Tis the season to be jolly.... well at least that's what the song suggests. Jiggle bells, my nerves are frayed, I gotta have that dish! I'm being sarcastic of course but the mood at the stores has been pretty intense. Especially since all the news reports that everyone is broke and destitute. We all know that isn't entirely true. Yes for some it is, but alot of us are really being blessed.
Actually I'm sort of glad things have come apart at the seams. I don't wish hard times on anyone, but we all go through them. The good news is that Jesus said He would never leave or forsake us and that yes, we would surely have tribulation but to rejoice because He has overcome the darkness. So my suggestion is get closer to the Lord and stay close. Now is the time to really pay attention to the Lord and what He has to say and obey!
Another point I need to make is... be kind one to another. Love thy neighbor. I have alot of neighbors especially when I go out to WalMart or HEB. I have noticed some people would rather look away from me and avoid eye contact while there are others who respond with a smile. I like to watch people, what they do, how they walk and act when they think no one is looking.
I was in WalMart waiting for my husband and I was observing the people. I would look at their faces and wonder-"Lord does he/she know You?" Some I knew for sure did but others it was obvious something wasn't right.
And we are just a dot in this world sort of like the story of Horton Hears A Who. How in the world are we going to reach the whole world, every person with the Good News?
Monday, December 29, 2008
Christmas 2008
I love Christmas. I sometimes struggle with it, but I love it. My struggle this year was not having the where-with-all to buy Christmas gifts for the family, which bugged me a great deal. After all that is what Christmas is all about, right? How else will our kids know just how much they are loved by their parents? I mean surely a Barbie has to exude love for sure.
Well this year the best gift of all of having all of our kiddos home with us. A few gifts were handed out. Handmade, home made gifts. Things that didn't move or have sound, weren't digital but were a hundred times better.
How bout a giant pinata in shape of a star? Filled with candy. That was Tiera's gift from her cousins. No batteries needed just a length of rope, a step ladder, something long to whack it with, a blindfold and uncle Aaron standing on the stepladder providing the swing action. Poppy and Lorren on hand recording it all on video while the girls and Nanny provided the whacking, even Mona displayed her ninja/nacho libre skillz. It was a sight to behold. In the cheering section was Tobie and Carlos and "LilLos" providing the cheering action. We laughed.... alot. Which is really good for the soul.
Or how bout the beautiful gifts Tiera picked out for each and every one of her family members. She really has great taste.
Or the amazing handmade journal Lorren made for me. Each page hand painted and included old cards from the past. Can't forget the awesome gift cards. They are always a blessing. Thank you Tobie and Carlos. We loved using our Cracker Barrel gift card.
Food played a huge part in our celebrating starting with a Christmas Eve get together at Tobie and Carlos' house. We started this tradition several years ago and it has become very special to all of us. We made three kinds of chicken wings, potato salad, tomato/corn salad, fruit salad, spinach dip and chips.
For Christmas day we had ham, green beans casserole, sweet potatoes/ marshmallow topping and Galore salad. Lorren later made chili. Yum Yum Yum. Mandy stopped by that evening, Mona and the girls made S'mores, which was a event. Later Mona pulled out a board game and the rest of the evening was spent comparing Apples to Apples. Well most of us, Ron, Tobie and I watched TV in Ben's room.
I even recieved phone calls from my brothers whom I haven't heard from in years and one of them stop by the house with his wife and visited for awhile.
On Sunday Ron and I drove down to where my mom lives and spent some time with her.
This was a really nice Christmas. Thank you Jesus.
In the wise words of Timy Tim... "God bless us all" or something like that.
Well this year the best gift of all of having all of our kiddos home with us. A few gifts were handed out. Handmade, home made gifts. Things that didn't move or have sound, weren't digital but were a hundred times better.
