Blogs I dig!!

Happy Sunday!!

I am constantly amazed at how quickly the weekend goes by. My family had a lovely laid back, no where to go weekend. I enjoy quiet weekends.

Friday we had a bit of sleet and snow. I was at a class in a neighboring town (this is an actual college class- for real credits- as in 3 credits. Which is big for me seeing as I haven't actually taken a college coarse since my Corcoran days in D.C. This, I hate to admit was over 15+ years ago- YIKES!!) and we were allowed to leave early because of the weather. I met my husband at school right before it was time to pick up the kids. We went home, put on our lounge wear and I made tacos. We headed down to the basement and were going to watch a movie but there was a barrage of cursing the first 30 seconds in. We ended up watching Wife Swap and Super Nanny. I love watching these shows because with wife swap my kids will usually say, "Mom, I am so glad your my mom and not those ladies." During Super Nanny I end up telling my kids how thankful I am that they are my kids. W.S. and S.N. didn't disappoint. We also made popcorn in the "WhirlyPop". This was a Christmas gift from my very cool sister. She even got it in red!! I have been wanting one forever.

Saturday, we went to the library and that was about it. We had double feature night as well. Mia and I watched the new American Girl movie. It was about being bullied. It was well done and had a great message. I encourage you to check it out- especially if you have a girl in elementary school. Jack and Dad watch an Indiana Jones flick. We made kettle corn in the Whirly and had a delightful evening.

Today we went to church. The sermon was on forgiveness. It was totally something I needed to hear because I have had some difficulties with this as of late. God's forgiveness is constant. So why is it that I hold grudges? How can I expect to ask for forgiveness if I can't forgive others? I am so thankful for this sermon today. I can honestly say that I am at peace with myself. Forgiving is very freeing. Holding on to crap weighs you down and makes you miserable.

After church we came home at and took naps. Naps are wonderful. Tim put up the new weight bench so we can build up our strength. I am hoping that I won't cop out and make up lame excuses not to use it. We also play the game BLOKUS. This is a great game and is quick. It doesn't involve reading which is good for younger players. In fact, I will be playing it again once I get this blog finished.

Oh, my post is about some of the blogs I dig. I encourage you to take the time to check them out. They are worth your time.

http://hereandnow06.blogspot.com/

http://noahsteven.blogspot.com/

http://jesusandtheatheist.blogspot.com/

http://www.beckynovacek.typepad.com/

http://pleasesirblog.blogspot.com/

http://highdeserthome.blogspot.com/

Take a peek. I hope you enjoy them- I do.

I have lost 2 lbs. This is big. I am sure it's just the pan of fudge I polished off during the holidays. It's a start though. I am not going to lie to you- it has been hard. I am so use to eating candy on a daily basis. I am totally going through withdrawal. I will carry on-- baby steps, baby steps.

Have a great week!

Happy New Day!!!

Happy New Year- or rather, Happy New Day!!

I have been thinking how we celebrate each new year- a celebration which happens but once a year. We should be celebrating every day. Life is to be lived- lived to the best of our ability. So, instead of a New Year's Resolution Here is my "New Day" resolution. Should I screw up, tomorrow is a new day- a fresh start.

1. Be thankful- every day.
2. Be kind and thoughtful- every day
3. Be respectful- every day
4. Be a better listener- every day
5. Laugh- every day
6. Enjoy life- every day
7. Eat healthy-every day
8. Exercise- every day
[The next two are the most important]
9. Read the Bible -Every day
10. Grow in my walk with the Lord- every day

I am very certain I will screw this up. But like I said, each day is a new beginning. With God all things are possible.

note to self...

You do not need to eat fudge, cookies, cake, Bing bars, toffee etc. everyday for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Your butt has a zip code all it's own. For the love of Pete put the candy down NOW!!

Yes, I have a problem. I am addicted to all things sweet. Unfortunately, I tend to make all sorts of sweet confections over the holiday season. I also have a problem with not letting things go to waste. You'd think I was a depression child. I share my treats but there seems to be an unending surplus of them and I just can't throw them away. I have got to get this problem under control. Baby steps... baby steps.

Hello, I am Robin and I'm a sugaraholic.

A little bit of Smith Christmas coming your way...

Merry Christmas. It is hard to believe it's over. I will say that this year was a top 10-er in my book. Why? Well let me share a little bit of the "Smith" action with you.

First of all, we did not have to go out of town on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. This was delightful. No rush. No packing up the car. No, "Are we there yet?" Pure bliss.

