Decorations, maps, silver spoons and Christmas carols

The kids used to begin to sing the Muppets Christmas carols as soon as Thanksgiving was finished.... "Christmas is coming the goose is getting fat... time to put a penny in the old man's hat, if you haven't got a penny, a haf penny will do, if you haven't got a haf penny then

God bless you!"

As if a fat goose would mean anything to us at this house other than he's a big eater:)

But we do decorate somewhat... I love the lights of Christmas,

I love the red and green,

but for the past 2 years, we've foregone the tree and done very very simple meaningful things around this house. I like it that way:)

Look what we found in the attic as we were deciding what to use and what to give away or store away... (Hopefully get relocated somehow as we downsize around here!!)

Elly's spoons... we took them to her house as we relived the memories of Nana's yearly gift.

"Poppy, you said you'd show me the map!!!"

we'd heard it each time this one came into the house and saw the geological map of we had done with the seismic system of scientifically locating water:) btw... science is not always

the best way to find water! But this shot of our little one letting Poppy explain the map is

priceless... pink tights waving and eyes studiously on the map.... "this one is where the

red bed is... the water should be right above the red bed".... YOU KNOW what this one thought of "red bed".... no it's not where we sleep... but the water might sleep on top of it:)

How many years have the kindergartners of the elementary schools caroled at the Tuscola bank? Yep... many many many! so this is yet another year of the holiday tradition.

But, one of the best parts to me... besides those sweet little voices was watching the oh so proud mommas and daddys... hearing their young ones sing out loud and in public about the day the Christ child came into this world for you and for me.

yes, there are places in the USA where we still can do this, and our place is one!

Thank You Father for a community that holds the values that we share.

Thank You for planting us with people who know YOU and desire Your goodness in their lives and the lives of those they are raising.

Help us Father never take for granted the FREEDOM that was not free.... it was bought with a price by our forefathers who believed that America was truly "one nation UNDER GOD"... and Lord.... let it be so longer still!

Thanksgiving 2010 family and Burundi friends

We always have more food than we need, and this year we didn't do turkey:)

Jiji and the kids made a canvas of color and words... we are THANKFUL!

Pam and Philip made 2 huge prime rib roasts.... AMAZING PHILIP.... perfect!

And our family increased with our Burundi friends.... precious Joseph and sweet Justine... who also brought her brothers and a new addition, Tiffonia. We're glad you could join us!

Thanksgiving is a time of remembering

being THANKFULL

and understanding inheritance and heritage... generation, by generation, by generation.

WE are thankful Father for gifts beyond measure... for hope, love, joy, and peace that goes way beyond my understanding in these volatile and changing times in which we are living.

KG is a Tenager, and TS is now a whopping 4 year old!

Yes my girl.... believe it... you are really wearing XS adult jeans and tops as well

as size 6 adult shoes for those fast fast feet of yours!

Birthdays are always fun with cousins so close to us... and with KG and TS only one week apart on the calendar... it's sometimes a good thing to combine the day. Especially since we already made the full weekend of the TAMU game for all three of this crew.

November brought us new critters.... so very adorable... we had no idea that Batams would let you hold and even snuggle their soft little bodies close. These 7 will be laying eggs come Springtime. Although the 2 biggest (Big Momma 1 and Big Momma 2) were purchased to be simply that... THE BIG MOMMAS and show the little ones just what chickens do:)

The freezes have not really hit this year like last, so the hillsides are spectacular with their Fall colors. I think the unusual amounts of rain this year have allowed so many more things to grow strong and hearty so their display is sorta like a "thank you" to the ONE WHO sends the showers that this little valley is always in prayer for. Thank YOU Father!

Happy Birthday my Fall kiddoes... now like EE says... My birTday is de next one!

In a Prayer Chapel, at the zoo, or up a tree:))) November is a sweet time of year

GIG EM~~~~Texas A&M football for the Callaway birthdays 2010

We did the Rangers for TR so why not TAMU for the October/November Callaway kids?

What a fun fun time... what a time of memories for their moms and dads? Not to mention their grandparents too!

Hoot got the kids a special tour of the TAMU vet clinic before we went to the game that night.

