Christmas Time is Here

Christmas officially started for me on Sunday. Although I am getting confused again with the temperatures in the high 60s this week. Arkansas just might all die of pneumonia. Sunday was our church's Christmas Cantata. This was my first year to perform. Well when I was in the children's choir I was in it.

This is our fearless Worship Pastor Todd. We love Todd.

Mary Kate who plays the organ almost every Sunday. She is so sweet and does an awesome job. I mean have you ever really taken a look at an organ. It looks difficult to me. There are the keys and pedals and switches, I think you may have to have your pilots license to operate one.
The harp. I was so glad to be a soprano and be right next to the harp. It made me want to cry.
Here I am, can you tell I like singing?
I look quite serious here.
We had handbells this year. They were bought with memorial money from Evelyn Howell, she always wanted us to have handbells and now that she has gone home to be with the Lord her husband used the donated money so her dream could come true.
They have to wear gloves so the oil on thier hands doesn't tarnish the bell. I guess those things really cost a pretty penny.
Me and my buddy Rachel. She is such a sweet girl. Love her. And we coordinated.

They are Quite Possibly...

my favorite kids in the world. Friday I was asked to babysit Hanna and Armon. I have known these two since I took care of Hanna in day care when she was 4 months old. Their parents liked and trusted me so I started babysitting for them. Hanna had quite a few medical issues, and one night when I was babysitting her mother asked if I knew anyone who could take care of her at their house. At the daycare she was not getting the care she needed, when I was away. I admit I had favorites at the Day care and she was it. But on days I was not there or before I got their she did not get the proper care. I really thought about it and to be honest did not want anyone else to care for her, not to mention I had got sick like 4 times in 2 months of working there. So I offered to be her nanny. We talked about it and I resigned took a week off and they withdrew Hanna. I loved every day caring for her. I got to take care of her all summer. She was older and stronger when I went to school so she ended up back in daycare. I continued to babysit for them and eventually came back to work at the day care in Hanna's room. We were like peas and carrots. That child loved me. I even made it, in her baby book as her favorite adult. That really made my little heart soar. She only wanted me to care for her and would have a hard time when I left the room, sometimes she would not let anyone else hold her, and when I would change the other babies diapers, she would be clinging on my leg. I have watched her go from not letting me go to a little miss independence and indifferent feelings for me, or at least that is how she acted. She really went through the terrible threes. Now she is 4 and the old Hanna I knew is back. The one that would hug and kiss me as I tucked her in. One of the last few times I babysat for her she was still awake when her mom came back and when I left declared, Mom I really like her alot. Her mother then asked well do you think she likes you and Hanna paused and said yeah I think she does. This last time Hanna was having me pick out a card and then would declare what it meant or what I then had to do such as kiss my hand, or kiss myself. Then I said it was her turn, so she picked one out and declared it meant I love you Ms Hannah. She does still love me! For the past year I was beginning to wonder. So now to the pictures.

Armon has been taking piano lessons, so he had a surprise for me after we finished dinner. For a beginner he is good.

Look at those beautiful eyes, he is going to have to beat the girls off with a stick. He already has one girl who adores him.
Hanna drinking some milky water, I say EWWW! When I came she pulled out the nail polish and handed it to me and asked me politely to do her nails, she said it's the polish you gave me for my birthday.
Not sure what Armon was doing here. Just being a boy I guess. They are so active.
Hanna climbed up on the cabinet and opened the doors so the missiles could shoot Armon back.
He was chasing us with a Nerf missile launcher. I would pick up Hanna and run. I got hit a few times which of course killed me. I have not been able to pick her up since she was little too. She would run and scream pick me up pick me up. So we would hide in her room.


Hanna then got decked out as a princess and acted like a hooligan. They quitely played in their rooms at this time. Sometimes they need me to play sometimes they don't.

When she climbed on the window I offered to let her fly, she would jump and I would catch her and swing her around over my head. Then she wanted to test out my strentgh and had me do it over and over again.

Just being Hanna

Lately I have...

This week I will attempt to bring you up to date on my life. In late September I received a call from a lady I used to sew for. She had decided to just sew as their family needed extra income. I was sad but glad for the experience. She called to tell me a client of hers called asking her to sew a wedding dress. She does not like making clothes and prefers interior sewing. She remembered me and gave her my number. I received a call from her and I had no idea what to charge so I called around and gave her a number. She told me she would get back to me. I did not hear from her for a few weeks, I assumed she decided to get one at the store. Then she called back about 3 weeks later and wondered if I could still make it. So we met and I got started with this black satin junior bridesmaid dress. There is a shawl draped over the middle of the hanger too.

When I came to have her try it on, I learned her twin daughters were also in the wedding. They had dresses but they were in the babysitters car and that was stolen over the weekend. She wondered if I would have time to make 2 more dresses. I was elated. This is one of my dreams to sew and be a photographer. God was truly blessing me. So I measured the girls and went to buy some cloth.
I felt stressed when she first asked me. I mean I have never sewn clothes for money before. But a great friend of mine assured me I could do it and they would look great. This friend also assured me, when I was sure she would not call back and ask me to make the first dress, that she would.

