Merry Christmas to all of you!

Dear family and Friends-

Merry Christmas to all of you. We had a great day today- no parks- Just relaxing with the family- the girls swam- we shopped - the girls swam- we shopped. Do you see a pattern?

We went to an indoor flea market where they had.....

1. Fake purses.
2. Teeth whitening booth (gross)
3. Buy one get one free Tatoos - which the man was in the middle of giving a tatoo and stopped to answer his cell phone- cuss out the person on the cell phone- and go back to the person he was tatoo-ing.
4. Fake I-phones.
5. T-shirts that would probably fall apart on the first wash

And much much more. I felt like I was back in the islands!! Woot Woot

Kaylin came in today so now the family is complete. We found a little tree at the rental house here and decorated it with ornaments that we bought at Cracker Barrel- and the girls made tiny gift ornaments, and we made garland out of dollar store ribbon. I think it is the cutest tree on earth. The stockings are hung by the staircase with care- in hopes that St. Nick will know that are are here!!

Have a Merry Christmas- celebrate with your family and friends. To those that are a far off away from your family- HUGE HUGS!!!

Love ya-

CMN

The Magic Kingdom and some Magical and not-so-magical moments!

On Sunday we went to the Magic Kingdom. This was the first time for the girls to go to Disney World. They all had a great time and loved it!

Some Un-Magical moments....

1. Man sleeping sitting against the wall with his mouth open- snoring and had earplugs in. See attached picture.

2. A family of 5 eating snack in line. The snack was toast for all followed by cream cheese which was spread from the silver package to the bread. He did not have toast for himself so proceeded to suck on the rest of the package. I was right behind them and had to turn around as I was gagging.

3. Waiting 70 minutes in line for Space Mountain in front a what the kids called newly dating couples who gave the three girls an education in hands on kissing and groping.

4. A 7 year old punched his brother in the nose and it started to bleed.

5. A Mother slapped her son in the face after he shoved her into a lady.

6. Being up-wind from a family from another country who had not been exposed to the joys of deodorant.

Magical Moments....

1. The girls going bonkers for "It's a small world after all."

2. Realizing that Seanna is at Disney and she rode "Space Mountain" at 9- the same year that I did.

3. Getting hugs from all three girls who told me that this was the best day of their lives.

4. Finding my car in the sea of all cars. I did text myself the location of the car- paranoid much.

5. Leaving the park without one purchased souvenir!

Things they don't advertise on the Seaworld brochure....

Friday afternoon we left for our Christmas vacation. We left at 2 PM and arrived after midnight. We were doing fine until we hit traffic and stopped literally for two hours in Daytona Beach ugh.

Anyway- we got up early on Saturday and met Steve and Meghan and took her with us to Seaworld. It was amazing. The girls had a blast- and it is worth it to go if you are in the area! Shamu is bigger than life- the dolphin show, the penquins, roller coasters, and the highlight of the day for the three girls- feeding and touching dolphins. They said it was worth not getting Christmas gifts to come here :)

Here are some of the things we saw that did not make the brochure....

1. Wife cleaning out her husbands nose with her fingers (ok I am gagging as I type this literally)

2. Cylinda talking to the people next to her at the Shamu show- and they don't speak a word of English- they were German- yet they understood every thing during the speaking part of the show and they were openly laughing at me when I was done trying to talk to them.

3. A boy accidentally elbowed his brother and the brother punches him in the face. Blood was drawn and the Dad and daughter acted like they did not know them as they ran from the scene.

4. December must be mating season for the dolphins. Adds a whole new element to the friendly animals at Seaworld.

5. A shark in the Shark Discovery cave had just given birth to a baby shark. The afterbirth was still coming out- much to gagging Emma's dismay.

6. Birds are VERY into the feeding of the dolphins. Several of them quickly swiped down and picked up the fish out of kids hands. They then pulled out a fake Eagle on a stick and waved it around.

