Christmas Decorations

This is not going to be a long post. Not even a post about my own decorations.

When I saw this on my cousin's blog, I cracked up. I have never seen this many decorations before EVER. This person even has Charlene beat.

Begina...hope you don't mind the link to your blog... click on the red below...

If you don't already know...I DO NOT LIKE The Blow up Christmas AT ALL. So this house would really, really annoy me.

Christmas Decorations, too much?

A Comment That Became a Post

I was leaving a comment on Bro. Matt's blog. I realized that maybe it was just a tad bit too long.

Bro. Matt wanted to know our thoughts on Santa....do or don't

I did Santa Claus for the girls. I made a huge deal out of it. I'm not one to go half way. I wrote letters back from Santa, not just to my girls, but to all of my nieces and nephews and even my little sister (who is 25 years younger than me), I made hoof marks on our deck, we made reindeer feed, one year, they all received a retired sleigh bell from Santa. Gosh, I might have went over board. Our Santa always shared his love of Jesus with each one of them, which does NOT make it right. I am guilty of making a bigger deal out of Santa than it being Jesus Birthday, in the past.

As a kid, Santa always came, but I don't remember it being a big deal. What I do remember most, mom telling us the Christmas story, saving our change for Lottie Moon Offering and putting it those envelopes (we probably used 50 envelopes each, we didn't cash in our change we put all that change in those envelopes), I even remember what those envelopes looked like, Christmas our Dad went to church with us and I was so proud, and of course, I remember my Papaw Clark leading the singing at his country church in his big loud out of key booming voice.

He referenced an article, one of the points in the article was about the Christmas Tree, kind of do or don't. Our tree is all about memories, which is silly I guess, I really don't need a tree and ornaments to remember my grandparents, brothers, parents, do I? It makes me feel good to put it up and remember. It's fun to share those special moments with the girls, who want to hear each story behind each ornament, even though they've heard it a hundred times.

I love tradition, I love hearing the girls ask...when are we gonna...we always....etc. It's not the trips to the mall they ask about, its the simple things, like the hot chocolate, which family we are going to visit on what day, are we gonna put the tree up on your birthday, etc.

Looking back, would I do it the same way? I'm leaning heavily towards no. Kids are crushed when they find out that Santa isn't real. I can see this scenario playing out..." Well, if Santa isn't real, I bet Jesus isn't real either." Catch my drift?

I'll leave you hanging...

Pictures from Glennallen, Alaska

My little brother has got the picture fever. I'm Loving It! His dog Amos is just the cutest little thing. I have to say that Scottie is doing pretty good with his camera. I edited these for him, changed them to black and white and played with the contrast just a little. You know I'm a sucker for the black and white pictures, the are always my favorite.




Has anyone come up with idea's on how to get rid of POTATO BUGS? I still have them and dislike them tremendously.

It's Begining to Look A Lot Like Christmas

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere I go...

Holiday cheer is contagious! WRVR, The River is playing continuous Christmas music, the funeral home is all decorated, the city is alive with lights and here at Butler Manor, we have CHRISTMAS TREES GALORE!

Mary Margaret and Taylor get handmade ornaments from their Aunt Judy and Grandmother each year (on their mom's side). Their collection has out grown the little 3 foot trees we bought years ago for their rooms. This week I decided to get them a full size tree, a 5 footer. Their trees are loaded with decorations and their rooms look so cheerful and cozy. Notice: Zac Efron is not a Christmas decoration, he is a permanent fixture in Taylor's pink room.

I mentioned to Mary Margaret that the trees would last a long time and that she would treasure her ornaments for a lifetime...then I said, "And you'll have a nice tree and ornaments to start off with in your first home or apartment." She looked like I had slapped her. "What's wrong?" I asked. She says real quietly, "Um, so, um, well, No one ever told me I was gonna have to move out. What's that all about? And why do I have to move? I wasn't planning on moving until like I'm 25, you know, really old." Funny, but so pure and innocent. Made my heart swell.

Tradition is a huge part of Christmas. Tradition here until last year was to put the tree up on my birthday. Lives get so busy, I missed it last year and this year. There are some traditions that just can't be broken, like, the angel my Brawner grandparents gave me goes in the exact same spot on the tree every year for the last 25 years, I use my childhood stocking that my mother made and it is still beautiful and makes me miss being a kid untouched by the reality of being an adult (and makes me miss mom), the sleigh bells go on the front door to "catch" Santa with, popcorn string is the finishing touch to the tree, and so many more.

We have new traditions too. We started about 5 years ago making homemade hot chocolate the day the tree goes up, we sit around the tree and admire it and sip our hot chocolate, we take a picture of the girls in front of the tree each year, I love making memories with this family of mine.

My favorite decorations, there are so many, are not the ones that I bought on a whim, but the ones that mean something. The tree skirt that Andy's wife made me several years ago, I think about their family as I unwrap it and spill a few tears cause I miss those guys so much! Amanda also made the bears under the tree for MM and Taylor, they are a new tradition too, they have front row seats in front of the tree each year.

I own one piece of Waterford Crystal, courtesy of my little brother, Scottie way off in Alaska. I haven't seen him in person in a couple of years, which breaks my heart, cause it sure would feel good to give him a hug (and I'm not just saying that cause he reads this blog either!)

The frosty and kids in this picture came in a flower arrangement the day I was born...so they are really really old, like 36 years old.

Merry Christmas a little early. I hope each one of you know how special you all are to me.

What are your traditions? What makes it special for you?

Work Humor

This has been a most hectic week at the funeral home. Phones ringing, ringing and ringing, people calling my name, funerals to work, insurance claims to file and of course wonderful company.

I love my job, hearing aides, moth balls, wrong numbers, foreign telemarketers claiming to be my local Yellowpages Representatives, pecans jobbers, orange jobbers and the perfume pusher that came in as a funeral began...oh, and don't forget the negativity...love it all!

A few funnies from this week...

Today...
A little background first. The funeral home has a number that you can listen to the funeral information. We also have an Answering Service. I have to swap the funeral home phone to the Answering Service and also remember to do the funeral home recording.

I'm swapping the phones this afternoon and thinking ahead of what to do next which is to record...

Dial all the numbers
Ring Ring
Lady at Answering picks up...
and I say...
"Thank you for calling the Kernodle Funeral Home Information Number, Kernodle Funeral Home has no services..."
The Answering Service lady clears her throat and says "Um, you called me mam...."
So I did.
Hardy har har, ROTFLOL!!!!


Earlier this week...
I answered, Kernodle Funeral Home, this person says, "This isn't Regions Bank?" I said no mam, it's Kernodle Funeral Home, to which she replies....."Are You Sure?", yes I"m sure. Is this 2324? Yes mam it is. Hm, You are sure this is not Regions Bank... now she has me wondering, I look around and think that I'm pretty sure I'm at Kernodle Funeral Home...but maybe I didn't go to work at the right place today LOL it doesn't take much to confuse old folks like me...

And this...
What kind of bodies do you have up there?
(How do you respond to that one?)


Next post...my surprise visit to Wynne Jr. High in the middle of the day and a few pictures from Taylor's Christmas Choir Concert.