Christmas Morning Wake Up
Opening Presents
Jacob's Big Present
Joleigh as Hannah Montana
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.
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
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.
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, 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.
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!
Two years ago, today, we were sitting in a HOT room in a room in Nanning, Guangxi, China. My stomach was churning, heart was pounding, worried how my little girl would take to her new family. Worried how her big brother would do with a new sister. When we exited off the elevators, there were babies and new mommies and daddies everywhere. Beautiful babies finally being united with their forever families. We walked on to a room and watched several children and their nannies waiting for their turn. Then FINALLY, our group. Group 118b. We went to the receiving room and waited for our children to come in. We were 5th family out of 6th to receive our sweet baby girl. Finally, a little girl from Yulin 1st SWI named Hua Ru Yan was brought in and oh how beautiful she was. Words can never explain the feeling we had that day. All the tears, stress and frustration while waiting to go to China, disappeared. Our family was now complete. Jacob had a little hard time, being he was the only child for 8 years, but quickly fell in love with his little sister. We went to do our paperwork to complete the adoption and then just hung out in the room, bonding. Joleigh had a few rough nights with night terrors, but bonded well. She is such a joy in our lives. She is now full of energy, sassy, spunky, and has a loving, caring heart even at the age of 3. Thank you God for allowing us to be her parents and bringing her into our lives. Thank you for allowing us to visit her Homeland and learn about her culture to keep it apart of her life.
Happy Gotcha Day to the families we traveled with to China. You will always be a part of our family, too. We love and miss you Anna, Jenny, Erin, Rachel and Faith and your families. May your day be blessed, too. Our day will be low key as we are planning to either bake cupcakes, cookies or cake, whatever she chooses. This evening we are going to collect items for the Operation Christmas Child Shoebox and then coming home and just being together and watching her favorite show or movie. We may even catch her in another singing mood (like she was last night) and I can capture it on video to share later. Thank you all! We love you. Off to be with my little baby girl, who is now 3. 
I saw a giveaway on my friend's blog @ Diana's Daily Rambling and thought I would check it out. What I found out was that Confessions of a Diet Coke Addict is hosting a give-away from Olive Kids. Olive Kids have adorable items on their website. Colorful cute placemats, wall art, personalized items and a whole lot more. I love the tea party items on the site. If you want to enter the giveaway, click here for your chance to win. You need to hurry, time is running out.
It's been a long week in the P household. Well, let's back up a bit. My parents, who now live TN, were coming to help out with the chidren. Well, Mama, came down with flu like symptoms and couldn't come so my Daddy came and helped transport Jacob back and forth to school. On Wedndesday, Daddy carried Jacob to school and Joleigh went to Chip's parents house and stayed so I could carry Chip in for outpatient surgery. He had his gallbladder removed and is doing fine, except for cabin fever. When we found out that Chip was going to have surgery we decided that we would also have a yard sale and he could sit there and help run it so we wouldn't be idle....in other words, still doing something. So we set the yard sale up with help of my wonderful SIL's /BIL and nephews. Last night, on last minute arranging, after I came in, Joleigh was running 102.4 fever and eventually lost her supper. YIKES! What am I going to do now? Yard sale was in the morning and it was now time for my Dad to go home, Chip still recovering and I had to run the yard sale. Oh, who would take Jacob to school? I said, I will worry later, let me take care of my sweet girl. Well, Joleigh was so pitiful whining, hurting and just plain sick. So being the wonderful, sweet mother (lol) that I am, I snuggled with her and began to sing her favorite songs, knowing it would calm her down. Instead of the calming effect, this is what my darling daughter said to me. "Mama, please stop singing that song, it is going to make me frow (throw) up again" I just died laughing. She still has her sassyness even when she is so sick. She is doing better today, just cold and fever. Jacob super helper with sister and his Daddy. I did fairly well on the yard sale today. Considering we didn't do any advertising except for a few fliers here and there, last minute radio announcing and my nice neighbor that went all over putting up signs for us. Oh and the rain. Hoping tomorrow will be better.
