Merry Christmas!

It's that time of year. I love it . . . yet get overwhelmed by it.

Well, by golly, I'm going to love it. YES!! Those boxes of decorations in the living room will not be the boss of me! (That's my new phrase these days.)

Here's a cartoon. I'll dedicate it to the lawyers in the family (Ken, John H. and cousin, 'Tennessee Jim').

This will make you smile . . .

And here was the Thanksgiving crew yesterday. Well, Sam is behind the camera.
I did get out the fancy table cloth but left the fine china dishes in their boxes in the attic. (They're not the boss of me.)

Happy Thanksgiving!

On the eve of today - which was last night - Sam and I had supper with four wonderful people . . .

from left: Will, Bailey, Laura, Ryan.

I'm thankful for them . . . and for so many other blessings in my life.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving test . . .

In case you've been wanting to take a Thanksgiving test, click HERE for one. (It's only 6 questions.)

I go through phases in my life . . .

Right now I'm in the 'finding cartoons' phase. (Oh, and the-waiting-to-see-my-daughter-home-from college-phase. DRIVE CAREFULLY.)

I used to have a joke blog that I enjoyed, but it took up too much precious time. Just having this blog takes up enough - and yet gives me the opportunity to put anything I want on it.

So here's another Thanksgiving cartoon:

An in-honor-of-Thanksgiving cartoon . . .

For all of you tattooed folk . . .

We made it . . .

. . . through Zero Church last night. Then Sam and I came home and collapsed. Now we're on the mend.

Here's something I thought was funny:

Can't breathe . . .

(I thought that was a good title for a post, Caroline. hey hey. ... especially when you can't breathe.)

I've got a full blown cold. Ugh.

Fortunately Sam is feeling much better. (He had more than a cold.) Looks like he'll be able to preach tomorrow night. Whew!

To make me feel better I will write some things I like. I thought about writing about things that don't cost any money - since the economy is in dire straits - but I opted not to.
Here they are:

I like . . .

. . . living in Colleyville, Texas.

. . . shopping at Stein Mart.


. . . eating a small (or medium) Schlotzsky's Original Sandwich on sourdough bread.






. . . this quote:
Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.
— Albert Camus

. . . and especially this verse:

Psalm 16:8
I have set the Lord always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND. Oh and BREAK A LEG, JOHN C.!!

(I'm glad you can breathe better now, Caroline.)

Power . . .

Zero Church is dealing with the topic of Power this Saturday night. Sam and I were talking about it at breakfast. Well, because he has been sickly and is wondering if he'll be up to preaching. -- Whoa . . . I've never preached before, but I have talked in front of groups. His sermon outline shouldn't be too hard to follow. . .

I'm basically kidding. Behind the pulpit (though we don't have one) is not a place I want to be. And we know it will all work out -as it always does- as to how the service goes Sat. night, that is.

Last week's service was on sex. It was good. I only grabbed Jamie's arm once during the talk. She was sitting next to me and I feel comfortable enough around her that I can grab her arm if I feel like grabbing onto somebody after a wild thing is said. Anyway, Sam gave a good, and definitely interesting talk. The week before that he talked about money. That was good, also. This week - power. My thought was how can that be as interesting? But talking with him at breakfast it became clear to me that that IS interesting - and a POWERful topic.

Especially in the culture we live in . . . where beauty is power, and youth is power, and money is power, and intellect is power, etc., etc. It's like (Sam said) we're all basically living 'in high school'. We all want to get the attention - but the right kind of attention. We all want the power.

And Jesus turns it all on its head. . . by serving. And dying. Oh, and by being born as a helpless baby, instead of making his first appearance as a powerful king.

So that's how this post is today.

Comment if you like. Even if you don't like. I'm needy when it comes to comments.

I know, it's a weakness of mine, this neediness. Hmm. Maybe I don't need any comments - but just need to bask in my weakness . . . yeah, that's what I'm needing . . . Hmm. . .

Any comments?

Last night . . .

Last night we had 14 for Monday supper. Talk about fun. And loud. And happy. Well, except when it was time for little Charlotte (age 3) to leave. [There is nothing like having a guest cry because she doesn't want to leave the party to make the hostess feel as if it was a success! -- Bless her heart. She came right in and made herself at home right away last night. My mother found her most enchanting. And she (Charlotte) declared during supper, 'I really like spaghetti!] (Talk about a hostess' dream guest.)
As for Molly (age 5), she was a little more reticent when first entering the kitchen filled with loud strangers. But she soon warmed up and ended up drawing a picture for Bailey!
And then there was Lewis (age 1). What a dear. I strategically placed him next to me so as to get (give) a hug every now and then.
The rest of the Monday night gang was there - except for Sam (he had a makeup class to teach) and Caroline who was home sick (two words, not one). (We missed you, both!) Fortunately Sam came in before the Tompkins left - so he and Ryan could have some theological guy talk.

Here are some pics . . . (click to see Cap smile even bigger - ha)
Me and Lewis (he likes ice cream!) . . .
Will and Molly making some music . . .
Lewis with his dad, Ryan . . .
And Charlotte with some finger puppets . . .

Mac!

Here he is with his Dad. (I think he's really glad to see his Uncle Sam. - Well, of course!)

Here he is with Mom and Dad. . .


And here he is, all ready to go.

Is he not precious?!!!

Looking out my front door . . .

This shows that we have some autumn going on here, don't you think?
oh, and this shows that I put out the garbage yesterday afternoon. (That's not a big black rock.)