One of the most touching scenes of the day was a little girl she looked to be four that had cancer. She and her twin sister and family were there for the make a wish foundation. While we were waiting for the girls to feed the dolphins- I got to watch this beautiful little girl- who is fighting cancer- feed a dolphin. Of course being the person that I am- I followed them for a little bit when they left the exit gate. (That is one of the times when John again acted like he did not know me). The little girl told her Mom- Mom- this is the best day of my life.

When the girls came out from feeding the dolphins I gave each of them a hug and told them I loved them. They looked at me like I was crazy. Emma was like are you getting emotional because we fed dolphins? I said- well something like that.

Have a great Sunday Blog Buddies- I am going to try to get the gang ready for the Magic Kingdom- More details to come!

BTW you can click on the pictures to make them bigger if you want more details!

The Christmas Hippo

Every year the “Holiday Shop” comes to our daughter’s school. Each year I give them $5.00 each to spend on their family. Since I am the money giver and I always challenge them to get something for each other and for their Dad and then to come home and give me a hug and that will be my Christmas gift.

This year they each came home with their crinkled bagged treasures securely in hands. They could not wait to show me what they had purchased. Special gifts for each other, a #1 Dad paperweight from Seanna to her Dad, and Emma purchased him a plastic octopus filled with blue bath gel.

They then went scampering into the office giggling and whispering all of the way. They each came out with tiny bags and huge smiles. Mom- we know that you told us not to get you anything but we couldn’t help it. Here these are for you. I excitedly opened up my package first from Seanna- after hearing her insisting that she WAS the oldest. It was a silk rose with a sad tiny teddy bear on it. She grabbed it out of my hands and tore off the sad teddy bear. Here Mom- you are my rose she said- and gave me a quick hug. Emma’s bag was next.

Emma was so excited at this point she was shaking. She said Mom – you are not going to believe how awesome this is. I quickly ripped open the bag to find a ceramic hippo in a purple dress covered with orange polka dots. She was holding a coordinating yellow collapsed umbrella. Wow Emma- a hippo- thanks so much. I could tell that she was reading my face and was looking at every crease and wrinkle to see if she could see any traces of dismay. I quickly gave her a hug and told her that I loved it.

She sat there for a while to see if I would continue to hold it or set it down. I finally did set it down to go and finish up some work. She picked it up, and followed me into the office and put it right on my desk. She said Mom- when I was a little girl you told me that you liked hippos, you said that they seemed clumsy to other people but they were ballerinas when they were in the water- when they were in there perfect place. She then went on to tell me that I might look clumsy to other people but that I am a ballerina to her. My brain was trying to wrap around the fact that she had given me the fattest animal on the planet as a token of love and then called me clumsy. I gave her a huge hug and said- Emma- it’s perfect I love it. Thanks for making my whole day. She was all smiles as she ran out of the room.

It might be one of the most unusual gifts I have ever received. But you know what? It will never be put in the garage sale box. It was given to me from the heart of my seven year old imaginative ballerina. Who can look at anyone and see the best in them.

All of this is coming from the 7 year old- now 40 year old mother who gave her Mother a shell glued to a piece of coral when she was 7 and in the second grade. Tears came to my eyes at Thanksgiving as I was looking for some dishes and discovered my 33 year old gift to my Mother sitting proudly by the coffee cups. I can’t wait for the day when my 40 year old Emma will be looking in my cupboard and find the chubby hippo with the yellow umbrella. Truly a gift from the heart is the best gift ever- Christmas hippos are now my favorites!

Um....I think HE has made it clear what he wants from you for Christmas....How will you respond?

Malachi 1:11-14 (The Message)


11"I am honored all over the world. And there are people who know how to worship me all over the world, who honor me by bringing their best to me. They're saying it everywhere: 'God is greater, this God-of-the-Angel-Armies.'

12-13"All except you. Instead of honoring me, you profane me. You profane me when you say, 'Worship is not important, and what we bring to worship is of no account,' and when you say, 'I'm bored—this doesn't do anything for me.' You act so superior, sticking your noses in the air—act superior to me, God-of-the-Angel-Armies! And when you do offer something to me, it's a hand-me-down, or broken, or useless. Do you think I'm going to accept it? This is God speaking to you!

