Howdy New Year!!!

Hey I just thought I would let you know that I was thinking about all ya'll as the clock flips over.

Happy New Year!!

KjS

What more can I say...

Well what more can I say? I have only 15 minutes of Christmas Day left to say it so, "Unto us a Child has been born, He is my King!!"

Take a look at the blessings I have this Christmas... Two little girls who want me to make them a treehouse... a hot wife... a little girl who got her horse for Christmas and one little girl who got one front tooth...

We are wondering if the tooth fairy saw Santa and if she will increase the dibs since Lovebug was a pretty good kid this year.

Merry Christmas all ya'll!!!

I'll try to do New Year's update since I am off until January 5th...

Later Gators,
KjS

Christmas Memories

The days are flying bye. Hubbie has had a wonderful break from work.

Christmas with mom & dad was wonderful. We had a sweet early Christmas with Hubbie's mom & dad.

We laughed at mom's Wii and enjoyed making all the Miis. Golfing off the cliffs was my favorite. I enjoyed the scenery! The girls had a ball with bowling. Ladybug has a very entertaining swing hop. Baseball would be a next favorite with seeing all the Miis up for bat! We're encouraging Grandaddy to bat, but he's not biting.

We then had to go bowling.. real bowling. Santa hats for this occasion was a bonus. Playing two rounds was fun. I was ready to retire. Hubbie came in a solid first and Ladybug had a clear second.

A highlight was visiting with Aunt Patty & Uncle Donnie. We laughed at beauty treatments for a turkey neck!! Then we toured Facebook and found my cousin Julie! I think mom was nearly convinced to join... but time did not allow.

Uncle Eric & Hubbie both got and gave cool shirts... Read the Manual & My Lifeguard walk on water. The girls also enjoyed a good visit with their cousin. They played inside & outside & her Nintendo ds was a hit.

Grandaddy had a couple days off. He said his favorite gift was a scale!! His work at Wal-mart keeps him busy. He's driving mom's car since we took his to the shop. By God's grace in a collision a week ago he was not hurt when his driver door was hit and the glass flew.

Mom and I had a lovely visit. We had a shopping day that took us from the mall to the knitting store then the grocery. We could have enjoyed a long summer day because the short winter day came to a close way too quick. We both got a new J.A. Henckels knife that cuts really well!

Hubbie was my hero. As dinner approached after our late return, he was a huge help. He jumped right in to frying oysters and shrimp for a yummy meal with Aunt Karen & Nicole. He got plans to build a tree house and an axe too. He's also outfitted with many clothes.

I was thrilled hubbie gave me a wonderful classic Ipod. It is all I wanted!!! It is fully loaded with all our music. It has movies on it of Colorado and most of 2008. Before leaving for home the Ipod was dressed in a very cute pink skin. The girls watched movies on it as we traveled.

That's the high spots. Memories made!! Will we remember... girls bouncing on pogo sticks, the surprising Coconut & Cheesecake kisses, lots of Queen Anne chocolate covered cherries, emergency peppermint Oreos for Santa??? puzzling and then is the gooey lava,...

We had an early Christmas w/ G'ma & G'pa from Ohio. It was so special for them to come for Lovebug's baptism and celebrating Christmas was a bonus. We enjoyed a shopping day.... camping out around the fire... The guys projected reworking the dog house. We used the cold evenings to look for Christmas lights. We had a great stop at Santa's workshop in Marshall. Santa Land was huge with lights especially the tunnel!

I know I'll look back to a wonderful celebration... a feast with family... all to remember Jesus' birthday. Every good and perfect gift is from above! Thank you Jesus!

Grace! ss

Our Christmas Piano Recital

"It was awesome when I got to play two things on the piano and play the part of a shepherd. Eeee. Yippeee. That was fun. Love you G'ma Carol and G'pa Ben."

