Back from the Dead

Wow! Nothing feels better than being well after being sick for so long. I think today is the start of week 3 of the junk that put me on the couch for 11 days. I'm still on meds, but actually feel like a human again. I have energy to teach and do a little housework. I even smelled some food today for the first time in ages. Whew! I thought this would never end.

So, let's see what's changed?? Nothing really. I got to see my good friend Michelle for the first time in 6 years. What a blessing to spend a couple hours catching up on life and closing down Starbucks! It's a shame Oklahoma is so far away.

Chris is doing well in his classes this semester, making good contacts and learning a lot.

That's about it. Gotta go teach kids.

Happy New Year!!

So, I have proof that the Willingham's have friends.. We had our improptu New Year's thing and it was a blast! What would life be without friends??
Here's Chris, Eddie, and Ashley Riggins.
Eddie, Chris, Ashley, and Scott. Tara and Scott, Thanks for trekking up to the woods on New Years Eve. It meant a lot to us!

I've been considering a job change, and was trying out queen of my own country or resident angel. I think I'll keep looking!
And on Jan 1, Josh got a toy to the eye while playing outside. The cut was about 2 mm from his eye. Talk about a scare!

We hope 2008 will be filled with a lot more good news than 2007. Or will it be the year of near misses?? A year of God's protection? A year of taking hits and surviving? Whatever happens, it's in God's hands. No way to predict what tomorrow will bring. Whatever it is, I'll keep you posted in Willingham's World! Happy New Year!

Where has the time gone???

Wow! It was a wonderful holiday season. Jesus was celebrated, kids had fun, and family was together. Can you ask for more??? I just can't believe how fast the time went... Let's see what we did....
Ok, I'll pause for one picture...
Toys
Where is it?
Chaos!

Yep, it was an orgy of toys and food and family. My only regret was that we didn't make it out to see my parents. That's just how some years go.

Here are some more great pics... Do I have handsome boys or do I have handsome boys???




Blazer got a little pooped after the fun was done.. I can relate to this feeling.
Josh made cookies for Santa and was so proud!

Looking forward to a great 2008!

Crazy Weeks

Life has hit the fast lane again... We are wrapping up school for the holidays, so the kids are nutty. My fellow teachers are all in turmoil. One is out because her mother is dying of Alzheimer's. She's been hanging on with no water or food for 5 days. Another teacher is dealing with extreme back pain from ruptured vertabra that didn't respond as expected to some epidural cortizone stuff. Two others have some seriously disturbed kids in their room who aren't responding well to simple directions. And I'm team leader.

Needless to say, I'm a tired team leader from putting out fires of problems, juggling administrative duties, keeping morale up, and trying to teach my darlings something. Yes, I'm whining, but where else can you whine, if not your blog?? Right??

Home is good. The boys are SO into Christmas this year. We are working on the concept of "it's not about the stuff you see on TV, but what do you want Santa to bring you? No, he's not bringing SpongeBob Operation because I told him not to. How about some Transformers??"

I know, I know, mixed messages stink. Our family has chosen to share the story of Santa with our kids. They believe he is real. We don't discourage the idea. They'll catch on soon enough. Most likely because Mommy will spill the beans by accident. When I'm tired, I'm not too sneaky. I'm sure they'll be scarred for life. At least we can differentiate for them. Jesus loves you always, good or bad, you are loved. Santa likes you always, unless you are bad. Then you don't get toys. Just lumps of coal. But not really. Have you ever known anyone that Santa didn't come for just because they were bad?? I guess that goes into my book titled Lies We Tell Our Children. It'll come right after the chapeter called "Your Permanent School Record."

But the point I'm making is... Santa is a chance to teach the concept of consequences versus love. My kids don't get stuff because I love them. Stuff is not love. I'm so glad that neither of them has the "gifts" love language. They get stuff because we are rich in so many ways. My love and their stuff don't really go together. Getting stuff can be the consequence of doing good in school, behaving in the right place, having a special something to celebrate. But it's not love.

