A Laugh and a Happy New Years Wish

As the friend who sent this to me said, this is what happens when city folks move to the country!


And may you and yours have a wonderful and safe celebration and a blessed 20091

Happy New Years, y'all!

PS: Pray for Israel...and for the USA...and all the free world.

Geocaching

Check out our newest Geocaching and photos at http://rscachebox.blogspot.com/ . We've been having a ball doing this. We found 6 today...check it out!!

Gifts for Two of our Girls--and China Wall

First of all, I want to share this photo. Our grandson, John, visited the Great Wall of China, and when I saw this photo I thought he would enjoy it...as a joke. Look how far it is to the restroom!
For Christmas this year, I mad bags for Bethy and Jenn, both age 13. Jenn is a writer and is working on her first novel. Wants to style herself as J. K. Smith (Jennifer Kathleen) in honor of J. K. Rowling. So, in her bag I included a moleskine journal with three micron pens, a subscription to the magazine Teen Ink, a couple of books on journaling and writing as a teen, a Don Price book, and the newest J. K. Rowling book. I embroidered the bag with her name on it.

And here is Bethy's bag. Bethy is an artist and is working on mixed media things but is very interested in art journaling, so I got her micron pens, a moleskine journal with watercolor paper, a small watercolor pan set, three brushed that fill with water, some pencils..colored and graphite, Danny Gregory's Illustrated Life because she loves his books, and a Don Price book.

Both girls loved their gifts and were already working hard on projects.

Christi Made This for Our Christmas Gift

Christi Made
Originally uploaded by SiouxCiySue

Our youngest daughter, Christi, made this wild, over-the-top, zentangle-like painting for us for Christmas. Actually she made one for every family within our family. She named names, universities, pets, children, grandchildren, parents, feelings. It's beautiful!

The Real Rudolph Story

A man named Bob May, depressed and brokenhearted, stared out his drafty apartment window into the chilling December night.

His 4-year-old daughter Barbara sat on his lap quietly sobbing. Bobs wife, Evelyn, was dying of cancer. Little Barbara couldn't understand why her mommy could never come home. Barbara looked up into her dad's eyes and asked, "Why isn't Mommy just like everybody else's Mommy?" Bob's jaw tightened and his eyes welled with tears. Her question brought waves of grief, but also of anger. It had been the story of Bob's life. Life always had to be different for Bob.

Small when he was a kid, Bob was often bullied by other boys. He was too little at the time to compete in sports. He was often called names he'd rather not remember. From childhood, Bob was different and never seemed to fit in. Bob did complete college, married his loving wife and was grateful to get his job as a copywriter at Montgomery Ward during the Great Depression. Then he was blessed with his little girl. But it was all short-lived. Evelyn's bout with cancer stripped them of all their savings and now Bob and his daughter were forced to live in a two-room apartment in the Chicago slums. Evelyn died just days before Christmas in 1938.

Bob struggled to give hope to his child, for whom he couldn't even afford to buy a Christmas gift. But if he couldn't buy a gift, he was determined a make one - a storybook! Bob had created an animal character in his own mind and told the animal's story to little Barbara to give her comfort and hope. Again and again Bob told the story, embellishing it more with each telling. Who was the character? What was the story all about? The story Bob May created was his own autobiography in fable form. The character he created was a misfit outcast like he was. The name of the character? A little reindeer named Rudolph, with a big shiny nose. Bob finished the book just in time to give it to his little girl on Christmas Day. But the story doesn't end there.

The general manager of Montgomery Ward caught wind of the little storybook and offered Bob May a nominal fee to purchase the rights to print the book. Wards went on to print, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and distribute it to children visiting Santa Claus in their stores. By 1946 Wards had printed and distributed more than six million copies of Rudolph. That same year, a major publisher wanted to purchase the rights from Wards to print an updated version of the book. In an unprecedented gesture of kindness, the CEO of Wards returned all rights back to Bob May. The book became a best seller. Many toy and marketing deals followed and Bob May, now remarried with a growing family, became wealthy from the story he created to comfort his grieving daughter. But the story doesn't end there either.

Bob's brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, made a song adaptation to Rudolph. Though the song was turned down by such popular vocalists as Bing Crosby and Dinah Shore, it was recorded by the singing cowboy, Gene Autry. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" was released in 1949 and became a phenomenal success, selling more records than any other Christmas song, with the exception of "White Christmas."

The gift of love that Bob May created for his daughter so long ago kept on returning back to bless him again and again. And Bob May learned the lesson, just like his dear friend Rudolph, that being different isn't so bad. In fact, being different can be a blessing.