Here is the top of the dress it has a one inch fold over the neckline. It is so hard to see in the other pictures.
For the twins dresses I made the straps about double the size since they are only like 6 years old.
I had so much fun making these dresses. And seeing the appreciation of the girls and their mother.
I finished them exactly on the deadline. And I am not sure what exactly to do with myself now. That took up so much of my free time. But I loved every minute of it. Now I hope and pray she gives me some referrals, or has other projects later for me to work on. She said she would definitely keep my phone number.

Christmas Time

December has come. There is a permanent temperature drop, that makes me want to stay in bed all morning under my down comforter, that makes me want to cuddle with those close to me and drink some coffee or cocoa, that makes my slippers the first thing my feet see out of bed. Breath becomes visible on the air, the frost forms perfect snowflakes on my car windows, and the least amount of precipitation will freeze my car door shut. Ahh it is official count down to Christmas is here. To be honest a countdown started when we bought our tickets to Maine. But that was a countdown until we go home. I am saddened as I look back at my sad attempts to keep Christ the reason for the season. How I have let materialism and the fun of parties and people keep my thoughts away from the birth of the One who had mercy on my sinful state and sent the perfect God-man to bear all my sins, past and present and die one of the most gruesome deaths and bear the Father's wrath and for the first time have the Father turn His back on the Son. I have been challenged by a dear saint, who now spends her Christmas in the presence of Jesus, to make sure that along with my Christmas tree I have a nativity scene up. Ours sits in front of the TV. While there is nothing wrong with a Christmas tree, it really does not help us focus on the reason we celebrate, where as the nativity portrays the gift given to us that we did and do not deserve.
I want this Christmas to be a time for me to really grasp what Christmas is about...Christ. For Christmas I want more devotion to my Lord, a better relationship with Christ, to realize my sin, to not quench the Holy Spirit, to show all Christ in my words and deeds, to speak more of Christ and His work in my life, to pray more and glorify God with my whole body. That is really what I want for Christmas. Those things satisfy and bring us contentment in our lives. The rest turns to ash.

Atticus Neaves

Yesterday was a sad day. My darling friend Cala, called me to tell me her baby brother Atticus had died that morning. He was only 2 months old. This came as a great surprise. He was born with Down syndrome and therefore had some heart defects. He had undergone heart surgery about 3 weeks ago and recovered fine and went home. But when they went to wake him yesterday he was colorless and they could not wake him. They were going to MedEvac him to Children's but he did not survive. His little body is perfected and glorified now. He has now seen Jesus. Please say a prayer for her and her family. I am really hurting for her.

Thanksgiving

My mom has trained me well in all things Thanksgiving. The day before I took the day off and made pies. I made a cherry and two pumpkin. I guess I did not read the pumpkin recipe well enough, not to mention I had other things on my mind, because I realized when I tasted them there was no sugar in them. EWWW! Anyways I was home alone while baking and let me tell you I was a mess. I just had to get some shots of the flour mess I became. This pictures does not even do it justice either. It was down my pants, on my face, but my arms were spared.

We broke our normal tradition and went to the Sombke's house this year. They had invited us and the Allison's to come but the kids wanted to be at home, so we stuck with the original plan. Melanie's dog, Aya pretty much was the entertainment for the day. She is only like 2, so she still has tons of energy, more than most puppies actually.
Here is Melanie looking frightened as Aya looks fanged and fierce. She did not actually hurt her here.
Oh now we look all sweet and innocent, don't we?
What a cheeky little beggar. I was trying to eat cheese and the moment I pulled it out, there she was resting her little innocent head on my shoulder. I think she really thought she had a chance at getting some cheese.
Silly puppy cheese is for me.
When I was done she moved on to ice cream excitement, she acted like she was neglected and starved.
Puppy will stand, sit, dance, roll over, play dead for some cheese.
I think there is some cat in her. She perches on this couch back like she were a little cat.
We had a great time, with lots of great food. I got a small nap in as the triptophan worked through my system. Then Melanie came home with us and was brave enough to get up with me at 4:30 and go shopping. We had a great time. Although I hate Circuit City now, they were completely inefficient, I waited over an hour in a line of no more than like 7 people to check out. At Best Buy I waited behind at least 50 people for like 10 minutes. But I found some great buys. Such as a Canon photo printer, scanner, copier for $19.99, it does not get any better than that.

Squishy Baby

Here are some pictures to show why I call Sydney Houk, Squishy Baby

Look at that head of hair
Sweet dreaming
There is that squishy little body

There is the squishy little booty
Too bad Rachel's hands were in this shot.
Love the dangling hand, this girl was exhausted.
Squishy face

Shannon and her sweet little Anna Grace

Melanie Maid of Honor and sister of the bride. So Pretty!

John the ringbearer, and Anna Grace one of the flowergirls
How cute is she?
Jeff and Michelle, she was crying. It was so sweet.
The Kiss. This was their first kiss. He took the chance and kissed her twice.
The happy couple.
Off they go.
This was as far as the car decor went. Billy did not want them to really trash it. I was sort of disappointed.