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December 31, 2005
auld lang syne
Happy New Year!!!!
2006
Posted by tracey at 11:14 PM | Comments (0)
December 29, 2005
A Piggy Bank
FULL of money!!
This tiny piggy bank 
was given to me as a gift for Hannah's babyshower. Over the last few months I've been throwing loose change in it whenever I come across some.
Tonight, her big sister decided to count it up as it was getting too full to put anymore in it.
I couldn't believe how much change I had stuffed into the little thing! $15 to be exact!!!
Rolled and into the bank it will go!
I thought that was pretty cool. So did Hannah by the way!
Posted by tracey at 10:38 PM | Comments (1)
December 28, 2005
The nicest gifts
this year were the ones from my children, of course! Devon got me a cute basket filled with hand lotions, candles and things of that nature and then little Hannah, she really surprised me the most! At her preschool this year they got to go shopping and pick out donated items to buy for their families. They called it a trip to the mall even though it was just in their basement. She chose really appropriate gifts for all of us and for me she got a cute little candle holder and a ceramic plaque to hang in the kitchen.
She's 4, soon to be 5, which just doesn't seem possible, but I was just so touched by her gifts this year!
Oh, guess I am getting sentimental in my old age! Ok, older age!
It's time now too, to start taking all the decorations down. Seems like we just got them up!
Ah, another Christmas past, where does the time go?
Posted by tracey at 06:33 PM | Comments (0)
December 27, 2005
And it was
a very merry christmas!
How about yours??
We had a wonderful holiday this year. Lots of nice new things, mostly stuff we can use and enjoy. Andy found me the PERFECT Last Supper painting that I had asked for. He said he had given up on finding one and just happened to go into one of those "catch all" sort of stores where they have a little bit of everything and he said he was walking down one of the aisles and there it was!!!
He also got me a really nice kitchen aid mixer, which I've wanted forever, and a new coffee maker. Oh yeah, and I bought him a really nice set of cookware and he got me my very own tool set, drill and all!!! LOL My mother thought that was a riot, but you see, he does most of the cooking and I am forever looking for a hammer, screwdriver or drill and can never find it cuz he doesn't put that kind of stuff away so he bought me my very own kit! So, it all works out!
We enjoyed Christmas morning with the kids and my brother Frankie was over as he joined us for the Christmas Eve service at church this year and then Mom and Dad stopped by mid morning to open their gifts and then we all went out to their house mid afternoon for dinner and more presents under the tree! My other brother Josh and his family joined us there.
I bought my new sister inlaw and my youngest brother, a Bible for Christmas, well, a really nice Bible that had many paintings in it by Thomas Kinkade and it also had a lot of pages for family geneaology. I thought it was really beautiful and would be a nice family heirloom and a little bit of religion for them would be a GOOD thing ;). But, I don't think she liked it much and I'm thinking now maybe I should have said something to her about it as I didn't mean for it to be an insult or anything like that. I don't know, but she opened it, looked at it, said, "Nice." and put it back in the box. She didn't even show it to my brother or anything. So...not sure that was a good idea, but at the time I thought it was a really nice gift. Dunno.
Our girls faired quite well as usual, but mostly things they can use or need. Some clothes and Hannah did get some toys. All her money went into the bank this year too.
It's been cold and rainy here, ugh! I was just getting use to the snow too, and now it's almost gone again!!!
Off to do laundry and get this house picked up and maybe even take the tree down, awful aren't I?? Can't stand the clutter though.
More later!
Posted by tracey at 07:13 PM | Comments (1)
December 22, 2005
The Reason for the Season
"Fear Not," said the angel, "For I bring you tidings of great joy. For unto you is born this day in Bethlehem - a Saviour who is Christ the Lord."
"And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger."
Posted by tracey at 08:49 PM | Comments (0)
December 21, 2005
Goodbye to a dear friend
So, Mom and I had to put Gizmo down on Monday of this week. He was my dog to start out with, I bought him back in '91 after I graduated from nursing school. In '94 Mom inherited him after I went off to live in Florida. He was with her for 11 years and would have been 15 next month.
He was a good little boy and Mom sure did love him!!!
He will be missed and Mom says NO MORE DOGS!!!! You don't realize how attached you are until they are gone.
Christmas shopping is all done and it's getting cold here again. We had about six inches of snow yesterday and more is coming Christmas day. It will be nice for Christmas, always love snow for Christmas Day.
Posted by tracey at 01:37 PM | Comments (0)
December 20, 2005
The "W" in Christmas
I received this tonight in an email and thought it was worth sharing.
Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience.
I had cut back on nonessential obligations -- extensive card writing,
endless baking, decorating, and even overspending.
Yet still, I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious
family moments, and of course, the true meaning of Christmas.
My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting season
for a six year old.
For weeks, he'd been memorizing songs for his school's "Winter Pageant."
I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd be working the night of the
production. Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his
teacher. She assured me there'd be a dress rehearsal the morning of the
presentation.
All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to come then.
Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise.
So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in ten minutes early, found
a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down.
Around the room, I saw several other parents quietly scampering to their
seats. As I waited, the students were led into the room. Each class,
accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then, each
group, one by one, rose to perform their song.
Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday
as "Christmas", I didn't expect anything other than fun, commercial
entertainment -- songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer.
So, when my son's class rose to sing, "Christmas Love," I was slightly
taken aback by its bold title.
Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, adorned in fuzzy
mittens, red sweaters, and bright snowcaps upon their heads.
Those in the front row, center stage, held up large letters, one by one, to
spell out the title of the song.
As the class would sing "C is for Christmas," a child would hold up the
letter C. Then, "H is for Happy," and on and on, until each child holding
up his or her portion, had presented the complete message, "Christmas Love."
The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her; a
small, quiet, girl in the front row holding the letter "M" upside down,
totally unaware her letter "M" appeared as a "W".
The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at this little one's
mistake. But, she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood
tall, proudly holding her "W".
Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued
until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together. A hush came
over the audience and eyes began to widen.
In that instant, we understood the reason we were there; why we celebrated
the holiday in the first place; why even in the chaos, there was a purpose
for our festivities.
For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear:
"C H R I S T W A S L O V E"
And, I believe, He still is. Amazed in His presence.....humbled by His
love.
Posted by tracey at 09:48 PM | Comments (0)
December 10, 2005
O Christmas...CROWDS!
So, I ventured off with hubby today to travel two hours away to finish up some Christmas shopping. I thought I'd NEVER get out of Wal Mart. I was in the store just about 30 minutes picking up a few stocking stuffers and some household items. Then, I find the check out and waited there 45 minutes to get out!!! OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS, I am so glad I don't wait last minute to buy everything I need!
We had a nice time though. Dinner at Chili's, one of my favorite food chains, and then we stopped in to see his aunt and uncle who are well into their 70's now, but are doing really well. Then the two hour ride back home!
I love where we live, just wish shopping wasn't so far away, but it could be worse I suppose!
Posted by tracey at 11:44 PM | Comments (1)
December 09, 2005
Things that really bother me
Hearing about an entire family dying in a house fire. A mother, father and two children.
A 95 year old woman, old and sick and living in a nursing home, telling me how depressed she is because her daughter is fighting breast cancer and a great grandson was just diagnosed with leukemia.
People that drive way too fast on slippery snowy roads and flip their cars over right in front of you.
Wanting to forgive, but finding it VERY difficult...
Posted by tracey at 02:56 PM | Comments (1)
December 08, 2005
The Seven's Meme
Seven Things to Do Before I Die:
1) Visit Europe
2) Pay off all my bills
3) See the Grand Canyon
4) Watch my children grow to adulthood
5) See a play on broadway
6) Complete as much of my genealogy as I can
7) Have a house with a finished basement
Seven Things I Cannot Do:
1) Play the piano (Although I did take some lessons when I was 10 or11)
2) Sing
3) Wear high heels
4) Sew
5) Be faithful to exercise and dieting
6) Draw or paint a masterpiece
7) Grow beautiful roses
Seven Things that Attract Me to My Best Friends (in no particular order):
1) Their love of God
2) Their devotion to their families/children
3) Their honesty
4) Their Intellect
5) Their Wisdom
6) Their Loyalty
7) Their Respect
Seven Things I Say Most Often:
1) Really?
2) Unbelievable
3) You know...
4) Unreal
5) Your kidding!
6) Wicked
7) Ya think?
Seven Books (or series) I Love:
1) The Bible
2) The Left Behind Series (I'm currently on book 5)
3) The Purpose-Driven Life by Rick Warren
4) Women of the Bible
5) Those who Save Us by Jenna Blum
6) The Giving Tree by Shell Silverstein
7) To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Seven Movies I Would [and do] Watch Over and Over Again:
1) Gone With The Wind
2) Dr. Zhivago
3) The Thorn Birds
4) Peter Pan
5) The Wizard of Oz
6) A League of Their Own
7) It's a Wonderful Life
Posted by tracey at 08:49 PM | Comments (0)
December 06, 2005
Things have improved
on the teenager front. She's apologized for her awful behavior and fortunatley I had my parents and my sister, who she all reveres, on my side and I think that was the ticket.
