I'm a "ma'am" . . .

It's been happening with more and more frequency. I ignored it at first, certain there'd been a mistake. But no. Last night at the grocery store it was confirmed once again by the checkout guy. He called me ma'am. WHAT THE *&#@! When did this happen?! Perhaps it's the four children, the oldest of whom will soon be ten. Perhaps it's the squint lines that don't go away, even when I come in out of the blinding sun that was making me squint! Perhaps it's the ski slope around my waist from "growing" said four children. Perhaps it's all of these. Either way, I just don't understand how someone who watches American Idol, STILL gets zits, knows what BFF and LOL mean, and who has kidded herself into thinking she can still hang out in the Jr.'s section of the clothing store can be a "ma'am" and not a "miss". Good grief. There's nothing between "ma'am" and Grandma, so now what am I supposed to do for the next 15 years?!

Dear American Idol. . .

So glad to see you again! I missed you. ALOT. Thank you for being a little nicer, and not putting quite so many PAINFULLY horrible "singers" on and then making fun of them. I have never liked it when you do that. Although, it does make me feel slightly better about my own not-so-pleasant voice!
Oh, one more thing . . . bikini girl. REALLY? c'mon.
Love,
Your Devoted Fan

Attention World . . .

PLEASE figure out this healthcare/insurance mess 'cause I can't afford it - - and we're all HEALTHY! Sheesh.

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Merry Christmas, Everyone! Hope the season finds you and yours happy and healthy . . . here's our year in review - -


Sara Alice joined our family March 28th. She is SUCH a sweet little baby and had our hearts from the first hello! She is always happy, and is currently crawling EVERYWHERE, eating crumbs and other stuff she finds on the floor, and pulling herself up to reach whatever she can get to! She is the center of attention, always, and brothers and sister ADORE her! What a lovely closing chapter to the "Book of Morgan"!!






Anna will be 5 in February. She seems to think, however, that she's already 15! She has personality plus, and is a friend to all. She can go from playing with a baby, to chatting with a toddler, to conversing with a teen, to enchanting a grandma in a matter of minutes at church, and is completely comfortable with all of them! She started preschool this year, and informed me the other day that she'd kissed "Trey" at school 'cause he told her to! Yikes. Here we go!


Joey turned 8 in November and is in 2nd grade. He has the biggest heart I've ever seen. He is kind to everyone, and seems to be a champion of the underdog! I hope he hangs on to that. He loves Cub Scouts and playing soccer. He also loves to collect stuffed Cheetahs, but at this point he's got so many there's barely enough room left in his bed for him! He's on the brink of loosing front tooth #2 and will soon be singing "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth . . . !"






Tommy will turn 10 (holy cow!) in March. He's our Super Reader! I finally convinced him to start reading Harry Potter around Thanksgiving, now, three weeks later, he's almost done with book #5! He loves school, but wishes he could have harder spelling words! He also loves soccer and Cub Scouts - and is happy Joey has joined him because they really are good buds! Hope that lasts, too!






T.R. and I will celebrate 12 years this June! And no, this is not an engagement photo! Although it does look as though it could be! Kinda cheesey, but ya gotta have some cheese in your life ;)
T.R. is still Mr. Attorney Man! He enjoys it, most days, and is very good to leave the ick he deals with at work! Don't know how, but he does! He has been able to be involved with a few happy cases too, like helping a couple friends with the adoption process, etc. He was also put in the bishopric as first counselor in August - that's been kind of strange because it seems like such an "old man" calling! (no offense to any old men reading this!) But it has been good, and the "leaving it at work" talent has come in handy with this calling, too!
Because of T.R.'s new calling, I was released from Young Women. SO SAD for me! I've had a harder time letting go than I thought I would! Love those girls! But, it has given me more time to be mommy, now that I'm a church widow! Life is good. I still do a few weddings here and there, and like to surprise friends and neighbors with an arrangement every now and then . . . you can't go wrong with flowers!

We are so blessed with many wonderful friends, neighbors, and most of all family! It really is A WONDERFUL LIFE! Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Oh, Come Let Us Adore . . .

Bethany and Rachel, sisters and my former Laurels, brought me this cake on my birthday! They found out I was celebrating with hamburger helper and no cake for dinner, so they decided to fix that! So sweet! The 4 candle is because I was celebrating the 4th anniversary of my 29th birthday, and because they know it's my favorite #! What cute girls, huh? And lest you think TR a bad husband who didn't plan a birthday celebration . . . he actually had, but we had to go to Tommy's school choir concert instead. Thus the Hamburger Helper instead of steak! It was a great day ;)

I believe this picture is self explanatory . . . but holy cow, how can he be 8 already?! And, no, there wasn't a flood - but the kid's so long and skinny that we opted for the jumpsuit that was too short, but fit his body, as opposed to the one that would've been long enough, but also would've floated right off of him!!

We had the Morgan family Christmas party at our house Sunday. Complete with a nativity scene! The unique thing about our nativity scene was that we had to wait for "Mary" to throw-up before we could start! Poor thing! But that's a story not everyone can tell, and she was fine the rest of the night! (As far as I know!) The kids looked so cute, and I even teared up a few times. It really is an amazing story, even when you hear it a dozen times a year!

SAY CHEESE . . .

Sara is/has been trying her hardest to push those stubborn top teeth out! This is her smile lately, I assume she's trying to make us aware of her progress. Sadly, the progress is still not visible to the naked eye! But she sure looks cute when she cheeses! Teeth or no teeth!

Just a thought . . .

If I could tell the world just one thing
It would be, WE'RE ALL OK.
And not to worry 'cause worry is wasteful
And useless in times like these
I won't be made useless
I won't be idle with despair
I will gather myself around my faith
For LIGHT DOES THE DARKNESS MOST FEAR.

Poverty stole your golden shoes
IT DIDN'T STEAL YOUR LAUGHTER
And heartache came to visit me
But I knew it wasn't ever after.
We'll fight, NOT OUT OF SPITE
For someone must stand for what's right
'Cause where there's a man who has no voice
There ours shall go, singing

My hands are small, I know
But they're not yours, THEY ARE MY OWN
I am never broken
In the end, ONLY KINDNESS MATTERS

We are never broken.
We are God's eyes
We are God's hands
We are God's heart

ONLY KINDNESS MATTERS, IN THE END.

-Jewel

This is the song I have been hearing in my head ALOT lately. Mostly after I watch the news. I really think everything will be okay, as long as we don't forget our neighbors. Our fellowmen. "We are God's hands" Now, go to.