Baby, it's really cold outside

The wind from the north has finally died down from last week,
but it was howling a week ago Wednesday night as the cold front

came through our part of the country.



Believe me when I say there were some things going bump in the night!

So Dear Heart was out in the rain trying to stop his windmill
gone crazy whirling like a whirlybird

from blowing off the top deck and I'm sitting in here biting my nails

thinking that thing is gonna fly off one of these days

and whap him or fly through our bedroom window.

After he tied it down, we went to bed with the window open and curtains 

flapping in the breeze wanting to enjoy the cool weather and the

sounds of the storm that happen too infrequently these days.

About 3:00 a.m., we were rudely awakened by the "frigid" air, along with
more banging noises, which we lay there trying to IGNORE.

Not enjoying them at all.

Dear Heart finally caved and went outside to rearrange things.

Oh yes, the windmill had blown off. The ladder had travelled across the deck,

and the swing had to be tied up to prevent it from banging against the house.

Poor Dear Heart.

It really made me feel bad that he had to be
outside taking care of gathering up and securing
that stuff again in 30 degree weather
(I have no idea what the wind chill could have been)

wearing nothing but his manly pjs, a/k/a fruit of the loom briefs.
Can you say Brrrrrrr??

Bless his heart. Gives me the shivers just to think about it
(and I really was thinking about it as I lay under the warm covers).

The weather in Texas is so fickle. After that cold front moved out,

It warmed up, and then ... lo, and behold,

Surprise, Surprise

We did get some of that white stuff on Christmas Day!!

 

 

North Texas snow with Trudy Tracks

Trudy is bewildered by all this cold weather,
but happy to finally find some grass under the snow.

 

The last few days have been in the upper teens and low 20s

and it's warmed up some out there now.



ice design on the window screen

 

But the snow is lovely when it first falls and covers the ground.
And this has been a restful week since we stayed inside most of the time. 

We were able to be with our kids and grandkids for Christmas celebrations.

I found this Christmas card of my sister and I from 1954.
(the photo actually having been taken from Easter of that year).

My hope is that you enjoyed a very Merry and Happy and Blessed Christmas

and that 2013 will be a prosperous and blessed year.

 

Kids ...there's just no predicting what they will say next

We spent this past weekend with Brady, 6, and Noah 4,

two of the cutest boys I've ever seen
and more fun to be around because they're always coming up with
some new trick to show Papa and Nonnie or a game to play
(which usually involves me running around and getting sweaty, ;-),
but you know I really don't mind).

 

Brady wanted to play outside, but Noah wanted me to watch The Lion King 
(probably for the 30th time),

so I agreed since it meant we could cuddle up and
watch the movie together I could lie down and take a break. 

 

It was fun as we watched and shared through all Simba's  adventures

until Nala finds him again and convinced him he is the rightful king and not Scar. 

So, after the big fight between Simba and Scar

and life is returning to bliss for the lions, we see Simba and Nala come out

with their playful baby cub. 

At this point, Noah jumped up with his arms out
and an expression of unbelief
and shouted out:
"How can that be? That's not possible!
Lions don't lay eggs. 
That just can't be right?!!"
He was truly confused and bewildered about the whole thing
(and I so wish I had been able to get a picture of that boy). 

We began to talk about the animals that do lay eggs 
And other kinds of animals that are mammals. 
"But how does it happen?"
AHEM!
We then explained to Noah that he would have to get the rest of the story 
.... You guessed it.  Mom or Dad will get to explain it to him. 

When Kate spends the night with us, she brings many of her various furry friends. 
(Another friend named Ellie always comes too, however, Ellie is invisible.
We did find out the other day that Ellie is an elephant. 
Being invisible, it is somewhat difficult to play
Tag or Hide and Seek with Ellie)!
 

Kate must sleep with at least 50 of her "friends" in her bed every night. 
One of her friends is Sonny the wooly lamb. 
He wears sunglasses and a scarf around his neck
and has flip-flops on his feet. 

Kate could not go to to sleep the other night. 
She said "Sonny won't stop bouncing on the bed."
I had to put Sonny in time out. 