Saturday was full of practices and Lovebug's first piano recital. She worked on Jolly O'le St. Nick & Away in a Manger. She played each piece and did a great job. She sweetly sang along as she played and snapped the count.

Ladybug: "I liked it because I was Mary and I loved that I was in it." She had a very special spot as Mary in the living nativity. She made a lovely Mary as she rode in on a stick horse. She sat sweetly for the entire recital. Afterwards G'ma Carol told her she was lovely with her blue eyes and flushed cheeks... she said "She knew."!!!!

Lovebug does well on her piano practice. Generally, just a mention from me and shes off to practice. Often she needs a cup of encouragement... and I so love the Christmas music she plays! She pushes herself and struggles when she hit wrong notes. She learning and that's wonderful!

A cup of encouragement with a splash of joy and a bit of cinnamon!! Grace! ss

139 Degrees!

The hot water is on a low setting... the installer said with children he woud not set it higher!!

The water is 139 degrees!!! That's above the 130 dust mite killer temp! That's hot enought to me.

My lessons on Hot Water Heaters:

Before removing the old water heater, check the dip stick.
Lots of "calcium" in the faucets... it is not calcium, check the dip stick.

The dip stick should be as long as the heater is deep in our gas unit. Ours was merely 3" long.

With the heater half out we decide to run the dip check... maybe we could have lived with the old water heater and a new dip... alas, we are already half removed so we went with the new hot water heater.

In hot water!
ss

A Sign of Faith

Believe on the Lord Jesus and you shall be saved!! Acts 16:31

Lovebug turned to Jesus on May 24, 2004. She prayed to Jesus as she cleaned her room. She told me. Again she proclaimed to Daddy and I that evening. She followed up with phone calls to family and declared she knew Jesus. She asked Him to forgive her sin and invited Him into her heart.

I know then the angels were singing, Luke 15:7. Her name was written in the Lamb's book of Life. Revelation 21:27

This summer she began to ask about baptism. Generally, she asked a week before a baptism with timing impossible to even invite far away family. Even our friends were out of town. She did not give up.

Courage! October we crossed paths with our Pastor. Quietly she asked me if she could ask Pastor Jim. With courage, she asked to be baptized. Then and there the plans were made for a December baptism.

With great joy all our family decided to come. Hubbie's parents from Ohio... a big drive. Memem brought a family friend as Grandaddy had to work. We got a new hot water heater for the occasion. We thought they would appreciate hot showers!! It was so fun to have a house full for something other than a hurricane!



Sunday, December 7, 2008, Lovebug was baptized to proclaim she believes in Jesus. This was not to get her to heaven, but merely a sign of her faith to tell all she's going to heaven! Her daddy had the joy to baptize her as the custom of our church. Our family was in the cloud of witnesses.

Here's more on the Sinner's Prayer... and more on baptism.

I'm thrilled to see her grow in her faith & obedience. Praying she'll honor Jesus all her days!!!

Grace!! ss

Happy 9th Birthday Love

NINE!! Nine. Nine years.

The day was packed! Museum. Lunch. Skate. Basketball. She picked to do it all and we did.

Happy Birthday Lovebug.


Nine. I worked before this child came. From this day, that was another life, so long ago. I love being mom! She is growing in so many way.

Her name means "strong one."

She is strong! That's true. I pray her strength is in the Lord. It is easy for her strength to be against me... Life is much more fun when our strength is paired and we fight the same things. She's learning so much and has so many verses of the Bible to guide her path.

She is a leader to her sister. We work on the strengths as a sister and that she's not to mother. The girls play together... swing out side... chase & play with Maple. They often clean rooms together... that's required when they don't work independent. They play webkins together learning to share. They often have together time to work thru their struggles.

For her ninth she wants a laptop. Yet she is enjoying her own email. The light up shirt she's worn for countless days. She said she's been in the stripe footie socks for 3 days. I'm thrilled she likes them. She also got a pair of boots and a pair of unmentionables. She too is thrilled. She's been so thankful for her birthday.

