Friday, January 14, 2011

The best part about snow days...

One thing is for sure....






Being snowed in for days....5 to be exact!






Will help you to become very creative....





And will help you to appreciate what or who really matters!


I love my kids!

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Snow Days...Cabin Fever and self-centered attitudes!

Our week began with one last trip to the grocery store! A storm with which we were warned about days earlier came flying in Sunday night and has left a blanket of what looks like meringue in it's wake. Snow, then ice, then below freezing temperatures has left a glistening crunch to the ground with which has made a wonderful surface to sled on. Our dear State of Georgia  is not equipped for such weather and the roads are still a mess here in day 3 of this Winter Storm 2011.

Sunday evening the snow came in so quickly! We had over 3 inches in 45 minutes and it wasn't letting up. This left me scrambling to make sure all our kids were safe. All accounted for except one...19 year old female driving a two door Honda Civic and not answering her phone or text messages. It's a blizzard outside and getting worse. Isn't this why we give them cell phones? After my panic attacks and being told I was pitching a hissy fit and not using my faith... that sweet sound of her voice became music to my ears! She had been in the movies and was headed home. Catching my breath I waited for her little car to pull in our frozen driveway. We will have better rules put in place so this never happens again!

Yes...I finally went outside this morning to retrieve a sled that had flown to the bottom of our hill and couldn't resist! I quickly ran walked and slid inside to grab my 4 year old to come and sled with me. I wouldn't want to be the only mom one outside sledding while all the kiddos are inside! Our first run down the hill was fabulous! It was met with a 4 year old's words...That was fun! Let's do it again! My alone time with our little one was short lived before our other kids heard our fun and came to join us! Even our lab got into the action!














We were all warned and told to prepare for the worst. The only thing we forgot was our attitudes! Cabin fever...kids home from school, hubby home from work...no routine whatsoever! Our freedom gone and our control over our own lives has gone as we sit and wait to be rescued from the frozen tundra of a state...We are in Georgia...right? I thought I would get a lot of my sewing done during this immobile time of my life...NOT! I have cooked,cleaned,picked up hats,scarves and coats a thousand and one times. I have tried to keep this FULL house running in a somewhat of an order. All though my self-centered attitude has crept in during this close knit family time...I have enjoyed seeing my kids smile and cheer at the news of each days school closing. I have had the pleasure of watching them enjoy the hot cocoa and sit by the fire. I have had the pleasure of cooking things for them that I normally wait until the weekend to cook. I have had the pleasure of watching them enjoy the snow and sledding as they build their childhood memories.

Being forced to sit still is not a thing we as humans or Americans like to experience. We love our freedom! We love to go and do so much that we forget to just sit still and take in those precious moments of just being together. Just watching our kids be kids is a blessing we shouldn't take lightly! Before the storm I would hear many people say I can't wait for the weekend...I'm so tired of work....Ha! Now I'm hearing...I can't wait to go back to work! I can't wait for the kids to go back to school! We always want what we can't have when we want it. Are we ever going to be content in whatever circumstance God has placed us in? We are exhausted humans who don't even realize God is forcing us to take a rest!

I know Georgians are not equipped for this kind of weather and unfortunate disruptions of our lives. Look at this time as a gift...a little more time to get to spend with your kids and your spouses. They may not be here tomorrow...then what are you going to say? I should of could of would of ....

I like my routine probably better than most...but it's nice to take a break form the norm and sit back and just admire God's blessings! Oh look...that sled is at the bottom of the hill! I better go retrieve it!

Monday, January 10, 2011

Our Caboose is 4...Happy Birthday!

I made a promise to myself...I would never have a child after 40! Well as to true Karen fashion...I am a true procrastinator ( I work well under pressure)...1 month before my 41st birthday(technically I didn't have a child after 40) I gave birth to our baby girl Mackenzie Claire. At 8:37 pm weighing in at 7lbs and 6ozs our 9th child and 7th daughter began rocking our world!  And she has not slowed down as of 5 minutes ago. She is a happy busy lovable little girl who loves to learn and explore. She takes great pride in keeping up and taking part in anything her older siblings are doing.  Kenzie... I know God has great plans for your life...your going to do great things!






