The most PERFECT Snowman

Soooooooo

Christmas Eve we had a blizzard,

Which meant that we had a White Christmas.

Which meant we had a lot less guests than we had planned for.

But it was perfect!

Christmas Day David went out to shovel the sidewalk. I'm standing in the door way with the storm door partially opened offering my wifely support and I look out across our yard and into the neighbors yard that is diagonally across and I see someone building the most beautiful snowman. He was what songs are made of.... Top Hat, carrot nose and bright red scarf. I called Emily over to look at him.

I'm thinking - WOW and David said you couldn't build a snow man cause the snow was too dry and this one was taller than the man building it.

I was in awe of this snowman and about to go get my camera when David said..............







LISA that is a blowup Snowman!




maybe I should get my eyes checked.

Would someone PLEASE put my heart back where it belongs

I dropped Emily off at middle school this morning! She's not quite ready for middle school but today was "shadow day" at Edison. Here in Tulsa you can opt to go to a school that isn't in your neighborhood, as long as you follow the rules & dot the i's & you yell "pick me, pick me" loud enough. So this morning we experienced middle school. Sort of. In a test the waters, try me out kind of way.

I really think it is mostly for the mommas - so that the real first day of middle school for your baby won't be so traumatic for you.

Emily admitted she was nervous in an exciting kind of way. So we prayed that God would send her comfort in the way of someone she knew, or maybe she and the person she was following would really hit it off. And boy was God prompt. We had no more said Amen and shut the car door and God was already providing. We walked up the very big/steep hill with a mom and her daughter that Emily had meet during the summer at an Art Camp. As we walked in to the library we said hi to a girl that we knew from Key last year and was still in Emily's girl scout troop. Two seconds later in walks Addie from church and right behind us in line was a girl we knew from 1st grade. Coincidence? I don't think so. I whisper, "Emily, God is already answering our prayer."

I left her surrounded by a few old friends and lots of potential new friends. She was looking a little apprehensive but also brave and courageous, ready to conquer this exciting new territory called Middle School.

I, on the other hand realized that my heart suddenly felt funny, a contrast of emotions, bursting with pride but at the same time breaking with the knowledge that this fleeting time called childhood would quickly be over. And my lips ached a dull ache because they so wanted to kiss her good bye but didn't dare.

He's done it again!

Who would have thought? Who could have imagined? Who could have dreamed?

That at this very hour, on this very day, in this very month, in this very year..... A dream job had been prepared and was waiting for the most perfect man to begin.

Only God that's who.

Memorial Drive adds staff memeber!

Fine Arts & the Science Fair at Key Elementary

Emily won second place in 4th grade division at the school Science Fair:





She was sooooo excited she had a hard time falling asleep that night.

She also had 3 exhibits in the art show. For some reason I only have pictures of two.

They also had a violin concert but sadly I left my camera at home.

PEACE AT LAST

Mary Susan Watkins
November 28, 1955 - April 18, 2009

She was pronounced dead at 8:13 pm by the EMSA tech. Truthfully, she began dying Friday evening when I dropped her off at her apartment.

She said she was weak. I said I know. We left her with her beloved Jackie and a 24 pack of Coke. I called on Saturday but she never answered.

I wish I had known that it would be our last good bye. I wish I had checked on her sooner.

Mary called me a couple of weeks ago and offered a heartfelt confession. Things I already suspected but wasn't certain of. What I didn't know was how much shame she felt. How she didn't want to face me, how she didn't feel worthy to go to church but knew that was were she needed to be.

We talked about how Jesus wanted her & loved her in spite of anything she did. I told her that I didn't care what she did I just cared about her.

That was the beginning of the end. Looking back, the two weeks that followed that confession were a gift for our family & Mary.

She was in church the next Sunday & the following Sunday which was Easter. The Saturday before Easter she spent the day at our house, mostly sleeping on the couch. She was having difficulty breathing & couldn't smoke much of her cigarettes. We took her to Ron's Hamburgers, a place we both love, and enjoyed a big ol' greasy burger. Sunday she had lunch with us but went home early because she didn't feel well.

