Sunday Morning

Today Bethany sang a solo in church. I only have a small clip because as I was recording it my daughter called and cut the video off. I quickly declined the call and turned the camera back on, but it obviously messed up my recording. My daughter said it was actually her three year old that did it and not her. So, I only have a short clip of her singing, but wanted to post it anyway. 

Bible School

This week the kids went to Bible School and, as usual, they had so much fun. They absolutely love Bible School. Bethany even managed to climb out of bed at 6:15 so she could get her treatments and vest done before she left and Bethany is not an early riser. But, for this she managed to get up and quickly check her blood sugar, get her insulin, eat and start all her treatments. I think tonight she is actually so exhausted that she's just glad she can sleep tomorrow. She is definitely not a morning person. 

Today the kids came home with bags full of stuff they got on the last day. You would have thought it was Christmas at our house as they went through all their stuff. They were so excited going through everything and showing me what they got. 

Their afternoons were then spent outside on our hammock most days this week. They love our new hammock. 

Sunday

Today Piper somehow managed to take a piece of paper and slice it across her cornea during Sunday school. She told me her eye hurt and had a wet paper towel on it and I figured she had somehow hit it on something. When I asked what happened she just said she hurt it. Later I got out of her that she somehow slid a piece of paper across her eye. We went into the worship service and I realized it obviously was hurting a lot and she started crying so we left and went to the ER. They numbed her eye and put dye in and showed me the little slice across her cornea. We got antibiotic ointment and Motrin and headed home. She has to see the ophthalmologist tomorrow. 

This evening we went out and got pizza and sat outside at some tables on the sidewalk. The kids loved it and it was a nice evening. We left there and got ice cream and went home and read together. We are finishing up a book and they wanted to hear the ending. It was just a nice quiet summer evening. 

I love to see Bethany and Tess together. They have become such good friends. They are together all the time playing and talking and laughing. Tess has only been here three years, but you would think they had been sisters since birth. As soon as we got to the pizza place they were off together watching the ducks and calling them and then later feeding them. I love this picture of them. 

Another Dedication

Today my daughter Meredith and husband Ben had little Finn dedicated. It was lovely and really kind of special as Finn wore the same dress that Meredith was dedicated in as a baby in the exact same church. I'm so glad they did this. 

Dedication

Today two of our grandsons were dedicated - Luke and Jakob. I always love it when my children do this with their kids.  It was a nice ceremony and Michael and Kasia managed to get both boys done today so Kasia's mom could be here for it. Her mom is here visiting from Poland and she is leaving sometime this week. 

The Twenty-Four Days Before Christmas - Day 24

Today our special thing was to go to the candlelight service at church. It is a beautiful service and our entire family goes every year -- well, Joey and his family did not. I love sitting in church surrounded by family and singing carols. It was a beautiful evening and I am blessed. 

I took this picture of my grandson, Luke, holding his candle in church - so sweet. 

Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas. 

The Twenty-Four Days Before Christmas - Day 23

Today our special thing was to go to the Christmas cantata, come home and have snacks while opening gifts the kids got from church. It may actually be a stretch to call this our special thing, but that is it. It has been a long week and a busy one and I decided this would have to be it for today and the kids seemed happy. They are always happy with snacks and gifts and the cantata was one of my favorites. So, this was fine with the kids as a special thing and we just pretty much relaxed the rest of the day - well, I did have some things to finish up. 

The short video clip is not of the cantata, but the end of the service as everyone was leaving. My son is the pianist for the church and I grabbed this as church ended. He did a wonderful job on the cantata today as did everyone else and I am blessed by all the help he gave us this season - he played all the music for the program the kids did last week and he is a wonderful big brother to so many.

This is very short as people were walking in front of me as they left church. 

Sunday

Yesterday, I basically had nothing planned except going to church and practicing for our Christmas program. It felt kind of like a lazy do nothing day to me and that's pretty much all we did. Bethany did decide she thought it would be fun to look for all the stuff she and Piper and Tess used last year to decorate their room for Christmas - maybe even decorate a little. It hasn't been the best week for Bethany as her blood sugar keeps going up and her doctor had to start her on insulin -- something Bethany has dreaded. She got her first insulin shot yesterday and it was not nearly as bad as she thought it would be. She had been very concerned about this shot for days so I was glad her first shot was over and she had gotten her enthusiasm back. Anyway, I decided it would be great for Bethany and Piper and Tess to hunt through their storage closets and find the Christmas decorations that they used for their room last year.  They had a great time going through stuff and finding what they wanted to use this year. 