How bout a giant pinata in shape of a star? Filled with candy. That was Tiera's gift from her cousins. No batteries needed just a length of rope, a step ladder, something long to whack it with, a blindfold and uncle Aaron standing on the stepladder providing the swing action. Poppy and Lorren on hand recording it all on video while the girls and Nanny provided the whacking, even Mona displayed her ninja/nacho libre skillz. It was a sight to behold. In the cheering section was Tobie and Carlos and "LilLos" providing the cheering action. We laughed.... alot. Which is really good for the soul.
Or how bout the beautiful gifts Tiera picked out for each and every one of her family members. She really has great taste.
Or the amazing handmade journal Lorren made for me. Each page hand painted and included old cards from the past. Can't forget the awesome gift cards. They are always a blessing. Thank you Tobie and Carlos. We loved using our Cracker Barrel gift card.
Food played a huge part in our celebrating starting with a Christmas Eve get together at Tobie and Carlos' house. We started this tradition several years ago and it has become very special to all of us. We made three kinds of chicken wings, potato salad, tomato/corn salad, fruit salad, spinach dip and chips.
For Christmas day we had ham, green beans casserole, sweet potatoes/ marshmallow topping and Galore salad. Lorren later made chili. Yum Yum Yum. Mandy stopped by that evening, Mona and the girls made S'mores, which was a event. Later Mona pulled out a board game and the rest of the evening was spent comparing Apples to Apples. Well most of us, Ron, Tobie and I watched TV in Ben's room.
I even recieved phone calls from my brothers whom I haven't heard from in years and one of them stop by the house with his wife and visited for awhile.
On Sunday Ron and I drove down to where my mom lives and spent some time with her.
This was a really nice Christmas. Thank you Jesus.
In the wise words of Timy Tim... "God bless us all" or something like that.
Monday, December 15, 2008
This Darn Thing & The Bumpis Dogs
Remember the movies "Back To The Future" and "The Christmas Story" ? We do. Those two movies along with the aforementioned "Clue" and "Bells Are Ringing" helped mold us into what we are today.
My sweet hubby could play the character Doc perfectly. My oldest daughters favorite
phrases in that movie is " Doc, Doc" and "Do you know what this means? This darn thing doesn't work!" She even sent her dad a birthday card with that written on it. There is a picture of a little girl trying to fix her bicycle and the phrase " Do You know what this means? This darn thing doesn't work" at the top. We like that movie a bunch. The sequels aren't so cool but that first movie is a hit.
"The Christmas Story" is another hit in our family. We discovered it while stationed in Germany the second time. To me Ralphie's family was how I pictured my hubby's family to be. One of our favorite phrases is "Those *&%$" Bumpis dogs. Of course we refrain saying "&%$" , that isn't cool.
My sweet hubby could play the character Doc perfectly. My oldest daughters favorite
phrases in that movie is " Doc, Doc" and "Do you know what this means? This darn thing doesn't work!" She even sent her dad a birthday card with that written on it. There is a picture of a little girl trying to fix her bicycle and the phrase " Do You know what this means? This darn thing doesn't work" at the top. We like that movie a bunch. The sequels aren't so cool but that first movie is a hit. "The Christmas Story" is another hit in our family. We discovered it while stationed in Germany the second time. To me Ralphie's family was how I pictured my hubby's family to be. One of our favorite phrases is "Those *&%$" Bumpis dogs. Of course we refrain saying "&%$" , that isn't cool.
Bah Humbug!
That's what my sweet hubby says each time the holidays come around. For some reason he doesn't appreciate the joy and wonders of putting up the Christmas decorations, tree and house lights the day after Thanksgiving. And heaven help us when the stores start putting out Christmas merchandise in October.
His favorite phrase is "years ago". "Years ago, when I was growing up we didn't decorate until two weeks before Christmas. " "Years ago" can even mean last week or yesterday. Just kidding sweetie. But let me tell you, once he finally gets into the mood, the outside of our house glows, flashes and shines. I just know that Jesus and all the angels in heaven can see our house. Uhm, by the way, this isn't our house.
