Sunday, November 30, 2008

Turkey day fun and other stuff.

So...how was your Turkey Day?

Ours was good. We went up to see my mom and dad in Asheville and then came home and did the whole thing over again with Kris's side of the family! Let's just say there's been too much eating going on this past week! Phew!

Before we got to my mom and dad's, mom called and wanted to see if we wanted to meet them at the Grove Park Inn to check it out and the gingerbread competition that they had there.

I have never been to the Grove Park Inn and it was beautiful!


I'd love to go back there (with no girly's) and stay. It looks very cozy and relaxing!! Ahh.....what I would give for that at the moment. (*cue screaming girls EVERYWHERE right now ugh...)

Don't know what happened to this picture, it's very blurry. But this is the big fireplace in the lobby. Had I thought better this would've made a great Christmas picture. But anyone that knows me knows I've got to have them all matching for Christmas poses! Which is surely to be a challenge this year with Taylor needing her "own" style. We might just have to be "co-ordinated".


Then it was time to check out the gingerbread houses and there were so many to see! I would love to sit here and upload more pictures but my computer is acting a bit psychotic...much like my children at the moment.

Again......don't know what's wrong with this picture! But, the details were amazing on these houses. Loved it all!!

This is a very special picture below!! HopeAnn has ONLY asked for a doll house for Christmas. Despite the fact that we have oh......ten "houses" for dolls, barbies and such...she really wants a "real" one. This gingerbread house captured my heart when I saw it and I thought.....that would make a really great doll house.

Well....after we got home on Friday I had some coupons and knew I at least had to "try" to get one of these houses. They are normally anywhere between $120-$150, and that doesn't include all the "stuff" that goes inside.

Long story short....Kris ended up getting one that will look exactly like this for $60!! I was SO pumped! Now.....I don't know if I will be "so pumped" when we start working on this thing, which will need to be this week sometime. But I hope it makes her heart smile!



After all that looking we decided we'd better head back to the Mimi's house and have our OWN competition! And what a competition we had.

This was hard.......no kits. We had graham crackers and tons of candy and frosting of course. The *KEY is using confectioners sugar to hold the house together. I say this like I'm some gingerbread pro....oh my word. =)

So it was me and Hopie against the Taylor and daddy.

This was our result......pretty good I thought!


And this was their result. NOT that it "needs" to be explained because it's "so obvious".....well, ok not really. I'll let you guess for a second.........

It was a foot-ball stadium! I think they cheated a wee bit, but that's just between you and I.

Don't they look a little sneaky like on their faces??? Kennedy's "job" was to test ALL the candy. Just to "make sure" it was real. =)


So of course Hopie and I won. After all this is MY blog.

Saturday was round 2 of turkey day with Kris's family. His cousin was in town with their two kiddos who are Taylor and Kennedy's age so the kids had lot's of fun! I would post pictures, but I always feel funny posting pictures if I don't know how they feel about it. But they put on some good "shows" for us that had us laughing until we hurt!

Today we put up our tree and I've just been in a blah Christmas mood. Like...I don't even care what my tree looks like this year!! I've NEVER been this way.

I think a lot of things have me down right now. Mainly the fact that most likely our girls won't be returning to their school next year. Kris and I had a lot of time to talk on the way up and back to Asheville and as much as it breaks our hearts, we just don't think we can continue to leave them there. Oh that makes my heart sink just writing that.

You know......obedience is hard. We moved here to this tiny little old house to be able to keep our girls at their school. But it's just gotten harder and harder. Between Kris and I, we now hold three jobs, sometimes four =), and it's just not working. But maybe we're missing something. But so far, I haven't got the foggiest idea as to why the Lord has put us in this house.

The one thing I've always prayed is that if they were supposed to stay at their school that God would just continually provide. But, I have to say, it's the one thing we are struggling each month to pay with two there now. I can't even imagine what it will be like when Kennedy starts....which isn't to far off.

We have some ideas......but we are praying so hard that God would show us exactly what to do. Nothing has been a clear yes or a clear no.

If you think to pray for discernment for us, it would be much appreciated!!!

These next few weeks are going to be a little stressful but also exciting. I've got my first "production" (ha ha) with the pre-schooler's. We are doing a little Christmas program that I HOPE turns out great. You never know!! BUT, We've been working very hard!

Well......how are things for you? I hope you all had a great thanksgiving and I look foreword to catching up with everyone soon! Have a great night and awesome week!

14 comments:

MiMi said...

Oh, didn't you just love The Grove Park Inn! It is so beautiful and I would love to spend a little time in their Spa, too! (-;

I understand your concerns about schooling for the girls. We faced those same concerns with our 3 when they were in private school. I will be praying for discernment --that God would make it clear what direction you and Kris should take. He will show you and He will honor whatever decision He leads you to make.

You guys did an amazing job on your "gingerbread houses"! And that dollhouse....OMG, what I would have given as a little girl to have had that! HopeAnn is going to love it!

