the plum of my pudding

So the break isn't over yet, but it sure feels like it is winding down!
The house has gotten quieter.
The grocery cart doesn't need to be nearly as full.
We don't have to sit in the back seats of the van.
There aren't as many dishes to wash. .. . . ..
Yes, the Shepard household is down to 4 kids now. 4! How weird.

We were all together except for my oldest sister Elisabeth, this year. Very unfortunate, but Elisabeth now lives in England with her little family. I hadn't seen Jim since Thanksgiving a year ago, and hadn't seen Colleen since last Christmas, so it was AWESOME seeing them all together again! And Walter and Christiana came too, of course.

We were up at Big Bear (in the mountains here in California) for 4 -almost 5- days renting a cabin for us to be in some SNOW around Christmas time ... because it just doesn't feel like Christmas time without some cold, wet (or frozen) weather! It was Niiice. Of course Colleen and Sarah had to go to Goodwill because they don't own anything snow-approved... they came back with a great purple nylon jumper (jumpsuit?) and a teal full body waterproof onesie! Oh and Sarah found some GREAT snow boots. Colleen got rainboots for Christmas so that worked out okay. They looked like genuine snow bunnies (from 1960)! Not that many of us looked STYLIN out there.... but they just looked the funniest! Jim of course has his nice legit snowboarding pants and boots, and nice winter clothes... Walter has plenty of winter clothes but he just didn't play out in the snow with us, and Christiana sort of struggled. We had to all donate some of our layers to her since she just came out of CongoLand! Mom, Theo, and Christiana didn't own any waterproof boots or shoes so they tied plastic grocery bags around their ankles over their shoes!! HAHA! It was a sight to see:-) Now I had just recently bought some Granny-boots--waterproof, fur-lined, warm, dry-- and I had plenty of silk or spandex layers to keep me toasty!! BOSTON! Hello! I had some great nylon pants that went perfectly over a pair of sweatpants to waterproof them. It all worked out. ;-) I'm not gonna lie. We all looked really funny!

I have more than enough pictures from those 4 days. We played in the snow -- made a "Snow Cat" and "Snow-Woman" (not -man), made a sweet hill for sledding, and roasted by the fire. Told lots of stories, had some discussions...one that ended in some tears but all was okay! ... played some games, watched some tv,....and ate LOTS. On the 3rd day we were there (i think), Jim took me, theo, and sarah to a rental place and we rented snowboards and skis! Sarah skiid (her snowsuit matched with the skis much better than a snowboard anyway!), and Theo and I attempted snowboarding! Jim of course has his own board, boots, and binding. We bought lift tickets for the full day and off we went.

After about the 5th or 6th time going down the bunny slope, Jim said I should try some bigger hills. I don't know why I agreed. ... . no, it was actually okay! But what i did NOT get was why it was so easy to start going down left foot first, then switch over to right foot first! Jim tried teaching me to lean forwards on my toes and sorta go backwards (hard to explain but maybe if you have snowboarded you know what i'm talking about?) to slow myself down instead of doing the snowplowing or switching over to right foot forward. I just couldn't do it. I smacked my butt and knees SO hard SO MUCH! I cried coming down one hill. I just kept getting back up and trying again, but it was way too hard to do what I was supposed to. I slowed myself down the wrong way most of the day for fear of breaking my butt. Not fun! But it was fun ... i really enjoyed snowboarding even though I was pretty bad at it. I like the feeling of it a lot better than skis. I don't feel as in control, but i think that's half the fun of it. You know how I love the rush of anything extreme!!
I stayed on the blue and green diamond slopes all day though. I wasn't stupid enough to go on the black diamonds;-) ... plus when you fall a lot just getting off the LIFT... that is embarrassing enough!
I met one guy on the lift with Sarah and he told me I was pretty and that if i am ever on tv (as a reporter), i should signal hi to him. We have a secret signal. Haha, he was funny! Of course I blew up the story when I got back saying "I met someone..." all excited like... but i can never keep a straight face long enough so no one believes me very long.

So being in California this long has gotten me missing it SOOOOO much. this is only (sarcasm) the 3rd time i've been back this year! WOW! We've been to the beach a couple times already and are TRYING to go this weekend. I really hope!
Okay enough for now. I want to tell the story of New Years Eve & New Years but can't. Sleep is a little higher up on the priorities list tonight.

afterthoughts

How did I forget to mention that I've been seeing lots of my niece and nephew? My nephew is sitting and crawling or scooting around a lot now! And he is learning to eat... today during our big meal we let him try some peas and it was hilarious how he would push them around in his mouth a little and then suddenly spit them out... ;-) He's the cutest! And Valerie loves to tell us to "Settle down" and loves to say "Give me a boom!" (She learned it from a great friend Steve Cabalka...who i miss sooo badly!) It's more than cute. She says it in a lower voice because that's how Mr. C. says it... i just can't even explain it! You have to see it and hear it!! And today she said to my dad "No, give me a better boom!" because he kinda missed her knuckles... or she missed his. And she wants a goodnight boom and a "i went potty" boom now too :-)

My rents have 2 adjoining apartments in this missionary housing place called "House of Rest." Elisabeth & Matt live in an apartment one door down, so they are basically at Mom & dad's apartment with the 2 little ones all day. They've been here almost 2 months and get ready to move to England in a week or 2.... pretty crazy! We don't know when we'll see them again so I'm trying to spend as much time as possible with them all!

