It's almost here!

Everybody ready???

It's almost here...I just about can't wait any longer! I am worse than the children.

Get your gifts wrapped, pack the car (don't forget my present...hehe).
...start the hot chocolate percolatin'...

get your 'celebratin' clothes on!

It's Jesus' Birthday!
This calls for a HUGE celebration!
Can't wait to hear how you make it special at your house...we've already started!

Mixed Bag

Whew...what a mixed bag of happenings today. The snow storm came as predicted...absolutely beautiful. Then, a huge tree fell across our yard, broke our fence down! Oh, well, fences come and fences go - we are all fine! That's the most important thing. The power had gone at about 2 a.m., so we loaded up at 9 a.m. and headed to my in-laws. It took us 40 minutes to make a typical 8 minute ride out of our side road due to downed trees/power lines. It was obvious that our neighbors had been out for hours cutting trees in the night - such a mess. We had too drive a maze on the road to dodge them. Mike started calling checking on our many of our elderly church members/those who may need assistance and checking in early today.

Once we arrived at families, we shared a much appreciated, warm, biscuits-n-gravy breakfast and nice, cozy nap. Then, the kids, granny and papaw along w/ daddy, built an awesome snowman and had a great snowball fight!

Now, we are praying for the folks working for the power companies, many of whom are friends, those that have lost power and those in need...that we will be aware of needs and meet them as we are able.

...and we are thankful for the beautiful white snow and our family that helped us during our time of need as well!

Tried to upload pics without success...will add later! Everyone stay warm:)

So is mine.

It was a messy life...

born in a stable, placed in a manger...it was dirty, unkempt, unorganized;

He left His parents and caused sheer pandamonium/panic when they couldn't find Him;

He was often surrounded by crowds/bombarded, yet often alone;

He was...passionate;
...misunderstood;
...angry;

...loving;

...honest;

...accused;
...kind;
...rejected;
...lied about;
...man-handled;
...persecuted - at times by those who claimed to know Him/understand Him/love Him,

...and so much more.
It was a messy life...Christ's life was a messy life.
He lived it out perfectly - but it was messy -
all over the map.

So is mine.

Christmas Parade '09

We have had a very "Christmas-y" day today...and what a joy! It started with Christmas play dress rehearsal at our church, then on to Paintsville for Abby to participate in her very first parade, the Christmas parade with her dance school, Pointe of Joy Performing Arts. We had a great time and she really enjoyed the dance performance they did in front of the courthouse steps at the end...it was her favorite part...(although she could have done without the fire truck that followed behind us and honked his horn/ran his siren the whole time during the parade -hehehe.). The snow made it so pretty tonight and really settled for me the Christmas season has begun...
Abby really enjoys taking ballet, tap and jazz. She is getting very excited about her first Christmas performance on December 21...A JOYful Christmas!

Merry Christmas...

Pre-parade pose in her pretty snow-princess ballet costume.

Such a sweetie...

Halfway during the parade, the troupe took a break to warm up...

So serious during her performance...she never missed a beat!

Performing at the courthouse steps to the company opening number of the Christmas show.

Daddy, Isaac, and Jonah had a fun time cheering on their little Snow Princess!

Black Friday Mayhem

Since my babysitting options fell through for Black Friday due to family illness, Mike and I decided to tackle shopping in Lexington with ALL THREE CHILDREN. Many would ask what I was thinking, I am sure. But, we had a Bell family meeting to discuss our options, and ultimately, the options were to sit at home and look at each other on my only day off or go and hope for the best. We chose option two and encouraged each other that a good attitude could save the day. Well, needless to say, other than a few minor meltdowns, the day was a blazing success for the Black Friday Bargain-Hunting Bell's!!! We found some great deals, got 85% of our Christmas shopping complete and enjoyed each other's company quite thoroughly!

On a much lighter - I guess you sort of had to be there - note, we did had a funny incident in the Disney store. Abby found a plush doll - Ariel the mermaid,

that she fell in love with. She began whining and begging for it. I started with the "...well, maybe that would be a great Christmas present..." or "...let's wait and see if you get it for Christmas" story. In the meantime, Michael was already deep in line to purchase our already chosen Christmas gifts for others on our list. I made a last minute decision to try to get the doll to him quickly before Abby saw it so I would have it for her for Christmas. So, when she turned her back, I tried to toss it - quarterback-style - to him. In the meantime [imagine slow-mo here], a real nice looking lady stepped into the dolls trajectory and it co-cocked her in the back of the head. My gut response was to duck behind the "Santa Buddies Plush Dog" display, which I did do!!!...and I heard Mike say, "Uh, sorry, ma'am." Needless to say, I have never seen him so embarrassed to be married to ME!

Somebody had to take the fall so the baby could have the doll she wanted for Christmas, right - hehehe? Disclaimer: No one was harmed in the purchase of this plush doll - except my husband's pride;)

Merry Christmas!!!

"You're a Man, Now!"

Isn't it quite funny the way our children view things...how they see life through different lenses?

While celebrating Michael's 36th birthday this week, the children ran in, surprised him (with a little help from the birthday elf) with cheesecake (his favorite), and a fun gift and a card that sang, "Lord, you are good and your mercy endureth forever...".

Suddenly, Isaac spontaneously announced to him...
"Now, you're a man!"

Abby began to chime in..."My daddy's a man now...eeewwww."
It was a great laugh and we had a delightful time celebrating.

I then asked each of the children, while we sat around the table indulging in cheesecake, to remind their daddy of their favorite memories of him...
great conversation and memories developed.

Isaac: "I loved riding the roller coasters at King's Island with you."
Jonah: "Yeah...but riding the log flume with daddy was better...we got soaked and laughed."
Abby: "I want to go fishing with you dad, like the boys do."

Not just rememebering, but planning more family fun and memory making was great.
I love being blessed with this family!

Happy Birthday, honey!
My best memory of you:
let's see, was it...
...the two weeks we spent on mission in California?
...how proud I was when you were honored as District 9 Teacher of the Year?
...laughing while playing charades at home?
...watching you read and study?
(you know how that gets me EVERYTIME - nothing hotter than a prayed up/studied up MAN OF GOD!)
...travelling with you around the world to build the family God intended for us;
...so much more...floods of great memories...just can't decide!

I Love you with all of my spirit-filled heart!

The ole' G.B. is outta here!

Yes....someone had the GALL to 'FIDDLE' with my insides!!!!

And, I lived to tell about it...
hehehehe...
ooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhh...
can't laugh tooooo hard yet...still a little sore.
But that ole G.B. (gall bladder) is finally outta here!