The Ingram Gang: 2008

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

The Last Post of 2008

Hoping your holidays were full of lovin'...

See you folks in 2009!

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

The Word Became Flesh

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

He was in the beginning with God.

All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it...

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.

He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the word became flesh and dwelt among us

and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

And from his fullness we have received grace upon grace.

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

The Gospel of John

Chapter One

Verses one through eighteen

My prayer is that you would acknowledge the grace upon grace that you have received; the grace that comes only from His fullness, the same fullness that became flesh and dwelt among us so that we might become his children, his heir.

Merry Christmas.

Lots of love now and throughout the year,

The Ingram Gang

Saturday, December 20, 2008

8+8+8+8=Lots of Info about Me

**Ooops, I forgot to tag others**

I tag:

Tara

Lori

Amy

Amber

Thank you for tagging me, Magen.

Eight things about me as we end a wonderful, wonderful year, 2008!

8 TV Shows I watch:

1. The Office

2. 30 Rock

3. Kath and Kim

4. The Hills (I always wonder why I keep watching it)

5. The City- It's just starting, but I might as well keep up with what I have already started.

6. Barney

7. Word World

8. The Soup

---and I plan to watch American Idol in 2009!---

8 Things that happened to me today:

1. I was a guest at Dudes and Donuts for the very first time ever. This is a big day, people.

2. Did a home study for a nice couple that want to adopt.

3. Wrapped the remainder of the Christmas presents. It's about time, hugh?

4. I didn't feel sick after any meal I ate. Hallelujah!

5. Brad's dad took him to the airport so I didn't have to wake the kids up from their naps.

6. Ate dinner with my in-laws. I always love a meal that I do not have to cook. And then, Noah stayed the night with them!

7. Put one coat of Polyurethane on Noah's book shelf.

8. Dusted the house, put away maternity clothes that a friend had borrowed. I was looking through my clothes realizing how much styles change in less than three years, and cleaned ALL of my kids toys.

8 Things that I look forward to:

1. Christmas Eve dinner after all the kids are peacefully sleeping.

2. Watching my kids on Christmas morning.

3. Spending the evening with the Sesslers, the Cherrys and the Wilsons. Our annual New Year's Eve celebration has been canceled, so we are going to substitute it with a night out. Who knows, we might like this tradition even more.

4. Seeing my mom on Christmas Eve.

5. As much as I am excited to go to India, I am even more excited to get home. I cannot wait to have experienced a great time of ministry and return home to my family!

6. Being able to set my table with beautiful Christmas dishes and not fearing that they will be shattered by a ball or someone climbing onto the table.

7. Potty training Kayt. I am not sure why I look forward to this. Noah was so easy, I am anxious to see if she will be just as easy.

8. Morning coffee with my husband while he is off of work for almost two entire weeks!

8 Things that I wish for:

1. That our front yard would landscape itself. Or, that I would automatically inherit a green thumb.

2. An endless supply of paper towels that aren't destructive to the environment. I like paper towels.

3. An iPhone. In a bad way. Yes, I am materialistic.

4. A monthly allowance for a house keeper. I promise, I could keep her busy for hours upon hours.

5. Whole Foods

6. My children to grow up and love Jesus above all else. (I wish/hope for this above all)

7. A large Jacuzzi tub.

8. A fancy, shmancy camera and Photoshop.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Shopping and a Stocking Stuffer

Brad and I tried to get some last-minute Christmas shopping in this evening. We had planned to buy Noah a REAL guitar. Like one-from-the-guitar-shop-where-all-the-workers-have-tats-and-mohawks type of real. Maybe I just like going into that store? It makes me feel rebellious and muscially talented. Both of which, I am not.

But, after debating on spending a large chunk of change on a guitar for a two year old, we decide to wait another year (or two). We ended up just replacing his junior acoustic guitar from Wal-Mart that broke a few months ago. I have been so impressed by his patience in waiting until Christmas for a new guitar. Honestly, I wanted to run out and buy him a new one the day his bit the dust, but then the make-every-moment-count conviction got the best of me. I felt like this was a great time to begin teaching him about holding out for greater things and the joy of waiting. Surprisingly, he has been super patient, which makes me all the more excited for Christmas morning.

About 30 minutes into our shopping rendezvous, Brad made the comment that he could just keep the kids and I could get back out and finish everything on my own. No way, Jose. I do agree with him though. Shopping always sounds more fun that it actually is. He hung in there with me and at least finished helping me with the kid's gifts. Since we didn't get Noah the expensive guitar, we got him a few other things that I think he will love. All of the new additions were Brad's idea. I was surprised when he said, "follow me" and took the initiative to lead me to all the things he wanted to get for his boy. Who knew he had so many wonderful ideas? Brad and Noah have been talking for months about camping out in the living room. I cannot wait to see Noah's reaction on Christmas morning when he walks into the living room and finds his new tent set up, with a sleeping bag inside. Oh the joy!

As you can read, I've only talked about Noah. I have no clue what to get Kayt. We got her a few outfits and one of those things that you push and the balls start popping. I remember having one when I was little. I think she will like it. I didn't necessarily think that it was worth $11, but who am I anyway? I mean, come on. They have been making those things since 1970. I am sure it costs one whole dollar to make.

Back to the story.

I feel bad that we have not bought equal gifts for the kids, but I'm sure we will make up for it when Kayt is sixteen years old and wanting cloths that cost four times that of her brothers. When that time comes, will someone point me back to this post where I was complaining about spending $11 on a popper toy?

And just to clarify, I have bought an equal number of gifts, we just have not spent an equal amount of money.

