Christmas at Camp Q

2009-12-26T14:06:00.000-08:00

Dear God,
At this Christmas
season, please open my heart.
May I learn to be a giver, not a taker,
for only thus can I feel blessed.
Make of me an instrument of Your peace,
that peace might fill my world.
May Your abundant mercy touch my life.
May my heart so give and so receive as to expand to touch the stars.
May I so learn to live with love, that I might know of heavenly bliss while still on earth.
May the miracle of Christmas
be a miracle in my heart.
Amen

Santa Came!

2009-12-26T13:37:00.000-08:00

Santa was good to our kids again this year! They must be on the nice list after all. I had begun to wonder about their status lately.

Cool new laser tag guns.

Just what she wanted, a big doll house!

Dan's big gift a scooter!

Ben made off well with video games and accessories.

"How did Nannie Minnie know I like Hello Kitty!?"

Christmas Eve

2009-12-26T13:26:00.000-08:00

The kids and I took some time out Christmas Eve to make some cookies to leave out for Santa. We made sugar cookies with LOTS of sprinkles!

(We see your braces, Ben!)

Rachel's evil smile as she dumps sprinkles everywhere. What a mess I had to clean up!

Our finished cookies!

Favorite Christmas song

2009-12-23T17:14:00.000-08:00

Love, Love, Love the words to this song...

Mary Did You Know?

Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy

would one day walk on water?

Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy

would save our sons and daughters?

Did you know that your Baby Boy

has come to make you new;

This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy

will give sight to a blind man?

Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy

will calm the storm with His hand?

Did you know that your Baby Boy

has walked where Angels trod?

When you kiss your Little Baby,

you kiss the Face of God!

Oh, Mary, did you know?

The blind will see, the deaf will hear,

The dead will live again.

The lame will leap, the dumb will speak

the praises of the lamb!

Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy

Is Lord of all creation?

Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy

will one day rule the nations?

Did you know that your Baby Boy

Is Heaven's Perfect Lamb?

This sleeping Child you're holding

Is the Great I Am!

Sunny Snow Day

2009-12-22T17:57:00.000-08:00

The kids and I got out and played in the snow this morning. The sun was finally out and it wasn't so miserably cold. The snow was starting to melt, but it was perfect for making

a snow man and sledding. Lots of fun!

Rachel and I made a snow "Big Sister" together before too much of the snow melted.

Daniel loves sledding down our hill beside the house.

A good shot of Ben's new braces.

Big brother comforting little sister after she got hit in the face with a snow ball.

Santa's Little Instruction Book

2009-12-21T16:22:00.000-08:00

I found a nice site today with "Santa's Little Instruction Book" on it. It was too long to post here so I thought that I would put a few of the ones I liked a lot....

10. Count your blessings
19. Don't gossip; share only good news
20. Listen to your angels -- and the little voice inside that gives you hope
31. Start a new tradition, and cherish the ones you have
41. Don't be an abominable snowman
55. Calories don't count on Christmas Day
62. Don't lick icy flagpoles even if you're dared
67. Answer your phone with a "Ho-Ho-Ho!"
89. Fill your bird feeder to overflowing when the weather is coldest.
204. Tuck your children all snug in their beds.
230. Don't pout.
240. Believe in miracles.
266. Bake Christmas cookies for the homeless.
271. Don't forget that Christmas is a birthday party, after all.
286. Notice everyday miracles.
296. Be nice to overworked sales clerks. It's their holiday, too.
333. Don't try to be Martha Stewart.
343. Stop at the next nativity scene that you come across and marvel at themeaning of the age-old story.
363. Don't wait until it's too late to realize you've had a wonderful life.
364. Let this season of joyous birth signal a new beginning for you, too.
365. Have a very Merry Christmas.

from John Paul - poetry@snowcrest.net

To read the whole list go to: Click here: Homespun & Country Kitchen Christmas Page

2009-12-21T04:51:00.001-08:00

We are back!

2009-12-21T04:30:00.000-08:00

It has been such a crazy season this year, I have neglected to get CampQ Christmas up and running. But thanks to my friend, Stacia, I have taken a little time to get a little new stuff on the blog.

This is the picture we sent with Jeff to take to Denver to put in his hotel room.

Hopefully he wasn't so lonely with us there.

This year's Christmas picture of the kids.

2009-12-21T04:25:00.000-08:00

This

Xmas, try

to end a quarrel.

Seek out a forgotten

friend. Dismiss suspicion,

and replace it with trust...

Write a love letter. Share some

treasure. Give a soft answer. En-

courage youth. Manifest your loyalty in

word and deed. Keep a promise. Find the

time. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Listen.

Apologize if you were wrong. Try to understand.

Flout envy. Examine your demands on others. Think

first of someone else. Appreciate. Be kind; be gentle.

Laugh a little. Laugh a little more. Deserve confidence.