14"A curse on the person who makes a big show of doing something great for me—an expensive sacrifice, say—and then at the last minute brings in something puny and worthless! I'm a great king, God-of-the-Angel-Armies, honored far and wide, and I'll not put up with it!"

I know it's early....but I am doing Devotionals for upwithmks.com today

SO Here goes.....

When each year wraps up we always hear people talking about their new resolutions. How about you? What will you “RESOLVE” to do this year?

The late Erma Bombeck made these New Year's resolutions:

1. I'm going to clean this dump just as soon as the kids grow up.

2. I will go to no doctor whose office plants have died.

3. I'm going to follow my husband's suggestion to put a little excitement into my life by living within our budget.

4. I'm going to apply for a hardship scholarship to Weight Watchers.

5. I will never loan my car to anyone I have given birth to.

6. And just like last year...I am going to remember that my children need love the most when they deserve it the least.

This is a comical list….but what are you going to pledge to do this next year? The Bible points us in a great direction by telling us in Matthew 6:30-33 (The Message)


30-33"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

Christmas Concert 2008

I Burned the Chicken, I Burned My hand while getting out the burned chicken, and I burned my lips while tasting the burned chicken!!

I have had it.....

I burned the chicken
I Burned my hand on the pan while getting out the burned chicken
I Then burned my lips on the burned chicken to see if the inside was cooked.

Tomorrow we are having beef.

This has been my day today
I could not get a thing done.
I was short tempered.
I had 100 people emailing me to do things not MK Ministries Related.
John's car would not start- dead battery- he took my car on the day I need to do errands.
I was supposed to meet someone for dinner- we had the date mixed up
I was late in starting dinner as I thought- I'm going out to dinner it's sandwich night
I had three people tell me that we were out of milk-
Two people tell me that we are out of toilet paper-
One tall person tell me that we are out of paper towels
I Yelled at Emma for spinning in circles and waving her hands in the air while she was supposed to be getting her book bag together.
I had 10 - yes I counted them- 10 calls in two hours.
I put the mail-ladies gift in the mail-box and she did not take it- so I have to figure out how to get it to her....
My Mom called and my Dad was stuck in Houston
I added a new later flight for him (Log on computer - log off)
I called my Dad to give him the flight information
My Mom called to tell me to cancel the flight as CO already protected him (log on computer- log off)


Did I mention I burned the chicken?

I just left the kitchen- John is headed to prayer meeting and then to teach our neighbor a home Bible Study. (Wow that is a story I forgot to blog).

So Emma still had not cleaned up her book bag stuff I lost it again with her. I now am feeling ashamed as I realize I am taking out my frustration on her- and that even though she should have gotten her bag together- she should not have received the wrath of Khan upon her head!

I got another phone call to check an email....and Emma walks in.

She has her sleep Shirt on....
She has messy hair....
She brings me a Happy Birthday Jesus Bag- inside of it is her most favorite thing in the world right now- it is an ornament that opens up and plays away in the manger. She said here Mama I couldn't wait. It's the perfect gift and it is just the right time to give it to you. Merry Christmas.

I stopped hugged her and cried.
She was confused.
Emma-I am so sorry Momma? Do you not like it?
Emma-Are you crying because you are happy or sad?
Cylinda- Not like it? I love it....It's just I can't take that from you-
It's your most treasured ornament and I want you to keep it.
The only gift I want from you is a hug and a kiss.
Emma is now crying and hugs me too. She says that the only gift she wants is for me to be happy today.

I told her I was so sorry for being frustrated that it had nothing to do with her and that it was just one of those days. She hugged me came back later snuck back into the office with a big red heart and put it on my bulletin board. It reads I love my Mommy. Mommy, Mommy, I love you, You are so special too. Love Emma.

I stop to thank her. I then shut the door to pray to MY FATHER. To ask him to forgive my frustrations, my haste, to allow me to give him a hug, and to tell him that He is special to me. I plead with him to look past my imperfections today and to see me as his child. His frustrated fumbly bumbly child that just needed HIM today. I stayed talking to HIM until I felt better. Until his presence flooded over me and I felt warm and fresh.

