The big guy, the little guy and hugs!

Saturday I did a little shopping and found Conner D. a sweatshirt that says "THE LITTLE GUY" on it. It reminded me of another Thanksgiving story. We were all sitting around the living room relaxing after a big ole dinner. Chris (THE BIG GUY) had went up stairs to lay down for a little nap earlier.
Conner was in need of a nap and not feeling the happiest. He was talking alot about his muscles and using them in ways that were not really appropriate for a room full of family. Momma and I were busy trying to explain to him that when you are big and strong you need to use your muscles for good things, like helping people, and giving them hugs...
The little guy wasn't buying it one bit!
He was getting more upset than he could bare.
So
he got up from the couch and said "That is it, I am going up to get the big guy right now!!"
up the stairs he went out of sight. We were just all talking and had kind of forgotten where Conner had gone.
Then, his sweet little face looked around the corner at us and he said "I told you the big guy is coming! He is coming down here right now!"
Indeed the big guy did come into the living room and I asked him if he could show me how strong his muscles were and give me a big hug.
I got a hug from the big guy.
Conner couldn't believe his eyes... what had gone wrong?... hadn't he just went upstairs to let this big guy know exactly what was going on downstairs while he lay sleeping? Didn't he understand this wasn't about hugs??
It took Conner a little while to get over the disappointment of not getting to see the big guy bust some butt, but, soon he rested into the love filled room, and before you know it we were all getting hugs from our little guy!

SLIPPERS

When you have a daddy that they call the "big guy"...
You can't just go out and buy him any ole kind of slippers.
He likes them comfy and sweet with lots of "soul"!!
So look out Dr. Shoals, we've found an original pair for him.
He puts them on, and just like Big Bear in the Big Blue House...
He feels like dancing
So he dances around with his slippers on his feet
His heart filled with love as he looks down and sees
...all that he has been given
In this simple gift.

NOEL!

They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the east beyond them far
And to the earth it gave great light
And so it continued both day and night.
NOEL, NOEL, NOEL, NOEL
Born is the King of Israel!!

When I saw this picture of Baxter it reminded me of this song.
Animals often show us things that we forget!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!!

Today we had a Christmas Pageant at the United Methodist Church in Arlington. I need to write a little bit about it as it moved me very deeply. It was a simple Pageant with little Stars, Angels, Shepard's, Kings, Narrators and Soloists. We have a small church so you wonder how is it all going to work out... will there be enough kids, with the practice canceled because of snow will they do okay? Practice on Saturday went really smooth with everyone that was there pitching in to help and the last minuet details being ironed out. Two young pianists from our church were asked to play the music and they agreed. This is a big thing to take on as anyone who plays piano knows. It is one thing to play for yourself and quite another to play for singers! They did an excellent job! The soloists worked on their song together, I haven't ever heard "O Holy Night" sang prettier than it was today! We had 11:00 church with Praise and Worship first and then easily transitioned into the back drop and sound system for the Pageant. The sound man that we have is a top of the line guy - he lives on the other side of Mpls. and yet if you need him to help with something and he can... he will be there!

...So, there they were, all the kids of our church, dressed in costume, praising the Lord of the Universe.
...And at the end of the program, when each group came and kneeled at the manger there was a silent excitement in the Sanctuary... it was a Presence that I can not describe - other than to say "Surely the Presence of the Lord was in our midst, I could hear His voice and feel His smile pouring down over all of us"

Thank-You Dear Lord, for giving me a church family that I love...
...And for all the memories that I have been given, of my own children in the Christmas Pageant... if I can help teach children learn how to Praise You - then so be it on to me. AMEN!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!!

Shake it!!

The Harren's were at McDonalds for a party. Conner needed to use the bathroom, and so did his mom. There was one stall left, so momma and Conner shared it with him going first. When he was done he got a "drop" on his pants. He said to his mom, "OH NO! Mom I forgot to shake it."
"That's okay it will dry"

Then momma took her turn and went to the bathroom and when she stood up Conner reminded her very sweetly to make sure and "shake it".
"Momma's don't have anything to shake"
"OH NO! Mom what happened did it felled off!"

And so, back out to the party you go, with a spot that is drying and a smile on momma's face.

Children of the Yellow Boots!