She's one. What do you get a one year old that another family member isn't already getting? Nothing. That is what we bought Noah last year, nothing. The only problem is that now we are buying for one and not the other. Okay, I'll stop.

Last order of business...

This is ~~one of~~ Noah's favorite CD.

My dad gave it to him, and to be honest, the first time I heard it I started laughing, but it has actually kind of grown on me over the past nine months. The only way I can describe it is: Mother Goose meets Hip Hop. I know, cheesy. But he loves it. I just thought I would tell you about it in case someone needs a little, last minute stocking stuffer for a wee one. It has proven to be quite popular with the tykes. You can listen to the songs here.

Don't blame me if you buy it and it leaves you wanting to pluck your eyeballs out. I am just the middle man.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

God of mercy

I have had a stomach bug. I started feeling ill yesterday evening and after an India meeting and Christmas shopping with my sis-in-law until the stores kicked us out, I was not feeling well at all.
It's hard being a mom and being sick.
I tried calling in for a sub this morning, but no one ever came.
Dang.

But, just to testify to the mercy of my God, both of my children took a four hour nap. Thank you Jesus. That means that I took a four hour nap as well.

I am still not feeling too chipper, but things are looking up. I did just read the word meatloaf on my friend's blog and I almost puked on my computer keyboard. Weird.

The end.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Christmas Tour of Homes 2008

Welcome to our home!

Here is a glimpse of a bit of our Christmas decor...

Kayt's Tree

Forgive the poor pictures, I had to sneak in during nap time. Good pictures were not worth waking a sleeping baby.

Her tree is black, white and pink. She has a lot of high heel and purse ornaments.

Noah's tree

Sports. What else?

After I put the kids trees up, I realized that I forgot lights. I decided it wasn't worth undoing what I had already completed just for lights. So, lights will come next year.

A Poinsettia, of course.

Brad, Ashley, Noah, Kayt

The Ingrams

I love our Christmas clock that plays a different Christmas carol at each hour.

I love the plate Mandy gave me last year.

Here comes Santa

Texas Tech Santa

Entry table

Our snowflake card holder. This is ALL of the Christmas cards we have received thus far. Last year, we had soooo many. I guess everyone either decided not to send card this year or is just really late doing so.

***update: No need to panic folks, I received five Christmas cards in the mail today. We did NOT loose all our friends like I had feared. Whew.

Please Santa, we've been good

Our big, huge tree. That is what Noah calls it. Compared to the small trees in their rooms, it is big and huge.

And again

up on the tree top...

Thank you for sharing our JOY!

A small view of our home...Merry Christmas friends!

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Puppy Eyes

It looks like we have a group of dog-lovers. I am not at all surprised. But, I was surprised that 27% of my fellow blog buds are much like myself, preferring neither dogs nor cats. Hmmmm.

Looking at this sweet, pitiful puppy face, I feel awful saying that I am not a big fan. It looks like he's sad because of what I've had to say about his fellow breeds.

Sorry puppy.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Dist Take Off Your Pants...and More

I had a good time with the Lord today. I needed it. In a bad way. I started a new birth control and it has made me a little over-sensitive and irrational. Not good. I don't do extra sensitivity and extra irrationality well. So, Deuteronomy served me well today.

I had three shots this morning in preparation for my India trip. I cannot believe we leave in just over a month. Add being out of the country for two weeks to my current emotional state and you have a train wreck. Actually, maybe I should use another mental picture, please no train wrecks Lord.

This evening while Noah and I tried to snuggle on the couch, his little feet kept nudging my upper buttox. My shots were extremely sore. I yelped each time. I guess he finally had had enough of my outcries of pain because he said, "dist stand up and take your pants off and let me see what's so wrong with you." After that, I cooled it with the yelps.

I did one load of laundry today.

I considered that a success.

I have a new system.

It's pretty novel.

It goes like this: wash, dry, fold, put away. Repeat. Novel, I tell ya.

I used to do this: wash, dry, wash another, pull load #1 out of the dryer, lay them on bed, move load #2 to dryer, wash load #3...you get the picture. I constantly had a load of cloths in the washer, the dryer and somewhere around the house to be folded.

My new theory is working much better. Something about being able to move a load straight to the dryer without having to take another out is great.

We went to dinner at Chic-fil-a with some friends. They may be ex-friends after the adventure they encountered tonight. Either that, or they may never decide to have children. Kayt "dirtied"

in her diaper while playing in the play area. I just let her be. It was way too cold to go out to the car to get another diaper. Plus, she didn't seem to mind.

Brad thought it would be fun to get a milk shake. I tried to warn him what would happen when he tried to consume ice cream in the presence of the children. He was confident that he could just tell them no and eat it by himself. Wrong. I tried to warn him. Two little monsters emerged when the milkshake was in sight. I didn't know who to feel sorrier for, Brad not getting to eat any of his milkshake, Noah for spilling more than he ate, Kayt for squealing so loud that all the customers were staring, the floor for the sticky mess they left or me for observing ALL of the chaos. Humph.

I pick me.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

You So Ugly

Friday night our small group hosted an Ugly Sweater Christmas Party. It was a blast!

I could not believe the terrible sweaters everyone wore. I don't even have pictures of half of the couples. I'm hoping we make this a yearly tradition.

I went with my fierce candy cane red nail polish for fullest affect. I borrowed Kayt's hair bow. The joys of having another girl in the house.

Brad was proud to sport a homemade sweater, lovingly crafted by his Meme. She wore it many years ago and now the family fashion trend continues. Maybe one day we can pass our fashions onto our children. I put a shiny new penny in each of his penny loafers. And he wore my stripped Christmas socks. There were paper thin on his feet, seeing as how I wear a six and he wears a twelve (or thirteen).