Straightening Up!~

I spent the morning taking the Christmas decorations down. The tree, the stockings, the snow village.  So , the house is back to normal now.  I hate leaving it up til after the first of the year.  I don't know why, but it just gets old, I guess. If you think about it, they put the stuff out in October, and leave it out til January on clearance. I just get sick of it by then.  I don't mean that in a Scrooge type way, but seriously. Can you imagine if Easter, or Halloween stuff was out for 3 or 4 months at a  time?  Ugh. 
    I got the kitchen and bathrooms cleaned this morning, too.  Swept. Mopped.  Straightened up.  Trying to get ready for school to start back up.  Hubby will head back to work.  I'm kind of glad.  I mean, I love having him home, but he really does get kind of underfoot.  I was glad that he's taken the boys out to clean up the yard, cut up wood, and do some work!  I have been away from the computer, and I'm behind on writing, blogging, and my FB page.  Having the children off from school, and the hubster home, just kind of makes my schedule all out of whack.  So. That's what's up around here at the Woods Casa.  Hope your holiday was all you wished it would be, and that you are settling back into your life. 2012 is rolling around very soon!  New beginnings, new starts!

Here's to putting it all back together! ~ Ruby Jeanette

Christmas Day~

I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord.

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It's been a long , long time, since we went to church on the actual day of Christmas.  Most times, services are cancelled most places cause they're afraid nobody will come , I guess.  But we went yesterday to the new little church we've been going to for about the last 4 months or so.  It was actually a really nice service.  People seemed sincerely joyous to be celebrating the birth of Our Saviour.  Everyone was dressed in their favorite things, some new, maybe some not.  Everyone was fellowshipping and hugging and smiling.  Everyone sang at their best, and the Christmas carols rang out in the room.  Pastor Steve read God's word, and gave us some great things to think about.  Candy was given to little ones, or maybe a small gift, or card exchanged.  Mostly it was just wonderful to know that we still are able to gather to worship in our own churches, in our own ways for one more year.  It was wonderful to know that we were loved by the Saviour , and genuinely loved by those around us.  All in all, I can't think of the last time I had such a moving experience at church.  I hope all of your holidays were all that you wished them to be, and that the new year holds many blessings for everyone!

Here's to Christmas in the house of the Lord~ Ruby Jeanette

2011 Fantasy GIfts~

It's that time of the year again.  Yes, it's time for Neiman Marcus to share it's fantasy Christmas gifts!  I shared these last year , and thought it'd be great to do it again.  I don't know about you , but I don't know anyone who can afford anything on this list for their loved one, but it's sure fun to read about it, and either marvel at the wonder ,( or the stupidity) of the whole thing! 

Neiman Marcus Fantasy Gifts 2011

1. Dream Yurt with tons of silk throw pillows, linen wall coverings, and a crystal chandelier, installed on your lawn ~ $75,000
2. Custom designed library with all books , decor, floor coverings built on-site  $125,000
3. Trip for 6 to Stone Barns Farm~  $20,000
4. Johnnie Walker Private Scotch Tasting with your own personal bagpipe player~ $5,000
5. Tony Burr Ping Pong Table~ (which they of course , cal a table tennis table) $45,000
6.  Hacker Speed Boat~ $250,000
7. 2012 Ferrari~ $395,000
8. Trip for 9 to Flower Show Internationale, in various places around the world, Rome, London, etc.~ $420,000
And finally the most expensive fantasy Christmas gift this year is drumroll please..........."His" and "Hers" Bellagio-type fountains that move, twist, roll and light up to musical scores, installed on your "estate's" lawn.....   $1, 500,000 !  (Yes, that's 1 million and a half dollars for two fountains!)

So there you go! Whether you wanted to dream or wish for these items, or just wanted to laugh out loud at what some people are willing to pay for things, that's this year's fantasy according to them,anyway!

