Let me introduce myself...

Sorry. The holidays really got the best of me. It has been a fun and full couple of weeks. Before we look forward to the New Year, allow me to catch you up on where I have been.

My husband and I celebrated 22 years of marriage this month. I was 3 when we wed. It was an arranged marriage. : ) As you may have noticed, he is prone to fits of spontaneity. Life with Lar is an adventure. The good kind.

We have had Beloved Nephew and his lovely wife here since the weekend before Christmas. While it is always nice to have them here, this time we are sharing in the anticipation of their new arrival. She should be here in April.

We got another letter from Veronica. We are so enjoying getting to know this little girl. She drew us a picture. I was so taken with it because my own little girl almost always includes hearts and rainbows and smiling suns in her pictures. I'm so glad that her life is such that they fit into her artwork as well.

There lots of cookies to bake and decorate.


And of course, there was the joy of Christmas day. We have all of our family over throughout the day. Over 20 people float through here for breakfast and lunch. It is my favorite day of the year. I love having everyone near. And, the food! Oh, the food! Many sticks of butter gave their lives so that we could have the feast that we did.


And while I think I can say that it was a good Christmas for everyone, Teddy seemed the most excited. He not only got a sleigh, but a new Santa suit and hat. Go ahead, tell me that is not the cutest thing you have ever seen. He was a happy bear.


As soon as the dishes were washed, I went into hibernation. I have been reading and resting and enjoying my family for the last few days. It's about to end, but I'm enjoying it while it lasts. I hope are getting to some of the same.

(And if you can tell me how to turn the pictures that Blogger turned sideways, I would surely appreciate it.)

Blog Hijacking 22yrs in the making. Tribute to my lovely bride.

So, on December 20,1986, I married the love of my life. The crazy woman that writes this blog. I would be the aforementioned "carpenter friend" she mentions from time to time.

God will mess with you sometimes. Twenty two and a half years ago he messed with me. He sent me to meet a beautiful young lady that would turn my world upside down. I was just trying to help out a friend who was too busy to fix her car, and I needed some extra money. God had other plans for us. He made it so the parts house had the wrong parts for her car, which I installed anyway. We spent most of the next week trying to resolve the problem with the parts house and getting to know each other. When the car was finally fixed we were caught up in a whirlwind romance that led to our engagement six weeks later. After an eight month engagement we were married in one of the most beautiful and simple weddings I have yet to see. This gal made her own dress with billions of beads sewn in place by hand. Absolutely beautiful! Took my breath away. As she tells me, when she was coming into the church to walk down the aisle, she was very nervous and afraid, until she saw me waiting for her with a comforting smile on my face and all was ok. I always wondered how someone could gain comfort from seeing such a goofy dude but that is another story. So we were married, I graduated college, I started a new job, and we bought a house all within about ninety days. We were giddy kids. So in love and so optimistic about the future.

So, now twenty two years have passed and we have been through a lot together. Through it all we have remained steadfast in our devotion and commitment to one another, our pursuit of our Savior, and our own individual and marital walks. All I can say it, what a ride. We have run the gambit of sickness/health, richer/poorer during this time. I can honestly say that I would not have liked to do this with anyone else, nor would I have done this with anyone else....really.

Now for all of you who read this the rest is not for you.

Julie,

I love you with all my heart. You are the rest of me, and I want everybody to know it. My little sister said you were the best thing that ever happened to me and I agree. You are my beautiful/gorgeous/hot ( is that ok to say here) wife, wonderful mother to my children and several other peoples children, absolutely one of the most beautiful souls on Gods earth, and tolerent of me, which is probably what I am most greatful for. Which is why you will forgive me for hijacking your blog and gushing all over you in public. Thank you for being my wife and all that you are. I am more appreciative of you than I can reasonable express (she will agree). I will shout it for eternity I LOVE THIS WOMAN!! I am a very lucky man. (feel free to chime in here)

Remember this:

Tonight it's very clear
Cause we're both lying here
There's so many things I wanna say
I will always love you
I will never leave you alone
Sometimes I just forget, say things I might regret
It breaks my heart to see you crying
I don't want to lose you
I could never make it alone

I am a man who would fight for your honor
I'll be the hero you're dreaming of
We'll live forever knowing together
That we did it all for the glory of love

You keep me standing tall
You help me through it all
I'm always strong when you're beside me
I have always needed you
I could never make it alone

I am a man who would fight for your honor
I'll be the hero you've been dreaming of
We'll live forever knowing together
That we did it all for the glory of love

It's like a knight in shining armor
From a long time ago
Just in time I will save the day
Take you to my castle far away

I am the man who will fight for your honor
I'll be the hero that you're dreaming of
We're gonna live forever knowing together
That we did it all for the glory of love

We live forever knowing together
That we did it all for the glory of love

We did it all for love
We did it all for love
We did it all for love
We did it all for love...

My prayer is that God will continue to bless us and keep us, to make his face to shin upon us and give us his peace.

I LOVE THIS WOMAN!!!!!!!!

Man, am I in big trouble.

If you have to delete this, I am ok, I have a copy.

Do you think Jesus would understand?

You know how sometimes your birthday falls in the middle of the week and you celebrate with friends and family the following weekend? Jesus' birthday falls on a Thursday this year. Do you think He would mind terribly if we celebrated on Saturday? It would really help me out a lot.

Like I said...

...you just never know what you are going to get in Houston.


Last night, we got snow. No, not Buffalo snow, but snow just the same. The kids were over the moon.

Here is snow on my citrus! Yes, it is in the living room.


A handheld snowman.


Make that 2.


When we are in the 70's this weekend, we'll have this to remind us of our snowy adventure.

You gotta love Houston.

They say if you don't like the weather in Houston, stay a few days. I took a look at this forecast and had to share it with you. Today is miserable. Cold and rainy with a possible frost tonight. We will be in the 70's by the weekend. Typical.

The Advent Conspiracy

I saw this over at Robin's blog and thought it was cool. Have a look at it and tell me what you think.




For info on the Advent Conspiracy, check their web site.

I'm still here, somewhere.

Sorry I haven't been around much lately. I have been busy. Let's see, what all have I done?

I finished making the City of Houston a more festive place. See?


I have been picking one of the world's largest lemons.


I got up close and personal with some alpacas in Navasota.


I have been winning an awesome CD from Missy over at It's Almost Naptime. You must check out Red Mountain Music. I just love it. Thanks, Missy.

I have started putting up our Christmas decorations. More on that later.

And I am doing a final cleaning push to get this dang blasted house on the market. I washed all the lace curtains today. I am ashamed at how much better they look now. Housework is not my strong suit.

In short, life has just gotten the better of me.

We had a nice, quiet Thanksgiving. Christmas promises to be the exact opposite! But that's the way we like it. Baking for days leading up to it. Then dozens of people in and out of the house all day. It's such fun.

But I must run now. Back soon!