Consider Yourself Hugged (CYH)

Coming!!!!

I can hear Miss Scarlet now...."where's the NEW blog? Where are you? What's up with this?"

We had an unexpected surprise...our new landlords allowed us to move in early...which was great, but through off our groove. We ended up moving the next day...two days early. That meant cutting off internet, but not getting it back until today. ACTUALLY, the guy is here right now. I happened to piggyback onto someone's wireless...it could drop me at any minute. Much to tell....more later.

Happy birthday to my redheaded nephew who is....12! I can't believe that. I remember when you came into the world at about 2 pounds and we weren't sure you were going to make it. I prayed over you! I still do. I'm reminded today that God says, (Jer. 29:11) that he knows the plans he has for us....to give us a future and a hope. Your future is bright indeed. I love you. Hope you day is family and fun-filled.

Grandparents...

If you look in Webster's dictionary it says:

Main Entry: grand·par·ent
Pronunciation: \ˈgran(d)-ˌper-ənt\
Function: noun
Date: 1632
: a parent of one's father or mother
— grand·pa·ren·tal \ˌgran(d)-pə-ˈren-təl\ adjective
— grand·par·ent·hood \ˈgran(d)-ˈper-ent-ˌhu̇d\ noun

IS that all? NO. We say....someone who adores you and thinks you hung the moon no matter what age you are...someone who drives 45 minutes to hear your jr high band play or watch you sign/sing a song...someone who takes the time to ask what you really want for Christmas and then sends it around the world (no matter the cost)...someone who buys you something you want just because...someone who teaches you to drive a tractor or ski down a big scary slope...someone who will read as many books to you as you want because it's time with you...someone who taught your mom or dad to love the Lord, but didn't stop there..continued to teach you...someone who gave your parents a good name to give to you....someone who spoils you (just enough to prove they ARE grandparents) but not too much...and so much more.

We thank the Lord for Grandparents (two sets) who sent presents (already wrapped...mom, says THANKS) ahead of time so it will FEEL like they are with us on Christmas. Presents received. Children appropriately bated. Time to wait and stare at the pretty packages...TORTURE!! We're thinking of you and missing you, too. You are loved more than we have words to say.

DEFINITELY a hat girl....

The "royal family" Christmas Card

May the light of Christ shine brightly in your hearts this holiday season.
(remember to pause the music on the player...first)


Peace in the Savior's love...Hope in the Savior's love...Love because of the Savior.
Merry Christmas and Blessings on the New Year!

Merry Christmas!

You look SO cute in that hat...

Let me take your picture...

But you weren't looking at me...Look at me and smile, please.

Is that a smile?

ANYTHING for Daddy! Even take a picture I don't want.


On their way out the door for school, I thought the Princess was darling in her Hello Kitty hat and gloves. She isn't as camera ready as the Prince. He pops into pictures where you don't want him and she never smiles when you want her to. Whose kids are these anyway?

You know you're loved when...

...an AGGIE purchases and mails (around the world) ANYTHING with Texas Longhorns on it!!! Thanks for the Care Package. You know I have some other more incriminating pictures of you and the hubby. I decided to be nice...not really(truth be told). My scanner would work to get them in...maybe next time!! :)

Monday Morning Music...

I have a sweet friend who has a "hymn" of the day. In her "morning person-ness" (yes, I made that up), she is always singing. So, I began a habit of asking what song was on her heart that day...which, for the record, isn't always a hymn. Sometimes I'd call her, sometimes we passed each other at school, sometimes she called me singing it, and as of late, I've gotten a few emails. But that started something in me...recognizing what song God had put on my heart that day. Rather than just singing as an extension of my own personality and private worship...what message is there to share? Today in my time with God, (and after admitting I'm not happy with His timing...my brother and family are home [temporarily] from Africa and I'm over here not able to see them) this is the song of my heart.

You are my supply, my breath of life, still more awesome than I know.
You are my reward, worth living for, still more awesome than I know.

All of You is more than enough for all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with your love
And all I have in You is more than enough.

You're my sacrifice of greatest price, still more awesome than I know.
You're my coming King, you are everything, still more awesome than I know.

All of You is more than enough for all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with your love
And all I have in You is more than enough.

More than all I want, more than all I need.
You are more than enough for me.
More than all I know, more than all I can see,
You are more than enough.

It truly is the song of my heart today. What about you?

Life is a song...

I was commenting to the King with a smile, "Wow. I have ten blog followers." His reply was to burst out in song with, "I wanna be a [blog] follower..." No offense to Steven Curtis Chapman who penned the line, "I wanna be a God follower. I wanna go wherever He leads." But is it any wonder we're married to each other?...everything reminds us of songs or lyrics. The crazy thing is....the King is ALWAYS changing the original lyrics (even his own)to be something goofy and totally cracking us up as a family. For example, On My Knees" by Jaci Velasquez...."I Eat Refried Beans" (I'll let YOU fill in the rest) or David Crowder's, "Oh, Praise Him, He is Holy" (In honor of our former youth minister) was changed to, "Oh, Spray Him, He is Stinky!" Not to mention the countless "Silly Songs" (as in Veggie Tales) that he himself has penned. He should go to work for BigIdea Productions! Anyway, there you have it. Blog follower was mild, but still cute, nonetheless.

