and brrr is it cold! I’ve no time to write but I thought I’d let you know if you need to get a hold of me you should try my mobile #. We’ve been without electricity and phone service since Friday evening and we most likely won’t be getting either back till Tuesday at the earliest. Fun times, lots of memories. Have a very happy New Year, until I see you again please know that you are loved.
Jami Leigh

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and in our family that means today is “rolling day” We’ll roll the tamales, roll the orange balls, roll the chocolate truffles, roll the chocolate crinckles and roll the snickerdoodles. We’ll bake and we’ll steam, we’ll wrap and we’ll tie but most of all we’ll roll. If anyone is wanting of something to do today come on over and roll with us. It will be fun and I’ll share some of the bounty.

Speaking of Tamales, if you’d like to make some of your own try these step by step instructions from The Son of the South Even if you don’t plan on making tamales read the recipe anyway. It’s quite entertaining. While you are there don’t forget to read his Snake Story

Note: This is not the Tamale Recipe I use., it is just how I learned the methodology.

stream-of-con‧scious‧ness- Pronunciation[streem-uhv-kon-shuhs-nis]
–adjective
of, pertaining to, or characterized by a manner of writing in which a character’s thoughts or perceptions are presented as occurring in random form, without regard for logical sequences, syntactic structure, distinctions between various levels of reality, or the like

So you may know I’m still conscious:

With the Holy Day season upon us and the end of the year looming things have been pretty hectic around here. I’ve taken many pictures and experienced many “blogworthy” events but have yet to share any of them with you so alas I resort to a thought yarn. Perhaps you can gleam some of my life through this thread.

Sarah had her 3rd baby girl yesterday. Little mis Eva Elizabeth, I missed seeing her enter this world thanks to the nasty roads brought to us by freezing rain. It seems like just two weeks ago I was with Sarah as she was giving birth to Hannah. I can’t believe she’s already had another baby! I’m a bit dissapointed in not being there this time… well maybe a lot dissapointed. Oh well, maybe she’ll invite me to the next baby’s birth. With the way things have been going I’ll only have to wait another 18 to 19 months.

Speaking of babies, Janae called and said Mattie is working on a tooth. Oh, and speaking of icy roads Kurt and the kids stayed home Tuesday due to the road conditions. Then we got snow last night so they stayed home again today. I’d share some snow angel pictures with you but I left my camera over at Mom and Dad’s and it’s much to cold and slippery to go over and get it.

Saturday we went to Dalhart for Kaleb’s Pinewood Derby. He got second place in his den. Joshua was pretty proud. Charleigh couldn’t help but notice that he had gotten first last year…Monday evening we went to the kid’s Christmas Program at school. It was short and sweet, pretty funny too.

I still haven’t mailed out my Christmas cards, is anyone surprised by my procrastination? I bought the cards and took the pictures it’s just getting everything together and mailing them that I have a problem with. I still have baby anouncements for Kaleb that are addressed and stamped but have never been mailed. When it comes to thank you cards I have no problem writing them it’s just the amazing step of dropping them in a mail box I can’t seem to take. I try to tell myself it’s the thought that counts but if you don’t mail them people don’t know you thought about it.

Monday it was a year since we lost my Papa. I sure do miss him. Joshua still isn’t sure he’s gone. I think it’s because we didn’t have a real funeral. He’s never confused about where Kurt’s Grandpa is.

Anyone remember this Christmas in July post: Lost?
In searching for past Christmas posts I found it and don’t really remember writing it. Does anyone remember anything I used to write? It doesn’t seem like I’ve had much to say of late. You should check out the different categories on the right side of the page. Here are some of my favorite posts. Some of my more sentimental as well as funny posts are found in “A Mother’s Life” and of course you could always just browse through some of our pictures

Here’s this years Christmas Photo. Click below to see how the kids have changed over the past 8 years

Amy and I often enjoy nonsensical instant messaging, here is an excerpt in which Amy is trying to talk me into moving to Springfield and going to school with her. She’s trying to tell me how much fun we’ll have . . . and she uses pizza as one of her dangling carrots.

Amy: to work. to coffee. to chili out of a can
yea me
hey you should go to school. You’d love it
move here and go to seminary with me
fun fun fun
I think you can get in without a ba
maybe
me: hmmmm
Amy: soooo fun
lots of friends
me: sounds fun. . .
Amy: and lots of activities for the whole family
like free night at incredible pizza
and banquet
me: mmmhmm
Amy: and picnics
and pizza for lunch
randomly
ok… maybe it’s not random
but I don’t look at the calendar
me: pizza is good
Especially random pizza
It’s always good to walk into a room and find yourself looking square into a pizza box. . .
Amy: Yea for free pizza
a pile o pizza boxes
so you coming?
Fall 07
me: a big steamy pile o cardboard and cheeze
Amy: hehehe
me: hmm nothing better than the smell of toasty cardboard
Yeah, and when the cheese cools slightly and the pizza is gone you peel off the very last bit and eat it even
though it has a bit of greasy cardboard stuck to the bottom
Amy: funny stuff there
greasy cheesy toasty cardboard
if on survivor island… i would eat that box
Really.

