Joplin Journal Volume 11-12, Issue 1

From the Editor's Desk:

Merry Christmas! I am still trying to get used to the idea that it is the middle of December, and I didn't realize it has been another month since I wrote one of these Joplin Journals. Life just doesn't slow down. Just a warning, this might be a long journal today, and I don't know if I'll even remember to tell you everything.

Weather Report:

We really haven't had a lot of cold, winter weather yet. A few days have been in the 40s, but mostly the highs have been 50s-60s with the nights in the 30s. Sunshine and some clouds. We got a little bit of rain yesterday, but not a lot. The oak is still hanging on to some leaves, and I think the maple still has a few, but that's it. Dad decided to mow the leaves this year instead of raking them to the curb for the city to pick up. He bagged some of them, but now our yard is rather bare of leaves.

"Genius Burns":

I'm not so sure about this section. Writing this month has not happened much. Last month I did manage to pull off 30k words, but I think I'm at 1k this month. I keep thinking I'll go write, but there are so many other things going on that my brain keeps shoving my stories off into corners and refusing to let them out. Maybe next week, after the program and caroling I will be able to write. But maybe not.

Project Prognosis:

How am I doing?

• Work on Blog Posts for 2023 – Finished for the year. I almost have January's posts done.
• Update Website – *looks the other way and pretends I don't see this*
• End of KDWC – Yep. Camp ended and only one person still needs to clean her tent. We have dates for the next camp figured out, and I printed my new checklist for next year's KDWC.
• Finish this year's Christmas Card Story – Sure did. Sent it out too. I hope everyone enjoys it.
• Christmas Play – Tomorrow evening is the program!!! Yikes!
• Beta Reading – That's all done. Feedback has been sent.

Hoops:

Basketball is going. I went and watched James's team and Joel's team one day. I haven't seen Drew or Lucas play yet. The younger 3 have games today, but not James.

Babysitting:

We have babysat the kids different times. They were all (except Krista and James) over on the 30th and spent the night. Krista and James were picked up and brought over the next day. We've done mostly lego building when they've been over because they built a lego Christmas Village. You have to see it!

Check out my post HERE to see Frosted Pines closer and see the people and learn who built which things.

And another day I had the two youngest kids over and they did a little dressing up.

And if you don't recognize Kinsley, don't worry, the rest of us don't either! Every time she put that wig and glasses on, it was like her personality changed and she forgot how to smile like she usually does.

Thanksgiving:

We had a quiet Thanksgiving day with just the four of us. Then that Saturday J & Co came over and we did Lego building, and played games, and ate chili.

The Music Stand:

We sang for church the Sunday before Thanksgiving. You can listen to the ladies ensemble HERE.

The next week the orchestra played prelude and you can listen HERE.

Tomorrow the Orchestra is playing.

Tomorrow night for the Christmas program, the children's bell choir is playing. Then on Christmas Eve Sunday the ladies ensemble will be singing again.

We have been keeping busy in the music department this time of year.

Stage Lights:

We finally had a practice with all the cast members! Of course it was the Dress Rehearsal, but we were able to go through the full thing twice and almost all the way through a third time. It's going really well. Tomorrow we'll have practice again after church, and then we'll be doing it tomorrow night! What?! How can it be time for that already? Eeek! It's going to be fun and I can't wait to let everyone enjoy it!

Christmas Concert:

The Proclamation Youth Choir (that includes adults too) went really well. Jimmy, Megan, Krista, James, Drew, Kailyn, and Grant all sang in it again. Grant got to stay on stage the full time instead of going back and forth with the little kids. They got to sing one song from the Messiah and that was the favorite of the older kids. Listening to it made me want to go sing in the Messiah again.

I had a table in the lobby with my books. Lucas was my partner, and we actually sold several of them and talked to a few different people.

KDWC:

Over until March

Sewing Room:

Between sewing for the play and sewing her orders, Sarah has been staying busy. She had one skirt to make that was about 47 1/2 YARDS of gathers!

That's on our couch! It reaches from one side to the other!

Monday is the deadline to get things mailed if they are to arrive by Christmas, so she's working hard to finish up one skirt for an order of 4.

Read Another Page:

Nothing to report here.

Book Nook:

So many books. But not as many as it could be. :) Some Decembers I just read and read. I haven't gotten to really do that yet. A lot of the stories I've read are short, so they didn't take long. But here we are. Dugout Jinx (one more Chip Hilton story), The Christmas Donkey (Christmas in France), The Candle in the Window (so good), Erik's Christmas Camera (Christmas in Sweden), Aunt Mary's Surprise (sweet short story), To Make a Merry Christmas (lovely short story), Tidings Bringing (my own story), The Christmas Key (my story), A Promise Born (interesting WWII story), A Dog Named Christmas (love this story), Finding Christmas Joy (short but good), The 12 Cats of Christmas (funny short story), For My Good (good short story), Missent: The Story of a Letter (delightful). I didn't share the two books that were 2 stars.

Farewell:

Whew! I hope I remembered to share everything. Tomorrow evening is the Christmas Program at church, and then Monday evening is Caroling to the widows. We have around 50 people coming! It should be great! Then I think life slows down just a little for me anyway. Sarah still has cookies to bake but she won't be pushing to get sewing projects done. And I don't know when we'll get together with J & Co for Christmas. Probably Friday or Saturday. So I am not planning on writing a Joplin Journal next week.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!