Christmas Fun

Unknown Plans

The other day I commented to Melissa about how God brings people in and out of our lives. Everyone knows this. But isn't it neat to look back and see the reason for it? Sometimes we can actually see how God's plan unfolded. Sometimes we still have absolutely no idea what His plan was. But we know He brings people in and out of our lives for a reason.
Several weeks ago Josh and the kids and I were in Crackle Barrel. We ran into some of Josh's friends from about 20 years ago!! It is a couple that rented the upstairs apartment in the house Josh grew up in. (Josh lived with his dad and grandmother in a large house that had a separate living area upstairs.) This couple lived there for several years, and Josh became very close to them. He was only about 7 when they moved in, and they were very young newlyweds. They were there when Josh's grandmother passed away. He was only eight.
I'm not sure how old he was when they moved out, but they remained friends for years. Then they moved to Georgia. Josh talked about them a lot, but I had never met them. They tried to come to our wedding, but we got married on a Friday night..........I know, WHO gets married on Friday night??? Anyway, they came from Georgia to Birmingham on the SATURDAY night after our wedding. (They actually went to the Caraway-Davie House and walked in on another wedding!!) So, I had yet to met them. Everyone had gotten busy with their own lives and time flew by. Now nine years later, we run into them in Leeds. They were visiting someone and heading back to Georgia. Of course we only talked for a few minutes. Josh has been emailing them since, and they are coming to our house this Friday night! Josh is excited about seeing them, and I can't wait to get to know them. I have found out that Gina went to Jacksonville State, like me. I was in the same sorority that she was in. She majored in education. She taught school for several years. She homeschooled her two children (boy and girl, three years apart) for several years, and now they have started there own private school. We have a lot of similarities. I can't wait to see God's reason for bringing them back into our lives.

Bad Habits are Hard to Break

I had absolutely no intention of taking Carson's paci away any time soon. Yea, I'd talk about it some, knowing the time was drawing near. But I, selfishly, just didn't feel like dealing with that battle right now. So, I actually surprised myself last night. I couldn't find his paci, and I just told him his paci was for babies, and he couldn't have it anymore. I told him we could go do something really fun today if he'd try to sleep without it. So, as I put him to bed he asked for it and then said, "pweese don't say no". But I asked him to try to go to sleep with out it. AND HE DID! He woke up twice and whimpered a little. But I was very excited. So, today I took the kids on a "no paci party". We went to Recreation Station (which is kind of like Pump it Up). I let them gamble a little. Well, not real gambling, but the kid form of gambling. You know, the machines that take tokens and give you tickets if you hit the Jackpot! They acquired about 75 tickets. Which cost me about seven bucks and all they were able to get was a Blow pop. Anyway, all day I kept telling Carson what a big boy he is for not having a paci. He asked for it once on the way home, and then went to sleep. OK ........now the real problem. Reality has set it. He woke up ill when we got home. And he's been screaming for his paci. What do I do?? He's been almost 24 hours without it now. Is he just having normal withdrawals? I can't turn back now........can I??
Now I feel like I'm just giving him anything he wants to try to keep his mind off the paci. We are going to Zoo Light Safari tonight and I keep bribing him with that, but he just told me he didn't want to go. He just wants his paci. Oh well. I'm not turning back now, I'm tougher than this! I can handle a crying two year old. But I feel sorry fro him. AHHHHH!!!!!

See "Progressive Dinner" Post below

Progressive Dinner

I had to miss the cookie swap Saturday night. I was disappointed about it, but I was able to do something that turned out really fun. Have you ever heard of or been involved in a progressive dinner? Well, I would definitely recommend being part of one, but maybe not planning one! I was only remotely involved with the planning. One of my neighbors was the coordinator of it all, and I believe it was a lot of work. I really appreciate all she did! We began at my house at 4 pm for the meet and greet. I literally had about 50 people in my house and had never met over half of them. The ones I had met, I didn't know very well. From my house we went to 4 other "host" houses. The first was appetizers, then soup and salad, next was the main course, and finally, the dessert house! This was a great opportunity for me to meet my neighbors that I probably wouldn't meet otherwise. I met a couple of ladies that I would really like to get to know better. I ate entirely too much, but we all justified it because we were "walking" from house to house. Which means my feet were in agonizing pain by the end of the night.........the end of the long night............it was 4:00 when we started and 9:00 when we got back home. Santa came to the last house and didn't show up until almost 8:00!!! ( Ho Ho....humbug!) But it really was a lot of fun. For 5 years now, I have had conflicting plans on the night of the cookie swap. Next year I want to plan for it to be at my house........then I'll have to be there!!!!