We ended the full day with a birthday dinner at Hop Hop... translation Ihop. Fun was had by all.

We are truly blessed!! Grace! ss

AO Exams

AO3 & AO1: Term I is behind us now.


We are into exams...


It is time to spin a web, tell a tale, weave a yarn... We've climbed a mountain and it's time to look back on all where we've been... what we've learned...


And so started our exams... We've gone low key this time... more casual... Lovebug begged for her exam papers of the past.... not this round... This is our time to remember and see what sticks.


We've really enjoyed poetry this round. We all have had favorites. Here's a look at our poetry...


Grace! ss

Stop Wanting It

"If you want something and cannot afford it, stop wanting it."


As we drove along I turned on the radio to eliminate the rising level of the girls. Little did I realize the truth that Ladybug would hear...

They issued a challenge... and I just kept driving... not a second thought....

Yet that challenge hit Ladybug square on... you see, she wants a horse. A real big horse that she's just learned she need an acre for. She really wants a horse. She asked Santa for one... and fyi Lovebug asked for a computer!!

Ladybug realized she could not have a horse... and the truth to stop wanting what you cannot have... is huge. So she learned right there, while I drove. We've talked this over and over for months now.... she could not keep a horse in her room... there's not room in the backyard... over and over...

God worked in her heart to stop wanting a horse.

Oh, Lord open my ears to hear your truths!! I'm thanking HIM for sharing the girls truths with me!! There's so much to stop wanting!!!

Grace! ss

What a Ride!

We had a golden opportunity visiting Memom over Thanksgiving!!

Ms. Vickie asked us to come ride her horses!! Now let me tell you Ladybug has dearly wanted her own horse. She's asked over and over to have one in our back yard or in her room. This was a dream come true... to really ride a horse. Wow! To be invited to come ride....

With huge smiles the girls rode tall! Ms. Vickie & her husband guided the horses so gently for the girls.

Wanting to go faster... Lovebug held on for all she's worth when her horse was speeding up to a trot.. and she was trotted off.... she held strong on to the saddle horn.. and then calmly slid off to her feet!!

She climbed right back up and decided a walk was plenty fast! Both girls did great!

Then Ms. Vickie asked if I wanted to ride... so both Hubbie and I got to ride. How cool! That was so a surprise. I knew Hubbie wanted to ride but it seem too much to ask. Then to be offered was so over the top!!

"Lovebug she hung upside down on the fence. I liked riding the horses. I want a horse..." says Ladybug.

"I dearly loved riding the horse. It was so fun when I got to trot. I'm very glad I only slid to my feet."

Ms. Vickie- a HUGE Thank you for sharing world and letting us come ride!!! It was such fun. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!!!!! We hope to see you over Christmas!!! Have a wonderful Christmas filled with the joy of the first Christmas of Jesus' birth!!

Grace! ss

Let's see if we can do this with only one month to go till Christmas...

Ok... we are down to the wire you have one more month to get all the Christmas shopping done that you need to get completed (don't forget me). I am in Beaumont right now getting ready for the Thanksgiving holiday. I have completed all my shopping for everyone who is getting this email. No seriously... I have, and I will prove it check out the photos of our day at the galleria today. We started everything off by going ice skating and then we watched a painter painting, next we took a break and listened to a piano dude playing something that sounded like elevator music but better because he was right there playing it for us and it couldn't be elevator music because his grand piano would not fit in an elevator. Then you see the finished result of all the shopping. Ok so most of the shopping was done by the wifey and her mother and I just got to carry the goods... well I guess I paid for some of it too, although S's mom is most generous to cover meals and such.

So don't forget to remember that there are a lot of folks who will be doing without this year. Biggest thing I have learned in the past year is that there are often things that happen which we have no control over and we have to remember that God (the one who sent Jesus to be born on Christmas day) still has in His hands the events and happenings of this world.

