Ms. Kay, Do You Believe in Santa Claus?

Mason: "Ms Kay, do you like Christmas?"
Me: "Of course I do Mason, doesn't everyone?"
Mason: "No some people don't like it at all."
Mason: "Do you believe in Santa Claus?"
Me: "Yes, I do. After all, Santa Claus is the Spirit of Giving."
Mason: "He's not real you know. He is just a made up man."
Me: "Do you get presents from Santa on Christmas?"
Mason: "No."
Me: "That's because you don't believe in him."


It is Christmas and with that should come awe and anticipation. Awe at the miracle of the birth of Jesus Christ, His death and victory over death at His resurrection and anticipation of His coming again and eternal life in Heaven! What an amazing, miraculous, awe-filled reality! And it is ours! That is what Christmas is all about.

I am in agreement with some who have written about the too soon arrival of all of the decorations in the stores and how the season has been so commercialized that it sickens them. And I too feel the press of so many places to be and the impossibility of accepting all the invitations of well meaning friends and church members.

But when I really think about it....many who mean the most to me....My Savior, My Husband, My Daughter, and My Son....were all born in December! What a time for celebration!

When I was growing up, presents were secondary. Spending time with family and friends was what made Christmas so enjoyable. And while gifts are nice, in today's world there is little that any of us want that we can't or don't buy for ourselves. So, please don't put a financial burden on yourself. My Moma used to say, "All I want is for my family to be together." I am in complete agreement with her!

I miss being able to drive for a couple of hours for a visit. For that matter, I miss having the time to drive any distance to visit at all! I just miss being with my family. I miss my grandbabies and their hugs and kisses! I even miss my granddogs! I'm with Alvin the Chipmunk....please Christmas don't delay!

This picture pretty much says it all. This is what it is all about....Grandpa with all the grandchildren ( Baby J is behind the camera!)


When I think of Christmas, I see the wonder and sparkle of awe and anticipation in their eyes!

Do I believe in Santa? You bet I do! After all He is the Spirit of Giving. And although God was the Giver, Jesus was the greatest Gift ever given on Christmas.

Smile! You're on Candid Camera!

I went to a women's conference at our church today. It was really good. As always...before I go I have this dread that goes through me...selfishness on my part actually, that tells me this is intruding on my time and I don't want to go. But, as always I go and come away glad that I did...because it is always good and worthwhile. I always learn something and it is a blessing. When Lizardbreath and Rock lived with us she would say. "Oh Mom, just suck it up. You know you always enjoy it. Just go and quit being so negative!" Can you imagine her talking to me like that!!!! Well, this morning, last night actually, as I began with the dread (especially now that I am working again and Saturday is my only day off) her words rang in my head! They haven't lived with us for several years now and I can still hear her saying that to me. But then I guess turn about is fair play...both of my children tell me they often hear me saying things to them.

But that is not the point.

As we were waiting in line for the restroom, which is common at women's conferences, we began to talk about how we could go to the men's restroom. But there were a few men there so we dared not. Well, of course that led to stories of when women did dare, out of desperation, go to the men's restroom....and it reminded me of something that happened to me a few months ago.

I was in Kohl's shopping when the urge hit me. I went back to the customer service area where the restrooms are located and the men's and women's restrooms are directly across from each other. Well, I looked to the left and saw the sign for the women's restroom and turned right and went into the restroom. Yep, your read correctly...I said "I looked to the left at the women's restroom and turned "right" and went into the restroom. Well, there I sat minding my own business when in comes someone. HE clears HIS throat and I froze! There I sat, undies at my knees and praying he would not notice my shoes under the stall. To make it worse I was in the first stall right next to the urinals! Which....No, I did NOT see when I came in! I could hear him doing his business and had thoughts of racehorses running through my head! OH MY! What if he does see my shoes?!... or worse yet...sees ME through the crack where the door never quite meets the privacy walls. OR....OK, just quit thinking and figure out how you are going to get out of here without being seen...if he ever does leave....my goodness, he must have had a whole pitcher of tea for lunch! FINALLY... he leaves and now to get out without being seen. But how is that possible! This bathroom is right there by customer service. The counter actually goes around the corner and the people who work behind it face the bathrooms! And what if when I am coming out of the men's bathroom a woman is coming out of the women's restroom. Well, quit stalling for pete's sake (no pun intended) before another man comes into the bathroom....what a terrible thought! That thought took me fairly running out the door and into the space between the two bathrooms hoping that if anyone did see me they would think I was coming out of the women's bathroom and not the men's! Made it! And what do you know....not a soul noticed me at all.