My gifts

Soon as Raf has the photos from his camera downloaded, I will put up photos of our family taken yesterday. We had a beautiful day. On Christmas Eve we, with Carolyn, John, and Beth, took gingerbread around the county to friends and neighbors. Then we came back to the house to eat pizza. This is a tradition started by Raf's parents...taking bread to friends and then eating pizza.

After that, Carolyn and family went to have Christmas Eve meal with Darrell's family. They then met us at church for Midnight Mass. Raf sang in the choir. The service was beautiful. At the end of the service everyone's votives were lit, the Baby was placed in the manger, the lights were turned out, and we sang Silent Night. Then we met in the parish hall for food. Then home to bed.

Christmas morning we got us and ready and Carolyn's family, plus our friends Barney and Margaret, gathered here for Santa, to open gifts, and to have brunch. I fixed an egg casserole and popovers (another tradition) while Margaret brought a lovely cream cheese pastry, and Mary and Jerry have given us a stollen. Carolyn brought juices.

We sat around a while and visited, then Carolyn and Darrell's left. We rested a little, then we drove to Graham, Texas, to have a late dinner/early supper with all our family at Christi and Brian's new home on Lake Graham. (photos will follow in a few days) Our whole immediate family was there plus Barney and Margaret. We had a super time, the meal was delicious...Christi fixed her first turkey...and Beth and I made 3 pumpkin pies, 1 buttermilk pie, 1 chocolate chess pie, two batches of fudge, and a chocolate trifle. I got both the trifle recipe and the egg casserole here at Is She Cooking, Or What? YUMMMMMMMM!!

Now for my gifts. For Christmas I gave Raf a new camera lens that he got early, but he surprised me by giving me Margaret's loom. I have wanted one for ages, and they are downsizing. Margaret is going to teach me, too!!!! This is a Four Harness Classic LeClerc Fanny, 1962.
For my birthday Raf gave me the luscious scarf and a pin, but from Granville Island. He got them when Rob and Bonny took us there, and Rob helped him hid them! I Love Them!!
At our birthday party at the Golden Moon in Weatherford, John brought me a pink rose. Sheila gave me a bottle of wine with the balloon, and another friend of Beth's gave me some flowers at our party that had the ball and glittery things. I put them all together. Now I MUST draw that rose!!


Today we are lazing around, although we got out and found two Geocaches and intend to Geocache a whole lot more! If you haven't done this, we highly recommend it. There are Geocaches all over the world! It gets you out to some interesting places, too! GREAT GAME!

Wordless Wednesday: Christmas Baking

Wordless Wednesday

Girls of MWHS Class of '61

Five of us Mineral Wells High School Class of 1961 "girls" got together today at Chili's to eat and gossip and, in general, enjoy each other's company. From left to right Sheila, Sioux, Lou, Jo, and Lottie. We plan to do this more often and to get the class together a couple of times a year, as well. It was a merry time.

Now back to baking gingerbread, pies, fudge, etc. etc.!!

Graduation Party/Christmas Party Pics

Tomorrow is the fourth Sunday of Advent...4 more days until Christmas. After Mass tomorrow we will green the Nave in preparation for the Christmas Eve. Raf will be singing "Comfort Ye" from Messiah. Also, he is ending his Advent Sunday school study of Isaiah.
As usual, I often forget to get my camera out. There next five photos are after John's graduation back at our house for the party.

John, Cynthia (Godfather's wife), and Christi looking at photos from China

Carolyn

Arsi, Christi, and Remo (John's Godfather)

Janie, John, Cynthia

Remo

Last night was our 22nd Annual Christmas party. Again I forgot the camera until my cousin John was sitting by our grandson Travis. By the time I took the photos, we had only about 30 people here. We had about 75 in all.

Raf and Stan entertain

Travis and John

Tonight is our December Birthday Party. This year we are going to the Golden Moon in Weatherford because Aventino's in Fort Worth won't reopen until January 10! :>( Golden Moon is good, but Aventino's is special!

Now all I have to do between now and Christmas is finish two gifts, bake 25 gingerbread loaves, and bake the pies for Christmas day...oh, and clean the carpet because the city thoughtfully oiled our street in preparation for paving it today, and we have oil all over the carpet!!!!!!!!!!!!! (and at 4:57 pm it seems they are stopping the paving...so the oil is still there!!!)

However, the party was wonderful. So many friends. It was worth it!