Today is Joleigh's 3rd birthday. We celebrated it on Saturday at Pizza Kastle with family and friends. I can't believe that she is already 3. Where does the time go? She is so full of energy and loves life and her family. She is sassy, smart and silly! She loves to dance and "do flips" Her favorite things now are High School Musical and Ballerinas.
As we celebrate this day, I can't help to think about her birth family in China that may be having a very hard day today, wondering how their little girl is doing. Wondering if she is okay? Wouldn't they be so proud at how our angel is doing? Loving life, loving learning, loving everything. Thanks to their sacrificial love and placing that little girl at the gates of Yulin 1st SWI 3 years ago, where they knew she would be found, has allowed me to be her "mommy" and her to have a forever family. I am so honored and proud to be just that. Now, on with our day.
We had a full day today starting with taking Jacob to school, then picking up Ms. Angie to go to town with us. We then went to Kohl's and Target, then to the Doctor for her 3 year old check up. The doctor said she is doing great. Finally in the 50%for her weight and heighth. She weighed 30 lbs and is 37.5 inches tall. She is growing so fast. She received her flu shot and they checked her blood and overall, she did great! After we left the Doctor's office, we went to Cracker Barrel, where Joleigh filled up on "dumpins, carrots and geen beans" and of course, sweet tea. Gotta go now as we are headed to church, another one of her favorite places to go.
Another fun year at the NPF. Farmer's night is on Monday of the Fair Week and the local farmers get into the fair for free, so off we go. Uncle Robert and Aunt Kim came up from Tampa for Joleigh's birthday and to go with us to the Peanut Festival. While we were there, we met up with Chris, Sharla, Morgan and Christian and Brad, Melanie, Cory and Alex. What fun the kids had! Adults, too, especially when it came time to eat. We also ran into Uncle JD, Aunt Cindy, Caleb, Cody and Nicole at the NPF. Caleb, Cody and Nicole were kind enough to ride with Jacob on the bigger rides and Joleigh on the little rides. Cody even tried to crammed himself into a car so he could ride with Joleigh, but decided to take the back seat. SO sweet. Enjoy the pictures!
We had Joleigh's 3rd birthday party at the Pizza Kastle and it was a blast. Friends and family came out to share this special occasion with her. Joleigh was a little overwhelmed with all the festivities and noise, but soon settled in. She didn't like the music playing and the lights off when it was time to blow out the candles. (watch video below) Overall, I think she had a wonderful time and enjoyed opening up "prizes for me"! Enjoy the pictures and videos, too!
We went to our Fall Festival at Church this year. It was so much fun! We had the Roping Bull booth, that we usually do. We had over 1000+ people to show up at the Fall Festival. It was a cold night in Florida (40 degrees), but that didn't stop all the fun! This year everyone deserted my team! Tennessee is having a rough go this year, but I still love them! Joleigh decided to side with her Daddy and become an Alabama Fan, while Jacob is liking the Auburn Tigers. I, am left to cheer for my UT Vols alone! Maybe next year will be better for them! Enjoy the pictures!
Chip, Jacob and I along with other friends recently went to a Casting Crowns concert in PC, Fl. It was wonderful! RiRi and Stephy asked to see if Joleigh wanted to stay with her and of course, Joleigh said "yes, cause Cassing Cowns will be loud" She is so funny. So, this was the first night that Joleigh spent the night away from us and she did GREAT! She got a little whimpy when the TV was turned off, but that was okay.....RiRi snuggled with her and rocked her to sleep and she slept all night. Joleigh told me that she needed a "big girl bed" like Stephy. I have to admit that I felt lost without her, didn't know how to eat without cleaning up a mess or the typical toddler mealtime mishaps, but it was a nice evening ........STRESS FREE and some good time with Jacob! LOL Thanks RiRi and Stephy. We love you! I am trying to upload a few pictures.
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