SURPRISE!!! SNOW DAY, THE SEQUEL...Feb. 8, 2010

Imagine my surprise when I let Jacye out on Monday morning at 5:10 am!! You see, Sunday night before I went to bed, Norman said to me after listening to the 10 o'clock news,"You may not be able to go to school tomorrow." To which I said, "What?!" It seems that they were predicting rain turning to snow by the afternoon on Monday. I remember thinking, "Oh great, it will be a mess trying to get all the kids home if we have to call off school once we get there." So, I went to bed, not really believing we would have snow.
I wake at my normal 5 am and immediately received a text from Alison saying, "I hope you will be closed today too."
I sent back, "Why, is it snowing?"
She said, "Are you kidding?" No, I was not kidding because I had not even looked out the window.
Before I could respond to her text, I get a call from my superintendent saying we needed to send out the word, we were going to be closed. Wow! It must have really snowed for him to be calling me this early. I am now wide awake and shift into alert mode. I started getting the info out on Facebook, texts and through emails about our school being closed. Then I went to let Jacye out. What a surprise to see all this snow! I loved it!

Later in the morning, Jacye is sitting in her usual position watching for squirrels. She looks like she is wanting to go outside.


Norman decides to make a snowman



The finished product of his labor in the cold.

This is what it was looking like around 1 PM. Huge snowflakes and more snow piling up!





At this point we have 4 inches on our back picnic table.


Norman takes down my empty bird feeders so I can refill them. Look at how the snow is coming down!

Notice I said BIRD FEEDERS, but look who was hogging all the food! Yes, Mr. Squirrel
while the beautiful cardinal was waiting his turn.

What a wonderful surprise day off. Totally unexpected. Fortunately we had enough food and necessities in the house since we were caught off guard by this snow. And from the sounds of the predictions, we could be out again tomorrow because of the re-freezing causing icy, treacherous road conditions. Woo Hoo! Gotta love the weather in Arkansas!

SNOW DAY!!!

YEAH!!! THE WEATHER MAN WAS RIGHT!
They had been forecasting all week that Thursday night into Friday was going to bring a pretty strong Winter storm for most of the northern half of the state of AR. I stayed up late Thursday night (10:30 PM in hopes of things starting early so I would not have to wonder and wake up early on Friday to see if indeed we were going to get a Snow Day.) But, to my dismay, nothing was going on or at least nothing significant. Since Little Rock is right in the middle we are always on the edge of the line of the snow. Most times we get the ice and sleet and only a minimal amount of snow. This storm was to be no different. So, I went to bed to dream of snow and getting a day off. I got up at my normal time, 5 AM and looked out the window..nothing! Aghhh! So, decided that I may as well go on and begin the readying process for the day because my superintendent usually doesn't call before 5:45 AM and if I waited that long, I would be very late getting to school. However, at 5:05 I got a call from him. He decided it was just too risky. Even though nothing was happening at that point, the temp was hovering at 31 degrees and it was raining. The forecast was for the temp to continue to fall and precipitation was to be 100% for the day. So, he decided WE WOULD NOT HAVE SCHOOL. Oh yeah! wonderful words to my ears. Now, it was my responsibility to get the word out to my teachers and our families through emails and text messages. By the time I did all that, I was wide awake and could not go back to sleep. Oh well, I still got to enjoy a quiet day inside my warm house doing a little card making, watching of TV, and washing of clothes. In the following pictures you can see how things progressed at my house over the course of the day and into Saturday morning. Not a tremendous amount of snow, but enough to make everything white. I am thankful for my warm home and that I got the day to do what I wanted as I watched God's orchestration of the weather.

The sleet begins to cover our street around 1 PM

Our back patio and deck covered in sleet

Saturday morning when I let Jacye out. This was so crunchy and sleet covered that her paw prints did not even show.

You can tell a little difference...more white coverage than before

Looking out our front door

Norman's company car and his truck

Water frozen as it ran out of our hose.

Jacye's favorite place on snow days!

A very Special moment in life...

There are some moments in life that are just so special that they are plain indescribable. Camryn's acceptance of Jesus Christ as her Savior and then her being baptized in obedience to God's leading was just such a moment. The knowledge that she will now be in heaven with all of us when God sees fit to call us home is such a comfort. Knowing that she will forever be in God's protecting hand as she lives her life is a wonderful assurance for this Nanna.
This occasion was also special because her Papaw got to perform her baptism. Her Pastor, Wayne Kocourek preached a wonderful sermon and then she was baptized. She smiled through the whole process. Her Papaw, who is very emotional, was able to hold it together and make it through. David and Billie sang her favorite song. Our whole family was in attendance along with Barbara and Ronnie. Just an all round super day in our lives.

Somehow I missed getting Alison and John in the pictures. They were talking to some old friends and we didn't get them in.

