Keep Up, People!

I try to keep yall on the cutting edge of culture! This morning on the Today Show they noted that a top trend of 2007 was fingernails painted black or dark blue and Victoria Beckham's haircut was The Haircut. I know I certainly got sick of seeing it on lots of women!

So here's a list to keep us all up-to-date!

The top 10 baby names for 2007

1. Sophia/Aidan

2. Isabella/Ethan

3. Emma/Jacob

4. Madison/Jayden

5. Ava/Caden

6. Addison/Noah

7. Hailey/Jackson

8. Emily/Jack

9. Kaitlyn/Logan

10. Olivia/Matthew

Kudos To Yall!

Check out the new button on my sidebar. If you can read this without difficulty, you must be a genius! Maybe it's the use of the word "kudos."

I Know I Do

Well, just when you think Christmas is over - Santa Billy brings just one more gift. Uncle Billy spoils my children quite a bit. They assume when he comes to town that he will take them to Chucky Cheese (Mr. Gatti's is out due to a previous unfortunate incident,) the movies, and/or Target for toys.

This time it's a telescope. Apparently it broke his heart when Abbie questioned why she didn't get a telescope. She took him outside and said, "I've been good all year. Why didn't Santa bring me a telescope?" Now, I would have probably told her that we can't have everything we want. Or that Santa decided that she was just a little too young for a telescope. Or to look at that great Hannah Montana closet she got with all the clothes for her Hannah Montana doll.

But Uncle Billy just went and bought one for her. It took 4 different stores before he found one.

Don't you wish you had an Uncle Billy?

The Day After

Yep, it's the day after Christmas. The day after all the fun and gift-giving. The day after eating all the goodies. The day after a too-late night. The day after beginning all those new books.

We've all made it. We all loved it. I was able to surprise Jim with a gift he didn't expect! That's always a big deal - he wants so little that isn't over $500. It would be very difficult to buy him a truck without him knowing it. Abbie didn't understand why Santa didn't bring her a telescope - she told Santa just 5 days ago she wanted one. Trust me, Santa had gotten all her gifts by then. Kenny was happy with his multitude of books - there are enough there to keep him happy for awhile. And, of course, his Wii. More about that later.....

One of the funniest things I can remember happened late last night..... Do I tell it? Someone wanted to upload the pictures from my camera onto their computer. After the memory card was taken out, they looked at it. Turned it this way and that. Tried to envision how it would work. Then asked, "Does it go in the CD spot?" Needless to say, someone else got off their hiney and showed them exactly where to put it!

Merry Christmas!

It Isn't The Weekend But -

Does anybody else come home and revel in putting on their pajamas? It's my favorite part of the day.....

Tuesday's Tune

This is the song that makes the holidays for me. It needs to be Nat King Cole, too. One more week.....

Good Music on NBC

I have new material over at my TV Blog...... Go see!

Wednesday's Do-Over

It must be from God that Mariah didn't work. I had tried to post another silly Christmas song and I couldn't find it on YouTube. Maybe this year we will celebrate with beautiful music....

Tuesday's Tune

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU! BY MARIAH CAREY


I had this last year but I still LOVE it! I'll be singing it all day....

A Question For The Weekend

Last weekend Kenny and I saw the

Abilene Philharmonic - it was the Christmas Pops concert. I loved it. The conductor actually sat at the piano and sang In The Bleak Mid-Winter - that's what made me think of it.

He also mentioned that the Season wasn't complete without his favorite song sung by a particular soprano. It made me think,

What song is your favorite of the Christmas Season? Do you have a singer, too?

Tuesday Tune

I thinking (last night when I couldn't sleep) that we need a little music of the season! So for the rest of the month I will post YouTube videos with various Christmas songs. I love this song even though it starts out a sad. I really wish I was singing with these people, in a candlelight service, in a huge cathedral, on Christmas Eve, too.

Vote For Our Friends!

My friend, Tiffani and her hubby are in a cool contest! Tiffani loves Bebo Norman! Read what she wrote:

Stephen and I entered an online video contest on Bebo Norman's website, bebonorman.com. (He's a Christian singer we really love--"O Great Light of the World", "I Will Lift My Eyes", ...) Our video is one of the top 3 finalists!The video that gets the most votes wins a trip for 2 to Nashville to watch a concert and hang out with Bebo. Which is where you come in! Please, if you have some spare time, go to http://www.brickmanmedia.com/bebo/vote/ and vote for our video, which is the fireplace video, #2. Vote as many times as you want. (You could even forward this email to your friends/family.)Thanks for your help

So go and spread a little Christmas cheer for my friend!