Bethany decided she wanted to change using multi colored lights for their tree to the clear ones -- and she wants to spray some snow on it. Everybody agreed. Unfortunately, their tree from last year was in really bad shape so we had to throw it out. I think we will be looking for a new one today or maybe just get a live tree - can't decide. They did have fun most of the afternoon going through Christmas stuff and planning for their room. It was a nice day. 

While they were searching, Bethany found an old bell necklace she had gotten when she was about 8 or 9 years old - made her happy. 

Benefit Concert - Video 2

Thought I would post another clip from the benefit concert since I have a few. I didn't really record as much as I thought I would. I didn't even realize he was ready to play his last piece until I heard what he was playing -- then I knew he was ending.  But, I know one thing for sure -- all those piano lessons paid off. 

Benefit Concert

On Saturday our son, Michael, played a benefit concert at our church for Joey and another member that has had a lot of medical problems lately. Our church was so kind to let us have this concert and so many people came out to support both families. It was really nice and Michael did a wonderful job. I feel so blessed to have so many people that care. 

This is just a small clip from the concert.  

Easter

We had beautiful weather today and a wonderful day. I haven't even started going through my pictures from today, but probably will tomorrow. So, I will just post a picture from the end of the service at church this morning as my son plays the last song with his son on his lap -- so glad I had my phone to get this. 

The Twenty-Four Days Before Christmas - Day 24

Today is our last post before Christmas and it was a nice day - though I will say I was rushed. We had two special things today. First, the kids had a birthday party for Jesus at church and it was really nice. Their teacher did so much work on this party and the kids were so excited. It was great and we are so blessed to have teachers that care so much for our kids. 

Then this evening we went to the candlelight service at church. It was beautiful as usual and I love being there with all my family sitting together. I was going to post a video of Bethany as she sang a solo tonight at the service. But, my 18 month old grandson from Louisiana FaceTimed me right in the middle of her solo as I was recording. It disconnected the video. So, I can't post it as I only got half of it recorded. Instead, I will post her singing her solo in the Christmas play at church two weeks ago. 

Merry Christmas and hope everyone has a wonderful day. 

The Twenty-Four Days Before Christmas - Day 10

Our special thing today was to do the Christmas program at church. It was a very small program with only three kids that were not in our family -  small but nice. After the program we had a birthday party for Jesus. 

Most of the pictures I took were before the program while they waited on the side. 

This was our baby Jesus this year and he sure looked cute. 

Benefit Concert Video

Last night's benefit concert went really well. Our church is so very supportive and so many people were there. We go to a church that is small in numbers but has so much love. 

Our son, Michael, did most of the music but Abigail, Anna and Zola all played the harp. I'm posting a short video of Abigail playing.  It is a little noisey because she played while people were coming in and being seated. I am so blessed to have so many children that want to do all they can to help. 

As we load the video off the camera onto the computer I will probably post more. 

Bible School

This was Bible School week at our church. It was really great. The kids loved it and had so much fun. I think Tess has told me at least 10 times tonight that Bible School is over and it was soooo much fun. Our church has the best helpers and teachers and they never complain about my kids and I KNOW some of mine are not always the best behaved. Piper never stops talking or jumping all over the place and Sarah will ask the same question over and over and over. But, always, when I pick up the kids I get such a nice welcome and no complaints. But, I usually ask as I know somebody has probably been a little wild or had trouble listening. 

But, it was a great week and I was glad they all got to go - it was Bella's first year. She was so excited and her teacher really seemed to like her and gave her a little extra help. It was a really good year for all the kids and they came home with a lot of stuff that they spent the afternoon playing with and looking at. 

Unfortunately, Joey can't get his chemo next week either. That means three weeks that he has been unable to start. Praying that next week his blood work will come back better. Prayers would be greatly appreciated. I worry when he can't get it, but in the scheme of things I guess three weeks won't make a lot of difference.  

We made ice cream sundaes one day after Bible School. Such little things can sure make kids happy.

What A Day

Today my stepfather had back surgery. One thing I didn't mention when I wrote about our Christmas was that on top of everyone being sick my stepfather broke his back. Right before Christmas. This was definitely a Christmas we will remember. So, today was the day for surgery. My mom, Meredith, Emily, Abigail and I all sat together and waited most of the day as they operated. It was a long day wondering how he was doing and waiting to hear something.

Then while we were sitting there I got a text that Joey was not doing well and Shannon needed to get him to the hospital. My daughter, Anna, ran over to watch the kids and Shannon called an ambulance. Joey was disoriented, feeling awful, out of breath and couldn't even get out of the bed. The ambulance got there and they went to VCU emergency room. He is still there getting fluids and a CT scan and an MRI along with lab work. 

