November 30, 2009

FHE


Tonight we went to some friends' house for FHE. I read a story and then we made Christmas countdown chains. Each person got four links and had to write down something that they could do this holiday season to be more Christlike. Then we ate some yummy gingerbread cake. What a fun night. The story I read was very good, and all the kids listened. Here it is:

The Miracle

The violent grinding of brakes suddenly applied, and the harsh creaking of skidding wheels gradually died away as the big car came to a stop. Eddie quickly picked himself up from the dusty pavement where he had been thrown, and looked around wildly.

Agnes! Where was his little sister he had been holding by the hand when they had started to cross the street? The next moment he saw her under the big car that had run them down, her eyes closed, a dark stain slowly spreading on her white face.

With one bound the boy was under the car, trying to lift the child.

"You'd better not try, son," said a man gently.
"Someone has gone to find a telephone for an ambulance."

"She's not...dead, is she, Mister?" Eddie begged in a husky voice.

The man stooped and felt the limp little pulse. "No, my boy," he said slowly.

A policeman came up, dispersed the collecting crowd, and carried the unconscious girl into a nearby drugstore. Eddie's folded coat made a pillow for her head until the ambulance arrived. He was permitted to ride in the conveyance with her to the hospital. Something about the sturdy, shabbily dressed boy, who could not be more than ten years old, and his devotion to his little sister, strangely touched the hearts of the hardened hospital apprentices.

"We must operate at once," said the surgeon after a brief preliminary examination.
"She has been injured internally, and has lost a great deal of blood." He turned to Eddie who, inarticulate with grief, stood dumbly by. "Where do you live?"

Eddie told him that their father was dead, and that his mother did day work--
he did not know where.

"We can't wait to find her," said the surgeon, "because by that time it might be too late."

Eddie waited in the sitting-room while the surgeons worked over Agnes.
After what seemed an eternity a nurse sought him out.

"Eddie," she said kindly, "your sister is very bad, and the doctor wants to make a transfusion. Do you know what that is?" Eddie shook his head. "She has lost so much blood she cannot live unless someone gives her his. Will you do it for her?"

Eddie's wan face grew paler, and he gripped the knobs of the chair so hard
that his knuckles became white. For a moment he hesitated; then gulping back his tears,
he nodded his head and stood up.

"That's a good lad," said the nurse.

She patted his head, and led the way to the elevator which whisked them to the operating
room-- a very clean but evil-smelling room, with pale green walls and innumberable shiny instruments in glass cases. No one spoke to Eddie except the nurse who directed him in a low voice how to prepare for the ordeal. The boy bit his quivering lip and silently obeyed.

"Are you ready?" asked a man swathed in white from head to foot, turning from the table over which he had been bending. For the first time Eddie noticed who it was lying there so still.
Little Agnes! And he was going to make her well.

He stepped forward quickly.

Two hours later the surgeon looked up with a smile into the faces of the young interns and nurses who were engrossed in watching the great man's work.

"Fine," he said, "I think she'll pull through."

After the transfusion Eddie had been told to lie quietly on a cot in the corner of the room, In the excitement of the delicate operation he had been entirely forgotten.

"It was wonderful, Doctor!" exclaimed one of the young interns. "A miracle!"
Nothing, he felt in his enthusiastic recognition of the marvels of surgery,
could be greater than the miracles of science.

"I am well satisfied," said the surgeon with conscious pride.

There was a tug at the sleeve, but he did not notice. In a little while there was another tug--
this time more peremptory-- and the great surgeon glanced down to see a ragged,
pale faced boy looking steadily up into his face.

"Say, Doctor," said a husky voice, "When do I die?"

The interns laughed and the great surgeon smiled.
"Why, what do you mean, my boy?" he asked kindly.

"I thought...when they took a guy's blood...he died," muttered Eddie.

The smiles faded from the lips of the doctors and nurses, and the young intern, who had thought there was nothing greater than the miracle of science, caught his breath suddenly.

GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT HE LAY DOWN HIS LIFE!

This ragged lad had climbed to the very height of nobility and sacrifice, and showed them a glimpse of the greatest miracle of all-- a selfless LOVE! But Eddie must never know this. The lesson was too poignantly beautiful to be wasted. The great surgeon motioned the others for silence. I think after all you will get well, Eddie," he said gruffly. "You and little Agnes."

November 29, 2009

Letter from J


On Thanksgiving morning, I was in the kitchen cooking, and J came in and told me she was going to go check the mail. I told her the mail didn't come on Thanksgiving. But, she went outside for a second anyways, and then came back in saying, "Mom, you and Dad got a letter!" She had a huge smile on her face and was holding a letter. She brought this letter to me and was so excited! It was the cutest thing, I had to share! I love how sweet she always is.

November 28, 2009

Turkey Bowl Accident


DH rolled his ankle playing in the Turkey Bowl on Thursday.
It's all bruised and swollen. He can barely walk on it.
We borrowed a boot from a friend andthat seems to be helping.
Hopefully it'll heal quickly.

It's Beginning To Look Alot Like Christmas

The kids decorated the tree all by themselves.

We even got some of the outside stuff done.


Stockings are hung!

The kids were begging to put the Christmas decorations up. So, yesterday we got all the boxes out and now we're ready to go! I can't believe Christmas is just around the corner.

November 27, 2009

A Christmas Carol

We took the kiddos to see this tonight. I wasn't very impressed. I'm not a huge movie critic. I ususally go to the movies to be entertained. But, I was not entertained, I was bored. DH said that during the movie J asked to go home because she was bored. So, I guess it wasn't a successful outing. But, we made up for it by getting some Cold Stone afterwards!!

New Moon


I got to see New Moon on opening night. My friends' sisters' work rented out a theater and she invited me to come. We saw it at 9:50, an early showing!! I thought it was WAY better than Twilight. I was a little worried because New Moon was my least favorite book in the series, so I wasn't sure how the movie would be. But, I really liked it. I can't wait for Eclipse to come out!!

November 26, 2009

Thanksgiving Day

Playing with cousins.

Blindfolded make-overs.


Backyard fun!


Pies, pies, pies!!!



After the boys got home from their football game, we had a big breakfast. My sister Ange and her hubby Yoho came and they brought his brother. Em and Talia came too. We had some yummy food, and had a good time with them.
Then, we continued the cooking for our Thanksgiving feast. My MIL and SIL and her family came over. We had a great time just hanging out and enjoying being together. I made a banana cream pie completely from scratch for the very first time. Even the pudding was homemade. It turned out very yummy! I was a little nervous that it wasn't going to be all that good, but it sure was! It was a nice relaxing day and I'm thankful we were able to share it with family.

Thanksgiving Morning

The boys got up early this morning to play in the "Turkey Bowl". They had a great time, however DH came home with a swollen ankle. He rolled it while they were playing and also hurt his back. So now he's laying down with an ice pack trying to feel better.

I made some yummy cinnamon rolls!



J slept...


...and so did M!