We Wish You a Merry Christmas!!!

We pray that you and your family have had a WONDERFUL day celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is truly the greatest gift of all eternity...not just on Christmas, and not just on the day we accept Him....but EVERY day...for all time.

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2007!!

Address Alert!!!

If your name happens to be Sandy or Amber....would you please, OH PLEASE, email me your address (to doctimmons44@yahoo.com)??? And hop right on that, would ya'!?!?

Thank you so very, very much!!

I love these kids!! (Not to mention their parents!)

One of the very fun things about having great friends...is that they have really cool kids! We were so blessed to get to host the "friends Christmas party" Saturday night...8 grown-ups (I debated about using THAT term to describe us!) and 12 kids! As usual, the noise level was quite high...and the massive quantity of food was somewhat embarrassing (clam chowder, beanie weenies, veggie pizza, shrimp dip, spinach-artichoke dip, sausage balls, stuffed mushrooms, crab dip, cookies, sugar cream pie, key lime pie, fudge...and I cannot even remember what else!!!)

Of special note THIS year....there were no corneal abrasions! I cannot say the same about last year's gathering (special thanks to the foam-disc-shooting-guns that each person under the age of 15 received!)

Of other significance: Sheila won the card game (Hand & Foot).

So Much Has Happened...

I honestly do not know where to even start.
But I do feel like I should bring you all up to date with that has been going on around here...so here goes...

**At the age of 91, my Grandma Leedy (Papaw's mom) passed away last week. I have spent much time since then "remembering" some of the great times we had spent together. Grandma was never the "warm fuzzy" who smothered you with kisses and candy. But, she was a very special woman who I always loved and admired. ...Can I just share a few memories that I have of my grandma??...She was the one who took me to get my ears pierced (I think my mom was chicken!). She helped me wallpaper my room the first time. She made the most beautiful ceramic dolls and doll houses. She and grandpa would host these incredible July 4th celebrations at their home on Bass Lake....hog roast, camping, fireworks...they were probably just a weekend long, but when I was a kid it seemed like they lasted half the summer....days so FULL OF fun!! AND....get this...she was the coolest grandma ever because she had a "clap-on, clap-off, the clapper" light switch before anyone even knew what they were!!!!!

I wish I could say that I had spent many-hours-on-end with Grandma over the past couple of years. The honest truth is that we did not go as much as we should have. BUT...we are very, very, very blessed that God had nudged us to go visit her just 2 days before she died. We had a good visit. She seemed very peaceful, and we exchanged "I LOVE YOU's" (which was NOT a common occurrence with Grandma)!! I am thankful that the Lord saw to it for us to have a great good-bye-visit memory!!!


**In other big news.....
Chad's father ("Paps") had a heart attack earlier this week. Please pray for his recovery. He has never had heart problems before, so this was a little bit of a shocker!!! Fortunately (thanks to my mother-in-law's very wise decision making skills!!!) they got him to the Heart Center very quickly where he had an emergency cath and stent placement! He is doing very well and is back home recovering.


**Ready for some happy news??
Sugar had four very cute, very healthy puppies this week!! They are part boxer (her part) and part german shepherd (Let's just say that the new neighbors down the road have a dog that came for a welcome visit....but, we don't really want to talk about that right now...after all, this is a family blog!!)

Anyway, they are absolutely adorable. 3 girls , 1 boy. We believe that the boy is spoken for, but are looking for homes for the girls....any takers?? And don't think that I am above pulling your heart strings with some pictures....just look....




OK...so, if you are interested....just leave a comment, or email me, or call, or drop by....WHATEVER....just let me know!!!

Well...enough big news for one day.
Hope your Christmas shopping is going well (I am MOST CERTAIN that mine WILL be, AS SOON AS I ACTUALLY START!!)

I couldn't help but post this....

Perhaps I shouldn't....
But how could I not???
Something that makes me laugh this hard needs to be shown right here...



I am in NO WAY trying to be disrespectful to my man...I personally think that I am married to a very tough man...who continues to work hard, whether he is sick or not. But lets just face it, the "Man-Cold" is a real illness that must be respected (dare I say FEARED??) by all women!!!

Our Jesse Tree

I am so excited to show and tell you about our newest "Christmas tradition".

I hesitate to call it a "tradition" when this is our first year for it...but I love it so much that I KNOW we will continue to do it year after year after year.

Introducing.....Our Jesse Tree.



In "The Glorious Coming" by Ann Voskamp (at Holy Experience)created a devotional that is "to trace the family line and heritage of the family of God, of human beings from the beginning of time to the coming of God Himself, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in the manger." There is a devotion for each day leading up to Christmas, and an ornament to put on the tree that has a picture depicting that day's Bible passage.



