'Tis the Season for Master Decorators, Henry and Gus Shoe, to Deck the Wall and Bunk Bed

For These I Give Thanks

For Old Man - my best friend, my soul-mate, and the one who's made my dreams come true.

For Tess, whose birth and life has taught me how precious all life is.

For family and food.

For my mother-in-law and father-in-law, who are my parents as surely as my own are.

For gentle Lily, who "gets" me and will always be my friend.

For Chelsea - my first child, my first "baby love," and the first one who showed me the beauty of motherhood.

For my son-in-law, Chris, who is already so dear to my heart.

And for sweet, young love.

For my beautiful, beautiful boys, who keep me on my toes and teach me something new every day.

For Henry, who sees the world through artist's eyes, and is showing me how to do the same.

For Gus, brave and good and a joy to raise, and who reminds me so much of his daddy.

For fun and laughter.

For sister love.

For big boys and little girls, and sunny days and swings.

For Ethan, who reminds me of myself in so many ways, and who I love in a way I could never express.

For cuddly Clara, my baby (need I say more?) - Oh, why do you have to grow up so quickly?

For Mamie, whose sweet smile and happy way brightens every single one of my days.

For goofy girls in trees.

For teenagers and turkey "tattoos."

For funny faces and new friends.

For my children.

For my family.

For love all around me.

For these, and all Thy blessings, Lord, I give thanks.

Happy Thanksgiving!

From The Old Woman in the Shoe to all of you.

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for...

well...

EVERYTHING!

If I could get away with it...

I'd do the dishes in my undies too. Scary thought, huh?

A Sweet Surprise

When Old Man and I arrived home after running errands the other day, Henry was waiting for us with this little surprise. He just started learning it that day, so what you see here is definitely a work in progress. I still think it's mighty cute though, and I can't wait to hear the finished product! I'm thinkin' Old Man and I could really get used to this kind of surprise - it's WAY better than the ones that are usually waiting for us when we get home. :D

What's for Breakfast, Chef Tessie?

Mmmmm...monkey bread!

There's a surprise in my sidebar...

but I have no idea how it works.

If you've got a minute, would you see if the new chat thingamajig I installed (gotta scroll down a little to see it) will work for you? And if it does, will you let me know what you had to do to get it to work? Pleeeeease?

How many days 'til Christmas?

Mamie asked me on Friday how many days it was until Christmas. I counted it up real quick, and told her it was 35 days away. She said, "How many is that, Mama? SHOW me!" So, with her help, and the help of Henry and Gus, I did.

Ask and Ye Shall Receive

(Click on the pic for a close up)

If you're ever eating an apple in the backyard, and your tooth falls out on the leaf covered ground, and you search and search but can't find it, don't cry - just do what Gus did: Write a note (or have your mom jot down what you want to say) to the tooth fairy, explaining why you don't have a tooth for her, then leave it under your pillow when you go to bed that night. The next morning you'll find the note gone and something nice waiting for you in its place. It works - just ask Gus!

How Now Brown Cow?

A couple of weeks ago, Tami at Five Nomads told us all about Brown Cows. The Shoe kids and I tried 'em for ourselves the other day, and we wholeheartedly agree with the Nomads - Brown Cows are eye-poppin' delish!! Just look at Henry's eyes if you don't believe me. :D

For Aunt Mariellen, The Lady at Church, and Anyone Else Who Needs to Hear It

I've thought and thought about it, and I do not remember Old Man and I ever entering the "Who can have the most kids" contest. It's true that we do not use birth control. And it's true that we made the decision many years ago to lovingly accept whatever number of children God chooses to bless us with. But being open to life and competing with others for the title of "biggest family" are two completely different things. One is about trust. The other is about pride. Old Man and I have eight children because we trust God to give us what we need, not because we're trying to win some kind of procreation race. And while we're on the subject, let me say this: I lost my ninth and tenth children to miscarriage not too long ago. I accept that the loss of my babies was God's will, but that does not mean it doesn't hurt. And the knowledge that, at age 45, I'm not likely to conceive again makes it even more painful. Why then, I wonder, do some people (people who claim to care about me) seem to derive such smug, pleasure from informing me that I've lost a race I not only NEVER ENTERED, but couldn't win even if I had. Isn't that a bit like boasting to a friend about one's wonderful marriage when her adulterous husband has just left her? Or maybe it's more like bragging about one's prowess on the basketball court to the wheelchair bound spectator on the sideline. Where is the glory in that sort of accomplishment? And what kind of person would revel in such cheap "victory"?

Nightmare

I've got a cold and am not feeling well, which is probably why I fell asleep on the couch earlier tonight while the rest of the family watched a movie. I awoke a few minutes ago from a terrible dream, crying and saying, "But she was just here!" The living room is dark, and I'm the only one in it. I still feel kind of panicky from the nightmare I was having. Oh, it was so awful; I dreamed that we couldn't find Clara - that she had disappeared from our house. I need to go back to sleep, but I can't just yet. I think I'll have a cup of tea and say the rosary, and wait for Old Man to come in from his backyard office. I should be fine by then.