Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from our house.... to yours!!

Heading to NY on the 26th - Returning on January 4th!
Hasta La Vista, Baby!

Pray & Help

How do you describe in words an ache that goes so deep? What words can soothe a devastating loss? My heart hurts for them. I've been racking my brain... what can I do for them? I wanted to share this with my blog readers & lurkers. Collectively, we (that means YOU and YOU and YOU and you too!) can really reach out and help this situation. Some of you may know them & other may just want to help out of Christian Charity.

Matt & I heard news today of our good friends, Brian & Shannon Bishop. I don't know details but they had a house fire over the weekend... and it sounded like they lost everything.

Look into the eyes of these little girls, Olivia & Breana. What can you do to help them have a Merry Christmas? In a situation like this, even ONE DOLLAR or FIVE DOLLARS can help make a difference.. even just a card. It doesn't matter if you know them or not. I think that through the outreaching arms of the body of Christ - they will feel God's love & care for them.

Brian & Shannon Bishop
323 Conde Lindsay Circle
Maryville, TN 37801

I am sure they will receive mail sent to their address... although there is also an address for their church - but I don't have it. If anyone has that - feel free to post it as a comment.

My baby is 8 months old

Let's see... Emily was 8 months old two days ago. Let's see... she is absolutely mesmerized by anything that shows a shadow or a reflection... she's easily distracted... (Wonder where she gets that from?) She pulls herself up to a standing position from ANYTHING. I think she is working on "cruising." She loves her leapfrog activity table. I need to get a picture of her at it.... she stands there forever. And she also takes some pretty good falls now that she is standing up - but she is a tough cookie. ;-) Of course, right now everything goes into her mouth ... toys, books, activity tables, shoes, Mommy's hand, Mommy's zipper... She still spits up quite a bit - which is extremely gross since she is eating food. So - I carry around a baby wipe to clean up the carpet, toys, and "puddles" left behind her. We love her so much. She provides us with great entertainment.

Look at those gorgeous eyelashes!!

Emily with her monkey, Chunky.

There's a pretty smile from my big girl!!

Perplexing Questions

In the song, It's the most wonderful time - why do the lyrics state, "There'll be scary ghost stories and tales ..." Who tells scary ghost stories at Christmas time? The only thing I could come up with is The Christmas Carol - but clearly it is plural meaning more than one story?? Couldn't the author think of something better ... maybe ... " warm family stories and tales of the glories" or "funny old stories and tales of the glories" .... ???

Also - Why are Frosty's first words "Happy Birthday?" My memory of the story is a bit foggy... was it someone's birthday when he comes to life? Otherwise - Why does the song Frosty the Snowman start with "Happy Birthday?" I doubt that Frosty is wishing Baby Jesus "Happy Birthday" .... ???

The gift of the magi

"And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronical of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest of all. Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest..." ~O. Henry~

I am sure everyone is familiar with the old Christmas story, "The Gift of the Magi." Here ... sad to say... is my true life version of this story.

Matt & I had decided not to spend much money on each other. We decided to see if we could make a gift for each other. I seriously considered knitting him a lovely sweater but ..... ;-) opted to create a cd of music for him. Okay - I decided to put mushy love songs on it and include some of our favorite songs & wedding songs. And in the meantime, Matthew was busy working away at something as well. A few days ago - he was teasing me about my gift. He said I will be so excited... and he would be too. He said I might jump up and down. WOw!! What could it be?

... Weeks later (namely yesterday), I was driving home from dropping the twins off at school when there was a funny noise and the gas pedal did something funny. I wondered what that was all about. Then, the car just "felt funny" particularly the gas pedal - I am quite a mechanic technician... LOL! I drove home slowly - didn't stress out - just prayed I would make it... and thankfully I did. In my wisdom - I wondered if it was the transmission...

Last night, Matt went out and checked the car out. Sure enough - our 98 chevy blazer that has been paid off - for several years ... has a sick transmission. It probably is not worth sinking money in to since it doesn't have much value. So - we have discussed options - and we will see what works out. Thankfully Matt has a work truck to use but I am carless... and had to take Wed & Fri off from work.