I also gave her the option of either putting her phone and tv back in her room or I would take them to work and give them to someone who would appreciate them and as long as she lived under this roof she'd never have another phone or tv. Five minutes later when I checked, they were back in her room! Miraculous! So, given the choice she chose the better of the two!
So, now Christmas, hopefully, can get off onto a better foot with her attitude more in check.
I'm finished writing all of my Christmas cards and need to get them in the mail tomorrow. The time seems to pass so quickly this time of year. We still don't have our Christmas tree yet, but thinking about putting it up this weekend after a little more shopping. Just a little! I don't need too much more.
I did go shopping tonight for our Church food shelf so need to get those things up to them tomorrow as well. I know it's something I should contribute too more often, but I seem to only think about it during the holidays. That needs to be on my New Year's Resolution list this year! That and a few other things, but I won't bore you with any of the details! :-)
Off to finish laundry, so I don't have to face it tomorrow!
Posted by tracey at 11:08 PM | Comments (0)
December 02, 2005
Jesus Take the Wheel
I heard this song today and just loved it!'
Have you heard it? By Carrie Underwood. I've never heard of her before, but like some of her other stuff too that I found on the internet.
Great song and it is oh so true!!!
Chorus
"Jesus take the wheel
Take it from my hands
'Cause I can't do this on my own
I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
To save me from this road I'm on
Jesus take the wheel"
Posted by tracey at 12:14 PM | Comments (0)
December 01, 2005
Melt Down # 2
So, we had another melt down tonight, well teenage daughter did that is. All over not being able to go into the store with me after leaving the rec center. I was buying a bottle of water and the newspaper and she was going to have to climb over her little sister to get out of the truck and her father told her just to stay in the car. Well, I come back out of the store and she's in the back seat, crying and carrying on and saying how she is going to run away and she hates her house and on and on and on!
We get home and she takes her phone and her TV and sets it outside her room, cuz her father told her she was going to lose her phone if she didn't stop her foolishness.
Now, I give up and I've asked God to grant me serenity here cuz I tend to lose my cool with her when she pulls this crap. So tonight I was very calm, cool and collected and went to her room, asked if I could come in and tried to talk to her. She says she hates, "him." (Meaning her father.) Andy is her adopted father, he's been in her life since she was 4 almost 5. What I don't understand is that when she was little, when Andy and I first got together, they got along really well. Went fishing, snowmobiling and things like that. Now that she is older, she hates him! She thinks he picks on her all the time, what it is, I think anyhow, is that he isn't allowed to say anything to her and shouldn't be allowed to tell her to do things, like feed the dog and get the mail. Big chores for a 13 year old. I told her she should count herself as lucky she didn't grow up on a farm like I did having to milk cows every night after school and rake hay by hand and sit on a horse hours on end watching cattle graze. (But maybe I shouldn't have compared my upbringing to hers!) I don't know, I just don't understand why she feels this way about her father. I will admit that they aren't very close. It's like since she started growing up they've moved apart. Now, Hannah and Andy are very close, but Andy is Hannah's biological father so naturally there would be that bondness, is that a word? I don't know, but you get my drift. Andy is not a talker, he tends to stay to himself, but he's been good to Devon in many ways. (Devon's real father btw, has never acknowledged her and I think that might be at the core of this whole thing.)
I asked her if she wanted to talk to someone other than me, she yelled and said she wasn't psycho like I thought she was. Ok, I didn't say she was psycho, but whatever. Raging hormones maybe or something. I mean I think that is part of it.
So, I asked her, I said why is it ok for you to mistreat me, not listen to me, getting mouthy, bossy, defiant etc, but your father asks you to do something or says something a little sarcastic and he's just the worst thing that has ever walked?
She couldn't answer me and when I told her I wanted an answer she said she didn't know!
I don't know what her problem is, I wish I did, but I'm taking this one to God because I need the patience of a saint to get through this. Andy just clams up when I talk to him about it. He says he doesn't know what to say or do with her. He tries to be fair and he only gets on her case when he knows she's not listening to me or doing the few things we ask her to do around the house.
Putting her own phone and TV outside of her room, is that defiance or is it me????????
So much for these peaceful thoughts! UGH!!!!
Posted by tracey at 10:15 PM | Comments (0)