HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Here's to a great 2009 to everyone.... It's crazy 2008 has come and gone, even more so now that I'm a mom. It's bittersweet because I love seeing Weiss learn, grow, and enter new stages in life, but I'm sad to see him leave being a baby/toddler and become a young boy.... (sniff, sniff). Granted, EVERY mother has been through this before, but it's NO FUN!!! So, I thank God for the time we've had with Weiss and all of the precious times ahead.

(On a lighter note, Lexy--GOOD LUCK TOMORROW!!!!! Lexy, one of my running buddies, is running in a New Year's Day Marathon in Houston. She's no marathon "virgin," either.....this is her second, after Nashville. My other running buddy, Denise, is going to go see her run.)

DESPERATION.......

So---the past few days, Weiss's schedule has been a bit off. With the Christmas holiday and all of the people and commotion, he's stayed up later, slept in, and had a few days where his naps were later, longer, or shorter. Anyway, for about 3 days or so, he has NOT taken a nap. His schedule has been back in order, but NO NAP. He is full of energy, and I have sat with him in the recliner (as I have always done in the past) and tried in desperation to get him to nap. For two hours, each day, the past several days, I have sat, but to no avail. WHAT WILL I DO?!?!?! Weiss's naps are a sacred time of the day, and I look forward to not only relaxing with him and snuggling, but MY nap, as well!!!

Weiss turned two on December 15th, and I feel he's too young to give up a nap!!! AARRGGGHHH!!!!

Merry CHRISTmas!!!

I hope all of my little bloggy friends out there had a very Merry CHRISTmas, complete with with faith, friends, family, food and fellowship. We had a great one, and it is continuing as I speak. We are waiting on Logan's parents and granddad to come over so we can eat (again!) and spend time together. Anyway, Weiss is beginning to understand the excitement a bit more and he seemed to have a great time last night as we were opening presents. We've had a fun time today, complete with a Christmas nap.... perfect!!!!

May God bless all of you this Christmas and also in the coming new year.

So I'm Being a Little Mischievous...

Okay----One of our good friends sent us this, and I had to be tacky and share. Here goes:

To All My Democrat Friends:

Please accept with no obligation, implied or explicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter Solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for all the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the the generally accepted calendar year 2009, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. (Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere.) Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, color, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishes.

To All my Republican Friends:

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and May God Bless You!!!!

Father's Love Letter (YouTube Version)

Okay, "Father's Love Letter" was so good, I went to YouTube to find a video version. Ours was a bit different because there were mini-movie clips on it, and this one is more like a PowerPoint slideshow, but with the same narrator voice. (Remember, if you want to see the version we watched at Community Bible Study, go to the link I have on the previous "Father's Love Letter" posting from a few days ago.) However, this version is still just as powerful...... Be sure to turn the background music off to this blog by scrolling down to the bottom of this page.......

NOTE: If the YouTube screen says "this video is no longer available," type in "father's love letter" in the YouTube search bar provided here and it will pull up the clip.....

Merry Christmas from Avery the Weimaraner.....

When Weiss and I came back from Bible study and Wal-Mart around noonish on Tuesday, it looked like a rabid, wild animal went crazy on our front porch. (See photo). I was frustrated because several of my plants--which I have been very careful to baby during the recent freezing weather--were gnawwed up by something's jaws and/or paws. (The blankets you see were covering the plants because it was hovering around freezing for 2 days.) The mailman pulled up just as I witnessed the crime scene, and he thought it was either an opossum or raccoon because of the damage. NOTE: We left the house from the front door at 8:30 AM, and all was well.

Anyway, I got in the door, let Avery in the house, and took a picture of my shredded doormat. (Yes, it is an autumn doormat--I had not put a Christmas one yet.) When Weiss was going down for a nap, my neighbor from across the street came to my door. Shirley told me Avery dug out of the backyard and pawed the lever on the glass door, and wedged her body in the opening, and then began trying to open the paddle lever on the front door. (And shredded my cute doormat into a dozen pieces and my plants in the process...) Shirley put her back in the yard and stuck a bag of leaves in the hole, but when I got home, Avery came in the door, nonchalantly.

This is why almost seven-year-old Avery only has in-house visitations when we are home. That's right, folks--she's no spring chicken--but as a Weimaraner, she remains in a perpetual puppy statehood. This antic is the tip of the iceburg. Zoey, our goldendoodle, can stay inside when we are gone with a cornucopia of food out, which she won't even touch (AMEN), while Avery is banished outside because of her constant, mischievous antics. However, when we're home with Avery, she curls up in a ball and sleeps all day. 

Merry Christmas from Avery the Weimaraner. Peace on earth and goodwill towards all men.

A Love Letter from God

I wanted to add this---please read it; it is amazing. I heard it last week at Bible study, and it had a movie clip to accompany it, and it was so powerful. It is a letter from God to us. If you would like to see the video clip or learn more about "Father's Love Letter," please go to http://www.fathersloveletter.com/.