If anything would ever happen to one of us... We want our kids to know where our "yellow boots" are. They are in the garage, along with 300 other things, on a shelve... you will find them neatly wrapped in a box ready for our next round of pictures. If for some reason we aren't there for the party, we expect our children to carry on the tradition. There are eight of you and only three pairs of boots. We suggest that you leave them in the box and each year when you get together for your Christmas party you bring out the box. Open it carefully, and set the boots with you for the group picture - you see we will always be with you, wherever you go whatever you do... there is no escaping our love for you and our laughter at ourselves. Even when we are gone from this place, we pray that you will continue to love each other and get together when you can. We believe that when you open that box of boots ... you will hear our laughter, and feel how much you are loved! And, if you accidentally tip the boots over, don't worry, all that will come out is the millions and millions (sorry, not dollars!) of prayers that we have said for you through the years. Savor yourselves in all those prayers and love, laugh a little, and then pack them up and put them on the shelve until the next time!

The Puppy Who Wanted a Boy!

Conner came to our house for a few days before Thanksgiving. I knew it would be a good time, and lots of information for my blog. It made me think of the movie "Anna Belles Wish" - when he was at our house last Christmas a few nights, we watched that movie... and we watched it ... and we watched it... until I had it memorized! This time I had found him a book at a thrift store (copyright 2003) when we were on our turning 50 Winona trip! It is called "The Puppy Who Wanted a Boy" by Jan Thayer - Illustrated by Lisa McCue.

Petey the puppy has one wish for Christmas: to have a boy of his very own. He searches long and hard, but boys are in short supply this year, and no one seems right for him. Just as Petey is about to give up home, his Christmas wish is granted - in a very surprising way. Petey ends up on the front steps with a little boy! Petey just knew his mother would let him stay. She knew how much he wanted a boy. "But won't she be surprised, when he tells her he got fifty boys for Christmas!"

You can imagine that after Grandma Dorius, Grammie Pammie, and Papa all read this story to our little boy... 5 times each - that he just about can tell the story himself. He said to Dorius several times (in between looking for papa and telling her some facts about his home life!) "I am going to tell my mom about this."

That night when Conner's momma called he told her all about Petey the puppy. He told her the story in such perfect form you would have thought he was reading it word for word. We won't tell momma how many times he heard that story today...

The lamb who played bells

We went to our grand kids Christmas program at their church on December 12th, 2010. We had just got done digging out of one of the biggest snow falls on record. I was so happy to be going to Foley, taking the truck and driving slow!
During the program out came our little lamb with the New Life Bell Choir!! There she stood in the front row... with her blue bells, ringing and smiling! She did an absolute perfect job - following each rule that she had been taught by the teacher. When you aren't ringing... hold the bells at your side. My heart filled with love, as my beautiful 7 year old lamb played her songs in Praise to the King! Great job JaciAnna Harren!!

Jaci hugs santa!

JaciAnna has never been real fond of Santa. She has always preferred her daddy's lap and telling him what she would like. One year Santa even came to their house and neither one of the kids were thinking they were to special, they were wondering what in the world this strange man with a red suit was doing in their cozy home. They didn't have a chimney at their house, and the sounds coming from outside didn't seem to them to be reindeer on the roof!
This year the Harren family went on a date night to the St.Cloud Mall. Getting haircuts, a hamburger and playing in the family play station, it seemed the kids were as happy as could be...

When what to their wondering eyes did appear?
But a little fat Santa with a white long beard.
Conner dared to brave the steps to his lap
Take my picture quick - it is enough of this guys sap!
Then came Jaci as brave as could be...
Walking up to set on his knee.
I do believe she gave that big ole guy a hug
It made you smile and gave your heart a tug.
So Jaci hugs Santa for the first time in her life this day.
I pray that she will always know Santa is for fun and play.
His story started from a good man years and years ago.
He gave gifts in secret or so we are told.
And although the advertising has ruined his great story of love.
I pray that Jesus see's from up above
And knows that Santa is a fun guy - who likes to love and play but as for the real meaning of Christmas it is to celebrate Jesus's Birthday!!!

The Shepard and the Little Lamb

Said the Shepard boy to the little lamb, do you hear what I hear?

Grammie Pammie got to make the outfits for her little Shepard and lamb. It was a Saturday and I ventured out with Jeff to hit all the thrift stores to find the things I would need. I found most of it in Winthrop at the Girl Scout thrift shop that is in the old masonic temple. I try not to look at their symbols all over the building, I try to think of the girl scouts...
and in we go.
I found some great pieces of material for the Shepard, ties, black pants, a black fuzzy shirt, black shoes, a white fleece hat and muffle! I was so excited about the purchases that I went right home and started working on them! There was a knobby fleece vest I had purchased at a garage sale earlier this summer, I hadn't worn it yet so I took it down from a XL to a Small with the sewing machine. It was thick, and I think I may have ruined the sewing machine - but, what the heck she'll be the cutest little lamb that Foley ever saw!

