TGIF!!!

I am thrilled beyond words that it's Friday! Only one more week of school, and I get to spend the afternoon with DADDY!!! I've missed seeing him every Friday! I am really excited about today. I didn't work yesterday b/c of that lunch...it was so much fun! We finished at 12:30 but promised not to return until AFTER 2pm. So we shopped! Well, I window shopped, but it was so much fun! I did buy a couple small Christmas presents!

Last night we had choir practice for our big service on Sunday night. We didn't leave until almost 9:30, and by that time, me and my good friend Christa, were hungry again! So we went to Chili's and had queso and salsa! Yummy!! It wasn't just food...we both decided it was food for our soul...we haven't spent any time together in forever, and it was great getting to have that time to just hang out and laugh. I love her. There is nothing better than a friend you can be yourself with. One who you tell all your secrets to, and they still love you. I hope all of you have at least one friend like that!

I have this lovely cough thing right now...I sound like a seal barking. So I'm going to go get my prescription of the magic steroid and drink me some before work today! I hope my voice sounds better tonight....I'm in an ensemble, and singing with a mic with a raspy voice is not good. Bob's already had to replace one lady b/c she had the crud.

I cannot WAIT for Sunday night! This program is going to be BEAUTIFUL. It's the story of Jesus' birth told by our kids at church. Complete with an ANGEL CHOIR. Can we say Kleenex, anyone?!?!?! Graham is singing one of the songs with a couple little girls, and they sound beautiful!! I cried when I heard him sing it Thursday night! I cannot wait...

Well, I need to run. I had a few spare minutes and wanted to write a little...hope you all have a great FRIDAY!!!!

Happenings At Our House

So it's been kind of a whirlwind week. I thought I would have had more time to do whatever since I'm part timing it now, but my time has been very busy! Monday was a normal day...well, at least during the school day, but then Graham started complaining of a headache and sore throat. I took his temp. and it was 102. Yuck. We were also having a birthday party for Bill that night. Sadly, I don't think it was much of a party for him. Poor Big Daddy.

I took Graham to the doctor on Tuesday, and he had strep throat. I was kind of glad b/c at least there's medicine to treat that. We went to Target to get the scrip filled and shopped around for a few minutes while we waited. I was going to take him to Chik Fil A for a milk shake, but he told me he didn't want one. He just wanted to go home. You know he doesn't feel good if he turns down a milk shake.

Since he was sick, he was unable to be in the spelling bee. He was so upset about that b/c he was really looking forward to it. I started to leave to take Drew there, and I rammed into Phyllis' car. It was dark and raining, and with the garage light on, I couldn't see ANYTHING. She had parked behind me so they could get inside quickly, and needless to say, I forgot she was there. Phyllis had worked in the health room at the school that day and I asked her to go ahead and get the boys since she was there. Plus it was thundering and lightning and they won't dismiss the kids as long as it's storming like that. I knew it would be a long wait to get them, so she went ahead and brought them home. It turns out, it wasn't as bad as it looked. She'll have to get a new grill and some paint got knocked off. She was actually on her way out to move the car right as I hit it. I cried. Seriously. I have a near perfect driving record, and I did this this week, and last Monday as I pulled into a parking slot at the school, I bumped into the principal's car. It left a scuff on it that her husband buffed out, so now you can't even tell I ever touched it. But come on, twice in eight days?

Mrs. Claney (the principal) was really cool about her car. I was white as a ghost and when I stepped back into her office to tell her what I'd done, she knew something was wrong. I started telling her and she said, "Jen, that car is old, I've had it forever and I'm going to keep it forever. And when I retire, I'm going to give it away, and buy a two seater convertible. So it's not a big deal, I promise." She could have been really upset, but she was so nice. Todd told me I must be trying to get fired. Not really, but my judgement of how much room I had was off. Mr. Ronnie, our plant manager, threated to buy me a smaller vehicle so I wouldn't keep hitting cars.

Thankfully, the rest of this week has been rather uneventful. I missed work on Tuesday, went yesterday, and am missing again today. Mrs. Claney is taking the office staff out to lunch today from 11~2, which are the exact hours that I work. Since I was office staff for four or five weeks, she invited me as well. We're going to a yummy restaurant, The Silver Caboose, that's on the square and I'm really excited! I haven't been there in a long time!

Well, I need to get off this thing and start my day. I have lots of laundry waiting on me to fold. Joy. Love to all and HAPPY THURSDAY!!!!!

To Us A Child Is Born

Isaiah 9.6 and 7

6For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Luke 2.8~14
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Football and The Fireplace

I am finished cleaning my house!!! Woohoo! And the laundry is all put away, the boy's rooms are clean, and I am sitting in my recliner watching the Bama/Gator game, warmed by the fire and screaming at the top of my lungs as Bama made their first touchdown. Shhhh. Don't tell anyone I am screaming at the tv over football. The guy threw his body through the air in order to score that TD, and he just barely made it. It was cool.

In just a little while, we're leaving to go to Zoo Lights with my dad. I'm so excited! I froze my toes off at the parade last night, so tonight I'm going to dress warmer. MUCH warmer. Long johns, Under Armour, thermal hunting socks, the works. I cannot wait.

This morning at 4:15, Todd and Graham woke up and got dressed to go hunting. I cannot believe my oldest son is old enough to participate in this. He is Todd's little buddy today. Graham didn't actually hunt, he just sat with him. He's going to start next season. Todd went and bought him one of those hunter's masks, an orange vest and a new camo coat. He was all bundled up for warmth. I think it was around 20 degrees while they sat out there. Here's a pic:


That just cracks me up. He looks like a midget. That's a lot of camo for a short little guy. They got back at around 10 this morning, and when I asked him if he liked it, his whole face just lit up. This is also the same kid who while at my dad's last year on Christmas Eve spotted a deer and said, "Man it's times like this when I wish I had a gun." Seriously. My little Graham. As I write this, he sits here on the couch cheering just as loud as Todd for his team. Roll Tide.

