This afternoon L is going to a viewing. It's the first one she's ever had to attend and she wants to go without me with her friends. The viewing is for one of her close friends that committed suicide on Tuesday. Since school began in September, they have had six deaths at her high school; four students have killed themselves and two were killed in accidents.
It swirls around in my head that in this country of abundant things so many people are still empty. I'm so thankful for the blood of Christ that gives us abundant life, life that goes beyond this earthly, painful place.

Our girl sings a solo

Christmas at our house.

Trimming the tree.

We bought our elf ladder at a Christmas craft show when our firstborn was a baby. They stopped making the elves before our youngest was born so hers is unique.

Our star is like the one my husband remembers his family having on their tree. We've had ours for twenty years.

I made each of our Christmas stockings from a pattern I devised with my mom.
The kitchen


The Christmas village from my stepmother is set up in the dining room.


The living room tree
Thanks for stopping in and a blessed Merry Christmas!

This is me with my two brothers and our dog, Duke. We had just moved to our new house which was only about 2 miles from where we were living. Duke would not stay moved and had gone missing for several weeks. The day this picture was made, my Uncle had come by to see my mama and try out his new camera. It just so happened that Duke came by, too.
I spent today working on my mama's Christmas present. Last time I visited her she mentioned that she didn't have any pictures of her children when they were little. This is totally NOT true, although the family photos from my childhood are limited. First, because we didn't have a camera and second, because in the aftermath of my parent's divorce the few photos we did have got scattered and misplaced. I made copies of the handful of pictures that I have and put them in a photo album for her. There were only enough photos for about half the book so I left the facing pages blank. She does have some photos tossed around, tucked in miscellaneous nooks and crannies that she could scrounge up and stick in the book if she wants. I think my brother has some he could copy for her, too.
It took me all day, but the project is finished, leaving me quite nostalgic.

I came across 2 empty liter beer bottles in the basement while throwing away old wrapping paper. And then I found a knapsack full of spray paint, probably about thirty cans of it. And a pipe for smoking dope. All this took place while hubs, S and L were at the Christmas parade. So when they came home, I sent the girls upstairs and Husband and I confronted S.
What is all this junk about?
I am so tired of listening to his explanations that are devoid of truth and personal responsibility. Everything is someone else's fault and while he admits that he went to work "f'd up", his contention is that nobody noticed and plays no part in the reason why he can't find a job. The pipe is his girlfriend's. The spray paint is for vandalizing at night, which, according to him, he isn't doing anymore. And I am just a big stupid snoop who doesn't see what the older brother is doing/has done and certainly didn't discipline. We only focus on S and unfairly at that. He just doesn't get why we won't let him do anything: drink, smoke dope, do drugs, spray paint the town. We are so un-flippin-reasonable.
He stormed out of the house.
I used to wonder what people meant when they said that Jesus was their life. Now I know because without Him, I would be in the pit of despair. I trust Him with my son's life and with mine. So, I am pressed down but not destroyed.

It feels like snow. I wish it would snow and make everything clean and white.
I had a poor conversation with L this afternoon. She pretty much told me I didn't know what I was talking about; she hadn't said what I said she said. She's been in a foul mood lately and I think it's because of college applications and the stress of that. So, I quick-like-a-sponge take it on, too.
Thanksgiving was fun but hovering over us was "next year L will be coming home from school". I put up the Christmas decorations and she said "next year you'll have to wait for me to get home on break." This year's festivities are all tainted by the specter of next year.
It's a constant, subtle pressure on us all.
Meanwhile, S lives in the basement without a job. I am thankful that he is home and that God allows us to provide a home for him. I continue to pray for his sake that this arrangement is temporary. I see him struggling with his feelings about his younger sister preparing to go off and do what he did not. Still, I am thankful that they have this time together to heal and mend their relationship before they venture out into the world.