For our Jesse tree, we photocopied the ornaments and put them on card stock. On the back, we put the date...so after we read the devotion that day, we turn the ornament around.


How fun is that!?!?

If you want one for you family, you can order it HERE...I was very blessed to get mine as a gift from Stacy last year!!! (Thank you, Stacy!!)

***IN OTHER NEWS.....
I have not been blogging as much lately, and I keep hoping that will change...
Lots has been going on...this week I will do some "catching up"!!!

There are no clever titles for a post like this one....

Yep.
Broken.
A toros fracture of the left distal radius.
Long arm cast.
Follow-up appointment with the orthopedic surgeon in 3 weeks.

Seriously, now. Medical stuff is so much more fun when the patient is not your own child.

Saturday night we were visiting some friends (who shall at this time remain nameless for legal purposes.....JOKING!!!!!!). Micah was perched on a chair, closely observing the older kids who were learning a new card game. Next thing we knew.....THUD.......he had tipped the chair. The cry that followed was not his ususal "I'm hurt and very mad" cry...it was (in retrospect) his "I have a broken arm" cry.

The break is a minor one (if there is such a thing!?!?) and should heal very nicely....we are thankful for that.

He is tolerating the cast VERY well....and we are EXTREMELY thankful for that!!!!

Please pray for rapid and complete healing of his little bone!!! :)

And...if you should think of a clever title for this post....please drop me a line in the comment box below!!!!!

We Give Thanks...

Happy Thanksgiving....from our home to yours!!

Today is a day for giving thanks. A day for counting blessings. A day set aside for gratitude.
And we are a thankful family, indeed.
As we count our many blessings, please know that we are thinking of all of you...those near and far...and we are thankful for the many ways that you bless our family.

You are my God, and I will give you thanks;
you are my God, and I will exalt you.
Psalm 118:28

K

"Keep your lives free from the love of money
and be content with what you have,
because God has said,
"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
Hebrews 13:5

Praise!

Dad's surgery went very well. They were able to do the whole procedure w/the scope (HUGE praise!!) so his recovery should be easier. He will most likely be in the hospital for 3 days (maybe less, maybe more...).

THANK YOU AGAIN for praying!! It is so very, very awesome to know that dad is being lifted up before the throne of the "Ultimate Physician"!!

Would it be too much??

Would it be too much to ask you to be praying again this afternoon?? My dad (“Papaw”) will be having surgery around 4:00 p.m. I will be back with an update later tonight!!

Thank you….I knew I could count on you guys!! ☺

Please Pray....

Posted from Clarian North Hospital in Indianapolis, IN....

Yesterday my dad ("Papaw") was admitted to the hospital. Intially we thought he had a bleeding ulcer...but, as things sometimes go, it is not that simple. He actually has an unusual type of hiatal hernia that has caused his stomach to "twist around itself" (I will spare you all of the medical details). He will need surgery to repair it. If he can tolerate a liquid diet today, we will hopefully be able to take him home and come back for the surgery next week.

For now, we would very much appreciate your prayers...
-for dad to tolerate the liquid diet
-for him to be able to go home later TODAY
-for the surgery to be scheduled for early next week
-for the best "team" to come together for the surgery (anesth, nurses, etc)
-for the surgery to be successful by laproscope (ie. not need open surgery)
-for quick recovery

Thank you SO much...
I will keep you posted!!

A good laugh...

Maybe I was just a little slap-happy after a weekend of being on call....but this video made me giggle....have you seen it already? It is worth playing twice, I think.

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter
and your lips with shouts of joy.
Job 8:21

Thanks for still checking in....maybe I will get around to some real blog-posting this week!!??

Oh, say can you see....

Our final day "out east"....we will leave to come home first thing in the morning.
What a GREAT week we have had!!

Today was no exception...
We headed out to the B&O Railroad Museum where we took a historic tain ride where the first railroad tracks were laid in America! We had the chance to climb aboard several old train cars. And (the kids' favorite) we loved the amazing model train display!


But the highlight of the day, really, was visiting Fort McHenry. Do you know about this place?? The battle that turned the War of 1812 (when the British tired to take America back!) was faught here. AND as Francis Scott Key watched the battle from a ship on the water, he penned the poem that became our Star Spangled Banner.


It was very, very cool to stand in the spot where "the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air" happened!! We even got to touch some of those bombs that were fired at our brave soldiers. And to see that huge flag waiving and imagine what it must have been like for Mr. Key to see it still flying in the morning's first light after such an intense battle... It certainly gave new meaning to the song we sing so many times each year.



I know that I am "in the moment" right now...but I really couldn't help but include these lyrics...humor me, and take a "slow read" through them, would ya'?!?!?

