To be honest - I'm sick of looking at the "Fa la la" . . . .

I've got your "Fa's" . . . . ,


I've got your "la's" . . . . . ,


I've got your other "la's" . . . . . ,


And they are finally coming home to you!!!


I'm literally signing, wrapping, ribbon-ing, tissue-ing, boxing, thank-you noting, taping, FedEx labeling, stacking by the front door . . . . . as I type - okay, maybe not as I'm typing - I'm taking a short break to blog about it - ok?

I'm through with each set . . . . whoo-hoo! Now, on to the last few paintings I have left that MUST get out within the next couple of days to make it for Christmas delivery!!

I'm going to try to make it another all-niter {without the coffee.} I really do need to finish up the last of the "Fa la la's" and get them to FedEx - I'm actually thinking of going on and dropping them off {even if it is 3 in the morning} just so that I know they are there! Unless of course we get some crazy weather {like they are calling for} and the roads are too slick. But never fear - Lonnie just told me that he would take them if that happens!

I've been getting some great gifts in the mail lately! I want to blog about some of them because I've got some really super cute stuff, but I think I will wait a week or so. But this one couldn't wait. I received this necklace and pendant the other day from one of my BFF {Natalie}. I pulled it out of the package and thought, "Believe - no kidding!" I've had a few rough weeks lately {and most of you don't know what I'm about to tell you.}

I hung it up on my ribbon holder - b/c I sit right beside it when I paint and lets just face it - we all need a reminder sometimes?! Well, a few days passed - I was perched on my stool painting away, when the "Believe" moved and caught my attention. It was spinning like crazy. And I still don't know why? I was sitting still and the heat had not kicked on - so I couldn't blame it on any movement in the air that got it going. I sat, staring at it for a few minutes until it stopped spinning and then I noticed the back . . . .


Are you kidding me?? That really says that? I started crying. I don't know why - I guess I really needed that reminder! And just to give you the skinny - my MIL seems to think I'm abusing my kids {my words, not hers} - her words went like this "I can't stand to see those kids cold, sick and hungry!" She says I send them to bed without meals - their noses are runny because their hands, arms, legs and feet are cold - she doesn't understand why they are in all the therapies - blah, blah, blah. It was 5 pages long - Yes, she wrote a letter.

But she knows so much more than me about raising children. She actually calls her ways "character building". Umm, let me see - my husband grew up the first several years of his life on a bus {and I do mean a school bus.} When they finally moved into a house, they had NO running water {ever} - that means they used an outhouse, people! And we are talking about the 1980's - not the 1880's! I'm not going to describe what the house was like, what was in the food he ate, how many times he saw the doctor OR dentist, how he dressed or about any of the other "character building" she put those kids through. Just know that she raised a ton of foster kids - the state gave her that right - and you would be mortified if you knew about her "character building!"

I'm now mad at myself for letting her in my house and watching my kids! She says this same kind of stuff about everybody in the family - I don't know why I thought we were immune to it? I really think she is upset that Lonnie rose above her "character building" and made something of himself.

It's funny how once you sit in a new car - you know you will never want used. You love the feeling of taking the tags off of new clothes. I don't even question him when he buys a new pair of Nike shox every 6 or so months. That's what it's like growing up poor. I say I grew up poor - but not really - we just didn't have any money. I had heat, water, electricity, {Nikes and braces,} etc. Lonnie grew up with Nothing - that's poor. And his mother didn't do anything about it. Interesting.

I say all that to say, "Nat, thanks for the reminder . . . I needed it!"

Since I really just want to move on and just pretend like the woman doesn't exist, let's move on to other stuff! Like the painting below! Jennifer has no idea if "baby Mo" is a girl or boy {she isn't far enough along!} So she calls her baby Mo! Her aunt wanted a Christmas gift that was gender neutral to commemorate the first part of the pregnancy! She loved it!


Another one - this was my gift for my Christmas party with my Bible Study Group tonight! I really was scared that nobody would want it! We did the dirty Santa thing and it {thankfully} swapped a few hands. Wheww!


Well - back to work! Everyone who ordered your "Fa la la's" be expecting your FedEx tracking number!