With heart pounding wildly, redfaced, but relieved (again, no pun intended)....I took a deep breath and walked off like nothing had happened.

I wonder if that man did see my shoes and was waiting somewhere just out of sight watching to see what I did when I came out?

Come to think of it...it would have made a great Candid Camera or America's Funniest Home Video clip! Oh no! What if my coming out was caught on a security camera! I just now thought of that!

Where Oh Where Has My Grandma Gone!

OK, I admit it. I have been out of the loop for awhile now. The Busy Bee even accused me of falling into a black hole. Well, not quite...I just went to work. Now for some people that is a simplistic statement, but for me it was like having my first job...all over again. I am truly enjoying it now that I kind of have the swing of it. I mean...I am getting used to being trained for a different job everyday now. I just feel sorry for my poor supervising trainer who has to put up with my blank looks and endless questions. Then there are the never-ending questions I have to ask to clarify that what she said is what she really means. And since I work remotely from one office through another about 20 miles away voice expression is non-existent over IM and availability is not always possible. This week I spent two days in Tulsa working at the main office simply because my supervisor is overwhelmed with her load of work. She was overwhelmed to begin with....that is why they hired me in the first place...to help her. But since I started work in September two people in the main office have taken positions elsewhere and now her workload has increased by another 100%. That, plus this is the beginning of tax season and our office is responsible for getting this 200 store multi-million dollar business ready for season. Sooooo......I have been a little busy.

I got a call from one of my grandsons the other night. His papa said he had been saying he really missed Grandma and wanted to visit. He called and talked and it did me good...I hope it did him. I miss all my grandchildren....and my children terribly right now. I will be glad when the holidays get here so crunch time will be over for me and I can visit with my family.

I asked him how he liked his new house and his answer was this. "Well, actually, since we have already moved in...I guess I might as well." I could just see those big green eyes and blond curls, that earnest look on his little angel face while he was talking. Then the Lil' Spitfire got on and talked ninety to nothing, loud and long and was gone as quickly as he had come.

So the answer to the question is this. Grandma went work...but I am always only a phone call away...oh and by the way....I just got a new cell phone! And by the way Princess....it's pink!

VOTE

Hey Everybody,

I haven't blogged in awhile. Working just kind of drains it out of me. When I get home all I want to do is veg! Which is probably just the opposite of what I should be doing since I sit in front of a computer all day....ANYWAY! Just want to encourage you to get out and vote on Tuesday. This is a big election with many moral and spiritual ramifications as well as political outcomes. Get on your face before the Lord and ask for His wisdom in voting for the candidate of His choice.

Ultimately, who God has for President of the United States will be president. His ways are not ours. He may permit someone to be president that will cause us to think better of the freedoms we often take for granted. He is sovereign and if the candidate we wanted does not get elected...He will still be on His throne and in control.

To be perfectly honest....I think it is scary.....I am most thankful I belong to the Family of God and have read His Word to know the FINAL outcome!

Now get out there and vote!

Thankful for My Family

Like Lizardbreath, I have been reading the book Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges. Studying it actually....I don't recommend it if you don't want to be convicted of those sins that society says are not sin at all and we have convinced ourselves are not really that bad. And I have not been as diligent with my study as I usually am due to less time with eturning to work. But this morning, for the first time in a long time, I did not have to be somewhere. Thor was preaching a funeral, our boarders are in OKC for Fall Break (except Bro. Mike, he hurt his leg yesterday playing paintball and has been hold up in his room all day...or perhaps he is just enjoying the not having to do something as well), anyway, I took this opportunity and quiet to catch up on my reading and study.

Among other things, one of the things with which I was confronted this morning is my lack of thankfulness. Today, this hit home really hard. You see as I began to reflect on what I had read and while doing some soul searching I thought about yesterday.

Yesterday my day started with a call from someone with crisis in the family. The call was for prayer and counsel. After an hour or so on the phone (pretty tricky getting ready and driving to work) I prayed that the Lord would give them wisdom and guidance in this time of crisis and decision. At noon I had lunch with a friend who is in crisis with her family. I could feel her pain and sorrow through her words and see the tears shining in her eyes. She just needed someone to listen and know that I would pray for her. After work I went to the hospitol to see my little niece who has Cystic Fibrosis. Maesa is three, the same age as the Warrior, but not expected to live past the age of nine due to her illness. My sister-in-law was there, but Seaweed was not. He had been to the VA hospitol in Muskogee the day before because of pain in his hip, leg and foot. By the time they finished with the exam they were not as concerned about the hip, leg and foot as they were the blood in his urine. Perhaps bladder infection or kidney infection or stones.

