"Memories of the Fallen"

Sam's band "Memories of the Fallen" during their soundcheck at Croft Middle School.... I'm a proud Mama!!

Who sends Christmas Cards anymore???

So I woke up this morning at 4am.  As I tossed and turned for a few minutes, wondering WHY I was awake at that hour, my mind started wandering to the day that lay ahead of me. Was I completely prepared for it?  Did I have all the stuff to make the food I needed to prepare?   Were all the presents wrapped?   Would Mom feel like going with us today?    Would we need to plan to go spend time with her at her apartment, in case she backed out of going to Derek and Amy’s?   Oh crap!!   If Grandma and Grandad are going with us today, then I need to put the seat back in the van that I took out to transport Sam’s drums for his gig last week.   Do I have anything to wear?   I’ve been so busy the last week that laundry hasn’t gotten done, so I might be wearing yoga pants if I don’t get up and do some laundry….Am I going to have enough energy to get through this day if I get up NOW and start getting things done.  Probably not, but lying here with a million questions going through my head isn’t helping either, so I guess I’m getting up…..

…  I stumble into the kitchen and hit the “on” button on the coffee maker, then go into the bathroom to wash my face.  No washcloths anywhere.  None.  Wow, I guess I really DO need to attack the giant laundry pile.  Dang, HOW am I gonna wash my face???   Wait!  I think I remember ONE load of clean laundry in the living room that’s been waiting to be folded for a week or so.  Maybe there’s a clean washcloth in there!!  Drat.. no such luck…. Think, Marcia, think….. maybe there is a load of clean laundry still in the dryer…???    YES!!  Success… I find a clean washcloth in the dryer!!  Now I can wash my face.  Man, this past week has been such a hectic one that I’ve gotten WAY behind on my regular chores around the house.  I can’t remember the last time I had to search for a washcloth.  That’s ridiculous.   Speaking of ridiculous… that pile of Christmas cards still sitting on my living room floor that have nothing written on them except good intentions.  Does anyone really send out Christmas cards anymore anyway???   I mean, yes I get a few cards in the mail… most of them are not even really “cards” anymore…. Just a postcard with a family picture.   I love getting those little gems, but I just NEVER get my act together early enough to:

A)  find a day where my whole family can get together for a picture.

B)  Get the picture developed and made into a card

C)  Set aside an afternoon to address all the envelopes and mail them out.

Plus, what do you do when your middle child moves out and wants nothing to do with you right now.   Do you call them up and say, “Hey, I know you hate us and think we are horrible parents and all, but do you have time to pose for a family picture for our Christmas Cards?”    OR do you just get the rest of the family together for a picture and just pretend like someone isn’t missing?   OR do you just say, “daughter not available for photo”…??    Awkward, isn’t it? 

SO, back to the stack of Christmas Cards in my living room floor….here’s the bottom line.  You guys will NOT be getting a Christmas Card from our family this year, but that does NOT mean than each and every one of you isn’t extremely important to us.  We cherish our friends and family and hope to get to spend some quality time with you all VERY soon!!   

….but IF you WERE to get a Christmas Card from us, this is what it would say:

This is such a special time of year.   A time to reflect on our past.  A time to hope for our future.  A time to remember the amazing love that God, our Father has for each and every one of us.  Love so great that he sent his son to die on the cross for our sins.   And it started with that little baby, born in a manger in Bethlehem.   Our prayer for you this Christmas is that you would not only KNOW that love, and BELIEVE in that love, but FEEL that love surround you and yours while you celebrate the birth of Baby Jesus!!  

We hope all your wishes come true in 2010 and that God will be in the center of your joys and the comfort in your sorrows.  No one knows what the future holds, but I DO know that God will be there with us every step of the way!!

Merry Christmas!!

Much love,

Mike, Marcia and family

Conversations with Mom....

10: 30am  --phone rings 4 rings

Me:  “hello”

Mom:  “Well, I was about to hang up since it took you so long to answer the phone!”

Me:  “Sorry Mom!  How are you?”

Mom:  “Fine, fine…how are you?”

Me:  “Good.  What’s up?”

Mom: L-o-n-g pause… “Well, (giggle) now I’ve forgotten what I called for!  Aw Shucks!” (more giggling)

Me: (laughing) “That’s okay Mom, just call me back if you remember what you wanted.”

Mom: (now in a fit of hysterical laughter) “Well, I can’t believe it!  I can’t remember why I called.  This is embarrassing!” 

Me:  “Don’t worry Mom… you’ll remember, then call me back.”

Mom: “Well, I guess I better start writing things down so I don’t forget”

Me: “yeah, that’s a good idea.  I do that all the time.”

Mom: “ok.. bye!”

Me: ‘Bye!”

10:32 --- phone rings again

Me:  “hello”

Mom:  “Hi”

Me:  “Did you remember why you were calling?”

