Oh What Fun .....

The Mac family celebrated Christmas with all the children at home this year. We have counted our blessings and are very thankful for each and every one. Mrs. Mac sure could use a long winter's night of sleep ... but will keep on keeping on until everyone is back to school and work in the next few weeks.










Photos: Mr. Mac and Patrick raising the new flags. Ann and Nathan wooshing on the new sleds.
Patrick and Nathan after sledding. Baby Jake's first sledding adventure.

A Family Christmas Outing

Most Sundays of late I've been a shut-in so to speak; not able to get to church. However ... not able to get to church is not the same as not being part of God's church family. It is just a season for the moment ... until circumstances change. I look forward to having my husband living at home permanently in a few more months. We have both sacrificed our togetherness for the time being to start a new chapter in our lives. A move that has been done in planned stages and transitions ... carefully laid out and blessed by God. So until he returns home permanently, to be my helpmate once again, I must rest in God's grace being content with our current situation (being the caretaker of our special needs son, Nathan). Nathan has issues that place a great burden on me in regards to getting to church. Having Down syndrome and some autistic traits I am unable to just head off to church on Sunday morning with him. Most churches do not have accommodations for such children. Big church is too bright and loud. Sunday school is too overstimulating and he needs a one to one aide just to keep an eye on him. A quiet room with books and a Bible story movie, two or three other children and a teacher is about as much as he can take. I have faith that God has plans and hubby and I can once again be in church fellowship that hopefully includes our son. Tonight I was reading the paper and saw that two local churches are having drive through nativities this weekend. Now this is something we can participate in as a family and bring Nathan along too. He will feel quite secure observing from the back seat of our truck. We've been reading the Christmas story about the birth of Christ to him from a simple little Golden Book. I'm sure he will make the connection as we drive through the church's parking lot and see Mary and Joseph ... the baby Jesus ... the manger scene ... and the live animals. Simple truth that Nathan can understand ... simple truth that a great percentage of people pass up.

Up To Some New Tricks

It's been a while since I posted any pics of my grandson. He's becoming quite a little monkey with all of his new skills. Just in a matter of two weeks he has learned how to sit up by himself, pull himself up to stand and crawl around thus keeping me on my toes for his safety. We play patty cake and peek-a-boo, read books together and coo back and forth to each other. I love being a grandmother. Last night he got reacquainted with grandpa ... seems afterwards they both needed to change their pants ;) Jacob is such a little squirt.

I'm Off ... And ... Don't Try This

Today my schweetie-pie hubby returns to me so I'd better get busy tidying up the home. Our weather turned slushie ... but should make for better driving to the airport. Nathan woke up in an extra good mood knowing his daddy would soon be home ... his school week (so far) has been outstanding. And I leave you with this tip: Don't leave a tube of Desitin (baby butt ointment) out on the bathroom counter. Why? Because last night I mistook it for the toothpaste (yuck-phooey-nasty fish oil taste mouth all night long, belck)!

Whatever Happened to ......... Customer Service???

Twice this week I've had my panties in a bind over CUSTOMER NO SERVICE! The first time was when I ordered a U.S. made military (Marine) flag as a gift for my dad for Christmas. This took place over the internet and within a minute I realized I should have ordered two flag clips so he could fly the flag. I called the company and asked them to include said clips so I wouldn't have to pay an additional $7 dollars shipping. The clips are cheap ... under a buck for two and I would have gladly paid for them. My reply was that they have no way to intervene an order once it's placed ... well phooey. Really now, how hard would it be for someone to call over to the warehouse and ask them to put in two little old clips! That will be the last time I buy from this company (U.S. Flags) ... But it was my purchase of a new tv today that really infuriated me to no end. And just what did Mrs. Mac find you ask??? Not one ... no ... but TWO manuals BOTH IN SPANISH!!!!!!!!! No big deal right?? So I gave old Walmart a call and they don't even have the phone number for Sony. Of course the manual has a Spanish number and website to contact ... but there's just one problem. Last time I checked I was living in the U.S.A. and the national language was supposed to be English ... and I don't exactly remember my conversational Spanish from high school ... not like that would do me any good. So I go on-line to Sony and get their customer service number. By the slight accent of the young lady I spoke with, I'm sure my call was sent to a foreign country. She informs me that she cannot send me a manual, but will email me one. Being that I don't want the copy sent via an email ... but instead would prefer an actual 3-D manual, I began to complain to her that that would not be acceptable and to put me through to her supervisor .... dead silence for many minutes followed. I think the call was lost, oops! By now I have found another website where I can order and pay $5 plus shipping for an ENGLISH manual ... but I'm not going to do it, no siree. If they can't at least send me an ENGLISH manual at their expense, then I may just have to take back the TV and exchange it for one that comes with an ENGLISH manual. Thank you for letting me vent ... I'm taking a deep breath ... sigh ... sigh ..... OK ... I'm much better now.