Running the race said...

We really did have a great time. I wonder with a whole year to think about ginger bread houses for next year..what will the kids come up with. Trust the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight! Love Mom

The Patterson 5 said...

Wonderful gingerbread houses!
Prayers for you as you trust in God and seek His path for your girls schooling. May you find peace in what ever direction He leads.

Rebecca Jo said...

Yeah - sometimes we want things that God is continually telling you to let go & let Him control. Will definitely lift up a prayer of discernment for you!

And LOVE the ginger bread houses (& stadium! - what a man!!!) How fun it had to be to see an actual contest.... I would have got the bug too & had to make my own. I'll stick with the kits though - I feel so accomplished with just those - I wont push my luck!

Amy L Brooke said...

Glad you had a good Thanksgiving. That does look like a nice get away for you and Kris sometime. Maybe Santa will come through....

I'll keep praying about the school. I know it is a tough decision to make. But you know that God has you and the girls in His hands.

I had a good Thanksgiving in Indiana with a friend's family.

I'm bummed that it snowed today and I had to do the drive.... Sigh. Such is life in Central IL.

Amy

Joyful said...

So enjoyed sharing in your pictures - thanks for posting those.

I'll be praying re: schooling. I remember, as if it were yesterday, how the Lord answered and guided concerning the schooling for our son. The answer didn't come until the last minute and after months and months of praying, but God gave us His direction. He'll show you His plans as well. Keep trusting!

Love & prayers,
Joy

Kay Martin said...

I love Grove Park Inn. My mom moved up there in the 80's. We were lost looking for an apartment for her and we ended up at Grove Park Inn at lunch time. This was scary time in her life and that gorgeous porch lunch was God's hug and kiss to assure her He was with her. She had the best years of her life living there for the next decade.

Schooling: God has the plan laid out and you will know clearly what you need to do. 3 children in private school at one time would stretch almost anyone's budget greatly. Flex...open your heart and mind...believe you and your wonderful husband will see clearly what to do. Change in school can be traumatic, but children adapt so beautifully they will thrive wherever they are.

So good to have your posts back in my day.

On Purpose said...

Both of those are adorable gingerbread houses!!

Jennifer said...

I so want to go to the Grove Park Inn!! It looks like something from a storybook.....

My Christmas mood has also been..well, blah!! What's the matter here?? I'll be checking back to see how you catch the spirit. I love your blog - such an encouragement to me....maybe I'll catch an attitude change, too!

Happy Monday!

Jenny said...

Great pictures!

On the school issue, I have been where you are. Meghan went to private school, then Katie went and we just couldn't keep doing it especially when we got close to Lauren starting. Meghan went up to 3rd grade, Katie went up to 2 grade, Lauren none.

Now that they are 16, 12, and 10. If I had it to do over, I would have taken Meghan and Katie out when we did but put Lauren in for her first two years.

That first firm foundation in a huge blessing. But Lauren has done fine, I think for me I just missed the little things they did differently in the lower grades.

Lysa also just put one of her girls in public school too.

I'll be praying for you!

Jen

Sharon Brumfield said...

I am glad that ya'll had a great time with your Mom and Dad.
My brother took me to see the gingerbread a few years ago and I loved it.
I want to take Julia back this year. And yes, I would love to be able to spend a weekend there...very posh.

You know Keith and I dealt with the same thing when our son was young. We wanted to send him to this private Christian school...who wouldn't? But the prices kept going up and up and the stress mounted each month.
Finally we asked God to provide a lump sum so that we would not have to "work it out" each month.
God said no and so we took Michael out. The tuition is now up to about 8,500 a year and that does not count books and uniforms and all the other fees.
Julia is doing good in her school. She is learning and the children here are so much more conservative than the ones back home. I do feel that we have been blessed by the move we were willing to make.
Keep your thankful heart...don't forget the things He has done.
Don't manipulate the situations...He will provide according to His will. ;)

Ginger said...

Hi there,

Thanks for your sweet comment! I love the gingerbread houses too!
So creative and beautiful. I've only been once...free night with my husband's job. You guys did a great job creating houses. I'm impressed!

Hang in there with school. I know what you mean. We pulled our daughter out of public school last year and put her in a small Christian school. It can definitely put a dent in the budget, but it has made a huge difference in her life...so we keep making the sacrifices in other places. Worth every penny.

God always provides!
Ginger :)

Louise said...

Love that doll house and your gingerbread/graham cracker house is amazing and you SO won :)
I will pray for you and Kris!!
HUGS friend :)
L

Mulchy Mama said...

I've never been to the Grove Park, either but I'd absolutely love to go!! Their Spa looks amazing from the pics I've seen!
My kiddos and I make a Gingerbread House every year, but we usually go with the kit. They've already started asking about it this year!
I'll be praying for discernment for you too....I know how hard that is. John and I had such a hard time with that when it was time for Little Man to go to school.
Love you, and see you on Thursday in our "tacky Christmas sweaters"!!