33~

33~ I turned 33 Friday, and thought it would be great if I could find one thing to be thankful for, for each year I've been alive.  So here are,

Thirty -three things to be thankful for~

1. My salvation
2. My husband
3. My children
4. That both my parents are still with me
5. My house is paid for
6. My vehicle is paid for
7. I am able to teach my children at home
8. I have 5 dogs, one cat, 4 fish, a spider , a turtle , and some chickens who like me
9. I am able to read and enjoy books
10.  I can hear and enjoy music
11.  Clean , fresh sheets to sleep on
12.  Good food
13.  Cold water to drink
14.  A team of doctors I respect
15.  A church family who loves me
16.  My husband is employed
17.  We have enough money to pay our bills
18.  We have a little money for extras
19.  I have 3 sisters that I love
20.  I have three brother in laws who I love
21. I can see and enjoy God's creation
22.  Chocolate cake
23.  Holding someone's hand
24. Hugs!
25.  Classic Christmas movies
26.  The smell of pine cones
27.  A little boys smile
28.  Knowing that you got someone the perfect gift
29.  Waking up to see the sun rise
30.  Seeing the sunset
31.  309 Face Book friends
32.  Living one day at a time
33.  and finally, NOT knowing what tomorrow will hold!

Get Your Busy On~

Ooooooh, I'm behind, behind, behind!  I have tried to post here, on FB, on my new blog, on my new Lupus FB page, and I am seriously behind!  But , let's see.   I have been kind of busy.  I've made about 8 dozen chocolate chip cookies, 4 gallons of home made laundry soap, cooked 3 or 4 meals a day , done school work, library visits, Christmas shopping, Christmas decorating, cleaned house, done seemingly endless loads of laundry, had a couple of doctor visits, tended animals, regular church , and so on and so on.  I 'm just about ready for it to be new year's so I kind of get a break before March.  My husband, my Dad, AND my Mom's birthdays are all in March, so the merry go round starts all over again.  And home school testing is in April, so we have crunch time on account of that.  Whew. I'm tired just thinking about it!  Anybody who thinks motherhood is NOT a full time job, needs to try it for a day or two. Of course, I then see some of my friends posts on FB , and they add in full time job, full time student, and their kids public school events to their schedule also.  Wow. 
   With all this going on lately, I wonder why I haven't had time to write anything ?   Ha! 
So, anyway.  I 'm here wishing everyone a blessed holiday season.  Hope you are able to spend it with the people you love most!

Ruby Jeanette

Blue Tuesday?~

Did you ever have "one of those days"?  You know where the minute you hit the floor (late ! late!), that you just know the day will not get any better from there ?  Usually it's Monday, right? Nope. That's me, today.  Both the boys had dental work done yesterday, and then we had youth rally for church last night.  So, today we overslept, and both the boys are being complete grouches today.  Usually they get along really well, but today it has been fuss, fuss, nag, nag, pick,pick, pick at each other, until I just want to snatch them baldheaded.  Plus, I was stressed out from yesterday's dentist visit, I didn't sleep well last night, so I am running on empty and it's only 11 o'clock.  Whew.
  But you know what they say , life is 10 percent what happens to you, and 90 percent of how you REACT to what happens to you. So I'm trying to get my REACT-or in gear today, and change my attitude.  It can be tough sometimes. You know when you get in that "funk" in your brain, how it can be hard to turn it off, or turn it around to the positive.  So, that's my goal for today. Turn my brain funk around.  Maybe if I keep telling myself that, I'll feel better by the end of the day!  Hope you are all having a good one!

Homemade for the Holidays~

Well, Christmas is sneaking ever nearer now.  I know it comes the same time every year, but every year I find myself unprepared, again!  There just seems to be so much to do, and so little time to do it.  Every year I swear I'm going to have shopped all year so I'm covered, and every time, I end up rush Christmas shopping. 
  I think this year, I may make homemade gifts for Christmas, like cookies or candy.  I remember our favorite neighbors growing up, Tommy and Fayne Verdon, use to make us a homemade gift every year. A cedar jewelry box, a big wagon of blocks, a checkers board and checkers.  Oh, and Fayne made this fabulous peanut brittle! She brought me some when I had the chicken pox, when I was about 4 or 5.  I remember thinking , "Chicken pox couldn't be all bad , if you got to eat peanut brittle on account of it! 
  It's funny how most people these days think you have to spend a huge amount of money for the gift to be appreciated, when the gifts I remember most did not cost much at all.  It really IS the thought that counts, I think!

