A Little Time Spent on my Soap Box

We had a very moving service at church this morning. Bro Jason spoke of Nehemiah and the rebuilding of the wall in Jerusalem. He told of how we have to put our faith in God and he will be our strength to help us along. Nehemiah felt very strongly about seeing his home town torn down and burned. He felt he needed to do something to help preserve the place where his fathers were buried. Ever since leaving church this morning I have felt that I like Nehemiah am having a hard time hearing of the heartache in my home community. I may not live there now, but my heart will always be there.

I know that there are very few people that I will reach via my blog, but I feel like I must say something. Some of you may have no clue as to what I am talking about. This past week the Prentiss Co School board voted to close Jumpertown High School next year and make it K-8, then it will move to K-6 the next year. I know that to some that sounds like it is not such a big deal. In the future, I may be able to say that as well, but only time will tell. However, right now, that is not how I feel. A community as small as Jumpertown is built around it's school. It is the heartbeat of the community.

My heart aches for teachers concerned about if they will have a job next year. It hurts even more for the students that will be leaving the only school they have ever known to attend an inter-county rival school. I do not think it would be as hard to swallow if I could understand why it is happening. Why is just Jumpertown being targeted in this?

However, after today, I feel like I have to let it go and quit asking why. I have to know that God's plan will be exposed. I know that I am not personally affected by this since I do not have children in the school system. I do however have lots of family and friends that are. It hurts me to see a community in such pain. My prayer request is that God will wrap his arms around Jumpertown and that Jumpertown with his help will move forward to bigger and better things.

Lasagna for Dinner

Ruthie has been working on using her spoon to feed herself lately. I have been letting her do it with things such as mac n cheese and mashed potatoes. Last night I decided to let her have a go at it with her lasagna. It was the best dinner experience Dustin and I have had in a very long time. She started out with the spoon, but couldn't seem to get enough at a time in her mouth. She loved it! So, she said forget the spoon and went at it with both hands.

This stuff is so good!

I can't leave any on the plate!

Best dinner EVER!

Snow Day

Last Thursday we woke up to a little snow on the ground. It wasn't much, but we had to get out and see what we had. We loaded up and headed over to Nana and Pop E's to meet Dustin for lunch. While we were there we let Ruthie get out and discover in the snow. She really could have cared less to be honest. I thought she would have been more intrigued than she was. So, we snapped a few pictures and headed back in. It was really cold!!!

Walking in High Cotton

We celebrated the New Year in Dallas! We flew out on New Year's Eve and arrived that afternoon. The hotel we stayed at was Ole Miss Central. A lot of the players were on the same floor as us. As a matter of fact, some were next door, but don't ask me who they were because I have no idea. We went downtown that night for dinner and Y.O. Steakhouse. It was delicious! We came back and Dustin and I watched the ball drop on the tv while Ruthie slept in her crib. We are such party animals. There was however a huge Ole Miss party that night at our hotel.

The next day the girls went shopping at the Northpark Mall. It has every store you can imagine! I never knew malls had Louis Vuitton, Tiffany's, Marc Jacobs, and lots more. We joined the guys for dinner at Pappisito's that night. It was full of Ole Miss fans and at one point the entire restaurant did Hotty Toddy. The looks on the waiters and few guests faces that were not Ole Miss fans was priceless.

On Saturday we were pumped and ready to head to Dallas Stadium. It is everything they say it is and more!

Ruthie at the hotel ready to cheer on the Rebels!

Our family outside the stadium

Hotty Toddy!

Aunt Misty was even there!

Cotton Bowl Champs 2010!

Fans welcoming the players back to the hotel after the game

We had a wonderful time! The game make my stomach hurt at times, but the Rebels pulled through in the end. We hung around the hotel that night and watched all of the excitement from the win. Players were everywhere and kids were running around chasing them down for autographs. It was great to be a part of it all!

Ruthie got so excited on Sunday right before we left that she fell and bumped her head on a ledge in the hotel lobby. It wasn't too bad, but it needed to be closed up when we got home. We finished our Sunday night with a trip to the Tippah Co Hospital ER. They put a little Dermabond on it and she is good as new

After being treated

Happy New Year!

McCafferty Christmas

We finished up our Christmas celebrations at Dustin's grandparents the day after Christmas. Ruthie is the only great grandchild and also the only child under 8. So needless to say, she was the center of attention as she is most places that we go.

By this point, she had really conquered opening presents

The McCafferty grandchildren and great grand child.

Checking out her new rocking horse with Uncle Steve

PawPaw got an Ole Miss Snuggie as well!

Christmas Day

Christmas morning we woke up bright and early and headed over to JoJo and Papa's for breakfast. We all enjoyed a wonderful meal prepared by Papa. It was a great morning spent with family. Ruthie and Kaylee both loaded up on gifts as they usually do.

Ruthie was super excited about her Tickle Me Elmo

She was also excited about her new outfit

She loves her Little Superstar play set. She plays with it all the time and loves to hear herself in the microphone.

Mamaw Beth and JoJo opening their surprises from Lori and I

After coming home and letting Ruthie nap for a bit, we loaded back up and went to Nana and

Pop E's that afternoon for dinner. We had a great time as we always do!

Ruthie digging for more presents

This palm pilot thing keeps her occupied for very extended amounts of time

Playing in the floor with her Daddy

Nana got an Ole Miss Snuggie. Dustin imitated the commercial for us

We had a wonderful Christmas spent with family!

Christmas Eve

Santa came a day early to our house. He heard that we had to get up really early on Christmas morning to go to JoJo and Papa's so he wanted Ruthie to be able to enjoy her new toys.

Santa Came!

She was so cute! We were telling her that Ho Ho had came. That is what she calls him. When she rounded the corner and saw her loot, she took her paci out and said Ho Ho!

Showing us all of the stuff

Checking out her stocking

Ruthie and Daddy playing with the new golf set that Santa brought

(who's idea do you think this was?)

Practicing some more

That afternoon we packed the truck and headed to the Big V for Christmas with the Whitleys. Ruthie entertained everyone as she always does. We are so blessed with such a wonderful family. Ruthie has no idea how blessed she is.

I had to include this pic. How cute is that? Uncle Danny and Aunt Alice had her a crocheted Colonel Rebel made.

We left there and went to Jumpertown for the Yates Christmas! We were wore out and the weather was awful. It was pouring rain and somewhere between Mamaw's and there we lost the hairbow. Oh well! Luckily Paw found it in the driveway the next day!

Ruthie thought she needed to sit on the football for some reason

She also spent alot of time loving on the lighted deer