As we were sitting in the living room last night by our lovely Christmas tree the white sparkling lights casting a warm glow on the room - with soft Christmas music playing in the background, Matt reached over and took my hands in his... and pulled them slowly to his lips. "Darling, I need to tell you about your gift." he softly whispered his voice cracking mid-sentence. (snicker snicker... it was sort of like that... ;-)

Matt had worked for several days to fix our automatic lock keychain. Since Emily was born it hasn't worked - before that actually. So, imagine this ... I come to the locked car... I unlock the front passenger door with a key - reach in and unlock the back door to put Emily in and then go around & get in myself. Same thing in reverse... I get out... go around and open Emily's door ... then open the front passenger door to lock all the doors. The automatic locker/unlocker would have been wonderful. Matt said he thought that it would make my life easier on a daily basis. How sweet & thoughtful. I was very touched by the thought & time & effort that he put into it. I was also sad that now it was for nothing. sniff... sniff...

In the words of O. Henry, "And then an ecstatic scream of joy; and then, alas a quick feminite change to hystical tears and wails, necessitating the immediate employment of all the comforting powers of the lord of the flat."


Caution: This post may be rated PG due to a romantic scene.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME???

This looks funny... but has more cultural significance than I first realized.



By Martin Asser
BBC News

"Around the Arab world, if you want to escalate a situation, by saying for example "I'm going to thump you", add the words "with a shoe" and you're literally adding insult to injury, at least the threat of injury.

It's that cultural significance that has added real sting to assault by an Iraqi journalist against US President George W Bush at a Baghdad news conference.

In Arab culture it's considered rude even to display the sole of one's shoe to a fellow human being.

Certainly, crossing one's legs ankle-on-knee style should never be done in a public place for fear of offending the person next to you.

The sensitivity is related to the fact shoes are considered ritually unclean in the Muslim faith.

In addition to ritual ablutions before prayer, Muslims must take off their shoes to pray, and wearing shoes inside a mosque is forbidden.

Shoes should either be left at the door of the mosque, or carried (preferably in the left hand with the soles pressed together).

But beyond the Islamic significance, the dirty and degrading implication of the sole of a shoe crosses all religious boundaries in the Middle East. "

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Interesting comments on my post - that is no longer up. Hmmmmm..... I have much I would like to say... but I'd better let it die.

Emily

Emily is at a really really fun stage. She is so happy. I am absolutely in love with her. Sometimes I think I could almost take a chunk right out of her chubby little cheeks. (Hmmm... maybe I shouldn't put that on my blog... anyone out there work for Child Services??... LOL!) She isn't fully crawling yet - she does the army crawl. But, she is pulling herself up to standing.... and then, topples right over. I assume... that God created her with a hard noggin for all these falls. ;-) She must have a high pain tolerance because she rarely cries. Here are a few pictures.

Posing with her awesome New Balance sneaks from Aunt Lois... (Does anyone else say "sneakers"/"sneaks" for tennis shoes? Is that a NY thing?)

I'm a big girl now!!!

Love chewing on these biscuits! (Why - I don't understand ... because they taste awful... I tried one!)

Emily loves this spot behind the futon because the bar is perfect to use for sitting up and standing.

Question of the day:

How can I lose the rest of my baby weight & probably holiday weight? I know some of you have been members of curves - what did you think of it? Weight watchers? My gym membership just ended - although I did get my money's worth out of it... but it is probably too far away to drive now that I have Emily. So ... I am trying to decide what to do...

Christmas Celebration

We went to Christmas Celebration.... awesome. Casting Crowns, Natalie Grant, Michael English, Pur NRG, Avalon, Denver & Mile High Orchestra. It was great.

Rockettes

These pictures are out of order..... I won free tickets to see the Rockettes. It was a really great show. I thoroughly enjoyed it. And I was even more impressed that at the end. They read scripture... did the manger scene, procession of the kings, and the kings giving their gifts to baby Jesus... and then people sang Joy to the World.

This was so cool. They did an amazing toy soldier routine... but here they all fell over backwards... in slow motion... it was incredible.

