We're Done!

Earlier this week, I told the older 2 girls what they needed to do to be done school until the new year.  Well, low and behold, they both decided that they wanted to be done sooner rather than later.  Both Hannah and Abby worked throughout the day and into the evening the last few days in order to be done. 

I had to head into the city this morning with the Girls, but since Art was sick, he stayed home with them.  They were so excited to be able to stay home and finish up their last few lessons of school.  The first thing that they said to me when I got home was, "Mom!  We're done our school!!"

I was awfully proud of my little ladies - they had a goal, and worked hard to accomplish it.  And now, hooray for Christmas holidays!  No more school until next year!  I don't know who was more excited....me or them!

Pizza

The other day, Ellie Mae and I were at the grocery store, and I asked her what she wanted to eat for dinner.  Her response was, of course, "Pizza!".

I asked her what kind of pizza....and she said, "Apple pizza!"

Years ago, we used to go, every once in a while to Pizza Hut for their buffet.  And on the buffet the kids used to love their dessert pizza.  So, I looked on the internet, found a recipe, and after we had 'real' pizza, I made an apple dessert pizza.  Oh.  My.  Goodness.  It was good!  Not to toot my own horn or anything, but I was impressed....!

Really, how can you go wrong with apple pie filling, oatmeal and vanilla icing?!  The real question was, "Is it better fresh or the next day, served cold?"  Well friends, we've got a hung jury on that....

Little Trees

Years ago, I bought little Christmas trees for each of The Girls.  Every year, we let our Girls decorate them. All. By. Themselves. I do not fix them up (although, I must admit, it about kills me!), and they do everything. I always pop some popcorn for them to make garland out of, which is fun...and a bit dangerous (needles are sharp, people!). Although this year, Molly was the only one who pricked her finger....once.

Some of the popcorn gets made into garland, and lots gets eaten while we decorate.  This year, I even made some caramel corn like my Grandpa Letkeman used to make.

I don't understand it, but Ellie Mae and Molly always hang pretty much every ornament from the same 3 branches!  They get to pick their light colors and fight over the decorations, but it is a good time for everyone!  When the trees are done, they get to keep them lit up in their rooms until Christmas.  I've found this to be a great compromise - the Girls get to decorate all on their own, and so do I!

Another Little Thing

The same week that my ring arrived, my uncle from Calgary was up in the area and asked if he could stop by.  It seems, he had a little somethin'-somethin' for me:

Yup, she's a beauty!  What a great week!  A new purse and a new ring!  Can it get any better than that?!

A Great Package

You may remember that a few months ago, I lost my wedding rings.  I was devastated!  We looked and looked and looked, but to no avail.  So, we went through the (long and drawn out and extremely frustrating) process of an insurance claim to replace the rings.  Well, this week, look at what the FedEx man brought me:

 A nice little padded envelope.  And inside the envelope was another one, and another one, and finally, a nice little white box.  With a ribbon.  I told Art that it had arrived, and he made me wait until he got home to open it.  I didn't even peek!  I think that I deserve a metal for that!  Or maybe, a diamond?

 And here we are....my replacement ring!

I am also getting 2 bands to go on either side of the ring, but they needed my approval of the wax moulds first.  So, they have been sent back to the jeweler, and once they are done, I will get another padded envelope.  It's hard to get used to wearing a new ring!  You know how it is, right?  Something that you don't even think of, but become so accumed to the feel of, and once it's gone or replaced, you end up feeling kind of naked!  Anyhow, the new ring is lovely, and it's nice to show the world, once again, that I am a kept woman.  Spoken for.  Taken.  Unavailable. 

Decoratin'

So, I'm pretty much finished my holiday decoratin'.  Here's a few shots of the end result:

I love the end result!!  I didn't do quite as many decorations as last year, but am still thrilled with the results...

Loads

I have so much to say, yet nothing to say.  Much on my heart, yet the words will not come.  Many friends and family dealing with loads....of stuff.  Yucky stuff.  Sick kids stuff.  Sad stuff.  And what can I do?  Pray.  Pray lots.  Pray without ceasing.  Cast my cares upon the Lord.  Lay my burden down.  And so, this is what I attempt to do. 

In James 1:2 it says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds...."  I always seem to forget that the Bible says when, not if.  We will have trials.  We will have problems.  But in the midst of it all, God is a jealous God who longs to draw us unto Him.  And it's through these trials that we have the choice to become better....or bitter.  I don't know about you, but I want to become better.  And I want those whom I love to become better.  Everything comes from His hand, every blessing, every trial.  And so, once again, I choose to trust.  To trust that God's got our lives in His hand.  And He's working things out so I don't have to.  But I will ask.  Again and again.  For healing.  And health.  And wholeness.  And life.