HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I've been blessed for much of this last year to enjoy each of you through this blog. One of my resolutions (and I don't make many) is to blog at least 3 times a week and more if possible.

I would LOVE for you to tell me what topics you are interested in, new and old! Help me start the new year off right!

May all of you be blessed with the best year in 2010!

Swizz

Tis the Season!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

May you and your family enjoy a blessed holiday season as we all remember why we celebrate this time of year.

Blessings to you and yours!

Swizz

(And if anyone can help me with this new html stuff...HELP! I THINK I'm following the new rules, but no changes are being made. It all still looks the same to me. Hmmph.)

Trip to the Tree Farm!

Growing up we always had a fake Christmas tree. In fact, it was the same Christmas tree my entire childhood. The Rev and I continued the tradition when we got married...mostly because of my allergies. We did get a rosemary "tree" several years, but that's another story!

My sister, M, and her hubby, The Doc, broke tradition and started buying LIVE trees. Gorgeous pines which go in a stand and need lots of water. LOTS of water!

Since we are living in their house now, we decided to go the route of a live tree and we made a huge trek to the Christmas tree farm.

JMonster and "his" tree!

The Rev and The Doc with...The BIG tree!

"Ocho" - born on my birthday in 08.08.08

The kiddos being monkeys in the vines.

Extended family and their big tree...

A being silly.

My Mom and my little sister, HA

And MERRY CHRISTMAS to all!

The Texas Hill Country

Some dear friends of ours invited us to go away for the weekend recently. It was their 15th wedding anniversary, and they wanted us to spend it at The Inn Above Onion Creek in Kyle, Texas. This is near Wimberley and Gruene, for all you Texans.

It was a FABULOUS weekend! (Sans JMonster...)

The Inn

The resident dog at the Inn

Rach & Dave outside of Texas' oldest dance hall

Rach & Swizz

The whole gang!
(Notice The Rev has his eyes closed...typical. At least he didn't look like he was on drugs like he usually does. Not that he does drugs. Just looks like it in pictures!)

The sun setting off of our balcony. Breathtaking. We literally watched the sun slide below the horizon in a matter of moments.

Turkey Day 2009

I'm FINALLY catching up on some of the posts I've wanted to share. Technology outages, bad SD cards, and just plain business have held me up. All the way from November, here's the first of many "catch up" posts!

Thanksgiving was a fun event in the Swizz household this year. We bought a turkey loaf, or so we thought, to rotisserie on the outside grill. When we opened it the whole thing fell apart into small strips that looked like chicken. We roasted them. It was yummy.

So what do you do when you don't have a turkey to carve? You find one you can!



And if you are in Aggieland for the BIG GAME, you saw off it's horns:



and then cut off it's head:

That's how we Aggies do it, at least.

With faith like a child

As we gear up for the Christmas Holidays, may we all have the faith of children!

JMonster has been giving us his updated list for Santa. Daily. It includes all things Ben 10, anything that shoots (you'll put your eye out Ralphie!), and cars. Lot of cars.

The way he begins the conversation of late is, "When Santa brings me..."

In his mind, there is no question that Santa will bring him any and all things he asks for.

If only I could approach my faith in Jesus the same way.

(And just how do we explain in the future that Santa ISN'T real, but Jesus is? We've started the conversation about who Kris Kringle was. Any suggestions?)

Still disconnected...

We are still disconnected, but hope to fix that tomorrow.

With that said, I'm hoping to post tomorrow about several items I've missed (in no particular order):
1. Our Christmas Holiday "Show"
2. JMonster's Christmas wish list
3. Possible snow?
4. And of course, Turkey Day! Pictures included in this one.

Keep your fingers crossed that the 169 will end tomorrow!

Internet blues

169.no.connectivity

The internet signal booster is down in our house. It's sending out a strong signal but refuses to assign an IP address to the computers. This means our computers look like they are online, but in reality they have an IP address that says they are getting limited connectivity (darn those 169 IP addresses!).

It's like we're back in dark ages! I've been unable to check email, post on here, or keep up on facebook. Whatever shall I do?

In the meantime, I'll run over here and borrow a computer when I get the chance. I sure do hope this booster gets fixed quickly, though. I miss my blogging time! (And I have SO MUCH to share!)

