Weekend Reflection

I had a wonderful Christmas!! We weren't too rushed this week, and we got to spend a lot of time with all sides of our families.

Lianna was really sick, and now she's better. She spent the night with her Meme and Papa last night, so Beef and I could get a night off. We really appreciate you, Meme and Papa! However, our plans were a little messed up when I got sick last minute, but I'm feeling much better this morning.

We have another Christmas dinner planned for today with Beef's cousins that live in a different state. It will be nice to catch up.

We finished taking down the Christmas decorations. Thanks Hubby for putting up and taking down our outdoor lights.

This may be a little silly to some of you, but I found the perfect pair of jeans that fit and are comfortable. I got them for Christmas. I hate trying on jeans because they end up being too short in the crotch (who invented that style?!!) or are a good fit in the store. But, I get them home, wear them, and they end up stretching out and being too big!!

Now, back to more serious stuff. Thank you, God, for sending your Son, so that I may be forgiven and forever be loved unconditionally!!

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Christmas Eve with Santa Scamp

I took so many pictures that I had to make two slideshows. We spent Christmas Eve day at my Grandma's house. Scamp wore her Santa outfit and tried to steal all of Bubby's toys. My Grandma wrapped up an old doll my mom had as a child and gave it to my mom for Christmas. Poor doll -- it had been in the barn since my mom was a little girl. It's hair was all gone (don't let my mom near you with scissors!), and it was splotchy with age.

We went to my mom's house that night and opened all of our presents there. Scamp got a Dora four-wheeler and a homemade toy box from my dad.

We had a pretty small Chrismtas at home. Santa brought Scamp a lamp for her room and a V-Smile game for the TV. I got a DVR and Family Feud DVD game. Beef got a wireless guitar for the Guitar Hero game, Ice Age DVD, and a couple of geek shirts. He still has another present coming. I'm getting a little angry because I thought it would arrive before Christmas. I forgot to take any pictures on Christmas Day at our house, but I got lots of video. I can't believe Christmas is over!!

Christmas Day: Seesaw Frenzy

We went to Beef's family's houses on Christmas Day. Uncle Josh was the hero of the day because he bought all the kids a seesaw to share. Can you tell who had more fun, the adults or the kids?

That night we went to my dad's side of the family and played a little Dirty Santa. No fist fights this year. I walked away with a picture frame while Beefcake got the car jack he brought (which is what he wanted). Then, our nephew Billy spent the night with us. He played video games most the night with Beef. Then, we all went to Chuck E. Cheeses the next day. What a whirlwind holiday. We had a lot of fun!

My Celebrity Look-Alike Collage

I don't know half these celebrities, but I do have a few resemblances! Who do you think I look like? I think Melinda Clarke!

Merry Christmas!!!

I sometimes let the excitement of the season shadow what Christmas is really all about. It's about celebrating the miracle birth of Jesus who came to take away the sin of the world. He was a living sacrifice for my sins and through His death I am able to call Him my Savior, my confidant, my Redeemer, my Healer, my Brother, my Intercessor, and my Friend. God Bless you and your family, and may you have a few miracles of your own.

Getting to Know Me: Johari Window

I'm really surprised that no one put shy or quiet. That's one of the things I've been told my entire life. If you know me, you can add to mine if you'd like and/or make your own. I stole the idea from Stacy.

Arena (known to self and others) complex, self-conscious	Blind Spot (known only to others) able, accepting, caring, dependable, giving, helpful, intelligent, kind, loving, nervous, reflective, religious, tense, trustworthy
Façade (known only to self) introverted, observant, searching, silly	Unknown (known to nobody) adaptable, bold, brave, calm, cheerful, clever, confident, dignified, energetic, extroverted, friendly, happy, idealistic, independent, ingenious, knowledgeable, logical, mature, modest, organised, patient, powerful, proud, quiet, relaxed, responsive, self-assertive, sensible, sentimental, shy, spontaneous, sympathetic, warm, wise, witty

