the Kingdom ~ 2011

On this  earlyTuesday  morning I sit here and think: "What should I write about today?"  "What do I have to show you?"  "How can I show you how much I love it when you take the time to come to my little corner of the world and say hello."             and then. . .

It hit me.  

I haven't shown you Christmas and the love our mother pours into her decorating.  I haven't shown you the splendor of the ribbons, garland and tulle.  I haven't shown you how our mother sets the tables and makes everything look as if we were living in a dream: the trees, the candles, the angles blowing their trumpets announcing the Savior is born.  

I haven't shown the grandeur in the front hall adorned with deer, ribbons and berries.  Every year it gets better. . .each room makes us feel as if we are royalty and nothing could be finer.  Each year the love she has for her family completely inundates us.

I didn't introduced you to the fair maiden Miceala.  I haven't told you how this lovely girl  puts a smile on my Prince Matthew's face and how she is becoming quite a regular at all the family gathering. 

I haven't shown you how great the Squire James looks this year as he has grown into a fine, respectable man. 

I haven't shown you the magnificent gifts that were exchanged with simple love.

I failed to show you: how battles are won in this kingdom of plenty,  

the pure love a growing boy has for his father,

the girl that is growing up into fine Lady,

and the new baby's first Christmas. 

I almost missed showing you the magic of Christmas at our parent's house. I almost missed showing you the pride our Queen Mother has as she looks on and celebrates not only Christmas but a life she built with her one and only King.   

                                                                              

                                                                                           Our World Tuesday ,

                                                                               My 3 Boybarians

     Communal Global

Ever Hear These???

* Did you hear about the bum who walked up to a Jewish mother on the street and said, "Lady, I haven't eaten in three days." "Force yourself," she replied.

* The Doctor gave a man six months to live. The man couldn't pay his bill so the doctor gave him another six months.

* Doctor: "You'll live to be 60!" Patient: "I am 60!"  Doctor: "See! What did I tell you?  That'll be 60 dollars"

* A drunk was in front of a judge.  The judge says, "You've been brought here for drinking."  The drunk says "Okay, let's get started."

* The Doctor called Mrs. Cohen saying, "Mrs. Cohen, your check came back. " Mrs. Cohen answered, "So did my arthritis!"

* A man calls his mother in Florida,"Mom, how are you?"  " Not too good," says the mother. "I've been very weak."  The son says, "Why are you so weak?" She replies, "Because I haven't eaten in 38 Days."  The son says, "That's terrible. Why haven't you eaten in 38 days?"  The mother answers, "Because I didn't want my mouth to be filled with food should you call."

* How many Jewish mothers does it take to change a light bulb?  (Sigh) "Don't bother. I'll sit in the dark.  I don't want to be a nuisance to anybody."

:: THIS OR THAT THURSDAY ::

Merry Christmas Y'all

You better watch out 

You better not cry 

You better not pout, I telling you why

Santa Claus is coming to town

Unknown Mami

 Ni Hao Yall

Christmas and More

You know, I have been away from blogging for a little while and now even my kids are asking me when I'm going to post something again. There has been so much going on most of time it's been hard to catch my breath, sit down and just post. 


I have so much to tell you. I have so many pictures to up load and edit.  I really don't know where to begin. Maybe at the beginning of December is a good place to start. . . 

Belmont Abbey College N.C.

We started the month with another college trip,  for Matthew to Belmont Abbey in N.C.. The school is private, small and close to home.  

There was the day we went to see the Ginger bread houses at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville 

and then of course we were off to the Biltmore House.  

There was the day Mark's family came for a visit. We had a great big party and celebrated the season. 

 Christmas came and went

with presents,

presents,

and more presents.

Christmas this year brought so many things:

Karen had the best laugh she has had in years AND she even gave her new friend a name. 

"Bernie"

 The conversations were stimulating . 

But, not to be out done by the first White Christmas in 48 years. 

The pony express came to town bringing with it Mary Elizabeth's favorite "Big William"

and "the BEST Football game ever!" 

The game was rough!

AND Tough!

But, they were ready! 

Hey!?  You wanna play?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The time was great! After a wonderful feast fit a Kings and Queens alike

it was time to put our best boots on and call it a night.

Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!  and "Ya'll come back now. Ya Hear?"


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


There was great sadness in the family too. . . unexpectedly, Linda's only brother died .  With this great sorrow the year ended. 


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yes, Virginia. . .

As I look through the eyes of my four year old,

I can see that Christmas is all about: 

 waiting,

with the GREATEST Anticipation

for the most amazing conversation.

  ~ Yes,Virginia, there is a Santa Claus ~

  

So

I've been thinking of sending out Christmas cards this year.  

What do you think? 

Ya, your right. . . I need to work on my wording. 

Feliz Navidad ... Día Tres ((Day Three)) Last Day I Promise!!!

Okay, I promise this is the last Christmas day post ...

I almost called this post Merry Kissmass...but I thought you may think that would be way too tacky so I didn't.

You will see why.......

There is something you don't know about us....

Well, really there is something you don't know about my husband.....

He is a huge Kiss fan...

Huge!!!! I tell you!!!

For Christmas and lots of fun this year Mark's sister gave him Kiss things.

Thanks Kim!!!

Yeah! She looks nice enough BUT...should we encourage him?

Back to the day...This year we had planned on spending December 26 with Mark's mother and sisters. They were thoughtful enough to make sure they included my mother but when all was said and done my mom was just to pooped to come. So She stayed home and enjoyed the quite of the season...

We arrived to a beautiful feast table full of desserts and snacks.

The Dinning Room was prepared beautifully with three tables arranged for us all to sit and celebrate together in the same room. It was really very, very nice.

We could see they must have been working for days.

It was Mark's job to cut the turkey.

We had a wonderful dinner and great conversation.

They showered us with more gifts...and the day spending time with family was perfect.

AND

did I mention Mark is a huge Steelers fan too?

Huge!!!

I think the highlight of the day for me was when Mark gave his mom this GREAT BIG bottle of Sherry...To think, we brought in such a big bottle of sherry for his mother, who is such a sweet, kind, gentle LADY made laugh and laugh...Mark said he bought the big one thinking there was more bang for the buck...True...But it will take her the next 35 years to drink it all.

The thought of that just cracked me up all day...and everytime I look at this photo I still giggle.

MEN!

Matthew enjoyed it too.

And Liz...She wants to know where Santa Clause is and why he has only come

THREE times this year....