And I could probably go on, but the point is this. In my study today he talked about the 10 leapors who had been healed, but only one of them returned to thank the Lord for his healing. Unthankfulness is an afront to God. After all He gives us each breath we take, made us everything that we are, and provides for us everything we have. We should be thankful to him. Not only that, but we are to be thankful for the things in our lives that do not turn out the way we want. These things He has allowed to sanctify us and improve our character...to make us more Christlike.

As I continued to think about each of the circumstances in the lives of all of these people I have often said, people go to a lot of trouble to get their lives in the mess they are in....but the reality of it is this.....But for the grace of God....it could be me. I truly never want to forget that.

All that I am and all that I have is a wonderful gift from God. So...

Thank you God for the family you gave me. Parents who taught me of your love and showed me through example how to serve and honor you with my life. Thank you for siblings that love me and a wonderful relationship with them and their families.

Thank You for the husband that You gave me. For his love and service to you. Thank you that he loves me and provides well for me. Thank you that he treats me like a lady, tells me he loves me, tells me how pretty I am, and would die for me if necessary.

Thank you for in-laws that reared my husband and taught him about You and showed through example how to love and serve You. Thank you for teaching him how to be a man and love his family. Thank you that they consider me their daughter as if I were their own.

Thank you for his siblings that love us and give us love and respect. Thank you for those who are saved and serve you. And I pray that you would save those who do not.

Thank you for my children. Lord, they are a blessing to me and my life. They both love the Lord with all their heart and serve Him faithfully.

Thank you for my children's spouses. Thank you that they love You and serve you. Thank you for the relationship I have with them. I love them as if they were my own.

Thank you for six beautiful and healthy grandchildren. Thank you that at least three of them have already displayed an interest in "knowing" You. I pray Lord that "ALL" of my grandchildren will one day be revealed as members of Your family and serve you faithfully and consistently.

Thank you Lord even for my two little dogs, Sophie and Sadie as well as my granddogs, Maya and Roxie. They give us so much pleasure and display unconditional love to us all the time.

Thank You for the home you have provided, the cars you have provided, and the jobs you have provided. Help me always to be a good steward of these many and wonderous gifts You have given me. And thank You Lord for good health for Thor and myself. Help us to be content with what you have given us.

You are so very good to us Lord. You have been so good to us. So faithful to us, even when we are not to You. Forgive me Lord for the sin of unthankfulness, for I have much for which to be thankful. I am not deserving and yet you give to show Your love for me. Thank You Lord!

And Lord, for those things that are not what I want....

For the family in crisis that is in danger of being torn apart because of sin in their lives. That have put the futures of their children in jeopardy...Lord, I pray that you would save them. Help them to realize their need for You. And Lord whatever Your will is for their lives, I pray that You would give clear guidance and wisdom. Protect the children Lord and save them to serve and honor you. Whatever our part is to be in this situation Lord, help us to do what is right and pleasing to You.

For my friend Lord, I pray that you would give her comfort. Lord lift up her head. I know that she loves and serves you Lord, but right now she needs reassurance. Lord, help her children realize the hurt they are causing their parents. If they are lost Lord, save them. Be with the grandchildren Lord, protect them from harm and save them to serve You.

For Seaweed I pray for healing. I pray that his condition reveals something minor and short term.

And for Maesa Lord, heal her little body, that is my selfish prayer. When I look at those
big brown eyes and brown curly hair, that smile that lights up a room....it is difficult to think about and even harder to realize that she is as ill as she is. She seems to be a typical little three-year old girl who laughs, plays with baby dolls, and likes to have her hair put up in dog-ears. Oh Lord, intervene and heal this little girl I pray. But Lord, if it is not Your will to do so, I pray that you would prepare each of us for the days ahead and enjoy her while she is with us.

And Lord, while I miss my family terribly right now. Thank you that I have a family to miss. And thank you for cell phones and computers that help us to keep in touch when we cannot be there in person.

I love and miss you all.....and I am thankful for all of you.

Thank you God!

Renegade Review

OK, so I went to the Renegade Review with Reba last night. And today....well, after sitting for five hours on hard bleachers with no back support....today, I am a might stiff and sore. But that is not the point.

