Just a few updates today...

Bro. Charles Carlton has been released from the hospital and is recovering at home now. He still has a long way to go, but he has come so very far. The Lord hears and answers prayer. Please continue to keep him and the family in your prayers.

Gary's father was diagnoised with colon cancer earlier today. They will be doing a CAT Scan on Jan 8 to determine the extent. They feel like they caught this very early though, and hope to do surgery soon. Keep the family in your prayers especially Mom and Dad.

A few have asked for an update on our job situation. The plan is first thing on Monday the 4th for Gary to go around and put in applications at places like Walmart, Lowes, Winn Dixie, etc. We are hoping perhaps someone can hire him full time, even if it's only something like stocking shelves, for enough money to make more than unemployeement. If he can get something we might be able to stay in the house a little longer. We feel that it would be unfair for our family and the Church to continue to support us after 5 months, when we could give up paying rent. Keep us in prayer not only that we might find a job, but that we would know what to do, until the Lord provides a job.

On Saturday we headed up to Tennessee to visit with Grandma and Billy and all the Mallard side of the family. We ate way too much, laughed even more, and visited for the longest time. I always love hanging out with that side of the family. It's the only place where there are as many red-heads as every other color. haha. Everyone went on and on about how happy and playful Britt was. They kept asking us, if we knew what a blessing he was to be so good and such little trouble. We told them that we sure did, and no that they could not load him up and carry him home with them. Britt had a ball playing with everyone, and especially trying to chase Emily around. She didn't want to play with him, but kept us laughing talking to us in her super country, West Tennessee accent. It was a great time!

We've had a really good trip so far. It's been great to be a part of Christmas with my family, I have missed our laughter, games, and general laid back time together. Leading up to Christmas this year, Benji and Britt have had a lot of fun together playing with the trains and checking out all the decorations everywhere we went. Christmas Eve we always spend over at Grandmother and Granddaddy's. We get together and eat an early dinner/late lunch with all the trimmings. Then after alot of conversation when we are all stuffed we usually break out some game. This year we played spades for a while. Then when Maghen can't stand to wait any longer we do presents. This year she wasn't the youngest anymore so she didn't get to go first. Haha Mag-wen Haha! All three of us got some very nice gifts in books, clothes, a new still camera, and for Britt lots of toys.
Then Christmas day we always spend at home. We we were just a few years old, Mother and Daddy decided that it was rediculous to rush through Christmas and then make us as kids leave everything to drive somewhere else for another Christmas. So, she told everyone that they could have any other time on any other day, but that we would be home for Christmas. This is something that I would very much like to do one of these days. Mother is a pro at dragging out Christmas to last as long as possible. We always get our stockings and a book bag first (a gift bag full of book, because you know, in this house every holiday is an excuse for more books). Then Mother has a huge breakfast that she cooks and we eat and eat until we can't hardly move, and everything is most gone. Then we do presents, one at a time and very often we can streach things out till noon or 1, around which Grandmother and Granddaddy often swing by with leftover, or for finger foods for lunch and to visit a little while. We spend the rest of the day playing the games we got, or watching the movies we got, and just laying around the house together. It's a really special time of year, and I can't express how thankful I was to be home this year, at best we might be able to come home again next year since Christmas would fall over the weekend, but by the time that Britt is (about to be) 3 I want to plan for us to be at our home for his Christmas. So it was extra special to me to be here.

Today we will be traveling up to Tennessee to see Daddy's side of the family. So see you again later!

Britt,

You have grown so much in the last month. You are cruising more and more, but really you are walking with your hand trailing along the furniture. You still immediately stop if you realize that you are walking or standing without touching something, but your balance is better and better these days. You like to play giddup horsey, except we don't have to bounce you, you bounce yourself. At first we thought you had gone crazy, but now we just sing it to you when you get started and want to play. Oh and climbing, you climb on everything: on boxes, in and out of baskets, over anyone laying in the floor going back and forth laughing the entire time, now you have twice moved things around in the floor in order to be able to climb onto the couch. Sneaky little boy.

You pretty much insist on table food now days, we are hoping to convince you that you want the last of the baby food that we have, but after Christmas we have decided that you win and will be table food all the way. You love to eat what we are eating when we are eating. I don't suppose I'll be able to hold off all the family members who want to feed you coke and candy and then give you back very much longer. But for now we are trying to convince you that meat and veggies and fruit really are good.