Mom:  “No…(another giggle) but I DID remember that I want to come see your new bed today.  I found a quilt that I think would be good for you to use as a bedspread.”

( Let me insert here that I bought a new king-size bed recently.  Mom and Dad paid for part of it as our Christmas present.   She has never owned a king-size bed and is quite amazed at the thought of anyone needing/wanting a bed that big.  Of course, Mom and Dad started sleeping in separate beds YEARS ago, so that explains a lot.)

Me: “Ok.. well, that’s sweet of you.. when do you want to come over?”

Mom:  “Can I come right now?”

Me:  “Well, I’m in the middle of a writing appt. right now, so how about later this afternoon?”

Mom: “OH, ok.. how about 3:00?”

Me:  “perfect.. see you then!  Bye”

Mom: “Bye”

2:00pm – phone rings

Me: “Hello?”

Mom: “Does your church give to the Lottie Moon Christmas offering?”

Me: “Hi Mom… no, I don’t think so.  Isn’t that a Baptist thing?”

Mom: (in a shocked tone) “Isn’t your church a BAPTIST church???”

Me: “Uh, no Mom, it’s a non-denominational church”

Mom:  “Oh.. so they don’t give to Lottie Moon???”

Me:  “No, but we give to a lot of different missions”

Mom: “Well, I guess that works too.”

Me:  “Yes…. Are you still coming over at 3:00?”

Mom:  “Yes.. see you then.”

Me: “Bye”

3:15pm… no sign of Mom, so I call her

Me: “Mom, are you coming over?”

Mom: “Yes, of course, I said I’d be there at 3:00”

Me: “Mom, it’s 3:15pm”

Mom:  “It IS?!?  Really?  Well, my clock says it’s only 3:12”

Me:  “Well, that’s STILL after 3:00 you know.”

Mom:  “Oh yeah, that’s true.  Well I’ll just come tomorrow at 3:00, ok?”

Me:  “Ok, Mom… see you then.”

7:15pm – phone rings

Me: “Hello”

Mom: “Can I come over tomorrow at 3:00?”

Me:  “Yes, Mom…that would be great.”

Mom:  “Ok then, I want to see your new bed.”

Me: “Yes, I know.  That would be perfect.”

Mom:  “By the way, does your church give to Lottie Moon?”

Me: (sigh)

I guess the good thing about having Alzeheimer’s is every conversation is a NEW conversation!!  J

Thinking of DJ.....

Four years ago today we lost our sweet Dustin Jack.... he was an amazing kid who had the best hugs in the world!   Getting an early morning phone call from my son, Derek, telling me that a car wreck had taken DJ's life during the night was everyone's worst nightmare.   It's still too fresh in my mind.  However, as painful as it is to remember, it does remind me to appreciate every single day I have with the people that I love.  Death does not discriminate.  It can come at any age.  We learned that on Dec. 14th, 2005.   Never in a million years did I think that he would be taken at such a young age.  He had just turned 21 and was full of big dreams, life and promise..... We all miss you Dustin.  We always will.  

Love,
Aunt Marcia

Can I just leave it up all year long????

Hey ya'll....

Can't believe Christmas is almost here!  I love having the tree up in our house!  I swear I would leave it up all year if everyone wouldn't think I was crazy.  But then again..... if I left it up all year long, it wouldn't feel as special when it WAS up, right?  

Mike and I are BOTH playing a cool gig on Dec. 18th w/Rick Huckaby.  Rick is one of our favorite singer/songwriter's.  You should REALLY come out that night to 3rd and Lindsley and see us!  PLUS, the next day (Dec. 19th) is my BIRTHDAY, so we can pretend it's my early BIRTHDAY PARTY!!  Come buy me a drink people!!!!!!!   :-)

Looking forward to leading worship on Dec. 24th at the Crosspoint NORTH campus Christmas Eve service.  The coolest part is my husband AND my oldest son, Derek will be leading with me.  We're breaking out the "family band" thing, which is RARE these days, but it's always special to have that time together on Christmas Eve. 

I truly hope you all have a wonderful Christmas season, full of laughter and love.  

Merry Christmas everybody!!!
Hugs,
Marcia

Gig alert!!!!

FRIDAY DEC. 11th -- Come see me, Kim Parent, Scott Sheriff and Tim Buppert play some original songs BEFORE the "Twelve Against Nature" Christmas Extravaganza at 3rd and Lindsley here in Nashville, TN. Songwriter show is at 7pm... then TAN starts at 8pm! Remember to get there EARLY because these shows always sell -out! They have great food there... doors open at 6pm!! See you there!!

At the Sycamores Terrace Christmas Celebration with Mom & Dad....

I just got a surprise birthday party!!!! At Maggiano's!!! Whoo-hoo!

Will you pause?

A God who stoops to ludicrous depths....

Christmas Traditions at our house... this is one of them!!

Christmas Ellie!

"It's beginning to look alot like Christmas..."