His favorite phrase is "years ago". "Years ago, when I was growing up we didn't decorate until two weeks before Christmas. " "Years ago" can even mean last week or yesterday. Just kidding sweetie. But let me tell you, once he finally gets into the mood, the outside of our house glows, flashes and shines. I just know that Jesus and all the angels in heaven can see our house. Uhm, by the way, this isn't our house.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
In Between
In between the two overseas tours we were stationed in El Paso, Texas at Ft. Bliss. We stayed with my parents for awhile, then found a house to rent on the "economy" and then moved into quarters on post.
While we lived in the rental house Tobie and Lorren attended a private Christian school at Jesus Chapel for a year and then we moved to quarters and they moved to a public school.That was not a positive experience. In 1982 Ron went to Korea for 13 months during which time, Ben was born. Shortly after Ron returned from Korea we returned to Germany.
That year Ron was in Korea was a challenge for us. My parents lived in El Paso so that was a huge help.
While we lived in the rental house Tobie and Lorren attended a private Christian school at Jesus Chapel for a year and then we moved to quarters and they moved to a public school.That was not a positive experience. In 1982 Ron went to Korea for 13 months during which time, Ben was born. Shortly after Ron returned from Korea we returned to Germany.
That year Ron was in Korea was a challenge for us. My parents lived in El Paso so that was a huge help.
School, Sled Hill, Volksmarching
The Department of Defense school system-DODS- was a new expericance for us. This was during the second tour. I think what made our time so special was the sense of community. Everyone was pretty much in the same boat.
In music class Lorren and Mona had a German speaking teacher who taught the classes songs in German. I don't think the girls remember any of the songs but it was wonderful to listen to them sing.
Ben was in Pre-K and in his class they had a really cute custom. Each child had a pair of house shoes they kept in the classroom and when they came in from the cold they would take off their outside shoes and put on their house shoes to wear in class.
Tobie had to ride the bus to another air base to go to school. I think that was hard for her. And now that I think about it, I don't think we ever visited her school.
The one and only we have been sledding was at Spangdahlem Air Base. There was a snow covered hill and the Air Force set up lights so that the families could sled at night. It was cold and wonderful.
We did some Volksmarching also. Not during the winter but in the spring and summer. There was Volksmarching groups and for a fee you could go on walks- 5K-10K-20K through the orests. Afterwards we would recieve a plaque. One time we decided to take the 20K hike and walked a long long ways. We sure learned our lesson.
In music class Lorren and Mona had a German speaking teacher who taught the classes songs in German. I don't think the girls remember any of the songs but it was wonderful to listen to them sing.
Ben was in Pre-K and in his class they had a really cute custom. Each child had a pair of house shoes they kept in the classroom and when they came in from the cold they would take off their outside shoes and put on their house shoes to wear in class.
Tobie had to ride the bus to another air base to go to school. I think that was hard for her. And now that I think about it, I don't think we ever visited her school.
The one and only we have been sledding was at Spangdahlem Air Base. There was a snow covered hill and the Air Force set up lights so that the families could sled at night. It was cold and wonderful.
We did some Volksmarching also. Not during the winter but in the spring and summer. There was Volksmarching groups and for a fee you could go on walks- 5K-10K-20K through the orests. Afterwards we would recieve a plaque. One time we decided to take the 20K hike and walked a long long ways. We sure learned our lesson.
St. Nick
You haven't celebrated Christmas until you spend some time in Germany. The snow is beautiful and of course very cold. I'm not sure what the date is but one night during the first week of December, the children will put their shoes outside the door so that St. Nick can put candy and small items in them. Our kids put their shoes outside the door, we lived in the attic so there was a stairwell and the next morning their shoes were full of chocolates. We were all surprised, I don't know who put the candy in. This was during our second tour in Germany.
Then there's the Christmas parade downtown. St. Nick rides by on his sled with a little imp character with him. I don't recall his name but he is mischievous. Of course St. Nick is beautiful, not like our Santa Claus but wearing a robe and carrying a staff. When they pass by they tossed out candy.
