Joplin Journal Volume 10-12, Issue 1

From the Editor's Desk:

Here I sit at my desk with the London Symphony Orchestra playing lovely Christmas music over my speakers while papers of all sorts clutter my desk and messes which still haven't gotten cleaned up wait around the room and yes, some even in other rooms. It's a cloudy, wet morning here in Joplin and the sound of coughing is often heard in this house. You see, we got hit by something this week and Mom, Sarah, and I are still trying to get over the cough. The problem is, we have the first dress rehearsal for the play tomorrow after church, and I have a large speaking part. Praying for a quick recovery.

Weather Report:

We saw the sun yesterday! After it being cloudy all week, it was very nice. The weather has been up and down these last few weeks. All our trees have finally lost their leaves. I did some raking yesterday afternoon. It was nice to get outside. But I didn't get a lot raked.

"Genius Burns":

This week I really haven't written much. Actually, I haven't written much since the end of November. But Kate & Kylie is still going, and I finished Tidings Bringing and am working on making the corrections. (This was the story that was supposed to be for the Christmas cards but ended up being around 19k words long!) I also worked quite a bit on another Christmas story which will hopefully end up a Christmas Collection story for next year. And then just this week, I started on . . . another Christmas story. I know, I know, you think I have enough Christmas stories started. Well, maybe I do, but just be glad I haven't started the two other ideas I had for Christmas stories.

Project Prognosis:

Let's see how my projects are coming this week.

• Work on Blog Posts for 2023 – Ha! I haven't even figured out what I'm doing for my Read Another Page reading challenge next year let alone gotten any blog posts worked on!
• Work on my Name List – I am almost done reading all my Christmas stories. I have 3 more Christmas collection stories, and then my Christmas Card stories.
• Update Website – Update? Hmm. You mean like that audio book page that is way behind on my audios? You think I should update it? I probably should. If I can just figure out how to organize it.

In the Hoop:

Well, basketball is going on, but it seems like Jimmy's boys are having trouble playing. Oh, it's not that they come to games and have to sit on the bench, it's that first Drew hurt his wrist, then Lucas hurt his ankle (both happened at home), then James was sick, and then others got sick, and well, it seems that first one thing and then another has come up.

Thanksgiving:

Thanksgiving day was cloudy this year. We had the meal over here this year and Jimmy & Co. arrived around noon. The turkey wasn't done until around 12:30, which was okay. Kinsley informed me of what she wanted for her birthday (but we think she meant Christmas). She wants: A pink cowboy hat, not one, but two baby dolls, and a semi truck. Not sure where she got the idea of a semi, but Jimmy said he had room for one. :D

The day was spent eating, and playing games. Drew and I washed the dishes together with much laughter and some teasing and play. Kinsley told me she didn't need a nap after lunch. We ate pie and played more games, and talked. Suddenly around 4, Kinsley came running to me, and said, "BehBeh, I need to go ni-night now." I picked her up and said just a minute since someone else was also talking to me. She popped her thumb out of her mouth and replied, "No, BehBeh! I need to go ni-night NOW!" So I carried her up to my bed, put her down in within minutes she was asleep.

We ate turkey sandwiches and then cleaned up and they headed home before 7.

Babysitting:

We had the kids last Monday (except James who had a class party to attend). Krista came over at lunch time and then she and I went to Hobby Lobby together. After we got back, she decorated the stairs. (It's something she loves doing every year.) When the others came over, I let Lucas–to his great delight– be in charge of decorating the Christmas tree, and he and Drew (with a little help from a few others now and then) decorated it. Grant and Kailyn set of a "Christmas store" and "sold" all sorts of ornaments that they found in the large tub of ornaments. Grant even went around giving away "free candy cans!" :D Kinsley wore a santa hat and tried to make the trumpet ornament make noise like Grant did. I wish I had pictures to show you all.

Visitors:

Grandpa and Aunt Marty came down last Thursday afternoon. We hung out and visited. They spent the night at the hotel in Webb City.

On Friday, Jimmy picked up Grandpa and he got to spend the day over there helping trim and burn branches and enjoy the kids. Marty came over here and she and I went for a walk. It would have been really nice if the wind hadn't been blowing so much. Sarah was still trying to get over her cough from an earlier cold and didn't go with us. Later Marty and Mom went out to lunch, and then Marty and Sarah sewed. Grandpa was brought back here a little after five.

Saturday was going to be a birthday party for Dad, and we were going to go watch some basketball, but James was sick, and Lucas couldn't play with his ankle, so we didn't watch any games, and they didn't come over. We hung out with Grandpa and Marty. It was a nice quiet day.

The Music Stand:

We're supposed to have orchestra practice tomorrow before Sunday School, I think. Then after church we are supposed to have bell choir practice. We had ensemble practice last Sunday for Christmas.

Oh, if you wanted to hear the small orchestra (we were missing both flutes, and one trombone), and the ladies ensemble sing (without Sarah), you can listen HERE.

KDWC:

Writing camp set a lot of new records this camp! Not only did every single tent reach their active goal, but all the aunties reached their goals, and camp reached our active goal, and then our total goal. AND we wrote way over 2 million words! I ended up writing over 34k words in November instead of the 20k I was hoping for.

But now camp is closed until next time.

Sewing Room:

All the costumes have been sewn for the play. Sarah is making other things and just got two boxes shipped out this morning. I don't know where they were going, but that's okay.

Backstage:

Practices have been going well. Tomorrow is the first dress rehearsal! Pray that Sarah and I would both be feeling well! And that our lights guy would be well. It will be fun to see everyone in costume. Then we'll have one more practice next Saturday. Ah! That's it? How can we only have two practices left?

Read Another Page:

Nothing new to add here.

Teacher's Lounge:

Closed until further notice.

Book Nook:

If I gave you the full list of what books I've read since the last Joplin Journal was sent out, it would take a while. So . . . I'm not going to give you all of my own books that I read. (That will take about 17 off the list.) As Long as I Belong (lovely Thanksgiving story), Advent (not a favorite but not bad), Seize the Night (collection of stories some better than others), 'Twas an Evening in Bethlehem (would love to read it in paperback), A Christmas Wish for Clara (not bad), A Ten-Dollar Christmas (sweet!), In the Heart of the Christmas Pines (charming little story). You may notice that I have a few Christmas stories on here this time. I have a lot more on my kindle, but I'm finding it harder and harder to find really good Christmas stories. If you know of any, please let me know! Surely I haven't found all the good Christmas stories yet.

Farewell:

Whew! Did you make it all the way to the end? I guess it probably is faster to just read this instead of writing it and giving links and remembering everything. I'm sure I've forgotten some things that I was going to tell. I mean, I didn't mention that they are finally tearing down the old saloon on Broadway that was falling down anyway. But this will have to do. It's already almost eleven, and I have other things to do! Don't expect another Joplin Journal until after Christmas since next Saturday Sarah and I have to decorate the gym at church for the fellowship after the program, and we have our final dress rehearsal, and then there is the kids' Christmas concert (which I haven't even mentioned) in the evening. And the next Saturday is Christmas Eve, and I have no idea what is going on then.