Adventures of the Supersized 6

Who's a Grinch?



It has taken me a while, but I feel that I am finally getting into the Christmas Spirit. I was as my mother in law put, being a Grinch!
With this being my first semester with a laundry list of full time credits I really felt the pressure to get my college experience off to a good start. I have this over acheiver syndrome where I must be the best and do the best at everything. Shockingly I was never like this until I became a mother. Then the need to strive towards perfection became an all or nothing kind of thing. As of the last post soccer season had come to a close and I was trying to focus on school and children's ministries. The school part is now in hiatus mode. I am currently enjoying my 3 week "vacation" from school. I finished with finals last week, and grades were posted today. Although it was not straight A's, it was very very close. (Ok all but one class, and to my surprise, that confounded Algebra was not the one!) No 4.0, but the Dean's list I did make. Santa rewarded me this weekend at the annual Cooke Christmas party! I guess I did make the nice list after all!!

The kids are doing fantastic and are looking forward to jolly cheer and presents as well. I don't think that any of them made the naughty list either. So they will most likely make out like bandits again. They got a taste of it on Saturday when Santa was at the Cooke Family Chrismas party. Noah was all ready to let Santa in on all things Zelda and Nintendo. Madison proclaimed that she was ready to recieve a laptop, MB3 player ("the iPod kind", she says), and she wants her own bathroom. Don't we all sister!? And if Jake doesn't get a football, "He'll just die!". Where did he learn to be so dramatic, oh yes genetics. I think that Annika will be content with the tigger than jumps on it's tail. She sees the comercial on TV and she goes ballistic. In the meantime we are baking and getting decorations and cards filled with wellwishes set out to remind us of the most precious gift of all. The love of Christ. I am no so Grinch-y and feeling the love of the Christmas Spirit!

We had our youth group over last night and held a birthday party for Jesus. Everyone exchanged gifts, and even I got a new coffee cup that I will use and remember how special our little birthday party was. I look forward to what this new year will offer with the youth and the children's ministries. Each one of these young people has such wonderful talent and amazing gifts to offer. I am blessed to have the chance to know each of them.

Speaking of blessings, my family got a special blessing this last week. My neice who is now 20. I vividly remember going to see her in the hospital nursery when my sister gave birth to her!! Anyhow, Ashley gave birth to her first child on Friday. Baby Alex was 5 weeks early, and he weighed in at only 3 pounds 15 ounces, just one ounce away from 4 pounds! He is healthy and breathing independently! Truly another example of God's amazing Grace and Alex is no doubt a little bit of eternal perfection blessed to Ashley!

Well here is to Christmas Spirit!! I hope that God continues to bless what little bit of left of this year and everyone gets to have a little love, joy and family in their holiday hustle!!

No Grinches Allowed!!

Cheers!!


TLM