Heaven comes to North Carolina

I woke this morning to find our world here in NC very different--so different, I thought I'd never see it this way. And you know what? While everyone else was rather freaked out, I was very, very comforted. This is what happened:

Hey, we're from Iowa--give us snow in the face--we can take it!
Icicles, Mama!! Oh, look! Icicles!!!
You have to click on this one to see their faces and how happy they were. It was wonderful to watch them having fun in this unexpected, but much appreciated SNOW.
They were beside themselves with joy.
I took this one for prosperity...who knows if we'll ever see our house looking like this again?

9 years ago

we stepped off the plane in Des Moines and began our jouney of parenthood with Amy and Sarah. How can that be? 9 years already?? But yes, it's true and I only have to look at them to prove it. They are quickly becoming young ladies, albeit, small young ladies. On January 9th I told them that 9 years ago when I held them for the first time, I never thought I could love anyone more. Now here it is 9 years later, and I do love them more, every. single. day.

I know I've said ti before, but I want to say it again: Thank you, God, for these two incredible blessings that I certainly did not deserve. I pray I can be the mother that they deserve. Amy and Sarah, Mama loves you!!

Time is flying...

Oh my! I just realized I haven't posted in loooong while. Why is this, you ask? Let's make it a multiple choice question just for fun.
A. I cannot move pictures from the computer la-la land to the blog.
B. A recent hormonal train wreck at our house.
C. Sleep deprivation.
D. We've all become inordinately studious.
E. All of the above.
F. None of the above.
G. Some of the above.

Leave a comment if you have a guess. I'd like to know the answer, too!

Finito

The last button has been sewn on and I am finished with my Christmas sewing/knitting/crocheting/cooking. Mama will not have a new skirt and top to wear to mass, but she won't be an exhausted grinch either. It's a pretty good compromise.
My handmade gifts this year included:
1 doctor suit
1 black robe
1 cowboy suit
1 button shirt
1 apron
2 crocheted scarves
6 mini mittens
5 jars of Chai tea mix
5 loaves fo pumpkin bread
4 knitted dish rags
1 crocheted trivet

P.S. I've added several posts tonight, please scroll down if you wish to read them all.

More Christmas at our house

My attempt to have a snowy Christmas!

The real reason for any of this at all--the manger and what it will hold tomorrow night. The kids add "straw" with each good deed done, hoping to have it filled and ready for the Baby Jesus when He comes.

We bought this lantern at Williamsburg last year on vacation; I painted this Santa.

Our tree. It is beginning to show it's age and has fallen over once this year, with several more near misses. Next year, the stand will need to be repaired.

The mantle has changed from waiting and "Look East" to the manger scene.
He is coming soon!!

Christmas around our house

Since no one will be her at Christmas I thought I'd take you on a little tour of the house. It's always a bit confusing trying to figure out what fits where the first Christmas in a new house. This is what I put together without buying anything new except 3 strands of lights for the porch. First, the front door....

Just inside the door is Santa and the bells that jingle this time of year. The Santa was painted by my mom, and the bells were a gift from my Christian Women's Club when we moved to South Dakota in Dec. 1994.

The entryway goes into the dining room. I hung all my special ornaments here. There are all the flower fairies that I love, some very old ones from when I was a kid, one I made in kindergarten, and others too fragile to risk putting on the tree. If you click on the picture you can see them better.

These pencil Santas were also painted by my mom, and here they are in an arrangement on the buffet.

This is our Advent wreath this year. We dipped the candles in early Dec., and the white candle is our "Mary candle" which we lit during our novena to the Immaculate Conception. Under the lacy mantle is a surprise which will be uncovered on
Christmas eve...

A Christmas baby's gift

Knitted for a friend's 6th baby, a boy, born on Dec. 12th. The little mitten is to add to their wreath.

Christmas shopping in shirt sleeves

On the 20th,I felt I must show you how warm it was here. While I miss Iowa'a winter and the snow, I do not miss trudging through the parking lot in freezing cold wind and snow-pack. This is what it looked like that day.