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