Small town Church and Christmas Program

We live in a small town. We all know how that can be with everyone knowing everyone's business and all. We also know how community minded a small town can be. That being said, my significant other's parents go to a small church.

Now, small churches are not necessarily a bad thing. You don't get "that look" from the others in the congregation when you put in a guest appearance or sit in someone's pew. Usually you are welcomed with open arms and that is the case at this church.

So, last Sunday was the annual Christmas program involving the kids. I have to say, this was the most unusual Christmas program I have ever attended. These fun filled programs are usually full of the anticipated and comical antics of nervous and excited young children. You know the ones... the crier, the one that sings louder than the others and off key, the one that fidgets, one that bugs the person next to him/her to the point that someone gets smacked, someone forgets their line and the one that throws up.

We had none of that this year... well, there was one that sang louder than anyone else, that would be our niece! No surprize there! Anyway, the kids all had to be there at 4pm for a 6pm program. I don't get that at all.

When the program started the kids came out and sang "Joy to the world" then retreated to the back, areas unknown! Then we had the usually congregational singing from the hymnal. Always interesting. There was an older man next to us who had a very deep voice and was actually quite pleasant to listen to. Then the choir sang, a choir that consisted of a whole 4 people! I told you it was a small church in a small town! Then we had several different folks sing solos, some could really sing and some, well..... you get the drift. The older gentleman next to us was the final soloist, he could really sing too! I wish he had done them all!

Finally, the kids came out and took their places on the stage. We all lit our candles that we had been holding all of this time. The youth minister took the podium and talked about Jesus and all, made a reference to the innocence of the children on the stage and the innocence of Jesus. Then the kids all went to sit with their families. WEIRD!

Not that I am complaining. I just don't understand why the kids all had to be at the church for 2 hours before the program to "practice" sitting on the stage in the dark and doing nothing. Then, the pastor did some preaching and we all went to the fellowship hall to have sandwiches, cookies and tea. Oh and they passed out candy bags with an apple, a orange and some UNWRAPPED candy. Ewwww!

But, whatever. I think it is just interesting is all. Small towns are strange sometimes. But they all come together in times of good and not so good. I would rather attend this small town, humble church than the theater stage production of some of the larger churches in our area.

These are just some of my observations and not meant to start a big debate or anything. So please don't start one.
Vickie

First week back at work

Well, so far, so good! I have one more day to go this week. I am so glad I went back on a short week even if I did go back a week early! Today was better, I wasn't quite so tired when I got home. Yesterday however, was HELL! I was exhausted when I got home then couldn't sleep last night. I hate those nights!

I am looking forward to doing some scrapbooking this weekend and making some cards. I want to start a new mini album. I love making those.

I may even venture to the studio and make a few beads since I am feeling the glass bug coming on again. It has been a very long time since I made beads. Hope I can still do it!

Happy Thanksgiving!
Vickie

Long see, no time

I can't believe it has been soooo long since I last posted. I am ready for this year to be OVER! Where do I begin?

Last November I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Now, almost exactly one year later and 5 surgeries, 4 of which were on my breasts, I am cancer free! I got lucky and did not require chemo either. I am a poster child for early detection. I get to take a nice little pill for 5 years and it just went generic!

Even worse, while I was home recuperating from my surgery, my 28 year old daughter was hospitalized and almost died. She was diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer after being misdiagnosed for MONTHS!!!! I can't believe she was misdiagnosed for so long! Does no health practitioner perform exams anymore? even with an ultrasound that showed Large ascites in a 28 year old????? This has been very frustrating, but we had bigger fish to fry at the time.

She has completed her chemo and is doing well. We are very thankful for that.

Needless to say, I have not made beads in quite some time, almost a full year to be exact. I don't know when I am going to get back into the studio, soon I hope.

I just had my 5th and hopefully my last surgery almost 3 weeks ago and am planning on going back to work soon.

I have been doing some scrapbooking and card making while I have been recuperating. I had not done any scrapbooking in a very long time and all of my supplies were grossly out-dated. I just had to spring for some new papers and embellishments. Last time I scrapbooked we were using lots of stickers and cutting our precious pictures into weird shapes. (curse you Creative Memories)

In the future, I will try to update this more often and promise to not make it completely about cancer. But in the meantime, check your boobies!!!

Vickie

Been a long time...

WOW! It's been a long time since I've posted anything here. Well, let's see, where do I begin?

I feel like a whole new person! I've lost 69 pounds! Gone from a size 22 to a 12! Yay! I "had" to buy all new clothes from the skin out. That was fun. It is almost fun to go shopping now. Getting out of the plus size fashions opened up a whole new thing for me. I can now shop in stores I have never shopped in before. Good-bye Lane Bryant! Whooohoooo!