On our first tour Saint Nick came to our apartment and Lorren sat in his lap. She was only 2 I think at the time. I wish I could say she loved him but... well... she was so scared she peed on him. Poor baby. Saint Nick was really good natured about that and just laughed it off.
We dressed up for Christmas dinner, I used my Christmas plates and we all enjoyed the meal and company.
Then there's the Christmas parade downtown. St. Nick rides by on his sled with a little imp character with him. I don't recall his name but he is mischievous. Of course St. Nick is beautiful, not like our Santa Claus but wearing a robe and carrying a staff. When they pass by they tossed out candy.
On our first tour Saint Nick came to our apartment and Lorren sat in his lap. She was only 2 I think at the time. I wish I could say she loved him but... well... she was so scared she peed on him. Poor baby. Saint Nick was really good natured about that and just laughed it off.
We dressed up for Christmas dinner, I used my Christmas plates and we all enjoyed the meal and company.
Movie Time
Most of the early years of my children's lives were spent overseas in West Germany. That was way before the Berlin wall came down. We have one child born in Florida, another in Kentucy, another in West Germany and another in Texas. The Neubig family served two tours in West Germany.
The first tour, my oldest daugther was only 4 1/2 and my second daughter was a new born. We lived "on the economy" which means living off post while we were waiting for our name to come up for on post housing. Our apartment was on the third floor over a bakery and there was a bar right on the corner. One night Ron went there to buy some soda and he discovered that the waitresses were topless.
In Germany the houses had metal covers that rolled down to cover the windows at night I think they were called Roladens or something like that. We didn't have good television reception so we would listen to the Armed Forces Radio station. They played the movie "Star Wars" only of course it was actors speaking with sound effects and of course our imagination.
We had to walk everywhere we went. Our car had not arrived from the states. So when it was time to do laundry we had to put the laundry and balance Lorren in her baby seat on top. We had to walk to the laundry facilities on post, do the laundry and walk back. We also had to go to the commissary the same way. It was very hard for me and the girls to live on the economy. Ron was gone alot and our neighbors didn't speak English and of course I had no German skills.
Finally we moved on post. Which made things easier but there were still challenges. I made very close friendships with other women. It was the best way to survive and we were a pretty tight knit group. We depended on each other for just about everything. During that tour Mona was born in Landsthul, Germany.
When it was time for our second tour, Tobie was 12, Lorren 9, Mona 8 and Ben was 3.
Living overseas has it's own unique challenges and adjustments. Such as watching television. I don't know how it is now but in the 70's and 80's we had one American Channel-AFN which is the military television station and all the television programs we were accustomed to were on but were six months old by the time they were shown on AFN.
Since television was a bit limited, we watched videos. There were two movies that for some reason grew into cult status for the Neubig Family. The movie CLUE and Bells Are Ringing. Back then we didn't notice the adult humor in both movies, but the kids knew the scripts by heart. They would even put on skits about the movies, especially CLUE. I will always remember Mrs. White and The Singing Telegram. Our kids are now adults and they can still recite the movie verbatim.
Another diversion in the Neubig quarters was the kids making news programs and commericals staring the famous Kathy Beavers. My husband spent alot of time filming the kids and their antics and we treasure those videos. I think that time was the happiest time we had together in the military.
The first tour, my oldest daugther was only 4 1/2 and my second daughter was a new born. We lived "on the economy" which means living off post while we were waiting for our name to come up for on post housing. Our apartment was on the third floor over a bakery and there was a bar right on the corner. One night Ron went there to buy some soda and he discovered that the waitresses were topless.
In Germany the houses had metal covers that rolled down to cover the windows at night I think they were called Roladens or something like that. We didn't have good television reception so we would listen to the Armed Forces Radio station. They played the movie "Star Wars" only of course it was actors speaking with sound effects and of course our imagination.
We had to walk everywhere we went. Our car had not arrived from the states. So when it was time to do laundry we had to put the laundry and balance Lorren in her baby seat on top. We had to walk to the laundry facilities on post, do the laundry and walk back. We also had to go to the commissary the same way. It was very hard for me and the girls to live on the economy. Ron was gone alot and our neighbors didn't speak English and of course I had no German skills.
