Christmas Angels

You may want to stop reading this if you intend to have Josh for a teacher someday...

Every year, we try to come up with something original and yet easy to make for the fourth graders to give to their parents. We have tried so many different projects over the years, only to have them flop miserably. I wish I had photos of the scary paint-dripped pumpkin faces, the scrapbook boxes last year that were beautiful in my mind, but too time-consuming and costly to implement, or the puffy paint picture frames of 2005 that peeled off before given.

Finally this year, we found the perfect craft to give Mom and Dad. Enter: the macaroni angel ornament. Easy to put together, beautiful presentation, only about $1 a piece to make. This will be the 4th-grade Christmas craft for years to come!



A special thanks to my mom , who came to watch Kayden while we finished and wrapped them.

The 2007-2008 4th grade class

Ready for Break

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Kayden has been cracking me up with how logical he is becoming. Instead of just repeating what he hears (although he does repeat the things I don't want repeated- loudly and usually at church), he is coming up with thoughts of his own. He has always been game for a good hug or 'cuddle-time', as we call it. Last night when he was watching Elmer Fudd, I asked him to come give me cuddles. He said, "No, I am busy. You cuddle yourself."

In case I don't get a chance to blog before, have a wonderful Christmas!!

Though I walk through the Valley...

"I had no shoes and complained until I met a man who had no feet."

For many of you, you remember Sam Post's death around Thanksgiving last year all too well. He was a kindergartner at the school Josh teaches at, and went home to be with the Lord one month after finding out he had leukemia. Around that time, Sam's mom linked up to another care page- Miss Ali Aardema. 15 years old, the last seven years has been spent in and out of hospitals as she also dealt with reoccurring bouts with childhood leukemia.

Week after week, I kept updated on the numerous health issues of this extraordinarily strong girl. Fighter is the term I would use to describe her- she beat incredible odds and went into remission just a few short months ago. Thanksgiving this year, she went in for a regular doctors visit and collapsed- leading to this current three week hospital stay. I was just informed through her care page (Aardema, Ali), that she died early this morning. As with Sam's death, I think every parent grapples with the "whys" when something like this happens. I think about all the times I complain about the stupid things in life-bills, the weather, you name it. Something like this has a way of putting it all in perspective.

I leave you today with Ali's favorite verse. A verse I have cried to many times over the last year empathizing with parents struggling to deal with the valleys and trials she has endured, and they have been many. Although I have never even met her, her death touches me and saddens me as I have prayed long and hard for her this past year. Please offer your prayers for her family, 2 younger sisters, and all who knew her-either through her care page or directly-and hug your kids a little harder tonight thanking God that we have one more day with these incredible gifts entrusted to us.

"I have loved you with an everlasting love. I have drawn you with loving kindness. I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt." Jeremiah 31:3-4

Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia!

Every Christmas, the commercials for Chia Pets start plugging the airwaves. Not small cable slots, mind you. Prime time advertising.

Seriously, how does this company stay in business? Have any of you received one? Are they cooler than first glance?

When Josh got home from school today, he sat down and within a few minutes Kayden was out. I cannot imagine how sleeping like this could be comfortable. If only you could hear how loud he was snoring!

I am wierd...

I cannot stop listening to old music on You Tube when I am working on the computer late at night. Goodies like All I Know by Art Garfunkel, You're so Vain Carly Simon. That has one heck of a good beat.

I really don't like to shop at the mall. Maybe too much running around for business makes it seem more like a job now. What would I do without the internet? It is just too easy!

There is a black hole somewhere in my house. It sucks in Disney/Pixar die cast cars, one of each sock that I own, and most recently my retainer. Seriously, how can these things be lost in the space of 800 square feet upstairs?