Getting ready for Christmas
I love this prophecy of the birth of Jesus found in Isaiah 9:4-7(NIV)
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this.

Pajama Pants
I have noticed several people who were wearing their pajama pants out in public. Maybe I'm getting old or maybe I'm just getting grouchy, but what is up with this new trend? Don't get me wrong. I love being comfortable. If I'm at home, I'm usually in a t-shirt and pajama pants. I might even venture out to the mailbox in my pajama pants, but I definitely wouldn't wear them to the store or to a restaurant. I'm not the best dresser, but I do at least put on a pair of jeans before leaving the house. But wait...uh oh...I just had a flashback of myself in high school wearing boxers as shorts. Remember those plaid boxers that you could get at Dillards. OK, maybe wearing pajama pants isn't as bad as I thought. Live and let live! ;)

Blogrolling
I just started my own blogroll! WooHoo! A blogroll is a way to add links to your blog that tell what other blogs you have been reading. Thanks to blogrolling.com it is as easy as one click. Scroll down toward the bottom of my blog to see my very own blogroll.

Video Game Bliss
Cole received a Game Cube for his birthday. Yes, I picked it out. For those of you who don't know...I'm a video game addict. Once I start playing, I just can't stop. I rationalized this purchase by saying to myself that the boys would be the only ones playing. I would not touch a controller except to help them set up a game. Well, that philosophy has gone out the window. I made the mistake of showing them how to drive the cars in Mario Kart Double Dash and the damage was done. I can't stop playing! So, it may be light blogging around here for a few days. :) Cole especially loves the snowboarding game (SSX3) that he specially requested. As for me, give me Mario Kart anyday! Now if Santa will just be kind enough to leave me Paper Mario in my stocking, I'll have it made!

Santa's newest elf! 

Adventures with Grammy
It seems Friday nights at our house have turned into "field trip" nights where we go out with my mom on one of her adventures. Such field trips may turn into a wild good chase. When you are with my mom, you never know where you are going to end up, but you do know that it will be fun. Last night we headed out to Tuttle, Oklahoma to see the Festival of Lights at the Tiger Safari. It was an adventure just getting out there in the dark. Actually, they had plenty of signs posted but I am directionally challenged. :) We went on a short hayride where they took you around to the different animal exhibits. (By the way, it is $2 per person to take a hayride and we had to write a check! It would be easier to take cash.) It is small enough that you could walk the exhibits, also. They had snakes, porcupines, tigers, a lemur, a macaw and many other creatures which I can't think of right now. I plan to take the boys back out there during the day when we can see the animals better and when it is warmer. We then headed to Orr Family Farm to ride the train. But, they were closing when we got there. (Note to self: They close at 9.) Rats! So, I guess that will be another adventure to write about later. We did go eat at Harry Bears in Moore before heading home.

Bible Gateway
This cool site can help you find anything in the Bible in just about any version you can think of. Double thumbs up...I'd quadruple thumbs up it if I could!

Proverb for the Day
I love the nuggets of wisdom in Proverbs. I'm going to try to share some of my favorites more often on my blog. Here is today's: "Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting with strife." (NIV) Proverbs 17:1 I like the way The Message Bible says it, too. "A meal of bread and water in contented peace is better than a banquet spiced with quarrels."

Fantabulous Weekend!
I am just now getting around to writing about my fun weekend. On Friday afternoon, Sissy (my sister) flew in to town so she could surprise my mom at her surprise 60th birthday party on Saturday. (Yes we went all out for my mom's birthday this year...a bull and a surprise party!) We went to dinner and a movie with our other sister, Kristen. (We went to see Bridget Jones, in case you were wondering. It was hilarious!!) On Saturday we had my mom's party at A Spot for Tea. I'm not sure how many people were there...I think between 35-40. My mom was totally surprised and had a wonderful time. After that we (Mom, sisters, Grandma and cousin) all headed out to Bricktown. We went to the new movie theater to see Oceans 11. Hugest screen I've ever seen! The theater was really awesome and the lights downtown were awesome. If you haven't been downtown yet this year, you are missing out. All in all a great weekend! Woo Hoo!

Bullmania!
As you can see from the sign, today is my mom's 60th birthday. It honor of the event, I located and rented the infamous Sirloin Stockade Bull. I have been telling my mom for years that I was going to rent the thing for her birthday and this year I actually got to do it. Finding the bull is another story. I have been looking for it since the summer. About a month ago I was driving the boys to school when I saw the bull advertising a garage sale. I quickly took the boys to school and went back to find out who owned the bull. The owner was there and we quickly made a deal for me to rent it. My mom insists that this is her best birthday ever! Woohoo!!

Blogs I'm Reading
Jan has introduced me to a couple of blogs that I can't stop reading. I thought you might enjoy them, too.

• Semicolon
• Tongue Tied

Pearl Harbor Day
This post is especially for my mom who instilled in me a deep sense of pride and love for our country, a respect for the military and the people who serve our country, and a love of history. (Digression: I come from a very patriotic family. Once when I was a kid we went to a 4th of July celebration at Owen Field in Norman where the Osmonds were flown in on a helicopter and landed on the field. I will never forget my aunt telling all of us that when we heard the song "God Bless America" we'd better get a tear in our eye!) Without further ado, here are some sites to help us remember Pearl Harbor.
National Geographic: Remembering Pearl Harbor
History Channel
USS Arizona

Yes, there's another reader in the family!  

On My Nightstand

• One Incredible Moment by Max Lucado - I read this book almost every year around Christmas time. It will give you a whole new perspective on Christmas. I highly recommend it.
• Bridget Jones The Edge of Reason by Helen Fielding - I tried to read the first book and couldn't get into it. Everyone tells me that the sequel is better. After Kristen's posts on hair dying, I was inspired to read Bridget Jones.
• Skipping Christmas by John Grisham - The only and I mean only Grisham book I have not read. I want to go see the movie, too. (Chritmas with the Kranks)
• The Hour Game by David Baldacci - Started it, got sidetracked and now I have to start the book over. I've had too much going on around here to read much lately. Baldacci also wrote Total Control and Absolute Power, which were both excellent!

Journey to Bethlehem
My mom and I took the boys on a walk-through Christmas story (for lack of a better way of describing it) at Forest Hills Christian Church. If you are in the OKC area, I definitely recommend going. The church is located on MacArthur, just south of 23rd street. Anyway, they have guides who lead you through the journey. You start in Nazareth and end up in Bethlehem. Along the way, you meeting many interesting people, even Roman soldiers! You even get to go to the market in Bethlehem. It is well worth your time to go. You can feel the Spirit of God as you take the journey. It is so neat to see an entire church work on something together. Everyone was helping...from young to old. Both of the boys were enthralled by the whole thing. Did I mention they also have real animals? Donkeys, Camels, Chickens, Llamas It got a double thumbs up from both of my boys!

Our High Priest
We have been studying Hebrews in Bible Study Fellowship and it has been fascinating so far. I have firmly etched in my mind a picture of Jesus sitting at the right hand of God praying for me. Now that is cool! I pulled out The Message version this morning to read some of the verses again. I love this one: Hebrews 4:14-16

Now that we know what we have--Jesus, this great High Priest with ready
access to God--let's not let it slip through our fingers. We don't have a
priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness
and testing, exprienced it all--all but the sin. So let's walk right up
him and get what he is ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the
help.