Christmas 2009

Here are some pictures of our Christmas! This is just for our record... I wanted to just jot down what the kids got from Santa:

Kate got: Hungry Hungry Hippos game, Buckeroo game, The Fishing Game, some pink cowgirl boots, 2 (generic) Zhu-Zhu pets (which she named "Keys" and "Stevie"), some lace up dolls, a sleeping bag and things in her stocking.

Brooks got: Lincoln Logs, an Etch-a-Sketch board, A Tool making Play-Dough kit, 1 (generic) Zhu-Zhu pet, a Thomas board game and things in his stocking.

They both got a Thomas the Train table, given to us by some great friends. I am so happy that they love everything equally. They seem equally excited about each gift. Santa left their gifts under each tree for them - Kate's under one, and Brooks' under the other. And, Santa ate the cookies we decorated last night. :)

This was a great Christmas this year!

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you and yours all the best this holiday season!

Snapshots from our weekend

Christmas at Gran Gran and Paw Paw's

This past weekend we spent in Mobile seeing Scott's parents. The kids went down a few days earlier to spend some time with GG, PP and Megan. They had a good time but were very tired! Here are some of my favorites from the weekend.

I am feeling much better at this point. It has taken me some time to "digest" what all transpired this past week. I am so thankful for the encouragement from my friends concerning this. I mostly appreciate the prayers on my behalf.

I must say, my mind has thought a lot this week about many things. One in particular was that I have always tried to be a Christian example to this person. Not only did I feel hurt that I am not trusted, but I feel like I am not that influence that I tried to be. That is a double hurt for a Christian. I don't know if that thought has ever occurred to me before - that I felt that I had failed to demonstrate Christ.

I have also learned that there are other things going on in this person's life that is most likely had something to do with the situation. Still doesn't make the hurt go away. Please use this as a lesson in your life. It is so easy to hurt others with your words or actions. That hurt is magnified when you allow trials of your own as an excuse to make your words more bitter.

But, at any rate, I have had time for my mind to get wrapped around the fact that it has happened and now I must move on. I did receive good counsel from a good friend that helped me tremendously. I just pray that I can get that trust back, and get the light of Christ,, that I thought was shining to hopefully be a good influence again.

So, back to the Busby life. We are all ready for Christmas. Kate asks me everyday, "Are she and Brooks on the nice list? (thanks, Dora the Explorer)" and "When is Santa coming?" and "When are we sending out Christmas cards?" It has been a real treat this year to see her so excited about Santa - because this is the first year that she has been. And, her excitement has really gotten Brooks pumped up about it. Christmas shopping is complete - except for Scott. He is the hardest to buy for! I have only requested a few things: Carrie Underwood's new CD and, oh shoot, forgot the other one. Hopefully Scott hasn't. :)

Our Christmas cards just arrived on Thursday, and I frantically got them addressed and mailed on Friday. I will post one on the blog tomorrow. I was totally thrilled with it this year. Even though it wasn't a Christmas pose, it was just beautiful.

Keep praying for the Gray family. Helen's funeral was Wednesday, and I heard it was beautiful. They are still in need of monetary donations. You can click on their picture on my blog if you would like to contribute. The Faulkner family and church of Christ has been so supportive of them. It makes you proud to be a part of such a special people.

For me

Yesterday was a hard day. I am putting this to paper so that I can feel better. I am not going to elaborate on the events, but it just was a hard day. And, let me just say it has nothing to do with Scott.

Since a teenager, I have always felt an incredible need to be trusted. I guess that also comes with the personality to try to be right all the time. I feel like I am not trusted, and that hurts. That someone should believe me, and doesn't, hurts. This someone knows me pretty well and I feel like should believe me. No matter how ridiculous the story sounds.

And, somehow, I feel like our relationship will never be the same. That this will be forever held against me. No matter how many times I'm sorry is said. How do you recover from that? Is there a way?

I want to scream "I'M A CHRISTIAN!" I made a mistake. I didn't understand what was going on, and I made a mistake. But, I would never intentionally undermine or hurt anyone. And, I can see the pent up anger. Expressing it's self in other ways. I just wonder how long I will have to endure this. I have always tried to be so honest. I feel like I am someone who could be trusted. Now, I am stained, and I wonder if I'll ever be clean again.

I guess time will tell. And I will have to weather this. This storm. I am fighting the urge to stop going above and beyond. That I will forever be looked at with suspicion if I do. I don't want this to be the beginning of the end. But, I guess that I have no control over that, either.

I sure have been thinking a lot about heaven lately. I am so thankful for God's unwavering love. Today, I am thankful for His forgiveness. That He doesn't hold my sins over my head. That He forgives and forgets - that He doesn't remember. As long as I am faithfully following Him. Thank you Lord for all you have done for me.

