Diana Tagged me:) so I said... okie dokie... short sweet and at this moment.

(Okay... I was tagged by Diana... so even though I don't usually do these... how can I resist my good friend??? and guess what I tagged 4 of you! (Hopefully you will be reading this at some time to even see that you are tagged:) Happy end of 2009

Six Names you go By:
1. Momma
2. Tahtee
3. Kate
4. Troy's wife
5. Aunt Katy
6. Silly Tahtee

Three things you are wearing today:
1. gold entwined vine JA ring on my pinkie
2. glasses (blue)
3. a silver bracelet that says "I love you"

Three things you want very badly right now:
1. NOT to go on blood pressure medication!!!
2. to finish reading a great book I started yesterday!
3. my family to be rested and peaceful and healthy!!!

Three things you did Last Night/Yesterday:
1. made chicken soup (Troy almost let it burn!!) but the Dorans got to enjoy it with us... Callaways were in Dublin!
2. had Troy in a Carla conversation about ... well... you know how these go:)
3. Started reading "The Noticer" on my birthday Kindle

Two things you ate today:
1. a sunflower bagel sandwich from Chick F.
2. Fage Yogurt and homemade granola


Two People you last Talked to on the Phone:
1. Troy
2. Nana

Two Things you are going to do Today/Tomorrow:
1. Get things ready for the Connells and Howells to be at the cottages for New Years
2. Get things ready for the snow storm arriving tonight


Your Three Favorite Beverages:
1. My own blend of several herbs (home grown and organic) hot tea
2. coke
3. iced sweet tea

Now Tag People:
1. Elly
2. Emily
3. Kristi Lowe
4. Christi S. Melbourne
***what to do if you are "tagged"... simply copy and paste onto your blog, and then erase my answers and put in your own... Plus, make sure I know you did it... can't wait to read!***

Christmas 2009..WHITE, Armor, Freedom, American Girls, Songs, "O Come O Come Emmanuel", giant candy canes, AND... HOPE in the midst of the world's way

Christmas Eve blizzard...
all the creatures WERE stirring... especially the cats:)
A winter wonderland greeted us on the way to Nana and Pop's for our golden book Christmas Eve celebration... moved 2 hours earlier to get home before the icy roads were too dangerous.

Champagne and hibiscus blossoms... toasts to our family and the sweet gifts of our LORD!
Unique gifts, freedom, health and strength to be who we are called to be...
ALL were our praises and our thanksgiving on this Christmas Eve night....
Emmanuel.... God with us, for us, in us..... "to us"..... His own!
Love men talk!!! (well most of it anyway? :)
Carrie and Jay were here!!! Yeah!!! wonder what Carrie is requesting so sweetly?
choose your plate and find your spot! Good food is always a part of this family celebration!
... and golden books.... a tradition Nana brought from their Australia trip years ago..
and now it is our tradition.....oh how lovely it always is!
Will T.... you're gonna be a good Daddy! We are excited about February and a new Tippen!
Pop: "Those are Pop's suspenders... they hold my pants up!
"you don't want Pop's pants to fall down do you?"
TS: grinning hugely!!! "yes!!!"
When you are almost 1 1/2 you have great tasks to do... like pushing boxes all around the house in your super hero cape!
Jay... you were ever the charmer with the girls... even our precious little 2 year old angel!
All Pop wanted for Christmas was his family to sing... and that they did!
"O come O come Emmanuel"... and even an original by TR.... begun with Santa, but ending with the true meaning of Christmas... Jesus!!! (oh I wish we'd recorded it)
Puzzles again!!! Will, Jay and Carrie have many willing helpers!
Brothers.... glad to be together again... and missing our Marloes!
handmade plates... Nana loves them kids!
Peppermint... always reminds me of Philip's first gift to Emily... she was almost 7 months old... and the peppermint was bigger than she was... but oh how she loved it!
Troy's new Christmas camera deleted ALL the evidence... soooo sad... but it couldn't delete our memory!

We knew there were 2 skirts here and AK was going to let us know for sure!
TS... just loves his EE.... and what little guy can resist a precious princess in pretty pink ruffles?
Now... this... is not something we EVER expect... but then again... we love the serendipity of each of our family members!
Books are always treasures in my heart! these were our gems this year!
Then Christmas morning.... another book... but the words inside were just for me!!!
yes, my LORD's words... but also my precious husband's words!

Treasures.....
Thank You Father that we have the opportunity to share and to give!!!
Warriors and armor... just for them... shields of Faith.... LORD... may they ever be dressed in YOUR armor.... and may they always know from where comes the true strength of who they are
YOURS!!!
I SEE YOU!
May we know that all shadows are dispelled as the LIGHT of TRUTH covers our hearts and our lives!!!

American Girl, Webkins, armor (real... from Germany), and simple pure treasures of peace, hope, joy and love!

May we always know that we ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD!!!
LET US UNDERSTAND OUR PLACE in the world...
and may we NEVER believe anything other than the
TRUTH of YOUR HOLY WORD MADE FLESH
dwelling among us... now IN us! THANK YOU FATHER!

Merry Christmas Friends!

Holiday happenings here in the Gap!

Waiting for packages... who knows what will be?
Aunt Linda sends roses.....pretty you can see!
Ribbons, and bells
with butterflies too...
KG writes cards exactly for YOU!!!
Then off to the neighbors we go in a wink
hold on to your hats boys and better not blink!
TR likes the red one
SJ does as well....
And PopT loads BIG RED... zip gone we pell mell!
Our Christmas gets better with friends in the mix
the houses are lovely and mom got it fixed!
Icing Icicles and candy red lights...
fingers of sweetness challenge fun and a fight...
But Christmas our Christmas has only begun...
It's not about presents
It's all about FUN!!!!
****and family, and friends, and hugs, and kisses, and neighbors, and giving.... and giving... and giving some more......Christmas for our house is loving galore!!!
***and might I add a bit more?***
JESUS is the reason that love is GALORE!!!
not just Christmas.... but any day, every day... always!....
Thank You Jesus for hearts that are merry
and testify to HOPE!

Matter of Perspective

Sometimes the paths we take led us down narrow passages that don't allow us to see what might be just within our line of vision should we have eyes to see and then ears to hear.
Creativity is born in us and some of us are better than others at simply letting our inhibitions go and using the tools presented before us...
My oldest is so blessed with a heart to see beyond what her physical eyes tell her..
The little girl's mom was sitting just beyond the table involved deeply in a novel meant for distraction... KG was NOT distracted and noticed the 3 year old with her rolling metal sidekick along side. Clearly it was a treatment day for the little girl, and she was looking in every corner for something to do. She saw my 3 industrious ones hard at work, and of course... KG SAW her.
It wasn't long before the 9 year old teacher had a willing pupil and BOTH little girls became involved friends for the afternoon.
KG seemed not to even notice that the little one had a much different hair "style" and that things were just not as easy when you had much more than yourself to get around a room. All KG saw were 2 bright eyes, 2 shining dimples and an eager smile ready for relationship beyond what was common in this place.
LOOK NO FURTHER... KG has the gift of a gregarious heart that just draws even those unwilling to be drawn.... so this one was easy.
I love it... a child's eyes... is it any wonder that our LORD asks this of us?
What do I see?
Lord may I never take for granted the most VALUABLE gifts YOU give.
Thank YOU LORD for our health... Thank You Father for new eyes to see what I sometimes overlook... Eyes that have a vicarious experience with the ones You've so graciously allowed in my life and in my heart!
Thank You Father......for more than my heart can say...