Happy Holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's)

Happy Thanksgiving!

I love Thanksgiving.

Planning the menu and preparing the meal. Spending the day among family and missing those who are absent . Reminiscing of prior Thanksgivings and savoring the one at hand. A day devoted to focusing on all we have to be thankful for. Realizing, too, that we only scratch the surface when counting our blessings, for there are too many to count.

Lest you think me a modern-day Pollyanna, I confess there's plenty I pray about, hurt over, rue, mourn, miss, oppose. etc. I just pray fervently that no matter what the world throws at us, we'll never lose sight of those countless blessings and thus keep the world and our perceived woes in perspective.


Today is the day after Thanksgiving. A great place to be for reflecting on the day just passed and the official start of the Christmas season and all that it entails. As I write this I'm sitting at my kitchen counter, listening to incredible music, and of course, reflecting. I hear Christopher and his cousin Andrew playing downstairs (I love 10-yr old exuberance!), as well as Abbey and Kenneth getting Christmas lights ready for outside, and all the while Trudy is scampering a circuitous path among us. Next to me are my Christmas cards. A tradition that is bittersweet. I probably blogged about it last year.

Just so you have the correct impression, a vision from Currier and Ives we're not. My phone has been going crazy with texts from my older kids asking how shopping is, what time we got out, etc. Actually our weather is expected to turn bad tomorrow so we decided to postpone or cancel shopping today and put up outside lights instead. The kids are aghast! They remember being woken up at unbelievably early morning hours to go out amongst crowds of like-minded bargain shoppers all because their dad used to work in retail and he likes to be on the other side of the counter now. They really never minded the cool electronics they would usually receive at Christmas from those early-morning jousts, um, I mean jaunts, though.

Life Lessons... It's taken me way too many years, but I am finally learning a few life lessons. I'm learning that life has to be lived in a more deliberate fashion and less by the seat of one's pants, so to speak. I'm not always good at explaining what I'm thinking so I'll just say that Andy Stanley explains it well in his book "The Best Question Ever." There are also great lessons in Beth Moore's 'Daniel' Bible study. Using exercise as a brief example, it seems we (people in general) never find time to exercise because we don't intentionally plan for it or add it to our busy calendars as we would any important task or appointment. We usually just try to work it in to already busy lifestyles. Or, final analogy, people rarely plan on becoming overweight but don't intentionally take steps to prevent it. We don't plan on a lot of things but don't intentionally take preventive steps. Anyway, I don't know how I started on this tangent but it's been on my mind so I guess I'm sharing - or maybe venting?

So, getting back on track, I hope your Thanksgiving day was warm and wonderful. I pray you have many things to be thankful for. With Christmas fast approaching I particularly hope the season brings you JOY and WONDER. Finally, that the New Year adds to your blessings and perhaps a resolution to live and love intentionally.

Weekend Smiles

Don't you just hate new grandmothers? In this picture taken about a week or so ago Zachary was sharing this handsome smile...in his sleep.

I got the text yesterday, however, that Zachary smiled - really smiled - awake smiled - two or three times even!

Now our little Kaitlyn has help lighting our worlds with beautiful smiles.

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Speaking of smiling... Have I mentioned I love autumn? Oh, I have? Well, sorry then. Anyway, we slept with the windows open last night. It was great because there was a slight drizzle and a cool breeze and it was so nice to be lulled to sleep by.

Today, while walking Trudy, Abbey and I were treated to an autumn shower - but this one was a shower of leaves instead of rain. They floated, twirled, danced and spun; from the tree-tops 'til they touched the ground. I was reminded of a video my kids had about Pooh and the Blustery Day; that was a nice memory.

Have I mentioned I love the mountains? Oh, I have? Well, sorry then. Anyway, I have a special treat next week. A group of us from Bible Study are heading to Gatlinburg for the weekend. These are wonderful women and I'm really looking forward to the time away with them and the chance to get to know them better.

