Ahhhhh TC!

Enjoyed an alumni evening with good friends and Panther basketball!

Silver and Gold

The sights, sounds and smells of Christmas are enveloping our home.  Kale is taking it all in-brushing past the Christmas tree, peeking in the oven to watch the cookies rise, grinning at Mama and Papa as we dance to the Christmas tunes, and watching the flicker of Mama's numerous candles...

Often at mealtime, I often sing to Kale as he's eating his veggies.  It does seem to help them go down easier.  A song I often find myself singing is "Silver and Gold."  I remember playing this song on my clarinet growing up and the words have always stuck with me. 

Silver and gold.  Silver and gold.  Everyone wishes for silver and gold. 

How do you measure its worth?  Just by the wonder it gives here on earth. 

Silver and gold.  Silver and gold.  Means so much more when I see...

Silver and gold decorations on every Christmas tree!

Advent Dinner

This past week I attended an Advent Dinner at a church in our area.  There were several beautifully decorated tables, each with its own theme.  Each table was decorated by a host.  My host (and friend) was Megan.  Here's our pretty table (great job, Megan!).

We enjoyed a tasty meal, skit, Christmas music and speaker. The theme for the night was joy and we each went home with an ornament that we were to hang in a prominent place in our home and remember to find joy in our daily activities throughout the holiday season. What a great reminder! I just might have to leave it up all year long! 

I couldn't resist sharing some pics of a few of my other favorite tables (this is for you, Mom and Linda!  Knew you'd enjoy!)

"You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." Psalm 16: 11

Shining as Stars

Tonight I went outside to spend some time with Cedar before putting him to bed.  Dressed in snowpants, coat, hat and mittens, I laid down on the already frosty, sparkly ground next to Cedar.  I looked up at the stars.  It was an amazing, crystal clear sky with twinkly stars everywhere.

I couldn't help but think about the beauty that I am fortunate to see every day and night.  This canvas God created.  How small I am, just a tiny speck of dust, yet God cares for me so.  And as I breathed and saw the mist of my breath floating upward, I simply said, "I love you too, God."

"Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life-in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing." 

Philippians 2: 14-16

Kale Funnies

Either he's really hungry and wants to eat straight out of the fridge, or he's really warm and wants to cool down...

Our little Michelin man...

Maybe he WON'T be an engineer...maybe he WILL be a health educator...

Our sweet Santa...

With little carpet in our home, Kale enjoys sporting his "old man" slippers...