Donahoo Christmas 2007

Deep Thoughts by Ansley Grace

The highlight of our Christmas thus far is the funny things our 2-yr old has blurted out this morning!

Ansley's dramatic rendition of the Big Bad Wolf in Three Little Pigs-
"I'll puff....and I'll puff....and PUFF! And I'll blow your house UP!"


Later, we were talking about a Woody Woodpecker DVD they got for Christmas. And she yells in a serious voice "Woody Pecker is a man!!!" We're not sure where that came from, but Trace and I died laughing!

Just wanted to share a little Christmas cheer from our house to yours! Merry Christmas!

Nothing to Blog About

The past week, I've had severe bloggers' block. This has been a busy couple of weeks, I've been out and about during the days, but I've tried to find something new to post and I got nothin'.

Today, I am getting my haircut! That's always scary and exciting! I'm not sure what I'm going to do with my hair and this is the first time I've been to this stylist, so we'll see what happens! It couldn't be any worse than what I have now, right? If its really bad, please lie and tell me that it looks great. We'll both know you're lying, but its ok, because once its cut, its cut!

Today, Ansy's at MDO and Cully went with his MiMi today. So, I'm all alone for awhile, with lots to do. You see how I choose to spend it! I'll get to work in awhile...yeah, surely I will. Must go to WalMart. I go there everyday it seems like! Yuck! I don't even enjoy it, its just stuck in my head that if I need it or want it, it must be at WalMart. My New Year's Resolution should be to get a life during the day! No more WalMart- I should venture out to more desirable places out there. Possibly even beyond Moody! Wow!!

Well, I need to feel productive with my quiet time. I must go clean up and pray about my haircut! Have a Merry Christmas!!

O HaPpY dAy!

So far, this has been a great day! I love Fridays! Today, me and "little sista" have been taking it slow and easy. We went walking this morning and it was very enjoyable. She pushed her baby around the block in her stroller and I just walked and talked with her. We saw birds("Baby birds!" She calls everything a baby)and picked flowers-"yellow flower that smells like strawberries". Ah, to be in a 2 yr old's world! I ventured in that world today. I was able to pray on our walk, thanking Him for the day and my precious wee lad and lass (Scottish lingo) and telling Him my fears, and being calmed.

Later, we trekked off to the bank (land of lollipops) and to Wal-Mart. That was just a time-wasting trip, but I did get some yummy croissants for my Nutella. ("Yeah, Baby" in a Austin Powers voice). She was so sweet and fun to be with all day-I love it!

Santa Claus called last night and the kids were so excited. Cully kept answering every question with "Yes, Sir" which was so precious. Then, Ansy talked to him and she was smiling from ear to ear! After they hung up, she was running through the house screaming "He's coming!" She was very glad to tell Santa she wanted Cinderella toys!

Tonight, me and my husband on going on a date! Can you say "Parents Night Out" at the church?! Can you say Free Babysitting?!!!! Yeah, thanks Steve Morgan! Trace and I have our 8th Anniversary on Dec. 18 so this is our celebration night. We planned on going to Gatlinburg next weekend, but just like most other plans in my life, that one got changed. I was not happy, had a pity party, but I'm better now. We've rescheduled it, so we'll see if we can go this summer. I've never been to Gatlinburg in the summer.

Well,enough rambling. I'm off to clean my house and get ready for my hot date...

Flight of the Conchords Ep 3 Think About it

These are the funniest guys in the world! I could sit and watch them for hours and cry because I'm laughing so hard! WARNING-Most of their videos are a little off-color, so don't watch them if you're easily offended. This is one that I can post on my blog with a clear conscience! Anyway, enjoy!

MUST CLEAN HOUSE

Today I must clean the house. I have neglected it for over a week and its BAD! I don't have a car today, because Trace lost his keys and had to take the van. I'm glad I don't have a car so I can't escape the dirty house another day. Ansy and I have been playing this morning alot-Elefun about 14 times now. I'll clean something, play something with her, then check emails, then clean a spot, etc...My ADD is showing up! I still haven't found Trace's keys, but how much looking can one do playing Elefun?