Hope you have a chance to take a walk on a beautiful autumn day, and hey, if it's with a little weiner dog, all the better!

Welcome, Trudy!

This is Trudy.

Trudy is our newest family member. She's a full-blooded dachshund who will be a year old on Christmas day.

Like us, Trudy is a former Floridian. Her owner could no longer take care of her and gave Trudy to a daughter who is a homeschool mom here in the upstate. That family loved Trudy but already had a lot of pets (including chickens) but no fenced-in yard. This little explorer liked to visit with the neighbors. Trudy's new family was sad but felt Trudy would do better in a family who had children and pets (NOT including chickens) and a fenced yard where Trudy could run, play, and explore.

So their loss is our gain and Trudy is getting settled in our home. She does enjoy exploring outside in the wee-hours but we hope that will be a sleepy-memory in the very near future. Trust me, it's a bit chilly at 3:00 in the morning!

So, from our whole crew here, a whole-hearted "Welcome to our family, Trudy!" We're big, and loud, and full of love. We hope you'll love us, too.

On My Mind...

Here's a sampling of 'what's on my mind' today...

• Tomorrow's Election - scary


• Yesterday's Sermon - it was a good one


• 'Daniel' Bible Study Homework - I'm behind


• Upcoming Travel - travel is always stressful


• Upcoming Holidays - ditto


• Mary Kay Bookings - need some


• Homeschooling Through this Month - more challenging but looking forward to it

But...our kids and their kids are all doing well.

Feeling especially stressed today. Stomach in knots and very tired even with the extra hour this weekend. Good days or bad - it really doesn't matter; I'm blessed beyond measure. Here's a poem a speaker shared a few weeks ago that really struck a chord with me...

Drinking From My Saucer

I've never made a fortune

And it's probably too late now.

But I don't worry about that much.

I'm happy anyhow.

And as I go along life's way,

I'm reaping better than I sowed.

I'm drinking from my saucer

'Cause my cup has overflowed.

I haven't got a lot of riches

And sometimes the going's tough,

But I've got loved ones around me

And that makes me rich enough.

I thank God for His blessings

And the mercies He's bestowed.

I'm drinking from my saucer

'Cause my cup has overflowed.

I remember times when things went wrong.

My faith wore somewhat thin,

But all at once the dark clouds broke

And the sun peeped through again.

So God, help me not to gripe about

The tough rows that I've hoed.

I'm drinking from my saucer

'Cause my cup has overflowed.

If God gives me strength and courage

When the way grows steep and rough,

I'll not ask for other blessings.

I'm already blessed enough.

And may I never be too busy

To help others bear their loads.

Then I'll keep drinking from my saucer

'Cause my cup has overflowed.

---Author unknown

A new week ahead...new adventures await!

Words

If my memory is accurate, and trust me, that's a big 'if,' my first blog was about 'words.'

I'm no wordsmith, but I do enjoy words. I like learning new words, and, most recently, looking closer at words I thought I knew. That happens when you work with kids and they ask a lot of questions about the meaning of words. My college student also throws new words at me.

Just today I had to look up 'requiem' and 'precocious.' I've heard them over the years and had a feel for their meanings but couldn't give an actual definition. With all our great computer tools, looking up words is no longer a laborious process. I have a computer utility for looking up words where all I have to do is highlight a word on the screen and do a ctrl-right click to get definitions, synonyms and other info. Handy for checking spelling, too.

My big brother and I were discussing some of our favorite words last week. 'Conundrum,' 'anomaly,' 'belligerant.' (I used my handy utility on that one to check my spelling - good thing, too, 'cause I had it wrong.) Even yesterday our family was discussing words that end in 'meter.' and how they should be pronounced. Specifically multimeter. Actually this is difficult to write about since I don't have the symbols used in pronunciation guides. So, just think about all the words you know that end in meter and the different ways they are pronounced.

In this political season there have been plenty of words for me to look up. That reminds me of the following story...

