Choices

We have been anticipating another big blizzard-like snow storm for about a week. I think it's here. It isn't supposed to stop snowing until Friday night, it started last night. By the time it's all said and done, we will probably have 15+ inches again. And of course Central Jersey is right in the middle of the worst part of the storm. I was hoping and praying that it wouldn't snow at all, that school would not be canceled and that we would not be stuck at home again. We are big home-bodies, but when we can't even get out to go to the library, it can get a little frustrating.

However, things are a little different today. It is still snowing, the storm is still supposed to be really bad, but I have made a choice.

There are people all over this world, people even connected to my life in some way, that have faced, or are facing tremendous devastation in their lives. I am talking about people loosing their homes, not having clean water, food or adequate shelter. People who have been mistreated in ways we can't even fathom. People who are fighting cancer, who have had babies too early, who have lost their babies, who have lost spouses. And children who have had loving, giving parents and have had to say good bye......permanently. My heart breaks for people who are facing such heart-rending pain and loss. I wish that I could take their pain and suffering away forever....especially those who are close to me.

Since I am not the One with the power to do that, I have chosen to place my trust in the One who gives and takes away. The One who conquered death once and for all. The One who loves us unconditionally. The One who has kept my husband and my children, and allows me to hold them and touch them every single day. His name is Jesus...and He is my strength.

I have chosen not to gripe about the snow........ something that is causing all of us to be home together!! I am so thankful we have a warm home, food in the fridge, and health in our bodies. We can enjoy this day to the fullest, loving each other, and loving God. Thanks be to Him!!!!
On a nature walk this past weekend. Jaron is sporting the scarf I made!!! And Jordy is sporting her new sunglasses.

At the entrance to our complex, there is a huge sycamore tree.....we call it the Zaccheus Tree. (Zaccheus climbed the sycamore tree to see Jesus passing by). They love the Zaccheus Tree!!!

And......more snow..........again

Since Monday everyone has been preparing for this "Nor'eastern" coming our way. The snow started Tuesday night and didn't stop for 24 hours. And Wednesday afternoon, it turned into a blizzard with blinding, swirling wind and low visibilities. Crazy!!!!!!

So school was canceled, obviously, and the kids and I stayed indoors all day. Poor Chris still had to go to work.....the show must go on!

Jordan made herself an island paradise with her beach towels, umbrella, and iPod.

Jaron ran around pretending to be Super Mario.

We survived staying in all day......we just watched movies, played video games, played board games and cuddled. It was actually very nice.

This morning we woke up to the beautiful sun!!! And mounds of snow!!!!!!!!! This is the picture of the bus stop, guess no one is getting a ride today :)

This is a pile of snow the snow plows made trying to clear the road. Taller than the kids!

We walked over to the tennis courts, notice the snow is almost up to my knees.

We met up with friends and used the big mound of snow behind the bus stop to sled on!


I cannot have my phone or my camera without taking a picture of our sweet friend Emily!!

Jordan's friend Ameera took her little sister Sarah down the hill again and again.....

Jordan and Ameera slid down again and again.........

They had fun laughing and falling all over each other!

Emily's little brother Gabriel started throwing snowballs at Chris, so Chris started throwing them back. Gabriel just laughed and laughed at Mr. B!!!!

Emily joined the fun with her massive snowball.

I think they went down that hill every way possible.

Emily and Chris squaring-off with snowballs.

Mani, Ameera and Jordan making one more run down the hill!!! Jaron and Chris went home early to play video games, and when Jordan and I got home, we all crashed for a little bit. It was a really nice time!!!

Snow.................again.

Yes, we got two more feet of snow on Friday night and Saturday. And we are supposed to get more on Tuesday night and Wednesday. It is fun.........once. But then it gets old having to dig our cars out from under huge piles of snow. It also gets messy and we track in snow and salt every time we come in the apartment. And we can't go anywhere without putting on layers of clothes and gloves and hats and coats and scarves. BUT, BUT, BUT........we don't have to worry about suffering through any West Texas dust storms, so I will stop my griping about the snow now!!!!!


The great thing is, the kids love to play in the snow!


And eat it too!!!!



And roll around in it!!!!


And make snow angels!!!!!!

It is rather pretty, isn't it?