Christmas..2009

This was a very special Christmas for Camryn. She had told everyone that she wanted a Yorkie puppy for Christmas. She and her mother had already picked out a name if it was a girl (Gabriella and they would call her Ella)and an alternate name if it was a boy (Gabriel Austin and call him Gabe). Well, Santa was listening and she got her wish. She got Gabriel Austin.

Here is Camryn with her puppy, Gabe.

In this picture, Jacye and Gabe are checking one another out.

We had a great day enjoying one another's company and opening our gifts. Then we had our traditional breakfast casserole.
Saturday morning, Andrea, Camryn, Gabe, Norman and I headed out to Birmingham, AL for Christmas with his side of the family. Andrea had not seen her grandparents and cousins for 6 years. After a meal at Lloyds on Sunday afternoon we all went back to the house to have desserts and enjoy one another's company. Below are a few of the pictures I took of each family and then the kids with Memaw and Papaw.

This is Paul's group. Angela and Nick were not able to be with us. They were at a wrestling match. We missed seeing them and hope we can catch up with them another time. Anyway, this is Paul, Norman's younger brother, with Jake, Ashley and Josh.

And here is our family. Camryn is holding Gabe, our newest grand-dog.

This is Tricia's family. Seated on the couch: Christiana, Anthony, Tricia, and Anthony Jr. (Ant). On the floor: Benjamin and Joseph.

Mom and Dad with the kids

The grandkids and one great-grand-daughter with Memaw and Papaw.

Little Gabe

Isn't he a doll?

(You can see her open her presents on Youtube. Just type in, Camryn gets her wish... in the search bar. It should come up.)

We also had an opportunity to get with two of my college roommates from my freshmen year. Here we are looking as good as ever...me, Jackie and Linda.

Each of us with our husbands and daughters.

The 3 couples....John and Jackie Wise, and Laura; Norman, me and Andrea; Glenn and Linda Miller and Kara. We all met at Souheastern Bible College, dated during our time there and all but me graduated from there. We had a great time renewing our friendships. We ate at Cracker Barrel and then went to Jackie and John's for delicious desserts. It was so good to be able to visit with all of them and recall our great times at SBC, freshmen initiation, choir tours, doctrine class, library times, dating...etc. We have all vowed that we must do this again before another 36 years pass by. Although it had been almost 4 decades since we had seen one another it was like we had never been apart. Great memories and just an inkling of what it will be like when we all gather in Heaven together. What a reunion that will be!!!

Our Christmas Card to you!!!!

Merry Christmas to all our Family and Friends!

We sincerely hope that all of you are doing well and that you are enjoying the blessings of God in your lives during this holiday season. What a special time this is for all of us as Christians. As we draw nearer and nearer to His return, it is a privilege to be able to worship the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We are grateful for all He has given us…much more than we deserve. Our health is good (although we are both seeing a little more around the mid-section these days); we still have jobs (which is saying a lot in this economy); we serve in a wonderful church that has a burning desire to see others come to know Jesus, in our community, city, state, nation and world; we have super friends that add to our joy; our girls are doing well and our granddaughter is simply our pride and joy AND both sets of our parents are alive and doing well.

My Mother and Daddy are both 83, and Norman’s parents are 86 & 82. Although they have each had some health issues, it is such a blessing to still have them around. My mother had an aortic valve replaced a year ago and after a pretty long recovery period, is out and doing well. However, she fell in October and crushed two vertebrae in her lower back and had to be placed in rehab. She was able to leave the rehab facility the week before Thanksgiving and continues to improve daily. Daddy is doing very well. He did not get to go deer hunting at his camp this year due to the high water, but did get to hunt on opening weekend in Blevins, AR with Mother’s cousin. Norman’s Mom has had a rough time of recovery from her shoulder and neck surgeries over the last two years. In fact she has had a total of three on her shoulder and one on her neck. Hopefully, this last one is going to do the trick. His Dad continues to do well, but is slowing down a little. At 86 he deserves to but believe it or not..he is still preaching each Sunday!

Norman continues to work in the ink business with Flint Ink Group. We are holding our breath that the cut-backs the company is experiencing will not affect him, but know it may happen in the near future. We also know that God is our provider and if He takes away the job we are confident He will provide another. I am still at Abundant Life School as the Elementary Principal. In August I began my 16^th year there and my 14^th as principal. I feel very blessed to have that position and I count it a privilege to work in a place with such Godly teachers and staff.

Alison & John still live in Conway…about 35 miles from us. She continues to work at Blue Cross & Blue Shield as an analyst. They have no children but are the parents of our grand dog, a cute little fellow named Gus. They are active in the Celebrate Recovery program of their church.

Andrea and Camryn live about 7 miles from us in Sherwood. She is still working for the AR Municipal League as a Claims Examiner in the workman’s comp area. Camryn is a second grader in Abundant Life which gives me the opportunity to see her on a daily basis. She is a very active and very smart little girl. She continues to dance competitively with Ms. Karen’s Dance Studio. This year she will be dancing in six different routines. It never ceases to amaze me how she can remember all those dances and get her body to do those moves!

