Wii Tennis

If you are “blessed” to have a Wii, you understand the fact that most of my time is spent hearing the Lego Star Wars theme over and over and over again. We’ve had to place a time limit on Wii usage in my home, because we feel it’s important not to let the kids sit in front of a television screen for hours on end wasting productive time. (Really it’s because Mommy needs a Valium after the first 20 minutes of loud boy noise when Darth Vader is purchased or when someone makes it to the next level.) Regardless, one aspect that I don’t mind about the toy is Wii Fit!

Now, let me just tell you that even though it is marketed as a “fitness game”, few of the options actually raise my heart rate—except Wii Tennis. Ask anyone who’s been my challenger (my neighbor Mark, friend Chris Martino, my son) this is something I take very seriously. I am the Wii Tennis champion in our home. It’s pretty bad. Lloyd doesn’t want to play me. Embarrassing.

Apparently, even just one week after Christmas there were 6000+ Wii Fit injuries reportedly presenting to emergency departments across the nation. I can see how it can happen too. I’ve slammed a chair practicing my serve, ran across the room to get to a volley, and stepped on a cat or two. You’re missing out if you haven’t taken part in this action! You’re welcome to come on over and try mine out anytime! But beware. I've got a pretty good backhand.

A Tennessee Christmas

I just love Christmas. I love every thing about it. I love the music, I love the colors, I love the reason for it, and I LOVE celebrating it. I usually start decorating the day after Thanksgiving, so that I’m sick and ready to take down all that I have worked so hard to put up just before the first of January. (Why go to all of that trouble if you can’t enjoy it for 4 or 5 weeks, right?) I love hearing from everyone, and of the 100 or so Christmas cards we receive, (for those of you who don’t think so), I read every word. You didn’t get to read every word from us this year, because we didn’t write anything! Our kids would say, “No fair!!!” So, because of that, I’ll let you in on how we spent our holiday.



The words to the Amy Grant /Gary Chapman tune reflect exactly how I feel --“a tender Tennessee Christmas is the only Christmas for me”. No snow, but, a warm house filled with people we love. To my recollection, this was one of the best Christmases yet. No stress, low key, and lots of time at home with family. Lloyd was off for the entire 2 weeks and we didn’t rush off to our usual getaways or have 1000 errands to run. Instead, we had a vacation at home. Who knew how wonderful sitting still could be?

Helga was able to share the week with us, which made the kids so excited. Grayson played the German board game “Mensch Ärgere Dich Nicht” until her poor Omi had to request a nap! No rest for the weary. She definitely has inherited the competition gene. My parents were also here plus Andy and Mandy were able to join us all for Christmas Eve dinner before leaving for Mandy’s parents house early Christmas morning. And Christmas day was spent gathered around our table and playing music with friends (the Campbells) and family. A blessed community we have been given, no doubt about it.