We go to Oklahoma today. I'm expecting to see some pretty fall trees, well, if they're not past their prime. Oklahoma doesn't usually get fall foliage tours but when you grow up in Mission, Texas, in the Lower Rio Grande Valley - with hardly any season change- you think Oklahoma offers some pretty good tours. Especially through the Arbuckle Mountains near Falls Creek. mmm.

You must see (and hear) this guy . . .

Click HERE to go to Will's other blog for the viewing. It will take about 4 minutes. It's worth it. It's the Nov. 10th post called "And now . . . this guy!"
That's all. . . . but you better go there.

Oh wait. Do this also: Go to Rob's blog (by clicking HERE) and tell him your top five favorite books. (I'm interested.)

So for today I'm not minding my own business.

"Rainy Days and Mondays"

I played in the tea room today and started out by playing that song (because it was raining when I got there). I used to love that song. Well, I still like it but it seems kind of depressing.
I also played "Singing in the Rain" and "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head". Oh, and I played "Monday, Monday", too.
And because it's autumn I played "Autumn Leaves".
(Is that not an awful picture of The Carpenters?)

I rarely play on Mondays but I hadn't seen Trish in awhile and I knew she was working today, so I went and played.

Anyway, not much news.

Oh, we had 32 at Zero Church Saturday. Sam talked about money. It was a very good talk. This Saturday he's talking about sex, so I know you'll all want to come!!

Yesterday . . .

. . . I spent the day with my favorite little 22-month-old!!


It was wonderful. I can't keep from smiling thinking about it.

[HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PAT!!!!! AND JOSH!!!!!]

Andrew!

Today he is 3 months and 6 days old!

I love him living so close by --- that way I can hug him a lot!
(Thanks, Elizabeth, for these pictures.)

Me again

I thought I better write about the following before it gets too late and the reading gets too much to do for you busy people.
My friend, Beth, is doing an interesting project this month called the NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). I think I have that right. Anyway, she's supposed to write a novel - 7 pages a day for a month which will end up being a good size novel. I've been reading it and am finding myself EAGERLY awaiting the next installment. You see, she's putting it on her blog. You have to start at the bottom, so to speak, but that's okay, you'll get the hang of it. Go to her blog by clicking HERE and start at November 1st.
I know you people are busier than I am - but it WILL be worth your time. AND you might want to do something similar yourself.
You can read about the project by going to her Oct. 13th post.
It might inspire some of YOU to write a book!!

HURRAY!!!

THE ELECTION IS OVER!!!!

I voted for McCain, but now I'm supporting Obama, my President-Elect.

Speeches by the loser, then the winner, were very good. Well, I heard McCain's but went to sleep before Obama's, but Sam said it was really good.

If you haven't watched the video on Will's blog, you really should. Click HERE for it.

Don't forget to vote . . .

. . . and after you vote, go to Will's blog and watch the video. It is great. I'd put it here, but I want you to go there, which is (click) HERE.

So Huckabee, uh, McCain won't win, but it WILL be exciting having our first black president. Though I didn't vote for him I AM racially biased - in favor of blacks. Really. And it will be exciting seeing all the happy people - but then, . . . . . the sad people, which won't be exciting.

Really, if it weren't for the abortion thing - which is MAJOR (beyond MAJOR) in my book - I would support Obama. Well, there are a few other reasons, but not as big as that one. He is dreamy, though, isn't he?

We're all going to be shocked if he loses.

Autumn . . .

. . . I've decided, is my favorite time of year.
I like the colors, the scents, the sweaters I will get to wear if it ever cools up (or down), and the idea that Christmas is around the corner.

Here's a picture of one of my favorite things about November/December. (I know you're not surprised that it is something you eat.)

What's a favorite for you this time of year?

Doesn't this picture look yummy?

I just might have to serve breakfast for supper tomorrow night. mmm

Different note: Zero Church was great last night. There were 56 in the auditorium with several new faces! Sam did a wowy job with his magic show. And yet it wasn't too wowy. Just right.
The best part? Laura and her boyfriend, Ryan, drove up from Waco for it. AND Sam couldn't resist having Ryan be the one to almost have his head cut off by the guillotine. It was too funny. And, of course, scary. Thanks, Ryan, for being a good sport. 'Course as Sam said, the magician's daughter's boyfriend would be the one person in the audience who wouldn't say, 'No, let someone else do it.'
Me - I'm thinking, 'where was my camera?!!'
Anyway, it was all fun and then serious-- the message was great at the end -- well, right before the guillotine trick.

Different note: who's not ready for this election to be over?!?

For today . . .

You've probably heard this: we had 2 earthquakes - here! - well, in Irving, actually, but people in Euless and Bedford felt them. Unfortunately (or fortunately) I didn't. Click HERE to read about it.

Tonight is Zero Church. The music is Tom Petty's "The King's Highway". It's the easiest keyboard part I've ever ever ever EVER played. Only on the chorus I play the high G note - sustaining it throughout the chorus. That's it. I have to say it does sound good. It's a string patch - so I guess you could say I'm the violinist of the band.

Sam is getting his magic stuff together for the magic show tonight (well, at 5) at church. It's been a long time since he's done any magic. He was practicing his sleight of hand and commented that his fingers are not as agile as they used to be! He could do it, though.
By the way, it is a 'Christian magic show' (some would call that an oxymoron) because he uses the tricks to make points.

That makes me think of how some Christians are highly opposed to Halloween (I used to be). Now I see it as fun - and nothing to make an issue of. The other day, though, we had a group of ladies in the tea room that commented to me how they didn't like seeing another group of ladies wearing witches' hats at their party. The first group gave me as a tip (as they usually do) a tract written by Kenneth Hagin.
That made me think of this cartoon. (I hope you don't think this is sacrilegious - I think it's funny.)