I got the opportunity to go to Greece again this year with a team of ladies from our church. We went to work with the school age children of the missionaries who were there for the East European Conference and Retreat. The retreat was held on Aegina Island off the eastern coast of Greece. It was such a joy to work with the MK’s during the mornings and then have the opportunity to spend extended time with their families in the afternoons. We also got to visit the Acropolis in Athens and the ruins of Corinth while there. Seeing the places where Jesus and the apostles would have walked was an awesome thing. Norman works in our Kid’s Town program each week as Pastor Leon and with the Jr. High Trek Program on Wednesday nights. He is also working hard to complete his degree in Christian Education through a correspondence program from Trinity Baptist College. I use what little voice I have left singing in the music ministries of the church: Celebration choir, the church Praise Team and with Norman occasionally as we sing specials.

Well, that about catches you up on our lives.

We sincerely hope that all of you enjoy this “Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” As you are rushing around trying to finish up your shopping and then get to all the Christmas programs and parties, we pray that you will set aside some time to remember our Savior who was born in a stable those many years ago. Let’s not forget the reason for the season…Jesus Christ

Merry Christmas to all of you!

Norman, Alicia & Jacye

My 25 Christmas Memories...

I will add the pictures of my house soon but until then, I thought I would do what my girls have done. Here are my 25 Christmas Memories

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
I love both, but have started using bags over the last years.

2. Real tree or Artificial?
Really always loved the process of our family going out to select the tree, thinking it will not be big enough, cutting it down, bringing it home to find that is is way bigger inside my house, the pungent smell...ah I love it until it is time to take it down. Needles everywhere because it had gotten so dry. For the past 8 or so years, I have changed to a prelit artificial tree because it is to much easier! I just add pine scented candles to bring that holiday smell into my house.

3. When do you put up the tree?
I usually put it up on Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend.

4. When do you take the tree down?
I at least wait until after Christmas, but most of the time I have it down by New Year's.

5. Do you like eggnog?
Yes! I love, love, love the taste of eggnog. It is just way to fattening to drink it as much as I would like.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
I think it would be my softbodied baby doll, which I still have.

7. Hardest person to buy for?
My parents...they can get whatever they need, and do not ever ask for anything.

8. Easiest person to buy for?
My granddaughter

9. Do you have a nativity scene?
Yes, I do...actually two.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
My choice is to make my own cards and I have done that for years. However, the last few years I have had family emergencies that have kept me for getting that done. So, I am having to deal with the guilt I feel for not making my own. I may design one and send them out through email as a pdf. file. Postage has gotten so expensive, it is very costly to send out 60 cards anymore.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
An alarm clock from my husband. And then the following June, for my birthday, he got me another one...with a lighted dial. And I am not even one who is a late sleeper or who doesn't get up easily. He has since learned to ask what I want or ask the girls what to get.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Goodness..there are so many, but I suppose it would be a tie between "White Christmas" and "It's a Wonderful Life."

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
I shop all throughout the year and hide the presents in a "safe place." However, I inevitably forget to put some of them out until everyone starts opening presents and I suddenly remember I had gotten something else for them that is not showing up. lol I hate getting older and losing my memory!

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
No.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Breakfast Casserole on Christmas morning.

16. Lights on the tree?
Oh yes, lots of them...all white!

17. Favorite Christmas song?
“Oh Holy Night”

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
We always try to be home on Christmas day but usually travel either before or after to Birmingham to be with Norman's parents and siblings and to El Dorado to be with my family.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer?
OF course, You know, Dasher and Dancer, Prancer, and Vixen, Comet and Cupid, Donner and Blitzen...but do you recall, the most famous reindeer of all...Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer...LOL

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
Star

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
I always wanted to open at least one on Christmas Eve, but never could convince my husband to start this tradition. So, Christmas morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
The commercialism and the stupidity of all this "political correctness" in calling this season, "Winter Break." Come on, if it wasn't for Christmas, I sincerely doubt the economy would be boosted in the least by people going out to buy "Winter Break" gifts! AND more importantly the insane idea of trying to take Christ out of Christmas and everyone being instructed not to say, Merry Christmas! for fear of showing preference to one celebration over another!!! OK...I will get down off my soap box now.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?
Right now, I have red and silver...I have used for many years a collection of ornaments old and new, that were given to me.


24. Favorite memory of Christmas?
I think as a child and young adult, it would be all gathering on Thanksgiving weekend at my grandparents to have Christmas. We would draw names the year before and then bring a present for the person whose name you drew. Lots of great memories!
Since my grandparents are no longer with us...I think it would be any of the Christmases with my girls and now with Camryn. It is so exciting to see her excitement! This year should be a very memorable since we have all gone together to get her a Yorkie!


25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
I really don't want anything, however, I have already purchased my gift and will put it together after I take all the Christmas decor down...a buffet with a hutch.