Goober the Donkey

Our pastor preached a really good sermon this Sunday on Hebrews 13. One of the illustrations he used was that of a donkey named Goober. Goober is a real live donkey the church used in their Christmas performance. True to his kind, Goober was very stubborn and to make a long story short, they ended up having to use a back hoe to get Goober into the truck to take him to the church. Pastor David was using the story of Goober to illustrate the point that sometimes we move of our own accord when God tells us and sometimes He has to bring out the back hoe :-).

I feel like Goober tonight, bottom in the back hoe, feet flailing in the air. Funny image I know, and honestly, as worn out and utterly beat up as I feel after this week, I do see the humor in it, because I know that God loves me, even when I end up with my butt in a tractor. God has been working on both Jason and me on many levels. One of the resulting outcomes has been that I have decided to turn down the job as Wilton Instructor for Michael's. Without going into all of it, it's not where I need to be right now.

Please pray for us, as God continues to work. Pray that we would stay open to His will, that we would work together as a team, that God would strengthen our marriage and that in everything we do, we would bring honor to Him. It is my prayer for 2009 that everyone who comes in contact with us will see Christ in us and long to have what we have, to experience the love and peace that a true walk with God brings.

Anyone want to visit?

Just had to pop in and let you guys know that Southwest is running a $49 special through March 11th on airfare.  So if any of you have been dying to visit us ;), you can now do it at a discount :D. You just have to book it at least 14 days before your trip. Anyone? Anyone?

Wait a minute! Who says I'm lonely?...

Decorating the gingerbread house

About a week before Christmas, the kids and I decided to decorate a gingerbread house. I had bought a kit a couple weeks before and Gabby was DYING to put it together. So we sat down and went to work.

James mostly ate the candies and begged (and begged and begged) for more. Gabby on the other hand really got into the actual decorating. Now while they were decorating and James was begging for candies, I told them that they could have whatever candies were left over, but that the gingerbread house needed to be completely decorated first. James, being the smart 5 year old that he is, realized that the fewer candies they used, the more they would have when it was over. So he talked Gabby into using the candies sparingly...

They both enjoyed the leftovers...

And the house was beautiful...

Until you looked at the naked sides...

And the nearly naked back.

Gabby was ok with the idea when it was explained to her, but once the candies were eaten and I turned the house around and she saw the back and sides, she lost it. She cried and cried and cried. Poor thing! I couldn't stop laughing and still find it humorous. I'll have to put a few thousand extra therapy dollars into her therapy account I guess. I did scrounge around the house and found some m+ms, sprinkles and other miscellaneous candies that she got to use to finish it off. When she was done, it had ALOT of candies EVERYWHERE and she was very pleased, as was sweet-toothed James :-). Unfortunately, I didn't think to take a picture of the finished product so you will have to use your imagination. Just take the pictures above and add m+ms and pastel colored candied hearts and green tic-tacs.

A little behind

I sat down at the computer tonight to upload a video of the kids opening their Christmas presents from Nana, since we didn't get to do that in person due to the nasty incoming weather that cut our trip short :(. I found, however, that the battery in my camera is dead and will be unable to upload anything until I charge it. Sorry, Nana! I did decide, however, to post some Christmas tree decorating pictures. I know it happened almost a month ago, but better late than never, right?

James playing with a snow globe

Our little lady

Where did he go?

Working as a team

HELP!!!!!

Lost another one to the hat!

Daddy's "favorite" part (hehehe)

Our tree

We're home!

Just wanted to pop in really quickly to say we made it home safe and sound. Other than a little slush and some torrential downpours when we reached CA, our trip was uneventful and we are glad to be home. It was ironic though because when we reached CA, the rain was coming down in sheets and I had a really hard time seeing while I was driving (Jason had driven through the snow and ice, so it was my turn. Poor guy!). James pops up from the back seat: "Why is it raining? Aren't we in CA?" My thoughts exactly, little man :-). I did explain to him, however, that even CA plants need watered every now and then.

Once I find my house under the mounds of gifts (thanks, everyone!) and piles of laundry, I will download some pictures and share those with you. In the mean time, have a great week and for those of you in Oregon, please stay home! No more totaled cars please.

P.S. Jenn, if you are trying to avoid crumbs in your frosting, put on a "crumb coat", which is a light layer of frosting, then put your cake in the freezer for 10 to 15mns, then pull it out and finish frosting it. The crumb coat will hold the crumbs in and you won't have them all over the top of your cake :-).

What I've been doing with all my free time this week.

I delivered these this morning and boy do these people have money, or at least a massive mansion of a house. I'm hoping they will really like the cakes and become regular customers :-). And yes, Wilton's barbie heads need their bangs cut!