Here's to adding a little more home-made , to our holidays~ Ruby Jeanette

Morals from the Muppets~

We are enjoying watching holiday and Christmas movies.  We 've watched The Nightmare before Christmas, The Grinch who Stole Christmas, and The Muppet Christmas Carol.  I guess the  Muppets is one of my favorites.  Michael Caine, to me is the perfect Scrooge.  When I was young I had a hard time understanding how Scrooge could be so terrible. But if you watch the Muppet movie, it puts it before you in a way that you can't help but understand.  Would Christmas be the same to you or me, if we spent every one alone, as a child?  Or if our beloved left us on Christmas?  If we grew up that way, would we feel the same about the holidays? 
  It became easy for me to see that Scrooge felt it much easier to keep people away, then to risk being hurt again.  How simple it would be to feel that way. I don't have to let people in, and so that way no one can make me feel pain.  If I hurt them first, they can't hurt me in return.  I wonder how many of the people we see in town, and different places at the holidays, are the same?  What great hurt have they experienced to make them feel that way?  If we look at them through the eyes of Christ, what would we see? 


Just a thought, in case you run into a Scrooge~ Ruby Jeanette

The Scrapbook~

Large scrapbooks.
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Do you have a large scrapbook?  I do.  I have several. I never really thought about it before, but their presence in my shelf is a reason for gratitude.  Why, you ask?  Well.  Having one, even most people can say, I have one scrapbook. Or, I have enough good memorable moments to fill one.  But I have several.  As in 5 or 6.  I have enough memories, good memories to fill 5 or 6!
   Moments of my own, my husband's and my children.  Fun moments, silly moments, joyful moments, even a few serious moments, like births of children, or christenings.  Pictures of me , before I was fat, and while I was fat, and now that I'm in the middle.  Pictures of my husband with long hair, short hair, and (GASP!) thinning hair, lol!  Pictures of my children , their ultrasound ones,  their birth ones, and pictures of them growing taller and taller.  Pictures of pets recent, and pets gone on.  Nearly all my past and present life captured between the pages. 
  I wonder if God keeps a scrapbook for each of us?  Does he take His snapshots of memorable places in our lives, and tag them, with captions for the photos?  Does He take them out, so to speak, and look at them and smile?  Do I have any moments for God's great scrapbook?  Do I have anything He looks at with a smile and says,  " I remember that day!  You helped that person, even though you thought no one saw."  or  "I remember this!  Look! You learned to dust yourself off after falling!  I was so proud!".
  Oh, let it be true, I pray! I pray that I have earned at  least a couple of pages in God's great scrapbook, that I may one day hear Him say , "Well done.  Well done."

Here's to knowing what really matters~ Ruby Jeanette

Information Overload~

I'm reading a really interesting book right now.  It's called Gangs of New York, and is the basis for the movie of the same name, by Martin Scorcese. The book was written by  Herbert Asbury, in 1928, and tells of the notorious Five Points area in New York city. 

  I guess I find it so interesting because it reads like a modern day thriller crime novel, except the events are real.  I know there have been a lot of people saying they think the world is WAY more terrible now, and wishing we could get back to "the good ole days".  Well, all I can say is they need to read this book.

  Let's see.......murder?  Check.  Thievery, abundant?   Check.  Rampant abortion?  Check, for that too.  Muggings, rape, cons, scams, violence, even the ministers were in on it!  Sound familiar?  A whole bar full of transsexuals, open homosexuality, people using drugs in public, and the government and police supported it all!  Do we know any places like that now?  Well, sure! 

  Solomon tells us in Proverbs, there is nothing new under the sun.  It's all been here before. It's just been so long ago , that no one is now alive to remember it.  So I have a theory , on why the world seems so much more scary.  We hear about it every where. It's on TV and the internet, and our phones, and in the car, the newspapers, everywhere!  The news is fast , now. Instantly nearly!  As Mark says, a squirrel toots in Asia, and we know about it 5 seconds later it seems.  Used to be, something might happen on the other side of the country, and we might not know about it until 3 or 4 months later.  So, it's information overload.  A constant bombardment of negativity, all day every day. 