All Percentages

able (25%) accepting (50%) adaptable (0%) bold (0%) brave (0%) calm (0%) caring (50%) cheerful (0%) clever (0%) complex (50%) confident (0%) dependable (25%) dignified (0%) energetic (0%) extroverted (0%) friendly (0%) giving (25%) happy (0%) helpful (25%) idealistic (0%) independent (0%) ingenious (0%) intelligent (25%) introverted (0%) kind (50%) knowledgeable (0%) logical (0%) loving (50%) mature (0%) modest (0%) nervous (25%) observant (0%) organised (0%) patient (0%) powerful (0%) proud (0%) quiet (0%) reflective (25%) relaxed (0%) religious (50%) responsive (0%) searching (0%) self-assertive (0%) self-conscious (25%) sensible (0%) sentimental (0%) shy (0%) silly (0%) spontaneous (0%) sympathetic (0%) tense (25%) trustworthy (50%) warm (0%) wise (0%) witty (0%)

Created by the Interactive Johari Window on 23.12.2006, using data from 4 respondents.
You can make your own Johari Window, or view Shawna W's full data.

2006 Family Christmas Cards

Beef's sisters own Studio Six Photography and make us Christmas cards every year. I put them all on our Christmas tree this year.

This is Beef's oldest sister's family. She does a lot of the graphic artistry.

This is the whole clan!

This is Milly's card. She's best friends with Beef's sisters and is a graphic artist for the Studio. She made our card this year.

This is Boppy and Fluff Fluff's boys -- Aunt Boppy is Beef's youngest sister and is the main photographer.

What's Your Elf Name?

Your Elf Name Is...

Grumpy Fruit Cake

What's Your Elf Name?

I stole this from Jessica.

What Holiday Ornament Are You?

You Are a Tree

You love every part of the holidays, down to the candy canes and stockings. And you're goofy enough to put a Christmas tree ornament on your tree!

What Christmas Ornament Are You?

I stole this from Jessica ,too!

Scratchy Paw Paw

Here's my cat, Scratchy Paw Paw, but we never call him that. Usually it's just kitty, kit kat, etc. I really didn't know I was the kind of person to have nicknames for every person in our home, but I guess I am:) Beefcake bought me Kit for Valentine's Day 2003. He was supposed to be an outdoor cat. Neither Beef nor I ever had indoor animals growing up, but when we left Scratchy outside, he ran away and got lost. When we found him, we left him outside again, and he got ran over (but is very much fine, no permanent damage:) So, he is an indoor cat.

Scamp just loves him and follows him around everywhere -- behind furniture, under tables, under the bed!! Scratchy tries to act like he doesn't like it, but he usually waits for her to follow!

Scratchy is the most personable cat I've ever had. He will play with any other cat. He sleeps in the bed with our overnight guests. Just ask Stacy!! I've never heard him growl or seen him hiss or bite at anything! He's very good with Scamp. He loves playing under the Christmas tree and hiding behind presents. So, here's my other baby!!

Meet My Zwinky

I got the idea from Feng.

Weekend Reflection

Christmas has begun. We went to my grandmother's family Christmas and saw most of my great aunts and uncles, second cousins and so on. It was nice growing up knowing all of them and having 4 great-grandparents living at the time.

We went to another Christmas program (the church I grew up in) and saw my niece and nephews in their Sunday School class plays. All the kids were so cute. I can't wait until Scamp is old enough to participate!

We are getting so many wonderful Christmas cards. Picture cards are really in, and I love keeping the momentos.

My husband hung our outdoor Christmas lights. I've been asking him for several years, and he finally has!! Thank you, Beef!!

Scamp and I are sick this week, but hopefully we'll feel better for Christmas. She got to sleep in our room last night, which was a blessing (even though she was sick).

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My Family

I couldn't pick just one picture. We had a Christmas party for my grandmother's side of the family. I think we're going to make it a tradition to have our family photos here every year.

Death By Chocolate

At the request of Stacy, I'm going to share this story about how much I looove chocolate!!!!