The buzzer just rang. Seanna made cookies. She put them on the top shelf. They are burned and raw at the same time- but I will eat them. Thankfully!

I have to go in there anyway- it just dawned on me.... the other vegetables from dinner are still waiting in the microwave!

And they think Pentecostals are strange?

"Santa, This is Baby Jesus"

So this year since we are going to Orlando for Christmas- I am not decorating. I have not bought a tree. I am not buying gifts for my immediate family, My Mom and Dad, or for my brother and his family. Our gift is we get to see each other as a family -RARE INDEED- and we get to be with each other in Orlando for a week.

Having said that I have bought over 180 gifts thus far for MK Ministries, ALC Kids, Sunday School Teachers, MK Prayer Pals, extended family and friends. I am DONE with shopping.

So back to the story- since I am not decorating-I have not pulled out the kids favorite decoration- the Fisher Price Nativity set (we have a nice one but they like that one better). This past Sunday I pulled it out as I needed to use it for Kids Church. After church it was laying on the living room floor. Emma went into the container and dug up her Santa and Mrs. Claus set that has two gifts and Reindeer. She also had out all of the Polly Pockets.

I walked buy as she had the nativity scene set up and was introducing Baby Jesus to Santa. Jesus was in the manger and Santa was being held in her hands. She said "Santa, this is baby Jesus" - he is the real reason we have Christmas. She later set up all of the Polly Pockets to come by and meet Jesus, and then Santa. It was kind of like a walk by (instead of a drive by)!

It reminded me of when she was little and we were in Costco shopping during the Christmas Season. I think she was around 3 at the time. Three Muslum ladies walked by in full covering. Emma LOUDLY proclaims- Mama look- There are Mary Joseph and Baby Jesus Girls. I quickly clasped my hand on her mouth but I still think they heard her. I pushed the cart as fast as I could about 4 aisles down. Put my head down and laughed so hard I was crying. She said "What is wrong Mama?" I said "Nothing Emma, I just needed to laugh."

So this year- don't forget the real meaning of Christmas. I was telling John about this and he said well at least she had it in the right order- She knew the real reason for season :)

What do Gold-Fish Murderings, Science Museum attending, and Holly, Barry, and Gary the Reindeer Hunter have in common?

They all represent my crazy weekend. I will have to finish this in a second- I am out the door to go to Seanna's concert....back in a jiff

Okay I am not back in a JIFF but I am back. So sorry. Seanna had her concert last night. I guess I am the bad parent who wants to bolt after their kid is done singing? Or maybe everyone feels that way and just doesn't type it out loud :) She did great shaking her maraca and singing Feliz Navidad half heartily.

Okay.....So Christopher Brainos- MK to France spent the weekend with us. He came in very late on Friday night- actually very early on Saturday morning. Saturday- we went to the science museum all because the Pompeii exhibit was there. When we went to pay- I found out it was $20.00 to go to the museum- and then $20.00 more to see the Pompeii exhibit. I multiplied that in my head times five and realized- that hey- we can go home and read books about Pompeii. The girls had a great time in the science exhibit and the IMAX. I of course am the dork Mom that tells them to hold unto handrails until they get to the seat....to not lean over etc. John reminds me that they are 7 and 9 and really don't need to hear that anymore. Much less that loudly!

I had to run to the restroom before we went in ...and there I encountered a different lady. I think that she was homeless. She was clean and nice looking- but very strange. She had several layers of gloves on. She was staring at me while I was washing my hands and she said "I am sorry I didn't hear you" I said what? "She said I didn't hear what you were saying to me" I said, "I did not say anything to you" She said "I clearly heard your voice" I said, "No I didn't say a word". She then kept looking at me shaking her head up and down. Ready to leave I helped Emma to the fastest hand washing experience of her lifetime.

Before I forget. They had Pompeii facts on the bathroom stall walls. The custom in ancient Rome was to sit on a "toilet" which was behind a running river. Each "toilet" had a sponge attached to a stick. One would wipe themselves with the stick- then rinse it in the stream- and lay it there for the next person to use. Kind of gives the "I love my Charmin" a whole new meaning huh?