My Child, You may not know me, but I know everything about you. Psalm 139:1
I know when you sit down and when you rise up. Psalm 139:2
I am familiar with all your ways. Psalm 139:3
Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. Matthew 10:29-31
For you were made in my image. Genesis 1:27
In me you live and move and have your being. Acts 17:28
For you are my offspring. Acts 17:28
I knew you even before you were conceived. Jeremiah 1:4-5
I chose you when I planned creation. Ephesians 1:11-12
You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book. Psalm 139:15-16
I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live. Acts 17:26
You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14
I knit you together in your mother's womb. Psalm 139:13
And brought you forth on the day you were born. Psalm 71:6
I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me. John 8:41-44
I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love. 1 John 4:16
And it is my desire to lavish my love on you. 1 John 3:1
Simply because you are my child and I am your Father. 1 John 3:1
I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. Matthew 7:11
For I am the perfect father. Matthew 5:48
Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand. James 1:17
For I am your provider and I meet all your needs. Matthew 6:31-33
My plan for your future has always been filled with hope. Jeremiah 29:11
Because I love you with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3
My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore. Psalms 139:17-18
And I rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17
I will never stop doing good to you. Jeremiah 32:40
For you are my treasured possession. Exodus 19:5
I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul. Jeremiah 32:41
And I want to show you great and marvelous things. Jeremiah 33:3
If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me. Deuteronomy 4:29
Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
For it is I who gave you those desires. Philippians 2:13
I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. Ephesians 3:20
For I am your greatest encourager. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you. Psalm 34:18
As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart. Isaiah 40:11
One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes. Revelation 21:3-4
And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth. Revelation 21:3-4
I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus. John 17:23
For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed. John 17:26
He is the exact representation of my being. Hebrews 1:3
He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you. Romans 8:31
And to tell you that I am not counting your sins. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you. 1 John 4:10
I gave up everything I lovedthat I might gain your love. Romans 8:31-32
If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me. 1 John 2:23
And nothing will ever separate you from my love again. Romans 8:38-39
Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen. Luke 15:7
I have always been Father, and will always be Father. Ephesians 3:14-15
My question is…Will you be my child? John 1:12-13
I am waiting for you. Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad, Almighty God

Goodness--December is half over!!!

Eating cake on his "real" birthday, Monday the 15th. You can still tell Weiss doesn't feel up to par, but we sang "Happy Birthday" and relit the "deedles" (candles) four times....

Weiss is notorious for not posing for pictures, so this is all I could get as he walked by.... He had his singing Elmo stocking by the head and his TT hoodie on. (It would have been a great picture, but he's too busy for that....)

Elmo Live! (If you haven't seen him, he really is cool and does LOTS of things...Much more high tech than the original "Tickle Me Elmo!")

His cake, complete with Elmo, Dorothy the Goldfish, and Mr. Noodle, all from the "Elmo's World" show Weiss watches on DVD. He knows all of the characters names and can even sing the theme song...he is very attached to Elmo.....

Well, for those of you reading, I apologize for being so lazy with my blog the past 2 weeks. I only blog when Weiss is asleep, and I've been preoccupied with my final the past two weeks---a very long research paper. But now, class is over until January, so I have more free time at night on my hands when I would normally be studying, writing a paper of some sort, or reading my textbooks.
Anyway, December has been a fun month so far, and I can't believe the year is almost over and CHRISTmas is quickly approaching! Tomorrow is Weiss's official 2nd birthday, too.....I can't believe my little Pookie Bear is two. It doesn't seem like he could be that (gulp) OLD. We had a family party for him Friday night. Everything was Elmo themed, from the majority of his gifts, to his cake.... He LOVES Elmo! (And since we have "donated" so much to Elmo and Sesame Street, I sure hope our future children like him as well as Weiss does!!!) Dickey, Cinda, Mom and Dad were here at our house, and poor Weiss was sick, running a fever. We are pretty sure it's a cold and his sinuses, because a front blew in Thursday, and it made Logan and I feel bad, as well.
We had a big event planned: before the party here, we were all going to go to the Bethlehem at Burnet and see baby Jesus and the live animals. I was really excited, along with everyone else. But we had to scratch that because he felt terrible. Before we ate dinner, he blew out the candles on his Elmo cake and opened a few packages, in a daze. Saturday we had planned to drive into San Antonio with Mom and Dad and go to CBC's CHRISTmas program, which I know was awesome. But we also had to scratch that, as well, including church this morning here at Marble Falls. So it has been a lazy weekend. One of my neighbors told me it looked like everyone had camped out here for the weekend and didn't move, and that's what we did, besides making an HEB run for food and Schlotzsky's. Mom and Dad were also here to stay, but they didn't mind. Little Weiss has slept alot and been very clingy since Friday. Poor little guy....Just this evening, however, he seemed to be feeling better and was acting silly, so hopefully tomorrow will be a better day for him. If not, he'll have to go visit Dr. Madrigal....
With Weiss turning two, the little man has already spent 1/9 of his remaining time with us before he's off to college!!!! Mommy's gonna cry.....