A teaser for Christmas selections...

Twice as Nice Boutique...the business that hasn't quite gotten off of the ground, would like to give you a sneak peek preview of 2 of the items we will offer for our Christmas selections. Along with many other Christmas-themed items, may we present:

A cute Christmas pillow (monogrammed on corduroy).

An adorable t-shirt with applique and ribbon embellishments.

More items to come! (I know, you just can't wait.)

Unprompted...

Tonight, while I was finishing fixing dinner for the "adults" and JMonster and his cousin A were sitting at the breakfast bar eating, JMonster almost made me cry. It didn't take much...just a few words.

"Mommy? You are the bestest Mommy."

Unprompted. (tear rolls down cheek...)

Maybe I should have caught that on video to replay to him when he's 16.

Missional Monday

EVERYONE has something they don't need just sitting around their house. If you're me, you have bunches you don't need (but can't bear to part with!) and keep repeating the mantra of, "I need to take that to Goodwill".

I finally did it. I took it all to Goodwill. Okay, not all of it. Just most. Or some. All right, I took a bit but will definitely take more soon!

Goodwill® inspires hope and self-confidence, helping people from all backgrounds and walks of life to feel successful, valuable and dignified.

We help people earn a living, improve their lives, and strengthen their families and their communities.

Our network of 166 independent, community-based Goodwills in the United States and Canada offers customized job training, employment placement and other services to people who have disabilities, lack education or job experience, or face employment challenges.

In 2008, Goodwill helped 1.5 million people train for careers in industries such as banking, IT and health care, to name a few — and get the supporting services they needed to be successful, such as English language training, additional education, or access to transportation and child care.

Every 42 seconds of every business day, someone gets a good job, with help from Goodwill.

More than 172,000 people obtained meaningful employment in 2008 through their participation in Goodwill programs. These people went on to earn $2.3 billion in salaries and wages, and contributed to their communities as productive, tax-paying citizens.

Goodwills meet the diverse needs of people, including youth, seniors, veterans, immigrants, and people with disabilities, criminal backgrounds and other specialized needs.

Goodwill has earned the trust and support of 64 million donors in the United States and Canada.

Local Goodwills are flexible and sustainable social enterprises that fund job training, employment placement services and other community programs by selling donated clothes and household items at Goodwill retail stores and online.

Goodwills also generate revenue by contracting with businesses and government to provide a wide range of commercial services, including packaging and assembly, food service preparation document imaging and shredding and more.

Read more about Goodwill’s mission, vision and history.

On the occasion of our 100th anniversary in 2002, we committed to providing services to 20 million people by the year 2020. Read more about Goodwill’s 21st Century Initiative.

So go checkout your local Goodwill. And GIVE! It'll make you feel better. It did me.


Please take some time and check out this wonderful organization on their website! See if their mission can help you match your passion with your purpose.

100,000 and Counting!

My (very dirty needs a good washing and detailing) car just reached 100,000 miles. A HUGE accomplishment if I do say so myself. It happened on the way home from dropping off JMonster and Flower at school.

The Rev was getting in his car when we pulled in the driveway. When I told him my fun "news" he said, "Mine did, too! Last night on the drive back from Atlanta. It flipped on the back roads of Louisiana...kinda freaked me out."

So now we have two vehicles with over 100,000 miles on them. Both paid off. Hopefully they'll keep us getting where we need to go for another 100,000 miles or so each!

Food allergies and Compromises

Yesterday was the pre-opening of the new Emergency "Department" Hospital in town. It is a stand-alone emergency room and my brother-in-law will be one of the directors there.

We picked up JMonster and his cousin S (to be known from now on as Flower at her request!) from school, headed to pick up E & A from school, and then to see the new ED. Unfortunately, we forgot snacks.

Fortunately, when we walked in the door at the new hospital there was a table with cookies and waters all set up as if they just KNEW 4 kiddos were going to be visiting.

They were kind enough to let us view the nutrition labels of the cookie packages to see if they were "safe"...you know, peanut and tree nut free.

THEY WERE NOT. "Manufactured in a facility that also processes peanuts, tree nuts, and all known allergens to humans as well as all animals." (Okay, it didn't REALLY say all that. It just seemed like it!)

