December...at a glance!

What a wonderfully busy month December has been!

The first weekend in December I signed "O, Holy Night" with Hands to Serve (sign group) at Union Hill Baptist Church. It was truly a blessing to help lead worship in that way. I have grown to love signing more that I ever thought I would!

The second weekend, I took the girls to Christmas in the Country (at Union Hill) and they had their Christmas concert at our church on Sunday evening. The music from both was wonderful and we had the chance to take a couple of Brooke's close friends with us. It reminded me of some of my own friends from school!

Between the second weekend and the third weekend, I was SLAMMED! On Wednesday of that week, the girls and I went caroling with the children's group at our church to some of the local nursing homes. It was very bitter sweet as we went to the nursing home that David's grandmother passed away in for the first time since her passing. Brooke (my tender heart), was fine until we turned down "the pink hall." That was when the waterworks started. We were able to find Granny's old roommate from there and it helped a little. The next night was the Christmas program for the kindergarten I where I work. My students are 5 years old and I taught them the sign for "O Holy Night" as I was learning it! BEAUTIFUL! It was almost flawless! I had a couple that were somewhat nervous as we were about to go on, but after reminding them that we were leading in worship and worshiping~not performing~and a prayer they were good to go with no jitters!

The third weekend, I was at Fowler Springs Baptist Church in Blountsville. One of my students attends there and is very, very shy. However, when his music director asked he and I to do our signing after the program, he looked at me and said he would do it if I would! Well, I was certainly not going to let him down at that point as he was taking a HUGE step! It went great and I honestly felt like I had gone back home as I saw people I had not seen in years! However, when the music director introduced me he had to use my maiden name because they didn't know who "Tasha Price" was!

Finally, Christmas! We spent Christmas Eve Day with David's family, went to the church for the service, and then back to Mom's for a while (we did the big family Christmas with them on Saturday). She said that it felt like Christmas even though we all weren't there, just to do something on Christmas Eve. Christmas day was spent at home...I had almost forgotten what this place looked like! LOL! Really, we took the day to relax...that is of course after Leila woke at 6am because she just knew that she heard Santa!

All in all, this has been a great Christmas season. I was blessed with chances to serve that I never thought possible, and look forward to what God has in store for the next year.

I am so excited that the Holidays are here! We have already had a very busy season and from the look of my calendar, there is more to come!

Last weekend we took Leila on her first ever "Mommy and Daddy ONLY" trip! Brooke was on a special trip with David's parents, so we took Leila away! Leila decided to go to Nashville, TN! We walked all around the Gaylord Resorts (beautiful), walked through ICE, and shopped at the Opry Mills Mall! This was built where Opryland used to be! The only thing left of Opryland that I noticed was the Thunder River!

This year we had Thanksgiving at my house! It was great! I did all the cooking and no one died! LOL! Of course, along with the cooking came the cleaning~but it was okay!! Brooke wants to learn to do some "real" cooking, but before we embark on allowing her full range in the kitchen, she has to learn to clean the kitchen. She helped me with the dishes and to make a pumpkin praline cheesecake!

I am so excited about Christmas this year! Already, my tree has been up for two weeks! I have been listening to Christmas music for over a month!!! I plan to fully enjoy the Christmas season this year...in a way I have never enjoyed it before! In the past I have allowed the stress of the goings and comings to take over the true meaning behind all the glitz and bows. Not this year. Taking the time to sit, look at the tree, the ornaments on it, reflect on the birth of Jesus and remind my children about what the season means.

The next few weeks will be slammed...programs, music, wrapping gifts, parties, parades...but rest assured that those things will not overshadow what is important.

Merry CHRISTmas!

Age...Just a Number?

Well, I hit 31 years old with a speed faster than lightening the end of August. 31...just how did that happen? Along with the 31 years, has also come the sagging of areas that were once "perky", the widening of areas that were once narrow, and the wrinkling of areas that were once smooth!

In an attempt to feel and look better, I have joined a local small gym here in town. In the MONTH that I have been working myself into a disgusting smelly sweat I have only lost a few pounds! Keep in mind that I have been eating as many raw foods as possible (salads with tons of veggies, fresh fruit, raw nuts...). When I was in my 20's I could cut back for a few days and drop 5 lbs in a week!

