500th Win!!

Got to say a big Congratulations to Joe Paterno and his Nitany Lions!! They made watching the Alamo bowl exciting.

Can't begin to imagine what it feels like to take a bunch of kids and make them into a winning team. Joe has morals and ethics and stands by hard work and determination. He doesn't hesitate to tell some kid they aren't going to play because they chose not to follow the team rules. Even with 5 football players not playing, Joe and his team goes in as underdogs and gets his 27th bowl game win.

And he does it with humilty and style. He doesn't like to talk about himself. He wants the focus to be on his team. " Who cares if it's my 5ooth win, this game was as important as the first. It's not about me". If only more coaches would take that stand. If more coaches would have values and stand up for them. Then they could have the same record.

Way to go Penn State!!! I'm proud to be a Nitany Lion fan.

Now, if Oregon can win tomorrow afternoon, Dean might be as happy. Go Ducks!!!

Christmas with grandchildren *whew*

eden and her wrapping paper

Have I mentioned how exhausting it is to be a grandma? I had a great time shopping for the two munchkins in our family. And I feel like it went by in such a hurry. Don't know if I actually got to enjoy the event or not. Still chewing on it.

But it's extremely hard on us because we open our gifts on Christmas Eve and this year Ashley and Travis couldn't get Jullian until after 8:00 and it's an hour drive from his home in Winter Haven. So by the time they get here it's 9:00 PM and we have to hurry so that they can get home for sleep. I feel so sorry for him. He has to rush all Christmas morning because he has too many houses to go to. Divorce is so hard on the children.

So we had a hurried fun time watching the kids with their gifts. Eden loved the wrapping paper. She sat on Uncle Aaron's lap and watched for presents that she could open. I think the paper and the bows were here favorite thing to chew on.

Of course Jullian is great. He gets a gift and gives the giver a hug before he opens the present. He was a joy to watch this year. He can't wait to visit on Sunday so that he can play with his new soccer goals in Grandma's backyard. Uncle Adam bought him a hockey stick and some balls to go with the goals. I can't wait to watch the boys out in the backyard with the toys.

I can't believe my little girl is 6 months old already. Granny loves her tons and tons.

Favorite Christmas Movies

I love to watch Mirical on 34th Street. The old one in black and white. I love the fact that it tells us "If you only believe". You know the little girl has been told that Santa isn't real and she meets some friendly folks that tell her he is. And if she will only believe, her Christmas wish will come true. I love letting little kids believe in Santa for a little while. I think there is no harm in them believing that way. Especially if you truly celebrate the real meaning of Christmas... Which is JESUS' birth.

Which brings me to my Favorite Christmas Movie..... The Little Drummer Boy.
ahh... he is a little shepherd boy that has nothing of value except his little drum that he plays. And when he sees a brightly shining star he decides to follow it. He comes to the stable and sees the baby in a manger and all the people giving gifts but he doesn't have anything to give. So instead he goes and plays his drum for him. Love that movie, it makes me cry. Why? Because I'm that little drummer boy. I have nothing to give this baby in the manger. This baby who is the king of kings and lord of lords. This baby who has come to save me from my sins. This baby who offers me everything if only I would believe.

Do you believe? And..... What do you have to offer him? You know his gift is free. How many things in this life are free? All you have to do is BELIEVE like a little child and accept what He is offering. Peace, comfort, love, eternal life with Him, forgiveness of all you have done or are going to do.

What's your favorite Christmas movie and why?

Christmas Cards

I love December!!! I wait all year long for December. You want to know why? Christmas Cards. Yep, I love going to the mailbox with the anticipation of getting just one Christmas card. I race Dean on the weekends to the mailbox. You should see us. Two old people with limps running across our front yard laughing and pushing trying to get to the mail first. I sneak out the front door, he runs to the garage and we try to get it first. I'm sure the neighbors think we're nuts, but I've got to tell you I wait all year long for this.

I love reading the long Christmas letters from friends that we made through the years. We get cards from people we went to high school with. We get cards from old employees Dean worked with when he graduated. We get cards from Oregon, New Mexico, Utah and now Florida friends that we went to church with. I love getting letters and cards. We get to see pictures of babies all grown up and going to college.

I hate the fact that more and more people aren't sending cards and are doing the e-cards. I feel those e-cards are so unpersonal. I think that we're starting to lose the effort of writing to each other. I love getting hand written cards from my friends. It makes me feel like the have taken the time to read cards until the found one that suited what they wanted to say to me. I love the fact that they took the time to sign it and address it with their handwriting.