I think this girl was confirmed in her calling:) She's always said she was gonna be a vet... well,

guess time will tell, but this day was like the girl was walking prophetic footsteps with all of us tagging along.

No one was really in this immaculately clean place, so we got a real look at where these young folks train to take care of all sorts of animals in all sorts of settings.

Some of the animals were being quarantined to be shipped to far away places and become the superior breeding stock for herd to feed hungry people.

The floors and surgical rooms were so clean you could have eaten off the floors.... NO I wouldn't really do it, but REALLY, they were that clean!

After a fun day... a a picture with the head guy... (KG was assured that as soon as she was ready he'd do all he could to get her in... so we took a picture of him with the kids just to send with her application so he'd remember the day:) smart huh? We walked across the fields of TAMU to the big game!!! Em had secured our seats and I was absolutely stunned once again by the traditions that make this school known world wide.

SJ knew exactly what to do as "the twelfth man"..... yes, they stand up the entire game!!!

Shi had a great seat and choice of 3 or 4:)))

KG and SJ were completely undisturbed by our high vantage point... we got to see the military helicopters that began the game... up close and personal! It was a fun birthday for a 6 year old, a 4 year old..... and a TENAGER..... (that's what Poppy calls a 10 year old)...

Father, thank You for fun times with family and friends...

thank You for the traditions that make memories....

Thank You that I was in shape enough to WALK everywhere we walked those 2 days:)

and thank You that You already know the plans for these kid's futures whether it be at TAMU, or somewhere equally as good. Thank You that You are already putting in their hearts an eye for the future with the talents and gifts You've put into them.

Thank You that they, like their parents, are young ones that are growing up into the heritage that is more than this physical world sees or understands... but one that You have given them eyes to see. Thank You God for Your hand on our lives.

November 2010 I love you Soccer Super Stars!

I love our athletes... All of them....

From Poppy who still gets up at 4:45AM to play basketball 3 mornings a week,

to Moosey and Wibby still wrangling cows and even doing a roping here and there,

to softball, to soccer and now to basketball with our 3 oldest ones....

These kids were born competitors... its in their DNA (but I don't think it came from me:)

The boys were absolutely the perfect counterparts on the soccer field. Just like I'd prayed when we knew that there were going to be 2 boys 3 weeks apart... "lord knit their souls together before they are even born... let them be the perfect team with parts that mix and matchup to make them mighty warriors for Your team".... Well, there ya go!

Often the physical shadows the spiritual.... and this was yet another example!

The Celtics (yes, "Tahtee we are green"... I loved it!) WIN their division... and we've got the trophies to prove it! Way to go guys!

Lord teach them to be worthy competitors and mighty warriors on and off the fields of battle. Let them know the opponents and recognize the appropriate response. Thank You for training our young athletes on grass battle grounds as they prepare for spiritual ones.

I O, Instant Offense....antlers.... and THE STORM!!!

Select teams.... because she is a FAST girl and has drive like I've seldom seen.

This time Dad gets to be one of your biggest fans and watch instead of coach the whole team... he gets to focus on you, KG... His girl!

STORM has asked her to play for this tournament and it has given new meaning to the game,

and a new NAME for the girl!

Poppy and I get to take her early because Em and Jeff have a soccer game... so here we go!

They win the tournament and our girl came in to fill in... but she left FILLED UP!!!

Her fans SEE.... and some have known all along.... God's gonna use this gift, and He knew just into whose arms to place the bearer. Good job Em and Jeff.... good job KG....

MGLG!!! remember Em???? it was once on a hat a long time ago...

or maybe not so long ago after all.

It is so sweet to see the next generation step into the footprints of the ones who have gone before.... even sweeter when you understand from this side of the history:)

WE are blessed with so much.... so much.... much more than words on a page could express.

OH YES.... a new name....

as the girl stole around all three bases on a left handed bunt, the "antler" sign was apparent on the coach and her new teammates.... and as the coach saw her run into home he yells..

"WAY TO GO I-O, you're our Instant Offense"..... and so it goes.... a new name and a new level.

