This is the last slide show - I promise - for a while at least :). The kids and I had a great New Years Eve. The only thing that could have made it better was if Jared had been home - we missed you babe! Jadie crashed at 8:00, Lexi did her best but was out by 9:30 and Raden stopped playing games for 10 min and fell asleep on the couch right before 12:00 but we woke him up right before the ball dropped. This was Bailee's second time to stay awake until New's years! We had fun eating and figuring out how to play our new wii. Hope this year is a good one for everyone!!! I dont know why the posting date says Dec. 31 - It is now officially 12:52 am on January 1 2009 - HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!
I know this is a late post but we had a lot of fun at our annual Christmas party. We had tons of food, a white elephant gift exchange, and of course , an ugliest christmas sweater contest. I wish I had gotten pictures of everyone and all the great sweaters! Thanks to all those that came and made it fun and thanks to the Mills and Durons for helping with the fun activities!!!! Start looking for sweaters for next year!!!!!
Friends and family to cut your annual christmas tree down for you(since you cant miss the UofA-ASU game) -- $15 for tree permit
new tree stand after tree snaps old one(which was the heaviest duty one from Home Depot ) -- great friend who made one the next day!
Decorating the tree-- 3 hours,LOTS of lights, two extension cords, 2 fire station ladders,good throwing arm(to throw the lights around the tree to the other side and hope the other person catches them), lots of hot chocolate to keep the kids awake so they could decorate after the ligths were on, stool to stand on to replace decorations from bottom 1/4 of tree to top of tree after kids go to bed, 30 min back rub for husband to ensure marriage is still okay :)
Beautiful Christmas tree -- priceless!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
I saw this on a friends blog (thanks Kim) and wanted to post it on mine as well. I've always had such gratitude and respect for those serving in the military and their families. They sacrifice so much for the rest of us and I hope we take time to remember them, thank them and pray for them.
You probably want to get a Kleenex before you watch this great video a
My mom sent this poem to me also and I wanted to post it here too.
A Different Christmas Poem
The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light, I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight. My wife was asleep, her head on my chest, My daughter beside me, angelic in rest. Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white, Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe, Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve. My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep, Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep. In perfect contentment, or so it would seem, So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near, But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear. Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow. My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear, And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night, A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight. A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old, Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold. Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled, Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
'What are you doing?' I asked without fear, 'Come in this moment, it's freezing out here! Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve, You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!' For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift, Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts.
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light Then he sighed and he said 'Its really all right, I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night.' 'It's my duty to stand at the front of the line, That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me, I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me. My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,' Then he sighed, 'That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers.' My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ', And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while, But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile. Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag, The red, white, and blue... an American flag. I can live through the cold and the being alone, Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet, I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat. I can carry the weight of killing another, Or lay down my life with my sister and brother.. Who stand at the front against any and all, To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.'
' So go back inside,' he said, 'harbor no fright, Your family is waiting and I'll be all right.' 'But isn't there something I can do, at the least, 'Give you money,' I asked, 'or prepare you a feast? It seems all too little for all that you've done, For being away from your wife and your son.'
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret, 'Just tell us you love us, and never forget. To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone, To stand your own watch, no matter how long. For when we come home, either standing or dead, To know you remember we fought and we bled. Is payment enough, and with that we will trust, That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.
I have been living a lie- for those that think I keep my house clean here is the truth:
That's right- I can't claim the clean house award because it is actually Jared that keeps it clean. when he is not home the house is upside down until he does. Yes he is cleaning the picture frames.
I feel so much better after saying that out loud! :)
Okay so I tried to figure out how to make a collage with these picture but i couldn't figure it out (sorry Gina) so I am just going to post them.
We went to my brother and sister-in-law's house for a great Thanksgiving dinner complete with a raffle, Thanksgiving trivia (which I won second place in thanks to helping out in Raden's class when they were talking about Thanksgiving) and a kids turkey gobbling contest.
Raden made a pilgrim outfit in his class
This is my nana 90 yrs old and her great grand kids that were there
Eating dinner!
one of the grand kids gave my nana a indian headband to wear - I think she forgot she had it on
Then we went up to Pinetop to the cabin and were excited that it snowed! By the way - you never realize how little winter clothes you have until you have to pack for it. We spent the weekend with Jared's parents and sister and brother -in-law and their little boy. We had a lot of fun playing in the snow (the kids lasted about 30 min), being with family,going to a movie and of course drinking hot chocolate and eating smores!
Heavenly Father, I'm asking You to send your angels today, To protect my firefighter husband in a very special way. I ask You to guide his thoughts and actions and keep him free from fear, To bring him home safely again to those who hold him precious and dear. Please show me the way to let him know I'm proud to be his wife. I thank you Lord for giving me this man with whom I share my life. To keep those you love safe from harm is a goal that you both share, I pray that as he follows in your ways, you hold him in your care.
A Firefighter's Prayer
When I am called to duty, God, wherever flames may rage. Give me strength to save some life whatever be it's age. Help me to embrace a child before it is too late, or save an older person from the horror of that fate. Enable me to be alert and hear the weakest shout And quickly and efficiently to put the fire out. I want to fill my calling and to give the best in me. To guard my every neighbor and protect his property. And if according to my fate,I am to lose my life, Please bless with your protecting hand my children and wife.