As I watched all of the top bands for this particular contest I was mildly entertained. But mostly I was longing for the good old days of military marching. You know, way back when bands marched with precision in straight lines and the spectators could tell what was happening on the field. Back in the good old days when the band was what the people watched and not the flags. And no wonder they watch the flags, I mean, never mind the fact that they are dressed in wild costumes which have nothing at all to do with the music the band is playing, never mind the fact that what they do does not even remotely resemble anything to do with marching... and now, nothing to do with flags or even rifles....more dancing and gymnastics, and never mind they seem to be from a galaxy far far away, at least they capture your attention. At this particular contest, the music was....well, not even enjoyable listening, except I still don't know how they made their instruments sound like organs....oh, maybe that was from the pit. And don't even get me started on the pit. You know, the place in front of the marching band, on the sideline. They don't march either, but they do offer something else to watch instead of the band. And when the band I came to watch, because it is the school band that my children used to march in.....back in the good old days when this school did military marching and the people when wild with excitement when they finished and loved it and begged for more! When that band took the field....it was more of the same.

Now, my children tell me that there is some value to the current style of marching and band presentation. And perhaps there is, I don't know. I just know what I like when I go see a band march. I want to see precision and not be able to keep my own feet still from the beat of the drums, recognize the sounds that come from the insturments and if they have flags...have them be the secondary show that compliments the band and not upstage it. I want a marching band to look like a marching band and not actors from Star Trek and I want to hear music that I can't get out of my head.

After the band I came to watch finished I was ready to go home. "How many more bands are there anyway/", I asked Reba. Four. The next band up was from Kickapoo High School in Springfield, KS. The show was named something about sleepy time. Huh, pretty good sized band. Pretty good marching, hey look, the flags compliment the show, and did I hear, "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" in there? LOOK! They made a star! WOW! A star! When they finished, the crowd stood to their feet. They loved it!

A woman came down from above to talk with me. She was the mother of another "former" band member. One who had marched with my children. Her words to me were. "Did you see that star? Is it just me, or do you miss the old style of marching too?!" No, it is not just her.

When the awards were handed out, it was just as I expected. The band I came to see took first place! They always do. But, right there, right behind them....with the award for overall technical effects....was the Kickapoo band in second place....only .20 behind 1st place. And the crowd literally gasped!

I wonder what would happen, if someone was brave enough to do a full military marching show!
I know I would love it and go wild with excitement!

I think I will go find that tape with the show my children did when they were in the band.

Too Busy to Blog!

Okay, this is what I don't like about working. It is not the work, that has been somewhat challenging because I am having to learn Excell and everything else pertaining to my task at hand. But, The Supervisor is very patient and encouraging with me. It is not the people. I really enjoy working with the office manager and of course Susan, one day a week. It is not even the time. During the day, although I was never at a loss for something to do at home when I was not working, most of the time I can get the routine tasks accomplished. What I hate about working is the weekend and all that there is to do and only two days to get it done....the big things! And yet, the reality of that is this. Whatever is happening on the weekends happens on the weekends anyway and would not be any different if I was not working! Still....for some reason this play with my mind and I feel like there is soooo much to do and no time to do it.

I miss talking with Lizardbreath everyday...or almost everyday. Once I get to work I am so focused on what I am doing that I don't take breaks and rarely eat lunch away from my workstation. Don't get me wrong, it is not that I am not allowed to...that is just the way I am wired. Once I get started on a project...I do not like to quit until it is finished.

Then when I get home, I have been away from the routine of things there and am almost paralyzed by the "being out of the loop", so to speak. No one cares of course, it is just me and trying to adjust to the working world again.

It has been nice having Eve at the house. Although their lives are as busy as ours, especially with the Volleyball Player and her schedule as of late. But Eve is there during the day homeschooling the three youngest and does the laundry and cooking....if any of us is home to be cooked for....at least those are two things I don't have to do. But, if I did have to do them...I could manage.

For instance...right now, I need to clean house....I mean, really clean....de-hair the place. But, I have a Women's Ministry tea to go to in about an hour and should be getting ready right now. By the time it is over...I won't want to clean house. Then today, Thor went to Fayetteville for the Bikers, Bar-B-Q, and Bluegrass Festival with the Men's Ministry and although I don't generally enjoy going on bike rides that involve a great deal of highway driving, I kind of considered going,... but had the women's thing I signed up for, committed to and "should" and will go to. And then, one of our Single's, Reba, invited me to go to the Owasso Band Invitational with her tonight to see the band march exhibition. That I will do as well, but it doesn't even start until 10:00 P.M. On top of all that... I need to be reading my Lambs Bible Study book and doing the journal questions and paying bills. None of these take all my time, but they do take some time and together.... they equal all my time. Logically....I will always do something with my time...so why not all these things?

So why does this all mess with my mind? Who knows, but it does. How do men deal with this all the time?!....It just goes to show that God created men and women differently. I doubt that they ever even give things like this a thought.

And what am I doing here writing this when I should be getting ready...or I will be late! I am too busy to blog....Gotta go....Later!