My Christmas Gift

Remember when I was saying I needed someone to bring me Christmas? Well, today someone did. Watch this prayer Emory said in the middle of opening her gifts this morning. Totally her idea. Merry Christmas everyone!

Tuba or not Tuba

Tonight, Miles requested a tuba performance by yours truly. I got the tuba out and let the kids play on it. Emory actually got some pretty good sounds out of it. After she played, she said, "Mom, this is fun, can we keep the tuba?" Boy, she really lives in her own little world!

Just for Laughs

These are a few things that made me laugh tonight-

1) My longest conversation ever with Miles
Mom: Uh-oh, Miles, are you stinky?
Miles: No. Ummy is.
(Miles calls Emory Ummy)

2) A truthful observation from a toddler
Emory: Mom, you have a BIG bottom!

3) A video in the bathtub. I hope you can view it. If not, try this link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RxbJ4yB438

Too Much of a Good Thing

It is hard to believe that I can get too much Christmas. I love it this time of year and I look forward to it each year. But as a musician, I feel abused. We are expected to bring holiday joy to everyone else, but I think I have had enough this year. Since the beginning of December, I have been involved in at least 10 different performances that I can count. And for each performance, there are many rehearsals involved.

I love what I do, I just am tired. Now I want to sit back and have someone bring me Christmas.

May Your Will be Done

I wish I could get in God's head. Why do things have to happen the way they sometimes do? Often, my prayer is, "God, may Your will be done."

Someone once described God's will to me like this:

God is in heaven weaving a beautiful tapestry that is your life. He sees the whole picture. He can see the highs and the lows. We can only see the underneath side of the tapestry. We see the knots and the frayed string. Someday God will turn the beautiful tapestry around so that we can see the whole picture.

God has done this for me a few times in my life. All I saw was the mess and the uncertainty of what lie ahead. Then, "Boom", God turned that tapestry around and I was able to see what He had planned all along.

So if you are waiting to see what God has planned for you, just be patient. He will reveal that gorgeous tapestry one day, and HIS WILL will be done.

Being 4

Tapirs, Blue-Footed Booby Bird, and the Maned Wolf. What do these three things have in common? These are things that Emory has taught me about in the last few weeks. She turned 4 today, and I am starting to learn that the 4 year old brain is a sponge. I don't even know where she learns all this, but I am constantly saying, "Where did you learn that?" I guess the TV can't be all bad!

Along with a fascinating memory, I have found that 4 year olds are creative. She seems to have a comeback for almost everything. I am starting to get a little preview of the teenage years.

But overall, Emory is filled with joy. From the minute she wakes up to the minute she lays her head down, she is chatting. She is always telling me stories, jokes, and asking meaningless questions. Her favorite questions seem to be, "Mom, how do you make ______?" She wonders about everything!

Happy Birthday, little lady. I love to watch you wonder, learn and grow. I am awfully proud to be your Momma!