B-I-N-G-O

We had "President's Day Bingo Night" at the kids' elementary school last night. It was the first time I "co-chaired" something at school. It was a ton of work, but a huge success. I am generally more comforable being a "worker" than a planner, but thankfully the gal I was working with is great at it :-). We organized helpers, called around getting prizes donated by local businesses (they were SO generous!), and then set it all up and cleaned up afterwards. We had cute patriotic decorations and then came up with the great idea to have 44 prizes to go with each president. I found cool presidental cards that had a picture of the Pres. and info about each one that we then taped to each prize. So the winner would come up and draw a president's name to find out what their prize would be. We also made it more fun by having rounds and each round was a different kind of bingo: postage stamp, X, Ring around the Rosie, Black out, etc. The weather was cold and snowy so the numbers were down, but all 200 bingo cards got sold out :-). We even made sure we had little prizes for the end (tatoos and candy) so that every child got a prize. I wish you could have seen Savannah come running up to the front yelling "BINGO!". Little did she know that by that time almost every kid had a bingo too. But she was so proud and thankful for her little tattoo and mint. The hardest part for me was knowing if I was calling the numbers too fast, but Eli said I went at a good pace. :-) So, it was a great family night full of fun memories. Now off to register Prae for High School -- can that really be right!? I'll save that experience for another blog...

Snow Day!

Today we called off church because of the winter storm warning. We have been having a wonderful day and Si and Savannah even enjoyed some time out in the snow. Some things accomplished today:
1.) Two loaves of whole wheat bread
2.) Chicken noodle soup with homemade noodles
3.) Reorganizing scrapbook supplies
4.) Moving some of Savannah's things upstairs - almost ready for that room to be her "very own".
5.) Shoveled 5-6 inches of snow off driveway and sidewalks -- one of the best ab workouts I know :-)
6.) Going to go take an hour long bubble bath now that my work is all done *grin*.

Old Family Video

Here is an old family video that we did Summer 08. We recently "found" it again and thought I'd put it on here for those of you how haven't seen it :-). We plan to do another one this year...

My Thoughts on Valentine's Day

Yesterday was Valentine's Day. I know I still need to write about my 2011 resolutions -- I've just been so busy trying to get them all accomplished - ha! I will get to them, but had to jot some thoughts down about love first.

I was contemplating the whole idea of Valentine's Day and I was struck with how it really seems to make more people sad than happy. Maybe it is just where I am in my life right now, but I couldn't help but think of all the people that might be sad because of the day: widows missing their husbands, wives with husbands away to war, single adults who don't have a "Valentine", husbands that are wondering "Did I do enough?", wives who are wondering "Did he do this because he HAS to or because he means it?", and those whose marriage has been torn by divorce who can't help but think about their past "Valentine".

Now don't get me wrong -- I'm sure it is a happy day for many, I just couldn't help but think of the others. I then turned my focus to the One who loves me more than any other. The love God has for me and every other sinner is what I want to celebrate! I thought of how many times I am unloving to Eli because of what he did or didn't do. That is so wrong! God is not like that. I marvel at the thought of God, in all of His holiness, loving me, before I ever loved Him. Looking on me in my sin and disobedience and loving me so much that He sent Jesus to earth to take my punishment. I praise God for a love so unconditional that even as I continue to sin, He promises to forgive me.

So, that's what I celebrated on Valentine's Day. Am I in love with my earthly Valentine - you bet!! Do I love the flowers he gave me -- So MUCH!! But God has used the love we have for each other to show me a little picture of God's love for me -- and that is a love anyone can have whether they have a Valentine, or not!!