November/December Wrap Up.

Hi everyone.  It has been quite a while since my last post.  Two holidays have already passed and we are now entering the last week of the 2009 year. 

Our family enjoyed a beautiful Thanksgiving together.  It was just me and Danny and the kids, and Bubba of course!  We all pitched in and helped with the preparations for the meal.  The kids each chose a veggie dish and a dessert to make.  They all did such a great job, and I had so much fun cooking with them in the kitchen.  Danny's job was to sit and relax.  I took pictures to post on this site, but I don't know how to do that just yet.  So, for now just know that pictures are coming soon.  :)

Mid-December, Jacob, Kennedy and Karaline were all in a Christmas recital with their dance studio.  For the first time ever, Kennedy performed her competition solo in front of a huge audience.  She did great!  Afterward she told me she forgot a part, but you couldn't tell, she just kept smiling and dancing.

Jacob took his finals at school before Christmas break.  He passed them all, but we are waiting on his grades to post to see if he passed Math for the semester.  It is still heavy on my heart to homeschool him, but no decision has been made as of yet.  I think I'm holding back because I'm scared.

Danny has had some good days and some bad days.  As his liver gets worse, he becomes more tired and is in more pain.  His legs have really been bothering him at night and it's preventing him from getting a peaceful sleep.  He was up one night last week until around 3:45am and he had to wake up at 4:30 to go into work.  He woke me up at 2:00 to let me know he was getting dressed and going into work and was just going to sleep in his car until it was time to start working.  Of course I wouldn't let him do that.  I got up with him and rubbed his legs until he felt like he could get some sleep.  Then I couldn't go back to sleep!  So I did laundry!  :)

Oh, here is something new, Danny gave the kids a puppy for Christmas, even after all my protests.  Her name is Sadie Mae and she is a beagle mix that Danny rescued from the shelter.  I tired everything to prevent this from happening, but God opened doors every step of the way.  Our apartment management waived our pet deposit ($400) and Sadie took to kenneling after just one night.  The kids were so happy when Danny brought her in and their reaction to receiving her made Danny cry.  This is their first pet, with the exception of our turtle Jerry, who ran away.  They have been very responsible with walking her and feeding her and even bathing her.  She lets them lay on her and carry her around like she is a baby and she wears these little sweaters they put on her to keep her warm.  Sometimes when all this is going on I think she looks at me with this expression on her face as if saying, please help me.  :) 

The kids are on winter break and are loving sleeping in and staying up late.  We spent Christmas at my grandparents home in Waller.  Everyone was there except my sister and her family.  We missed them, but they like to have Christmas at their house in OnAlaska.  My neice and nephew are going to be coming one day this week to stay through the weekend while my sister and her husband go hunting again.  I can't wait to see them. 

Our 300 cookbooks came in the week before Christmas and Praise God, we have already sold out!  I think we are going to order and additional 200 but I'm not sure just yet.  God truly blessed us with this fundraiser.  I've been able to pay off some small doctor bills for Danny and the kids had to be seen by the doctor and we were able to pay for that as well.  Thank you to everyone who participated in this fundraiser. 

Well it's time for me to close.  I'll try and post more this week.  Have a safe and happy new year. 
Love in Christ,
Crystal.