The Miracle of Birth

He's here! He's here! Our little Jude has arrived -- the best valentine we could receive!

Jude Ezra Wallace 2/13/08 7 lbs. 3 ozs. 19 1/2 inches long

What an incredible privilege to spend the day at the hospital with Todd and Heather waiting to welcome their little boy into this world! I got the call at 7:00 a.m. and headed for Citizens Memorial Hospital in Bolivar. Heather was already settled in her room with Todd and Beverly waiting with her. Lindsay showed up soon after and we all had a great time talking and laughing - in between contractions, of course.

Beverly and I made a Wal-Mart/Subway/McDonalds run, but got back in plenty of time for the main event. The nurse kicked us out of the room about 1:15 p.m., but Todd came and got us out of the waiting room about 2:15 pm and we got to go see the boy. Honestly, he is a beautiful baby!

It's amazing how each grandchild's birth is so exciting and unique and wonderful! And it's never "just another birth". It's always a miracle!

Here's Mema and Pappy with the newest member of the family!

Check out Heather's blog http://wallaces5.blogspot.comin a few days (when she gets home and has some time)

Love,

Donna

Music To My Ears

I just have to tell this story about Jadon. Yesterday we were driving home from town and listening to the CD's. We finished Backyardigans and the next CD started playing. It was "Kids Praise" and children were singing "What A Mighty God We Serve".

3 year old Jadon: "Who's that singing?"
Mema: "I don't know, who do you think it is?"
Jadon: "Switchfoot"
Mema: "Oh, do you like Switchfoot?"
Jadon: "Yes"
Mema: " Who else do you like?"
Jadon: "Todd Agnew. That's what mommy has in her car. Would you turn it up, please?"

Are children influenced by the music they hear? Absolutely! All of the grandchildren listen to and love songs about Jesus. What better message to be going into those little ears day after day?

Have a wonderful day!

Donna

All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth....

"It's A Wonderful Life"

Wow! It's 2008 and since I haven't posted since before Christmas, I think it's about time I recorded some of our fun times this past month.

Wendy and Doug's family arrived on Christmas Eve and I got to see them a few minutes, but they stayed at Doug's folks this year and went to Hamlin's Christmas Eve service with them. Our service was wonderful. We observed the Lord's Supper and circled the inside of the auditorium holding lit candles and singing Silent Night. So beautiful and sweet. Gary and I exchanged our gifts after we got home.

Then....Christmas morning! Everyone arrived about 9:00 a.m. We had breakfast - ham, sausage, gravy, biscuits, eggs, cinnamon bread......Then...to the presents...

The only way we could get Haven to pose with her cousins was to let her hold a present. Then the adults got to exchange our gift cards and played a game. I usually come up with some kind of game for the "older kids" to play. Each family was a team (3 teams). I gave them the first line of a praise song. They had to give (1) the next line, (2) the name of the song, and (3) who wrote it. They got a $1 for each right answer. Possibility of $3 for each of 12 songs. No team got the whole $36, but they did really well.

Then they all went on to other get-togethers that day. Doug and Wendy came back that evening and we played "Deal or no deal" DVD game.

All week the kids took turns staying all night with Mema and Pappy. Wednesday: a bunch of us went to see "Enchanted". Cute movie. Thursday: Kevin, Tammy, & Heather Smith, Doug, Wendy & kids, Heather & kids joined Gary and I for lunch and a nice visit. Friday: Wendy & kids came over and stayed while Heather left Jadon and Haven so she could go to her Doctor's appointment. Saturday: we went to the Wilson-Rutledge Farm Park. It's a Springfield City Park, that's still in development. But it's going to be a great place. The kids really enjoyed it. Micah seems to make the same funny face in all of his pictures lately. But he's so cute whatever face he's making.

Saturday night we went to see "National Treasure 2". We loved it and had fun together. Sunday everyone was at Springhill for church. Karla, Heather and I took the kids to Silver Dollar City Sunday evening. It was so crowded, but the lights were beautiful and the kids got to ride rides, see the parade, the big tree, drink hot chocolate and eat at McDonalds on the way home (for the 3rd time since they've been here, they informed me).

Monday, New Year's Eve, everyone came over. We had pizza and leftovers and played a game that Matt & Lindsay brought. It was so fun, even though the girls were 0-3. We decided Doug, Matt and Todd should never be on the same team. Those three think too much alike.

Well, Doug and Wendy and kids left on Wednesday morning to go home to Houston. Gary and I went over to the Bischoff's to tell them goodby. Too hard. But I've talked to Wendy just about every day since they've been home. The kids went back to school today.

I got to see Gavin tonight. He's been gone since Christmas and didn't get to spend much time with his cousins. He went to Maine with his mom and stepdad. I missed him so much. He pulled his other front tooth while he was gone. I will take a picture of him tomorrow night at Awanas and post it so you can see how cute he looks. I was sick this weekend and had to miss his first Upwards basketball game. But I heard that he did great. And I'll be there next Saturday.

