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Subject: The Best Christmas of my Life
Author Unknown

Pa never had much compassion for the lazy or those who squandered their means and then never had enough for the necessities. But for those who were genuinely in need, his heart was as big as all outdoors. It was from him that I learned the greatest joy in life comes from giving, not from receiving.

It was Christmas Eve 1921. I was fifteen years old and feeling like the world had caved in on me because there just hadn’t been enough money to buy me the rifle that I’d wanted so bad that year for Christmas. We did the chores early that night for some reason. I just figured Pa wanted a little extra time so we could read in the Bible. I was still feeling sorry for myself and, to be honest, I wasn’t in much of a mood to read scriptures. But Pa didn’t get the Bible, instead he bundled up and went outside. Soon Pa came back in. It was a cold clear night out and there was ice in his beard.

“Come on, Matt,” he said. “Bundle up good, it’s cold out tonight.” I was really upset then. Not only wasn’t I getting the rifle for Christmas, now Pa was dragging me out in the cold, and for no earthly reason that I could see. I knew Pa was not very patient at one dragging one’s feet when he’d told them to do something, so I got up and put my boots back on and got my cap, coat, and mittens. Ma gave me a mysterious smile as I opened the door to leave the house. Something was up, but I didn’t know what. Outside, I became even more dismayed. There in front of the house was the work team, already hitched to the big sled. Whatever it was we were going to do wasn’t going to be a short, quick little job. I could tell. We never hitched up the big sled unless we were going to haul a big load. Pa was already up on the seat, reins in hand. I reluctantly climbed up beside him.
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Caleb is getting big fast. The third time around, it seems like the milestones are here before you know them (well, the first 8 weeks still feel like 12 weeks, but then the baby sleeps through the night…)

Click the thumbs for bigger picture (Wordpress finally put in a nice gallery feature)

See what we deal with at dinner. One won’t eat her greenbeans. One won’t eat faster than a bite per five minutes. One thinks shirt is optional, but can’t figure it out. Two parents are ready for bedtime.

So Ava, what was your lesson in church about?

Grace is a little more dignified.

Ava has entered that stage where I cannot understand 1/3 of what she says.

My favorite, however, is her pronounciation of “Yes.”

Yeessth!

This came as an email forward, but pretty much sums up my feelings regarding lights on the house.

His wife had been on his case to get the Christmas lights up for a couple of weeks.

They are up now and for some reason she will not talk to him – go figure.

Grace got out of the shower the other day and proceeded to streak around the house. Sally and Ava followed Grace into the girls room to get them dressed. Grace was up on her bed shaking her little tush in the air. She asked Sally, “Is my bottom cute mama?”

“Yes,” said Sally. “Do you think Ava’s bottom is cute?”

“Yes,” Grace replied.

“Do you think my bottom is cute?”

“Yes,” Grace again replied.

“Do you think Caleb’s bottom is cute?”

Thoughtfully, Grace responded, “No, because his bottom has a tail.”

Just to be clear, Grace thinks the bottom goes from back to the front…