Funny thing....

You know...sometimes when you are on your own, you really think you are "on your own". But, I can't tell you the number of people who have asked about my new grandson, really seemed like they actually wanted to see the pictures and were fussing at me because I hadn't sent out an announcement when he was born. That made me feel very special. It's nice to have friends that care.....

Best Wishes for a Grand New Year....

Well...one more time. Thanks, Lord! I appreciate the opportunity to do better in another year!

Who can resist?

It's hard to resist adding more pictures. BECAUSE...if you want to be honest, really the only ones who really want to see baby pictures are the people who belong to the baby!!! But, here they are anyway. In case you haven't seen my son, Matt in awhile...there he is with his little nephew. Last I heard, we were referring to him (Matt) as Uncle Higgy. We'll see how that works out. Then we've got my 3 kids + Logan + me and THEN...another elf picture! Looking at that picture, can there really be any doubt....there is an elf in our midst!!

He's Here!!!!!

Baby Logan Thomas Campbell arrived Saturday morning, December 20th at 2:41am. He weighed in at 7.2lbs and his grandma thinks he looks like an elf. Actually, he looks EXACTLY like his daddy....so I guess the real question would then be, does Josh look like an elf? No, he does not. But take a look for yourself and see my beautiful elfin grandson.........cute as a bug!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TA DA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FINISHED. COMPLETED. DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 5 shows , the secret shop, and a formal observation in 7 days. An all time record.....Thank you to everyone who has been praying and putting up with me. Thank you to everyone who participated. Thank you to everyone who helped with sooooooo much. A very special thank you to the Fickenscher Family. What wonderful, kind, helpful folks they are. Really incredible....you remember my unsung heros....well, I'm singing their praises here and NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now...to get my house habitable and get on track for new adventures............HOORAY...............

Secrets!!!!!

Secrets now abound with the children of PPC!!!!! That's because a BOATLOAD of them did their shopping today at our Secret Shop!!! They were soooo fun as they looked for their special items for their special people. You know...little kids are different from us. Not one of them looked at their list and rolled their eyes and said "Here's so and so. I guess i HAVE to get them something" No, each name was special...each one deserved special consideration and thought....there were no, "have to's". Each one was a delight....and it was a delight to watch them. They are sooooooooooooo funny...Now here is something that is NOT a secret. Well, actually, it kind of is, but it is my job to make it NOT a secret. Here is a salute to the unsung heros of my church...... Dana and Jeremy and family....Sue H and family.....Eric and Alan....Joanne.....Suzanne...Cindy and Jason...the folks who came just to clean up....the folks who came to help giftwrap.....all of the teens who came to help......OH MY GOSH....EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!

Getting closer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All school programs are officially DONE....finished....completed......!!!!!!!!!! WAHOOOOOOOOOOO! The first graders program was hysterical.....there were at least 350 people there to see the show. The kids were wacko, but they sang their songs well. I was DRIPPING WET during their show. Little kids are hard work!!!!! The parents were actually very nice...NO ONE YELLED AT ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AMAZING. (Of course, I'm not out the door yet....:)

Now that you mention it.....

I don't mind the preston auto ads...that young lady has always done a good job. So has the frog!! :) Closing in on my first school show...7pm tonight!!!! They just did a rehearsal and did fine....they are excited and I'm excited for them. I'll also be really excited when it's over...though we do have to do it again tomorrow for the school. That will be ok. Then tomorrow night is the little kids....soon....very soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank YOU!

well, I just want to thank God for a great day. We had our cantata at church last night and it was fine. I was so incredibly grateful for Avery's diligence in learning that piano part. It was a stinker...... I have the best church choir made up of the best folks anywhere. Today was chaos at school because we were finishing up getting ready for the concert. I bet the custodial staff had a cow when they saw my room. It was TRASHED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But, we will see how tomorrow goes. I've gotten to know a couple of the new kids and that has been good. We'll see...we'll see.

Still crabbing.....

I guess it's like this. I look at something and see tiny little individual details that will make a stage look so very cool. Then, I have to figure out how to accomplish that elementary school style. Then, I have to figure out how to do it with no $$$$$$$$$$!!!!!! Then, I actually have to physically do it. When it is done, it looks beautiful (to me), but does anyone else really care? Would they be just as happy with having their kid stand up on a riser, wearing a Santa hat and singing about 8 songs. Probably. And then, when I've done all this work, i just get grief. I asked for contributions of stuff....I got one roll of wrapping paper and one string of lights. whoopee. Ok...I'm done....I'm just really afraid my nightmare will come true and I'll have a bad show.

Too old????

Do you ever think you are just too old or too crabby to do your job?? That is kind of how I feel today. For too long, I think I've wasted my energies on things I care about but to be honest no one else does....Does anybody care if I hang sparkly curtains on the back of the stage? Or stand up on a ladder and hang twinkly lights on the short curtain?? Or twirl lights around a hugh pillar?? I mean, does anybody care??????????????????????????????????????? I try to incorporate all sorts of kids and still somebody crabs. I do so much right and then I blow it with one rude comment. I just don't feel like bothering anymore. I just don't.

Home Grown TV commercials....

I have wanted to complain about this FOR YEARS.....finally determined I could share my frustration HERE. FOLKS... if you own your own business, it is NOT A GOOD IDEA TO USE YOUR CHILDREN AS "SPOKESMEN" in your TV commercial. In fact, it is really, really annoying........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 99% of the time, they can't be understood. As much as you love them and think they are incredibly cute, it just doesn't translate into positive advertising. If I want to make a purchase, a mumbling 6 year old is NOT going to be the one to give me the confidence to purchase it from that provider. Spend your money wisely and save the kiddos for the family album.

Ebenezer....

Nope, not scrooge....but raising an ebenezer. Yes, I know....Lynne "P" and I used to laugh everytime we sang that hymn, but that was when I was stupid and unenlightened. NOW....i have marginally more knowledge and NOW I understand that raising an ebeneezer is basically setting up a monument in testimony to God's faithfulness. You know, I don't think we can have enough of those...and I think setting up those monuments gives us something to cling to when we think God isn't paying attention. So....I now "raise an ebenezer"...I give testimony to God and His unfailing love AND his presence and very real caring in my life. I think we spend so much of our lives stumbling around in the dark and then every now and then He shines a brilliant laser beam of light on us to remind us He is there.

I'm back.........!!!!!!

Yes, I know it's been awhile....not sure why. Just figured anything I had to say would cause the rest of the world to doze off!!!!!!!! So much is coming up.....many of which are my favorite things, but when they are all crammed together....WELL....it gets more than a little insane. 4 programs plus the secret shop all in one week....PLEASE pray for good health, good stamina and good weather!!!!!!! And pray for a cooperative baby waiting to be born after Dec 14, but not to putz around too long after that time! I spoke to him when i visited Christy a couple of weeks ago. I told him Dec 18ish would be good. Let's see if he is a good listener to his grandma....Yes, I am EXCITED.

I know it has been a long time since I've posted. This has been a "full fall" so far. Try saying that fast 12 times! Right now I'm in the middle of Christmas preparations and the clock is TICKING! Shopping already???? No....musicals, cantatas, special services etc. ALL need to be planned and decided NOW!!!!!!!!!!!! So...that's all I have to say...I need to go write!!!!!!!!!!!!