Hey did I also mention that we got a new puppy? I will include a photo of Maple with this e-mail as well. So far this new puppy has proven to be everything that the previous one was not. Polite, kind, wipes her paws on the mat prior to entering her dog house, doesn't spit, doesn't chew, doesn't go with guys that do... that kind of thing. Pray she survives puppyhood... my girls are learning that you can't shove food in her mouth to make her eat. You know that thing about you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink it? Well it doesn't apply to my girls, if that dog doesn't drink you put her nose in the water until she does. Problem is I think that is called waterboarding and even the CIA might have some issues with that, don't worry we got them to understand that even when you mean good if it would hurt you it might not be good for the puppy either. She is a loving little pup and we are praying that we can all make it work for our family.

Hey just recently I got a facebook account... if you are on facebook and you know what I am talking about look me up and if you are in good standing with me I will approve you as a friend. :)

I also just got to see the movie "Fireproof" if you haven't seen it yet take your wife and go see it. We had some young hooligans in our theater with us and so I had to adjust their attitudes slightly in order to actually be able to concentrate on it and enjoy the last part of the movie. They kept popping their gum and so I yelled at them to stop popping their gum... I should have yelled that they should pop their gum more and expect reverse psychology to work on them but as it was they began popping their gum more and talking loudly. I finally had enough of it and Stephanie had just told me to just pray for them when I jumped up ran to the back of the theater, found the three of them got in the face of the one sitting in the middle and told them that "If you do not shut up I am going to see to it that you are thrown out of the theater, DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?" Their only response was "Yes Sir!". Have you ever had someone (especially kids nowdays) who are so rude you want to help their parents get them back in line with a little discipline? Five minutes later they left the theater on their own and we had a peaceful finale to our movie. I did not want to go out with my wife, and pay to see a movie only to be interrupted by hooligans. I do not get to go out very often so I guess I took it into my own hands to modify their behavior with some not so reverse psychology.

So when I say "Have a Happy Thanksgiving" don't think I am trying to pull some form of reverse psychology on you by not meaning exactly what I said... Have a GREAT THANKSGIVING!

Save the wishbone for me...

KjS

Burnt

Burnt to a crisp.... I'm actually glad the rice did not catch on fire!!

I simply put rice on to cook.... and waited while the water kettle boiled.... meanwhile the rice burnt badly. I was distracted by facebook... hmmm... a lesson here....

The bottom of my favorite glass top pan had a horrible layer of burnt rice.

My WONDERFUL husband came home and simply picked up the pan and started the arduous task of cleaning it.

I must say... He did not walk in and ask if that smell was dinner! He did not fuss at me. He did not complain. He did not scold me when I said that pan should be thrown away. He saw my mess and worked on it!!! Oh, I am loved!!!!!!!!

After scrubbing made no impact... even after the near oven cleaner stuff... he finally made progress with SAND PAPER!!! Oh, gracious!!! Even that took much time and effort.

Hours later I have candles lit to eliminate the stench!!

Now, my charred pot is clean.... I'm thankful for a loving husband!!

That was Agape love!! Grace! ss

White Chocolate Pumpkin Cookies

We've enjoyed every last one of these!! They are definitely repeaters!! I'll make them again this week.


White Chocolate Pumpkin Cookies

• 4c Flour (1/2 Coconut Flour)
• 1c White Sugar
• 1c Brown Sugar
• 2t Cinnamon
• 1t Pumpkin Pie Spice
• 1t Salt
• 2t Baking Soda
• 1can Pumpkin 16oz
• 3/4c Oil (Coconut Oil)
• 2 eggs
• 2T Milk
• 2t Vanilla
• 2c White Chocolate Chips
• 1c Nuts (Macadamia sound yummy)

Bake @ 375 for 9 minutes.

Mix flour, sugar & spices. Add pumpkin, oil, eggs, & vanilla. Beat on medium speed til well mixed. Stir in chocolate & nuts. Drop onto baking sheet & flatten a bit. Bake.

