December 2009

Why do reindeer swim?

Posted by teresak on December 24, 2009 1 Comment

It’s official! Santa is in the air. My granddaughter and I watched him take off this morning on television.

“Nana,” she asked, “Why do reindeer swim?”

Hmmmmm.

“Do you mean fly?” I asked.

She nodded.

“So they can get where they are going faster,” I answered. Thank goodness cops don’t give speeding tickets to Santa or he would be in trouble.

I hope you are able to spend Christmas with your loved ones and I hope your hearts are filled with joy and love.  Please keep those who have lost loved ones and our service men and women in your prayers. May you have a blessed Christmas!

The Shepherds and Angels

8That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terribly frightened, 10but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! 11The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!”

13Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God:

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and peace on earth to all whom God favors. F6 ”

15When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Come on, let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16They ran to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17Then the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20The shepherds went back to their fields and flocks, glorifying and praising God for what the angels had told them, and because they had seen the child, just as the angel had said.

manger

Filed Under: Featured | Tagged: Tagged With: , , ,

Comforting those with heavy hearts at Christmas

Posted by teresak on December 23, 2009 4 Comments

Last Wednesday night a sweet, seventeen year old girl worked on a paper for one of her classes. Before she went to bed she checked her Facebook page and changed her profile picture to a photo of her and her brother. She labeled the picture, ” My best friend.”  The next morning as she was driving to school she hit a tree and was killed. Her grandmother was traveling the same road and came upon the accident.

I live in a very small community and tragedies like the one that happened last week touch us all. On Sunday I went to the funeral home and hugged the young girls aunts, uncles, cousins, parents, siblings (I had her brother in class when I taught) and both sets of grandparents. There just aren’t words to convey the pain this family is experiencing.

I remember clearly how painful the first Christmas was after my mother died and I can not imagine how difficult the holidays will be for this family.

I would like to ask all my readers at NanaHood to pray for Molly’s family and other families who may be suffering because they have lost a loved one.  We think of this time of year as being full of joy, but unfortunately for many that isn’t the case.  If there is someone in your community, family or church family that needs comforting this Christmas, won’t you reach out to them? After all, Jesus is the real reason for the season and because he lived and died for our sins we celebrate his birth at Christmas and all year long.

psalm23_4

Filed Under: Featured | Tagged: Tagged With: , , , ,

Elves (daughters) and a pink Birthday Tree

Posted by teresak on December 22, 2009 2 Comments

This is a busy time of year for everyone and I am no different. Our twins have been playing in a basketball tournament this week in Bowling Green, Kentucky (about 45 minutes from where we live) so we have spent a lot of time driving up and down the road. I love watching them play ball and I’m not complaining, but finding time to do anything else has been difficult.

Yesterday after the game I looked at my daughter and said, “Santa’s gotta shop and I need an elf. Can you help?” We hit every store in Bowling Green (almost) and filled up Santa’s sleigh (my daughter’s jeep). About nine o’clock last night I was driving home and a friend called. She’d been shopping all day too.

“I couldn’t have done it without my elf,” I said.

My friend has two sons. “Wish I had one,” she sighed. “My boys have never even wrapped a gift.”

Which made me want to say, “Thank you, Rachel. My sweet daughter and chief elf!”

Last weekend she came and spent the night while her husband was away on business. She brought my two mischievious (but very cute) grand-puppies to visit and we had a great time. We were sitting on the couch watching television and I gave her a big hug.

“You don’t know how wonderful it is to have you home,” I said. “For the first time in a long time I have a female companion to watch something on tv other than sports. You smell good and you aren’t passing gas.” (If you have boys you’ll understand. If you have all girls I apologize if I offended you)

I received an email yesterday from a grandmother whose granddaughter’s birthday is the day after Christmas. She sent me a picture of the birthday tree that I mentioned in the “December Birthdays” post.

Isn't she precious? And the tree is beautiful too!

Isn't she precious? And the tree is beautiful too!

Hope each of you are enjoying the season and that you have an elf to help you!

Filed Under: Featured | Tagged: Tagged With: , , ,

Teenage boys and food

Posted by teresak on December 21, 2009 1 Comment

A few days ago I posted about the best Christmas give I ever received: my twins. They will be 18 the day after Christmas and just in case you don’t know this about teenage boys—-THEY SURE CAN EAT!!!!  One day last week I received a text message from one of the boys that said, “Mom, my food account is in the hole.  If you don’t put more money in I don’t get to eat tomorrow.”