We left there to eat dinner and to get props for the Three skits that we were doing for the next day's Christmas Banquet.

We were planning three skits for the banquet. The first skit was John and Christopher doing a mall survey to Paula Ettienne (a lady in our church from St. Croix) and myself speaking Cruzan to them. Since I was raised in the islands I spoke Cruzian all of my life. I used to get spanked if I talked that way in the house- but could do whatever in the yard- as my mother was determined I was to speak proper English. Anyway the whole skit was based on the fact that they couldn't understand us and trying to translate it into different things.

The Second skit was John and Christopher having lunch on a park bench.


They laterally did it just like this. So we had to have two dead fish. We bought sardines- and their heads were cut off in the can. Thank you very much. So on Sunday Afternoon- we went to Wal-mart to either buy two dead fish or to buy two fish to kill them. I did not take Emma on this trip on purpose :) When we get there- there is no one in sight that had a blue vest on. We called for a worker and waited and waited and waited. When the worker arrived- we pointed out two fish that we though were dead and said that we wanted them. The worker said you want to buy dead fish? I said yes- we do - he touched them and said sorry they are alive. I said well we are going to have to feed them to something (JOHN) so it was fine if they were dead or alive. By this time there was a man and his son watching us. The man was like what are you feeding them to? Do you have a Parana? I ignored him. The son starts going ballistic...How can you kill those fish? What are they going to do with them? How could anyone ever kill a fish? The Dad finally left with his son who was loosing it. We got our two fish and left. Christopher and Seanna wanted to know how we would kill them- I said that John would have to do that. Turns out fish live a lot longer out of water than you would think :)

For the last skit we did Holly (Cylinda), Barry (John), and Gary the Reindeer hunter (Christopher). We horribly sang many songs including a Kripsy Kreme Montage, A love song sang from John to myself "If my nose was running money- I'd blow it all on you", and I sang about my miracle (miracle whip for my sandwich) and ended with Revival. We did not bring the down :) but laughs were heard.

I drove Christopher back to Southern Pines, NC on Monday. He was a great sport. I gave my camera to a guy from our church. He took about 200 of them- so I will post a couple so you can see our wonderful outfits! We were styling (not).

ANYWAY- I hope you all had a great weekend too. Remember today to stop and thank the Lord for the small things- like toilet paper- cause a sponge just won't do!

STOPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

Have you ever been so down on yourself
Like yelling at yourself in your head?
Giving yourself a good chew-out- while silently smiling at others?
Gone through the how could you list- while encouraging someone else on the phone.
It makes you feel fake
Like somehow you are a bit of plastic.

I had lunch with someone today
Someone that I love dearly
While at lunch she was telling me that I amazed her
That I had my act together
I felt the plastic melting into my face and hairline even further
as I thought - really?
Is that what you feel?

I feel like a looser today
That I can't get caught up
That I will never get caught up
That I cheated and put 3 things down on my to-do list that I had already done
to make myself feel better

Then I got home
I found that I had 8 missed calls
My dear 7 year old was exploring with the silence button on my cellphone
I went to yell at her
and felt more plastic drip unto my lips
It sealed them. Tight. I knew to hold my tongue!

I don't always try to be overly transparent
but I don't want to be plastic either
Balance
I am not always good at it
That is what my head says at least

I had to stop
Even in the midst of frantic house cleaning
to put on a praise CD and worship.

Then I knew that HE was God
All was good
That maybe even though my head was screaming to me that I was not making an impact
That I was

I suddenly got an email
From a far away friend
Who said
Keep blogging
You don't know how on certain days
I long to read your blog
and that you minister to me
SO I STOPPED to thank the LORD
To Praise Him-
To Shove the voices out of my head
Give them to HIM
Clear the air-

and then blog

God is great
Even if you are struggling today
90% of the time the fears that you face
the doubts
the hesitations
are not even going to happen
they are not a reality.

Have no fear
Only believe
WITH GOD All things are possible.


