Another Christmas Memory

Last year I shared this Christmas memory. Here is another one of my favorites. . .

One December night in 2004, our first Christmas in Maryland, we heard sirens blaring and saw lights flashing in our neighborhood. I went out to see what was happening. To my surprise, I saw a procession of firefighters walking down the street as a fire truck escorted by other rescue vehicles, all with lights and sirens ablaze, made their way through our neighborhood. On top of the fire truck, spotlighted for all to see, sat Santa. This was too cool. I ran back into the house yelling for everyone to come and see. I found Rachel and Chloe and dragged them out of the house. Hannah was upstairs in the shower at the time, so Lance ran up to the bathroom, wrapped a towel around her, grabbed her, and ran toward the closest window. He opened the blinds and they watched as the parade of people and vehicles passed our house.

After the excitement was over, Lance looked down at Hannah and noticed her pale face and shocked expression. She had no clue what was going on, but heard the sirens as Lance pulled her out of the shower. She thought that our house was on fire because he was running with her to the window. Hannah was just waiting for her dad to open the window so that they could jump to safety.

Party Time

Birthday parties are great fun. They are also a lot of work and super expensive. When we made the move to Maryland 4 years ago, instead of having big parties every year for the girls, we decided to begin having birthday parties for them every other year. On the non-party birthdays we still do special things with our family and sometimes a few close friends. We still make a really big deal out of celebrating the special day.

I am loving the every other year party thing. And, I must give some credit to my friend Suzie. She does parties for her 6 kids every other year, too. And talking to her helped me decide to make this change. I mean, come on, there is great pressure to have a big blowout every year. I am glad to have freed myself up from this. I think my kids still have a chance at becoming normal, well adjusted adults someday even though they only had birthday parties every other year.

Well, this year Rachel's birthday was Thanksgiving week. It was her 10th, double digits, a big deal. So, we celebrated her all day (really all week) long. It was also a party year for her. Here are a few photos from the big day that I am finally getting around to posting.

Winter Weather, Part 2

Here are some photos to go with the previous post.

Winter Weather

I spent the first 32 years of my life in Louisiana and Texas, so maybe that makes me appreciate the winter weather here in Maryland a little more. Maybe after living here for only 4 years, I just haven't gotten used to it yet. I don't know, but I don't think I could ever grow tired of snow.

I was so excited Monday to see the first snow flurries and flakes of the season swirling around outside. Well, it has been snowing here since early this morning today, and it is beautiful. I love the snow. I love snow days. Chloe and I have been home today. I thought it would be a great day to get some of the many things that I need to do done at the house. But, I should have known, most of my day has been spent just staring out of the windows watching the snow blanket my yard. I always find it difficult to get much done when snow is falling. I find myself being drawn to the windows again and again.

In honor of the first snow of the season, here are some of my favorite things about snow/snow days:

• school cancellations
• sledding down the hills in our neighborhood
• building snowmen and snow forts
• looking out of my windows at the snow covered trees in the woods behind my house
• cooking large pots of soup and chili
• shoveling my driveway and sidewalks
• seeing those giant piles of snow the plows leave in parking lots that last for weeks and weeks
• hot chocolate and popcorn
• staying in my pj's all day
• the silence that everything being covered in snow brings
• how bright everything looks outside at night when the moon shines on the snow

Schools are closing 2 hours early today. Rachel just got home and Hannah will be here soon. I'm going to get the hot chocolate ready.

Just Another Sunday Together at LifePoint

Here it is. The finale from Children's/Student Ministry Weekend Services at Lifepoint, May 2007.