Take up arms against malice. Decry complacency. Express

your gratitude. Go to church. Welcome a stranger. Gladden

the heart of a child or a senior. Take pleasure in the beauty

and wonder of the earth. Speak your love, Yes please do

speakyour love. Speak it again.

Speak it still

once again.

The following 'Christmas Spirit' is from Homespun's own John Paul - poetry@snowcrest.net

Another year of CampQ !

2008-12-31T16:13:00.001-08:00

Santa Came to Camp Q !!!

2008-12-26T05:00:00.000-08:00

Christmas prayer for all our family, friends and visitors.....

2008-12-25T05:08:00.000-08:00

God prosper and love you.

God shine His glory

on all your hopes and prayers.

God lift you up in His light

and His peace

and smile on you always.

author unknown, fromThe Word of Christmas card we received from Rachel's teacher

2008-12-25T04:25:00.000-08:00

CampQ Christmas Eve Tradition

2008-12-24T20:00:00.000-08:00

Several years ago, we started the tradition of going out to eat at the Outback Steakhouse on Christmas eve. We started it for no special reason, but since we like tradition we have tried to make it there every year. The past few years have been a little challenging with young, excited kids, but we had a good dinner.

....................Rachel likes to be in all of the pictures.

The True Meaning of Christmas from Charlie Brown

2008-12-20T13:53:00.000-08:00

Don't forget to pause the music on the sidebar player!

FREE last minutes gifts to give!

2008-12-20T06:12:00.000-08:00

Giving the gift of time certificate maker

Click here: Ivy's Gift Certificate Maker

What Shall We Give Our Children?

2008-12-20T05:24:00.000-08:00

I got this in an email forwarded yesterday, thought it would be a good New Year's Resolution for me......

What shall we give our children?

Christmas is almost here.

Toys and games, and play things,

As we do every year?

Yes, for the magic of toy land

Is part of the Yuletide lore,

To gladden the hearts of childhood

But I shall give something more.

I shall give them more patience,

A more sympathetic ear.

A little more time for laughter,

Or tenderly dry a tear.

I shall take time to teach them

The joy of doing some task.

I'll try to find the time to answer

Rachel's Christmas Party

2008-12-19T10:20:00.000-08:00

Rachel appeared this morning ready to go to her school Christmas party. She chose her Mermaid princess dress, pink tights and her pink "fancy" shoes. I was able to get a picture of her dancing at school.

"Magan"

2008-12-19T10:13:00.000-08:00

CampQ's favorite dog, Magan Poe has posed for a quick picture in her new Christmas "necklace". Rachel picked this out for her yesterday. Now she can jingle as she walks (or sleeps).

***New picture

***We hear the she loves her necklace and dosn't want to take it off!

Rachel's Christmas Program

2008-12-18T11:18:00.000-08:00

The annual Christmas program at Rachel's preschool was last night. She was willing to cooperate for a few minutes getting ready at home to let me take her picture. She is wearing the jumper that I made for her last week. (OK, so I want to brag for just a second) She looked so beautiful!

The program was sweet, as it usually is. Our 10Th, and probably our last Christmas program there. Makes me feel a little sad. Rachel did so well performing her songs with her class, but started to cry when she saw us as she was going back to sit down.

Ben (lower left corner) had to go with Rachel for the final song with the whole school. They sang Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer with the Pastor. Ben is such a sweet big brother.

P.S. Santa....

2008-12-18T03:57:00.001-08:00

Dear Santa,

I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my two children on demand, visited the doctor's office more than my doctor, sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground and figured out how to attach nine patches onto my daughter's girl scout sash with staples and a glue gun.
I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years.
Here are my Christmas wishes:
I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache after a day of chasing kids (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't flap in the breeze but are strong enough to carry a screaming toddler out of the candy aisle in the grocery store. I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy. If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like a car with fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music; a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals; and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.
On the practical side, I could use a talking daughter doll that says, "Yes, Mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along with one potty-trained toddler, two kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools. I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting, "Don't eat in the living room" and 'Take your hands off your brother,' because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog. And please don't forget the Playdough Travel Pack, the hottest stocking stuffer this year for mothers of preschoolers. It comes in three fluorescent colors and is guaranteed to crumble on any carpet making the in-laws' house seem just like mine. If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container. If you don't mind I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family; or if my toddler didn't look so cute sneaking downstairs to eat contraband ice cream in his pajamas at midnight.
Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back. Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the chimney and come in and dry off by the fire so you don't catch a cold. Help yourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours Always...Mom.
P.S. - One more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children young enough to believe in Santa.

-Author unknown

A New Friend At Our House!

2008-12-14T14:18:00.000-08:00

There is a tiny new person at our house! The "Elf on the Shelf"! The book appeared on our doorstep then he arrived 3 nights ago. The kids have named him Cutie. They are being very careful to be good around him. He reports to Santa every night while they sleep then sits somewhere new the next day.