Now I don’t want to rub it in, and I wouldn’t want to drive my readers to jealousy but I must tell you of some of the most wonderful people we’ve been spending time with this week. We have been blessed with some precious friends and I know we share them with some of you so let me share who we’ve seen.

Sunday night we arrived in Springdale, AR. We are here on business; Kurt’s company has sent him to a school here in town. It just so happens Springdale is the home of our beloved Rubios so Joshua and I tagged a long for the trip.

We didn’t get to see Josue, JoAnna, Aaron, Felicity and Mama Tony till Monday night but the wait was well worth it! The kids are growing so much, Felicity is absolutely beautiful and it was great to meet Josue’s mother. We spent a few hours at their house and tore ourselves away late so they could get some sleep and we could get back to our hotel.

Now, for those of you who haven’t gotten to know this precious family you have missed out hugely! Josue and Joanna Rubio have made a tremendous impact on Kurt and my lives as well as on our children’s. Teaching us through example they have demonstrated great faith, integrity, generosity and love. There devotion to Christ is apparent in their every word. Knowing Josue and JoAnna has inspired me to strive at being a better mother, wife, daughter, friend and child of God. They are truly some of the dearest friends we have and we are so proud to call them family.

Tuesday evening Joanna and I took the kids to “a Very Veggie Christmas Live“
The kids had so much fun! It was a fabulous show! During one song Felicity was so touched by the beautiful music there were tears in her eyes! She told her mommy “That was so beautiful it made my tears fall!”

Wednesday Joshua and I took a trip to the mall and Joshua met many friendly folk. He was so excited to meet Santa. He told me he knew the guy wasn’t really Santa Claus but he looked really Really friendly and he was giving away candy canes so we stopped to say hello.

After Kurt got off work we buckled up and headed towards Carthage. We had a fabulous dinner at El Charro but better than the fine food was the fellowship with fabulous friends. We were so blessed to spend the evening with Pastor Jerry and Twanda Davis along with Nicole and Stan. After dinner we went with them to the “Full Faith Church of Carthage”. Joshua went to youth with Stan and Nicole (otherwise known as the beautiful girl in the blue sweater). Kurt and I joined the adults in watching the last video in John Bevere’s Driven by Eternity series, this worked out quite well as our small group just got done with the same book. After it was over and it was time to go home Joshua was not too excited about leaving. He was pretty sure he was supposed to be spending the night at Jerry and Twanda’s and I think he would have gladly moved in permanently with Nicole and Stan. The only thing that consoled his not getting to live with them was the fact that if he stayed in Carthage he wouldn’t get to see Josue again today.

Now to describe what the Davis family has meant to us is quite difficult. When they moved to Texas in 92 to pastor our church they also moved into to our hearts as part of our family. Nicole and I grew up together in youth group and Jerry and Twanda were there for most every major event my life. They attended my High School Graduation and Pastor Jerry married Kurt and I as well as Amy and Joel and Julie and Chad. He also was there when Mom and Dad renewed their vows on their 25th anniversary. He was there for each child’s birth and dedication. In fact Jerry and Twanda were both there for a good portion of my prolonged labor with Kaleb and they prayed during our emergency caesarean. When Charleigh was first taken to the NICU in Amarillo they passed as grandparents and got to sneak in for a look days before I would get to see her. Twanda taught my kids many beloved songs each Wednesday night in Sonlight and Pastor Jerry was the one to baptize Kaleb.

Besides all the events we’ve shared most of all this family has been an example of love and grace. While I have to admit right now I don’t remember any of Pastor Jerry’s sermons I do remember how he has always ministered with love and compassion. He is a man of humility and wisdom; a true pastor. We sure have missed him!

Oh, another great thing Jerry Davis did was introduce us to the Rubios. . . and I already told you how much we love the Rubios.
Speaking of them, tonight we have planned another evening at the Rubios. I can’t wait to see them again, I do wish Kaleb and Charleigh were here too. Aaron and Felicity have really missed seeing them.

Joshua has really been missing his “Kids” too. While we’re having a great time I’m anxious to get home to the rest of my family. I’m also a bit nervous that Sarah might have Eva before I get home. Hold on Eva, I’ll be there Saturday. Oh, and Janae give your girls a hug from me, I miss them too.

Here I am in Springdale, AR.
Why Oh Why did I not pack my laptop? Here I have hours of nothing to do but wait for Kurt, Josue and JoAnna to get off work each day and I have unlimited access to DSL. I could have done all the things I’ve been needing to do with my computer. I could have uploaded all my pictures. . .Instead I think I’ll take Joshua and wander around the hotel for a while. Perhaps I should rent a car.

Hey girls, if I rent a car later this week would anyone meet me in Carthage for lunch?
Are any of Amy’s friends free for a day trip to Precious Moments?