  Now, I must say I do believe the world to be in a sorry state.  And I do believe the  Lord will come back soon, but I believe it's more because the prophecies in the Bible, not because of the shape of the world.  The world has always been in a sorry shape.  That's just the truth of it!  But I'm not going to go around , "The sky is falling!  The sky is falling!", I'm just going to live every day I get to the way I think the Lord would have me to , and let Him take care of the details.  I think it's better that way.

Here's to trusting in the "bigger" plan~ Ruby Jeanette

Like a Duck~

I can hear reasonably well, I can see, I can eat anything that doesn't bite me, I may waddle like a duck, but I can still walk, so I 'm in pretty good shape.  

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I went to the Extension Homemakers party last night.  For those of you who don't know what that is, it's a women's organization devoted to making and keeping a home, charity, education, and just general togetherness of community , home and world.  I've been a member since 2005, and enjoy being part of it. 

   Last night , the ladies were all in fine form.  I am the youngest member to say the least , as everyone else is over the age of 55. Some over the age of 65, and the majority of them over the age of 75.  The quote you see at the top is from one my fellow members.  Let's just say she's over 75 , and leave it at that shall, we?  She has an amazing positive attitude, and I am  always on pins and needles waiting to hear what she will say next!  But , if you think about it, how many of us could learn from the quote at the top?  Can you hear "reasonably well"?  Great!  You're not deaf.  Add that to your list of things to which you are thankful.  Can you see?  Awesome!  Plus one, for your list.   Can you eat anything that doesn't bite you?  Fabulous!  You're up to three things already.  Do you waddle like a duck?  Who cares!  You are still mobile!  Walking is a privilege denied a great many, and we should add that to our list!  Alrighty then , we've got hearing , seeing, enjoying food and walking.  We're in pretty good shape, don't you think?  Yeah. Me too.

Here's to the wisdom of the elderly~ Ruby Jeanette

Broken~

Music difficulty. I am currently experiencing trouble with my playlist player on my blog. If you miss the music I am trying to get it fixed. If you don't miss it, then enjoy the silence, until I get it fixed, lol.  Sorry, I like music ! Thanks everyone for reading, tuning in , and your patience!   :)

Two Sides~

It's the good girls who keep diaries. The bad girls never have the time.  ~ Tallulah Bankhead
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I was just having a discussion with a friend of mine about blogs.  I love doing mine , and finding new material everyday is fun.  A blog is really like an online diary that EVERY one can read.  I remember my aunt telling me about a certain pair of boys finding her diary when she was young, and gleefully reading it aloud.  She was horrified!  I guess that might be some people's thoughts on  a blog, your thoughts out there for the whole world to see?  And read?  And discuss?  But, I don't really mind. Although I guess according to this quote, I must be a good girl.  I have two blogs, so does that make me TWICE as good? 
   The discussion my friend and I were having was about dual personalities.  Do you think everyone has one?  Is there a public face you show, and a private person you keep only for and to yourself?  Do you think you are the same person all the time?  I used to think I was the same person all the time, presenting the same face to everyone, and I still think it's true.  But I AM discovering that I have more than one DIMENSION to my personality.  I am positive and upbeat.  I love making people laugh.  I love optimistic quotes, and inspirational stories.  But I AM also sarcastic. I like being snarky, (sometimes).  I like to play practical jokes, ( that does not sit well with everyone!)  I also know that not all the world is nice, and that people can sometimes not be trusted.  Lest anyone think I'm a total Pollyanna, I know that bad things happen sometimes to good people.  I just choose not to use that as my focus here.
   So, you decide.  Does that make me two-faced?  I don't think so.  I think it makes me complicated.  And like life, sometimes complications can be fun.  Sometimes they can be difficult.  Sometimes complications are even funny.  But  they almost always keep life interesting.  I hope the ones who know me , can say that , too.

P.S. Here's my other side~ therubybutterfly.wordpress.com
Here's to finding more out about yourself~ Ruby Jeanette