HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS! I love the meaning of Christmas and why we celebrate.

I try to teach my children that it is not about "getting" but about "giving," not necessarily giving presents, but giving of yourself, which I have to admit that I have failed miserably in that department this year. I pray that God will help me do better this next year. There is just so much commercialism about selling and buying and the big department stores competing for sales, and they say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas" because it might offend someone. What about offending me and other Christians because they don't say "Merry Christmas." I don't know about you, but I for one do not want to hear "Happy Holidays." There wouldn't be a "holiday" in the first place if it had not been for the birth of Jesus - He is the reason for the season.

So, MERRY CHRISTMAS to everyone and HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!!

Love, Bella

28 Years Ago

On Monday, December 15, 1980, at 3:00 a.m., 28 years ago, I was admitted to the hospital to have my first baby. I was 18 and scared to death. After my body decided that it did not want to have a baby naturally and shut down completely, the doctor decided I needed a C-Section on Wednesday, December 17, 1980, just about noon. Ever since then, Connie has been late for just about everything, except for having Emily Rhyse, who was 5 weeks early.

Time sure does fly by when you aren't looking. It is hard to believe that Connie is 28 and now a mommy. And my goodness, Morgan Ann is 15. I remember when they were just babies, it seems like yesterday, until I look in the mirror and see the years written all over me.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CONNIE MARIE!!!!

Have a Blessed Day in the Lord!!

Love, Bella

High School

I don't remember life being so difficult, you got up, dressed, ate breakfast, went to school, came home, did homework, ate supper, took a shower, and went to bed. Get up the next day and start the process over. And do whatever your parents instruct you to do, whether it was mow the grass, rack the leaves, wash the dishes, etc., and you did it without mouthing.

Today, I get a call from my daughter, who is in tears, because a girl at school has decided for her "pet" project to try to destroy my daughter. The fleshy part of me wants to tell my daughter to kick her tail, but the Christian me says "turn the other cheek, and walk away." Why does it get so tiring doing the "right" thing? And how come they never tire of doing the "wrong" thing and what do they get out of it? Do they think it makes them look good, makes them look intelligent, by downgrading someone else?

I don't like it when my children have to experience this kind of abuse, senseless abuse. It has gotten so bad that my daughter wants to change schools, and I tell her that she can't run from this kind of stuff, that it's the same everywhere, mean and bullying kids.

You know, it doesn't have to be like this - I believe this is what happens when you have a generation of children that have not been disciplined at home, and are taught to "fight" no matter what and no matter who it hurts. I don't want my children raised like that - but society, it seems, almost dictates it to be so.

Please keep us in your prayers.

Bella.

Hospitals - Yuck

I received a call yesterday, our daughter Connie was in the hospital. The doctor said it is her gallbladder and it has to be removed; it is loaded with gallstones. She was admitted to the hospital overnight for pain and I think, to be sure none of the gallstones had "dumped" into her bile (I think that's the word). Anyway, little Emily and Tom stayed the night with her and she was released this morning. She was placed on a liquid diet and we aren't sure how that is going to work since she is breastfeeding. The doctor has scheduled her surgery for Friday. Please pray for the doctors, nurses, Connie, Tom and little Emily.

On another note, my niece, Kristy, has asked for prayer for her husband, Wade. He has been having seizures and they don't know what is causing them. Please keep them in your prayers also.

See ya in blog land, Bella

Thanksgiving

We had the most wonderful Thanksgiving. It started the Saturday before when we left home headed for South Carolina. The trip was long, but enjoyable. Our youngest daughter, Morgan Ann, kept texting me with weather updates like she was the weather lady. She did really well.

Fourteen hours later, we arrived at Laurel Bay and got to meet our grandbaby for the first time. She is absolutely beautiful, and she is such a good baby.

We took her for her first beach visit at Hunting Island, although she didn't get to see it, the wind was blowing really hard, drizzling rain, and cold, so she stayed wrapped up really well. I got to hold her, kiss her and love on her all week long - not sure when we will be back to South Carolina.

We left on Sunday, November 30, heading home. It was so hard to leave, I really wanted to stay. The drive home seemed like a lifetime, it took us longer to get home, it rained most of the way and the wind was really blowing.

Bella