Christmas and New Years

We had a great Christmas. My parents and nephews were here from Alabama. We went to my brother's for Christmas Eve and had a great lunch and spent time with some of my cousins. After leaving my brothers we went to Nathan's parents. The kids had a great time opening their gifts from Nana. We had breakfast for dinner lol. Christmas morning the kids opened their gifts from Santa. Santa brought Litty a guitar and a guitar stand, he brought Bryce a fireman helmet and water hose gun. Christmas night we went back to Nathan's parents and had a nice, traditional Christmas dinner, with turkey and dressing.

New Years Nate had to work so I was in bed way before the ball dropped lol. Jan. 1st we cooked out on the grill with some friends. Jan. 2nd - Jan. 4th we went camping at Lake Arbuckle.

Hope everyone had a wonderful, happy and safe holiday.

I Believe ( I stole this from a friend)

I believe-That we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

I believe-That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in awhile and, you must forgive them for that.

I believe-That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance.Same goes for true love.

I believe-That you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I believe-That it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I believe-That you should always leave loved ones with loving words.It may be the last time you see them

I believe-That you can keep going long after you can't.

I believe-That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

I believe-That either you control your attitude or it controls you.I believe-That regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and therehad better be something else to take its place.

I believe-That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be
done,regardless of the consequences.

I believe-That money is a lousy way of keeping score.I believe-That my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time!

I believe-That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up.

I believe-That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I believe-That just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.

I believe-That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you'velearned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.

I believe-That it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others.Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I believe-That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I believe-That our background and circumstances may have influencedwho we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I believe-That just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other, And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do.

I believe-That you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever.

I believe-That two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.

I believe-That your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.

I believe-That even when you think you have no more to give, when afriend cries out to you - you will find the strength to help.

I believe-That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I believe-That the people you care about most in life are the essence of life.

Tell them today how much you love them and what they mean to you.

My Week

It has been a pretty busy week. Nathan and I got to go on a field trip with Bryce and his PreK class to the mall to see Santa. It was fun watching their face light up as they sat on Santa's lap. We got to ride the Carousel with them and play in the play park at the Eagle Ridge Mall.

On Saturday we left for Alabama to bring my parents down to spend Christmas with us. It was a long trip. We went up on Saturday and came back on Sunday. Monday my mom and I went Christmas shopping for all the kids.

That was pretty much our week. Thursday we get to go to Bryce's school for a Christmas party in his class room. Litty got more points for her AR reading (Advanced Reading) program. She is doing really well.

John Wayne Quotes

This was in my inbox this morning thought I'd share it

"Republic I like the sound of the word. It means people can live free, talk free, go or come buy or sell be drunk or sober how ever they chose. Some words give you a feeling Republic is one of those words"

"Talk low, talk slow, and don't say too much."

"I don't guess people's hearts got anything to do with a calendar."

"Cause even grown men need understanding."

"Any man who'd make an X-rated movie ought to have to take his daughter to see it."

"Courage is being scared to death - and saddling up anyway."

"Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learnt something from yesterday." A horse is a horse, it ain´t make a difference what color it is.

"Well, there are some things a man just can't run away from"All battles are fought by scared men who'd rather be some place else."

"Yup. The end of a way of life. Too bad. It's a good way. Wagons forward! Yo!"

"This kind of war, you've gotta believe in what you're fighting for."

Our Children ( 2 poems and some thoughts for the day)

Childhood Doesn't Wait

I was sitting on a bench while in a nearby mall. When I noticed a young mother with two children who were small. The youngest one was whining "Pick me up" I heard him beg, but the mother's face grew angry as the child clung to her leg. "Don't hang on me" she shouted as she pushed his hands away. I wish I had the courage to go up to her and say.

The time will come to quickly when those little arms that tug won't ask for you to hold him or won't freely give a hug. The day will sneak up subtly just as it did with me. When you can't recall the last time that your child sat on your knee.

Like those sacred pre dawn feedings when you cherished time alone. Our babies grow and leave behind those special times we've known

So when your child come to you with a book that you can share or asks that you tuck them in and help them say their prayers

When they come to sit and chat or would like to take a walk. Before you answer that you can't 'cause there's no time to talk.

Remember what all parents learn so many times to late. That years go by too quickly and that childhood doesn't wait.

Take every opportunity, if one should slip away. Reach hard to get it back don't wait another day.

I watched that mother walk away, her children followed near. I hope she'll pick them up before her chances disappear

Unknown Author

Legacy of an Adopted Child

Once there were two women

Who never knew each other

One you do not remember

The other you call mother

One gave you a nationality

The other gave you a name

One gave you the seed of talent

The other gave you an aim

Two different lives

Shaped to make yours one

One became your Guiding Star

The other became your Sun

One gave you emotions

The other dried your tears

The first gave you life

The second taught you how to live in it

The first gave you a need to love

The second was there to give it

One gave you up, it was all that she could do

The other prayed for a child, and was led straight to you

And now you ask me through your tears

The age old question through the years

Heredity or Environment

Which are you a product of

Neither my darling- Neither

Just two different types of love

Unknown Author

I came across these two poems in high school. I never knew there meanings until I became a mother. I think that many times as parents, mother or father, when we have had a bad day that we loose track of what's important in our lives. When we want 5 more minutes to sleep or our favorite TV show is on. Even when we think they couldn't ask another "WHY" or "HOW COME" I try, as I'm sure all parents do, to answer all the many and I do mean many questions my children ask.

