Little House in the Big Woods

Do you remember this book? Laura, Mary, Carrie, Ma and Pa? I loved this story as a kid, and I really loved the TV show based on the series. (Albert was so cute...) My history professor last semester reminded us of how historically correct this book depicted frontier life and suggested we all read the chapter on Christmas this year. So, we did..and Alex wanted me to keep reading after we finished that chapter. How simple this time of year was back then. Laura was so excited about her rag doll and piece of peppermint candy for Christmas. The chapter on Sunday was especially funny. I'm not going to give it away, you'll just have to read it again yourself...and I'm going to find some Little House re-runs.

Christmas Cuties

Yes, these are Christmas Cuties. Of course, they are always cute, whether it's Christmas or not. We were able to get together with friends before Christmas this year and visit, and their adorable boy met my newest niece...as you can see in this pic. He was so sweet, and she loved the attention. It was a great visit...

Snow (?) Day

I love snow days. Or...ice days? It seems like here in good ole' MO that we just don't get much snow anymore. Snowman building has been a rare occurance the last few years. In fact, instead of "snow" boots, I think we need "ice" boots. Did anyone see that poor lady fall on a sidewalk on the St. Louis news yesterday. It was sad. Studded "ice" boots are the answer. Or, just stay inside. I believe that is my answer.

What to do today inside:

* Finish Christmas cards
* Wrap Christmas gifts
* Fix a yummy roast for dinner
* laundry, laundry, laundry

Who needs snowboots? (I mean iceboots)

Wow, I'm a slacker...

Okay, I'm not really a slacker-I've just been hard at work with my first semester at school, and haven't had time for much blogging-or any blogging. Nevertheless, I love school (I know, I'm a geek, and a slacker), and now that this semester is almost over I will be blogging more often-for a while, anyway. Christmas is coming, and we went to chop down the tree today. I love this day. It always puts me in the Christmas mood. That and Elivs singing Christmas songs. I know- Lame, geek, slacker. Oh well.

I Am A Non-Traditional Student

What is that exactly?
I guess they could have said "old" student instead of non-traditional.
Okay, I like non-traditional better.
I'll be a non-traditional student if that means that I now appreciate the time, money and effort that it takes to get my education and use it in the future.
I'll be a non-traditional student if it means I can use my life experiences in my approach to assignments and classes.
I'll be a non-traditional student if it means I can be an example to my kids that you are never to old to learn new tricks.
But I would like to be a non-traditional student that has graduated college before her daughter graduates college.
Hee.
I would have posted a nice picture of me with my bookbag on the first day of school, but that's traditional student stuff.

Bates '08

Just returned from Bates Creek Camp in Potosi on Friday. What a week! This was Youth Week and Johnny, Lauren and I all went down. (Alex isn't old enough for youth week yet.) 300 kids from 13 through 18 years.

Talk about hormones :)

It really was amazing. I don't know where to start.

I've always been a cabin leader for girls week so I was new to this. We took 14 kids: 10 girls and 4 boys. They were truly a great group of kids and we had a blast. (As you can tell by the first pic!)

The crazy looking pic of us standing on a plank of wood was team building exercises.

And Johnny is sliding down a 200 foot piece of plastic soaped down and named the ultimate slip 'n slide! You will not see a pic of me on that.

The best part of camp was definitely worship.

Our speaker was John Stamper and in addition to being an awesome youth pastor, he has started an outdoors ministry: soelive.com. His ministry partners with Bass Pro Shops to present the gospel with outdoor shows focusing on students.

I don't have definite numbers, but I would say at least 20 kids were saved this week. Not including re-dedications made by students to live for Christ in a bold way.

Johnny and I aren't sure who came away more refreshed; the youth or us!

...you belong in the zoo...

We got in a trip to the zoo while Aunt Lisa, Mikayla and Rachel were in town. So fun. There was a new baby giraffe, too. He was hiding behind a tree but we got a pic.

It's so funny to watch the kid's reaction to the animals like the goats. They loved them. Ricky and Rachel brushed them and hugged um.

We had a ball on a virtual roller coaster ride (yeah, at the zoo). It was a 3-D movie you watched in a very unstable, moving seat. We even got Grandma and Shawnee on it. We failed to point out the loop-de-loop on the picture of the ride. They survived. The kids loved it so much we had to ride again after we took a trip on the train. It really just made me want a real roller coaster.

I think I need a Six Flags trip now.