I must give her a little grace because she did join a family with 6 other mamas in her world. Her brothers have stolen her heart...she thinks they hung the moon! As much as I hate to admit it...Kenzie has fallen right into the baby of the family role and we have been the enablers. I know I am going to pay and pay big time when she is older. So until then she will continue to play her role as caboose and play it well she will!

One thing that comes along with being a Holcombe is the trait of stubbornness...(Don't tell their daddy...he thinks it's my side of the family that carries that sweet disposition.) I wish I could say it skipped our last little one...but no she has received this trait as well...I can go out of the child rearing with a vengeance. One of my struggles with her has been the potty training. I always start working with my little ones around 2 years of age. I have successfully trained 8 kiddos before her...I thought this was going to be a breeze! Wrong! For two years I have tried everything and anything under the sun to get her to have a BM in the potty. I have cried...screamed and gnashed my teeth...pitched a baby fit...it didn't work! To no avail she would have no part of it. Since the age of two she has had little to no wet accidents...we have been hanging half way to completion and my freedom for the past two years!  I am proud to say 4 days before her 4th Birthday my little caboose has decided she likes the potty and  has been going ever since! Can I do the potty dance now? I am a little hesitant...I have been waiting for this moment for two years now! Am I dreaming? If I am don't wake me up!  With this struggle I can only think of one verse...

Romans 5:1-5 (New King James Version)


Romans 5

Faith Triumphs in Trouble
 1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have[a] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.


This week we celebrate our little 16  4 year old caboose and rejoice that she has made our lives nothing less than blessed. I am so glad I didn't stick to the promise I made to myself or take on the world's standards for family planning....I would have missed out on a really big blessing!

Kenzie Claire, I love you little lady...Yes! You are the baby!

Kenzie with her best friend...




She's a daddy's girl too!

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Snow...Sleet... and Empty grocery shelves!

Yes my blog friends... Atlanta is getting winter weather for a second time in less than a month! For several days we have been on alert to this approaching winter blast. I have officially been to the grocery store no less than 5 times for our bread and milk...well maybe a few other things to fill my family with many comfort foods. Also a stop to the fabric store for supplies to keep me busy while we are snowed in for the next few days. You see...when the word SNOW leaves the lips of our local weatherman...all Atlantans make a bee line for the nearest grocery store. I think the business community has been bribing our local weatherman. Since that S word was spoken a few days ago... sales have seen totals that far exceed the Christmas time rush. I even read today that a friend of ours turned around and went home when she saw the parking lot of her local grocery store. It's crazy here! Store shelves are EMPTY! Quick...grab the last two loaves of bread!


ALL the potatoes are gone! There is not a spud to be found!




Our produce man even ordered twice the amount that he normally does...Yes! We have NO bananas!




I  saw a man standing by the milk counter looking overwhelmed and talking to his wife asking her how badly she really wanted milk...Only Mayfield milk left at $4.65 a gallon....Out of all Ingles milk!

With snow comes disruptions in air travel. My hubby was suppose to fly to Colorado Monday morning. Saturday morning he chose to cancel his trip...just a few hours before Delta cancelled flights for Sunday and Monday. Better to be stranded at home than stuck in an airport over a hour away from home.

Needless to say most of Atlanta will be shut down for a few days. Kids will have a couple of days with NO school. A lot of hot cocoa and snuggling by the fire will be the past time of many Georgians as we admire the beauty of God's creation praying our power stays on. Georgia Power, Jackson EMC and many other Georgia power company crews thank you in advance for the many hours you will be working in the cold to keep our homes surging with power.

Stay warm my fellow Georgians and forget about one last run to the store...I got the last loaf of bread!