I've frozen these balled. They've been easy to pull out thaw & bake.

They required 2 grocery trips for me!! First I just had to have white chocolate chips. Then as I pulled ingredients, I was out of eggs! Humf!! Hubbie was so quick, in an instant he was off for to the store. He asked me to make them :) I like making them for him!!!!

Two friends have asked for the recipe... That makes them a winner to me :) I've skipped the nuts for Hubbie's sake & used the coconut things because I've had them!! I hope you enjoy them too!!!

Grace!! ss

Oh! That's "Bullie"... Ladybug's new Longhorn enjoying the cookies :)

Tent Poles Snap

Snap!! That's just what happened with two of our tent poles!! Both of our bay window poles busted or frayed this round!! The tent yet operated fine this round... sans the bays!

I've found the solution to busted tent poles... Hubbie we should have found this sooner... remember the screen tent poles!?! yet those were trashed... now I have the info to replace them!!!

Tent Pole Techno is who my tent maker refered me to. They knew the specs on our tent from way back in 2005!!! Soon I'll have my tent poles and some quick clips to boot!

Anywho!!

Hubbie & the girls camped. Mama just visited since I'm recovering from the sinus/ear stuff. I visited them and heard all that wouldn't have happened if I was there....

Overall I've heard it was cold! The lows were low 40s. That is officially cold here. The only caught 2 fish with the last of their white bread.

Ladybug - I liked when I went to fish and we did catch 2 fish. That is all. I enjoyed when I went up in the trees. That is all.

On the poles... Now we could live without bay windows... but I do enjoy finding the solution!! I really appreciate Hubbie finding all the numbers on our '05 tent so I could rabbit track it!!

Grace! ss

Sick

The day following the election... I'm sick.

It is not the election results or the President Elect... although they do give me pause to pray!

I'm sick in 24 hrs with a sinus infection! Alas, and now an acute middle ear infection. Yikes!! Am I 2 years old to have that battle!?! My dr. did say I must go on the antibiotic, yuck, and that the ear drops for pain would help!

Alas, I'm thankful my ENT Dr. got me right in. I'm thankful insurance helps w/ all that... yet the Rx itself did run me $40. (Avelox 400 mg for 10 days.)

Humf!

I know my immunity is low. Now what? I'm reading a book with whole host of challenging concepts.... we are surrounded by toxins... and it is just a matter of time til your body is compromised... so the questions is... How to detox? I have Detoxify or Die on ILL and may need to get a copy for me....

I'm not happy with the Rx... it just is a band aid... Jesus knows how we are made!! Seeking Him for direction & answers!

Grace! ss

Maple

The girls are proud as punch!

Maple is cute as can be! She's a 6 week old sheltie.

Daddy says she has an arrow on her face :) See it!?

She snuggles with the girls. This is huge. We so wanted Ladybug to be able to hold our puppy. Once at a pet store she was amazed when a dog there did not bite. That was in our Cocoa season.

She had a great ride home and did not get car sick. Yea! Big bonus!

She was one of the cutest puppies there at Canton. We had to decide between her and her sister. She had the cute face & a full white collar. Our Maple.

She's little and we know 2 neighbor dogs to die with parvo. We are praying her protection and trying be wise. We'll hit the vet this week.

We are mindful that all life is in God's hands. We are so enjoying her.

Did she whine? At 2:50 this morning Lovebug awoke us because Maple was whining. Hubbie watcher her... we knew she'd be lonely.... she went to sleep in the dog house and he'd given her a hot water bottle!... and after a bit of lonely whines she went back to sleep beside our back door.

We are all a bit tired today. We are also spending alot of time outside!!!

Grace! ss

Pumpkin Fudge & Whining

Yummm! Today I found my pumpkin fudge!! Yumm!!