Well, I'm gonna go make some hot cocoa...I'll post more later probably. If you have facebook, go there and check out my new pics. Love to all!!!

What I Love About Christmas

I love lots of things about Christmas, and thought I'd share why I think this is such a special time of year. Happy reading!

I love how the story of Jesus' birth comes alive during this time...I love what the lights represent (how He gives light to a lost and dying world), and I love driving around and looking at them with my family!

I love getting all bundled up every year and going to zoo lights with Pappaw and Grandma Sandy and Aunt Tricia! And taking a carriage ride through the zoo all snuggled up!!!

I love freezing our tails off at the annual Christmas parade!!! And getting into the music with family and friends!

I love all the decorations I have...each one is treasured and means something very special to me. A lot of them were given to me by two year olds when I taught them, and most of the ornaments on my tree are handmade by my sweet boys!!

I love baking...even though I don't do a lot of it, but I love making goodies with my kids. Their favorite is chex mix and my new recipe for sausage ball biscuits! YUMM!!

I love all the birthdays....Big Daddy's, Beau's, JESUS', then Todd's. In that order.

I love drinking special drinks from Starbucks one time a year...this is that time! However, this year, Kroger sells all the flavored creams that make those drinks so yummy, so I've been making the same drinks at home and sharing them with the kids!

I love having TWO UNINTERRUPTED WEEKS OFF FROM SCHOOL! I love sleeping late, snuggling deeper into my bed, staying up late, lounging around while the kids play, you name it, I love everything about Christmas break!

I love going to church this time of year! I love all the music we sing, seeing the beautiful trees in the lobby, and I love being with our church family...they are just that...FAMILY.

I love our Christmas get~togethers! I love being with our family and doing special things with them, I love being with our friends, and I love our new New Year's Eve tradition....

I LOVE CHRISTMAS MOVIES AND BOOKS!!! We love having movie night at our house, and what is better than a great Christmas movie?!?!?!??!?!

I love Christmas eve! It's magical, and I dearly love it.

Well, I'll write more about this later...I'm going to finish cleaning so I can do a little shopping today. Hopefully, anyway. I may never leave my house. Todd built a fire, and it feels delicious in here but cold outside!

I'm Running Out Of Titles

Seriously. I am. I feel really pressured to come up with one, too. I mean, I like to write, and I do this blog, and think I do a pretty good job, but someone (ahem PHYLLIS) told me to title each one so it would show up on her computer bar at the top of her screen. Do you see my dilemma?

I'm supposed to be watching a movie with Todd, but here I am doing this instead. He's watching We Are Marshall. It's okay, but apparently I asked him to wait on me for no reason. Oops, thanks anyway, baby.

We had fun tonight. Drew had a chorus performance at Barnes & Noble, so we went and listened. It was also CES' bookfair event, so there were something like a million kids there. I gotta admit, I felt like a rockstar walking through there. So many kids kept yelling, "MRS. GOODWIN, MRS. GOODWIN!!!" It was fun. And everyone should have someone scream out your name in exuberance at least once in their life. It's a major attitude adjustment that happens instantaneously. It's great.

I got some news today. Mrs. Kathy will be coming back to work in the front office on Monday. I have mixed emotions. On the one hand, I'm glad I'll have some free time back. I really miss my Daddy on Fridays. And I need to shop for you know what. Twenty one days and counting, by the way. On the other hand, I'm sad because I won't be 'in the loop' anymore. And I'll miss my friend Erika, whom I've come to know and love. We sit and laugh at all that we encounter on a daily basis. If we didn't laugh, we'd probably go nuts. It's a hoot.

So, it looks like tomorrow is it for me as a full time employer. I think that mostly, I have gladness. And I'm sure my family will love me cooking and cleaning again. And doing laundry, then actually PUTTING IT AWAY. It's been sitting for days on end for weeks now. After the chorus thing tonight, I went to a party for the ladies at work. I saw Kathy there, and told her that I would be around if she needed me, but otherwise, I was done for a while. At least until after December.

I cannot WAIT till tomorrow night!!! It's our Christmas parade and it's going to be cold!!! Brrrrr!!! I love this time of year....LOVE IT!!! We have a packed weekend...it's that tomorrow night, Zoo Lights on Saturday night, and the Enchanted Forrest on Sunday after church, then early choir practice. I have crafts to do with Jonah's and Noah's class next week, and shopping, then it's almost break!!! Woo hoo!!! Oh, and it's Big Daddy's birthday...and we're hoping to celebrate it Monday night. AHEM, IS THIS OKAY BILL????? You can reply and let me know...

Well, I'm going to bed now. I have now missed more than half this movie, and am going to give up. At least I've provided some reading material for all who are interested. I love being able to contribute something. Love to all!!!

I Love This Time of Year!!!

Tonight was our annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony on the Collierville square. We had so much fun!!! Christmas is officially on its way! This is one of the things that kicks off the start of the season for us...we have several, starting with our Christmas decorations, then this week there's the ceremony, then our parade is Friday night!! I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR!!! This pic was taken tonight.

We are having a great week...it's flying by, as usual. We have a lot going on this week, but it's a good one, nonetheless. I am disappointed with myself, though. I have several Christmas books I bought a while back, and I have not read them yet. I cannot believe that. Of course I don't have much spare time, either, but that's my goal for this week, to at least get through one of those.

Exciting stuff here, I know. It's late, and I'm sleepy, so I'm getting off before I excite you much more. I don't want to get you all worked up before bedtime. Love to all, and good night!!!