a muppet kinda christmas

Sis picked up the John Denver & the Muppets: A Christmas Together CD last week. We've been listening to it constantly. The girls favorite is Miss Piggy singing "Christmas is Coming," and my favorite is Dr. Bunsen Honeydew & Beaker singing the 9th day of Christmas during "The 12 Days of Christmas." I found the 12 days here on youtube, but, alas, it's different from the album. No Beaker!

I'm a little snowflake...

I know that I should absolutely be doing Christmas stuff right now instead of blogging, but I just need to process, and for some crazy reason, this helps me do it, so...

Yesterday was a BAD day. Really super YUCK-O, the kind you just want a do-over on. I won't go into gory details, but it ended up with me being incredibly (maddeningly, almost out of my mind) frustrated because 1) I have years and years of (what really feels like) "useless" education that can't be put to practical use (read, WHY O WHY didn't I study nursing/ architecture/ business/or anything other than these degrees that end in the word "studies"?) and 2) my youngest daughter and I are butting heads like I never imagined we could.

So I was feeling lonely, isolated, and icky. Generally abandoned (although theologically I know that's nonsense, it still creeps into my practical outlook). I'm still in recovery from my attitude from yesterday. It was THAT bad - one of those attitudes that just stays with you for a while...

Anyway, in an attempt to bring some sanity back to life, I sat down to read the paper...on the front page of the entertainment section, there's a write up about coffee table books, and the first book they review, with amazing pictures provided, is The Art of the Snowflake: A Photographic Album, by Kenneth Libbrecht (website here with more info about Libbrecht, and the book, and it's where these amazing images came from). So right there I have an amazing display of the creativity and amazing attention to detail of the Father, and I'm immediately reminded that He's still in control. For whatever reason, each and every snowflake that falls is unique, and yet I dare to think that my life has escaped His notice, that He no longer loves me as His own? Sheesh.... Thank you, Father, that in my forgetfulness and stubbornness you don't disown me. Your patience and kindness with me absolutely blow my mind...I long to be that way with my children (and with everyone around me), but I fall so very short. Help me to be a better learner, and to trust You.

like mother....

It amazes me how much my girls are like me sometimes (btw, that's us at the Children's parade last weekend in downtown Dallas - so fun!). I probably shouldn't be amazed, considering how much time we spend together, but still...

We went to McDonald's today after a fun trip with some sweet friends to our very favorite library, the main Dallas library downtown (amazing children's section, with the best librarians ever! I absolutely adore the head children's librarian - you can ask about ANYTHING, and she can walk you right to her favorite choices on the topic...). Anyhow, we're in McDonald's. Susan and I are visiting while our 4 girlies are playing. In walks Ronald McDonald himself, and while all the other children in the building get giddy, my two start screaming. One hides behind the shoe holder, the other is frozen in fear inside the play-tube thing. I go rescue little (hidden, screaming, behind the shoes), and Susan climbs inside the play thing to rescue big, who is now sobbing. I've always disliked Ronald McDonald. Maybe that's genetic?

At bedtime K always likes to ask the really deep questions. I know asking questions is definitely a stall tactic, but WHY the gut-wrenching questions at that precise moment? Tonight it was of the "I'll miss you when I don't live with you anymore" variety. Her final question: "Will I be with a man who looks just like daddy?" Very concerned that she won't marry a man that looks like her daddy. That's daddy's girl! We assured her that we don't know the answers to those questions, but we know Who does, so she doesn't need to worry about it.

I know I need to post some pics of our tree, Jada! I promise I'm working on it. You all know the busy excuse, and I think our camera might be getting a little tired, so it's not taking the best pics ever... Maybe when the cold weather comes back? It's hard to convince myself that it's actually Christmastime with 80 degree weather outside...but we sure do love it!