Worth every penny

That would be our new Canon Rebel XS SLR camera! I absolutely L O V E it! I didn't realize how terrible the pictures that our old digital camera took were until I saw what a nice camera can do. Here are some of the first pics taken with it!

Twilight - crack for teenage girls (ok, and grown women)

I wasn't gonna do it. I avoided all the hype about the Twilight series, convinced that books written to the teenage girl audience wouldn't live up to my idea of good reading. But, thanks to a group of BZ friends I read with, I gave it a try.
So, ok, I was mostly wrong. I just finished the last book Breaking Dawn, and I totally loved it! Out of the four books in the series, there was only one I didn't love (New Moon), but I realize now that it was necessary. I guess there's not really a point to this post, just looking for a way to stretch the subject out a little further, now that I'm done! Sigh.
Check out my "Recently Read" list for some other suggested reading...

Idolatry

Today marks a remarkable occasion - the inauguration of our first African-American president. I wholeheartedly hope that President Obama can live up to his promises, to what everyone in this country now holds their breath for him to do. Truly. For the sake of my future and that of my children, I do not want to watch him fail. So don't mistake what I am about to say as a lack of support for our new president, pessimism, or even bitterness or resentment for him winning the election. Those emotions are not there.

But I'll tell 'ya, the first thing that came to mind when I saw this picture was Exodus 20: 4-5 "You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them..."

I look at the footage of his ceremony, of the crowd of nearly 2 million people who are watching, chanting his name. The people who came from far and wide to witness this historic event, to share in the feeling of hope and show their support. Little dots as far as the eye can see. I am awe-struck. What does that feel like, I wonder, walking down that red-lined aisle to face them all? I can't imagine. I also can't imagine what he has done to deserve that. Has he earned that adoration? I mean, really? I don't think so, or that McCain would, or Hillary Clinton, or Sarah Palin, or even Dave Matthews (and you all know how I feel about him!), or anyone else at the beginning of their new job. He is only human. Obama has yet to do anything but play a good game and win the world's biggest popularity contest. He is a politician, after all, and the proof is in the pudding. 8 years from now, if this country is in a time of peace and our economy has recovered, I will be happy to stand in a croud of 2 million and give my appreciation. I hope I can. When he has earned it.

Resolutions

New Years resolutions are famous for being forgotten about by February, and my own resolutions in years past are no exception. I can't even remember what I resolved to do in 2008. As chiche' as it is, this year I really want to lose some weight - about 15 pounds to be specific. I know now that my days of the baby weight just falling off (as it did with the girls) are over, as are the "eat whatever I want" days. I had to work to lose the baby weight after Jacob was born, and even then I never lost that last little bit. (And, unfortunately, since then I've gained a little of it back). My goal going in to '09 is to lose 15 pounds by my wedding anniversary - May 12th. I'm hoping that by committing it to writing, I will be more likely to follow through. Wish me luck!

Christmas, part 3

Between Brian and I, we are blessed to have lots of family. Christmas Eve we spent with Brian's mom - they have traditionally opened gifts that night and spent Christmas Day in celebration. Christmas Day is spent with my mom and Brian's dad, and then this year my dad was in town as well. He and my step-mom came over yesterday to spend some time with us and the kids, as well as open gifts and stuff our faces! Here are some pics from yesterday:

My dad and Jacob

Jacob with my step-mom

One of the many times Audrey climbed into Grampy's lap

And I just wanted to share this one, which Brian calls Jacob's MySpace pic

Merry Christmas!

I hope you had a nice day with your families! We sure did. Here are some pics:

Jacob on his little quad

The girls on their new scooters from Nana

So much for his little quad!

Terese is an excellent driver :)

And me driving Audrey's scooter the rest of the way to the park, she wasn't quite ready for hers yet. I'm sure it was quite amusing to watch.

What Christmas is really about

An online friend of mine shared this with me, and I was very touched by it so I thought I'd post it here. (Hi Krissy, hope you don't mind!) I had been looking for the words to express how I feel about the spirit of giving, but was at a loss of how to do that in a meaningful way. Each of us has needed help at some point, and we should never forget what that feels like. This Christmas, along with many other things, I am thankful for my friends - including those I've never met in person :)
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We adopted a family this year. It was so overwhelming but so wonderful.
This little boy (a 7 year old~ Caleb's age!) and his 31 year old mother left the abusive father for a better life. But now have nothing. NOTHING.
This precious child asked for gloves, a mattress for his bed and underwear. I can not even wrap my brain around the fact that a 7 year old wants such things. Caleb has a glimmer of how fortunate he is now after learning what this child WANTED. Not toys, not games.... gloves and underwear.
Needless to say, we got him the gloves and underwear and a lot of other things. I would have bought the store if we could have. I was really torn because I wanted to do so much more but money is terribly limited this year.
For the mother, we bought her necessitities and then a lot of goodies like lotions, fuzzy slippers, perfumes and other things to remind her how special she is. And I cleaned out my closet and gave her two big bags full of pants, sweaters, pajamas and all sorts of things that would hopefully help her.
On Saturday, Caleb and I drove into downtown (B A D area) to drop off all of our items for this family. Originally, we were to deliver to the family but after researching, Jamie and I decided the area was not a safe area to visit. So we dropped off at our adoption spot and they delivered.
When we dropped off, we realized we were blocks from their home. So we drove by. I literally had a sick feeling in my stomach to know that not only a human being lived in that home but a child. A child the same age as my son. I can not even begin to describe what it looked like. I have seen poor areas before and this area truly did not compare. It was beyond what you are thinking right now. Much worse.

But out front of this home that looked as though it would fall over if leaned against, was a tricycle that I can imagine this 7 year old riding. Way too small for him but I'm sure he is ever grateful for it anyway. And there was a snowman. It had one enormous body with stick arms and a tiny head on top of his body. Obvious construction of a child. I had visions of this HAPPY child making due with what he has and playing with what he can. As horrible of a neighborhood, this snowman and tricycle made me smile. Especially knowing that inside that house was a home for this boy with a loving mother who is protecting him.

Today, we got a Christmas card from this family. They sent us a card!!!! The minute I saw the return address I started bawling. Caleb ran over and we read the card together.
All it said was "God Bless You". All written in a childs handwriting.
THAT made our Christmas complete. Not that it wasn't worth while in the first place, I'd do it again tomorrow with no thank you at all. But that card will always remind us what Christmas is really about.