A Little Closer to 50!

Whew, with all the excitement of Christmas and Abigail's birthday you would think we could wait a bit for the next family holiday.  But the calendar would indicate it's my birthday!  I've never been real thrilled about the whole Christmas birthday thing, but I have to say this year knowing Caleb would be home for my birthday because of Christmas break made it a little more enjoyable. 

As always, the day began with breakfast in bed.  Yes, the whole family in one bed enjoying breakfast and opening presents.  Later in the day my mom and Bob called to sing me Happy Birthday!  I love the family traditions. 

A good name is better than precious ointment,

    and the day of death than the day of birth.

Esslesiastes 7:1

My Birthday Girl

It seems almost unfathomable that our baby girl is fifteen!  When we relocated to Texas she was ten months old, it seems like we only blinked twice and now she's a beautiful young lady!  As our tradition, her birthday breakfast was served in bed, but because it's Sunday it was a little earlier than usual! 

Her breakfast of choice was sausage balls and Pawpa's hot cocoa, an excellent choice!  Her gifts included a little reading material, a video or two, some geek-dom and a little bling! 

From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad;

9 

    daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor. Psalm 45:8-9

Books, Puzzles, and Games, Oh my!

Today was a refreshingly quiet day sprinkled with books, puzzles and board games. The girls spent several days working on beautiful New England seascape, one thousand piece puzzle.  All three kids broke out some of their new books.  I think Caleb made it through 900 pages today! The kids also taught Jon how to play Munchkin while Padme' broke in her new Nylabone.  The best part about the day after Christmas is snacking on the left overs and having absolutely nothing pressing! 

Better is a dry morsel with quiet

    than a house full of feasting with strife.  Proverbs 17:1

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning is so much more enjoyable now that the kids don't get up quite so early.  Frankie still wrote her letter to Santa last night and left out cookies with a diet Dr. Pepper.  For the first time ever, Padme' walked up to the two peanut butter cookies on Santa's plate, sniffed them, and proceeded to eat them!  Padme' has never done that before but even in the last few months as she has gotten older, she has become a little more cantankerous.  It was funny because I happened to be up helping Santa fill the stockings and looked over to see that Santa's plate was empty and covered in slobber, suspiciously Santa was still sound asleep in bed! 

Deliver my soul from the sword,

    my precious life from the power of the dog!

Psalm 22:20

A Very Gungan Christmas

Today the kids took their annual visit to see the big guy in red.  This makes about a decade of Santa pictures together. We found a little time for catching up as we walked through the mall.  

The gift exchange between the kids has always been a great time.  When they were younger there were Christmases filled with Nerf guns, or the year of light sabers, or the year of marshmallow shooters.  This year with Caleb and Richard being roommates it was funny to see Caleb's gift from Richard included toothpaste because apparently Richard doesn't want Caleb borrowing his toothpaste.  And part of Caleb's gift to Richard included deodorizers for his shoes!  They crack me up! 

The best part of being together was listening to the boys tell stories on each other and each trying to defend themselves!   

We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.  Romans 8:28

The Force Awakens

When you ask, 'who wants to see the new Star Wars movie' the response is an incredible, who doesn't!  today we joined twenty five plus homeschooling friends for the matinee showing. The Duncan's drove down from Ada to join us which made it extra special.  I can't tell you the number of light saber wars the kids have had together.  We've had field trips to the Fort Worth Museum of Science for a Star Wars exhibit when the kids were young. 

The movie did not disappoint!  Oh, except for that part where. . . (spoiler!)  Anyway, I remember seeing the first Star Wars movie when I was ten years old.  When the prequel came out, Jon and I took Frankie and BJ to see it and I was pregnant with Caleb.  The first time I felt him move was during the light saber battle in Episode I.   It was wonderful to have Caleb home to enjoy this together with other really special friends.   I know we will see this one again! 

After the movie we hung out at Cici's where the kids could enjoy lunch and discuss their favorite parts of the movie.  The hottest topic was, 'who is Rey?' argued out by head cannon Kenobi and head cannon Skywalker.  

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  Ephesians 6:12

The Story of Ehud

Every Sunday after church is Bible Bowl practice, today Caleb presented the lesson of Ehud to the kids. Caleb has always enjoyed the story of the left-handed judge. After Caleb presented the lesson we played a few rounds of Jeopardy to see what the kids remembered.  It was wonderful to have Caleb home to present the lesson and the younger kids love having him in class.  They kids tried to stump Caleb with questions.  Caleb and the older boys all covered the Joshua, Judges & Ruth stories when they were in 3rd grade.  This is one of those stories that isn't told in a regular Bible class but is always a favorite with the boys. Something about stabbing the king, the guards think he's in the bathroom, dung coming out, defiantly not your typical Bible story.  

Then the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, and the Lord raised up for them a deliverer, Ehud, the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, a left-handed man. Judges 3:15

Texas Legends Basketball

Thanks to our friends the Windons, tonight we attended our first Texas Legends basketball game. The Texas Legends are an American professional basketball team based in Frisco, Texas.  They play in the Central Division in the NBA Development League (NBA D-League), a minor league basketball organization. The Legends play their home games in the Dr. Pepper Arena and are affiliated with the Dallas Mavericks. 

With the release of the new Star Wars movie, the players came on the court tonight through a line of light sabers.  Tonight they played Reno and won 124 to 111.  Jon, Caleb and I have been to a few Dallas Mavericks game but I think this was the first basketball game for the girls.  The team is new and building up a following so tickets are reasonable and it was a fun family evening! 

O you strong man. He will seize firm hold on you and whirl you around and around, 

and throw you like a ball into a wide land.  Isaiah 22:17-18

Touring the AT&T Performing Arts Building

The AT&T Performing Arts Center is one of the prettiest buildings in the Dallas Arts District.  It is home to the Dallas Opera and we've been to many performances at this venue.  I've always wanted to do a backstage tour.  They host tours once per month allowing guests to tour the main portions of the building: the theater, guest boxes, etc. But only once per year, during the holidays do they permit tours backstage.

Today Frankie, Caleb and I went behind the curtain to see the green room, the massive back stage and holding areas.  The most fascinating portion was the elevated orchestra section. apparently operas are composed to be performed with the orchestra at a very specific distance from the performers.  The Elevated orchestra floor can be moved up and down with 1/32nd of an inch to ensure the composers desired sound level.  

Because operas are performed without microphones everything in the building is designed for the highest sound quality from the specific density of the cushions on the chairs to the gold plating on the front of the balconies. 

Russell Read the VP of Operations for the AT&T Performing Arts Center was back stage today overseeing preparations for this evenings performance of Jersey Boys, and he stepped in to give a personal touch to our tour.  The tours generally run 45 minutes, however he brought our group out on the stage with the set of Jersey Boys, and even gave us some insights on lighting, sound and pyrotechnics in the building. 

We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain Hebrews 6:19

Drama Club Christmas Party

It's that time of year for all the Christmas festivities to begin!  Today was the Christmas party for the high school Drama Club.  Caleb was invited to join in the fun.  The kids broke up into groups for a little Karaoke.  Each team had to choreograph dance mores and actions to assigned Queen songs.   Abigail's group performed to 'Find Somebody to Love,' and Caleb's group got, "We Are the Champions.'

One of the favorite events every year is the white elephant gift exchange.  The kids can select a gift from the pile or steal someone else's gift.   Abigail came home with a Taylor Swift calendar and Caleb received/stole a Shakespeare insults mug.  So much fun!  Love our PEACH homeschool group! 

An evil man is ensnared in his transgression,

    but a righteous man sings and rejoices.

Proverbs 29:6