Finally we moved on post. Which made things easier but there were still challenges. I made very close friendships with other women. It was the best way to survive and we were a pretty tight knit group. We depended on each other for just about everything. During that tour Mona was born in Landsthul, Germany.
When it was time for our second tour, Tobie was 12, Lorren 9, Mona 8 and Ben was 3.
Living overseas has it's own unique challenges and adjustments. Such as watching television. I don't know how it is now but in the 70's and 80's we had one American Channel-AFN which is the military television station and all the television programs we were accustomed to were on but were six months old by the time they were shown on AFN.
Since television was a bit limited, we watched videos. There were two movies that for some reason grew into cult status for the Neubig Family. The movie CLUE and Bells Are Ringing. Back then we didn't notice the adult humor in both movies, but the kids knew the scripts by heart. They would even put on skits about the movies, especially CLUE. I will always remember Mrs. White and The Singing Telegram. Our kids are now adults and they can still recite the movie verbatim.
Another diversion in the Neubig quarters was the kids making news programs and commericals staring the famous Kathy Beavers. My husband spent alot of time filming the kids and their antics and we treasure those videos. I think that time was the happiest time we had together in the military.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
The Family Tree
Christmases are different for me and my hubby now. We almost have a empty nest. Almost because our son is at home while he is in college. We have spent Christmas is many different places, here in the U.S. and overseas. In the past I would make gingerbread houses, bake cookies, make a yule log cake, fuss over all sorts of gifts. Ron would set up the video camera and tape the kids putting up and decorating the Christmas tree. One year th
ey put the limbs in wrong and the tree was upside down. Another year Ron bought what I called a "Charlie Brown" tree. That tree had no top just a skinny little stem- it was well...ugly, but it was our tree. Ron says he got the tree for half price.
Last year instead of putting up our big 8 foot Christmas tree w/ decorations we put a small table top tree. The tree is really cute and lovely to look at but just isn't the same. My husband and son seem ok with just having a downsized Christmas but for me something just wasn't right. I guess my heart hadn't been downsized. This year I thought I would be ok with just putting the table top tree but again something just isn't right. My oldest daughter asked if she could use the big tree and we took it to her house. But then found out that some small piece that held the top of the tree was missing, so the tree came back home. I bugged my hubby to figure out some way to fix it and we put the tree up. I love it.
While he was at work I put the tree together, put up the lights and then the decorations. It was like a walk down memory lane. Each decoration has significance. The "Legg" Egg Mona decorated in preschool. Branden's little ornament he bought at a Kris Kindle market while on a school outing when he was three. The Biker Santa Lorren gave her dad. Each and very ornament is special. Oh and I can't forget the two string of musical lights with little red bell covers that play random Christmas songs. I love this tree. Not the way I love Jesus or my family but this tree has special meaning to me.
I'm not sure what the moral of this story is except that there is no place like home. When Ron and I got married he was in the Army and so that meant that we moved alot. At first it was so hard and I was so homesick. When we were overseas the Americans would always say "when we get back home". But eventually I realized that home is where me and my family live.
ey put the limbs in wrong and the tree was upside down. Another year Ron bought what I called a "Charlie Brown" tree. That tree had no top just a skinny little stem- it was well...ugly, but it was our tree. Ron says he got the tree for half price.Last year instead of putting up our big 8 foot Christmas tree w/ decorations we put a small table top tree. The tree is really cute and lovely to look at but just isn't the same. My husband and son seem ok with just having a downsized Christmas but for me something just wasn't right. I guess my heart hadn't been downsized. This year I thought I would be ok with just putting the table top tree but again something just isn't right. My oldest daughter asked if she could use the big tree and we took it to her house. But then found out that some small piece that held the top of the tree was missing, so the tree came back home. I bugged my hubby to figure out some way to fix it and we put the tree up. I love it.