Part of American political lore is the Smathers "redneck speech," which Smathers (a politician) reportedly delivered to a poorly educated audience. The "speech" was never given; it was a hoax dreamed up by one reporter. Smathers did not say, as was reported in Time Magazine during the campaign: "Are you aware that Claude Pepper is known all over Washington as a shameless extrovert? Not only that, but this man is reliably reported to practice nepotism with his sister-in-law, and he has a sister who was once a thespian in wicked New York. Worst of all, it is an established fact that Mr. Pepper, before his marriage, habitually practiced celibacy."
The Smathers campaign denied his having made the speech, as did the reporters who covered his campaign, but the hoax followed Smathers to his death.

Those around children will know this...Confusing similar words can be cause for a snicker or two, and I'm not talking about a candy bar! Mercenary for missionary, forgotten for begotten, are the first to come to mind and still bring a smile when I remember the incidents.

And to close with a little humor...
A new monk arrived at the monastery. He was assigned to help the other monks in copying the old texts by hand. He noticed, however, that they were copying copies, not the original books. The new monk went to the head monk to ask him about this. He pointed out that if there were an error in the first copy, that error would be continued in all of the other copies. The head monk said, 'We have been copying from the copies for centuries, but you make a good point, my son.' The head monk went down into the cellar with one of the copies to check it against the original. Hours later, nobody had seen him, so one of the monks went downstairs to look for him. He heard a sobbing coming from the back of the cellar and found the old monk leaning over one of the original books, crying. He asked what was wrong. 'The word is 'celebrate,' not 'celibate'!' sobbed the head monk.

Celebrate, always celebrate!

Yet Another Sunday Evening

Another week has come and gone...

• There are more leaves on the ground and less on the trees.
• The weather is blessedly cooler most of the time.
• I was blessed to have not one, but two dinner evenings with my Bible Study Ladies
• Flu shots are being advertised everywhere (and I got one - my first!)
• We gave out candy at Halloween Hoopla in downtown Greer yesterday
• Apple Cider is back in the stores (now we're just waiting on Eggnog!)
• The presidential election is fast approaching
• Abbey has started her Christmas wish list
• and so much more... I absolutely love autumn!

Saturday morning my mother-in-law Vera, Abbey and I went to see High School Musical 3. We really enjoyed the movie and Abbey was ecstatic. As a family we don't generally go to movies in the theaters. We buy the DVD when it comes out instead.

It must be in the air but I'm feeling restless these days. I want to 'go.' Go to the mountains, go to the beach, go on an adventure, go somewhere I've never been or back to a favorite spot. I have a long list of projects here at home and I want to 'go' at each of them. Then I don't know where to start and that urge to 'go' - anywhere - really kicks in.

I'm fortunate that I do have quite a few things on my plate these days that I'm excited about. Maybe too many. I love the work we're doing in the kids' homeschool studies. I'm excited about my weekly 'Daniel' Bible Study and group as well as our Life Group that meets weekly, I found a Women's One-Year Bible and Journal with a daily reading from Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs, I'm learning about digital scrapbooking, I'm working on getting ConKerr up and going here in the upstate, I'm still trying to learn to sew and my Mary Kay business is needing extra attention with the holidays fast approaching. Does anyone know if the kids have any clean socks??? Dinner? Uh-oh...it's still in the freezer. And finally, I don't understand why houses can't clean themselves. Girls, please bring those babies over to see their Grandma and GrandDad!

Have a happy and memorable week...

Please Welcome My Guest Blogger...One of "Those" Moms

I recently asked my daughter, Elisa Richards, to write a guest blog entry here. I was so pleasantly surprised when she agreed. You can't imagine how much admiration and love her dad and I have for her. She is a beautiful, incredible young woman and now a proud new mother, too.
SW


One of “Those” Moms

So here I am, and who would have thought that I, Elisa Richards, would turn into the one thing I was sure I’d never become. Well it’s quite interesting what a charming guy can change about strong, independent working women. Especially when that very strong independent working woman carries him 9 months plus some days, feels each time he kicks (and swearing that he will be grounded a week for each rib that is bruised), feels each hiccup he has as he bounces around in her stomach, and then goes through considerable pain just to hear his cry for the first time.

