Simple Things

Couldn't resist putting this up for you all to see. Jenny with her Kitty, Angel, and in her cute hat that Jeannie made for her!

When I took another peak at this picture I realized that it really is the simple things that make us happy. Family, friends, and a smile! Enjoy.

Okay, Today is Just Weird......

It just feels really weird to be sitting around home on a Sunday morning. I haven't been able to visit our new grandbaby since he was born either. I am taking this in stride knowing he's just around the corner and I can see him when I'm over this crud. It's just another weird for me though, and I am feeling very surreal.......

For the past two days I have been in major pain....sinus infection, and not just any sinus infection. My eyes are black and my face feels like someone hit it with a baseball bat. Is this the new "superbug" of sinus infections? I mean, I've been on antibiotics for three days and I am still dying here. My doctor informed me that my face was contorted and swollen.

What a relief to know it wasn't just because I ate well at Christmas! This brings up some daunting questions: Does this mean that I can expect to look thinner when this is all over? Do sinus infections travel to other parts of the body? (I hear you laughing out there!) Will I ever eat anything but chicken soup again? Will sinus infections become the new fad diet?

"Hey Julie, I have a sinus infection."

"Great! I'll be right over so you can share the germs."

"Don't forget to buy a case of chicken noodle soup before you come."

I have a feeling that this is a fruitless pursuit.

Being the brave person that I am, I decided two days ago to take the high road and endure the pain rather than take Tylenol, aspirin, or Ibuprophen since pain medicines just tear up my tummy. I'm already at my limit for pain this week. I thought I was doing great.....all that enduring and stuff, but this morning I found my lips were beginning to quiver. My hubby took one look at the tears welling up in my eyes and said a tender, "I love you, Honey" and then headed out to church.

But not without turning around to give me me one last "Hurrah," and a thumbs up. As I stood there, watching him go a voice said, "Remember the pioneers."

Okay, today is just weird...........

Caleb is Here!

Surprise, surprise! Our little Caleb made an early debut into the world last night to the surprise of Mom, Dad, Grandma, Papa and the rest of the clan! He is so cute and looks just like his big brother Christian. He is a month early, weighs 5 pounds 11 ounces, and is eigthteen inches long.

Isn't he cute? Sandra and Caleb are doing very well. We are extremely grateful for this newest addition to our family. His full name is Caleb Ernest Chan. Can't wait to get him home!

Christmas Day

We had such a great time with our family on Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day, Chuk woke me up early wanting me to check out my stocking. Here we are grandparents and wanting to surprise each other still! I received a very special gift from him and will show each of you when I see you next!

Bryan and Claire, you should have seen all the guys working to make your gift spin. Ernest finally got it to whistle and wow, it was fun to see them go! Sandra and Ernest, Evy, Christian, and Grandma Shui were all here ;ast night, as well as Jeannie, Charlie, Jocelyn, Reagan, and Ivy. We all ate too much but enjoyed every minute together. Today we all just rested up at home. We spent the afternoon and evening at Sandra's watching movies, cracking jokes, and playing games.

Here are pictures of a pop-up book that Charlie and Jeannie gave me. It is so intricate and beautiful...these pictures do not give the pages justice but I so love this book!

Christmas Eve

Our Nativity reading with the grandkids.

Here is the drawing I gave Jeannie for Christmas. It is titled "A Mother's Love."

It's Beginning to Look alot Like.....

Christmas! Everywhere we go...in our house, there are christmas trees; little ones, big ones,, and snowmen, mixed among all our candles and Nativity scenes. We really love Christmas time! The sights, the smells and the music! We use our Christmas drinking glasses all year long to remind us that the gift of Christmas, His Son, is with us all year long!

We are drinking hot chocolate every night and watching all the old Christmas movies, crying with Bob Cratchet and Tiny Tim, watching Clarence earn his wings, and remembering that in spite of all our challenges, we too have a wonderful life........all this nostalgia will lead us to Christmas Eve where we will gather with our family to share a family meal and then share in a spiritual feast; dressing up the grandkids and each other to present a Christmas pageant that will rival anything at Jones Hall, sharing our feelings about Christ and each other, and then choosing the gift we will give Him this coming year, privately, individually...........it is a moment that centers us on our Savior and our gratitude for Him.

Christmas day will find us all relaxing and enjoying the company of friends and family and silently pondering the great blessings that are ours. And in spite of all that swirls around us in the world, we are reminded that He is in charge, guiding us, loving us, keeping us, succoring us. Christmas has become for us a day of rejoicing and gratitude for the life and the light that He has given us.
Above all things this year we desire all our friends and family to have peace in their hearts! Merry Christmas and God Bless Us Everyone!!!!