What? My poor six foot eight baby might starve to death if he misses a meal! So I jump in my car and drive to school expecting him to be twenty or thirty dollars in the hole. Wrong. He was one hundred dollars in the red and so was his brother. I asked the lunch lady if they were eating steak or something to be that much in debt.

“Actually,” she said, “It’s not what they are eating, it’s how much they are eating. Today we had hotdogs and they each had three hotdogs, two bags of chips, two bottles of water and four packages of cookies.”

I shook my head in amazement and paid their bill. As I was leaving the lunch room the janitor saw me and shouted across the empty cafeteria, “Those boys sure can eat!”

That afternoon, a mere three hours after lunch, they came home and wolfed down a couple of sandwiches before they had to leave for their basketball game. And after the game most of the team goes  to McDonalds.

I went through the drive thru the other day at Micky D’s to get a Diet Coke and the lady looked at me and asked, “Aren’t you Grant and Russell’s mom?”

“Yes,” I said. I should have guessed why she asked me but I didn’t.

“Those boys sure can eat!” she said.

Believe me, I know. I know.

Filed Under: Featured | Tagged: Tagged With: , , , ,

From GrandParents.com… Holiday Disaster stories

Posted by Char on December 20, 2009 Leave a Comment

Check it out!  Teresa submitted one of her blog posts to GrandParents.com and she is one of 14 finalists for their “Holiday Disaster” contest.

holidaydisasters

They will feature their favorite holiday disaster story on the GrandParents.com homepage next Wednesday December 23rd


Filed Under: Featured | Tagged: Tagged With: , , ,

For all the moms out there who are feeling a little weary

Posted by teresak on December 19, 2009 Leave a Comment

You have probably read this before (I know I have) but it’s a great reminder of how important moms are. You are VIMs (Very Important Moms).  No matter how hard your work or tired you are, take a few moments and read this poem. Then pat yourself on the back because you rock!

‘Twas the night before Christmas,

when all through the abode Only one creature was stirring & she was cleaning the commode.

The children were finally sleeping, all snug in their beds,

while visions of X-Box & Barbie flipped through their heads.

Yes, and dad was snoring in front of the TV,

with a half constructed bicycle propped on his knee.

So only the mom heard the reindeer hooves clatter, which made her sigh, “Now what is the matter?”

With toilet bowl brush still clutched in her hand, She descended the stairs, and saw the old man.

He was covered with ashes & soot, which fell with a shrug,

“Oh great,” muttered the mom, “Now I have to clean the rug..”

“Ho Ho Ho!” cried Santa, I’m glad you’re awake.” “your gift was especially difficult to make.”

“Thanks, Santa, but all I want is time alone.” “Exactly!” he chuckled, “So, I’ve made you a clone..” ”

A clone?” she muttered, “What good is that?” “Run along, Santa, I’ve no time for chit chat.”

Then out walked the clone – The mother’s twin, Same hair, same eyes, same double chin.

“She’ll cook, she’ll dust, she’ll mop every mess. You’ll relax, take it easy, watch TV and rest.

“Fantastic!” the mom cheered. “My dream has come true!”

“I’ll shop, I’ll read, I’ll sleep a night through!”

From the room a bove, the youngest did fret. “Mommy?! Come quickly, I’m scared and I’m wet..”

The clone replied, “I’m coming, sweetheart.” “Hey,” the mom smiled, “She sure knows her part.”

The clone changed the child and hummed her a tune, as she bundled the small one in a blanket cocoon.

“You’re the best mommy ever. I really love you.” The clone smiled and sighed, “And I love you too.”

The mom frowned and said, “Sorry, Santa, no deal. That’s my child’s LOVE she is going to steal.”

Smiling wisely, Santa said: “To me it is clear, Only one loving mother is needed here.”

The mom kissed her child and tucked her in bed.

“Thank You, Santa, for clearing my head.

Sometimes I forget, it won’t be very long, before they’ll be too old for my cradle and song.”

The clock on the mantle began to chime. Santa whispered to the clone, “It works every time.”

With the clone by his side, Santa said: “Goodnight. Merry Christmas, dear Mom, you’ll be all right.”

Sometimes we need reminding of what life is all about.

Especially at times when the Holiday season shouts, and all we do is clean, bake, and procure.

You get the picture — I’m sure.

So stop for a moment and hug that little one so dear, whether he/she is 2 or 22, or even older this year.

For they are the gift that God gave us from Heaven above, and what a special gift to be treasured, with endless LOVE!

Anonymous

Filed Under: Featured | Tagged: Tagged With: , , ,
« Older Posts
Newer Posts »