A McQueary, I mean, A Griswold Family Christmas

2008-12-13T04:35:00.000-08:00

How can Camp Q Christmas go by without including our favorite movie clip?! We are the Griswold's in more ways than one. Just ask our neighbors! (Inside joke here)
Don't forget to pause the Christmas music on the side bar to hear the video clip.

Smoky Mountains

2008-12-13T04:03:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to share the beautiful view out my bedroom window of our cabin from last weekend. A photo just can't do justice.

Lights at BMS

2008-12-13T03:46:00.001-08:00

This last Tuesday night our family took our yearly drive through the Christmas light display at the Bristol Motor Speedway. It is put on every year for the Speedway Children's Charities. The kids love it, we let them out of the car seats and sit up front. We listen to Christmas music on the radio. Of course, the favorite part is the drive around the actual race track. Jeff always drives up a little high on the 30 degree bankment for my comfort, but Ben loves it!

By the way, I "borrowed" the light pictures from various places, night photography is not my talent for sure!

It's Cold in Bristol!

2008-12-12T03:16:00.000-08:00

Benjamin participated with the Sullins Academy Float in the Christmas parade this year. It was 26 degrees! He says it was still fun. The Soaring Eagles (the Sullins choir Ben is a member of) sang carols for the crowd. Congratulations Sullins for winning a 3rd place trophy!

Ben is sitting with the sombrero on in front of the fireplace...

need a laugh today?

2008-12-02T05:45:00.000-08:00

Don't forget to pause the holiday music player on the sidebar.... Enjoy!

Is there more to Christmas than shopping??

2008-12-01T17:29:00.000-08:00

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.
-Dr. Seuss

2008-11-30T12:38:00.000-08:00

T'was the night before Christmas... Mom's Version

T'was the night before Christmas, when all thru the abode only one creature was stirring, she was cleaning the commode. The children were finally sleeping, all snug in their beds,while visions of Nintendo & Barbie flipped through their heads.

The dad was snoring in front of the TV, with a half-constructed bicycle propped on his knee. So only the mom heard the reindeer hooves clatter, which made her sigh, “Now what is the matter?”

With toilet bowl brush still clutched in her hand, she descended the stairs & saw the old man. He was covered with ashes & soot, which fell with a shrug. “Oh great,” muttered the mom, “Now I have to clean the rug.”

“Ho Ho Ho!” cried Santa, “I’m glad you’re awake. Your gift was especially difficult to make.” “Thanks, Santa, but all I that I want is time alone.” “Exactly!” he chuckled, “So, I’ve made you a clone.”

“A clone?” she muttered, “What good is that?” “Run along, Santa, I’ve no time for chit chat.” Then out walked the clone - The mother’s twin, same hair, same eyes, same double chin.
“She’ll cook, she’ll dust, she’ll mop every mess. You’ll relax, take it easy, watch The Young & The Restless.” “Fantastic!” the mom cheered. “My dream has come true!” “I’ll shop, I’ll read, I’ll sleep a night through!”

From the room above, the youngest did fret. “Mommy?! Come quickly, I’m scared & I’m wet.” The clone replied, “I’m coming, sweetheart.” “Hey,” the mom smiled, “She sure knows her part.”
The clone changed the small one & hummed him a tune, as she bundled the child in a blanket cocoon. “You’re the best mommy ever. I really love you.” The clone smiled & sighed, “And I love you, too.”

The mom frowned & said, “Sorry, Santa, no deal.” That’s my child’s LOVE she is trying to steal.” Smiling wisely Santa said, “To me it is clear, Only one loving mother is needed here.”

The mom kissed her child & tucked her in bed. “Thank You, Santa, for clearing my head. I sometimes forget, it won’t be very long, when they’ll be too old for my cradle & my song.”

The clock on the mantle began to chime. Santa whispered to the clone, “It works every time.” With the clone by his side, Santa said “Goodnight. Merry Christmas, dear Mom, You will be all right.”

-author unknown

Camp Q Disco Celebration!

2008-11-30T11:28:00.001-08:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Camp Q Country Dance Party!

2008-11-30T07:00:00.001-08:00

Remember to "PAUSE" the holiday music player on the sidebar before viewing!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Ha! Ha!

2008-11-17T23:56:00.000-08:00

I found this picture from my favorite show of all time. Remember this episode?!

Our First Christmas Event of the Season

2008-11-16T01:55:00.000-08:00

Christmas came early this year for Benjamin. He is participating in the Sullins Academy Chorus, The Soaring Eagles, this year. They gave their first performance at the Mistletoe Market last weekend. We were happy to have Poppie here to watch!

Our Blog Christmas Tree

2008-11-14T15:16:00.001-08:00