Phantom Turns 22!

http://www.broadway.com/shows/the-phantom-of-the-opera/buzz/phantom-turns-22-record-breaking-run-continues/

Phantom celebrated 22 YEARS on Broadway this week!!!!!! Click on the link above and you can see some pictures from their party after the show.....Chris is in one of them!

January 2010

Since the calendar changed from December 2009 to January 2010, we haven't really been doing a whole lot!! And that's perfectly fine with me :) We have actually been taking it super easy so we could get Chris ready to go back to work. He has had epidural shots in his back a couple of times, most recently this week. They do seem to help ease the pain. He had a procedure done yesterday and is already reaping the benefits of it. He is just trying to take good care of himself :)

So we have spent alot of time at home.......and one of my favorite things to do everyday is watch the sweet little birds come eat out of our feeder. Some days they are all over the place! They swoop through the air, they hang out in the trees and they cover the ground. I look forward to seeing them everyday. For some reason they bring serenity to my day, even though they are working really hard to find their next meal.

The week after Christmas we picked up Jordan's new glasses (she broke her other ones being a goober!). This is the only close-up I have of her in them!!! She was playing in Daddy's makeup bag :) We also got her a pair of prescription sunglasses...they are light brown.



We found out at the beginning of the month that some of our closest friends would be moving away by the end of the month. They moved here from India just a couple of months before we did 2 years ago. They were also the first friends we made.

This Monday we had them over one more time, it was fun and very bittersweet. Jordan, Ameera, Jaron, Sarah (Ameer's sister) and Ananya had ALOT of fun playing. Ananya and her parents are the ones leaving us :(

Then today was the very last chance we had to give them a hug!!! We had to tell them goodbye for the very last time (for a while). I just can't hardly imagine what it will be like without them. They are very glad to be going back to India, but we will miss them alot. Ananya, Jordan and Ameera have been like the three musketeers since kindergarten. They can be so silly sometimes!


Fortunately I remembered to grab my camera before we met at the bus stop for the last time! This is me with Vandana (Ananya's mom) and Zenith (Ameera and Sarah's mom). Vandana and her husband have been ideal neighbors. They are the type of people I could call at anytime and they would help me out and vice versa. We had a wonderful time sharing our stories and sharing food!! They will be missed very, very, very much.

So, I have signed up to substitute teach in the Princeton school district. They better pay me well because we have had to shell-out several hundred dollars to get me signed up!!! I had to go get fingerprinted today and it cost me 70 bucks....sheesh! So, I am a little excited to see how these school districts up here are run. From a parent's point of view, it is very different from Lubbock. It will be interesting to see what it's like from an employee's perspective.

While I am waiting for my application to process, I have taken up a new hobby........knitting!!!! My wonderful friend, Tracey, and her friend Wendy have helped me learn the basics. My friend Corrinna has also helped me too, she fixes all my mistakes!

This is what I have so far......not perfect, but not too shabby either! Tracey had these awesome bamboo knitting needles the other day, and they felt so good to hold, so I took my 40% off coupon to Michael's and got some for myself....only had to spend $4! And I LOVE them!!!!!!


I also regularly drool over the things in the Pottery Barn catalogues. They have the coolest stuff!!!! It would be a dream come true if I won a shopping spree at Pottery Barn! So the other day I saw these adorable owl pillows in the kid's catalogue. I thought, "I bet I could make some of those." So I went to Joanne Fabrics, bought me some super cheap remnants and made a pillow. I gave this one to Vandana as part of her going away gift.


I am making this one for Jordan....she picked out this fabric remnant. It was ONE dollar!! I am not done, obviously, but it looks like it will be pretty cute.

So what have you been doing this month??

Then and Now

I found this picture of the Majestic Theatre the other day when I was home with Jaron and in one of my "cleaning modes". It was taken in the summer of 1999. Chris and I weren't even married. But we all piled into his parent's van and drove, yes drove, to New York City. Little did we know that 10 years later, Chris would be employed at this very theatre!!!!

So here is the Majestic now. Not much different, it seems. Remember, Phantom has been in this theatre for 22 years this month.....wild!

Phantom Video!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Click HERE to see a video of Chris in Phantom. They are performing "Prima Donna" trying to convince Carlotta to stay and be their star soprano. The lady playing Carlotta is our neighbor ;) Cool stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!