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

I'm not liking it one bit.....

We had another GREAT day!
And we stayed within a mile of our hotel!

We started off at the National Aquarium....and it was awesome! Of course we had to see the dolphin show (which Brock said was the best dolphin show he had ever seen!) and we watched the divers get in to feed the sharks, stingrays, and giant turtle! Very fun.




Then we met up with Uncle Mike and ate lunch at the ESPN Zone. The food was fine, but of course the kids loved all the games the most.





After lunch we went aboard the USS Constellation, a 19th century Navy warship. We felt like we had stepped back in time. We were able to tour all 4 decks of the ship, including the Captain's quaters and the surgeon's sickbay. Very cool.

Micah was able to finally get a REAL nap today (for the first time in 4 days!) while Brock, Erica and I went for a swim.

Dinner was at the Rusty Scupper....yummy seafood restaurant right on the harbor with a great view of the city. And yes, my crab-stuffed-shrimp were DELICIOUS!

It was a great day.

Except for this....and I am not liking it one bit.
Micah started calling me "Mom"....not mommy and not mama....but "Mom"! And, oh my, does he sound so old. It is like he decided that since he was two now he needed to call me "Mom". Of course when he yells it now, the rest of the family laughs out loud because 1) it sounds so stinking cute and 2) they know that it is killing me for him to sound so old!!

Yep. It was a great day!

Happy Birthday Micah!!!!

We celebrated your birthday today in our nation's capitol! What a way to celebrate....

**We toured The Capitol building...we got special tickets with your birthdate stamped on them...then we went inside for our tour. You were the youngest of anybody we saw in the entire Capitol Building...and you behaved sooooooo well!! We were so proud of you (even though I think you may not have been listening to the ENTIRE story of the beautiful mural painted in the dome! I think security may have seen you playing with your horse in the Rotunda!! wink, wink!!)

**You were so excited to board the bus again!! Oh how we loved those "talking guys" who told us all about the city.

**You dodged the rain drops (thanks to Brock's skillful stroller driving) as we waited for our time to go up in the Washington Monument. And when it was your turn, you LOVED looking out those super tall windows down at the buildings, cars and water below!

**We took a tour through the Arlington National Cemetery where we were reminded of all the men and women who served our country...many who gave their lives for our freedom!!! You had no idea what all those white blocks were out in the grass...or why mommy had tears in her eyes...but someday you will understand.

**Then you saw those marching soldiers. And listened as they clicked their heels and stood at attention. Thank you for being so quiet!!

**You fell asleep in two seconds flat once we got back to our car.

**Good thing you caught a little late nap....because Uncle Mike ordered pizza and picked up a cake. A birthday party in Baltimore!!

You were such a good boy today, Micah. Our little 2 year old man!!!!!

You bless our lives so much!!

WE LOVE YOU!!!!
Dad, Mom, Brock and Erica

Sweet Land of Liberty

Wow!!
All day I just felt like singing patriotic songs!!

The United States of America is far from perfect....but today our family was reminded of what an awesome, awesome country we live in...founded by brave men with an incredible faith in God....and protected by many men and women who have sacrificed throughout the years.

We had a great day in Washington D.C. The highlight of our day was the National Archives Museum, where we saw the ORIGINAL Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights....up close and personal. We also spent some time in the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, where we touched the world's only "touchable rock from the moon."! We saw the White House, The Capitol, The Washington Monument, The Lincoln Memorial, The Vietnam Wall....and much more...from our "Tour Bus" and enjoyed hearing lots of cool info about each one from our tour guide!

And, as if that weren't enough, we had dinner at Mike's house!! and took a swim when we arrived back at the suite!!

Tomorrow will also be a busy day...
We hope to tour The Capitol, The Washington Monument, The White House Center...and maybe The U.S. Mint?? We'll see how that plan holds up...for it to happen, we will need an early start...hence me saying goodnight...but not before a few pics, of course!!!






Oh, for goodness sakes....if you care to see the whole slide show from the day...well, here it is....

Road Trip!!!!

Did I mention.....????

We packed up this morning and headed East.
We arrived in Baltimore, MD tonight. Whew! 12 hours of travel in all.....I think it can be done in 9, but not by us...and not with 3 kids.

We will spend the next 4 days hanging out with Uncle Mike (my brother) and a couple of days exploring our nation's capitol., too.

Stay tuned....

and, oh....about that "J"?!?!?!?
I wrote a post for our "J" scripture, with no intent to publish it...not sure how it posted...and I would delete it, EXCEPT for the fact that Stacy's comment made me laugh and I hate to delete it, too. So the "J" stays.

J

Papaw's Buddy