We didn't do much of anything on our annual anniversary get away as tourists but we were able to dream for the new year for our family and enjoy the simplicity of each other's company after a very long, hard and
That's a good number! I love odd numbers and especially any number with
"7" in it. We marked our 17th wedding anniversary today by joining Iglesia Del Redentor during worship as Howard was the guest preacher with the text of Isaiah 60: 1-6
in preparation for Epiphany on Jan. 6. He had to use his training that he has been getting in his preaching classes to keep his sermons tight and short, especially today as it was translated REAL time into Spanish. It was a blessing too to have both sets of parents there today to celebrate with us. Speaking of which, we honor them both today as 'our family' wouldn't exist without them. Thanks for raising us Al and Eve (Pa & Lola) and Dave and Wendy (Dad and Mom Cole) especially with faith in Christ and the desire to serve Him in our generation! We are very thankful for you all and your great love for the Heavenly Father and for us.
The fascination with Superman began early...young...so young I can't really remember when..was it 2? 3? 4? ... and it has continued for so many years now that to think of Samuel is to think of Superman. Every boy's wildest dream is to have super powers of some kind and to be a hero with power. Our hope is that as Sam continues to learn about the REAL superhero, the God and man who accomplished the best saving there is... the saving of our souls and rescuing us from our sin so we can eternally be His forever, that he would depend more and more on this Savior and see the Superman of his childhood as NOTHING in comparison. But, for now, it is a joy to see his innocent love of a fictitious Christ figure.
As Sam enters his last year of being a "single" digit, we are thankful for his infectious laugh, zeal for life and the spice he adds to the Coleclan crew! Here he is in his own space with the years of accumulated Superman paraphanalia surrounding him... complete with the awesome "Ross" find... the bedspread comforter on his bed!
...and here are the 4 December birthdays celebrating together at Buca de Peppa's!
HOME SWEET HOME
He was 100 years old. 100 years old! I looked at the patient's chart and thought that the registration clerk screwed up the birthdate. But it only took one glance across the hospital room in the ER last night to check my thought. He was bald, wrinkled, and older than the North Carolina hills. I sat next to him and started throwing questions at him-not about his medical condition-but about his life. His work (he drove an 18 wheeler truck until he was 91 and he still drives a car) his loves, his religion, his diet and many others. My storm of questions probably aged him another year.
I then asked him "What was the most significant invention that shocked you over the last century?" It wasn't his answer that shocked me back. It was the small ingredient he mixed into the answer that marked my mental muscle with an impression about home. He looked me in the eye and said, "Son, my dad told me when I was a little boy that some day I might just see an amazing thing. Some day a man just might walk on the moon. And you know what? My dad was right. And when that day came and that man walked on the moon-that was something! That was something! Even compared to the air machine-that's what I call it- my dad was right. A man has walked on the moon!"
I was born in 1970 and I missed that man walking on the moon. What I didn't miss in his musings was the fact that this man's dad planted a seed of wonder in the mind of his son. That seed of wonder was planted in the field of the home.
FROM ALL THE COLES... MAY GOD RICHLY BLESS YOUR HOME!
Answers to our annual Family Trivia Game:
Who loves to spike his hair in imitation of his older brother? Samuel
Who loves going to swim practice to watch the team swim? Taryn
Who likes to eat all the chocolate chips in the bag without permission? Howard
Who takes pride in being able to crack his/her feet many times in a row and make a rythmn or song with the cracking noises? Stephen
Who has music or an audio book on at nighttime? Paige
Who insisted on buying a pair of nice cowboy boots to wear? Christopher
Who reluctantly shares clothes with other members of the family? Alleyn
Last BUT certainly NOT least.... HOME SWEET HOME with Sammy's Super memories of 2008
Things he wants to especially highlight:
- Spiking my hair with 'REAL GEL'
-
Looking cool in my suits
- Getting a slick black jacket like my big bro Stephen and copying him in many other ways!
- Not being able to smile in our annual family photos (Sam says, I just couldn't!!!!)
- Reaching a typing goal of 30 wpm which means I am allowed to EMAIL my family and friends now... so if you have time please email me at superboysammy8@gmail.com... I promise I'll write you back!
- Moving into my OWN room ... well sorta as my sister Paige has to go through my room to get to hers and both sisters have to go through my room to use their bathroom... but now I can prove to my family that I can keep my room clean without being told!
* Tomorrow we'll post the answers to our Family Trivia game...
...and cRaZy it is.... HOME SWEET HOME... The theme doesn't really relate, but oh well!!!
Chris's version of the 12 days of Christmas
with creative collaborator Papa H. Cole
On the first day of Christmas,
my monkey gave to me (not)
A banana in a stocking.
On the second day of Christmas,
my monkey gave to me (not)
Two clean socks and
A banana in a stocking.