Well, I know once I got started, it would go on and on. I'm sure I'll think of some things I forgot.
Hey, Bible Study begins Friday night. Yeahhh!

Love,

Donna

Pageant #30

Springfield's Live Nativity Pageant has just completed it's 30th year of presenting the story of Jesus to Springfield and the surrounding area. It's such a special time for our family and for our church.

I got out my album with all the pictures, flyers, newspaper articles, etc. in it and just reminisced about all the things that have happened over the years.

In 1978, when we started at the fairgrounds with the pageant, Todd was 8 years old, Matt was 6 and Wendy was 3. Gary has been a Wise Man every year and I have always been in the choir. The first year Todd was an angel on top of the stable. Matt took his turn the next year. Then over the years, as more scenes were added, they moved on to other parts, including operating a spotlight and singing in the choir. Wendy was the only little boy Jesus that first year. She moved on, as well, to other parts. Actually she went from being an angel one year to being one of King Herod's harem girls the next year, then to being Mary, the mother of Jesus. In 2002, 24 years later, she sat in the very scene where she was the boy Jesus, only now she is the mother and her son, Lucas, 3 years old, is little Jesus. Bailey, 2 years old, took her turn, as well. When they moved to Texas in August of 2005, the kids were just sure that they would be back for the pageant. Wendy said that Bailey thought of it this year and said "I just love that hot chocolate and you get to pick out your own cookie!"

I think we were all interviewed at one time or another by a newspaper reporter. I found one article that said, "Ten year old Matt Wallace stood under a light post, on break, while the donkey, goats and sheep he tends were on stage..'I was an angel on the manger for two years, then I got too big' he said." This year Matt's 6 year old son, Gavin, was an angel on the manger. He did such a great job.

Todd's son, Jadon, 3 years old, was the little Jesus again this year, (with Heather as Mary) and so proud of it.. One day in the car we were listening to Christmas music and they were singing about the Baby Jesus. Jadon said, "They're singing about me!!"

We made it through the kids' high school years with ball games and school activities without missing too many performances. And in the past few years, it's been such a joy seeing our grandchildren take their turns as the little boy Jesus, or a traveler, or an angel, wherever they are needed. They love it! Doesn't matter how cold it is, they wish they could do it year round.

So many memories...I need to organize this album a little better...A SCRAPBOOK...that's what I need to do.

Trees, Trees, Trees.....

Well, I just don't know what is going on with me. I am journaling my thoughts on the internet for the world to read and I have put up four Christmas trees in our house...make that 5 (a little bitty one in the kitchen). I have had two before -- the main one and a 3 ft one in the office -- but I always wanted another big one. So here they are....

This is the little bitty tree in the kitchen:

This is the "Around-the-World" tree in my office:

I have ornaments from Belarus, India and Sweden. I really need some more countries. Hint. Hint.

Here's the new "Cowboy" Tree in the living room:

Here's the "Gold" Tree in the Dining Room:

Close-up of the gold and white ornaments:

Finally, the big "Family" Tree in the sunroom:

We may not have lights on our roof and porch, but we sure are festive on the inside. I had a fleeting thought about storage of all these trees, but .....I'll think about that .. tomorrow.

I'm "It"

11/21/07

I'm "It"

Okay, Heather, You've tagged me. Trouble is...I don't know any other blogs. So, I can't tag anyone else. Here are the rules: Link to the person who tagged you and post the rules on your blog. Share 7 random/weird facts about yourself. Tag 7 random people at the end of your post, include links to their blogs. Let each person know by leaving a comment on their blog. 1. I am sooooo impatient. I don't know why we have to ever wait for anything. Remind me of that next time Jadon wants something right now and I tell him to wait. 2. I must make the bed everyday. Can't stand messy covers. It's really hard for me not to make the bed in a hotel room. 3. I save everything. I think I already mentioned in my first blog my collection of Pez dispensers and boxes of Band-aids But, it's also papers and files and clothes and toys and everything I might possibly need some day. 4. After my father died and Gary's parents divorced, my mother married Gary's father. So, I guess I'm married to my step brother, my mother was also my step mother-in-law, oh...that's enough... 5. We've had two exchange students live with us and attend Willard High School. Yoshie Matsuura from Japan and Eric Dufva from Sweden. 6. I have a limited vocabulary in American Sign Language. I have taken several classes and for about 12 years interpreted some songs in sign for the Harmonettes gospel group. 7. Cooking is not my favorite thing normally. I do it because we have to eat, but..I love to cook on Thanksgiving day. I put my Christmas movies in (White Christmas, Miracle on 34th Street, Little Lord Fauntleroy, Holiday Inn) and cook that turkey, dressing, noodles, sweet potatoes, deviled eggs, apple pie, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and just have the best time. And I thank God for my family, my home, my church and more blessings than I can count. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!