Thanksgiving - McCasland Reunion - Duncan, OK

Cousin Time....Emily & Wyatt plan their moves to attack the Ferrero chocolates!! (Her Mommy loves the ferrero rondnoir.)

Emily & Kineta

Emily & JR

Emily getting kisses from her cousin, Caleb. He is such a lovable kid & loves giving kisses!!

The whole Calvin McCasland gang present - missing Phil & family , Joanna & family

Here we are...

The Lorraine McCasland family

Mom & Dad McCasland with grand kids present

The boyz - trying to act cool

Pictures... Finally

Well, now that Emily is seven months old... Here are her 6 month pictures that I am finally getting around to posting. Enjoy. Here she is ... my little princess in pink.

2nd Post for the Day!

Happy #0th Birthday Mom!
We love you!

Today is Esther Laura Powell's birthday. She is 18,263 days old . . . you do the math. I am not sure where to start. Proverbs 31 comes to mind "...Her children rise up and call her blessed...
Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all. Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates."

Our life has not always been a bed of roses. There have been some hard times and tears. As a young Mother of three small children, circumstances forced my mother to start over down a harder more challenging path than she had been unexpected. My mom was in nursing school at the time and persevered achieving a degree as an L.P.N. Honestly, I don't know how you did it all, Mom! Tears are rolling down my cheeks as I write this. Then, working midnights and sleeping during the day... when we would get off the bus at home - we would wake her up. I remember evenings (as we got older) where she would take a nap on the couch... you must have been so worn out Mom. Not only physically & mentally but also emotionally after all the curve balls that life had thrown your way. Somehow - you managed to scrape by financially and provide for our needs. We weren't rich in money but we were rich in love, family, and support. The things that truly matter. A couple of MANY wonderful memories stand out in my mind. Our family vacation to Niagara Falls... sitting in the car parking lot at the falls... eating soggy egg salad sandwiches... stands out as a moment in time that you just want to freeze... perfectly imperfect. Together and happy. Another time. My sister and I were in chorus at school and there was some type of inter-school choral competition. My mom had worked the night before... we rode the bus from school to the event. And as we were on stage - I saw Mom in the audience. Words cannot describe the excitement that flowed through a little girl's body just from a little wave. That is love. Love sacrifices. Love shows up unexpectedly. Love goes the distance. Geepers... I am have a meloncholy day! My mom is a one of a kind person. The rough spots in life have just made her shine more. She has beauty that comes from the inside but radiates on the outside. She is the kind of Mom and Woman - I want to be.

This is just the tip of the iceberg - as far as the wonderful things about my mother and things that she has accomplished in her lifetime. She is an awesome Grandma also. Besides that my mom is fun and crazy. She will probably die at this video post!! ha ha.




If you don't believe that my mom was an excellent mother - look at me :-) the fruit of labor!! :-P

misc.

Happy Election Day! Get out and vote today! Should you choose NOT to vote - you forfeit your right (for the next four years) to ever complain about the happenings in our government! :-P

Emily had her 6 month pictures taken yesterday. I think all the big bright lights give her stage fright. She wasn't fussy but wasn't over smiley either. Oh - well. We got a few cute pictures.

This is not a joke!! I saw a lady wearing a side ponytail yesterday. I was like... wow... no way... it's making a comeback?!!! ha ha. Just kidding. I thought..... hmmm..... maybe no one told her Halloween (& her 80s look) ended Friday night!



Is there such a thing as "Mother Therapy?" Some days - I really think that I need some. I suppose it comes from being a perfectionist (sort of). I feel like I have so many questions ... about baby & life & training. Maybe - I have to chill out. I suppose ... at times like this... it is beneficial to be more sanguine. Fly by the seat of your pants. Easier to let your house be a mess. Let the dishes pile up. Skip doing the load of spit-up/poopy laundry - EVERY DAY! I am not the carefree person that I used to be. I feel like life is more serious - busy - and exhausting. . Some of you are probably chuckling right now (and that is totally fair) - since you have two or three children. I know that I do not have a right to comment on feeling t-i-r-e-d. I feel like I just need a mental vacation. How does that happen? Can that happen without physically leaving my house? If you have the secrets of life & motherhood... do share. You are welcome to e-mail me - instead of commenting.