On the third day of Christmas,
my monkey gave to me (not)
Three big pens Two clean socks
And A banana in a stocking.
On the fourth day of Christmas,
my monkey gave to me (not)
Four small onions, Three big pens Two clean socks
And A banana in a stocking.
On the fifth day of Christmas,
my monkey gave to me (not)
Five ornaments Four small onions, Three big pens Two clean socks
And A banana in a stocking.
On the sixth day of Christmas,
my monkey gave to me (not)
Six animals playing Five ornaments Four small onions, Three big pens Two clean socks
And A banana in a stocking.
On the seventh day of Christmas,
my monkey gave to me (not)
Seven pixi sticks. Six animals playing Five ornaments Four small onions, Three big pens Two clean socks
And A banana in a stocking.
On the eighth day of Christmas,
my monkey gave to me (not)
Eight preacher books
Seven pixi sticks. Six animals playing Five ornaments Four small onions, Three big pens Two clean socks
And A banana in a stocking.
On the ninth day of Christmas,
my monkey gave to me (not)
Nine decorated pencils
Eight preacher books
Seven pixi sticks. Six animals playing Five ornaments Four small onions, Three big pens Two clean socks
And A banana in a stocking.
On the tenth day of Christmas,
my monkey gave to me (not)
ten shields of iron, Nine decorated pencils
Eight preacher books
Seven pixi sticks. Six animals playing Five ornaments Four small onions, Three big pens Two clean socks
And A banana in a stocking.
On the eleventh day of Christmas,
my monkey gave to me (not)
Eleven ten pound sapphires, ten shields of iron, Nine decorated pencils
Eight preacher books
Seven pixi sticks. Six animals playing Five ornaments Four small onions, Three big pens Two clean socks
And A banana in a stocking.
On the twelfth day of Christmas,
my monkey gave to me (not)
Twelve clean rooms
Eleven ten pound sapphires, ten shields of iron, Nine decorated pencils
Eight preacher books
Seven pixi sticks. Six animals playing Five ornaments Four small onions, Three big pens Two clean socks
And A banana in a stocking.
Home Sweet "Fantastical" Home ....
written by Paige Cole with her collaborating editor Papa Howard Cole
(You might recognize the personalities of each character as each of our family members)
The Use of their Presents
Snuggled deep within the Forest of Withendale lived an assortment of wild animals. They all lived together in a cozy little den underneath a large apple tree.
There was a gentle lion that was wise, but somewhat chubbier than normal lions married to a black and white striped female tiger known for her giving, orderliness and persistence. These two animals enjoyed being the owners and parents of the entire house and family. The lion went out and caught all the food and things that they needed, and the tiger planned exactly when the lion would go out and prowl the lands for food and when the other animals would leave the den and wander the forest. Also among them living in the sturdy apple tree was a badger full of logic similar to her mother tiger. The badger’s brother was a tall, neat, artistic otter with strength and ferocity. These two sometimes traveled together in the woods learning the hardships and necessities of life together. The next family member, a smaller than normal squirrel, talked endlessly with encouragement to all. The youngest two animals included a strong sensible black bear with a will of steel and a tiny, little, giving hedgehog that held his nose when he was forced to eat green vegetables.
It was the time of the year, right after the harvest, when all was getting chilly and grey. The tiger made sure that the food was packed in the nooks and crannies of the neat house, and all were settling down for the time of peace and quiet, good times, and delicious food.
One somber night, as water poured from buckets in the sky, a knock was heard at the door. It was a huge, jagged toothed wolf with fur as black as a starless night sky. He was seeking food and a place to stay for the night. The kind lion ambled towards the door graciously inviting the wolf into his abode. After conversing with the female tiger, the kind lion asked the wolf if he would stay a night at their den. After thinking this invitation through the wolf accepted it with a sly smile. The black bear stared and then crinkled his eyes untrustingly toward the wolf. The plan was enacted. The wolf would sleep in the tiny hedgehog’s room for the night and then leave in the morning.
The rain pounded against the windows that night. Lightning streaked wildly across the sky as thunder rumbled deep within the heavens. All was still in the house underneath the apple tree. The silence of the night was interrupted with a creak as the wolf got up and sneaked across the floor. He quietly picked up the sleeping hedgehog and left the dark den running out into the deserted forest.
One by one most of the sleeping animals woke up as the sunshine outside brightened the house. The lion snored and snuggled until the badger’s scream awakened him. The badger shrieked, “Oh my, where is that wolf that we let in the house last night? He doesn’t seem to be here. And it’s worse! Where is our littlest member of the family?”
With this knowledge in mind the lion, bear, and otter leapt outside in the chilly crisp morning air. They ran across the soggy vegetation hoping and praying that they would find their missing family member. The otter and lion were in the lead, neck to neck searching the woods with the bear just barely behind strongly trying to keep up with the faster of the animals.