Okay, all that whining aside, there are perks to being in ones 30's. I am thankful to have lived this long, to have two wonderful little girls, and a great husband. The feeling of stability at this point is priceless for me!

For the birthday celebration, David and the girls made sure to include my favorite things...pink roses, chocolate, my favorite perfume, hugs, kisses, and singing! David called from a store on the way home to see what kind of cake/pie/anything that I would like. As I couldn't decide, he bought double chocolate/chocolate chip muffins! We walked in from church to him lighting a candle atop a muffin! The night before, Dave and Leila went to the store to pick out a gift for me (she REFUSED to make me another card this year...in her words "I always have to make Momma a card!"). She presented me with a pink notebook and sparkly ink pen! So I would have somewhere to write the "grocery lists" and stuff!

All in all, even though I am 31, I have a wonderful life that I am so thankful for.

Back in the Saddle

We are back in full swing now! School, work, gymnastics, band, children's choir at church, GA's...yes, life is moving on.

Leila loves her teacher, even though she misses her kindergarten teacher! She has also started gymnastics! Daily she is asking if it is gymnastics day and if not, then how many more days! She will be 7 in October, where did the time go?

Brooke and 6th grade are...well...lets just say that I am not crazy about 6th grade! Mood swings, eye rolling, and crying at the drop of a hat! I am told that it only gets worse! Other than hormonal cry-fests she is great! She is learning to play the flute (which we were able to get a great deal on)! I have enjoyed listening to her practice...even if she is not actually playing any songs yet!

After over a month of preparation I have a my new students and with a week under our belts, I must say that I am looking forward to this school year! They are all so excited! I hear "Mrs. Price...know what?" about 100 times a day, but it is great!

What? Summer is OVER?!

Alas, it is a very sad time in our home. Today we went to meet the girls teachers for the year! Leila's teacher and Brooke's teacher I know very well so no worries about what to expect. They both have their best friends in their classes this year too! As they prepare for this next year, I am preparing as well! Next week I have to go sort out all of the lessons, papers, and put my classroom back together! This has been the very best summer!

I have been reunited with some friends from highschool over the last couple of months. I look at their lives and am so much more thankful for the life I have. I have great in-laws who do everything in their power to make life better for their family. A great husband who just also happens to be the best dad ever! Parents who still teach me about the little things, sisters to keep me grounded, kids to keep it real! The things that I once thought would bring me a feeling of security seem silly now! I get exctied about a new whisk for the kitchen or a book for Leila!

I love Summertime!

There are many things that I love about summer, but one of my favorites is the food! Fresh veggies and fruits just make me happy! I have a very small "token garden" with tomatoes (Better Boys and Tommy Toe), cucumbers, strawberries(out of season now), sun flowers and two massive blueberry bushes!

My father-in-law sent me some of his peaches and I made a cobbler! Yes, from scratch! The girls thought this was very cool! I have been making blueberry muffins and freezing the other fresh blueberries by the quart size bag full for winter!

I am also in the process of putting up other veggies...Corn, peas, green beans, tomatoes...Hmmm, I think I want some soup! LOL!

What to do now?

Leila had another big seizure this morning. We are in between meds at the moment because the first meds made her so weepy and sad. She would start crying out of no where and just knew that all the problems of the world were all her fault...Just don't think that a 6 year old on zoloft to balance out the other meds is going to happen.

Honestly, the whole thing just makes me mad. I have heard people say that this isn't that big of a deal, because the seizures are small and don't leave lesions on her brain...well, it is not your kid either! She is afraid to go to sleep at night, because she might have a seizure! I am a grown up, I could handle something like this better if it was me, but this is a lot for a little girl to deal with.

That being said, I am very much a believer that God doesn't give us more than we can handle without HIM, and that these things make us stronger and help us to learn to depend on God more. I have told Leila this many times, just said it again this morning. At her age, it is hard to comprehend that God can use this as a positive to help others as she grows, and just honestly I am having a hard time looking past the here and now to the great plan that I KNOW God has for my child.

For those of you who do spend time in prayer, please pray for Leila. That we will be able to find the meds that will allow her to have a balanced, healthy, full life. That the doctor's will see her as a person, not "another patient". That we as parents will be strong enough to always point her to God, and that she won't grow up doubting God's love and great plan for her life. And anything else that God lays on your hearts in regards to this situation.