You are still the most joyful laughing kind of person. You are starting to be a little more heisatant about people that you don't know. Not scared, just not overly smiley like normal. You don't really like to be left alone, if everyone leaves the room, you follow them into the next room. You just like the company of someone else there with you while you play. Everything is a toy, and boy are you curious. You need to know what everything is and what it does and what you can make it do. Your favorite thing to do these days is pull all of something out of a box, dump truck or other stashing place, and then fill it all back up again.

Every day is an adventure together and I love you.

Love,
Momma

Yesterday Ahna and Grumps carried me and Momma and Daddy over to Santa's Village in Huntsville. It was a really neat place. When we first walked in we saw two of Santa's reindeer in training. They weren't really practicing flying at the time, but one was napping and one was eating. We also got to meet a gingerbread man, a bear dressed as a nutcracker, and a very big penguin. We got to go into the woodworking shop where elves were making wooden toys (a few of which Momma and I tried out). Then it was snowing, Momma and I spun around and caught snow flakes and I laughed and laughed, and then Daddy walked up and said that it wasn't REAL snow, and Momma shushed him, and said to stop spoiling our fun. Next, we stopped by to hear Mrs. Claus reading Santa stories. After that we walked around and saw all the decorations and colors and lights and presents. It was cold but it was alot of fun. Everyone took turns holding me and pointing out various things for me to look at. Ahna told me that there is a Santa Claus and that we might go see him later in the week when he goes to the mall, but the line was too long in the cold to see him tonight. Momma and Grumps kinda snickered and said there's no such thing as Santa Claus. As for me I don't know since I never met the guy, but we did have alot of fun at his place.

Last night late after the rush of the weekend of Christmases, we had our own little family Christmas. Britt loved his presents, most especially the blocks that Daddy made for him. He also got some handmade cloth books for Church, and some clothes (especially for the cold Alabama winter that we will be heading up for in a few more hours).
(Again, this is a bit long and is mostly just a video of the evening. More for my journaling records and any Grandparents that wanted to see. So watch at your own risk, haha.)

This weekend has been like a holiday - since we are going home for Christmas this year, we have spent this weekend doing Christmas with Gary's family. On Thursday night we went over to eat dinner with Granna and Granddaddy Garland. They then gave Britt his two gifts - a jack in the box and a dog figurine. He was most interested in the dogs, but he would try to turn the handle for the jack in the box, it didn't make him jump at all though. He also got a puzzle from Aunt Joanna and Uncle Quintin that night. He likes dumping out all the pieces and then banging them together, but he doesn't really get that they are suppose to go back in there yet. Then on Friday night we did Christmas at Mom and Dad's and then we all spent the night. We had crab leggs and we all ate till we were about sick. He got a Tonka truck that revs up from Mom and Dad and some little trucks that he spent alot of time driving around. Aunt Joan got him some big legos, which he seems to like the best of all of his gift, he puts them in and takes them out of their heliocopter shaped home. Then Aunt Amanda got him a little tool set, which we pulled out for him to play with a little tonight. On Saturday, much earlier today, we went over to Grandmaw Bea and Poppa J's for Christmas. We had more seafood and alot of fun visiting.

(the video is not only a view of the speedy weekend, but it covers pictures and video from all the funniest moments: Britt learning to tear open presents, Dad at a tea party with Brystal and Lilli, Britt tackeling toy bears, Aunt Sharon sleeping, Uncle Matt and Julia doing the twist, just to mention a few.)

This post is just for Kelly, since she wanted to see what I was talking about when I said Britt really loved on pillows. Maybe you'll enjoy it too. The very best part might be at the end when I try to share his pillows.

Last night, after it got dark, Momma and Daddy took me to Christmas Lane. Mr. Lane is strawberry friend of Daddy's and every year since 1980 (basically forever) he has been decorating out infront of his house. They operate solely on donations and everything is free - parking, to get in, and best of all the train. They have a wishing pond that all the change goes to a look orphanage, and Momma and I threw in three pennies. They have all of these neat moving bears and reindeer, and stuff, and they play Christmas music. I really liked all the lights and sound. Someone even said Santa Claus was there, whoever he is, I didn't see him though, I was too busy watching the train go round and round. I really wanted to ride it, but they said I was too small, maybe next year. They did let me stand on the cabouse though and Daddy took a picture. You should go if you get the chance, it's on Dover Road in Plant City.