I was sick last week with this awful hacking cough that would not go away!! Last Thursday, I thought my cough was about over, but apparently it wasn't. Beefcake bought me some really good chocolates with caramel centers for our anniversary, so I was enjoying one. I was on the last bite, and I got an awful tickle in my throat and started coughing. It was so bad I was gagging and gasping for air all the while thinking, "I hope I don't have to spit this last bite of chocolate out before I can quit coughing!" (Just think -- gag, gasp, savor the bite. Gag, gasp, savor the bite). Luckily I didn't lose one bit!! That's what you call death by chocolate (almost anyway)!!!

A Northside Christmas

The Christmas program at our chuch was such a blessing. There was drama and lots of music. There was an intermission in between the two acts where we all joined in with Christmas songs. The play went through the nativity, the miracles, the crucifixion, and the resurrection of Jesus. I cried during the miracles and crucifixion. The most moving part to me was when the choir sang "Mary Did You Know?" by Mark Lowry.

I really love this song now, especially since I am a mother myself. She was in love with baby Jesus just like I am with Scamp, which brings about another point. What a horror for her to watch her Son be tortured and die on the cross for the sins of others, even her own sins. What courage, mercy, and grace God must have given her to be able to withstand that! I am thankful for Jesus' gift to me. He is truly the reason for Christmas.

Weekend Reflection

Scamp is saying so many new words, and her little voice alone is a blessing!

My sister-in-law, Beth, was a big blessing this week when she watched Scamp while I went to the doctor for being sick.

My church Christmas program is tonight, and I think it will bless the whole Christmas season.

Scamp and I had lunch with a dear friend, Judith. She is an inspiration to me with her ministry to young women.

Beefcake is outside in the cold right now changing the oil in my car. Thank you, Honey!

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Guitar Hero

We love the Guitar Hero 2 game for Play Station 2. We usually have a group of people come over for dinner and a little bit of Guitar on Thursday nights. But when it's just us, this is how Beefcake plays. Rock On!!!

Justified in His Sight

This poem is a testiment to God's love breaking through my chains of despair and lies about my self worth written in Break These Chains on my poerty blog. Sometimes, I do resort back to those lies, but I'm trusting that God will continue to make a way for me to see the truth. He loves and adores me and has made me justified. Like the book the Search for Significance says being justified is not just being forgiven, it's being made righteous and worthy of being in the presence of God. Jesus accomplished that as He died upon the cross for my sins. He took my sin as I took His righteousness and became blameless. God does not see my sin when He looks at me. He sees the righteousness Jesus has bestowed upon me. Righteousness as written in the American Heritage Dictionary is "morally upright; without guilt or sin." What a wonderful way to be viewed by God!

Justified in His Sight
God knows me intimately,
More than anyone else.
He is not deceived by my façade.
The one I created for myself.

He sees me through eyes of purity.
He sees me standing alone
With no covering of imperfection.
He knows me as His own.

He pulled me from the darkness
Helpless as a lamb.
He saved my very essence
From the hopeless Hell of man.

I have been made righteous.
I wear a robe of spotless white.
I carry my Father’s seal.
I am justified in His sight.

I know what Christ has accomplished.
His truth has set me free.
I will walk among the angels
In Christ’s home of victory.

But, I’m not in heaven yet.
There is a truth to be made known
To all those who seek Him
And want Him for their own.

Christ died upon the cross
He bore the sin of all.
He took what was my punishment
And freed me from the Fall.

He has come to give me life
And give it more abundantly.
He sees me as I am
And loves me just as He created me.
Shawna

More poems

Last Days of Fall:(

Weekend Reflection

I can't get the weekend reflection picture to show either.

Beefcake and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary last night. We had a wonderful dinner and saw Casino Royale at the movies (worth watching). The whole night was perfect, and we had a great week together, too. I love you, Honey!

My parents watched Scamp all night. I didn't really appreciate my parents as much as I do now that I have a daughter. They help us out so much with her.

I got a lot of Christmas shopping done Friday with my mom, sister, and grandmother. It's fun to go in a group, and they all watch Scamp while I shop some. She will not come to me when they're around!

Prayer is working wonders in my life. Thank you God, and thank you praying friends!

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