We headed out to Trade Days at Canton. It was crowded. We walked a bit looking and did not buy a thing!!! Well, we did buy a Fudge Brownie Sunday...

Then we headed to "maybe" look for a puppy!?!!! Oh, the girls loved every puppy we saw. One guy even tried to get us to take his 5 month old puppy... I think Hubbie and the girls would have walked away with her, but I could not. Finally we found.... oh, this has to be it's own post.... with pics...

Anyway, we wandered back thru the pavilions and I found my pumpkin fudge!!!

Yumm!! And praying for no whining tonight!! :)
Grace! ss

Titanium dioxide

Maybe it is an age thing. Maybe I should have heard this many years ago!!! Maybe in the 20's it would have be preventative..... Now in the 30's I'm just learning... You can glean from me!!

My dermatologist has sent me to the world of Titanium dioxide. The route has been a bit around the block. My yearly dr. trip rose skin questions and that sent me to my dr. derma.

The issue is spots!! These are not the spots of Dr. Seuss... I've noticed them & my mom's mentioned them & my hubbie doesn't notice them. I've thought them to be sun spots. Not and they are not even. They are something of hormone spots. Alas, I think I'm stuck with spots. I don't think Clorox will help!

Actually I know of a bleach... but at $179 that insurance does not cover... I'm not sold yet... Maybe this is just how God's created me!?!

So now I'm looking for sunscreens with Titanium dioxide.

Today a visit to the Clinque counter introduced me to City Block w/ SPF40 face sunscreen with Td of 6.6% & a Almost Makeup with Td7.6% SPF15.

My makeup by BareEssentials has Td... foundation SPF15 Td16%. This is a powder and that's not "good coverage".

For now I'm researching! Reading labels. Learning.

Grace! ss

Piano Um Snap

Yea!! We started lessons today!!! G'Ma Carol had a opening in her schedule and we filled it!!!

Rhythm: Quarter, Quarter, Half-note... and more :)

As Lovebug worked on her rhythm... halfnote-hmmm... and half-snap... filled that space!!!

Here our mix on learning the keys!!!

• Black Keys: 2 are Mickey & Minnie Mouse, then the 3 are the 3 Little Pigs
• "C" Mickie & Minnie? They live in the "D" house.
• Next Door is an Elf!! "E" & "F"
• Then is the 3 Little Pigs, They are Great! "G" "A"
• Don't get caught behind the Pigs "B"
• That's ABCDEFG!! And she knows middle C!

Maybe you'll think of our piano keyboard and follow our diddy!!

Her first homework was working fingers 2&3 on the keys!! in rhythm. She must remember to curl her fingers & not smash the bubble.

So!? How do you practice?? Or rather how do your children practice the piano??? Is it your agenda or theirs? How long? What have you learned that I'd can glean???

We are trying to practice for 15 minutes 2x a day. Right now it is on my schedule... and I know I want to rotate it to hers!!!

Enjoying the music!! Grace! ss

Gecko-ed

He walked into our world!!! I opend the sunroom door and he scampered in!!! I had no clue what it was!! Hubbie captured him!

With flash light in hand I showed the girls... who said "Look him up mom!!!"

Lovebug: I liked that the gecko ran and jumped. He was small, probably an inch, probably as small as a my little finger. He had dots all over him. His tail had stripes like a zebra.

Ladybug: I liked him. He was cute and colorful. He had stripes. He had a tail that was cute with stripes.

Here he is in Ladybug's hands!! She'll catch & hold anything!!! He was comfortable crawling with the girls and had to be coaxed into the bushes.

He is a Mediterranean Gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus)!! How cool is that!!!! He actually looked pinkish!!! That's true to character!!! "Translucent pinkish to white, with some darker blotching."

His eyes are really cool... and "The belly is white and somewhat translucent." We could so see inside him!! Here he is on GeckoWeb. It has a better shot of his eyes!!!

Enjoying God's marvelous creation!! Grace! ss