Christmas

We had a nice day.  Eli was really into Santa and gifts this year more than last year.  He was excited which made us all very excited!  We had one of Santa's Elves visit us for a couple of weeks and watch all of our behavior.  We even had Eli apologize to him a couple of times when he had made sad choices.  What a nice behavior tool.

We made lots of cookies and a gingerbread house this year.  The house was from a kit.  I just wasn't sure how interested he would be in making the house and how long his attention span would be...so, rather than spending all the time baking, building and then decorating, we just had to build and decorate!  And, he didn't finish decorating - lost his attention for awhile.

Mom came over and helped us decorate the tree.  Eli was so cute placing all the ornaments and then Mom and I would move some of them for being too close together or too low to the bottom if they were 'breakable.'  We have a new topper this year - rather than my snowman - and that was the only thing Husband did to decorate the tree.  He was a good observer.  That's okay, though, he helped with the take-down.  (My most unfavorite part!)

Christmas morning, Mom came over at about 7 to watch as Eli found his gift from Santa and his stocking items.  He was so cute when he came downstairs!  He promptly dumped out EVERYONE's stockings and then noticed his Buzz Lightyear!

Husband made breakfast and then we opened the rest of the gifts at our house.  After breakfast and gifting, Mom went home to get ready for lunch and more gifts at her house.

Terry and Kit had come up from Houston so we were all here.  We played for awhile before lunch was ready and then we enjoyed a yummy meal.  Eli had to sit next to Uncle Terry at the table and he even led our prayer!  Good job, Eli!

On Christmas Eve, Eli helped Mom prepare the bread for stuffing.  He was a great helper!

We took other pics on Mom's camera that have yet to be downloaded but you get the idea!  We all missed Daddy and his humor very much, of course, but we're getting used to our 'new normal' without him.

Another delivered quilt

This warm flannel quilt made its way to Ohio.  I understand my father in law is using it on his bed at night.  It really isn't that big but he can use it however he likes!  I enjoy sending quilts to people who will use them, enjoy them and appreciate them! 

Note:  I have other views of this quilt and others that have now been delivered but I'm having trouble downloading pics into Blogger this morning...Sorry!

Book Reviews

One of my new endeavors is to review books for BookSneeze.  My first post is just below this one and they will be posted on this blog.  I truly enjoyed the first book that was sent to me.  Not sure how or if I will be able to continue to keep this up, considering the number of other reading materials that come into the house on a monthly/weekly/daily basis...however, I plan on doing at least one per month. 

Happy almost the end of the year!!

A Book Review: An Amish Love

An Amish Love is a collection of three Amish novellas. Each story is an individual tale with common characters and locations woven throughout. Common themes of faith, love and hope are also woven through these stories much like the fabric of a quilt.


The first story by Kelly Hart entitled “A Marriage of the Heart” finds the heroine named Abigail frustrated and lonely in her Amish life. She soon finds herself married to Joseph and still living with her unemotional father. The complicated story surrounds the young couple as they come to terms with changes in their lives and family.

The second story by Kathleen Fuller is entitled “What the Heart Sees.” This story reveals some information about past events that lead to difficulties in the tight-knit Amish community. Elli, the heroine, has accepted the death of her best friend from several years before but hasn’t told the entire truth about the accident. She decides to tell the entire story as her cousin – who was engaged to her best friend - makes plans to wed another. The facts of the story reveal the healing powers of love and redemption.

The third story by Beth Wiseman entitled “Healing Hearts” tells the story of an older Amish couple and the relationship they have after their children have married and their house is empty. The husband took an extended absence and his wife is left to care for their home and chores on her own. The story takes place upon his arrival back to their house. This story shows that strong faith can be the foundation by which a marriage can be rebuilt.

I enjoyed this collection of stories. I found the faith, romance, and compassion shown by the characters to be sincere and not forced. I also enjoyed the glossary at the beginning of the book interesting in comparing my own knowledge of German and the words sprinkled through the stories. I would recommend this collection of stories to others looking for romance and faithful reading.

** Please note:  I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for writing a truthful review.

Finished sewing projects

Here are some pics of some of the finished sewing projects that have been delivered this year:

Contest quilt for downtown McKinney.  It placed in the top 10.  Yeah for me!!!