Therapy is some form is on the way via my new journal. (Thanks to CT for the idea.) I used amazon gift card to buy this book. I AM SOOOO excited about the insane things in there. And wouldn't you know the book is dedicated to perfectionists. Hmmm..... Click on it to - go to amazon and see a few pages.


Thoughts from DUCKY: (compliments of my crazy sister)

	How come we choose from just two people to run for president and over fifty for Miss America ?
	I signed up for an exercise class and was told to wear loose fitting clothing. If I HAD any loose fitting clothing, I wouldn't have signed up in the first place!
When I was young we used to go 'skinny dipping,' now I just 'chunky dunk.'
	Don't argue with an idiot; people watching may not be able to tell the difference.
Wouldn't it be nice if whenever we messed up our life we could simply press 'Ctrl Alt Delete' and start all over? AMEN, AMEN !!
	Why is it that our children can't read a Bible in school, but they can in prison?
Wouldn't you know it.... Brain cells come and brain cells go, but FAT cells live forever.
	Why do I have to swear on the Bible in court when the Ten Commandments cannot be displayed outside?
Bumper sticker of the year: 'If you can read this, thank a teacher -and, since it's in English, thank a soldier'

Fleas, Flu, & Fall

My, my, it has been awhile. It seems like weeks go by in a whirlwind these days. Phew! Here is my update. Grab a cup of coffee & sit down.





Well, the most recent events. Sunday - we were in our bedroom & we found a flea. Now - this might not even phase some people. It nearly puts me in a catatonic (or psychotic) state of being. This is not the first time we have had these creatures invade our house. This would be invasion #3. The strange this is that WE HAVE NO PETS! Last invasion we concluded that we track them inside from the yard. Although strangely enough - they live on animals... must be our squirrels have fleas!?! Once they are inside if they bite (a person/animal) - they can lay like 100s of eggs. It's insane. I read up on it the last two invasions. Anyway - we found two more by the door. We concluded our ox was in the ditch & proceeded FULL SPEED AHEAD - with bug bombs & some type of powder & treating our yard. I can assure you - that a GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL! Anyone have any in site on the flea situation? I think I am going to have Emily start wearing a flea collar. LOL!

Then - same day - I realize the Emily is not nursing right. Only to realize I have a clogged duct... so the next couple days... fever & flu-like symptoms. Won't say much more to avoid TMI. Once again - it was a "really good time."

But, I am very happy that it is fall. The trees are beautiful. I love an excuse to get Starbucks. Do I really need an excuse though? I don't think so.

I did start "Mom's Needs, Dad's Needs" the other day. His first couple paragraphs were an awesome hook. I have to share for the other parents out there...

"Romantic movies are all alike. A man and woman are thrown together by unusual circumstances. They fall madly in love despite overwhelming adversity. And in the end they run into each other's arms to kiss under a moonlit sky before walking hand in hand toward a bright future together.

But these movies don't lend themselves very well to romantic sequels. Imagine what one might be like. The couple would now be married with three children. Instead of moonlit walks, they'd be helping the six-year old with a school project, potty training the three year old, and trying to settle down the crying baby. And instead of running into each other's arms, they'd be running around the house, trying to get everything ready for another busy day of work, school, and household tasks. Talk about overwhelming adversity! At the end of the day our couple would collapse into bed, completely exhausted. HOW COULD EVEN THE BEST DIRECTOR MAKE THAT LOOK ROMANTIC?? " - Willard F. Harley, Jr.

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Last week, I made Matt a really nice candlelit dinner. You know, I pulled out the real napkins. Never fail - Emily woke early from her nap ... just as we sat down! :-) Matt held Emily and let her play with the napkin ring. At the end of the meal ... he looked ALL OVER for it. He couldn't find it on the floor & laughed that Emily had eaten it. Finally this is where we found it. Emily the little DIVA wanted to wear it. ha ha. It was funny. Maybe you had to be there. :-)