The following Thursday I took her to the hospital. They kept her overnight then sent her home. The doctor said her heart was weak and she would benefit from staying in a nursing home & straightening out her medicines. At some point on Friday I told her that she must have 9 lives. Little did I know that she had used them all up.

The last thing I said to her was - Mary I love you. She responded I love you too.

When I found her on Saturday - the carton of coke was in the fridge unopened, Jackie was yelping loudly and Mary was gone.

That swing sure can be dangerous

Emily loves to swing in the tree swing in our yard.



But sometimes the swing can be dangerous. But don't worry Emily can always find the silver lining in any situation.

Last year she was swinging in the tree swing & Grandma was watching. I guess she got a little to twirlley because her hair got tangled in the rope & Grandma had to do the only thing she could think to do and cut it out.

This resulted in quite a bit of hair being lost. So Emily came up with the perfect solution so that the hair wouldn't be wasted.......



She made a toupee for David & just to make sure it didn't blow off she taped it on.

Today she had another mishap with the tree swing. Somehow she slipped off the seat. She never let go of the swing but somehow it managed to hit her in the head twice HARD. She picked her self up & got right back on the horse that threw her.



Her silver lining, "At least I didn't land in the dog poop" I think that's a moto we can all live by.

For Whom the "Earrings" Toll

Emily decided at the beginning of the year that she wanted to get her ears re-pierced. She has been to Claire's and found out the price, picked out the ear rings. Gold balls, not the tiny ones but the medium ones. She has diligently saved every penny of her allowance for the last 5 to 6 weeks. She has even avoided the temptation of spending even a dime on a piece of gum. Not that you can buy gum for a dime any more but you know what I mean. She has counted her money until I wondered if poor Washingtons's nose was worn off. She has told everyone that would listen about her plan

She finally reached her goal on Monday and then doubt set in. Should she or shouldn't she. Will it hurt? A poll of her closest friends revealed that yes it would hurt but just a little.

So with money in hand & best friend by her side we set out for the mall on Thursday.



The sting was quick.



Oh but it was soooooo worth it.



Oh yeah, as a reward for setting and accomplishing her goal she got to upgrade her earrings & get the pretty birthstone ones that she really really wanted but didn't think she could afford.

Best little bird house in Texas

How many Combs' does it take to put up a bird house?

Three - 2 to hold the ladder & 1 to hold the level to make sure that the bird house is precisly level and birds don't crack their heads flying in. But if Anna has her way it's so that the pictures will hang straight on the wall.

Conversation with Anna:

Aunt Lisa this is so exciting!!

Do you think we can get some little tiny wood & make some little furniture for the bird house?
Uh No Anna I don't.

Conversation with Ethan - making sure the birdhouse is level has taken too long so he has moved on to funner thing like running down the hill with a plastic bag stretched above his head like a parachute.

Aunt Lisa one time a long time ago I got on the roof and ran really fast then I jumped off with a bag like this (holds bag over his head) and I floated down really slow.
Ethan, I know your mother - that could have only happened in your imagination.

Finally - Christmas Pictures

WE OPENED PRESENTS, PRESENTS AND MORE PRESENTS - WE LOVE PRESENTS





THEN WE WENT TO TEXAS AND PLAYED WITH THE BAND



WE WENT TO HOUSTON AND VISITED RAM & STACIE




THE GIRLS WENT SHOPPING


BELLA CARRIED AN ARM FULL FOR US



WE DROVE TO TRINITY TX - they let-em drive young there



WE OPENED MORE PRESENTS



SOME OF US OPENED IMAGINARY PRESENTS



Then we rested (albeit briefly)






Then we drove back to Spring Branch and had a great evening visiting with Mark, Krista & the kids.

Then got back in the car & completed our 2000 mile (for real) annual tour of Texas!!

And next time I'll remember to bring the battery charger for my camera so that I can take more than 1 picture of everyone.

Gentle Giant

David and I have been blessed this year with so much. But one of our greatest blessings has been friends that LOVE Emily and go out of their way to let her know how much she is loved.

This is John from my work. Emily loves him & he loves her. On days that she comes to work with me & he isn't too busy he will take her to Braum's for lunch and an ice cream cone.

For Christmas he gave her a gift card from Braum's and a Max Lucado book called "You are Special". But the best part of the gift was that he took the time to read it to her.