Got the nicest surprises for my birthday. Raf got me a beautiful pin and scarf from Granville Island in Vancouver, and Bonny called me from Victoria!! Thanks, Bonny and Rob! And next week I will photograph the pin and scarf.

Sue is 66!

Today is my 66th birthday. The first photo below is that of me. The second is of my daddy.

Wednesday--Wordless and otherwise

Happy 22nd Birthday, John!

Dublin TX Dr. Pepper uses the original Imperial Pure Cane Sugar

˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚˚

My good friend Merle gave me a lovely Butterfly award recently - And now I will pass it on to 10 bloggers. Here are the rules :

1. Put the logo on your blog.
2. Add a link to the person who awarded it to you.
3. Nominate 10 other blogs.
4. Add links to their blogs.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of your nominees.
6. Give a reason why you consider their blogs cool

1. Bonny
Bonny is a true friend, a good artist, and her blog always makes me smile! Makes me want to return to BC soon!
2. Jim
I love Jim's photos and poetry! He's really the only guy whose blog I follow.
3. Toni
Toni is a wonderful artist and naturalist, and a good friend! Her blog showcases her beautiful paintings.
4. Felisol
Elise is a good Christian friend with a lovely heart and an outstanding blog!
5. Giggles
Giggles is another good friend who always makes me happy...just to be friends...with a great blog showing her art and life with her 2 great kids!
6. Lila
Lila has a warm and giving heart and shares her art and her friendship through her blog!
7. Susan
Susan is a good Christian woman who has encouraged me, through her blog, in my prayer life. Thanks, Susan!
8. Pea
Pea is an inspiration to me. She is extremely intelligent and artful, as her blog demonstrates!
9. Michelle
Michelle is a very talented crafter with a beautiful Christian heart! Her Jim is also very creative. You can meet them on her blog.
10. Robyn
Robyn is my Australian friend who right now is traveling in Europe with her son...you can follow their trip on her blog!

Have a great Wednesday and check out Wordless Wednesday!

In Other Words--Just Obey

“You’ve stood where Joseph stood. Caught between what God says and what makes sense. You’ve done what he told you to do only to wonder if it was him speaking in the first place.” … “If you are asking what Joseph asked, let me urge you to do what Joseph did. Obey. That’s what he did. He obeyed. He obeyed when the angel called. He obeyed when Mary explained. He obeyed when God sent.”

Max Lucado from “Joseph’s Prayer” in The Heart of Christmas

Isn't is amazing. Joseph's obedience. He didn't stop to argue. He didn't whine, or declare his disbelief as Zacharia did when the Angel came to him. He didn't say, "Ok, but...." He simply, quietly did what he was told.

Joseph's heart was open to everything God desired of him. All those times when the Angel appeared to him, he obeyed completely. He had faith, a more enormous faith than I can imagine. A faith that believed when he could not see or understand. He just did what God wanted him to do.

It sounds so simple, and it is so very hard.

Lord, make me more like Joseph. Help my unbelief!

O, Come, O, Come Emmanuel!

John Christian Graduated Today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Could grandparents be any prouder? I don't think so. Not for one minute. John has fulfilled and exceeded all our wishes for him. I know this sounds like I am bragging, but guess what...I am! He graduated with honors. He is an Eagle Scout. He is a fine man, a moral man, loving, kind, and true. He upholds all the values he was taught as a child. As I said, I could not be prouder. No way!

John is here receiving his diploma, a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas. Tarleton is the second largest university in the Texas A&M system.

Show and Tell Friday...O, Christmas Tree

Last week one of our Show and Tellers showed a ceramic Christmas tree...so I thought today I would show mine. This one was purchased years ago by my mother-in-law, and we inherited it. It's on the hearth in front of an antique clock, the wood box, and a cardinal on a granite ball.
Join us all for Show and Tell Friday!

Now I'm showing our Turtle. She likes to climb to the highest places and watch. Here she is on top of my book shelf in my studio.
Here she is on my lap. I took these photo so I could draw her...now I need time!

And, finally, tonight we are getting ready for tomorrow. JOHN'S COLLEGE GRADUATION. check here for photos!!!

Skywatch Friday

This was the sky last Saturday evening as we headed to Stephenville, Texas, to hear Tarleton State University's rendition of Handel's Messiah. I took Jim's example and took the photos with my phone while Raf was driving. We do have some pretty darn beautiful skies in Texas sometimes! Check out Skywatch Friday!

Wordless Wednesday: Christmas is Coming!

Check out Wordless Wednesday!