I am not finding much Christmas spirit this year, either. Usually I decorate my entire house. This year, I've done the living room and that's it. All my Christmas dishes, cookie jars, etc are still in boxes in the kitchen. I think I'll just put them back up in the attic. No one's coming over anyway. I've had too much clutter on my counters to think of setting out that stuff! I'm trying to get the motivation to prepare our house to sell. I've cleaned out closets, but they are junky again! That's so frustrating! I need to find some sort of system-any suggestions?

Its a fun, chilled out day, but I must get to work! If you want, come on over and help! Just don't judge me because of my yucky house! On to Ansy's room...

Funny Things You See While Riding Down the Road

Today, Kim and I went to Hoover to mess around on this lovely summer day. We were in a turn lane that seemed to last forever! We were getting pretty annoyed until we noticed the holdup was a disabled vehicle. As we sat there, a white unmarked van pulls up beside it. Two men get out with a Krispy Kreme box and a gallon of milk and go over to the gas tank. The lady gets out and motions to them as if to ask questions and talk. They were apparently putting a little gas in her car so she could make it to the gas station, because that's where she drove once the men got back in the van. Our reaction was the same as yours-What? Krispy Kreme donut box and a milk jug? Full of gas? What does the donut box have to do with it? They were using it on her car and I guess we'll never know the answer why. I wish I was a bold person, because I wanted to roll down the window and ask. We were laughing too hard anyway.

Stripping Away Our Idols

The journey to the mission field is strange and wonderful. The Lord is preparing us, that is for sure. The trials we are facing are hard, but we've finally caught on to why we are going through them. Most times, when bad things happen in our lives, we say "Why, God? Why that? or Why now?" We are figuring out why- this is the lifestyle God has chosen for us. And it is a lifestyle change, not a job. He's compelled us to uproot our family and go to our foreign country, and He will go with us. But, first, He must train us for such a battle. If we think its hard here in our own culture, where everything is familiar and our "safety nets" are in place, imagine the horror of trials overseas, if we are not confident He will provide or haven't been adequately prepared. How effective would we be? We can't take our idols with us to England, because they won't fit in our suitcases.

God has been showing us our idolatry lately. We didn't realize we had some of the idols. I knew I worshiped money and stability and pride. He's knocked those down, one by one. It hurts, but I know its because He loves me and He will replace them with something more wonderful and reliable. Now, He's starting to show me the idols I was hiding, like a reliable car and my material things I'm starting to get rid of. Those He has shown me this week, what's next? I haven't arrived yet, its a daily battle. I'll hide another pride statue away, but He always finds it. Let me tell ya! But what He gives back is so much better! He has provided through our church family in incredible ways! Not only does that show us how He knows our needs, but He compels others to give when they only know the surface of our situation and it speaks volumes to outsiders! What an encouragement it has been to my family back home when I tell them about the love of our church. "They will know that you are my disciples because you love one another."

Also, He has shown me the joy of giving again. I know that sounds cliche' this time of year, but I'll confess that since we've been in such a difficult pinch, its been so much harder to give. My sinful, faithless self wanted to hoard what I did have or sell something to make money or not give because we didn't have it. What little faith! This week I've been giving away all sorts of stuff, and I've loved it! Need something? Come on over!

The old mentality of "just pull yourself up by your boot straps" just doesn't apply to our situation these days. God is stripping away the old and bringing us the new and has set up our life in such a way that's condusive to support raising. Its hurtful and a little irritating when people say things like "You need to work more or harder" to get what you need or stop pursuing missions because its hard and maybe that's the Lord telling us not to do it. "If it were God's will, it wouldn't be so hard." Sure, tell that to Paul or Daniel or Jesus. I don't fault people for saying it, because I did too. But, it just shows that unless you've done this, you can't truly understand what it does to you emotionally, phyically, mentally and spiritually, and the time it takes.

I encourage you to pray that God will show you your idols and replace them with the truth and grace of the Gospel.