Observations On Black Friday

Yup, you guessed it, I went shopping the day after Thanksgiving. I have gone int he past - I've not gone int the past - it all depends on the Deal. The Deal has to be good enough and what I want. I do not shop on Black Friday - I buy. That being said......

• I saw two ladies that told us all they were up from last night - they had had plenty to drink on Thanksgiving.


• Never go into the Shoe Carnival at 6:00 am. They just love to use that microphone - even at 6:00.


• I was amazed that every one was talking on their cell phone! who are you calling at 6:20? Are they happy you're waking them up?!


• The streets were empty - except for the snow - and when I got to the mall, at 5:20am, the parking lot was full. I had to laugh out loud.


• The retail associates were very nice - except the guy who was yawning so big I could see his uvula. EWWWW!

A Question For The Weekend

Who is this good-looking fellow and why is the number 6 important to him (and me?)

Happy Thanksgiving!

It makes eating that turkey a little easier, doesn't it?

To God Be The Glory

When I asked for stories of kindness last week, I loved your answers! I especially loved that Stephanie told about a lady at her work that would bring her a calender page that she thought Stephanie would like. It just shows how little it takes to make an impression.



I got this one though email - again, nobody I thought read my blog. This is a simple thing that not any of her friends saw her do - it was done to God's glory.

I was shopping at HEB, which I rarely do, but it was close and on the way home this day. I got all that I needed in my giant cart and headed for the crowded check out lines. It was almost my turn when I just happened to notice the lady in front of me. She was middle aged, looked tired and weary. Her two daughters were eagerly putting their groceries in the sacks and then back into the cart. That's when I noticed that she had the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University envelope booklet. My heart smiled as I remembered using them too. The checker finally got all through with the checking, and this look of utter despair came across the woman's face: She didn't quite have enough! By this time, I had taken all of my items out of the cart and put them on the belt to check out. The lady in front of me carefully chose a few items that she could put back; still not enough. Then she reached for the gallon of milk. That is when I couldn't take it anymore. I had more than enough money to buy what I thought I needed, and this lady only needed a few more dollars. I looked at the checker and asked how much more she needed, it was less than $5.00. I handed the checker the $5.00 bill that I had been saving and told her to give the change to the woman. She thanked me and said how much she appreciated it. Then went on her way. The checker said she had never seen anyone do something like that for someone else. I just smiled and was glad that I could help someone that needed it.

Small Town Livin'

Today I was working at one of the elementary schools with our PALS from Cooper High - what a sweet sight! Seeing those Bigs (high school students) and Littles (usually 4th graders) together will restore your faith in "today's youth." I know that they may not be making wise choices on Friday night, but on Wednesday they are reaching out to Little's that need a friend.

Anyhoo, their teacher is Shawna. I enjoyed visiting with her on two previous occasions and, Lord knows, we will be together on many a Wednesday this year. Today she told me that she had figured out how we knew each other....... Bear in mind, she didn't ring any bells for me - complete stranger.

She reads my blog.

Freaky feeling - we have now established that she knows alot more about me than I do about her! She is an English teacher so I'm sure she notices all my horrible grammar errors and it was a little weird for a moment (for me anyway.)

You just never know......

News from Our Corner

The Coffee Group went. The Coffee Group spoke. The Coffee Group was once again humbled that anybody would listen to us. Praise God that He directs our paths and gives us what He wants us to say.

It was a terrific weekend. My girlfriends make me laugh until I cry, regularly, and when I haven't had enough sleep, the tears are a'rolling! The group of ladies we spoke to were so wonderful. Their prayers told us alot about their hearts and I loved that they were open to studying all the material we gave them.

My kids missed me and I missed them but we are all back together now. Kenny's birthday came and went -we're having a party next week. He and Riley are actually one week apart and they plan to have a sleepover on Friday night (and stay up all night) and then we'll all go to see Bee Movie. I feel like that they will probably sleep through that!

If you didn't read it last year.....
Kenny's Birth - Part 1
Kenny's Birth - Part 2
A Teaser
The Rest of The Story

Give Me More!

I'm working on my talk for next weekend and I need yall's help. The Coffee Group will be speaking somewhere in central Texas and the Proverbs 31 Woman is our topic. I'll be speaking on Proverbs 31:20 -

She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy.

So here what I need from yall: Examples. Stories. I have a notoriously short memory and I need some stories of kindness. Either kindness that you have extended or kindness that has been extended to you. I will not use your name if that is stopping you. I will not judge you that you have too much pride if you tell me something wonderful that you did. I love you all and need some personal stories!

Use the comment section or email me - waldrops@suddenlink.net

The Smart Car

I just love this little car! I can see me driving it in a few years. I'm already yearning for a Mini-Cooper - this is right up my alley. Kenny and I both were amazed that all this stuff would fit into this little car.....