You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile!

Hey, hobo man, hey Dapper Dan,
You both got your style,
but brother,
You're never fully dressed without a smile!

You're clothes may be "Beau Brumelly,"
They stand out a mile,
but brother!
You're never fully dressed without a smile!

Who cares what they're wearing
On Main Street or Saville Row?
It's what you wear from ear to ear,
And not from head to toe
(that matters)

So, Senator, so, janitor, so long for awhile,
You're never fully dressed,
Though you may wear the best,
You're never fully dressed without a smile
I am richly blessed in this precious life!

Zack's 1st Christmas

It was so great to be able to celebrate Christmas as a mom. . . I am struck with awe when I contemplate what a sweet blessing it is to be a mommy and to be able to celebrate such a precious holiday with my wee family.

On Christmas Eve we joined the Barnett Clan for their traditional CE dinner -- Chinese out, of course! It is a tradition that my family looks forward to every year. Once we had tamales, but it just wasn't the same. On our way to the restaurant an ice/snow mixture began to fall; by the time we reached the China Star it was icing really hard!! We all enjoyed dinner but kept an eye on the windows and realized that the storm had turned into a full-fledge blizzard! A blizzard in Oklahoma is unheard of, they had not had one in about 40 years. I could not believe it we had a BLIZZARD on Christmas eve!!!! Because of the treacherous roads we all agreed to cancel the rest of our traditions and went to our own homes. So Ben, Zacky and I nestled into our home for the evening and celebrated the magic of the holiday as our little family. We read scriptures, watched Christmas Eve On Sesame Street, (one of the Ipson family traditions) drank eggnog and our little Zacky enjoyed a biter biscuit. When the evening dwindled down, we turned down the lights and enjoyed opening our Christmas eve presents by tree lights and firelight. Of course our present HAD to be PJ'S!!!!! We left the usual milk and cookies for Santa and an apple and carrots for the reindeer.





On Christmas day( We didn't dream of, we lived a white Christmas!)




Ben and I were so anxious for Zack to wake up and discover that Santa had not only come and left presents, but that he ate the cookies, drank the milk and the reindeer had eaten the apple and carrots.

Zack had us laughing hysterically, he really wasn't interested in opening his presents but was fascinated by the orange that Santa had given him. Eventually the presents sparked some interest and Zack did loved the end results.



Later that day we ventured out on the treacherous roads and carefully made our way over to my parents house to open presents, feast on prime rib and an assortment of Christmas goodies and enjoy the company of the rest of my family. It is always mayhem and great joy when the ENTIRE family joins together and opens all the presents from each other.


The highlight of the present opening was Zack's reaction to the present from his Aunt Becky. She very wisely chose a Kiss Me Elmo! Zack laughed so hard and would not put his Elmo down. It was a HUGE success and I believed it brought real happiness to Becky's heart to know that she scored big time with her nephew.
I've contemplated about the blessings of the season, the greatest blessing of all our elder brother Jesus Christ willingness to come to earth to offer himself a living sacrifice so that we could return to our Father. Oh how I love this time of year when we are greatly reminded of His great love, when others draw closer to God and are kinder to each other. I am so grateful that after so many trials and heartbreaks that our Heavenly Father sent Ben and Zack into my life. I am so grateful for loving, strong parents that enveloped me with love all my life and a big sister that set an extraordinary example of love, and for snow on Christmas!!!

I am richly blessed in this precious life!