Please pray for this family

I did not know this family until Sunday night. I did not know how much their story would touch my life. But, they are family to me. Because they are Faulkner grads, and they are members of the church. They are family to me.

Traveling home after visiting family over Thanksgiving, they were involved in a horrific car crash that claimed the life of their daughter, Helen. She would have turned 3 on Dec. 23rd. Brian had only minor injuries, but Kristy's back was broken in 4 places, and may never walk again.

It is numbing to me how quickly your life of normalcy can change. Right down to the very dynamics of your family. And, then the questions come - how could God allow this to happen?

Reason one: any tragedy, for me, goes back to the fact that we live in an imperfect world. From blown tires, to birds flying into airplanes, birth defects, cancer in the young (or anyone, for that). This world was perfect until Adam and Eve sinned, bringing imperfection and free will. Hence, the second reason:

God gave us free will. Free will to do whatever we choose. It is beyond our control what others choose to do. Like, drunk driving or taking a gun and killing innocent people, for instance. Sin will forever be a part of this world.

I guess in a very broad scheme, God's will is occurring here. But, I can't believe that God just took that baby from her family. But, yes, God allowed to happen. He never promised that any of us would be without pain. Yet, He does promise that He will faithfully strengthen those who follow Him.

It all comes down to trusting in God. Trusting that God doesn't make mistakes, but he does withhold. Trusting that God will strengthen you to get through the fire of your circumstances. Trusting that God loves you and will continually care for you. And, you may never know the "why" - but that you will trust in God despite that.

Let God use you to strengthen them! Brian and Kristy need your prayers. There is a link button on the right that goes to their facebook page. Donations are needed for funeral and hospital expenses. Finances need to be their last concern at this time. Even a small amount will go a long way - if everyone contributes.

Heaven got a little sweeter on Sunday...

Scanning pictures

Here is a picture of Nana that I just love. She had the prettiest teeth!

This is one of my faves of before Papa left for WWII.

This picture is how I always remember Nana. She and Papa were going on one of their bus tours.

Papa today with Sophia. There are more pictures of him to come...

Scanning fun...

Rick - Metro Way

Us at Grandmama's. Check out my jelly shoes. And, both Casey and I had perms...

Casey holding Garfield. Me holding Blackie.

Blackie as a kitten. He was the first cat that I just adored.

The coolest present!

Mom got a hand held scanner from QVC, and I spent the morning scanning pictures of our family. How wonderful to have them saved this way!

These are of my Papa. He came to Thanksgiving this year to be able to see Casey and her family.

Sitting in a bowl! Love it!

Papa with his mother, Alma

Making cookies

Aunt Casey is the best at making cookies. She always has been!

She suggested making cookies and the girls were all to glad to join in. They were good, too, Mimi! The lower left Sophia's masterpiece that she made for her Mama. Bet it was nice and crunchy! My type A self made the reindeer on the top right.

What a great Thanksgiving we had

All the cousins are old enough to really have fun playing with each other (except Will, that is). They had a ball, as did we watching them!

Busby funnies

Brooks told us this morning (after waking up at the crack of dawn): "Mama, my big ol' watch says it's time to get up."

Brooks told me tonight that his watch said "for me to pull up his underware", and made sure that I saw it say that on his watch.

Kate's new mix up word is: menember (remember)

The other day, Kate got mad at Brooks for talking. Actually, Brooks was just stuttering, and couldn't get his thought out. I felt badly for both.

The other day, Uncle Tommy remarked (after seeing Brooks wear a jogging suit) that "he'd never seen him dressed like a boy before"... Pu'lese - I've dressed him like a boy twice before... :)

Scott is returning to driving next week! We are thankful!

S-T-I-N-K-Y

This week stinks for several reasons:

1. I had to reschedule my dentist appointment THREE TIMES, and still never made it there.

2. The kids started the week sick with fevers - but are thankfully fine now...

3. Our hot water heater has been out since Monday. So, let me list the stinky items:

1. the piled up clothes
2. the dishes in dishwasher
3. the kids
4. the parents
5. anything involved with bathing and cold water

Same tree, different year

November, 2005

November, 2009

OOhhhh!!!

So I totally forgot to tell you this one:

Client comes in with her cat that is paralyzed in the back legs from a broken back. Before putting it to sleep, the client asks my boss: "If she could cut the cat's tail off (after it's dead) so that she can save it, sort of like a raccoon".

My boss said no.

Pictures, pictures pictures

This is a lookout on the way up to Cades Cove. Gatlinburg is below.

Playing with my camera... (remember, Mom? Action! Night!)

This is in the valley of Cades Cove.

Just playing around.

Keep scrolling!

More faves

What a beautiful girl.

This was a stream on the way up the mountain to Cades Cove.

Isn't this the prettiest leaf ever?