-----------

As a disclaimer
I know that this blog is jumbled
Blurted out
Doesn't make a whole lot of sense
but there are such deep issues
that I can not discuss
Yet he knows them
and I know that I am a victor
with HIM today!

I love you all-

Now back to cleaning

Please continue to pray for Jessica Marquez

She was in the ER most of yesterday afternoon and much of last night. She is and her family are on the way back to the US to get more testing. Please pray for them! God is able to touch her!!

Okay Just to make you smile today....

This guy is incredible at impersonating these ministers....

It's the little things....

So I have been so ANNOYED THESE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS ….why? Because of little things.
“Little Things” like:

•Not being able to find my favorite toothpaste after I unpacked.

•Taking my Christmas photo cards to Costco to find that I can either have John in the picture or Emma- as HE IS TOO TALL to fit into the tiny square cropping device.

•Going back to Costco with three more family pictures and they cut his head off too. So now it will just be the girls- which is what I wanted in the first place- but fell under the pressure of those asking for the whole family.

•At the grocery store- I was next in line at the deli and a lady with THREE KIDS cut in front of me. I told myself she was in a hurry to let it go- as her three year old turned around and stuck her tongue out at me.

•My FAKE COACH purse broke. I know that is what I get for buying fake. But for thirty five dollars it should have lasted more than two months.

•I have ordered business cards three times from a company and they come back every time with a smudge on them.

•I feel like I have turned into a butterball turkey over the holidays- actually let me re-qualify that I feel like a pot- bellied pig.

•The cleaners lost my favorite black knit skirt.

•I missed the garbage men today- who knew they would come 2 hours early?

•I am sick of phone calls of whiners complaining about things, talking forever and not stopping to take a break to even say how are you doing today………………….primal scream……

Okay so all of these things are little, petty, irrelevant, nondescript but you add all of those things up in the past 48 hours and I am frustrated. Why should such little things in life make a difference?

Why shouldn’t it? It did in history-

During the American Revolution, everyone was so anti-British that at one point the Continental Congress considered that we should be a German speaking country. Did you know that the vote was defeated by one vote? Had it not been for that one vote we would be speaking German today.

Did you know that Adolf Hitler was elected as leader of the Nazi Party in 1923 by one vote!

Song of Solomon 2:15 says, Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.

Have you ever noticed how little things in life can really get you upset, off balance, irritated?

Song of Solomon 2:15 says, Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.

What is the little fox that has been ruining my vineyard? lack of prayer over the past two days in my life. After thinking about it I realized that in my bustle of traveling, getting home late, unpacking, and getting the girls back in school- I have not had my regular prayer time. Hmmmmm that is probably the issue. In this case it was the little thing that makes a HUGE IMPACT in my life. The Bible tells us to “Pray without ceasing” – I guess me saying “My Lord” In my head while frustrated does not count.

Tomorrow is going to be a better day. Prayer is back in its proper spot of priority in my life. As for me – I’ve gotta run. I just tried to print this out to find that I am out of ink in my printer….and the list continues.

For all of you mothers....you have to read this link...and everyone else too...

I have a great friend Bonnie. She is a excellent wordsmith (big word huh?. I have been on her to blog. She blogged today and it is one of the funniest post ever. You have to read it. TO find her post- Click on the title of this blog!!

Hint- it involves a four year old, candy, a distracted mother, and undergarments!

Have a great night!!

Old St. Charles- November 29th

On Saturday we went to Old St. Charles. This is our fourth year to go there. The girls collect cards from all the different Santas, the characters from the Christmas Carol etc. There are 29 cards to gather. This year Emma had 1/2 of the cards and left them in a store- so we had to chase down the characters again. It was SUPER cold- as it is right off of the river. We had a great day!

MK Gathering- St. Louis November 28th

We had a group of 26 MKs and spouses that had a great night of fun! Thanks so much to Chvana and Kaylah Robertson who set up and decorated for us. It looked amazing!

Thanksgiving Day Fun!

Here are some pictures from Thanksgiving with John's family here in Charlotte and then on Thanksgiving Day. We had a great day- and ate too much!