While he was at work I put the tree together, put up the lights and then the decorations. It was like a walk down memory lane. Each decoration has significance. The "Legg" Egg Mona decorated in preschool. Branden's little ornament he bought at a Kris Kindle market while on a school outing when he was three. The Biker Santa Lorren gave her dad. Each and very ornament is special. Oh and I can't forget the two string of musical lights with little red bell covers that play random Christmas songs. I love this tree. Not the way I love Jesus or my family but this tree has special meaning to me.
I'm not sure what the moral of this story is except that there is no place like home. When Ron and I got married he was in the Army and so that meant that we moved alot. At first it was so hard and I was so homesick. When we were overseas the Americans would always say "when we get back home". But eventually I realized that home is where me and my family live.
Favorite Christmas Movies:
Little Women
Scrooge - I like the Muppet version
Home Alone-The first one-I didn't realize that there are FOUR Home Alones.
White Christmas
Christmas Story
5 things that happened yesterday:
Checked out OMart-A Korean/Chinese Grocery Store
Picked up passport applications
Checked out the new Target store
Checked out Barnes & Noble Book Store
Checked out Hobby Lobby-My son witnessed someone shoplifting.
5 things to look forward to:
Having my family home for Christmas
The birth of our fourth grandchild
Visiting my mom and family
5 things on my wish list:
Safe travel for my kids as they drive all over Texas
All my children and grandchildren love the Lord
To go back to Mexico and spend time with my daughter and her family
5 things I love most about Christmas/winter:
My granddaughter T's music class played Christmas music
on the local Christian Television channel.
Christmas music
Christmas decorations/decorating the Christmas tree.
Christmas cookies
Jesus!
5 people I'm tagging:
My daughter and the mystery person who subscribed to this blog(thank you for that and anyone else who wants to do it!!)
Little Women
Scrooge - I like the Muppet version
Home Alone-The first one-I didn't realize that there are FOUR Home Alones.
White Christmas
Christmas Story
5 things that happened yesterday:
Checked out OMart-A Korean/Chinese Grocery Store
Picked up passport applications
Checked out the new Target store
Checked out Barnes & Noble Book Store
Checked out Hobby Lobby-My son witnessed someone shoplifting.
5 things to look forward to:
Having my family home for Christmas
The birth of our fourth grandchild
Visiting my mom and family
5 things on my wish list:
Safe travel for my kids as they drive all over Texas
All my children and grandchildren love the Lord
To go back to Mexico and spend time with my daughter and her family
5 things I love most about Christmas/winter:
My granddaughter T's music class played Christmas music
on the local Christian Television channel.
Christmas music
Christmas decorations/decorating the Christmas tree.
Christmas cookies
Jesus!
5 people I'm tagging:
My daughter and the mystery person who subscribed to this blog(thank you for that and anyone else who wants to do it!!)
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
No Clue
I'm thinking Mrs. Peacock, the knife, in the library. Where's Prof. Plum?
How did that tune go? "I am the singing telegram?"
Cindy Lou Who
I'm feeling like Cindy Lou Who from Whoville. She kept asking where Christmas was. Was Christmas in the lights? Was Christmas in the gifts?
I like Cindy Lou Who. She was the only one who reached out to the Grinch in friendship
and attempted to draw him into a relationship. She took the time to find out why the Grinch was such a mean Grinch. And another thing I like about little Cindy Lou Who is the fact that she was willing to go the extra mile, or in this case, go down the trash dump and up the long cold cliff to find the Grinch. She wasn't put off by his bad behavior or attitude, but showed him what a true freind really is.
and attempted to draw him into a relationship. She took the time to find out why the Grinch was such a mean Grinch. And another thing I like about little Cindy Lou Who is the fact that she was willing to go the extra mile, or in this case, go down the trash dump and up the long cold cliff to find the Grinch. She wasn't put off by his bad behavior or attitude, but showed him what a true freind really is.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
About Us
- Moving Forward
- We believe in longvity... 37 years married,laughing,music traveling,and enjoying our kids and their kids and our two dogs- Howie and Sammie.