FFFF #7 Presents

The photos in the below posted are in the FFFF. (Family Foto Fun Friday) The kids had a great time. Joleigh's favorite was her "Hannah Montana" stuff and Jacob's was his new electric guitar. My favorite was the video of Jacob waking Joleigh up. I still crack up everytime I watch it. Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and hope everyone has a Happy New Year.

Merry Christmas

Christmas Morning Wake Up


Opening Presents


Jacob's Big Present


Joleigh as Hannah Montana

Christmas Eve

We went back to MawMaw's and D'daddy's (Chip's parents) for Christmas Eve to eat some Hot Wings. YUMMY! We were able to get together with Peepaw and Uncle Lamar, Aunt Sandra and Stacy. Joleigh got an aquadoodle and Dirt Devil vacuum cleaner and Jacob received money and gift cards....his favorite. Joleigh loved her vacuum cleaner and when we got home it was time to get in bed....Santa was coming, you know, and she hollared out...."I didn't get to vacuum my room yet!" So funny! Jacob passed out on the way home and almost had to carry him in. I remember all those Christmas Eve's in Tennessee when we would also go to Memaw and Papa's for Christmas and travel back to UC afterward and falling asleep in the car. Great Memories. Enjoy the pictures.

I received an Award!

Diana from Diana's Daily Ramblings recented awarded me with an A Lovely Blog award. Thank you Diana. I am now passing this on to the following:

1. Tiffany at Eliza's Story
2. Anita at He Leads Us
3. Shirley (my SIL) at Our Homesteading Quest
4. Tammy at Enjoying Our Journey
5. Christy at To Mia With Love

Christmas with Family

We get together every year, when we can, with Chip's family including his cousins, Aunts and Uncles. Every year we keep adding to the pile. Here are pictures from Monday night when we were together eating and enjoying soup and sweets.

What I like about Christmas....

Joleigh is watching Blues Clues and they just asked "what do you like about Christmas?" I heard Joleigh answer Joe back with "I like my family and my father" HOW SWEET! Just had to share. What do you like about Christmas?

'Twas The Night Before Christmas...Mom Style

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the abode
Only one creature was stirring & she was cleaning the
commode.
The children were finally sleeping, all snug in their beds,
while visions of X-Box & Barbie flipped through their heads.

Yes, and dad was snoring in front of the TV,
with a half constructed bicycle propped on his knee.
So only the mom heard the reindeer hooves clatter,
which made her sigh, "Now what is the matter?"

With toilet bowl brush still clutched in her hand,
She descended the stairs, and saw the old man.
He was covered with ashes & soot, which fell with a shrug,
"Oh great," muttered the mom, "Now I have to clean
the rug."

"Ho Ho Ho!" cried Santa, I'm glad you're
awake."
"your gift was especially difficult to make."
"Thanks, Santa, but all I want is time alone."
"Exactly!" he chuckled, "So, I've made you a
clone."

"A clone?" she muttered, "What good is that?"

"Run along, Santa, I've no time for chit chat."
Then out walked the clone - The mother's twin,
Same hair, same eyes, same double chin.

"She'll cook, she'll dust, she'll mop every
mess.
You'll relax, take it easy, watch TV and rest.
"Fantastic!" the mom cheered. "My dream has come
true!"
"I'll shop, I'll read, I'll sleep a night
through!"

From the room a bove, the youngest did fret.
"Mommy?! Come quickly, I'm scared and I'm wet."
The clone replied, "I'm coming, sweetheart."
"Hey," the mom smiled, "She sure knows her
part."

The clone changed the child and hummed her a tune,
as she bundled the small one in a blanket cocoon.
"You're the best mommy ever. I really love you."
The clone smiled and sighed, "And I love you too."

The mom frowned and said, "Sorry, Santa, no deal.
That's my child's LOVE she is going to steal."
Smiling wisely, Santa said: "To me it is clear,
Only one loving mother is needed here."

The mom kissed her child and tucked her in bed.
"Thank You, Santa, for clearing my head.
Sometimes I forget, it won't be very long,
before they'll be too old for my cradle and song."

The clock on the mantle began to chime.
Santa whispered to the clone, "It works every time."

With the clone by his side, Santa said: "Goodnight.
Merry Christmas, dear Mom, you'll be all right."

Sometimes we need reminding of what life is all about.
Especially at times when the Holiday season shouts,
and all we do is clean, bake, and procure.
You get the picture -- I'm sure.

So stop for a moment and hug that little one so dear,
whether he/she is 2 or 22, or even older this year.
For they are the gift that God gave us from Heaven above,

and what a special gift to be treasured, with endless LOVE!

May The Real Meaning Of Christmas Be With You All Year

copied from an email I received.

In All Things....Give Thanks!

Happy Thanksgiving....a week late! Sorry for the delay but after you read this post you will understand. Start from the beginning. Back in August, Chip decided to stop farming after 25 years of hard, honest work. With the economy the way it is, we are not selling the hay like we need to, to continue to make ends meet. The farm we live on now is leased and so is our house. We thought (were told in somewhat) that we wouldn't have to get off the place until later. We thought we could sublease it out (to our cousin)for 2009 and give us time to move our cows (100+ head) horses(3) dog (1) and chickens (19 hens and 1 rooster) and 12 years of toys, etc. We also have years of farm equipment and several hundred rolls of hay. The owner of the farm decided he wanted to go ahead and get someone on the place, instead of letting us stay for another year and try to move things at a steadier pace. We were informend that everything had to be off EVERYTHING by December 31st. (it hasn't been all nice, IYKWIM) So here we sit with all this "stuff" and nowhere to go with it.

Well, we have been looking for a rental home in the local area so we could stay and keep Jacob in school for the rest of this school year. He has worked so hard and don't want to pull him out in the middle of the year. We have discussed moving back to Alabama to help his Dad and Uncle farm again. We were having trouble finding a place to rent. See, when we leave the farm that includes his job, my job and the only home my children have ever known. We both, sorry to say, have been down and out, but knew that God would reveal in His time, where we needed to be and that a place to rent and we could afford would come. Well, last week we found out about a place in the nearby town where we attend church and Jacob's school. It is only 3 minutes from school, church and WalMart! WOOHOO! Praise God. Chip kept telling me to just Be still and Listen. We are hoping to be in the new place this weekend and after 6 months we will decide if we are staying or moving somewhere else.

God is still in control of our and all situations. Sometimes you just have to Be quiet and let Him do His best work. We are getting phone calls from people we have never sold hay before buying round rolls by the hundreds. Praise God for this, because He is why it is getting done. Our friends at church and in our Sunday School class have been wonderful to us during this trial time.

We are still praying that I go back to teaching in the fall of 2009 at Jacob's school(where I was before we went to China). Joleigh will be of age and will be able to attend the K3 program. We are praying now that Chip will find a job. This will definitely be something different for him as he has always farmed with his family or himself. Please be in prayer that we have all our stuff (junk) off the place before the "big guys" come in a take over. Thank you and we are thankful for our new place. We have to hurry so we can get our Christmas tree up! Joleigh is asking everyday about it. So much to do and time is running out! So, if I am not around for awhile, you know we are okay and just settling in. This week has been long and the weekend will be longer!