The Food Channel

Four words I never thought I'd hear from my six year old boy: "Yay! The Food Channel!"

Josh LOVES to watch the food channel. Actually, all three of our kids enjoy watching the food channel. Denny said that it's because, with a mom like me, they know they have to learn to cook to survive. I didn't think that was very nice.

I told him that I didn't care how well they learned to cook, it still wouldn't be as good as Cracker Barrel. :-)

The Most Wonderful Time of The Year

The past few years I have struggled a little bit with Christmas. For lack of a better description, I'm not as "into it" as I used to be. I know that sounds crazy coming from someone who has a personal relationship with Jesus, but hang with me here...

As we entered into this holiday season, I was pondering why it is that I feel the way I feel, and what I settled on is this: before I became a devout Christian, I was a "every once in a while" Christian. I only focused on God "every once in a while", and Christmas was one of those times that I would focus on God. Because of that, Christmas was always extra special. I could always feel God's presence during the Holiday Season, and HE made it special! The difference is now, I experience God's presence everyday, so in a sense, I have Christmas everday! And that's AWESOME!

So, the other morning I was thinking about all of this, and was trying to sort it out. I was still a little bummed over the fact that I wasn't as excited about Christmas as I used to be. I got on the treadmill, with my I-pod, and began talking to God about what was going on in my brain. I had a new Christmas CD on my I-pod, and the first song I played, literally, struck a "spiritual" cord with me. I've heard the song a thousand times, but this time it was as if Jesus himself was saying to me, "Missy, be excited, THIS is the most wonderful time of the year. With the kids jingle belling And everyone telling you "Be of good cheer" It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year It's the hap -happiest season of all With those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings When friends come to call It's the hap - happiest season of all There'll be parties for hosting Marshmallows for toasting And caroling out in the snow..."

I literally got tears in my eyes as I paused to think, "yes, yes it is". This is a season when people gather in the name of "Christmas", or "Christ". This is a season when Christ centered songs are played in the malls. This is a season when people who ordinarily wouldn't have a prayer said at a party...make it a point to have prayer at their gathering (ie. my own company Christmas party). This is a season when the world focuses on Christmas and Christ. Those who don't know Him, cannot hide from the mention of His name during this season. They can't.

Yes, I have a daily personal relationship with Him, but millions of others only focus on Him one time a year...and this is it. As the world pauses to celebrate Him, it is truly the most wonderful time of the year. If you're one who catches a glimpse of Him this holiday season, may you not let go. May you hold onto Him. May you accept Him as your best gift ever. May you open His presence every day of the year. Or if you're in the place I described in the first and second paragraph, may you too be caught up in the excitment and realization that this is the most wonderful time of the year.

No Free Nights

We've had a stretch of "no free nights", and I've loved it. Prior to this, we had a stretch of all free nights, and I was starting to get bored. :-)

This past Saturday was the WTHI Christmas party. I was honored to get to say the prayer this year. Normally, the General Manager does it, but this year he asked me if I would do it. I'm glad they care enough to have prayer said before the meal.

Sunday night we had praise team practice. Monday night we had the K-2nd grade choral performance to go to, and tonight Maren was in a band concert.

Due to the no free nights, I've ate left overs since Sunday :-) Tonight was my 3rd night in a row to have roast, potatoes, and carrots. I'm the only one in the family that will eat left overs. Personally, I thought they tasted better today, than the first day! mmm...mmm...good.

Eddie Haskell

Wow...I cannot believe it's been a week since I've blogged. I thought about it a couple of times this week, but really had nothing to say.

I got up early this morning, and had some deep thoughts that I wanted to share. I woke up in an attitude of thankfulness. I actually arose with tears in my eyes, literally, for I could feel the nearness of God. Every once in a while I'm reminded of where I was, and where God's brought me, and this was one of those moments, and I was on my way to share those thoughts with you, when Josh woke up...so, maybe I'll get back to that later.

Right now, as I sit here writing, this is the thought that's going thru my head, "Eddie Haskell still lives..."

Do you all remember Eddie? He was Wally's friend on the television show "Leave it to Beaver."

Why am I thinking of Eddie? Will had a friend spend the night last night. His name is Logan (Brad and Nora, you out did yourselves on this one). Logan is hilarious. The part of Logan that reminds me of Eddie, is that he calls us Dennis and Melissa, instead of Denny and Missy.

Like for instance, when I got home from work last night, I was greeted with something like this, "How was your day Melissa?" spoken very Eddie Haskellish.

However, Eddie was fake...Logan's not. He's just being goofy. When he's not busy being Eddie Haskelish, he's totally opposite, he trash talks us. Last night he and Denny sat across the dinner table from one another and trash talked each other via 'text messages'. Yes, text messaged acrossed the table. For a brief moment, I felt like I was married to a junior higher, and was anxiously awaiting him to ask me to the 8th grade dance.

I was reminded of Eddie last month, as well, when we spent the weekend with the Rudy's in Ohio. Their teenage son, Jon, would call me only, "Mrs. Milbourn"...just like Eddie would have done. He too was being goofy. So anyway, as I type this, I'm thankful for our kid's friends. I'm thankful that they know they can be goofy with us. And I'm reminded of how much fun I had with my friend's parents when I was growing up. Particularly, at this moment, thinking of Carole Ann Warner, and Betty Bounds, and grateful for the influence that they had on me in my teenage years.

Busy, But Fun, Days!!

Wow. What a whirlwind the past couple of days have been! I forgot to tell you that I got a speeding ticket on Thanksgiving Day. Happy Thanksgiving to me! My attitude, actually, is never bad when I get a speeding ticket, because I always know that I deserve it. I was a little puzzled, however, how I happened to win the prize this particular time. We were in 4 lanes of traffic, going through downtown Indy on I-70. I'm pretty sure every car was going 70 miles per hour, but I won the award. :-)

Yesterday (Friday) Maren and I got up fairly early, and went shopping. I, actually, have NEVER done that before on the day after Thanksgiving, but Maren was begging me to go shopping, so I decided to let her experience that thrill. We got a lot of shopping done for the Milbourn boys, and were still home by 10:30am.

For lunch Friday, we fixed a ham, and our favorite soup, "cheesy broccoli alfredo" soup. Denny's mom and his sister's family came over and ate lunch with us. After that, we put up a tree, and then went to see a movie. We saw "August Rush". I REALLY liked it. I think I liked it so much because it was a little different than normal, and yet still had a great story line.

Today, we finished decorating our house for Christmas. We put another tree up, and put lights up outside the house.

Currently, I'm getting ready to fix the family a good, healthy, dinner...(cereal). Then we're planning on sitting down, enjoying the lights, and watching Shrek the 3rd.