Christmas Eve & Six Flags

Holden and Andy

WOW!  It is now Dec 27, and I am finally all alone again.  Jason is at work, and Holden is over at a friend's house.  Today I took Holden and his friend to Six Flags.  My sweet boy experienced what "thrill" means in "thrill ride."  I just wanted to hold him.  That's all I am gonna say about that.

Let's go back to Christmas Eve.  I wanted to get Holden's picture with Santa this year, so we got up early and were at the mall by 8:30 am.  It was not crowded at all, so we didn't have to wait in line.  Isn't he handsome?

Jason thought it would be great to let Holden fill my stocking this year.  So I took Holden to Bath & Body Works and told him that bubble bath would be great.  I asked the sales lady to help him pick out a fragrance, and I stepped back and let him shop.  Then we went to Walgreens and I gave him $20 to get candy and stuff for the stocking.  I stood at the end of the aisle and didn't look at what he was choosing.  At one point he was on the other aisle and yelled, "Mom, they don't have Twix!"  The best part was when he was paying and the total was $19.98!   

We had told Holden that he could open one present on Christmas Eve.  He got his own MP3 player.  We didn't see much of him the rest of the night.  He took a bath WITHOUT being told.  And at 9:00 he came in and told us good night.  He wanted to go to bed early so Christmas morning would come faster.  He had informed me earlier in the day that Dad and I had to be in bed by 10:00 also.  

Jason and I stayed up and took care of last minute Christmas preparations and plopped into bed around 11:00 (shhhhh don't tell Holden).  It was so hard for me to sleep that night.  I kept listening for Holden to get up and walk into the living room.  Finally at 7:00 Christmas morning he stood at our bedroom door and asked, "Can we open presents now?"  He looked so sweet standing there.  

I missed Holden's first 8 Christmas mornings, but I plan on being there for at least the next 9--until he is an adult.  Even then, I hope he will want to be home with Mom and Dad for Christmas mornings.  

Just Have Fun....

It is three days before Christmas and I am home alone!!

Jason and Holden just left to go Christmas shopping for ME!!!

I can just sit here and think about my amazing family!

The last three days have been great.  I had lunch with a dear friend on Wednesday, and she said, "Just have fun."  I have heard that many many times in my head since then.  

 

Wednesday afternoon I got to be the "MOM" instead of the "TEACHER".  I went to Holden's class Christmas Party.  The kids in his class were so polite.  Even after my big behind knocked a bowl of confetti on the ground, they insisted on picking it up and were embarrassed to tell me that it was my fault.  haha  It was really a lot more fun than I expected.  

Holden and I went to lunch, shopping and the movies on Thursday after school.  We just had fun.  We went to see Enchanted.  I think it was a little 'girly' for Holden, but it was cute.  

Now as I sit here in the house alone, it feels strange knowing that my husband and son are Christmas shopping for me!  :)  This will be our first Christmas together as a real family.  Yesterday I spent two hours wrapping all the presents.  I wanted to go back to sleep after Jason left for work but Holden told me to "Wrap some presents, Woman!"  He was ready to see gifts under the tree with his name on them.   

It is so exciting to see him so excited.  He has been counting down the days!  But what I love is that every time I ask him what he is so excited about he says he can't wait to open his gifts.  But he always follows that up with looking forward to celebrating Jesus' Birthday.  Jason and I really want to start some special traditions for our family.  

Only three more days!  I can't wait to watch Holden on Christmas morning!  He will only be a little boy for a few more years, so we must enjoy every moment!!!  

Thank you, Sarah.....I will "just have fun!"

MY SON, the comedian

Let me preface this by giving a little bit of a warning.  I write this completely as an examples of Holden's quick wit.  It will include no offensive language, but will infer it to be spoken--even though it was never spoken as part of the conversation.  With that...please read on....

Last week Holden was really sick.  It was my first experience with a sick child.  He ran a fever for 5 days.  I took Holden to the doctor, and it was a memory I won't soon forget.

The doctor was talking about the antibiotic she was going to write for Holden.  Holden politely interrupted and asked if she would write it for a pill, not a liquid.  "I don't like the taste," he said.  Our doctor was more than willing to do that for him.  When she left the room, I jokingly said something that I learned from a dear teacher I used to work with.  "Holden, you get what you get and you don't have a fit."

Holden looked at me, then turned away, and said, "I won't have a fit, but it will taste like...."  

And he STOPPED TALKING!!!  He did NOT complete the sentence.  I was shocked!!! "HOLDEN JAMES!" I exclaimed like any good mother would.  But then I couldn't help it.  I about died laughing!  

Holden said, "Mom!  I was not going to say that!  I can't believe you'd think that!"  And just smiled while I laughed.  

He was so quick with his response!!!  I have to admit--I was impressed!!  

Holden's Holiday Memory

Today Holden and I spent time working on a writing assignment.  He has missed the last 3 days of school because of this crazy virus he has had.  As a writing teacher, I was actually pretty excited about spending some quality time with Holden working on this and making it fun.  

Homework is rarely fun, and I could see it in Holden's face that he did not want to do this writing assignment, and he did not think it would be fun.  It actually took me about 15 minutes to really pull him in and get him excited.  But once we started planning and writing, he really got into it.  

We decided to write a story about.......well how about I just let you read it.....

         On December 26, I woke up and heard a rumbling in the kitchen.  I walked in the kitchen expecting to see Dad making his morning coffee.  Instead I saw Santa gulping down the entire gallon of milk.  I asked him why he was here.  He said, "Your mom and dad left me as your babysitter while they are on vacation."  I knew this was going to be an extraordinary day.