My sister said, "Oh come on. It's not as if it has it for sure. And you ARE in an emergency room if anything happens."

SO JMonster ate possibly tainted cookies. I held my breath.

And everyone was okay!

It did make me think, if they serve this type of thing and if doctors and nurses eat peanut butter sandwiches and crackers and such for lunch, dinner, snacks...what if someone comes in with the worst kind of allergy? One that they can't even be in the same room as the allergen? Then what? They go to the hospital for stitches or a broken bone and end up with anaphylactic shock? I guess they'd already be in the right place to be treated, wouldn't they?

Just for laughs!

(Thanks to BLaugh for allowing me to post these!)

Rights

I am curious. What do YOU think are our basic rights as humans, and more specifically, as Americans?

Please keep the discussion focused and civil.

Perfect Pairings

Yesterday's Sunset...

He hath made everything beautiful in its time: also he hath set eternity in their heart, yet so that man cannot find out the work that God hath done from the beginning even to the end. Ecclesiastes 3:11

In that day shall the branch of Jehovah be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel. Isaiah 4:2

Obamacare

The House has passed the healthcare bill. The House has passed the healthcare bill. The House has passed the healthcare bill.

Maybe if I say it a few more times I'll wake up and it won't be true.

(Pinch. Wake up, stupid!)

Oh. It's true.

Maybe the Senate will get it right.

It's time for healthcare reform, but this...?

First Friday party

Our new neighborhood has a cool tradition where we rotate homes and have a social every First Friday of the month. Yesterday was our turn, and it was a blast!

The weather was perfect, we put a fire in the outside fireplace, had Jazz XM on the stereo, and many neighbors came with appetizers and drinks.

My sister and I used our creative talents to create this lovely flower arrangement (from our gardens) for the festivities!

Maybe we need to expand Twice as Nice Boutique to include floral arrangement. :o)

Fort Hood Tragedy

Many people will be blogging about the shooting at Fort Hood. If you don't know what I'm talking about here is a brief synopsis:

An Army PSYCHIATRIST opened fire in a training center at Fort Hood today killing 12 and injuring as many as 30 others. He had received papers that he was to be deployed to Iraq toward the end of November.

Fort Hood is located in the Temple/Killeen area, approximately 2 hours from the College Station area. In Texas, this is next door neighbors!

My two-cents on the topic: although I agree that psychiatrists are human and feel stress like everyone else it seems odd that the first sign of EXTREME stress would be to kill a bunch of people. I'm just saying...

Also, the guy's name sounds middle eastern. Doesn't mean he was a terrorist. Doesn't mean he wasn't. But are we now going to be stuck in a place where everyone with an arabic sounding name is suspect? I pray not. Post 9/11 was tough enough.

My prayers go out the the victims, their families, and their friends. Violence has far-reaching effects and those effects can linger. Let our prayers wage war on the needless suffering of humanity.

We should all be...

Filled with love, that is!

JMonster grabbed me around the neck as we "snuggled" in his bed last night. He pulled me close and told me he was giving me love. Lots of love. Because he had too much.

"Too much? Where did you get too much love, buddy?"

"From God."


Why can't we all be filled with too much love?

10 Years and Counting! (updated with photo of murder mystery)

Mr. Swizz's Dad & Swizz's Mom
Request the Honour of your Presence
at the wedding of their daughter Swizz
to The Rev
October 16, 1999
at First Presbyterian Church
Houston
Dessert Reception to Follow

(Our wedding invitation)

I've never been very good at surprises. I love GETTING them, but giving them is another story. For one, I'm a HORRIBLE liar. Deception just doesn't come easy to me.

For our 10 year anniversary I told The Rev that he wasn't allowed to plan anything. "Um, Okay," he said. You could just hear the anxiousness in his voice. Maybe a little tension? He's typically the one to plan special occasions; he relishes planning and surprising, so letting go of this control was huge for him.

I planned a FABULOUS anniversary weekend at The Gaylord Texan, a resort in Grapevine, Texas. And he was actually surprised!

This is the view of the resort from outside.

This is the "lobby" or atrium inside the hotel.
What you can't see are all of the miniature trains that ride around the lobby!