I love praying over each card that I get. I take a card out and I pray for the family. I pray that they will feel God's love and presence that he will help them with any trials that come their way.

Christmas Cards.... LOVE THEM.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ADAM!!

Happy Birthday, ADAM!!

Well today at 10:00 am, Adam Jacob LaFollette was born in Oregon City, Oregon. He was a blond boy with lot's of attitude. He didn't like his dad for the first couple of months. But now they are the best of friends.

Adam is currently a sophmore at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana. He plays football for their football team the Earlham Quakers. This year he played middle linebacker and did some serious playing. He was second in leading the team on tackles. He would have been first except he cracked two ribs and that laid him up for a game.

He also leads his school in cheering the other teams on to victory at the games. He and his friend Chris Shaw started it last year and will be doing it again this year.

We're pretty proud of our son and we hope he has a great 20th birthday. He's grown up to be a great Christian young man. He helps when he's needed. All we hear from others is how polite and kind he is and how they wish they could keep him. Sorry, we'll share but we're keeping him. He's a wonderful friend. WE LOVE YOU, J!!

Holidaze

Wow, Where did the year go? I can't believe that we are hitting December already. I must have slept thru this year.

I sometimes get so caught up in the running around that I forget to stop and just think about what is the REAL idea of Christmas. I know it's the birth of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, but I get so distracted that I forget to remember that it's not about the gifts you give or the cookies I bake, but the Love I show for others during this season. That I remember that Jesus came to earth to walk and feel what we go through on a daily basis so that we can't say "He doesn't know how I feel or what I'm going through". Jesus felt every human emotion, He worked a job as a carpenter. He tried to get the truth out to the people who wouldn't listen to Him. He was persecuted by the people who said they loved Him. He suffered and died a horrific death all so that we can have a relationship with God.

I want to spend every day leading up to Christmas really reading the story of Christ and soaking up the true meaning of Christmas. I want to show Christ in my attitude and the way I relate to others during this month. I want to show love and kindness while driving, while waiting in line at the store and while talking to others. I want others to see "Christmas" in me. I don't just want to read the word, but to live the word in thought, word and action.

This is my first Christmas with my mom at my house. I want her to really experience Christmas with us. With Christ being the main focus. I hope that I can do all of that for her and my family. It's a big lofty goal, but I have my heart set on doing it.

Day After

WOW!!! Is all I can say. I have never been to the day after Thanksgiving sales before. What a nightmare. Ashley wanted to get a new Christmast tree from K-mart so I said that I would kindly go with her at 6:00 AM since I'm usually up anyways. Well, they have put in a new Target that opened a month ago and as I was driving past at 6:03 I saw the parking lot was completely packed with cars. Then the radio came on and said that Target opens at 6:00 AM. I thought to myself "ARE YOU KIDDING?" Well, I picked up Ashley and went to Walgreens first and then to K-mart. People are honking at you for waiting for a parking place, and showing you their nice middle fingers ( I waved back at them and smiled.) Then we get into the place and I kid you not there is a three mile long line just to get in the door to get to the electronic department. Did they not read that ad that said there were only 25 of those TV's and NO RAIN CHECKS. Totally AMAZED I am. I'm not sure I'm that devoted to getting things on sale. LOL

I went with Adam later in the day down to Ellington, our little outdoor shopping outlet mall. We had fun walking around. We had to park about a mile away, but we were there just to kill some time. He was bored sitting around this week with nothing to do, so I took him down there. Hard to belive my youngest is going to be 20 in a week. Time flies by so fast. No bad lines in Ellington. And I was able to pick off a couple of things from the wish list. So that was cool.

We're stuffed from all the turkey and leftovers, but we had a great Thanksgiving and are certainly grateful for our growing family. God is always so good to us. We've been blessed with 4 beautiful kids and now we're getting spouses and grandkids. How great.

And for those of you praying for Jullian. Please keep praying. We got to see the problem and it's definitely noticable. Ashley thinks that the ticks are getting worse and now it's happening in both eyes. They have diagnosed him with ADHD, OCD, and possible Terrets syndrom. They are going to monitor him for the next three months and if it progresses they will have to start him on some medications. Pray God will heal this wonderful little boy. He is absolutely precious to us.