And What Would You Like For Christmas

... little boy? "Wat wewe" says Nathan to Santa. Lost in translation: Rat Movie ... i.e. the new Ratatouille cartoon. Nathan knows he had better be extra nice this coming week at school. Last week was a doozie behavior wise. I hope he makes the connection ... "you'd better be nice" ...

The Ghosts of Christmas Past

Whatever happened to:

• neighborhood church bells
• a reverence for religious and national holidays
• special occasion dresses
• waiting until December 25 for a present
• a much anticipated long distance phone call ... for just a few minutes due to cost
• 99.9 % of stores and businesses closing for Christmas, Sunday, Thanksgiving, Easter, etc.
• saying "Merry Christmas" ... instead of "Happy (generic) Holidays
• Christmas savings programs through your bank so you didn't owe on credit cards for six months past Christmas
• moderation
• being content with whatever present you received ... instead of handing out a wish list
• driving to grandma's house for a family gathering
• meaningful Christmas music
• nothing remotely Christmasie until after Thanksgiving ...
  
• the real reason for celebrating Christmas ...
• whole intact families
  

Operation Root Canal Redo

Open wide and say OUCH! Three or four years ago I had a root canal and permanent enamel covered crown affixed to tooth number 13 in my mouth. Having the root taken out there should not have been any long lasting pain associated with this tooth. Other crowns have taken a while to become desensitized ... but this tooth has bothered me for some time. It became even more painful when I was under stress from building our new home. I tend to clench me teeth at night when stressed out. My new (state of the art) dentist sent me to an endodontist today for what I thought would just be a consultation. I started suspecting I was in for the procedure when he reclined my chair and whipped out a q-tip with numbing gel followed by a Novocain shot. I usually need a day or two to psych myself up for any type of medical procedure. Having one root canal performed on a tooth is bad enough ... but having to go through it a second time because dentist #1 didn't do a good job is the pits. But, alas, the outcome is good. NO MORE PAIN ... except in my wallet to the tune of $1200. I sure hope my dental insurance will cover the redo of the first botched job.

Sick to Death of Drug Ads

So I'm flipping through my Guidepost magazine in preparation for a hot bubble bath ... I always read in the bubbly bath ... but before doing so I have to rip half the magazine apart just to throw out all the expensive drug ads ... now my magazine is this skinny little leaflet with just a few good stories to read and soak in. I make certain not to pay any attention to what the drug companies are pushing ... to me it's ridiculous that a person has to decide which drug to ask their doctor to prescribe ... didn't it used to be the other way around? You were sick and the doctor gave YOU a prescription. Let's get some type of legislation going to ban the expensive drug companies from peddling their pills to the consumer before they even call the doctor. And one more thing ... now that I'm on my soapbox ... my mute button on the TV remote control is just about worn off from quieting the same drug companies from their drug pushing in my living room too. No wonder the prescription drugs are so costly. OK ... now I'm off the soapbox and have taken a few deep breaths. Calm down Mrs. Mac ...

Granny's Day Out

A day to myself. I have eight hours today without one thing scheduled on my agenda. The kids are at school, the grand baby is with his parents, hubby is off working, the roads are clear, the sky is blue, and I have a full tank of gas. After being housebound the past few days, this will be a perfect day to finish up my Christmas and grocery shopping.

Hubby was sure to leave me with a working chain saw that I can manage, and a snow plow to use before he left last month, nice guy, eh? The plow came in handy three times this past week, but alas, our snow has melted due to the "Pineapple Express" that blew through the Pacific Northwest. Yesterday it was a balmy 57 degrees outside.

Daylight is burning ... I'm outta here.

Crazy Little Thing Called Life

I'm so dizzy ... my head is swimming ... that is my latest mantra! We have been minus a car for the past week since I loaned my oldest daughter our van. Her hubby's car has been in the shop for repairs ... so my life has been running here and there and being available for everybody's schedules. Ann usually drives my mom's mini van much to her disapproval. But now that she has been inconvenienced, maybe she will appreciate her mode of transportation. Checking with my watch, I see it's time to run down to the bus stop to pick up Nathan. Catch you later, maybe.

I'll leave you with a photo taken this week from my front porch.