Green thumb, anyone?

Does anyone have any advice on what to do with frozen, seemingly dead plants? After our wonderful snow on December 4th, my poor plants just aren't the same. I have trimmed them down to where they appear to be green, but I am not sure if they will grow. Should I remove them and start over, or wait till Spring to see if they will grow? My shrubs are fine, but my flowers, crotons, and caladiums have bit the dust. It is so dead looking in our flower bed that we couldn't even put lights there. So sad. I do not want to draw attention to the deadness though. Any ideas??

What is up with...

Peace signs???

I don't get it! They are everywhere! Including elementary schools. So maybe I am just being sensitive, and feel free to tell me if I am, but I don't like them. I am sure that most people who draw or wear them don't have a hidden message to share, but growing up I remember hearing all sorts of negative things about them. I subbed at an elementary school on Friday that was covered in them....they even had a tree decorated with peace sign ornaments hand-made by the students. I don't like them. Maybe it is the hippie lifestyle connotation, or that everyone calls it an upside down broken cross, or whatever, I just don't like them.

I do not believe a symbol brings peace. The only true peace comes from Jesus Christ. Without Him no one will ever have the kind of peace people long for. If you are searching for peace, please know that until you surrender your life to the Lord and accept Christ as your Savior, you will never have peace. There is no political party, president, therapy, pills, or any sort of self-help book that will bring peace to your life. Only the saving power of Jesus can comfort you and bring you true joy.

I had to write about this because it seems to me that the peace sign revolution has taken over elementary schools. I mentioned the one I subbed at on Friday, and I went another school's website and saw peace and love everywhere. Pardon my asking, but what does this have to do with education?? It seems to me that there could be many other topics to focus on! I mean whatever happened to classic literature characters or historical figures being the focus of classrooms?

Any thoughts?

Where does the time go?

I have a confession to make:


We have not decorated outside yet.


It is true! The weather has been horrible, and Mike's job has been crazy busy so he hasn't even been getting home until dark. There is just no time! On top of it all I feel like we have something scheduled till the New Year!


They call me Mrs. Krank.


Mike's company's Christmas party is this weekend. It is at a seafood place in downtown Houston and I cannot find a single thing to wear. Okay, well I found one really cute dress at Penneys, but might have to sport some Spanx to make it okay to wear out in public. I tell you what...things are not what they used to be on this body of mine. For the sake of my ego I am going to say it is age...surely it has nothing to do with my lack of motivation to eat right and work out. Surely.


Sad news....in my blogging time tonight I somehow missed the timer on my lemon bars and will not be able to share the goodies with the world. Darn.


This weekend we are going to head to Moody Gardens to see the Festival of Lights. I am so excited! I love Christmas lights!! I remember when I was younger, maybe elementary/middle school age, we drove out to the Boerne area and drove through a neighborhood and got hot chocolate. It was so much fun! I can't wait to make those sorts of memories with Mike...and then later, with our children.


I cannot believe it is almost Christmas...and this season will be over before we know it. I hope all of y'all are enjoying this Christmas season...

The many joys of Christmas...

I love this time of year! I love Christmas lights, ornaments, shopping, hot chocolate, food, cookies, santas, elves, and presents. Oh I love it ALL!!!! I love It's a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Story, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph, White Christmas, and the rest of them. I love being with family. And now that I am "working" at a school, I love seeing the excitement through the eyes of a 6 year old. How fun!

BUT most of all, I love celebrating the Savior. I still cannot fathom what a miracle it all is. God chose Mary to give birth to His Son. I cannot imagine what Mary must have thought....or felt. Can you imagine? How scary! As incredible as that part of the story is, the fact that God sent His Son at all is amazing...and undeserved. Why us? What did He find about us worth saving? How could He look down at all of the sinful people that were living at the time...and knowing the ones to come (Christie Bergeron, to name one) and want to offer us The Gift. The only gift that ever matters: the gift of salvation. I do not deserve it. Nothing in my life warrants this saving grace. Yet He CHOSE me! Isn't that something?? He chose to call me out of darkness, He forgave my sin (and continues to forgive my sins), and has prepared a room for me in Glory. It is only by His grace I am saved!

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is CHRIST the LORD.
-Luke 2: 10-11

I love that verse. "Born for you a Savior"....how can people miss it? A SAVIOR! The Enemy does not have to win....he does not have to have control over your lives! We have a SAVIOR! Messiah! Christ the Lord!

As I said, I love this season. The sweet reminder of the Gift that has given me eternal life is like the star at the top of the tree. It makes it all perfect!