Donation quilt for a fundraiser.  Not sure how much money it raised...oh, well.

Pillow sham for Godson Davey to match his cool quilt!

One of the pillow shams for Jen and Jimmy's wedding quilt.

Davey's new quilt - complete with a duck flying the space ship!

Jen and Jimmy's wedding quilt.

Mom's birthday quilt.

Of course, there are other projects in the works and other projects finished that are

not delivered...more to come!! 

Catch-up Post

Don’t fall over from the shock! I’m updating twice in the same month after an extended absence!! Not planning on adding pics to this post, though.  I know you can't really do a catch-up post...too much time has passed.  But here are a few notes...


I’m determined to get ‘back in the saddle’ of blogging and some of my friends (none will be mentioned except for dear Brenda) have been requesting updates by saying, “It’s still July on your blog!!!”

So, without further ado, here’s a little update:

• I became a consultant for Thirty One Gifts last spring. It’s fun and functional stuff that everyone needs! Check out my website to learn more: www.mythirtyone.com/worthy

• We suffered a miscarriage this summer at 10 weeks. It’s never fun but we are hopeful that God will show us the way to grow our family on His time.

• School has started. This is my 15th year to teach special education and it’s never been boring, that’s for sure!!!

• Eli started the year at one preschool and then we moved him the first week of November. Basically, we thought he was being bullied and the staff didn’t think it had ‘risen to that level.’ Eli loves going to his current preschool at our church and we love seeing him come home singing songs like, “J E S U S” and teaching us new meal-time prayers.

• I’ve continued to work for the Plano Parks and Recreation Department with kids and adults with special needs. It’s never dull there, either!

• We’ve made it through the anniversary of Daddy’s death and we did okay. We have become a little somber at times and we always try to remind Eli of Daddy’s love for him and help him with the memories that should be close to his heart.

• My BFF, Jen, got married in September. It was a beautiful wedding and now she’s the mother to three girls! With Jimmy’s girls, her boys and the two dogs, they are almost like the Brady Bunch!

• My mom has had her first Eli-initiated Timeout! We’ve started cracking down on words that we deem are inappropriate to say – or spell. Eli was picking up on spelling some of the words and I didn’t want him going anywhere and spelling one of the words! Oh, no! So, if any of us say one of those words, it’s immediate timeout. Eli has made several trips to timeout and so far we’ve (Husband and I) managed to keep away from that punishment…

A few weeks ago, Mom was over eating lunch with the boys. She said something was ‘stupid’ and Eli told her to go to timeout! Husband saved the day by telling Eli that Grandma gets one ‘freebie’ and that next time she would have a timeout! Then we told her that her timeout would be one minute for each year you are…ughhh!!

Fast forward to Thanksgiving day: We had enjoyed our meal and were playing games. Mom said a word she shouldn’t say with Eli around and he immediately took her hand and led her to the stairs telling her, “You said a bad word. Now you’ll need to sit in timeout. Mommy will set the timer.”

Well, I did set the timer – for 30 seconds! He immediately told me that was too short and to set it again! So, I set the timer for another 30 seconds! When her time was up the second time, Eli got in Grandma’s face and spoke to her just like we speak to him at the end of a timeout. “Do you know why you’re in timeout?” etc…VERY FUNNY!!

Long story short: When you come to our house, don’t say one of the forbidden words!!

• I woke up this morning singing the theme song to ‘Phinneas and Ferb!!’ It’s horrible that show has sneaked into my subconscious!!

• I was taking an order for my new business last month and couldn’t find a pen. So I used a purple crayon instead!

• I am really looking forward to the holiday. We’re staying home and will spend time with family and friends but it will be nice to be on our own schedule.

• More later!!

Where have we been?

Admittedly, we've had another difficult few months. I promise to catch you up with another post this evening. But until then, here's a cute Eli story:

Yesterday, as we were headed out for a bike ride, Eli told me that my car was dirty. I said that maybe he and Daddy could wash it for me. Initially, he said he wouldn't do it.

Then he said it would cost "10 monies" for him to do it. I asked if he meant dimes or dollars.

"Dimes."

That's a great deal!! When do child labor laws go into effect? Guess I'll pay him 10 dimes and make a deposit in his bank account as well!!!