I don't need....

5 children in town with me to cause a scene.

Apparently I can do a good job of it all on my own. :}

I don't go into town intending to be invisible. I go intending to get whatever I need done and usually done quickly. That said, I don't go into town intending to be ultra visible either.

Yet, when shopping alone I often sprint from parking stall to store door. Somehow I've gotten this idea that those 11.5 seconds I save in not walking are vital to getting everything done I want to get done. Now that it's written down for me to read it does seem quite foolish.

Anyway, this afternoon I was doing said sprint when I found myself tripping over my own clumsy feet. And there I went, two palms met pavement, then a little bounce, and then palms and knees slid some more until I came to a halt.

And there I lay, an ungainly hypotenuse across a corner parking stall. Seriously, I was sprawled diagonally across the parking stall with my hands on one sidewalk and my feet on the next one.

There were probably a few cars driving past that couldn't help but notice but thankfully no one stopped. The most funny part of the story is the fact that when I peeled myself off the pavement and stealthfully glanced around to see who may have witnessed my gracefulness I realized I had bailed right beside an old lady waiting in the passenger side of the vehicle whose tires may or may not bear my teeth marks. And she didn't even notice. Not once did she look up.

I'm kind of thankful. It would have been a bit embarassing to have met her eyes and confirmed that I had indeed just performed that stunt.

The grossest part of the story. I started to bleed. I was dabbing it on my jeans but the dear lady at the till still couldn't help but notice. And so, despite the fact I wasn't aware of anyone having noticed my fall, I still had to explain it to the nice lady who, I'm sure, wondered if there was a reason I was so tippy. I think I caught her exchanging glances with the next 5 customers in line.

Maybe I should get someone to just push me in a stroller.

Doesn't everyone use a stool?!

It was there and it was much less work to use it than move it :) Are you sure about this guy, Holly?! :)

We're not sure we're all the way ready to lose him to the wilds of the eastern-er province.... who'll do the dishes on Wednesdays? Me, of course! (big sigh)

Christmas

Wishing you all a very blessed Christmas.

And if you're not celebrating Christmas but a gift riddled holiday time instead, I pray that someway, somehow, you will come to know Christ as your own.

Allow me to give you something truly special to read.


Luke 2

1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
14 “ Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.



Ps. I don't have anything against the sharing of gifts at Christmas time. My problem lies in the celebrating of a gift riddled, belly gorging holiday and trying to call it Christmas. Christmas is about Christ.

A favored activity

Can be done together... (notice in front of whose paper the box of crayons lies...)

Requires great amount of attention...
for careful detail...

for both.

The favored medium is acutally felts as can be seen here on Cody's cheek. And actually somehow her hood is also full of marks.

It is not done without spats. See note on crayon bucket placement. And she's generally that cheeky about everything, including ruling over the crayons.

But to watch them carefully color and then have them run their papers over to me, "dats for you, Mum!", is a very precious part of their growing up, indeed.

And growing up is where it's at. There's less and less baby every day. I refuse to think about it anymore tonight.

For someone who often feels solar powered this was a lovely shortest day of the year.


Starting tomorrow the days will be getting longer once again. Bit by bit. I'm very thankful.


I hope you had a wonderful day.

At our house... Leah had her second night as part of a horse vaulting club and she went from last week starting out scared and learning a whole new world, to this week kneeling upright with her hands straight out at the shoulders! And practicing a flag - up on one knee other leg straight out behind, and even a bridge - sitting backwards on the horse, putting her feet on his rump and lifting her bum up in the air.

And on the way home she said she's gonna stand up next week. It's easy to say on the way home but she looks pretty high up there on that horse, just sitting down. We'll see how brave she gets.

Hurray for Leah! If we thought she was enamored with horses before it's nothing compared to the petting and brushing and vaulting she's doing now! I do believe it's fair to say she's head over tea kettles.

I wish I could share a few pictures with you but the lighting in the arena is pathetic and I haven't asked about using a flash. Wouldn't want to startle anyone.

And today, I went to Canadian Tire with 5 kids. It started out fine but ended in a bit of disaster. Once again we gave a bit of a show for half of the town.

And Steve? "Canadian Tire with 5 kids and no stroller or buggy? You're crazy! Six months ago, fine. But Christmas time? Everything's on display and you went in with 2 2 year olds, a 3 year old, a 5 year old and a 7 year old...."

And he was right. Just inside the door they had a nice display with all mounds of fluffy snow that at least 4 of the 5 were compelled to grab a handful of. There was all kinds of decor and candies and toys to be exclaimed over and touched and asked for. And then there was the experience of trying to get them from store to van where 2 2 year olds decided they would prefer to make a mad dash for it than be forced to hold the hands of older siblings. Let's just say they brought traffic to a standstill.

Yup, it was crazy of me. But thankfully we survived.

There may be a cowboy or two out there who would cringe at the misshapen form of this former cowboy hat.

But he sure had a lot of fun before I rescued it for next year's hat day.

I was just reading through some old computer files in which I had stored some stories about Leah and Sam when they were younger.

Leah was about 3 1/2 years old when we moved into a home close to the slough. One day while exploring the long grass at the slough's edge I told her to watch out for snakes. The idea didn't bother her one bit and she cheerfully continued her exploring.

Once she'd had enough she came trotting back to me and reported, "I didn't see any devils."

If I recall correctly we were doing the Genesis 3 story about that time. :)

(this was her back then!)