Work on our other house is coming along. The kitchen is all painted and the linoleum is down. Three bedrooms are done and the hallway. Going to re-paint the smallest bedroom, which is going to be an office, since I don't really like the color I painted it.

We started painting the floors with some of the mistinted paint from Lowe's, you know, the stuff that is only $2 a gallon. Well, one of those is this wonderful eggplant color. I never really thought much about eggplant for the living room. But he started painting the floor with that color and WOW! I loved it! So, today I went to Lowe's and bought a gallon of it in semi-gloss for the living room. What he put down on the floor is matte finish which I don't really care for on the walls. I can hardly wait to get that on the walls. The carpet has already been picked out and is a light colored cut berber, so I think this dark color will be lovely and won't make it look like a cave.

I love the show ColorSplash on HGTV. It is a wonderful show. I get so many ideas from watching that show. Lots of beadmaking ideas as well as decorating ideas!

I am bushed today from painting and working on the other house. We are one day closer to moving! Don't know if I'm excited about that prospect or not. I hate moving. Hopefully, this will be the last time I move in my life, but I'm not holding anyone to that!

Thanks for stopping by,
Vickie

Merry Christmas to All!

I can't believe it's almost Christmas! Where does the time go? I still have Christmas shopping to complete tomorrow. Just those last minute gifts.

Several of us have the creeping crud that's been going around. You know the one, with the sniffles and a cough to go with it. yuk I don't feel particularly bad, just no energy.

Our niece spent the night last night, then refused to go home this morning. She wanted to go shopping with us. She knows we are softies and will buy her things. She also likes to go out and eat. So, we just took her with us. She was the best kid in the whole restaurant, all the others were screaming or having fits. It is nerve-wracking to have screaming, bawling toddlers while you are trying to eat and you don't feel good.

And the weather! Good grief! It wasn't too bad this morning temperature wise, but now it is cold and drizzly, supposed to snow. ugh

Well, so much for a really boring update. Such is life sometimes!

Merry Christmas!
Vickie

Going back home

I am originally from southwestern Kansas. I was born there and have lived most of my life there. We moved to Arkansas eleven years ago.

I went to my hometown in August for an art show, to visit my sister and old friends. It is somewhat bittersweet to go back home. Fun to visit, nice to come back home to Arkansas. I call Arkansas my home now.

I left one Thursday afternoon after work for my 10 hour drive. I don't really mind the drive too much. I enjoy driving and am a nightowl. My drive went fine until I got to Greensburg, Kansas.

If you'll remember, Greensburg was all but totally leveled by a tornado this spring. It was the most eerie feeling ever driving through Greensburg!

I have been to and through Greensburg many times in my life. I use to work part time for Emergency Medical Services in my hometown. We use to stop at a convienience store on our way to Wichita. It was a good stopping place and also was about the halfway point. No more! The convienience store was gone, as was most of Greensburg.

The weirdest thing is it was so dark! You don't think about things like, no street lights or traffic lights. Only those really bright portable construction lights like they use to work on freeways at night. Shadows of parts of buildings. Army tents set up, one with a sign that said, "Emergency" and lots of portable buildings.

A few years ago I drove through Greensburg with my fiance. We stopped at the world famous "hand-dug well" then browsed through a small antique shop in an old church. Those are now gone. We visited the famous well when we were kids. Our parents took us to see it. No more! They are gone. I'm sure the well is still there, but the little information/gift shop is gone.

I feel bad for the people of Greensburg. They have lost much.

Glass fuser I am not!

I've been trying my hand at glass fusing. After a couple of kiln disasters I've decided I'm a better beadmaker than I am a fuser!

I pulled some really interesting things from the kiln. One developed bubbles, two really big ones. One bubble popped and made a big hole in the piece. I was trying to make bracelet bars. I love the ones my friend Teresa makes, so I called her and she sent me some to play with! What a friend!

Anyway, one of the other bracelet bars cracked and another one made a trough like thing on the back and raised up along the center lengthwise. I'm not sure what I did wrong. I think I will try re-fusing that one and see if I can't get it to flatten out on the back. Donna Millirons always says, "Never refuse to re-fuse!"

I took a PMC certification class last weekend in Little Rock. It was a fun class. I sat across from a guy that facets gemstones. He does some really awesome work! Another couple in the class do contemporary type stone cabochons. My friend Lori had a blast buying cabs from them. We also learned some new things with the PMC and am having a good time experimenting with that. I have a lot of ideas for some things to make with PMC, just wish my day job didn't interfere so much with my fun! But guess I will have to keep my day job.