Love is unconditional on how they act, what they do, or where they go. God loves us even if we are poor, choosing a wrong life path, or not getting the "blessings" we want. His choice to bless or not has nothing to do with his love for us. He loves us either way.

How depressing to think that God doesn't love me because I don't have what I want. But do we know people who think that way? Maybe I have too. Yep, pretty sure I've thought that. "If God really loved me, He'd ________." You fill it in for you. I've already been there and done that. He loves me regardless of my circumstance. He loves us no matter what is going on. We have consequences for our actions. There are Proverbs about good things coming to hard workers. There are gifts given in love. But, it's merely an expression.

I hope I can teach my boys that real love isn't like Santa. He's not giving gifts because he loves us. He's just doing a job. But God, he loves us, naughty or nice. And instead of coal when we were naughty, we got Jesus.... hmmm... now that's love. Not a gift, but a person.. God himself in human form..

Forgot the Turkey Day pictures

Oops, I forgot to post the cool pictures of the holiday at my parent's house.


Josh and Selah with Patrick, the Irish Wolfhound. Getting two 3 year olds to sit still long enough to snap a photo that looked good is hard!

That's Mom and me in the kitchen where we spent most of the holiday. I love cooking with my mom. I forgot how fun it was.



Josh finally fell asleep in Chris's arms. Poor kid was SO tired.

That's Katie and Mom, the two most elusive picture subjects in the family. I think I just got lucky this time.

Christmas is Coming,So Why Don't I feel Ready??

The Advent Season is upon us. Stores are full of stuff that glitters and sings. Church is a litany of holiday events designed to remind us of the reason for the season. School is a patchwork of special events, benchmark testing, some actual teaching time and lots of cool art projects. So, why don't I feel ready to celebrate my Savior's birth this year?

I know in whom I have my faith. There is so much to celebrate in Christ. I love the story of the baby born in Bethlehem that came to save the world from sin. I have two great kids who will really get it this year. More than just the presents and food, I mean. Ryan gets to celebrate his Savior's birth for the first time with a true understanding of what Christmas is all about. Josh is curious enough to follow his brother's lead and listen to the story for the first time. So why don't I feel ready to celebrate my Savior's birth this year?

Maybe it's because I'm so ready to tell 2007 good bye. It has not been a kind year to my family in some ways. Maybe it's because I'm tired of the commercialism. I don't want to think about the list of gifts left to be bought out of duty. Maybe it's because I'm not where I need to be with the Lord. It's hard to celebrate someone's birthday when the relationship is strained. Or maybe I'm just being to anal and critical of life in general and need to "let it go". Or maybe, and here's the one I'm leaning toward, maybe I don't want a 25 day party. Maybe the season is so envasive that I just want to live life and celebrate Christmas when it's time.

Whatever the reason, I refuse to be a Scrooge, bah-humbug, hermit. I will honor the One who came to save the world. I won't take the Christ out of Christmas, even if I do abbreviate it occasionally. I will decorate the house and go to the parties and give the gifts with love and a prayer. I won't let my little "funk" color the season for those around me. It just won't be easy. But good things seldom are.

A Sense of Accomplishment

We've started rearranging our house. 1 space at a time. But it's kind of like a Chinese Slide Puzzle. In order to do thing A, we have to make room in place B. But to make that room we'll have to shift item C to position D.... Get it? So yesterday, we were working on my Mother in Law's room. She was replacing some furniture. And we were putting a desk that was in her room downstairs. Well, to do that, we had to put the 1970's wood and glass hexagonal table (the one your parents gave you when you got married) in the garage. For those familiar with our downstairs, this is a momentous occasion. It has been no small feat to get this beloved piece of antiquity to it's rightful home among the garage detritis. But it happened. That day was Nov 17. I will remember it well. :)

What a sense of accomplishment when things finally start happening. Yesterday, it was the physical features of our house. Recently, "things" started happening spiritually with Ryan. The sense of well being and comfort that comes when we get something done is a wonderful thing to feel. Now, if I can just get Mt. Laundry under control, I'll feel like I really got something done....

Think Times are Changing???

We have no idea how times are changing. Take a peek. It's worth the time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMcfrLYDm2U