One of the funniest I ever heard was when Brady was potty training. 

His Mom was standing nearby and she heard him talking to himself.
"Come on out of there, Poop.  Don't stay in there by yourself.
Come out where you belong."

Where do they come up with this stuff?

I cannot wait to hear what kind of things this little guy will have to say.

When we had to leave on Christmas Eve, Noah was so disappointed,
He began trying to figure out a way for us to live there with them
so we could see them play every day. 

I'm loving these sweet moments. 

Where Love Is, God Is

Where Love Is, God Is,
by Leo Tolstoy,
is one of my very favorite Christmas stories.

The following poem, The Christmas Guest, is a condensed,
revised version of the story by Leo Tolstoy,
which you may enjoy right here,

  

The Story of the Christmas Guest
by Helen Steiner Rice

It happened one day at December's end
Some neighbors called on an old-time friend.

And they found his shop so meager and mean,
Made gay with a thousand boughs of green.

And old Conrad was sitting with face ashine.
When he suddenly stopped as he stitched the twine.

And he said "My friends at dawn today,
When the cock was crowing the night away,

The Lord appeared in a dream to me.
And He said, 'I'm coming your guest to be"

So I've been busy with feet astir,
Strewing my shop with branches of fir.

The table is spread and the kettle is shined,
And over the rafters the holly is twined.

And now I'll wait for my Lord to appear;
And listen closely so I will hear,

His steps as he nears my humble place.
And I'll open the door and I'll look on his face."

Then his friends went home and left Conrad alone,
For this was the happiest day he had known.

For long since his family had passed away.
And Conrad had spent many a sad Christmas Day.

But he knew with the Lord as his Christmas guest,
This Christmas would be the dearest and best.

So he listened with only joy in his heart,
And with every sound he would rise with a start,

And looked for the Lord to be at his door.
Like the vision that he had had a few hours before.

So he ran to the window after hearing a sound,
But all he could see on the snow covered ground

Was a shabby beggar whose shoes were torn.
And all his clothes were ragged and worn.

But old Conrad was touched and he went to the door
And he said, "Your feet must be cold and sore.

I have some shoes in my shop for you.
And I have a coat to keep you warmer, too."

So with grateful heart the man went away.
But Conrad notice the time of day

And he wondered what made the dear Lord so late,
And how much longer he'd have to wait.

Then he heard another knock, and he ran to the door,
But it was only a stranger once more.

A bent old lady with a shawl of black,
And a bundle of kindling piled on her back.

But she asked only for a place to rest,
a place that was reserved, for Conrad's great guest.

But her voice seemed to plead, "Don't send me away,
Let me rest for awhile this Christmas Day."

So Conrad brewed her a steaming cup
And told her to sit at the table and sup.

After she had left, he was filled with dismay
For he saw that the hours were slipping away

The Lord had not come as He said He would
And Conrad felt sure he had misunderstood.

When out of the stillness he heard a cry.
"Please help, me and tell me - Where am I?"

So again he opened his friendly door.
And stood disappointed as twice before.

It was a child who had wandered away,
And was lost from her family on Christmas Day.

Again Conrad's heart was heavy and sad,
But he knew he could make this little girl glad.

So he called her in and he wiped her tears,
And he quieted all her childish fears.

Then he led her back to her home once more.
Then as he entered his own darkened door,

He knew that the Lord was not coming today,
For the hours of Christmas, had all passed away.

So he went to his room, and he knelt down to pray.
He said, "Lord, why did you delay?

What kept You from coming to call on me?
I wanted so much Your face to see."

Then softly, in the silence, a voice he heard.
"Lift up your head - I have kept My word.

Three times my shadow crossed your floor.
Three times I came to your lowly door.

I was the beggar with bruised cold feet;
I was the woman you gave something to eat;
I was the child on the homeless street.

Three times I knocked, three times I came in,
And each time I found the warmth of a friend.


Of all the gifts, love is the best.
I was honored to be your Christmas guest.

 

Andy Griffith recording of The Christmas Guest