Things To Do:

"I arise each morning torn between the desire to SAVE the world
And the desire to SAVOR the world. That makes it HARD to PLAN the day!"
E.B. White

I sympathize with Ol' E.B., here! I am constantly making "To Do" lists. If I do not, my day resembles a piece of notebook paper that has been scribbled on in all different directions, in a myriad of colors, sometimes ripped and creased over and over again in the same place. In short, a disorganized MESS.

In 2008, I will venture to try and SAVOR the world more. How 'Bout YOU?

Well, here is my to do list for this, the FINAL day of 2007!

1. Breakfast ( yes, I do have to remind myself - I go THAT fast in the A.M!)
2. Go to Costco for fruit salad items & good crunchy bread to accompany Melissa's meal tonight
3. possibly take children to a movie(Alvin & The Chipmunks)
4. NAP TIME! ( Requirement for me to stay up & ring in 2008!)
5. Prepare our stuff for tonight's party
5. Get ready to go to Brandon & Melissa's for New Year's Eve celebration
6. blog about the whole thing.....umm - the next day after another nap!

HERE! I made one for YOU, too!

1. Breakfast ( Yes! It's STILL the most important meal of the day!)
2. A nap - ( not NOW, but sometime today.)
3. HAVE A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVE AND A BLESSED 2008!

Love,
Rhea

Here Come The Brides.....

This past year, I had the privilege of meeting and falling in love with a certain family, for which we have since helped 'coordinate' TWO weddings. I marvel that within the past year or so they have had at least two college graduations and all three of their children have been wed. (SIGH.)

To know the Browns is to LOVE the Browns. And I do mean ALL of them. I believe that certain families simply emulate the love of Christ and seem to have the purposeful mission of making sure that everyone that sees them, has seen Christ's love and very nature in action. These people are one of those precious families. How I hope that my family can one day be the same!

I also sat and visited with their future son-in-law's grandmothers last night. What fun, and interesting ladies! I had such a great time listening to their stories, where they came from, what they had learned over the years - I am sure this is why their grandson thanked them for all of their advice and direction...

I guess I do not have to tell you that I LOVE WEDDINGS! - Whether I am there as the bride(1997). as a guest, or simply there to vacume up rose petals after the ceremony, it is a JOY to be a part of such an event!

A special thank you to ALL the Brown & Hogue families for allowing me to take part in their family's BIG Day! (You guys only have 12 hours to be at the church, so sleep fast!)

One Mean Mama!

Well, it finally happened....And TWICE in one day. I was labeled a "MEAN MOTHER" by BOTH of my perectly well-behaved, grateful offspring. Oh, don't worry....My feelings weren't TOO terribly hurt. I actually consider it a compliment to tell you the truth! In fact, I resolve to be the MEANEST MOM in THE WORLD in 2008. Here is a little blurb you might have heard before, but I think it pinpoints WHY I am aspiring to be such a 'meanie' to my kiddos.

Was your mom mean? I know mine was. We had the meanest
mom in the whole world!

While other kids had candy for breakfast, we had to have cereal,
eggs, and toast.

When others had a Pepsi and a Twinkie for lunch, we had to eat
sandwiches.

And you can guess our mother fixed us a dinner that was different
from what other kids had, too.

Mother insisted on knowing where we were at all times. You'd
think we were convicts in a prison.

She had to know who our friends were, and what we were doing
with them.

She insisted that if we said we would be gone for an hour, we would
be gone for an hour, or less.

She had the nerve to break Child Labor Laws by making us work. We had to wash dishes, make beds, learn to cook, vacuum the floor, do laundry, and all sorts of cruel jobs. I think she would lie awake at night thinking of more things for us to do.

She always insisted on telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. By the time we were teenagers, she could read our minds. Then, life was really tough!

Mother wouldn't let our friends just honk the horn when they drove up. They had to come up to the door so she could meet them.

While everyone else could date when they were 12 or 13, we had to wait until we were 16.

Because of our mother we missed out on many things other kids experienced. None of us have ever been caught shoplifting, vandilizing others' property or arrested for any crime. It was all her fault. We never got drunk, took up smoking, stayed out all night, or a million other things other kids did.

Now that we have left home, we are all educated, honest adults. We are doing our best to be mean parents just like Mom was. That must be what's wrong with the world today. It just doesn't have enough Mean Mothers any more!

I salute all of the MEAN MAMAS I know! Keep up the good work, ladies !

Not a Creature Was Stirring....

O.K., I know I am not writing in the evening, NOR is it BEFORE Christmas - but not a creature is stirring - And I certainly hope not any MICE..?! ( What kind of place did the author of "Twas The Night Before Christmas" living in?) Anywho....My house is almost eerily quiet! How Come? I have a few key letters for you: DS and PSP ( Nintendo & Play Station Portable)

I have barely heard from my precious little ones today - and it was not because they were sleeping....( Although they did sleep for approximately 4 hours today from about 1-5. - - - Whew!) It was due to the fact that "Santa" went a little overboard this year. I suppose "Mrs. Claus" did, too!

Rewind to 4 days ago....( Yes, this is when I paused in my blogging!) We began our Christmas marathon! We enjoyed THREE! count'em THREE Christmases with family! They were all filled with wonderful warm homes to visit, Friendly faces, laughter and need I even say how great the food was? I even took pictures of it - That says it all. I did not get pictures of each home's food - but I do not think my camera holds that much memory? By the way, I did get a digital camera for Christmas from my sweet husband - NOW if I can just learn to post pictures!

Of course the highlights of our Christmases were being with those we love the MOST. We are indeed blessed by having the most wonderful family & friends ever.... Who else would put up with us but y'all!?

Hope your Christmas was full of God's BEST: Family, Friends and TIME with BOTH!

