Happy New Year

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Well, almost...

I am terrifically happy about finding my ALL-TIME FAVORITE EVER Mom planner. I have used the same kind of planner for several years now, and I love it!

Notice the fabulous pens!

But, I had a BIG PROBLEM this year, because I was having trouble finding the new one. There were only 4 on Amazon, and they were rather pricey and not available for free super saver shipping. Wal-mart always carries this particular wonderful planner for cheaper than anyone else (as Wal-Mart is prone to do, giving it its only redeeming value), but Wal-Mart was ALL OUT!

We made the big trip INTO THE CITY last night to do some gift card shopping in Wichita, and Barnes and Noble was ALL OUT of my wonderful planner. The problem with all of this is that my life was going to have to cease today, because I had nowhere to write down what would happen beyond it. To further my crisis, I also had not found my new wall calendar. I have to be emotionally attached to a wall calendar before I can purchase one; it is usually a rather gruelling process.

It is really disturbing for me to go into New Year's Day with no record of opportunity for existence beyond New Year's Eve. So HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS: Border's Bookstore came to the rescue. At our last stop last night, I found my wonderful Mom Planner!! O, and I found a calendar I emotionally connected with at Barnes and Noble, so they get credit for that.

Look out 2008, here I come!

In memory of Grady

I often find myself thoughtful the day after Christmas. Happy and content, pleased at a good time being had in our family and the families of our friends, and thankful for the quiet down-time. My house is a wreck, which I know is allowed the day after Christmas, so I'm not even worried about it. There are no Christmas parties or checklists yet to be tackled.


I'm looking forward to sitting in the comfy chair curled up in our new corduroy throw with a good book, my Bible, coffee, my journal, and my new package of beautifully colored ink pens. (I have a thing for good pens with colorful ink.)


My head is always a little clearer the day after Christmas. The fluff is done.



I've been thinking quite a bit about Grady Paul Larson, our very special little friend who left our world to go home and be with Jesus on April 23, 2002. Tomorrow is Grady's birthday, he would be turning 11 if he were still bound by the constraints of time.


I'm thinking about my dear friend Kim, Grady and Logan and Alyssa's mom, who always hurts at this time of year even while she hopes.


At the oddest moments, tears leap into my eyes and right down my cheeks when I think about Grady. I had the profound honor of being the DATE NIGHT BABYSITTER for Greg and Kim Larson before and during Grady's diagnosis and treatment and homegoing. We spent many Christmas Eve celebrations together with the Larsons, and although we've moved away from Iowa, the Body of Christ lets us be family. We've travelled back and forth for visits since the move, and still I am sometimes overwhelmed by the lack of Grady's presence with us on this earth.


Grady was just about famous for his intense personality and hilarious and poignant quotes.


The thing Grady was very sure of even at the end of his short and deeply meaningful life was probably his most famous quote:


"God loves me."

That's it, that's what he wanted to share at his preschool program. That's what he knew, without question, in the midst of suffering.


Wherever you are and whatever pain and questions overwhelm you at this time of year, may you know:

"how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge..." (Eph. 3:18-19)


I am reminded when the tears come that this really isn't my home. Pain is to be expected here; it makes me long for the place where...

Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. (Rev. 7:16-17)

Because sometimes, I am tempted to expect that here.

The Exhalation Place

Seeing as how pictures are worth a thousand words, here are a few good ones from our Exploration Place trip with Erika and Darin (my sister and brother-in-law):

And on the way home, this sums up how we all felt...

Merry!

I've been a bit "blog post negligent" due to um well, doing other things. We are having a grand old time with my sister and her hubby, Erika and Darin. We're heading to our science museum, the Exploration Place (or in Grace's words, the Exhalation Place- quite scientific, I think) with them today. Hopefully I'll come back with good pictures.

Just so you know, I AM NOT MAD AT GREG. Not one bit. I went to watch Emma dance at the only "parent observation" classes of the year in each of her three dance classes. I took the camera and got some amazing pictures right up close and video of her routines. I was planning on posting some, but due to a mishap, misunderstanding, bit of confusion... the pictures and videos have been deleted. Nope, not blaming ANYBODY, could've happened to anyone. Let's just say, I think I deserve a treadmill.

We have tried on two occasions to have lengthyish picture-taking sessions for our CHRISTMAS PICTURE, and I have to say that photogenicness doesn't seem to be hitting each of us at the same time. So, not only do we have no CHRISTMAS PICTURE, we also have sent out no CHRISTMAS CARDS. Maybe for Valentine's Day is what we're currently thinking. We love you all very much and wish you a...

VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

And can it be that I should gain

An interest in the Savior's blood?

Died He for me, who caused His pain?

For me, who Him to death pursued?

Amazing love! How can it be

That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

Amazing love! how can it be

That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me!

What I would like for Christmas

I ate queso for lunch the other day. I don't know why I did it, except that the San Antonio in me occasionally calls my name in a very loud tex-mex craving sort of way. After eating my FILL I, of course, felt rather badly about myself. Once again I thought about something I would really like for Christmas - A TREADMILL.

I am appealing to you because Greg does not think I should have a treadmill for Christmas. He says:

1. Good treadmills cost too much money.
2. Our house is not big enough for a treadmill.
3. He doesn't think I would actually use a treadmill.
4. Many other reasons were you to ask him.