The best part of Christmas was the Christmas Eve church service. It was simple, heartfelt and completely honoring to God. There was a diverse group of people who humbly honored their Savior through, song, dance, the Word and fellowship. I felt such joy- overwhelming joy during the service. My heart was full and what happened during that service was completely Christ- centered. It wasn't about being on stage- it was about honoring Jesus. I was very emotional during the whole service. To be in God's house with fellow brothers and sisters- together- Celebrating the birth of our Savior and just the realness of it was AWESOME.

After church we drove around and looked at Christmas lights. We took our time and really just enjoyed the different displays. The best one, though, was in the western sky. There was a super bright star (or perhaps, Planet) shining so brightly. For the longest time it was shining alone. My kids got all excited and said, "Mom, it's suppose to remind us of the Jesus star." We looked out to the west for the longest time and talked about how wonderful God is.

When we got home, we put on our pj's and headed to the kitchen for a dinner of fun food. We then made our way down to the family room where we watched, "It's a Wonderful Life" and then it was time for a little present action. After that it was off to bed.

The children woke up at the break of dawn. I laid in bed and listened to them as they looked at what Santa had left for them. I listened to them for a good 20 or 3o minutes. It was delightful to hear them in all their excitement. They quietly came back up stairs to get us and we headed downstairs. I started breakfast and coffee then it was time to open gifts. What fun.

Jack was so thrilled with the Indiana Jones toys that he took over 300 pictures of the them with my camera. I am totally serious- over 300 pictures. He also set up a work shop in the basement to do some wood working with his new tools. He built a bench, ramp and some other contraption in record time. Mia began designing wedding gowns with her new ds game and was thrilled to get a sewing machine so she could really make some neat things.

We lounged and enjoyed our day. My mother came later in the afternoon and we had a delightful turkey dinner in the evening. It was wonderful.

Today we went to Gma and Gpa Smith's. We had a great time but the best part was watching Grandpa Larry play Wii bowling. I don't think I have ever seen him have so much fun. It was lovely.

We still have one more family get- together with my side of the family. This will take place next Saturday. We are looking forward to it.

Christmas 2008 has been a good one. But then again, every Christmas is the best because we were given the best gift: Jesus. Cling to that and every day will be Christmas.

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men whom his favor rests." Luke 2:14

Thanks for reading the blog. Merry Christmas and Happy 2009.

Fa la la la la la la la la

Hello there!!

It's time for another list. Things that I enjoy about the holiday season

1. Christmas music- and I mean old classics. My favorite song is Oh, Come All Ye Faithful. The song rocks me to the core. Several years back, on Saturday Night Live, Pavarotti and Vanessa Williams sang it with an all boys choir and it was so very beautiful- It left me in tears.

2. It's a Wonderful Life- Hello! Best movie ever made!! George Bailey reminds me of my Grandpa Charles. I bawl every time I watch it.

3. All the Christmas movies from my childhood-- I remember looking forward to watching them as a child. This was long before the instant gratification of DVD's.

4. Candy and cookies. Delightful with a cup of coffee.

5. Mint flavored coffee beans. My most favorite kind of coffee.

6. Christmas cards and pictures- I love to hear from family and friends.

7. Wrapping gifts= Fun!!

8. The wonderment of the season- I love to hear my kids talk about Christmas- It makes my heart happy.

9. Gatherings with friends and family- The perfect recipe for wonderful memories.

10. Singing Christmas songs- Go tell it on the mountain, friend.

11. Remembering Christmas's past. I could go on about the last 40 but that would take weeks, months, maybe even years. Pure joy. My grand pappy could make everything so magical and wonderful. I miss him a lot.

12. The Christmas story- The REAL Christmas story. The depth of God's love for us is so amazing!! It is the ultimate love story- And we are all part of it. God is so good.

Being Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving!

I think Thanksgiving is a holiday that is somewhat overlooked. It seems like our society goes right from getting all dressed up and going door to door for candy to made rush to buy, wrap, hide and open.
When I was growing up I always looked forward to Thanksgiving. I didn't think ahead to Christmas either- Thanksgiving was the focus. I was excited to be with my family- especially the members I didn't get to see often enough. Good food, good conversation, good company and fun.

Here's a few wonderful thing I remember about Thanksgiving:

Going to Church- Now, I don't believe we did this every year but I do remember going together with the Hansen clan and filling up the entire pew.

My mom would be up early grinding cranberries and walnuts for her delightful cranberry salad mold. This is one of those recipes that you try to duplicate but it never is as good as what you remember it being.

