Let your light shine!

I'm a sucker for lighting displays around the holidays. Probably because I'm too cheap to put up my own lights! Anyway, we're lucky that we have a couple of friends who are familiar with the area to show us the Christmas ropes. Mandi and Jason Holderieath took us to a Blue Springs neighborhood that not only had a display that told the Christmas story of Jesus' birth, but chronicled his life story of learning, teaching, being crucified and rising again. We also went to Christmas in the Park at Longview Lake Park. It took us TWO hours to get into the park (we went on the weekend), but it was the biggest display I had ever seen! Snowmen doffing their hats, skiers on snowy peaks, Peanuts characters ice skating. I'm sad that I didn't get any photos, but next year I'll be prepared!

Operation: Christmas Tree

Personally, I don't feel like it's really Christmas until there's a Christmas tree in my living room. One that's decorated with garland, colored lights (preferably blinking), ornaments commemorating significant events of years gone by, and is topped with an angel. And it has to smell like Christmas.

Because this is our first Christmas in Oak Grove, I had no idea where to buy a tree. I called Brian out of desperation to find a place that sells trees because I hadn't seen them at the Wal-Marts nearby. He suggested Ben's Landscaping in Blue Springs, so Jason and I took the truck.

Now, Jason and I have shopped for Christmas trees together before. Once or twice we selected one from CAFNR's Forestry Club lot to show support for the college. Other times we've grabbed one from the selection at Wal-Mart because it was easy to pick up on the way home from work. These times were spent looking over the trees very carefully before we committed to the one we would purchase. That is why I was very surprised when we arrived at the tree lot and Jason gave me three minutes to pick the tree!

Three minutes! I can't wrap a small Christmas present in that amount of time! How could he expect me to pick the perfect tree that would live in our house for nearly three weeks and be the sole representation of the season?! I had hoped that we would spend time selecting the tree together. After all, he was deployed last year. Nope.

"One tree," he said pointing to the Charlie Brown Christmas trees in the front corner, "decorated at our house would look just as good as the next one." And he pointed to the tall, full pine trees I was trying to decide between.

He almost had me convinced that I was too emotionally attached to the idea of the perfect tree...and then I came to my senses, picked the pine that measured up to my height and fullness standards and fell within our price range and made him carry it to the cash register...all before my three minutes were up!

Now the tree is standing in our front room, decorated with garland, colored lights and ornaments commemorating significant events of years gone by. It's topped with Grandma Mary's angel and it smells like Christmas.

A good husband shovels snow...

...without being asked!

Last night was the first accumulation of any kind, so on our random Wal-Mart run for groceries, we picked up a couple bags of ice melt for the driveway. When we got home, Jason helped get the bags inside and immediately got to work shoveling the walk while I put away groceries and did some inside chores.

This morning, he cleared the way again and cleaned off my car! What a wonderful husband!

FRG family day - Christmas

The 311th HHD celebrated the 2009 holidays at drill this weekend. Soldiers and their families brought desserts and side dishes to go with the meal provided. Captain and commander, Jason had to help serve food.

For the kids, there were arcade games and a bounce house. I also brought supplies to make Christmas crafts, like ornaments and magnetic picture frames. I was surprised at how much the kids enjoyed such simple crafts. I wish I had photos to show you their creations, but we were busy making art! Santa arrived after lunch to talk with the kids, hand out presents and pose for photos.

Ragtag premiere of LIT

My friend and bowling buddy, Brian Maurer, is a budding film director. He recently wrote, directed and produced his first full-length feature film. The premiere was at the Ragtag in Columbia, Mo. He was hoping that there would be a large enough crowd that he wouldn't be embarrassed. In fact, the movie sold out, and they had to turn people away!

The movie, LIT, was produced on a "Velcro" budget, as Brian likes to say, which is apparently smaller than a shoestring budget. Everything was done on the cheap. Actors and crew came from the local community theatre and students at the university. The music in the film was created by Jake Oakes.

I enjoyed the movie and I'm proud to say I got the first autographed DVD.

Thankful indeed!

This year's Thanksgiving celebrations were a little more meaningful as Mom had just gotten out of the hospital. The good news is no cancer! We had fun visiting with family at Meneely Thanksgiving and Schad Thanksgiving. Plus, Lauren, Jason and I found some time to sneak out to the Eldon bowling alley for a couple games.

A visit from the Southern Stapps

Before Thanksgiving, the Southern Stapps came to visit us. David, Stefani, Oliver and Bella stayed with us for a few days as they made their rounds to family and friends in Missouri. We sure kept busy!

Oliver and Bella had fun playing with my Slinky and balloons leftover from Jason's birthday celebration. We watched movies and played in the park. Oliver had fun playing with my high heels, too!






We also baked some cookies to take to the Concordia Fire Station. We visited with Jim and Deb and checked out the big trucks and the ambulances. Oliver even tried on a fireman's helmet!

The last thing we did was go to the mall together. Oliver and Bella got their photos taken with Santa. (Oliver cried.) Then Oliver played in the kids area and Jason and I took him on a carousel ride. (Oliver cried again.)

It was so fun to see the family again!