Project Wallpaper Removal

It happens occasionally. I get a hankering to make a change in my house. I casually mention it to eldest daughter. She’s enthusiastic and encouraging. I procrastinate, contemplating the time and money. She visits and asks me when I’m going to start. “I don’t know,” I reply. She suggests I start, now. She offers her help. I’m optimistic that we can pull it off during her visit and I agree. We start our project, tearing up the room we are working on. Hubby frowns…a lot. Daughter keeps on working while I attend to other household matters. She does most of the remodeling work. I can’t keep up with her. The perfectionist in me slows me down. Hubby sighs…a lot. We spend a couple of days wondering if we should have started this project. Things start taking shape and we are excited about what it will look like. We choose colors; I change my mind, then I delay making a decision on colors. Hubby stops frowning and sighting resigned to the fact that it’s happening. He starts to take an interest and offers suggestions. Finally, we are done with the first part of the project. Daughter leaves me to return to Dallas. We are both tired but looking forward to when she returns and tells me how much she loves what I’ve done to my kitchen walls!

Christmas Concert - December 15

The video clips below are of our first-born granddaughter’s first Christmas Concert. The Sixth Grade Beginners Band played three songs, which are available for your viewing. She is the third on the left of the second row of flutists (middle of the screen). At the beginning of Holly Jolly Christmas you may notice Hubby coughing in the quietness before the music starts. The 3 year old, sitting right in front of us in the auditorium, promptly turned around and with all seriousness hushed him then turned back around to watch the concert. Although the quite audible, “shh!” cannot be heard on the clip, it was loud enough to amuse all those around us. Unfortunately, I had no time to recover from our suppressed giggling before the music started. It is impossible to hold a camera still while laughing under your breath . . . thus, an explanation of the radical movement on the video clip.

Jingle Bells


Up on the Housetop


Holly Jolly Christmas

A well behaved audience for our flutist (rabbit ears imitating Papaw)!

Chicken Head

Sitting together at the dinner table can be a great opportunity for discovering what is on a child’s mind. In an attempt to give everyone a chance to share about their day, I often pose a question, such as, “What was the best part of school today?” Thinking they are witty, I often get remarks from the twelve and the nine year old revealing how absurd they think that question is. They begin with single word answers like, “lunch, recess, or nothing.” Sometimes they start out with a two or three word answers such as, “coming home, playing with friends.” The three year old toddler, who is never at loss for words when she is at home, quickly turns things around by sharing what she made at pre-school. The other two soon start competing for time to share their news of the day. Although sometimes I feel like a referee, constantly reminding them not to interrupt the others, I am so grateful when they open up and share.

News of the day is not the only interesting thing that is shared at the dinner table. Sometimes questions that are hard to answer are brought up, especially by a three year old who is still discovering basic things in life. Recently, as I served chicken to the children, asking them if they wanted a leg, breast, etc., the toddler piped up that she wanted the head. Laughter from the others ensued as I explained that we don’t eat chicken heads. “Why not?” she questioned. The pre-teen stated the obvious. “Because it’s gross!” “There’s not much meat on the head,” I answered, trying not to visualize my meal as a live chicken. The grandson wanted to share his amusement and started making clucking noises.

Grandchildren are delightful!

"May the LORD bless you ... all the days of your life; and may you live to see your children's children." Psalm 128:5-6