We has some Christmas pics made at the park on Sunday.  I got a few of the proofs back today.  I have to say that the pics turned out so much better than I could have imagined.  I can't wait to get the CD with the whole session!!

Here goes . . .

So, when we were at Officers' Councils we found out the Dave would be going out on disaster to Galveston.  He left on Saturday.  He HATES to fly, and was sooo nervous about flying.  Well, when we arrived at the airport we met up with  Jason & Angela Hughes since Dave & Jason on the same disaster team.  So, when Dave & Jason pull out their suitcases we laughed because Jason's suitcase was HUGE & Dave's was so small in comparison.  Well, they got to the ticket counter & Jason's suitcase weighed 70 + pounds & Dave's weighed about about 36 pounds.  So, we began to pull stuff out of Jason's suitcase & pack it into Dave's.  Jason pulled out shoes & jeans that he didn't need & gave them to Angela.  It was really comical to see this.  All the while Mia & Sarah are running around like they owned the airport.  Finally we got Jason's suitcase down to 51 pounds & Dave's was just under 50 pounds.  It was funny & it really got Dave's mind off of the flight - which was good.  They arrived safely in Galveston & will be working hard for the next 8 days or so. 

Well, on Sunday I got a phone call from a corps member that her husband (also a corps member) had passed away.  He was partial ward of the state & they have no money so I have spent the week trying to get all of the funeral arrangements in order while also trying to be there for the family.  It has been exhausting - in every aspect of the word.  On top of that Mia started her new school which gets out at 2:30 which would be PERFECT if my husband was not on disaster.  I love to have the afternoon to spend with her, but when I am as busy as I have been this week I just have so little to give to her.  Oh, but I did get to go on her field trip yesterday (thanks to a corps member who stepped up to help with the funeral planning), so that was good.  We went to the pumpkin patch.  It was fun!  And then today was our advisory board meeting - which I was apparently NOT prepared for since I had 2 surprises at the meeting.  I normally LOVE surprises, but not when they come in the middle of a board meeting. 

I can say that I have not looked forward to a Saturday so much in my entire life.  I cannot wait until Saturday.  There is so much laundry and cleaning to do, and Saturday is going to be the day for it because Tuesday is our Women's Ministries/CCM annual meeting which I have not worked on much at all.  Then (next) Thursday (the day Dave comes home) is the Hallelujah Festival.  I think I will need a vacation soon (yeah right).

I just read what I have typed and realized that it sounds pretty negative.  So let me just say that I am so proud of my corps people for pulling together and being there for me and each other and most importantly Ann, the widow.  We had a corps member donate not only one, but 2 burial plots to the family (one for the deceased and one for Ann so she can be buried next to her husband).  They have picked Ann up and taken her to get the funeral plans in order.  One couple took Ann to have her hair cut and styled today.  Someone took her to get some new clothes and to get her glasses fixed.  They have arranged all of the plans for the family dinner following the service, and have made sure that Ann had food at her house all week for her family.  It makes me happy to see all of the love!  Also, I am so thankful for a wonderful,committed Christian office staff.  They are super!  They have not only tolerated my silly child all week, but have helped her to have fun at the office in the afternoon.  I hate having to bring her to the office - that is something that I don't want to be a standard - but I have had to do it this week since Dave is gone.  The ladies in the office have also stepped in to help in anyway they could with the funeral & have kept be sane.  Most of all I thank God for my wonderful husband who has worked from Texas, without me even knowing it, to help with the funeral prep and other stuff.  I would call a funeral home and ask a question & they would say, "Well, I told the man who called earlier . . . " and I thought, "Who called?"  Yep, it was my husband!  Mia is missing Daddy like crazy!  She is sad at times which breaks my heart, but most of the time she is fine. 

Here are some pics from the pumpkin patch

 Mia when we arrived at the Pumpkin Patch

 Ms. Becka's Bees

Mia running through the maze

Mia & Mommy on the hayride

 Story time - BAD idea - the lady had a really L-O-N-G book and 15 preschoolers (3 year olds)

 Mia showing me her dracula pumpkin 

Blessings!!

Okay, I am really getting bad at updating.  I read everybody's xanga pages, but I often neglect mine. 

We have had a slow week this week, which is just what we needed to ease our way back into reality from the Happiest Place on earth!  Yep, that's right - we spent last week in Disney World.  I was in heaven!!  I love it.  My husband said that I regress about 20 years when I step through the gates.  I would have to agree!!  Mia had a wonderful time.  She talks about it every day.  Tonight she told me she was going to dream about being a Disney Princess.  She is so funny!  She will be my little roller coaster junkie.  She was too short to ride any of the roller coasters - except for the Goofy's Barnstormer.  She loved it!  She kept her arms up for the entire ride.  So funny!

Mia did go to the Bippidy Boppidy Boutique!  She LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it!  So did I!!  She was truly a little princess that day.  It was awesome.  Many of the Disney employees would stop and say, "Hello, princess!"  The train conductor stooped down on one knee and took off his hat as she passed by, and the bus driver got on the loud speaker & said, "Ladies & gentlemen, boys & girls, be on your best behavior because we have a princess on board."  It was so cool!  The next day, when she was not in her princess gear, I called her name & she looked at me (a little disappointed) and said in a sad little voice, "Mommy, can you pwease call me princess?"  It was just a fun, fun time!

Now we are gearing up for Officers' Councils.  I am looking forward to it, but I am a little bummed because Mia is having her first ever field trip and I will miss it.  I love to go to all of her school stuff, but I will send a camera so that the teacher can at least take pictures for me.

The weather is starting to cool off here.  I used to HATE fall & winter, but as I have gotten older I have learned that I love the fall.  The weather is nice, and I love sights & smells of fall.  I love going to pick apples & going to the pumpkin patch - it is just fun. 

Okay, I am going to watch Don't Forget the Lyrics, so I will just going to leave you with some pictures form Disney & such.

Mia & Philip

Cinderella & Mia

Mia eating her first churro

Mia & Uncle, I mean Aunt, Carrie - yes, she is on a kiddie leash

Mia at the Bippidy Boppidy Boutique 

Mommy & Mia

Minnie, Mia, & Mommy

Mia meeting Ariel

Mia & Ariel

Mia riding the Goofy Barnstormer Roller Coaster

Dave just before he got on Tower of Terror

Mia in her new outfit - she says she is Hannah Montana when she wears it!

Blessings!