Santa asked me to help him make breakfast.  We made a giant cookie with chocolate chips filled with hot and creamy fudge, smothered with caramel.  My mom would have a fit if she found out.  We washed it down with lots of milk.  Santa didn't even make me brush my teeth after breakfast which my dad and mom always make me do no matter what.

After breakfast Santa taught me how to fly his sleigh.......

TO BE CONTINUED.......

I am so proud of his use of vocabulary and funny ideas.  I told Him he would have to finish the rest of the story on his own at school.  I will post the rest when he brings it home.  I can't wait to read it!!!

Brand New Way to Praise

Today Holden made his singing debut in church singing a song called "A Brand New Way to Praise".  He got to sing it in both services this morning and tonight at the Children's Christmas Program.  I can't even begin to express how proud I was of him.  He was fabulous!!!  He sang the solo beautifully and had a narrator role telling the story of Christ's birth.  

When he sang the first time this morning, I wanted to shout to the whole church, "That's MY son!"  But of course I restrained myself.  As a teacher for 13 years, I have had several groups perform in school programs, and I thought that was a rush, but they don't compare to the joy in watching MY own son sing about Jesus!  

I must stop and tell you that Holden sang with a 102.3 fever!  When I picked him up from school on Friday night, he was running a fever.  After me being as sick as I was two weeks ago, I didn't want to take any chances.  I took him to the doctor, and they said it was a virus that should be gone in a day or two.  Well Holden has been running a fever all weekend!  But fever or not, he was absolutely amazing today!  Jason told him, "The show must go on!"  Holden sang his heart out and recited his lines like a pro.

Last September when I first started taking Holden to church on Wednesday nights, I never imagined how much of an impact it would make on him.  In the last year and a few months, Holden has made friends at church, gone away to camp, gone to Vacation Bible School, been in three children's programs, and even one of the Sunday morning church videos.  He truly ENJOYS going to church.  Most importantly, on September 19, Holden prayed to receive Christ as his personal Savior.  On September 30, he was baptized to let the world know about his decision.  

Holden is so good at memorizing scripture and being able to quote it weeks after memorizing it.  He truly has hidden away God's word in his heart.  I wish I could say he has Jason or me as role models in this area, but Holden is truly the leader of that in our home.  Jason and I want to follow Holden's example.  

When Holden tried out for the solo and speaking part in this program, he was supposed to memorize a scripture.  He chose to memorize Psalm 100 (the one Teresa read at our wedding).  He memorized it in ONE night, and can recite it to anyone who asks him.  

I have so much respect for this little man.  Holden is an amazing kid.  God has huge plans for our Holden.  As his mother, I hope I can guide him and then get out of the way and let God do His thing.  

On the way home from church Wednesday night, I was telling Holden how proud I was of the job he is doing with his solo and speaking part, and Holden said, "I'm glad you're my mom."  I said, "I am glad you're my son."  He asked me if I wanted to know why he was glad.  I held my breath and said yes.  Holden said, "Because if you weren't my mom, I wouldn't get to go to church like I do, and  I wouldn't be singing in the Christmas program.  I love our church."  

Since becoming Holden's mother, I have made MANY mistakes, but I know the one thing I have done right, is taking my boy to church.  Holden takes in everything at church and asks questions when he doesn't understand.  He even teaches Jason and I new things.  Some of my favorite moments with Holden are when we are in the car and I can hear him in the back seat singing praise and worship music along with the radio.

I have rambled a little with this post, but I am so proud of Holden.  He has matured so much in the last year.  I am so honored to be his mother.  I started out with Holden's song--"A BRAND NEW WAY TO PRAISE".  Well as I watch Holden grow in his walk with Christ, I also have a brand new way to praise.  I can praise God for giving me such an amazing young man as my son!  

My Best Friend--The Rubber Band

November 28th is Teresa's birthday. This year I was laid up in bed with pneumonia and had to call her between naps to wish her a happy birthday. But Teresa's birthday is not what I want to share. I want to brag about her accomplishments.

On November 28th I was in the "Reading Room" again reading our devotional THE WORD FOR YOU TODAY. The title was "The Rubber Band Principle". It was immediately made me think of my dear friend, Teresa.

"All rubber bands work on the same principle---they must be stretched to be effective! Anybody who has ever achieved anything of note, has been stretched to their limit. There are no expectations. One of the most common mistakes is thinking that success in life is due to come genius or some 'special something-or-other' you don't possess. Get rid of that thinking! Success comes when you stretch to meet the challenge; failure comes when you shrink back from it. And stretching makes you vulnerable. When a rubber band is taut, it is much easier to break."

Teresa was not afraid to stretch. She did not shrink back from it, and she did not break!

In less than two weeks, my best friend will graduate from college!!! She didn't do it the easy way. (If there is an easy way). Not to downplay the work I put into college, but I had it easy. My father paid for each semester in cash, and I only had to work part-time with no other responsibilities. Teresa, on the other hand, is finishing her degree at the age of 34. Throughout her college experience, she has gotten married and had two beautiful children.

Teresa serves the Lord daily by keeping a beautiful home, loving her husband, and raising her children up to love Jesus.

I don't know how she has done it, but I have so much respect for my best friend.

Teresa, I love you like you were my own sister! I am so proud of you!

"Straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize."  Philippians 3:13-14