I'm sure we can all agree, that our children are a gift from God and like any other gift we should treasure them rather they be children we gave birth to, we adopted, or children that touched our lives some how. They have so many ideas, opinions, and thoughts of their own, and they love to share them. My children are 5 and 7 and they say and think the same way we do. They have some of the same concerns their father and I have. We try to hear and answer them all.

It's too easy to say "NOT RIGHT NOW" or "STOP ASKING SO MANY QUESTIONS" In school we are taught that there is no wrong or dumb question and that we ask questions to learn. So before we give our children that annoyed answer remember they are growing and that the best teachers they have are us as their parents

I can't believe my children are as old as they are already and they go to school. It was just yesterday I was getting up at 2 a.m. for feedings. So quickly have they grown and I know it's not going to be "COOL" to give mommy a kiss as I drop them off at school, and they are not going to want to be tucked into bed.

So answer as many questions as you can, tell them you love them every chance you get, hug them, kiss them, tuck them in at night. Ask them what they learned and how their day was. Take every opportunity you can with them. Pretty soon they'll be grown and Childhood Doesn't Wait.

Julie Hall

THANKSGIVING VACATION

WE HAD AN AWESOME THANKSGIVING THIS YEAR. WE SPENT IT IN TROY ALABAMA WITH MY PARENTS. ALABAMA IS BEAUTIFUL THIS TIME OF YEAR, BUT IT WAS COLD AND RAINY. TWO OF MY FOUR SISTERS WERE THERE WITH THEIR BOYFRIENDS AND KIDS.

WE ALSO GOT THE CHANCE TO TAKE THE KIDS TO THE ZOO. IT WAS FUN EXCEPT BRYCE GOT PEED ON BY A LIGER. THEY GOT TO FEED A CAMEL, A BUFFALO, AND SOME DEER. THEY ALSO GOT TO FEED A BABY DEER A BOTTLE OF MILK, AND HOLD A REALLY BIG SNAKE.

THANKSGIVING DAY MY SISTERS CAME FOR DINNER. WE HAD TURKEY, SWEET POTATOES, MASHED POTATOES, STUFFING, ETC. I HAD FUN HELPING MY MOM COOK, WASN'T SOMETHING WE DID WHEN I WAS A CHILD SO IT WAS NICE TO FINALLY GET TO DO THAT.

FRIDAY I WENT SHOPPING WITH MY MOM. IT WAS CRAZY IN THE STORE AND ON THE ROAD. WE FOUND SOME GOOD SALES AND THEN WE JUST BROWSED THE STORE. AFTER SHOPPING NATHAN, MY DAD AND I WENT TO THE CASINO. WE DIDN'T WIN MUCH BUT IT WAS FUN ANYWAYS.

HOPE YOUR TURKEY DAY WAS AWESOME AND I HOPE YOUR CHRISTMAS IS THE SAME.

SUNFLOWER KISSES

DURING HARD TIMES LET US BE THANKFUL

When most people look at their lives, they think about all the things they are missing. All the money, all the cars, all the property, all the bills that aren't paid etc. With the way the economy is right now, you can't help but to think of all those things and many more I'm sure. I think the way things are now, if we want to keep our sanity and survive all the craziness that is happening in today's times. We have to keep our head up and think about all the positive things in our lives and be thankful for what we have. God never closes one door without opening another and he never gives us anything we can't handle.

I am thankful for many things in my life. I have two beautiful healthy children. They are a blessing to me everyday. They are my strength to get through whatever tough time I am going through. They keep me going, because I know that in order for me to be a good mother and a good provider for them, I have to do the best that I can for them. I can't let them down. I've found it's not really that hard. I enjoy doing whatever I have to do to make sure that they are happy and have what they need.

I am also thankful for the wonderful man in my life. My husband, Nathan. He is awesome, and I love him with all my heart. He is a wonderful husband and father. I am truly blessed to have him in my life. Each day with him is better than the day before. We have a wonderful marriage and a wonderful little family together. We have only been married for a short period of time, but we are blessed in many ways. We have a wonderful support group of friends and family that we love very much, we have wonderful healthy children, a roof over our heads, transportation, clothes on our back. While we may not have it all, there are so many more things we would like to have in our lives, we are thankful for what we do have.

While we can find SO many things to complain about and take for granted. We also have to look at what we do have and be thankful for it. Especially the important people in our lives. The people, who, when you're falling off that ladder, they are at the bottom to catch you so you don't hit the ground. I love all the important people in my life and I am grateful for everyone of them.

Sunflower Kisses

Thursday

December 4, 2008