While mom was slaving in the kitchen with coffee in one hand and an unfortunate cig in the other, I would be in the living room glued to the t.v. watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. We lived for it. It was wonderful- bigger than life!! We would rushed to get cleaned up and dressed during commercials because we didn't want to miss a second of the glorious pageantry.

During one of the commercials we would load up in the car and mom would drop us off at Gma and Gpa K's house. We would bound in like a bunch of wild maniacs and ask if the parade was on and had we missed anything spectacular. Gma would be buzzing around her kitchen- I swear that woman had 8 arms or else she was in fast forward. Aunt Opia would be helping her and Gpa and crabby Uncle John would be in the living room watching the parade and patiently waiting for the "big game" to start. At some point my dad would roll in and we would be so thrilled to see him. We ate at 12 sharp and if you weren't there on time they'd start without you- NO LIE!

We'd eat only a little at Gma K's place. We were little punks and we didn't go for the fruit in the stuffing, minced meat pie and various other "old world" favorites. We were also holding back because we knew at 2:30 we'd be heading out the door and walking through the backyard of one set of grandparents to the yard of the other set of grandparents.

The Hansen Family extravaganza was always a surreal affair and I loved it. We walk in and there was laughter, singing and my grandmother yelling at everyone to "get out of my corner or the meal will be ruined." This was followed by, "Charles get in her and slice the turkey before it gets cold." We'd look over at Uncle Mike who would be pretending to read the paper but was really chuckling over how worked up granny was getting. We'd roll our eyes and head down to the basement to play pong or pool. Grandpa was usually hiding out down in the basement watching football and sipping on hot coffee and eating his stash of snacks. He was a grocery store owner so we new he'd always have something fabulous down in his little man cave.

Dinner was always to be at 2:30 but in the land of grandma that usually meant 3 or 3:30. We would be called up for dinner. The adults sat at the big oval table and the kids sat at the kiddie table. Grandpa would say a Danish prayer and then he would pray and Thank God for all the wonderful blessing He'd given us. At that moment, I knew I was so very fortunate and full of contentment. It was Thanksgiving and I was spending with the people I loved most. We'd feast on the most wonderful food. We would laugh and visit. Sing and play. Love was bountiful on that day.

I wish I could show my children what it was like 30- 35 years ago. A time when no one dare put their Christmas decorations up before Thanksgiving. It was a simpler time back then. The push to buy, buy, buy wasn't heard of.

Have a most wonderful Thanksgiving and remember that every day should be a day of giving thanks- God is so good!

A little bit of this and that

Hola!!
Happy Monday. It's been a happy one here. I just got off the phone with my super-cool little sister and she has invited me to join her for a concert on Saturday. What concert you ask? The Eagles!! And we will be enjoying the show in a suite!! Rock On!!

I'm still not done painting the powder room. It is a long, drawn out process which is sad since the room is the size of a small closet. I just keep seeing flaws. I haven't even started on the trim.

I have no self control when it comes to candy and or crabs. For three days straight that was my diet. I finally crash and burned Sunday. I could feel the coma coming on during church. I really tried to follow Pastor's sermon (which was really good. It was totally something I needed to hear) but I felt my eyes going in different directions and my eyelids felt like they had 20 lb. weights on them. I made it home, fed the kids lunch and went to read the Sunday paper. One page in and I was out- for almost 4 hours. CRAZY!!

I am back to work after a week off. It is great to be back at it. I enjoy the people I work with and I love the kids so much.

My friend Joan turned 40 today- Happy Birthday!

My friend Sandy has wrapped up her sub job- You made it!! Yippee!!

My friend Dannika makes the best rolls in the world. She is also the person I want to be when I grow up.

My friend Tawnya is a gracious host.

My friend Stef is someone I don't get to visit near enough.

My friend Serena lives too far away and I miss her.

My friend Charity is advocate for many and I respect her tremendously

I actually found an All- Christmas radio station on Sat. It's only November for Pete's sake-- What's up with that?

My husband is no hunter but has gotten 3 deer in less than 2 years time! All bucks and all with our vehicles. He is a deer magnet.

I might paint my office rhubarb tart or dark bean.

I hate processed foods.

The chemicals in cool whip burn my mouth.

I do not look good in high lights.

I need to order my kids their winter coats.

I really want to read the book, Twilight.

I need coffee- Now!!

It's a small world.

Don't forget to exercise your right to vote-- DO IT!!