On Sunday, December 12th, Curt got up early and checked out the roads. It had started snowing on December 10th at 9:00, the wind started blowing, and it never stopped until Saturday late afternoon. We had planned this little get away to Foley for almost a year now...would we get to go? Curt said we could try it and if the roads were bad we would turn around. Gramma Dorius didn't go because of the cold and uncertainty of what we would find. We didn't want to get stuck and have her stint freeze up or something! Driving we found that the roads were great considering we just had around 14 inches of snow! It was cold but the truck (with 300,00 miles on it) got us there and we were even 1/2 hour early.

The excitement that I felt sitting in that church, waiting for my Shepard and lamb is more than a grandma can explain! Conner came on the stage first with his class. They had the whole manger scene using the kids in preschool to kindergarten. I believe he was the cutest Shepard in the class. They sang two songs but Conner seemed to be star struck by the crowd and was unable to sing much. He did however find out that the "cat had his tongue" - so after chewing on it a bit he was able to follow my lead out in the congregation and sing a few words.

Next came JaciAnna as a bell ringer (that will be a separate blog). She then was a part of the manger scene for the play put on by all the other kids in the church. I couldn't believe the good job these kids did. They had every thing memorized and new exactly what to do. And I'll be if JaciAnna wasn't the cutest lamb in the place (she may have been the only one?)

Then we all had dinner together at the church. It was a catered meal given by one of the congregation members that owns the company "DADDIO'S". What a beautiful way to end our trip to Foley. Sitting around the cafeteria with about 100 family members. I felt like we were all a part of something much bigger... like the baby Jesus was now grown and among us...
I believe the Shepard boy told the little lamb... "HE IS HERE! CHRIST THE SAVIOR IS BORN!"

And when we all left and hugged in the parking lot, I felt a lonesomeness. I wanted to forever stay in this moment, to be in this place. Then I realized that He goes ahead of us wherever we go - that the Shepard boy was indeed right - THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD IS AMONG US... and the little lamb said "I love you!"

The phone call

There were a few problems at the Harren household with Conner's behaviors. It seems that he had learned the word "dummie head bummer" and thought it would be a good way to express his anger. He did make the mistake of calling his momma a "dummie head bummer". She told her little man that she would need to talk to Santa about his list and that when you say things like that you aren't on his nice list... you are on the naughty list. The kids on the nice list are the ones who get the presents. He thought about this but it didn't seem to effect him to much as he kept up with his name calling and added a few other behaviors. As the day wore on though, his anger changed into happiness. He was dancing with his momma and she said to him "Conner, I just love you so much, and I love to dance with you, even if you say dummie head bummer - I still love you so much!"
They continued their dance...
...and then Conner said "mom, could I ask you to do a favor for me?"
...and momma said "sure, I would like to do that very much, what is it?"
..."Could you call Santa and tell him to take me off from the naughty list and put me back on the nice list? I feel alot more like being nice now!"
and so
she went right to the phone
and called SANTA!

It's 5:00 somewhere

I had taken the Tuesday before Thanksgiving off from work. Grandma Dorius and I went to Conner's class for grandparents day. We had a wonderful time together with all of his class mates and his teacher. We played a game, made a recipe book, took a picture of us all, sang a song... and of course we danced! Conner's mom and dad said that he could come home with us after the morning and then we would bring him home on Thanksgiving.
This worked out real slick, I had to work on Wednesday so Dorius came to stay with the little guy at our house. He got down some of Jeff's old farm toys from the attic and played the morning away. He did stop every half an hour or so to tell his grandma Dorius that he loved her, then he would hug her and say "WHAT TIME WILL PAPA BE HOME?" she said "5:00". That seemed to make him happy even though he started asking at about 10:00 am! He played and he loved, he hugged and he played and then at exactly 5:00 he went to the family room door that leads to the garage. He opened it - looked out, shut the door, put his hands on his hips... and said to his grandma Dorius "IT IS 5:00 AND PAPA ISN'T HOME YET, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT MY DAD ALWAYS DOES TO MY MOM!"
...and how could you help but laugh? He had stated what he believed to be a fact. And who is going to question a 3 year old with his hands on his hips?
...and in walked papa before we could find out any more facts!!