Scene It. After everyone left we headed to Sr. Snyder's to do it all over again with his side.

Dylan really disappointed me. I cannot believe he had the audacity to call his pregnant girlfriend a B in front of everyone. I spoke up and got onto him, then everyone else chimed in. I told him to apologize although I don't think he ever did. I apologized to her, I felt so bad for her.

Friday we put the tree up, it was almost an all day chore. And a chore it was. Why did I let Bri talk me into a 9 foot tree, I'll never know. It's pretty, it truly is - but goodness. Tyler did most of the decorating - he loved it. He even put on his Christmas CD while we worked on it. Tyler also hung the stockings on the mantle. They and the holders fell nicking the mantle with "history".

Saturday we went and saw A Christmas Carol. Surprising to me, I enjoyed it but not to the extent I was hoping for. And I don't know why. Some people, I heard, see it yearly to kick off there Christmas season. - That would be way too much for me. Afterwards we drove around the Plaza looking at the lights. Well, I didn't so much as I was driving. Apparently, I've lost the thrill of that too. Seeing the plaza lights that is.

I've gotten out some more recipe cards, have been making new things. I tried a new potato cheese soup - it was OK. Served it with homemade rolls. And I also made a turkey cranberry ring - that too was OK with me - not a huge hit. It's turkey, dried cranberries, celery, walnuts in a mayo/ Dijon mustard sauce wrapped in crescent rolls. The first time I had it was years ago and remembering it was really rich.

I'm craving Brian's cashew chicken. I'm laying out chicken tonight so that we can have it soon! :) I told him this morning, I'll wait till he feels better. He's been down sick for a few days. He told me he appreciated that.

Peace