Looking Ahead

Happy New Year 2009!!!

This year Kaelyn will get her driver's license, graduate from high school, and turn 18...where did the time go?!

This year Chandler will get his learner's permit and turn 16...for real?!

This year Corey will turn 13...and we will have 3 teenagers in the house...eeeekkk!!!!

This year Chris will become a Webelo and turn 10...4 in double digits!

This year Kyle will turn 7...seriously?!

This year Joshie will turn 5...holy cow!

This year Noelle will turn 2...thankfully at the END of the year...lol

This year David will be 44 and I will be 42...sure doesn't feel like it!

This year David and I will celebrate our 20th Wedding Anniversary...has it really been that long?! (We're planning to renew our vows...woohoo!!!)

Now that the *givens* are out of the way...these things will happen no matter what...on to goals for the year....

Get all of our debt (except the house) paid off. (The house would be nice, too...but that would DEFINITELY be a God-thing!)

We're getting a second car...for cash...NO PAYMENTS!!!

Get our house renovations done...new LCD TV in the living room...new living room furniture...walls finished and painted...floor finished (haven't figured out how yet, though)...school area redone...playroom completed...new curtains in the living room.

That's not all...but it's a start...

Looking Back

We say this every year...but I just can't believe it's gone by so fast! I think it was just June yesterday when I woke up...where did the time go?

This year we've watched Noelle smile, turn over, sit up, crawl, walk, and get some teeth...Kyle, Josh, and Chris have all completed at least 1 phonics book... Chris, Kyle, Corey, and Chandler have all completed a math book...we've moved from the life of Jesus to the Dark Ages in history...Chandler and Corey have each gotten a rank advancement in Scouts...Chris moved up to a Bear... Kyle became a Tiger...all 4 boys went to Summer Camp...Kaelyn has completed 10th and 11th grades...she also got her permit...and her first boyfriend...David began working his dream job...and has just changed all around (for the better)

Me...it seems I've just been caught up in the whirlwind of change...jobs... finances...children growing up.... Sometimes I wish it would all slow down... well...the good stuff, anyway...it wouldn't hurt my feelings any if the bad stuff moved a little faster...lol

Overall...it's been a good year. I've learned a lot...grown a lot...and I'm ready to move on to 2009...ready to savor each and every moment with my children... remembering that this is the last few months of childhood for Kaelyn...and how quickly it goes...I don't want to miss a moment...don't want to be too busy.

I went to sleep last night dreaming of the *me* I want to be this coming year. I won't say it's a resolution...Michelle is right...that word just stinks of failure! I want to be more laid back...get things done...but not in a chaotic, forceful way, if that makes sense. I want to be with my husband and children...enjoy them... not be so anxious to do my own thing...

We have a lot to be grateful for this year. God has been so faithful...even though at times we couldn't *see* His faithfulness...we've known it in our hearts...and caught a glimpse here and there.

Mary, Did You Know?

This is David's favorite Christmas song...and here it's done by Chandler's and my favorite group...Kutless.


Enjoy!

Today's Funny

David was sitting at the table making his PB&J sandwiches for lunch with Kyle (6) and Joshie (4) looking on. Kyle was telling David about a time when he was 1 and threw up a PB&J. (I know...way gross!) David looked at Joshie and said, "I think he's pulling my leg." Joshie looked down, looked back at David, and said, "No...that's the dog."

Maybe it's one of those "you had to be there" things...or maybe you just have to know Joshie...but it's been making me smile all morning.

Do They REALLY Get It?

I was just reading an article about the Big 3 automakers' plea to Congress to get bailout money to save their companies. I noticed that they drove fuel-efficient cars rather than flying in on their company jets. I noticed, in fact, that at least 2 of them said they'd sell their company jets. I noticed, too, that the United Auto Workers president was there, rallying for the car companies to get their money. The thing that hit me the most, though, was that they are asking for more money this time than they did the last time.

There was a time when I thought the *help* we needed was money. I thought if I could get a little bit of money to help with this problem, then we'd be ok. And for a while, we had friends and family that thought that, too...at least, they gave or loaned us money at the time. But about 5 years ago I realized that *money* wasn't really our problem. To be honest, I'm not sure exactly *what* the problem has been...but it wasn't having or not having money. There was something we had to change about the way we handled money...although I'm still not sure I know what that *something* is. But I digress....

The point is...I see the same problem here. More money is NOT going to help the Big 3. I agree with those who have said they just need to declare Chapter 11 Bankruptcy and move on from there. Granted, I don't understand all of the details...and I CERTAINLY do NOT have the experience of running a company to back me up. But I do know that when something isn't working right, it is simply INSANITY to try to do the same thing and expect it to change. I see the same issue with Wall Street. MORE MONEY isn't going to help. Things need to CHANGE!!!

Just my not-so-humble opinion.

Advent Calendar

This is our Advent Calendar...with a twist. I had one growing up, and I loved counting the days until Christmas. I did not want to make 5 separate calendars...so we made 1 big one. And rather than having candy attached to the calendar, we wrote out clues for each day for each child. So they will have a treasure for the day's candy or treat.

Christmas List

I don't usually do these...but here goes anyway...

1. Real tree or artificial? Real

2. When do you put up the tree? Last year we put it up after Thanksgiving....but this year we're waiting until 2 weekends before Christmas.

3. When do you take down the tree? Sometime between the day after Christmas and New Years...depends on how ready I am to have my living room back.

4.Wrapping paper or gift bags? Paper.

5. When do you start Christmas shopping? As soon as I have the money.

6. Who is the hardest person to buy for? Kaelyn

7. Easiest person to buy for? Noelle

8. Angel on top of the tree, or star? Star.

9. What is the worst Christmas gift you ever got? I don't remember a worst.

10. What is the best gift you received as a child? A dollhouse when I was 7.

11. What is your favorite food to eat at Christmas time? Turkey and sweet potatoes

12. What do you want for Christmas this year? Pajamas, a Message version of the Bible for my cell phone, and a diaper sprayer...lol