Smokey K Found a Friend!

Yes tis true...my cat, Smokey K, has found herself a friend.

It all happened one day maybe about 2 weeks ago. She was meowing at the window, which she does usually when she sees a bug. I went over to investigate what she found. I didn't see any bug flickering, but after turning on the light, I saw a another cat (for blog purposes I'm going to call her Greyee). I had to take a double look because this cat looks like Smokey (a mostly gray cat). This cat was sitting up on the ledge of our porch.

So...over the past two weeks, I would see them interact sometimes. Once Smokey's tail was up and puffed out...another time they were staring at each other. I also noticed that whenever I walked by this cat would disappear and run off.

Well, today after being lazy for about half the day, I walked out of our bedroom to find Smokey and Greyee pawing at the door. It was like a scene from a movie. They wanted to touch paws, but a piece of glass was stopping them. AWWW!!

I wanted to show you this...but when I got my camera ready, Greyee walked away as to say I'm not really bothering Smokey. I wonder how I can get Greyee to not run away from me.

Thought I would share an AWW moment! :)

Hope you are having a wonderful holiday season!

:-)

Merry Christmas!

To all my blog readers out there...Merry Christmas! This Christmas has been a dream come true for me. I am able to spend it with my wonderful husband, and awesome family! We haven't be able to do this in years! I think the last time we were all together (all 5 of us) was in 2001 or 2002! It's been a long time!

We are also able to spend Christmas in the house that I grew up in. Since my parents are missionaries, we had to give this house up to renters (who tore it apart) while my parents were away. When they returned...they had to basically remodel alot of new aspects of the house! It looks so different from back in the day...but there are so many familiar things that reminds me of different parts of my childhood...like

• being able to see in a mirror that I remember not being tall enough for
• the creaking of the stairs and almost every upstairs floor area (our house squeaks!)
• the rumble of the highway really close to our house...yet sorta far
• the sound of the salt truck going up and down our street
• parking in the driveway just the right way so the car door doesn't hit a bush
• the rooms...the same...yet so different.
  
• the sounds of voices downstairs as I sit on the computer upstairs typing this blog :

I could go on and on. The basic point is it is wonderful to be home with my family. I'm loving and cherishing every moment.

I hope you and your family is having a wonderful Christmas. Remembering the joy that Jesus brings to us...and hopefully enjoying the company from family and friends from near and far. We are so blessed.

Merry Christmas!

Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)

6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, ^[a] Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

:-)

To My Mother...

Found this on a pastor's blog. Thanks Moms!

Advent Calendars

I love advent calendars. Each year...doing an advent calendar creates new memories and brings back the fond memories of childhood. My family use to do a Nepali advent calendar every year as we counted down the days til Christmas. Like most, we would start on the first day of December and continue nightly until Christmas Eve. We had this special Nepali-made advent calendar which had Nepali coin purses. Right before December, Mom made every individual in our family write down something they would like to do for each person in the family. This could range from pieces of paper that said "I will empty the dishwasher 3x for you." (usually from myself to my siblings or vice versa), or "I will take 5 walks with you anytime you like (usually from Dad)" or "I will let you watch a tv program of your choice, when it's my turn to choose". We would essentially have 20 good deeds from one family member to another that we would put randomly into the calendar. Then my mom would add a couple fun family activities for us to do together. (going out to eat, watching a movie, etc.)

After we got all our good deeds prepared, Mom would put a good deed, and candy in for each day. Then every day after our family dinner, we would have one kid open the day's calendar purse and retrieve what was inside. It was exciting...wondering if it was mine they were opening or something for me. Small gifts of good deeds. The perfect gift plus dessert!

Since I have grown up with that awesome tradition, I have tried to continue on the tradition of an advent calendar in my home. Last year, I got an advent calendar from a card shop. Captain N would come home and we would read the Bible verse together.

This year I went out on a search for advent calendars and found one in Borders Bookstore. I was so excited especially since I bought it before the 1st of December! On December 1st, Captain N came home and I insisted we open the first one together. He obliged and we opened it and we got our first glimpse of a picture. A picture? That's it? I spent 7 bucks for an advent calendar to reveal a picture? WOW.....well maybe it was just the first day. We preceded to open up December 2, and found another picture. (It was after midnight after all...) Captain N and I looked at each other and agreed that this was disappointing. So we decided not to do this advent calendar. Immediately, afterwards I found some online advent calendars that we are currently opening day by day...One with a flash video, one with a trivia question, and one with a Bible Verse. (and they were all free!)

Google Free Online Advent Calendars

The story continues on and the other day I was shopping at Wal-mart and found another advent calendar...but this one had chocolates in it. I thought perfect!

I brought it home and Captain N and I opened Dec. 1 (even though that date had passed awhile ago). We saw a little picture, and a piece of chocolate. Captain N tastes it, and before I could blink he was running to the sink to spit it out....the awful tasting cheap chocolate. Another advent fail. Oh well. I guess we'll just stick to the free online advent calendars!

:-)