Friday night we arrived at the hotel. This was our actual anniversary so I planned a very special dinner. A "romantic" murder mystery dinner at the Riverwalk Cafe inside of the resort.

Here is a photo of us with the cast of the murder mystery!

Saturday we met JMonster, Grammy and Pops (The Rev's parents) in downtown Grapevine for a fun Butterfly Festival. Grapevine is a quaint old town with a Main Street and adorable shops. There are also TRAINS! After watching the butterfly release we headed over to the trains so JMonster could explore. The trains travel between downtown Grapevine and The Stockyards in Fort Worth. A round-trip ride, with a stop in Fort Worth for lunch and shopping, lasts about 5 hours. We didn't get to do this trip but one day we plan on heading back to do it...JMonster insists!

Saturday evening we headed to The Glass Cactus, a nightclub there on-site at the resort. Many guests visit there, but it is also an attraction for people from the surrounding areas. We didn't end up staying...I'm such an introvert that the crowds of people I didn't know, coupled with no tables or chairs being available (they all had reserved signs on them) made me uncomfortable.

All in all it was a fabulous anniversary weekend away!

When we got home, a good friend of ours sent us a copy of the vows that were written by our friends and said during our wedding ceremony:

The Rev & Swizz: we are gathered here as your family---whether by blood or by Spirit---celebrating a process of transformation that is nothing-short-of divine. Right before our eyes, all that is the old Rev and the former Swizz is about to vanish, never to be seen again, because in this moment---in this very room--- God has given you a precious gift, which we are privileged to watch you both unwrap: the chance to begin life all over again. As eyewitnesses to this miracle, we pledge to you both our support: we will lift you on our collective shoulders, which are strong enough to carry you and broad enough for you to cry on; they will heave with laughter as we share your joy, and slump with sorrow when you are broken. As eyewitnesses to this miracle, we pledge to you both our love: not as those who have invented it, but as those who have been graced with it from the Father, who acknowledge its most-perfect-model in the sacrifice of the Son, and who have known its power which comes through the Holy Spirit. God has already given you His blessing---we echo that with our AMEN!

Dental Emergencies revisited

Yep, we had another dental emergency in our household yesterday. JMonster hit the very same tooth he almost knocked out last time. This time it is chipped and looks like it has a fracture running across it. (Sigh)

Tomorrow we go to see his NEW pediatric dentist for the first time. We had planned on getting a cleaning appointment, but now we'll do both.

Cross your fingers that the damage is minimal and my baby won't be toothless until he's 7!

A small thought on Obamacare...

I LOVE the Discovery Health Channel. I can watch most of the shows any time of day (although I typically only watch TV in the evenings and only for an hour or so).

The other evening my sister and I were watching a fun show called Deliver Me. It is a great show, but this isn't about that.

AFTER Deliver Me came a show about Homebirthing. This is a trend here in the US and overseas where pregnant women deliver at home with NO SUPPORT. Their husbands (or "partners") are there, but no mid-wife, doula, doctor, etc...

This isn't a debate about homebirthing.

Will you get to the point already? :o)

One of the first segments of the show was of an ob/gyn office in Great Britain. The waiting room was MASSIVE and pregnant women were EVERYWHERE! Most of them looked like they had been there for quite awhile and were digging in for the long haul.

All I could think as I saw that room is HERE is socialized medicine at its best. Long waits. Large waiting rooms filled to capacity.

AND PEOPLE ARE CHOOSING THIS.

Choosing to take away choice.

Ironic, isn't it?

When we were in the ATL...

I thought I'd share a few photos of the visit to Atlanta in August. Mostly we spent time with neighbors and just hung out around the house. JMonster did do a white trash bit and ran around in the sprinkler system in his undies. Here are the pics to prove it. Too cute!







SPINNING!

Loving life!

Run! Run!

I think this one shows the story of our lives.

Girl's weekend

So, I never did an official post of our girly weekend in downtown Fort Worth. Here are a few fun pics of the fun!

We got our tosies done

Flat Baloney! (And some random dude hitting on everyone?)

Fun Friends

More fun friends!

Twinkies! But can you guess which is which?

Seriously!?! We're all together and everyone is texting?