Lord bless her training for whatever you have in store for our girl.... We know it is more than softball, it is life. It is Your purpose about the people that this is merely the vehicle for now. Let us all know for each one what our place in Your work for these precious ones is.

and..... once again LORD.... Thank You for letting us see so closely!

Dream, country kids, pumpkin decor Oct/Nov 2010

WE don't do Halloween, but we do decorated for Fall... I love the old wagon Pam found for me, and it looks great with my Fall pumpkin patch!

Things are still green around here and the cottages are hosting several families.

The kid's herd is a bunch of big old softies.... I remember when Mille was born.... on the Millenium year.... I remember Moosey and Wibby with Em in warm carhartts feeding that little red calf. Yes, Brahman cows like this one are red when they are born. She is KG's first cow, born the same year as she was.

This dream knocked my socks off.... and then to have TR dream about "angry eyes looking in the windows" not but a couple weeks later. I do believe the Lord still speaks to His people in dreams, and this one is very possibly one that I need to pray into for wisdom. The scary creatures in the last pen... the CIA men looking in the windows of our home that was filling with strange people and then the huge rocket ship with USA landing on our mountain and crumbling it beneath the weight.... yes, I need to know what You are telling us LORD... in dreams, through Your prophets, through Your people. Give us ears to hear!

And now the Pipe has a place to stay clean and out of the snakes out back. The lights will be quite a help too as the guys load and unload.

Thank You LORD for Your providence in so many ways in our life.

May we always be mindful of the fact that "the earth and everything in it" is Yours and we are the stewards of Your gifts. Help us know how to live and use these things wisely. Tell us how to prepare and how to rely on Your hand of providence. Help us to understand that in all things YOU are the GIVER of the good things and the ONE WHO filters all things through your fingers of love over our lives. Thank You LORD.

A day with my smallest 2

Let's go up to the cottages and turn on the water for the guests who will be coming to visit soon. You both can play in the sandbox while Tahtee gets things in order.

Then we can go to Lucy's for little burgers and fries. Yes TS you can borrow my glasses so that you can read the menu better.... (but we do already know what you'll be getting)

I love having days with one or two of the kids..... just me and them.... memories that are priceless to this Tahtee's heart!

For EE's first time just her at our house, we begin with a totally girl stuff SPA day:)

Just the right shade of PINK!!! Miss Kasi knows just how to do a 3 year olds finger and toenails.

And then the final touch..... HAIR.... Princess hair.... My little girl has always been a princess...

whether she is just up from a nap with sleepytime hair, or straight out of a windblown trip on big red.... or like today.... soft blond ringlets and a braided crown. This precious one is our youngest little royal child.

Father thank You for days to get to know each of our grandchildren for just who they are. From TS funny antics to EE's prissy princess ways.... oh Father how they touch my heart. Thank You that they are just down the road and I can see them almost every day. I NEVER take it for granted... it is one of my favorite things YOU ever did for me!

Washington DC September 19, 2010 with Karen and Keith

The Jones, Troy and I took a trip to DC!

What fun to travel with my college roommate and dear middle school high school friends.

Who'd have thought 40 years ago that we'd be sitting on the streets of DC enjoying incredible food at this little restaurant around the corner from our LITTLE rented apartment?

TR, SJ and TS told Poppy all they wanted him to bring back was a dinosaur bone... don't think the Smithsonian thought very highly of his extracting a tooth for the gift:) but the boys thought it was pretty funny when we texted the picture back to them.

Arlington, the tour of the Capitol, a meeting with Kay Bailey with us handing her a BG newspaper, and all the sights of this great place in our American history. Who couldn't stand in awe at the moments that just screamed for our remembrance during this oh so volatile time of our nation?

From the feet of Lincoln, to the stables of Mount Vernon..... I could not help but be humbled by the gifts of the ones who went before.

The gifts that bought my right to live free... to put my roots down deep and raise my hands high as I praise God for His allowing me to be born in this great nation.... this great

REPUBLIC...

This GREAT COUNTRY, the UNITED STATES of AMERICA.

Thank You Father for this gift..... to be an American.

May I never take for granted the rights that are mine because of our freedom to live as

Americans.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!

HOME OF THE FREE

LAND OF THE BRAVE!!!