We continued to wait for the surgery at one hospital and Joey was on his way to another hospital. A pretty stressful day. The surgery went very well. My daughter in Georgia actually called us to tell us everything, as the doctor called her instead of talking to us -- because she is a doctor and had been corresponding with him since the Friday before Christmas. So, now he is in ICU for a day or so. Then probably some rehab. We are very thankful that he came through surgery so well. 

It has definitely been stressful here the past few weeks. And my daughter reminded me the other day that I never mentioned that during the Christmas Eve candlelight service, her daughter, Reagan's hat caught on fire. Now that was a panic moment. As we were all holdling candles and singing, I looked over and saw the strings of her hat in flames and heard Reagan say "Mommy, this candle is too hot." I instinctively reached over and slapped the flame and the fire went out pretty easily and it didn't reach her hair - thank goodness. A very scary moment.

Reagan at my house before Christmas. She actually took having her hat on fire very nonchalantly. 

I kept Evelyn for John the other day and gave her a little snack. She loved it.

The Twenty-Four Days Before Christmas - Day 24

Today was a very nice day considering how much we had to do. Our "special thing" for today was that we went to the candlelight service at church. It was beautiful and special as so much of our family was there. It was a little sad because Joey was not feeling well and so he and his family could not make it and we were so hoping he would be able to enjoy this Christmas. Hopefully, tomorrow he will feel better. Also, the kids were disappointed as their granddad could not make it as he hurt his back and had to stay home - of course, we all missed him, too. 

The service was beautiful and we sang carols by candlelight. Then went home and family came over and we ate and visited a little. It was a nice end to our 24 days and I have enjoyed sharing our "special things" with everyone. Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas.

Our kids sang in church tonight and so I thought I would post it for this evening. 

The Twenty-Four Days Before Christmas - Day 18

Today was a little different. Usually most of my time is spent with my younger kids and they are the ones that I have been doing things with. But, today after church I met my older girls and we went out to lunch and shopping together. It was Meredith, Shannon, Anna, Emily, Katie, Abigail, Zola and myself. It was really nice to spend time together and just sit and talk and laugh. I think we will do it every year if it works out and that has already been suggested to me. 

Because I was gone most of the day, it was hard to do much of anything with my younger kids. But, I did let them watch another Christmas movie and they got Christmas bags from their Sunday School teacher today and I let them go through their bags. I know it was small and I know they watched a movie yesterday, but I am counting the movie and opening their gift bags as our "special thing". I wasn't here for the movie, but I was here to watch them open their gift bags and that was pretty exciting for them. Tess came up to me after they opened their bags and sat on my lap and said, " This is my first Christmas." It was kind of sad and sweet at the same time.

I took a picture of Zola today as she lit the advent candle in church this morning.

When church was over, Bethany ran up to where Michael was playing the piano as people left the sanctuary. I saw her standing there next to him and grabbed my phone and got about a 6 or 7 second video of them together. Thought I would post that, too.

The Twenty-Four Days Before Christmas - Day 11

Today we did our Christmas Pageant at church. The entire performance was done by my kids and one other child. Well, I did let my granddaughter go up in an angel costume today even though she had never practiced and wasn't going to sing, as she didn't know what they were singing. But, when she said to me that she wanted to be a fairy -- like Bella -- I didn't have the heart to say no. I knew she would behave and would do fine so I hunted down a costume and let her go up with them. The only child that wasn't in our family was Joseph. My Sarah was Mary this year as she has always wanted to be Mary and has never gotten the chance. This was a big year for Sarah as she was Mary and got to sing a solo, too. When your mom leads the program she can let you be anyone you want and let you sing a solo. Sarah started talking about singing a solo weeks ago, but no way was I going to let her have one. She really has a hard time keeping the pitch right. But, my oldest daughter convinced me to let her and so I did. She must have been fine as one of my older daughters told me she cried when Sarah sang.

Sarah Singing Her Solo

Baby Jesus was my grandson, Luke.  And Luke's dad played the piano for us. My oldest daughter narrated the program so it was quite the family affair. Joey usually does the sound for us but he had not been feeling well. 

The program went better than I expected seeing that we barely practiced this year and I really had low expectations. I have just been so busy that I thought I couldn't get it done, but I wanted the kids to be able to perform. I especially wanted Piper and Tess to be in a Christmas pageant so I decided to go ahead and see if we could get it done -- and we did. 

Then this evening we decorated the tree. It already had lights and beads on it, but that was all. So we got the ornaments out of attic and all the kids went through them picking out theirs. Piper wanted to know where her ornaments were. I had to explain that we got each child an ornament every year and she and Tess had been in China so they had not gotten any yet. We are going out this week to let them both pick out their first ornament. 

So, we actually did two things today.