The Chrstmas Schedule

Every year since we moved from Oklahoma we compose a tentative Christmas schedule for our departure from the ice box to the much warmer temps of our very prairie Christmas. I email this schedule out to my beautiful mother, wonderful in-laws, and my brother so that we can make plans.

I emailed it out on Monday.

My beautiful, caring, shower schedule planning mother emails me back and says, "Jacki, thank you so much for the thought and planning you put in to this schedule. I really appreciate all the hard work you put into planning your trip home every year and I can't wait to see all of you!"

My wonderful, compassionate, loving mother-in-law emails me back equally grateful for the schedule. Only making note that we may have to make one minor change which I am ever so happy to make.

My brother. My younger brother. Emails me back. Makes fun of me for the schedule. Mentions he has a schedule for THIS coming weekend that was just emailed to him. It is his schedule for the Big 12 Championship Game in San Antonio, Texas. It involves him being picked up by the team buses, being flown on the team plane, watching movies with the team, riding to the game with the team, being in the locker room with the team, running out of the tunnels on to the field with the stinking team, standing on the sidelines with the team, talking to the team, pottying with the team, laughing with the team, sharing a VICTORY with the team.

He trumped me. Wasn't this supposed to be about me coming home. Kind of a "I'll be home for Christmas" Hallmark card kind of a moment. Woe is me...........

Boomer Sooner anyway!!!

Close Call

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The Jacket

I now have a garmet known only as "The Jacket". Certain friends and family know that when I ask for "The Jacket" they know exactly what to get from the closet. I have only had "TJ" for a week but it is known in the house nonetheless.

Here's the story. While shopping with some friends this last week, I tried on some clothes that were a little out of my comfort zone. My fashion sense consists of OU sweatshirts and jeans. I'm happy that way really but sometimes I feel the need to do my own little "What Not to Wear" and so I go shopping with a friend with more fashion sense than I. Ok, let me be completely honest....this has happened once since college....this last week. I hate to shop with friends. My friends know this and accept it. They love me anyway.

Ok...so clothes...out of comfort zone...well, most of them were also out of my price range. After trying on several outfits and finally trying on "TJ" One friend said, "hey I think this jacket (which I did look pretty cool in I might add) is on sale, you keep trying on clothes and I will go find out if it is on sale". How nice I thought to just myself!!!

When she came back she commented on the cute top I had on and I said, "Thanks, but I can't get it AND the jacket!" and she said "Well, you already own the jacket!", and she handed me a hanger wih a bag covering my new jacket that she had purchased for me.

I didn't even know what to say. What in the world do you say to such a labor of love. I in no way could ever repay her for this gift. If I could I certainly would but I just don't see it ever being possible.

Throughout the week I kept thinking about this unconditional gift from my friend. I can't imagine being able to do this for someone else. The jacket wasn't cheap and I wouldn't have bought it myself. I even contemplated returning the jacket at one point and called my mom to ask her if that would be rude. I didn't want to hurt my friend's feelings or insult her in any way but at the same time I felt as though I couldn't receive such a loving gift.

Now to her this may not have been that big of a deal. She had the money-she bought the jacket. Case closed. But to me it was very touching and has left me this week with deep thoughts:

1-I have great friends.
2-My friends have great taste.
3-The gift is such a beautiful picture of Christ's love for us. I don't mean to get cheesy or anything but think about it. We have such an amazing gift in Jesus Christ that we don't deserve and that we could never pay for and we aren't asked to. We are only asked to accept it with no strings attached as a gift. How cool is that?

There's No Place Like Home

And I get to spend more time there now that Oz is over. Here are some pics from the show. They gave us a CD of almost 1000 shots and these are some of my favorites. Not all of them have me and Paige in them but still, I like them. It would have taken way to long to upload them all to the blog so I have linked them. Just click the link below...

Oz Pics

Your backstage pass to OZ

I know...I know...I'm not Joan and Melissa Rivers on the red carpet but I do have some shots from behind the scenes of Oz this weekend. Thanks for all the fun gifts and feedback from the show. It's been fun...

Abi's Halloween/Birthday Party

Abi's birthday is on opening night of Wizard of Oz so she had a Halloween night birthday party. Here's some of the highlights....

Happy real birthday November 9th Ab!!!!