Advent class 1

Tonight I started a 4 week advent class at our church. It was a really good class and brought up some thought provoking things. In discussing Elizabeth and Mary we we questioned on who our "balcony people" are in life. Balcony people are those supporters of yours that are always encouraging. Basement people, on the other hand, are those who are constantly bringing you down and, sadly, the people that we tend to focus more on. (Why is that?) Lately I've had a pretty constant Basement person in my life (and think that I am most likely someone else's Basement Person so I'm not without fault). So I began thinking of all the Balcony people in my life. I have a lot and the two other people in my group also had many Balcony peoples. This week I am going to make an effort to concentrate on the Balcony people in my life and not being a Basement person myself.

But it is very hard to do that . . .

Wish me luck and send prayers . . .

Lots of luck and prayers . . .

(Apparently there is a book called Balcony People but I have not read it. I'm sure you can google to find more. I will check it out after I'm done with my current book.)

We were also asked to bring and share a favorite Angel of ours. I took a yarn Angel ornament that my mom makes. Two of the women from my Susannah Circle just loved them and thought we needed to learn how to make for the bazaar next year. I think my mom will be just thrilled when I tell her. They really are cute - Danielle had them all over her Christmas tree last year. I'll upload a photo soon.

getting ready for Christmas

It doesn't compare to some Christmas decorating that I've heard of (friend Gina definitely has me beat with 6 full-size trees decorated--goodness!) but here are the front bushes covered in Christmas lights.

The big news

The big news from us this week is that we're having a baby! Due in June. D is quite excited and wants a sister. Happy Thanksgiving!

Here's photos from when we "told" D via gift of new "Big sis" t-shirt.

buzz, buzz

Danielle, my mom and I went to see the Bee Movie today and thought it was really good. We were entertained throughout the entire movie. I did get overcome with sleep and napped a few minutes at the end. I had heard it was boring but not at all; I was just really, really tired.

It's the most wonderful time of the year . . . early and late.

Last night as we were turning the corner onto our street I noticed that several houses away the neighbors have put up their outside Christmas lights and the big inflatable snow globe - which THRILLED Danielle.

And we still have the big Halloween stuff up . . . it's coming down Sunday afternoon, I promise.

Big role

Danielle has been chosen for the role of Mary in her school Christmas program. She'll get to say one verse all by herself. :-)

Lemonquat

Last year we bought a lemonquat - a citrus tree that is a hybrid of a lemon and a kumquat. We've been anxiously awaiting the ripening of the fruit and last week picked our first ones. Trey was very disappointed; he thinks they taste like lemons with a bitter aftertaste. I really like them. I think they taste like very sour lemons but I don't taste the aftertaste. There are two more ready to be picked today. I like having them around to add to my water. I've really become a fan of water with lemons - which is not equal to water with limes - though many Tex-Mex restaurants think they are equal and will serve water with limes when lemons are requested.

haircut

Finally able to upload a photo - We cut off 3 inches of D's hair and it is still so long. But it looks SOOOO much healthier.

dead fish guilt

Danielle's goldfish that she got at the Fall Festival at school died yesterday. Trey noticed it was sick Friday night and immediately tried to save it. Appears the water had too much ammonia, probably because of overfeeding. And guess who was probably guilty of that? Yep, me. We buried fishy by the jasmine vine. Danielle took it ok; I still feel badly.

Caswell lunch

Yesterday I treated my mom and myself to lunch at the Christmas at Caswell event. We went a looooonnnnnggg time ago and I remember enjoying walking around that beautiful place and eating lunch there. So when I saw that the Austin Junior Forum was selling tickets at the Texas Conference for Women - and my mom's birthday was on the 6th - I decided to treat us. It was very lovely. The lunch is donated and all the workers are volunteers so the profits go straight to charity.

Congrats dinner

Last night Trey and I went to eat at the Judge's Hill Restaurant in celebration of his completing school. It was extremely good and our waiter was fantastic. Last year when Paige and I went to Chicago we had the "Yes, of course" waiter; last night we had the "definitely" waiter. "May I have lemon for my water?" "Definitely." "Would you recommend the shrimp or the sea bass?" "The sea bass, definitely." Can't complain though - nice to have someone answer all your requests with "definitely." I chose Lobster Beignets, Apple and Pear Wonton Soup and Petite Medallions of Beef. Trey chose Duck Confit Quesadillas, Judge's Ceasar Salad and Sea Bass. Highly recommended place and BEAUTIFUL too. Definitely.

as promised - the balloon photo

luck

Trey sometimes teases that if it weren't for bad luck we'd have no luck at all (and apparently there is a song about that because he sings it when he says it.) Well . . . maybe-HA! Thursday my car overheated on a major highway. I was able to exit and pull over on a neighborhood street. After trying to reach Trey several times on his cell that wasn't working, I finally looked in the service manual to figure out what was wrong. It was out of engine coolant. Thankfully, I figured that out so when I finally did get in touch with Trey I could tell him to get some. It seems the engine is ok but we do have a very obvious leak as evidence by the coolant being left on the driveway. Then last night I cooked dinner and got some corn out of the freezer; it was completely frozen. After dinner I went to retrieve some ice cream out of the freezer and it was completely thawed. I thought maybe I left the door cracked but apparently not. The freezer has been at about 48 degrees for most of the night. We did get most of the food moved to other freezers or the fridge. Of course, I am blessed - I know that. After talking to so many lately about their mission trips/travels, I know that anyone here in America is blessed.