Let me explain...

I'm always snapping pics of the family and I find that I'm not in them much, but I'm okay with that. We've recently discovered why we can't get the Prince out of bed in the morning...his bed is SO comfortable. The King was laying on it while hanging with the Prince and told me about it. So, with the way we've been feeling (aches and pains from a cold), we decided we needed a nap...in his bed. Just as we were beginning to doze...we saw it and then heard it. The bright light accompanied by a giggle. He didn't think I'd post it.

Yes, I have a BIG stick!!!

My handsome boy..er..um...young man! I have no problems with him having an Asian wife.....someday......in the FAR off future. In the meantime, I have a big stick!

What's this....?

When you open a care package and this is neatly tucked in the middle sealed in not one, but two ziploc baggies....I think that makes it CONTRABAND! Woo hoo!

I LOVE Christmas!!!

Back in the states, I had TONS of Christmas decorations. We always put the tree and trimmings up Thanksgiving weekend unless we were traveling and then in was as soon as possible! I was pleasantly surprised to find that there are decorations over here...not necessarily my style, but I'm grateful nonetheless. We bought a tree with Fiber Optic lights that change colors and a few ornaments. Like I said in an earlier post, we'll be moving around the 20th and we'll be in that apartment for basically the rest of our time here. So we chose a tree for that apartment.


And my precious mom sent me some other decorations...

I love the table cloth, napkins and napkin rings! They're beautiful and the picture doesn't do them justice. I love plaid, too...which they are. Red, green and gold! And she sent Christmas towels...I didn't take a picture of the bathroom...not sure you want all that info! Thanks mom!

A little humor...

IT DOESN'T HURT TO HAVE A LITTLE BIBLICAL HUMOR ONCE IN A WHILE....
Q. What kind of man was Boaz before he married Ruth?
A. Ruthless.


Q. What do they call pastors in Germany?
A. German Shepherds.

Q. Who was the greatest financier in the Bible?
A. Noah He was floating his stock while everyone else was in liquidation.


Q. Who was the greatest female financier in the Bible?
A. Pharaoh's daughter. She went down to the bank of the Nile and drew out a little prophet.


Q. What kind of motor vehicles are in the Bible?
A. Jehovah drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden in a Fury. David's Triumph was heard throughout the land. Also, probably a Honda, because the apostles were all in one Accord.

Q.. Who was the greatest comedian in the Bible?
A. Samson. He brought the house down.

Q. What excuse did Adam give to his children as to why he no longer lived in Eden?
A. Your mother ate us out of house and home.


Q. Which servant of God was the most flagrant lawbreaker in the Bible?
A. Moses. He broke all 10 commandments at once.

Q. Which area of Palestine was especially wealthy?
A. The area around Jordan. The banks were always overflowing.


Q. Who is the greatest babysitter mentioned in the Bible?
A. David. He rocked Goliath to a very deep sleep.


Q. Which Bible character had no parents?
A. Joshua, son of Nun.

Q. Why didn't they play cards on the Ark?
A. Because Noah was standing on the deck. (Groan...)

PS. Did you know it's a sin for a woman to make coffee?
Yup, it's in the Bible. It says . . . "He-brews"



Ok, Ok...no comments...lighten up...you know they're funny...sort of.

The Big Blue Chair...

Everyone's favorite "online" spot...

Can that be comfortable?

Ignore the mess in the corner, it was waiting on Rubber Maid box.

Whose feet?

The boys...

Sorry the pics are so dark (using the Prince's camera). I've not been feeling well, and after the Princess went to bed, the guys decided to give me some space. They crawled into the Prince's bed with both of their laptops (don't ask me why) to watch the Prince's new favorite movie, "Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium." I took the pic and then decided to take another one to be sure...look closely at their faces. Goofy boys! I wanted to run into the middle of them yelling Triskadecaphobia! (sp?) but the king hadn't seen the movie, yet.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

Friday night...


We're still our normal selves...

doing the normal things... (Well, sort of normal)

that we did before we moved... (notice the red "head" instead of face)

Except I can't rememer the King playing TWISTER before...

It's hard for the Prince to compete with...

"Stretch Armstrong"

We borrowed some Amelia Bedelia books (Uncle #1's favorite!) and curled up in...

everyone's favorite blue chair. (I have a pic of all of us in it...at different times.) We'll miss it when we move to our new apartment.

Sleep tight, Princess. She was given this duck with a long stretchy neck, named Samuel. But she quickly changed his name to "Bullocks" (Pronounced, "Boo Locks") Cracks me up! She can't sleep without a nightlight, but then she blocks out the night light with her mask. Go figure. (Notice she's sleeping on top of the comforter wrapped up with another one...it makes it easier to make her bed!!)