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...