Historic home for sale in MY NEIGHBORHOOD!

Cody, Brock's good friend, restored this beautiful old home in Willard. It would be a great home for a family with two or three kids. Check it out.

My stalker

Lately Sophie has been following me around everywhere I go. Even when I head to the potty, she sneaks in before I can close the door and she rubs against my legs and purrs until I'm done.

If she wasn't so cute and cuddly, I'd consider getting a restraining order.

All together now

We had all six kids for Thanksgiving this year. We had a wonderful time together. I didn't get a picture of the dinner, but we hosted it at our house. This was the first big holiday meal with extended family we've hosted since we've been married. It went very well. The food was fabulous (blowing my own horn) and it was great to have my parents, our kids, two nieces, a nephew and a nephew-in-law.

Every year, Brock's family hosts a non-denominational worship service. This year was Brock's turn. It was simply beautiful. The music was heavenly, the scriptures inspiring, and the poetry spirit-filled. Brock gave a wonderful reading of Christmas on the Prairie. The grandkids sang "Christmas Time is Here", from A Charlie Brown Christmas while Tawna played some great jazz piano. We had a musicians playing the trumpet, flute, bassoon, piano, organ, percussion instruments, and violins (Emma being one). We had a family bell choir in which Emma, Kate, Sarah, Brock and I participated. Lane's conducting was superb! He had the congregation anxious to follow his lead. Susan was fabulous on the organ (as always!) and Mark and neighbor Karalee read scriptures and poetry like pros--move over Garrison Keillor! It was a wonderful, spirit-filled evening that I won't ever forget. Our children loved participating. I don't think they really understand what an unusual honor it is to participate in such an event, and how rare these types of gatherings really are. I hope they remember how it felt to be a part of it all.

You'll shoot your eye out!

This trimester I have a student who seriously looks like a skinny version of Ralphie from A Christmas Story. I wish I could take a picture and post it, but there is that little issue of ethics.