My 'SOLE' Cries Out....

I have to say this was not the BEST decision I have made to date, but today I ventured to the mall. Not ONLY did I do a marathon there, but I did it in high heels? Yah. I know. It doesn't exactly scream: 'brilliant', but I had just come from a Christmas luncheon and I thought I would try to dress my feet up for the occasion. No, I couldn't have changed shoes, smarty pants. It would have taken WAY too much time. I had to HURRY! To make matters worse, I travelled back home with NADA. Zilch. NOTHING.

But, on a more positive note, my feet did look festive! May you all 'walk' in love and peace today!

Rhea

GOOD GIFTS!

Pretty paper....Pretty ribbons...of blue-oo-oo-oo. ...la la la la la la la la mm oooooo. Yes, this is how I sing. I am aware that that is NOT how the famous song goes, but oh well....If you haven't noticed the time of my posting, ( off by three hours?!?) it is nearly 3 AM. I have only wrapped one package - (for my doll baby niece, Kylee) and I am spent. Anyway, I applaud anyone who has everything wrapped and under the tree. My dear friend, Courtney let it slip the other day that she wraps everything IMMEDIATELY when she brings it into the house. (Yes, that includes the items she purchased earlier in the YEAR.) Gag.

I had the privilege of spending the majority of the evening with my husband for the purpose of purchasing the remainder of our children's gifts. We had the BEST time. What was it that made us so giddy? I dunno. Maybe it was our trip down memory lane as we saw nostalgic toys from OUR childhoods? ( Remember Pound Puppies and Cabbage Patch Dolls? How 'bout Slot car tracks and Mad Balls? Perhaps it was merely the thought of seeing our children's faces light up like a Christmas tree? Or hearing them giggle and belly laugh at the sheer excitement of ripping into their packages? I am not sure where OUR delight came from. But, it gave me a very vivid picture of how OUR FATHER delights in us and LOVES to give good gifts to HIS children! My, how the heavens must light up when we truly appreciate the first breath we take in the morning....Or, how he must belly laugh and shake the floors of Heaven when he sees us do something silly. I hope I can make him laugh - (Lord knows I fall enough...literally - - It's kinda sad.) And I pray that all of YOU realize how much YOUR Heavenly Father DELIGHTS in YOU. You are precious in HIS sight and in MINE.

Love,
Rhea

HOME for the HOLIDAYS

This blog is entirely dedicated to those who. for one reason or another have extra special reasons to wonder what Christmas is like in Heaven. While I know it must be fabulous, and he is not wanting for ANYTHING this world can give, (nor I), here I sit, approximately 1665 days later...Missing Landon Schaefer Leatherwood. How can I help it? I still have his little face staring back at me from behind the glass of several picture frames. Will I ever take them down? Only time will tell. We have not felt the NEED to thus far... However, I know that I will also want to frame my kids' futures. Landry's graduation photos, wedding photos - Lawson's too, of course! But, for now, they remind me of the part of me that is already helping Jesus blow out his birthday candles. Why EVER would Landon want to be here? Would Jesus even allow him to WANT to do that? What could we offer him that he does not already have in His Creator? That's right. NOTHING! That is why, although I have times like these, when I am just imagining what it would be like to see him with his older sister and younger brother all in one bed, anticipating the arrival of Santa - - - I know Landon is home - and you know what they say.....There's NO place like HOME for the holidays!

Wait a Minute, Mr. Postman....

Once again, I must apologize to all of you who will not receive a card from Leatherwood Land this year. If you know me (And to know me is to LOVE me, of course, right?) Then you know how my heart's cry is to be Martha Stewart. I would LOVE to be organized and have all 100 of my hand-fashioned cards in the mail to my loved ones and have them postmarked DECEMBER 1st.

But then there is MY reality show.....ALL 100 of my hand-fashioned (polka dot, of course) cards....laying on my dining room table.

Hmmmm....maybe I will go get stamps tomorrow..... (Yeah, right) Just in case you are holding your breath.... Here is the SINCERE sentiment on those lovely cards...

The Christmas Season is upon us
'2008' draws near...
What better time to let you know
Our prayer for you this year?

We're grateful to Our God for YOU
And daily lift your name
To the One who is faithful
To bless you just the same

With PEACE that does not falter
Though trials come your way
With FAITH that can't be shaken
No matter what the world might say
The JOY OF THE LORD to be your strength
May HOPE and LOVE abound

We pray this & more for you
At Christmas time
And ALL YEAR 'ROUND!

Lovingly,

The Leatherwoods

Christmas Cheer!

Here is a QUICK, EASY & FUN recipe for some Christmas candy. You can make up your own name for them - I prefer "elf toes", "jollies", etc.. - let me know what YOU come up with! This is courtesy of my other precious sister, Lesley! Thanks for leading me into temptation and evil, girl - you know I can't eat just one....

Elf Toes

Ingredients:

mini pretzels ( as many as you want....buy the twists - not the 'rods')
Hershey's hugs (enough for 1 hug per mini pretzel)
red & green M&M's ( mini or regular)

Directions:

Place pretzels on a cookie sheet.
Place one hug atop each pretzel.
Place in heated oven ( just enough to melt the hugs flat).
Take pretzels w/ melted hugs out of oven after they are flat.
Working quickly, place one M&M on top of melted hug.
Let cool.


ENJOY !

Love,
Rhea

WELCOME TO LEATHERWOOD LAND!

Welcome Everyone! I am so excited that we, as a family, now have a place to call home in the blogging world! I hope you will come visit us often and see what's new in Leatherwood Land. A special thanks to my sweet sister Shauna who 'gently nudged' me to try this out! ( And by gently nudged, I mean she laid a guilt trip on me in the most polite way possible!)