After much begging and pleading I got Gary to hang some lights last Tuesday on the house. We already had a long strand, and Amanda had a bunch of lights that she wasn't using, so Mom used some on the house, and let us take the last 4 boxes. Britt really likes them, he just looks and looks at them and tries to grab them.

or "This Climbing is Going to be the Death of Me"

So Britt has been doing much better today, his fever is about gone, and this medicine makes him crazy hyper, so since Daddy was finished sanding his blocks I thought he could play out in the yard for a little bit in front of the steps while Daddy stains his blocks. I come out to say something and what do I find, but baby has playing in my potting soil. The kid has climbed into the pot. So I took a picture, took him out, and grab the video camera to see if he would do it again. Sure enough he did, and then promptly tried to crawl face first out of it, so we moved the pot on the steps and gave him a ball to play with instead. Poor baby though, snuck up behind Daddy and climbed those steps, and managed to fall and bump the back of his noggin. So in for a bath, a cup of milk, and a late nap. Poor fellow, he's ok, but I had to cuddle him for a few minutes to convince him.

A few updates and new one's to add to the list.

One of Gary's Uncles L.A. Varnum passed away on Monday, the funeral was today. Please keep the family in your prayers.

We also found out late yesterday that Bro. Obey's wife Sis. Mary from Tanzania passed away on Monday. She never really got over losing Bro. Obey. She had maleria and was in the hospital and a few days before she passed away she seemed to be doing better, but then she had a stroke and died. They leave behind 6 children: Jenny is 18 years old, Barnabas is 16, Gift and Given are 12 or 13. The youngest set of twins are 9 or 10 and their names are Nikolas and Grace. They had just about finished up a house near to the Church. Right now they aren't sure what's to happen with the children. Some may go to Obey's brother - Rejoice, some may go to his parents, and they would rent out the house to help provide some money for the children; or they may see if they can get a few members from the church to live with them, as they live just a few minutes from the church. Please keep this family in your prayers. Brother Same Bryant will be traveling over there again, early in the year. If you wish to help them he would be the one to talk with.

There is also some good news to report.

James Mizel had a visit with the doctor, who examined him and thought he was much improved in his leg, then his mother Sis. Amanda pointed out that it was the other leg that they were having trouble with the CP, the doctor was amazed at the improvement, and little James now only has to wear the brace a few hours a day instead of 24/7.

Also, Nathan Ferrel has had several bouts of sickness (it is that time of year) and has lost all of the weight that he had put on over the summer. He's lab results have come back stronger than before and he is growing. The O2 has helped him alot, but now they just need to fatten him up a bit. Keep praying for this family, as the Lord has heard and answered many prayers on Nate's behalf so far.

Sis. Gayle hasn't been doing very well on this new experimental drug and chemo, so they took last week off. On a nice evening we got to visit awhile outside with them and she is feeling better now, they have dropped her numbers quite a bit, but still have a ways to go.

Bro. Charles has been doing better and better, he will be coming home to Aunt Patricia's house in the next week or two, to finish recovery. There have been many times where they thought he was down to his final hours and the Lord has blessed him to get stronger and stronger. He still has a long, long way to go before he is back to his self, but the ability after 6 months to come home is a big step in that direction.

As for our job situation, there is currently only one position that we are waiting to hear back from in the Bartow area. There really isn't alot to apply for right now, so we are trying to enjoy the holidays and not dwell on the situation. We ask you to be in prayer, as we think we are going to stick it out one more month before we look into other options.

Also, Merry Christmas to all. Never forget that this time isn't about what all we get, but what all we have been given in a Savior who wanted us enough to come and die for us, who saves us despite what we have done and continue to do, and who one day will return to carry us home.

Last Monday, Momma got a big box in the mail, and I was excited, it looked like a fun box, to be played with and I thought something fun might be inside of it because she was excited too. Then Daddy got home from helping Poppa J rake up all his leaves, and opened the box, and what was inside wasn't fun at all! It was a baby gate, and though I have tried to find a way under, through, over, or around the thing for over a week now I haven't had any success. To top it all off, Momma threw the box out with the trash not two days later. Thank goodness we are going to visit Grumps and Ahna soon, where there are NO evil baby gates.