That’s obviously what happened to me. My son has turned me into one of “those” moms.

I remember when my husband and I were at our birthing class for Zachary, we had to go around the room and tell the other pregnant couples about ourselves. We had to tell our name, the sex of the baby, our due dates, and one of the most interesting things about pregnancy. All had to participate. Some people had the typical boring answers like, “seeing the baby in the ultrasound,” or “feeling the baby move.” Well when it got to my husband he said something that wasn’t so typical… He explained that it was nice to know that Krispy Kreme was open until midnight. (I wonder how he knew that one!) Well then it came to me, and my response (which of course is a big part of this blog blurb). The most interesting thing about my pregnancy was realizing it wasn’t as easy as I had imagined and that it is actually pretty neat if you take away the morning sickness, the chubby figure, the aches and pains, the fact that everyone knows you “did it”, and of course the blood work.

You see. for the longest time I believed that pregnant women went overboard complaining about fatigue and being lazy. I quickly learned that wasn't the case. Sure, some women milk it for all it’s worth, but overall it isn’t all that easy either. You do get perks like being able to eat whatever you want and people catering to you and not letting you lift things or stress yourself. That's not always as easy as it sounds; if you’re like me, you worry about shedding those pounds and hate having to get help with things, much less having to rely on others to do things for you!

Pregnancy is a very unique period in life and no two are ever the same. It is fun and scary all at the same time. Anyone that has been through it can tell you there is nothing else like it. Everyone has stories and helpful tips. What’s funny is that now I’m a part of “that club.”

The big shocker is that I remember before I got pregnant, in fact throughout my whole life, I honestly never wanted kids. My husband and I almost didn’t get married due to being unable to compromise on the issue. Turns out he won. Not that I would change it for anything. My son is only 3 weeks old and has already taught me so much about life and myself. Things I never would have stumbled across due to my own selfishness or the path my life was heading down.

I’m assuming that because of that very stubborn “I’m not ready for a kid” type thinking that during my pregnancy, I wasn’t yet one of “those” moms. I didn’t let the pregnancy overtake my life. I think I had a good balance between everything. I went to work every day and did what was needed, (in fact I worked until 2 days before my due date.) I still had a social life, I cleaned, (my husband is the cook) I even helped with a push mower on the lawn! Mainly I tried not to let the stress overtake me. What I didn’t do was make a bee-line for the baby department or overdo things in his nursery. I didn’t watch all those lifetime specials either. All of that, however, was pre-baby.

Now during my post-baby time I probably tend to overdo things. The biggest culprit for me is pictures. In fact I think just in my cell phone I have over 300 pictures stored. That’s roughly around 15 pictures a day. 15 pictures that I not only take for myself, but that I also send to others in my family. I send them things like “on our way to doctors office” and “first bath at home.” Of course everyone needs to see his “going to surprise daddy at work,” pictures. It’s also very important that everyone see random weird faces and videos. What can I say, my son is my passion in life. I understand now about the security of knowing he is safe, the heartache when he cries and you can’t fix it, and the joys and fears of being a mom. Not just any mom either… one of “those” moms. It’s official… my Uncle who is definitely one of “those” uncles, has welcomed me with open arms to the “dork” club. You see a dork, in this respect, is something special. It means you care about something so deeply that you are a dork to it. =) Don’t try to understand it. Either you know it or you don’t.

So, I just want to give a shout out to all “those” parents and family members out there who know, and have beautiful kids to show off on your diaper bags, desks, or cell phones. And, also to “those” people who know they are better people because of the children in their lives.

I am glad to be one of “those” moms - the kind I used to feel sorry for, until I realized how empty life was before I met that charming guy.

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P.S. Lest you think me unfair, Shannon has had the same invitation to guest write here, but so far, has turned me down