Nearing Home

Nearing Home by Billy Graham

Billy Graham writes a touching book on growing older. He says that he was always ready to die for Christ but no one taught him how to get old with purpose. This book is part memoir (stories from youth and Ruth's passing), part practical advise (do a living will), and part Billy Graham preaching (make sure you are right with God). The theme is if God still has you on this earth, He has a purpose for you-not to be a nag or complaining, but to be fruitful in all seasons of life; retirement is not just to make ourselves happy but to continue serving the Lord. He says the book is though mostly for people past retirement, but can still be an encouragement to those of us at any age. An easy read, often very cut and dry, but definitely something we all should remember and apply to our lives. I received this book free from BookSneeze-Thomas Nelson Publishing for agreeing to review it.

Beaumont Family Christmas

All 10 cousins!
Family fun on the playground (above) Funky (as they call them) hats from Grammy
We just returned from the fun and chaos of having all of Caleb's family together in Beaumont. There are 20 people, 8 kids 6 and under! The food is always excellent and overflowing, the cousins are always busy playing and the conversation never stops.

We got there a little early and got to tour Linda's nice new school and Lydia & Gloria got a little time alone with Grammy & Papa. That evening Christy & family drove in from Georgia, then Catherine & family arrived late. Matt and family live nearby.

The second day we woke up and it was drizzling but Caleb really wanted to go to a newly stocked pond so we loaded up and went out there. The fishing-I could tell a tall tale here or leave it at that. But the day cleared up some, the location was beautiful-fall leaves, and smooth water, carefree fish jumping, and a beautiful bird. The kids got a little cranky since no fish were biting and they were a little wet but then we got them a snack and played a little baseball and it all turned around.

That afternoon, after two kids napped and Heidi got an awesome haircut and dye. We opened mountains of presents!
The Dads decided to go shopping and the kids were getting restless so Nathanael and I did a story time with the Grinch-he acted it while I read it, very cool. Then we did a short version ofthe Nativity play. McKenzie read from the Bible (but Lydia still did her angel lines) and the others acted it out. Gabriel wanted to be an angel/wiseman/Joseph! Gloria was an uncostumed Mary.

The kids went to bed and we played Mexican train. This morning we woke up and went to the nearby school park. Then another wonderful meal, sang Happy Birthday to Jesus, then did poppers outside while enjoying the sunshine. We headed home and had an uneventful drive.

Real Gingerbread Day

We do a weekly playgroup with two other families from our neighborhood. For Christmas we decided to go out on the town! We went to the Four Seasons Gingerbread town display. It was a beautiful (but cool and windy) day. The girls loved the display-train!-and the fancy tree and the fancy bathroom, and standing on the balcony. Then we went out back which leads to Lady Bird Lake. It was like a commercial-five beautiful little girls running as fast as they could in circle in the green (!) grass with fall leaves all around them, the lake in the background and the sound of laughter! We walked around for a bit then went to Whole Foods for lunch and to play on their upstairs playground, where the day went downhill with Lucy falling on her head on cement, Lydia doing one of the biggest fits of her life and then to the dentist for two cavities to be filled (and much moolah to be shelled) but he said she was great again and very chatty. But in all it was a wonderful day!

the fancy bathroom

Twin's Birthday

Sisters with Grandpa and his sister

We celebrated my dad and his twin sister's Jan's birthday. (we first went to IKEA-C&G watched the Lion King in the lobby while L&I followed the arrows and got all we needed quickly with lots of walking). Then we head to Turkey-oops they are closed for Christmas (what they are Muslims?!?) so my mom asks the Water 2 Wine folks if they know of any good exotic restaurants close by. We go to Taste of Ethiopia. Our family had been there with Russ & Stacey before but it is fun and good so we enjoy going again. We get put in the 'not cold' closed in porch room-which was great to have to ourselves (until the end). We order family style and eat with spongy bread. The lady brings out not spicy beef stew when she sees the girls aren't eating much (which I was thankful for too). Everyone has a great time and we end with singing Happy Birthday with chocolate cake. then a quick drive to a house that has timed lights to Christmas music in Round Rock. As per family tradition we all pile in with Kathy :) Sorry to Glen & Caleb who didn't make it in a photo.