Here's why he is wrong. We had a short membership to a fitness center here (given to us as a gift). I LOVED running on the treadmill while I watched HGTV. Actually, what I really want is a treadmill and HGTV. That's all. I would really and truly use it every day (or almost anyway). It's too cold, icy, and potentially snowy to run outside.

Greg offered his perfect solution to my dilemma:

"Here's what you can do, Kelly! I figured it out. You can run in place while Abby or Emma reads to you from your Home Companion Magazine!"

So anyway, I want a treadmill.

Next List

This would be one of our "trying to get the lighting for our family Christmas picture just right" pictures, a little too blue.

I am trying to get my blog post in before the pending ice storm takes out our power for two weeks - just have to be prepared. We do currently have pretty serious rain falling with threatening temperatures. Candles and down throws are ready...

Our Christmas tree is now officially up - see Greg's blog for details. My favorite quote from the experience...

Emma: "Mom, I'm putting the tree skirt on."

Mom: "No, Emma. We don't even have the ornaments on yet, and more needles will fall that I'll need to vacuum before we can put the skirt on -"

Emma: "Mom, I mean I'm REALLY putting the tree skirt on!"

So, here's our beautiful tree and the girls, including Emma wearing the tree skirt. Grace was so inspired, she put on one of Emma's old ballet skirts to fully be "in the moment."

The Smells of Christmas that I Love (A Holmes Family kitchen table list):

• peppermint


• baking sugar cookies


• coffee


• pine needles


• chimney smoke


• cinnamon


• scented candles


• cold and frosty

Feel free to add your favorites in my comments!

Christmas List

Greg and the gel are home!

We've begun a series of "Christmas Lists" that I'm setting on the kitchen table with a pen or two for people to add their thoughts throughout the day. I'd love to hear your additions in the comments. Here's where we are so far:

My Favorite Christmas Flavors Are:

• apple cider
• hot chocolate
• Celestial Seasonings Candy Cane Lane hot tea
• fudge
• queso
• a peppermint mocha
• hot wings in ranch dressing
• molasses sugar cookies
• coffee
• egg rolls
• candy canes
• tamales
• dark melt-in-your-mouth chocolate

Yesterday, the girls and I delivered Christmas goody bags to two widows in our church. The soup supper on Sunday night was to meet as small groups and put these bags together for all of the widows and widowers in our church. It was so much fun to see all the treasures that went inside (we all brought something to contribute). Then families took some bags to deliver.

Abby and Emma and Grace decided it would be fun to put together a little travelling concert to accompany our deliveries. We had so much fun loading up and carrying around goody bags, a guitar, a violin, a music stand, a set of bongo drums, music books, a recorder, and Grace's maraca. We drew some attention as we marched into Schowalter Villa up the stairs and down the hall to the first lady's apartment. Grace walked right in, looked up at the very sweet lady and said, "Where's the gessert?!" For some reason that is how she pronounces "dessert."

Thankfully this very gracious woman was a school teacher for many years and delighted in Grace's uninhibited inappropriateness. She also loved our concert and had other residents listening outside her open door. Abby and Emma played Drummer Boy on bongos and recorder with Grace on maraca, As the Deer on violin, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen with notes on violin and chords on guitar, and All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name on guitar. They did a great job and truly had a wonderful time. We then traveled to the next lady's house to do it again. I couldn't believe I forgot the camera.

We ended up completely blessed by these sweet ladies, a few of their stories, their delighted smiles, their homes lovingly decorated, and yes, their cookies and their fudge. Grace only plays the maraca for food after all.

Edification

Greg is in Texas right now. He had his official eye check this morning in San Antonio now that the results of his surgery have stabilized. His eyes looked perfect from what I hear; we are so thankful!

This means that I am currently "holding down the fort" (sort of, in theory). These times are always great opportunities for deep Greg appreciation.

I am trying very hard to make the most of my time by working on the storage room. What I am actually doing is dancing in the storage room. I run from one pile to the next, doing lovely ballet jumps over the piles in my way, spinning to get the full panoramic view and then repeating while my brain gets mushier. I figure after dancing for awhile, some form of organizational genius is bound to hit me and I'll be ready!

I've been commenting about my "purging" operation to the girls today in between school subjects. Emma, being Emma, decided she doesn't like that word and doesn't think it's real, so she's been calling it my "plurging."

Then, at dinner tonight, (which was my homemade broccoli cheese soup; a personal favorite) I was informed that one of my children hates this soup. The same child also informed me that none of the kids at church like it either. I brought it to a soup supper we had last night, so we have a WHOLE LOT left.

"Well thank you, unnamed child, do you think that is actually a nice thing to be saying to your mom who made it??!!"

Then the other child, who loves the soup, was in the middle of telling a story (still at the dinner table) and abruptly interrupted herself to look closely at me and say, "Mom, what is wrong with your hair?!"

"Well, Daddy took the gel."

"Oh, wow, it looks kinda different."

"Yes, well thank you," and on that note of encouragement to cap off a thoroughly self-confidence building sort of day, I'm off to do some more plurging!"

You'll never believe this!

Check out our elves: http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1129197420

And if you want to see Greg like you've never seen him before, check out: http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1129512248

Thanks to our inspiration Katie and her family and Ross and Christy!!