The Day After

Well... My Christmas started out great... We all woke up to see what Santa brought us, opened our gifts, and got the day started.

Around 10:30 or so I started feeling funny. By 11:30 I had a fever of about 102 and really bad stomach cramps... By 2:00, I was throwing up and the other side was working just as well. I slept in my sister's bed all day 'til finally around 5:30, I asked them to take me home.

I missed all the fun and the big dinner that night. Around 10:30pm, my mom brought me some meds to knock me out for the night along with a Mountain Dew. I continued to sleep all night and most of the morning today. I still don't feel great, but better than yesterday.

Because I was sick, I also missed my annual shopping day with my good friend Dennis. We look so forward to going this day every year, and it was a no go this year. :0(

It is the weirdest sickness I have ever had. Yesterday morning I felt fine when I woke up, and in just a matter of hours I could not move. I hadn't had anything to eat since the night before.... and as of right now (5:24 pm on the 26th) I still haven't eaten. Maybe I will be able to hold down some dinner. Wish me luck.... and Merry "day after" Christmas

Dec. 25th

Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!

Tell me what Santa brought you!!!

Christmas with the Family

Sunday I got to spend the afternoon having Christmas with my dad's side of the family. For those of you who come from a split family, you know all to well how it is to deal with dual Christmas parties, juggling which family to see and how long to stay....ugh... I hate it... It was so hard as a kid. I never wanted to hurt any one's feelings...

It is not any easier as an adult. But now at least I have my own car and can go and come as I please. the only good thing about it is the extra gifts you seemed to get. That was more so as a kid though... Not so much as an adult.

This past Sunday was the first one of the family gatherings. It was on my dad's side. I got some pics of my sister Jessica, my brother-in-law to be Kyle, and my nephew Colt. Not sure how my dad got left out of the pics... He was sitting right beside me. I guess that's what happens when there is a baby having his first Christmas. Enjoy some pics below. Even thought Colt looks deathly afraid in the pic, he seemed to like me most of the time.

Winter Break

Shhhhhh...... Can you hear it???..... It is the collective scream of joy from every teacher for the relaxation that is flowing through their bodies right now..... Words cannot express the excitement that is before me as I think about 2 weeks off from school. I LOVE my job, do NOT get me wrong, but every one loves time off.

I only have one thing to do today, so the rest of the day will be spent sitting around and enjoying my house. What do you do when you stay home all day? I cannot decide if I want to clean, organize, get involved in a TV marathon, or watch a season of Mama's Family on DVD...

Help me decide... Don't worry, if you don't decide today.... I HAVE TOMORROW TOO!!!!!!!!!!! and the next day, and the next day, and the next day, and the next.....etc. etc.

BB's Christmas Card!

Look at this card. Their faces are priceless!!!! I LOVE IT!

My BB is Here!!!

Yesterday I got to go see Taylor in her first school Christmas program. I am so glad I got to go. It was a surprise for her and when she walked out on stage she told the friend next to her, "My BB is here!!!" I almost cried!!! Below is a pic from after the program. Notice the little shirt her class made for the program. I love it.

One more thing... If you hear a loud screaming sound today around 2:30 over Spartanburg, that will be me as I let out a scream of joy regarding the beginning of Winter Break! Please do not be alarmed!

Jed Claus

I think this pic tells the story. I was the big guy today for the senior citizens at a local nursing home. The staff from my school went caroling there and needed a Santa. It was a blast!!! Hope this picture makes your Christmas a bit more festive!!!

Christmas at Bethlehem Gultch

Come see Matt and I in our church Children's Play tonight!!!!!!!!! It is gonna be great!!!!!!   Email me for details!!!!!

12 Days of Christmas

Since today is the official kick off to the 12 days of Christmas, I thought I would post this history of the 12 Days of Christmas that I got from an email. Not sure if it is true... But I liked it... 12 days and counting...

Partridge in a Pear Tree= Jesus

2 Turtle Doves= Old and New Testaments

3 French Hen= Faith, Hope, and Love

4 Calling Birds= 4 Gospels; Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John

5 Golden Rings= The Torah, which is the first 5 books of the O.T.

6 Geese a Laying= 6 Days of Creation

7 Swans a Swimming= Sevenfold Gifts of the Holy Spirit; Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy

8 Maids a Milking= 8 Beatitudes

9 Ladies Dancing= Fruit of the Spirit; Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control

10 Lords a Leaping= 10 Commandments

11 Pipers Piping= 11 Faithful Disciples

12 Drummers Drumming= 12 Points of Belief in the Apostles Creed

I'm 2 Years Old Today!!!!

Today my blog turns 2 years old... I remember the day I started it... I had no idea what kind of hobby was about to develop. Go read it here.

Since I am officially 2 years old... I would love to hear some blog well wishes... What was your favorite blog... your funniest blog... your most inspirational blog????

