Minute to Win It Family Edition

When we were all home for Christmas at Mom and James', Kristen and Jonathan had a great idea. . . we all played a family version of "Minute to Win It". It was so much fun. First though we had to decide our teams. . . We decided to do birth older. First borns versus second borns versus the baaaabbbbiiieeessss. First game. . .we had to get the red dot on our nose. James went first for the First-Born team.

He's SOOOOO silly!!!!!!!!!!

Ash went first for the Middle-Child team

She's SOOOOO silly!

Kristen went first for the babbbbiiiiesssss. . .

Next, we had ornaments in a box and had to shakey, shakey, shakey to get them all out.

Alec went this time for the First-Born team

They are highly entertained. . . can't you tell?????

James is entertaining them with this doll.

Melissa went for the Middle-Children. (she's going to KILL me if she ever reads this post)

Hanna went for the babbbiiiessss.

Next game, I went first for the first-borns. We had to get 3 candy canes on this hook. It's harder than it looks.

Ash sure was given this little first-born in her family some lovins.

Mama went for the middle team

Jon went for the babbbiiiesss. . .

This was such a fun idea! It might just have to become a tradition! Thanks Kris and Jonathan for getting it all together. We all laughed so very much!

PJ and Pancakes Party

Trish had such a wonderful idea. . . a PJ party with pancakes. It was such a fun party. I'm so very grateful for all of our wonderful friends. I don't take these things for granted, for I know each and every one of them is a very special gift.

The idea literally was to pop out of bed, put a bra on (for the moms), and head over to Trish's.

As you can tell, we were all compliant. . .

I thought I was going to have to knock someone out of my way when I saw Lisa bringing this in! She is a WONDERFUL cook! (No pun intended, Lis, since your maiden name is Cook)

P.S. Remember ladies, my blog is private now, so only like 2 people read it. . . otherwise, I wouldn't have posted all these pictures of us with naked faces . . . Ha!Ha!

A Surprise Hunt . . .

Friends who feel like you've known them your whole life are certainly a priceless treasure. Although it was a little over a year ago when we first met Angela and Doug, we all quickly became friends and feel as though we've known one another our whole lives. They were so very sweet and took Jon and I out for a surprise night on the town. The only 2 things I knew were. . . . A) I could wear jeans. B) Not to expect to be home before midnight . . . GASP. C) We were staying in G-town. Sorry, that makes 3. . . That's it. . . then my mind began to wonder. . . what in the heckadoodle could we do in G-town for 6 hours? I didn't have a clue what was coming. We get in their van and are given this. It's a clue. . . a rhyming one at that, and very catchy as well. . . Based on the clue we had to tell them where to drive. . . It was the church where Fox Fever took place. . . next clue. . .

Next stop was our church.

Then, off to Longhorn for dinner. . .

Great food, but even BETTER fellowship!!!!!!!!!!

The waitress handed us our next clue . . .

Next stop. . . Truitts.

This, my friends, is what is known as "Yummy Goodness".

Next stop. . . bowling. . .

Doug was so very sweet. . . he let me borrow his socks. This is gross, but I hate socks and always wear my boots without socks. Again, he was so very sweet to let his feet be in the dirty bowling shoes and let me have his socks.

After bowling we were given ANOTHER clue. . .

Next stop. . . Movies!!!!!!!!!! I love going to the movies, but they are so expensive, so we very rarely go. . .

And, it was to see "Voyage of the Dawn Treader". . . . these are some of my favorite movies. What a wonderful night. I loved every minute of it especially the scavenger hunt. I've done these several times for my kids, but no one has ever done anything like this for me. . . so I just felt so very special. . . the time, effort, thought, and creativity that went into the whole night just blew me away. We are so blessed so have such amazing friends!!!!!!!!!! They are both PRICELESS!

I saw . . .

Today. .

I saw a father, unable to breathe on his own, with oxygen strapped underneath his nose, wheeled down the aisle of a church to take one last look at his beloved daughter.

I saw a young woman who laid down her life for the sake of her mother. . . who gave up everything to be beside her mom. . . to care for her and take care of her. . . clothed with strength and dignity. I saw this young woman peer down to her grandfather with her face shining as if lighted up by the brightest light. Her face was radiant. Her smile was tender and loving and caring. She stopped down to pick up and help her grandfather's frail, fragile body out of his wheelchair so that he may sit in the pew beside her. I saw this same young woman rub the back of her beloved grandfather as he grieved for the loss of his daughter and her mother. I saw this young woman be strong for her brothers, sister, dad, and grandfather.

I wonder, as this elderly man, listened to the kind things being spoken of his daughter. . . if he thought back to the day he buried his wife and her mother of the same dreaded disease. . . breast cancer. I wonder if he thought, "This isn't right. Parents aren't supposed to bury their children."

I saw a little girl draped over her older sister's shoulder. . . sleeping. . . Here is a day that will change her life forever and she probably won't have any recollection of it. She felt peaceful enough to sleep. . . knowing her Mommy is now with Jesus. I saw this precious child wake up, put her feet on the pew in front of her. . . so free from all the grief and worry and fear an event such as the death of your mother would bring. This little one then skipped to her father's lap. His face lit up when she came up to him to be coddled in his arms. His smile was precious. . . as I know he sees his bride, his sweetheart in the face of this little one. I think he held her extra tight this day. My heart hurts for this little one. . . as she will not know her mother. . . she probably will not remember her. . . she will only know those things that people tell her about this wonderful woman. However, more so than knowing her mother and as heartbreaking as that it is. . . it is much, much more important for this little one to know Christ.

I saw the oldest of the 11 put her head on her husband's shoulder. . . knowing how weak and frail she must feel on the inside. . . . ready to break at any given moment. Yet, a little later she turns back and looks to her siblings on the rows behind her. I know the heart of the oldest (for I am one). . . making sure everyone else is okay. Being strong for her sisters, her brothers, and her Dad. . .yet, when it is safe, she will crumble. . . crumble into the arms of her husband and to her Lord.

I saw a father, a husband, stroke the head of his youngest son. Then, as the choir sang, he would lift that same hand and praise his Lord. . . and then that same hand would return to stroke his youngest son's head. . Absolutely precious . . . so.very.tender.

I saw a son close his eyes in worship, yet barely able to muster the words from his lips. Praising the One who gives and takes away. . .

I saw a daughter, bobbing her head to the beat of the music, singing songs of worship, praising the Lord, with such a look of peace through such a time of suffering in the life of she and her family.

I saw a couple of the children with faces so hard, unmovable, afraid that if they blinked an eye a tear would fall, and then they'd crumble . . . crumble into a million pieces. . . not knowing how they would ever pick themselves up again. May it be only their faces that are hard and not their hearts.

Diana Davis has touched more than just the lives of her 11 children and her husband. She's made a mark on all of our lives. She was an inspiration and a shining example of a Godly woman. She will be missed . . . for her seat is now empty. . .