Back at the den the tiger, badger, and squirrel waited and watched the forest outside for any signs of the wolf and hedgehog. The badger got out some paper and started writing down places she had read that wolves keep their dens. The talkative squirrel made silly remarks trying to cover the trouble and worry knotting up inside of her. The tactical tiger took charge of the matter, grabbing the badger’s list as she ran through the front door with the badger and squirrel trying to keep up behind her. She told a bluebird that was flying high above to carry the list of possible places that a wolf’s den might be and to bring it to the three animals searching for the missing hedgehog.
Meanwhile the lion, otter and bear were running about looking for their defenseless hedgehog and the kidnapping wolf. The otter told the other he would search by the streams since he was a powerful swimmer. He dove into a near river and started swimming like MP, the famous Olympic otter. The bear growled and ferociously ran into the woods and the lion ran up to a cliff to scour the land with his eyes. As the lion was coursing up the mountain cliff he spotted a bird trying to get his attention. The bird screeched out, “Your wife sent this to you, it is a list of places the wolf just may be!”
The lion thanked the bird and read over the list of places. It listed hollow logs, warm caves, deserted beaver dams, and underneath small hills. The lion roared, a sign meant for all his family members to congregate at a huge oak tree. The tiger ran towards the ancient oak tree with the squirrel swinging gracefully through the trees behind her as the badger scurried quickly just below the squirrel. The black bear turned around and galloped towards the tree and the otter swam his fasted breast stroke as to quicken his arrival to the oak tree. Soon all were gathered and the lion shared his strategy. He kindly ordered the squirrel and otter to search in deserted beaver dams since the squirrel could swing from trees following the otter that could swim to the dams. He asked the black bear and the tiger to look in all the hollow logs they knew about and he and the badger would look in warm caves and underneath small hills. The entire family went to do the lion’s bidding as swiftly as they could.
It was the otter who spotted the deserted beaver damn. After the otter wiped the remaining river water from his eyes he noticed a wolf creeping out of the damn and the small, trembling hedgehog trailing fearfully behind him. The otter lowered himself in the water signaling to the squirrel to hide also. Then he whistled which alerted the squirrel that it was time to attack. The otter assaulted the wolf and the squirrel flew down out of the tree and grabbed the little hedgehog comforting him. Then a moment later the black bear ran out from the cover of the trees followed by the tiger. The entire forest could hear the commotion in the middle of the woods.
But then something terrible happened. The whole family looked on with horror as the wolf snapped his jaws over the neck of the otter. The wolf ducked his head deeply and then thrust it high in the air. He opened his jaws and flung the limp otter into the raging river. The little squirrel was so surprised that she let go of the hedgehog and flew toward the river. The wolf leapt toward the hedgehog, grabbed it by the leg and placed it on his hairy back. He ran rapidly into the dark woods.
The bear growled and pick up a huge river rock. The tiger whispered to the bear “throw that rock at that mean wolf’s head but don’t you dare hit my baby hedgehog!” The bear pitched the rock at the wolf but the rock hit a tree and shattered into pieces.
Darting out from behind a large redwood tree there appeared a massive golden lion with a badger sitting on his neck holding on for dear life. The lion sized up the situation and pounced on the wolf. Right before the pounce the badger prepounced to scoop the hedgehog off of the wolf to safety.
A large “SPLAT!!” echoed through the forest followed by a chewing sound, a gulp and a rather long burp. The whole family gathered at the river as the squirrel pulled the floppy otter to the shore. He was moaning with his tongue lolling out.
All of a sudden the otter sprung to his feet, his eyes widened and he shouted “Just kidding! Tricked ya! I was never hurt!” Everyone laughed, except the tiger who gave him a stern reprimand for fooling them all and they all headed home to the apple tree.
Later that afternoon the whole family was sitting down in the little house underneath the apple tree thankful and rejoicing that their little hedgehog was all right. If not for the gifts of all the animals put together and their obeying nothing would have turned out. They were happy they had all put their gifts or their presents from God to good use.
It was a beautiful day with birds chirping outside and the Withendale forest was silent and sound.
HOME Sweet "Sketched" HOME and Silent Night performed by Stephen Cole
How well can you guess?
Who loves to spike his hair in imitation of his older brother?
Who loves going to swim practice to watch the team swim?
Who likes to eat all the chocolate chips in the bag without permission?
Who takes pride in being able to crack his/her feet many times in a row and make a rythmn or song with the cracking noises?
Who has music or an audio book on at nighttime?
Who insisted on buying a pair of nice cowboy boots to wear?
Who reluctantly shares clothes with other members of the family?
* answers posted on 12/23...