I am looking forward to your comments. Emails are welcome to AR, GK, and TC. I know how yall hate to comment.... You too SD and CG (sisters)!

Have you ever.... (Christmas Edition)

Have you ever been decorating the tree and your lights go out after you are all done?

Have you ever been buying a present for someone and they walked by and saw it in your buggy?

Have you ever been cooking a Christmas dinner only to realize you put double the amount of rice than the recipe called for and it tasted like you put nuts in there?

Have you ever given someone the best gift... then they got 2 of them that year and had to take yours back?

Have you ever got a fruitcake and acted like you were thankful for it?

Have you ever regifted  a Christmas present.... in the same year.... or the next?

Have you ever pretended to know a Christmas Carol when you are singing at church?

Have you ever cried at a silly Christmas movie then lied about it? (I cried at ELF!!! I know it's ridiculous.)

Have you ever been "Christmas Light Looking" and rolled down your windows so you could hear?

Have you ever mailed some a Christmas Card only because they mailed you one?

Tell me readers... Come Clean... Confess your Christmas Follies!!!!

A Lesson From the Computer

You may not know this, but every now and then if you clean up your computer it will run a lot better. 

Cleaning up your computer means getting rid of all the junk that is on there that doesn't need to be... You know... the files you keep thinking you are gonna use but never do... the pics that are all messed up but you save them just in case... the game software that you used to play... the digital scrapbook program that you never used because you just like to cut and paste with real paper... the ring tone software that you used one time to get your favorite song on your phone... all the folders of internet trash that clogs you up behind the scenes that you don't even know is there...

As I was cleaning up my computer yesterday I had this thought.

Cleaning up life will make you run a lot better too... Learn to say no... rest... listen to jazz instead of watching TV... go to bed early... eat less... pray more... worry less... visit people more... share things... 

Wow... that sounds awful grown up... Am I growing??? YIKES!!!!!

A Neat Story

The other day Matt ran into an old friend of ours. The guy asked about Operation Christmas Child, and if we were still packing shoe boxes.  Of course Matt told him yes, and the guy pulled out 40 dollars and said pack some boxes for me. 

Well, we have already taken them from the church, but we are going back to the warehouse on Saturday, so.... I just figured we could take them then.

Rewind to a week ago..... An all boys group that I am helping out with needed a service project. I suggested OCC... They loved the idea and started collecting stuff for the boxes. There are 11 boys in the group so our goal was to get enough stuff for 11 boxes.

Today they turned their stuff in. I was so proud of all they brought... and it was good stuff, but they only brought enough for 7 boxes... 

Amazingly and Divinely however, I just happened to have 40 dollars that someone donated for shoe boxes... I can fill a box for 10 dollars... sooooo...

7 boxes... plus 40 dollars = 4 more boxes... which equals 11 boxes total...for 11 boys who were wanting to fill boxes.... WOW!!!!

Ain't He just Good!!!

First Gift of the Year

Tonight, even though I am coughing and hacking like a dog... I went to the my first staff Christmas party for the school I am at this year... We had so much fun!!! 

My table of course was the rowdy table.  We had a vigorous, and sometimes heated, white elephant, dirty Santa, Chinese swap, whatever you call it, gift exchange and I walked away with my first present of the season. It is a snowman candy dish. It was actually the gift I wanted out of all 35 gifts that were there... Our table helped each other out, and we all pretty much got what we wanted. Good job guys!!!

Great Friends

I have some great friends that I work with... Today 2 of them specifically did some really nice things for me....

One of them read my ABC blog below and learned that I LOVED the Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes. So, she bought me some and put the on my computer at school. She knew that I had been a bit under the weather this week and wanted to cheer me up!!! Wasn't that nice! Thanks a ton for that pick me up... I needed it as we make it through the next 13 days.

The other, was a 1 of 2 of the greatest friends ever that I went to dinner with before a school function tonight... We went to a Mexican restaurant and I got adventurous and ordered something different. When I got my food, I was very disappointed and did not like it at all. So, one of the friends offered me her plate and took mine. She had something she thought I would like better. Wasn't that nice!!! 

What are some of the best things your friends have ever done for you? I would love to hear about them...

One more thing... I have a great roommate too... He grabbed a box of Christmas Tree cakes for me at the grocery store too!

Trim The Trees and the House!!!

Here are some pics of my Christmas decorations. Below is the living room. Had I turned the TV off this would have been card worthy. Maybe I will take another.

This is a new tree this year. My mom had this 9 footer in her attic that she wasn't using so I scarfed it up and put it to good use. This is my spare bedroom that I turned into a movie room, that is now a Christmas room... It looks really good in that big window... You'll see it at the bottom.

This is the tree in my bedroom. It is one of those slim line trees. I got it a few years ago for really cheap at the day after sales.

Here is my house from the outside. Yet again, this one would be better without the kitchen light on... but here it is nonetheless. Next year I am thinking icicles are on the way...

Merry Christmas!