A White Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas.

So it may be a day late, but it's still as heart-felt. Christmas morning was full of surprises for the Grishams. First, we wake up to a WHITE CHRISTMAS! Yippee! Second, Santa Claus visited our house and delivered tons of beautifully decorated (hem-hem) packages. :) Guess I shouldn't brag, considering I didn't get a picture of the really pretty ones. Third, Doug surprised me again with another antique locket. This one has a wicked sort of look to it. There is an eagle trying to catch 'something' and it has three sapphires on it. Oh my goodness do I ever love it. And the fourth and biggest surprises of the morning was the hot water heater had quit working. "Hey Santa. Come back!"

Devony and Clay are so good about playing along with the 'Santa thing' for their mothers sake. I tell them every year, "You don't believe, you wont receive." However, Clay occasionally will roll his eyes when I say that, look at his sister, and say in the most disgusted voice ever, "Oh great, here she goes again." But deep down inside, I know he really loves that I demand we all believe in Santa Claus. And they must have been on the Good List this year, because every gift came from Ole St. Nick.

Merry Christmas everyone. And remember to Shine.

The Locket

When I pulled into the driveway last Wed. evening, Doug was waiting for me at the door. I knew something was up. As I walked through the door, this is what Doug started telling me. "Angel, I was playing with the dogs earlier today and they got a little wild. Wiz was running through the house so fast that he ran into the Christmas tree. I barely caught it before it fell all the way down. I tried to put all the ornaments back on the way you had it, but I know how you are about the tree. You might want to come in here and take a look at it and see if it's OK." He's telling me this as we are walking through the house to the living room. And all the while I'm thinking, "Why is the house so dark?" and "If he had been 'fixing the tree' for me why are the tree lights not on?'

So I went over to the tree, turned the lights on, stood back, looked it over for a moment and said, "Doug it looks fine. You did a really good job. I can't even tell anything was ever messed up. It all seems...."

And then I saw it. Hanging on a branch and blending in so well with the other ornaments (that I almost missed it) was a gold locket. My hands flew to my mouth and I was just, well...speechless. I just couldn't believe it. Doug knew how much I've been wanting an antique locket, and there in front of me was the most perfect one I had ever seen.

Once I got over my initial shock, I picked it up and opened it. Inside he had even wrote me a little love note. it was on a post-it note which I thought, coming from Doug, was priceless Well, let me tell you, that 'post-it note' pushed me over the edge. I still couldn't speak. But I had no trouble bursting into tears. Honestly, I truly could not speak. All I could do was hug him and cry.

Doug being so thoughtful to find me something that I had really been wanting was sweet enough. But the way he 'presented it' meant more to me than the gift itself.

Maybe it has to do with age. Maybe it has to do to with the fact that we've been together for 18yrs. Maybe it has to do with the fact that we have a deeper love and respect for each other that only comes from time together. Maybe I don't really care-Doug has become 'quite the romantic fool'

I am a lucky girl.

Have a beautiful day. And remember to Shine. As bright as my locket!

SWEET SWEET 16

Oh, what a night!

For the past 6 months I've been planning this party. Considering it was going to be Devs Sweet 16, I wanted to do something really special, and I knew that was going to take "a little more planning than usual".

-30 invitations. Check!

-Karaoke machine. Check!

-Disco Ball. Check!

-Strobe light. Check!

-Photo prop. (see above) Check!

-3 layer Birthday Cake. Check!

-Party decorations out the ying-yang. Check!

-Tiara, wait...WHAT! OK, whatever. Check!

-6ft. Party Sub. Check!

-10 2 liters of soda to wash that 6 foot party sub down. Check!

-Snacks. Oh, I know what your thinking, but trust me, teen girls eat a LOT!!!

Particularly, one certain little BFF.

-Candy Bar. Check! As if cake wasn't enough sugar to get-em-goin. Heck, lets throw in several

varieties of candy to eat too!

-Thank you cards. Check!

-Somehow manage to scrape together enough change after all this to possibly get her a gift. Check!

-Wha-laa! One Sweet 16 necklace. (it's so adorable. it has these cute little charms on it)

And after allllll that, I'm happy to report that it was a complete success! It was a success because

JOY and SPIRIT was in an over-abundance that evening.

There was a lot to do to get ready for the party that day and thankfully a few teens (Tyler, Tearra, John and Paige) came early to help us. If it had not been for the extra help, I'm really not sure Dev, Clay, Doug and myself would have been able to have everything ready in time. We did a lot of decorating. Inside and out! I even did the cake! I was a little nervous about it, but it turn out really good. It almost toppled over once......"Nobody move, or, breathe!" I whispered.

Devony has such great girlfriends. I truly and honestly think the world of these girls. Most of them I've known for years from school or church. But there were several that I met for the first time Sat. night and I was equally impressed with them. They are really good, fun girls.

The best part of the evening was when my little girl turned to me, took me by the shoulders, looked me straight in the eyes and said, "Mom, thank you sooooo much for doing all this for me. I love it! It's the best Sweet 16 party EVER!" Then finished that precious little moment with a hug that was so filled with love and appreciation, that it brought me to tears. (i'm an emotional soul anyway, so that's not that hard to do)

Sweet 16. Oh, what a night! Oh, what a bright night. Cause those girls were Shine-ing!

Have a joy-filled day.