Lydia's Nativity Play

Ms. Muriel, Chase, Emily & Lauren, Lucas, Lydia, Caroline, Ms. Jill, Mitchel, Ellie

This was quite the performing month for Lydia. Her Mother's Day Out class did a Nativity and she was the angel and was the only one with lines. They made a program and most dads even came. They sang a few songs and a teacher narrated. Lydia did wonderfully-she spoke clear and loud and remembered them all (the other parents were impressed). Then we had a little party in her classroom. It was on Thursday so Imane came with us after Friendship. It worked perfectly because it was also the same time as Gloria's book exchange in her class. I was glad to get a nice group picture since (I learned the hard way with lots of Thursday driving) that they aren't doing group class pictures this year.

(gingerbread) houses

Last year we had great fun with falling gingerbread houses so this year (when I saw the kits which I heard taste nasty were $12) we made Rice Krispie Treat Houses instead-the same j0y of putting half of the candy on a 'building' and half in your mouth!

Ballet!

The girls school had a parent performance time on their last class before the break. Both girls did really well. The 2-3 year olds do the same songs pretty much every week so we'd seen them before but it was fun for us to sit in the room (Madie and Lydia sat and watched and did all the movements with them-really cute)

Lydia's lovely arabesque.

Music at Church

At the Christmas Night of Praise!
All the preschool sunday school classes sang some Christmas songs for the adults. Gloria decided she wanted to wear her Easter dress (theological points for that). Lydia is in the middle. She and Judah were the stars, blonde heads sticking up in the back with smiles and doing all the motions and singing all the words. Gloria sat nicely and did a few motions and sang a few words. Very cute.

Zilker Tree!

We visited the Zilker Tree for the first time and it was fun. We arrived early and got a great parking place, we spun while the sun was going down and got hot chocolate and a funnel cake (brought me back to my lunches at Six Flags).


Santa came and it started getting crowded, we waited in a short line to say Hi to this Santa (looking at the pic Lydia asked-is that the real Santa? E-what do you think? L-no I think Santa is at the North Pole, that is just an old man dressed up like him!) The older kids from their ballet school performed Hip Hop and the Nutcracker Suite at the hillside theater). It was getting kinda late and cold and Gloria said I don't want to see anymore ballerinas! But it was good and short and we enjoyed it. Since it was really dark, we took one last spin under the tree before heading home.

Christmas Formal

The YA Sunday school classes did another formal. The food was good, the sharing time was good (with a theme of depression and jobs), we were part of a singing game which was a lot of fun-I hope it was fun for the audience too-the contestants were Caleb, me, Bonnie and Chase. The girls were having a pj party in their classes and we got them to look at the decorations and pretty dresses and sing for a bit, so they weren't in bed until 11 but a good time was had by all.


The London Gang! I wore a dress I had tailored in Oman for one of Sabriya's family's wedding. It wasn't a problem to fit in and I got lots of comments (and on FB, almost all of my international friends loved it :)

Santa!

Both of my girls will now sit on Santa's lap without tears or even strong encouragement. We had gone to a Christmas Market place where there was a Santa and Gloria walked right up to him, got on his lap and started talking, so Lydia followed (we didn't do pics there).

My mom & dad got to come and we went to Barton Creek Square Mall to meet him with official pictures! The girls got dressed up in their matching red & black Scottie dresses. Gloria got some extra time with Santa at the beginning and end. Lydia was a great sport, and told him she wanted a candy cane and then got one. Gloria said she wanted a dollhouse-and my old one is in my parents' shed so that is great! From there they rode the little train and ran the bell the whole time. Then they spun by the train and we walked around the mall looking at decorations then a Chickfila lunch. Back home for Grandpa to have a nap while we got some much needed sunshine in the backyard! Fun day-thanks Nana & Grandpa!

Lydia's Christmas concert

Lydia's choir at church had their Christmas concert; they sang Jingle Bells, Away in a Manger and Whisper a Prayer. Again she did a great job, smiled and stood still, did the motions and sang (there were a few boys who weren't as great, but all I saw was her face!)

Nana & Grandpa came, I left right after the performance to speak at a LMCO banquet at another church, they got to play while waiting for me to return, then we had a late dinner at Hoover's. Fun Christmas night.

LBJWC - Winter

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center had a winter sale, Caleb was gone so we headed there after church, it is drizzling! I got some great deals in the store, then we had the children's little house to ourselves, the tower was closed, but we walked around a little before heading back to the warmth of our car.

My Little Christmas Helpers

We had a great time putting up our tree! The girls take stuff off and rearrange a lot. Today I noticed the one branch has three things jammed on it. Most ornaments are from a trip, a gift, or the kids made. We have been using superglue a lot this year. Below is our books and the stockings have been hung as Lydia enjoys wearing them!

My little wrapping helpers-its a great excuse for a less than perfect job :)

Christmas Market place at our church and so the girls can see a fancy decorated tree!