My personal opinion on gift cards is that they are no better than cash--in fact they're worse b/c you're telling someone "you have to spend the money I'm giving you HERE." Few explanations that I've heard satisfy... but I'll stop there, that's not the point of this post.
For xmas, Mom asked for gift cards so I bought her one from Hallmark. But before I left the store it hit me that I should just find the most awful gift in the whole store and wrap that. Since she has to come to Hallmark to use the gift card anyway, then returning an awful gift does not require any more of an effort.
It was the most fun I've ever had looking for a present. Jaime found this awful looking horse that was decorated Mexican-style (roses, a mariachi band, a sombrero on the horses head---sorry if that's your decorating taste and I just insulted you).
So xmas day as we open our gifts, Mom finally gets to mine, opens it, and proceeds to try to "keep on the sunny side of life." It was great. I think that Jaime got a few pics of Mom forcing a happy look onto her face---it was great. Mom's such a good sport. I don't have pics of her reaction (bug Deborah if you really want to see it) but if you revisit the site below of our xmas pics, pictures of the horse are there.
Someone said something about paybacks today... which is true. I'll probably give someone a real gift sometime and they'll laugh at. Ah well, if ya can't stand the heat...
Xmas There are add'l pics here
Great job, haha...and thanks for the birthday wish! It's been a great day in Auburn, travelling back to TN & now packing for early airport trip tomorrow! :o)(
That is so funny. I'll have to remember that if someone ever asks for a gift card again. My mother-in-law would never go for that. She would keep the ugly gift just because I gave it to her.
You've got the cutest nieces and nephew!! Gow old are Paige and Cole? Cole made me think of Tracer. I love ht epic of Jaime and the baby doll. He was looking at it like he;s never seen one before!! ;-0 Was that at you parents' house? It looks like y'all had a great time! Thanks for sharing!!
Brad felt so bad he bugged you about what lesson you were going to do, and then I wouldn't let him go Sunday Morning. When Naarah was having problems breathing, I couldn't even pick her up, I was too weak.
For my friends in Florida & Texas, these pictures represent something called "Fall" which involves the leaves of trees actually turning colors other than brown. But this leads up to sub-freezing temps occuring regularly---so, take your pick...
My son has surprised me once again. I think he is not listening but he is. They announced last night at services that you were coming to Rosenburg in Jan. for a meeting. Dray just said that he was excited about Jan. I said "why" he said you know what they announced about David last night. Drocklin said "what?" Dray said" my best friend David is coming down. Hopefully we can come on Friday night and do something afterwards.
I'm sorry for totally ignoring you earlier, but as you can see from my blog, I had issues to deal w/. Thanx for checking the heater for us, I kept telling Brad, "he may not know what you're talking about", hopefully you did.
Okay you take issue w/me, but make a deal, next time he preaches, you get half of the kids..LOL I really don't miss those days at all, having to deal w/the kids while preached...He did a really good job and I know he worked really hard on his lesson. He hasn't preached since you've been here, I don't think, has he?
Thanks for the update on Donis. Marshall gets some updates from Mark but those don't always get passed on to me. So thankful that went well. I hope they can figure out what is going on with him and get him better!
Did you hear the distraction this evening? I thought the pray would never end. I kept hearing Rita, Mark and Brad laughing so much I had to plug one ear. LOL
Yeah Yeah, Mr. goody 2 shoes, it was a little harder on the other side of the room. Mark must have pushed a wrong button or something, it was quite funny.
Just thought y'all would enjoy hearing this. I was able to drop in on the Ing's while I was in L'ville for Thanksgiving. Mainly just sat around talking with Paul and Missy-- good friends, among many, from my L'ville days.
All the while we were talking, Nathan was running back and forth playing with Marissa and their cousin. He came in and jumped Paul, cut off my arms and head with his light saber, was playing his GameCube, etc. It was a joy to see.
Paul and Missy said that though the last report wasn't perfect, it gave them a bit of a reprieve from the fear that Nathan's health would deteriorate immediately. Time is still an uncertainty but they are happy seeing Nathan happy. Regardless of the future, they have had their burden lightened, if only for a few moments. And they are thankful for that.
Keep praying for them and others (Kim, Kelsey, Brice,..sorry if I'm forgetting someone. God doesn't)-- "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Gal. 6:2)
we haven't been to see the movie yet, with daniel in school and it being the end of the semester, he doesn't have much spare time, maybe after finals week (next week)
Don't get your hopes up. This is only inspiring if you like 'Bama football. But even if you don't, you'll enjoy this, if for no other reason for a good laugh.
On Facebook, I've recently touched base with some friends from high school, even some that I wasn't extremely close to.
I asked one friend where they lived and she began the message by saying Roll Tide Roll, as a "clue" as to where they lived.
I wrote back and asked how she knew I followed Bama and she said that she's one of those people who remembers little details--she mentioned another example of she and her friends.
So, the great impression I left upon West Columbia was being THE Bama fan in town. haha. I enjoyed the fact that she remembered that.
But, not surprising. In 5th grade, I set a personal goal of wearing an Alabama shirt of some sort to school every day and pulled it off most of the year, until Parent-Teacher night. I forget how the whole conversation went but something like this---Dad had recently returned from a meeting and gotten me a Bama shirt and my teacher commented to them on how glad she was that I'd have another shirt to wear. I don't remember how many I had in the rotation, probably 3-5, haha. My mom probably turned red...crimson.
I think mom made me wear something else for picture day, so my goal probably took a detour.
And in 4th grade, for Halloween I was Mike Shula (recent coach but he was the QB at that time) and I asked the teacher if I could sign my papers as "Mike Shula" that day. She complied.
What a great childhood---and its paying off now after the late 90s and early 00s were miserable for we Tiders. Roll on {We did, to the tune of 36-0!!!!!!!!!!!!!!}
I am laughing at you doing the shirt thing in 5th grade. You started young being funny "Mike Shula". I don't think many 4th graders would even think to ask to sign the name. I just thought of you tonight since the boys and I are watching "Toy Story II".