Theo and Sarah are doing great.... Sarah just found out she made JV soccer team and has her first game Tuesday,... and Theo loves youth group and has made several friends now. They are so happy to be living in CA, but we don't know what the rest of this year holds for them. They could be moving in Jan. or Feb. depending on where my dad finds a job. He has to find a job by Feb. and it could be in any state. We have no clue where they'll end up this time:-) It's all in God's hands so we are praying lots!
*yawn* okay! That's it! Goodnight

"Turkey Day!"

I Finally made it to my parent's place in Pasadena, CA for Thanksgiving! I got here on Monday night, and can't believe I only have a few days left....today obviously was thanksgiving, so HAPPY thanksgiving!

We had the traditional family spread.... gigantic turkey, cranberry sauce, my sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, 5 bottles of sparkling cider...you know... and it was ALL delicious!! On Tuesday I found out Mom and dad had planned on going out to eat this year. I furiously protested! A traditional home-cooked thanksgiving is what I had been looking forward to these past few months and what I spent so much money on a ticket for! No, of course I really bought the ticket to spend time with my family, but part of that is cooking and eating at home.... thanksgiving wouldn't be the same for me at a restaurant! So anyway me and Elisabeth (my oldest sister who is moving to England in 2 weeks) convinced the rents we had to stay here and Sarah, me, and her would do ALL the cooking so mom and dad wouldn't have to do anything.
We did all the cooking and clean up with a little help from Matt (Elisabeth's husband) and Theo. It was probably the smallest family thanksgiving we've ever had since it was just 4 siblings out of 8... but no, I guess 2 years in Congo we had only 3 siblings! But it really felt weird without my older brothers and Colleen. I am SO excited about Christmas when we all (minus Elis. & Matt) will be together. We just can't seem to get everybody here at once but that's life in a family of 8!

We did the whole "go around and say what you're thankful for" and I thought of so many things to say. I have so much to be thankful for. I say that every year but God has taught me a lot, given me a LOT, blessed me a lot, stretched me a LOT, matured me a lot, brought me through a lot,... and I know He will keep blessing me and working everything out.... :-)
Anyways i just wanted to write and say I'm thankful today. There are things in my life that I never thought I'd have today, and there are things or parts of my life that I don't have anymore today,... but God is helping me be optimistic and He just keeps helping me to trust Him and not worry about the future.
I've been trying to live in the Present and not take anything for granted.
It's time for bed.
Debating on whether or not I should take Sarah shopping this Black Friday.... :-/ hmm
Tempted!! We'll see... but first, I have a coffee date with my dad in the morning!!!

oh!

"Charcot-Marie-Tooth, or CMT, is the most commonly inherited neurological disorder and is found world-wide in all races and ethnic groups. Discovered in 1886 by three physicians, Jean-Martin-Charcot, Pierre Marie, and Howard Henry Tooth, CMT affects an estimated 2.6 million people.

CMT patients slowly lose normal use of their feet/legs and hands/arms as nerves to the extremities degenerate and the muscles in the extremities become weakened because of the loss of stimulation by the affected nerves. Many patients also have some loss of sensory nerve function."

My younger brother probably has CMT.
We just found this out when he saw a doctor about his abnormally high-arched feet. He then was referred to a neurologist, had some shocking (by shocking i mean they actually shocked him) tests done, and on Friday the doctor told him he probably has this neurological disease. When the doctor did some reflex tests, like the one where they tap your knee with the hammer, his leg didn't react at all. Didin't move. I researched CMT because i had no clue what it was and found this site very helpful.... http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/charcot_marie_tooth/detail_charcot_marie_tooth.htm ...but a little discouraging. My poor brother!
"The neuropathy of CMT affects both motor and sensory nerves. A typical feature includes weakness of the foot and lower leg muscles, which may result in foot drop and a high-stepped gait with frequent tripping or falls. Foot deformities, such as high arches...are also characteristic due to weakness of the small muscles in the feet."
Please pray for him as he learns what this means for his life and learns how to still be grateful to God. It is a disease that progressively gets worse, but right now, he is okay. The doctor told him he can't play sports except swimming so that is a let-down to him, and the doctor also said he probably will have to think about a new career (my brother wanted to be a security guard or in the Secret Service and the doctor says he'll have to re-think that).... he can't do anything that is physically demanding or physical period.
It is a big surprise, but we are trusting God and hoping that this makes Theo stronger and helps him grow.

karaoke Congo style!

I loved this pic of dad,
and this of dad & mom

And, Aunt Jill and her son Matt... they kept the night goin...

YEP, these 2 really got into it! Todd did some amazing dance moves and Mr. C...well, he even got down on his knees!

Last Friday night we had a bunch of people over for a big karaoke party! We sang all night long (well, just about!), and i didn't think i would have a voice left the next day... . but i did .... (but that's beside that point) anywho, we had FUN, so here are some PICS from that night! (i dunno how to get the pics to come AFTER the text... so... deal!! Todd and Mr. C. tied... i dunno who won, but those 2 did the best of course! [Sorry everyone else who tried, but there aren't very many ppl in this world who can take on these 2 guys!]

karaoke Congo style!

I loved this pic of dad,
and this of dad & mom

And, Aunt Jill and her son Matt... they kept the night goin...

YEP, these 2 really got into it! Todd did some amazing dance moves and Mr. C...well, he even got down on his knees!

Last Friday night we had a bunch of people over for a big karaoke party! We sang all night long (well, just about!), and i didn't think i would have a voice left the next day... . but i did .... (but that's beside that point) anywho, we had FUN, so here are some PICS from that night! (i dunno how to get the pics to come AFTER the text... so... deal!! Todd and Mr. C. tied... i dunno who won, but those 2 did the best of course! [Sorry everyone else who tried, but there aren't very many ppl in this world who can take on these 2 guys!]