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Friday, December 31, 2010

Nature's Message for the New Year

I was the editor of the yearbook staff of my junior high when I was in the 8th grade. Funny thing about 8th graders is that they really do not understand the meaning of a deadline until the deadline is upon them...And, thus it should come as no surprise that when I was the editor of the yearbook staff when I was in the 8th grade that I had a freak out moment one afternoon when I realized that we had our final deadline with the publishing company at midnight, and I was short 4 spreads...the 4 spreads that we had saved until the end for a reason...the 4 spreads that were to help define the theme of our book...the 4 spreads that were my sole responsibility...

4 spreads...8 pages...I thought I would be able to whip them out. Afterall, all I needed were pictures and some words that would adequately capture the theme of our book and the year as a whole. Pretty easy for an 13-year-old! Right?

In tears I called my mom.

And, I am not real sure why, but she called my Nana.

A little over an hour later my mom showed at my school with a poem my Nana scrawled on a napkin.

A poem fitting for the final spread, my 8th grade year...and more...

And, as I welcome 2011 I reread and and hope to give honor to those words.

Nature's Message
by Nancy Stanton Holloway


In quiet contemplation I stand along upon the shore
Of a vast and angry sea as it emits a thunderous roar.
My thoughts take me forward to a time yet to be,
And I search for the wisdom to accept gracefully.

My future, and that, in my life noble plan
I will summon the strength and courage to say, "I can! I can!"
The sands of time flow quickly
through the hourglass of life...
My goals, my dreams, my human wants fill my head with strife.
I have so much to accomplish...to study...to learn...to do...
Then suddenly I shout: "Today is my beginning!"
And, "To thine own self be true!"

I am so grateful for this message
as I move onward to the unknown
For the world out there awaits my gifts...
and they are mine and mine alone!

Thanks Nana...thank you for saving me on that April afternoon in 1991 and for so, so, so much more.

Oh, and we had a pretty spectacular time with you at lunch last week as well.
We admired your things...and sighed a sigh of relief that none of my children broke anything in your home this time around! (We really do not have a good track record with that!)Learned more about our heritage...
Laughed at this...I mean, I is pretty funny that this picture shows on Eric's phone every time that K-Dan calls! :) I so with you could see the back...there is an incredibly long tail with feather-like things on the end! And, we gave great thanks that Ballerina did not knock down this Christmas tree! That would have been tragic! Swaying is fine...as long as it stayed standing!

Happy New Year all!

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Question

I have got a really important question...

So, when did my baby girl get so darn big? As I watched her proudly ride her "big girl" bike I wept...
As another year comes to an end and a new one begins, I am reminded of just how quickly they pass....I truly do not know when she grew up so much!

Looking forward to 2011 and giving great thanks for 2010...

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Lucky


Please do not be jealous.Amy and I are such lucky women.
We are so lucky to have husbands that hang dead deer on our basketball goal in our front yard. Where they also proceed to skin and carve it.
Lucky.
Again, please do not be jealous.
(However, Sid, congrats on your deer! We WERE really excited...a little grossed out, but excited!)

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Lost and Found

I rarely download pictures from our video camera, but when I did today I was delighted to have found these memories...What a delightful lost and found!

Monday, December 27, 2010

Chronological Christmas Part II: Christmas Day



First there was a visit from this big man!He brought a bunch of stuff...so much that I did not have a picture of it all! (What? I cannot believe I did not take a picture of it all Christmas morning! Bad mom!)Then there were homemade cinnamon rolls...I was pretty stinkin' proud of them. It was the first time that I had ever ventured to make them by myself. I know some areas of improvement, but overall, they were darn good!Then there were a whole lot of smiles and some very tired parents...In fact, Mommy and Daddy were so tired that they slept! Yikes! They never do that!And finally, we ended the day with our birthday song and cake for Jesus.
A great celebration to end a great day.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Chronological Christmas Part I: Christmas Eve

First, children's church service.G and Ballerina sang. (Yes, I know you are excited to hear that Ballerina actually sang this time!) Then it was to off to have Christmas dinner and gifts at Grandma Becky and Papa Randy's house.Then home to open pajamas.
Some of us find them more exciting than others!There was lots of tracking of Santa...And the preparation of Santa's cookies!Then later than we would have liked, the kids finally fell asleep.
I was off to church.
Then I was home again...

Saturday, December 25, 2010

A New Tradition

We
have
decided
that
our
newest
Christmastradition
will
be
that
these
twofamiliesalwaysmakecookiestogether!