Then pealed the bells more loud and deep

Oh my goodness, did we ever get snow today! We now have 2 snowmen in our front yard, each as tall as their makers, which aren't very tall yet (C & D).....hmmm, I was just informed that they don't have heads yet, hehehehe. Well, I'm sure they'll finish up with them tomorrow. It looks so beautiful outside right now, even in the dark. Anywhere there's light it gleams off of the heavy, snow laden branches. I just wish a picture could capture the true beauty of it all. It feels so "Christmas-y", unlike last year when it was still in the 50's in December.

Sometimes I am truly amazed by my child_units. Tonight, I had to work the concession stand during the junior varsity game. Christen and D insisted on helping...ok...fine...just don't get in the way. Christen and D both took money and counted back the change correctly!! I've seen MANY, MANY adults that can't do this with much accuracy, which made me very proud of my child_units!

I didn't realize that my kids had never really seen Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer until we watched it last week. The kids were amazed at just how mean the head elf and Santa were towards the other elves!!! It really is quite a violent movie, the abominable snowman was quite mean too, until the klondike guy pulled out all his teeth and transformed him into the main star-tree-topping guy....hehehehehehe, I'm still laughing!!! (sorry, it just really amused me)

No, I do not have my Christmas shopping finished, nor will I until about 16 hour before Christmas!! This year has proven to be one of the most difficult to decide what to get the kids. None of them really play with toys anymore, however, I'm sure if I bought a box of Lego guys for Ben, he would be very pleased. It's even getting hard to buy clothes for them! Will it fit, will they like it, is it the right color....OYE! Yes, I know, I've heard that $$ is always the right color and always fits...but I hate the thought of that, with the kids, I want them to feel as if I thought about them, each individually. I suppose it'll all work out in the end.

Isn't it funny how you can hear something quoted but when you find out where it came from, it's something completely taken out of context. I watched a scary movie a long time ago and the main character quoted, "By the pricking in my thumb, something wicked this way comes...the bell doth ring both loud and deep, God is not dead, nor doth he sleep." Well, for some reason I have been thinking about that last part of it...so, today I Googled it. To my amazement, I've probably been hearing that section quoted a lot lately in the Christmas music played on every radio station on Earth right now! Shows how much one really pays attention to what they're singing along to, heh...this would be the song that the quote is "ill-used" from...

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet, the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men

The ringing, singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men

And in despair I bowed my head
"There is no peace on earth," I said
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth good will toward men"

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men"

This song was written during the American civil war by Henry Longfellow in 1864, the fourth verse could be sung by any soldier fighting in the war today. I hope that a song written so long ago can bring comfort to at least one soldier fighting now, during this holiday season when they have to be so far away from home.

I'm tired now, therefore, I'm going to bed. My prayers go out to friends that need them a lot right now, I hope you feel God's presence with you and that He'll bring you through this time of need.

Y'all pray for "Peace on earth, good will towards men"
Love Ya :)