Merry Christmas from the Jenkins!

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Bladder Infection anyone?

At 3:15 this afternoon in the grocery store, I felt some severe pain coming on and by the time I got home, I felt like a truck hit me. Here I am five hours later on two meds for a bladder infection. Good news is that it's supposed to kick in after an hour or so (still waiting). At least I get to take the day off tomorrow...

The Nutcracker: The video is here

Hey friends and family!

Thought you'd like to see an authentic version of "The Nutcracker." Here are two scenes from it: the children's dance and the fight scene.

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Not just a "Holiday Concert"...

As a musician, I am routinely hired to play a few "holiday gigs." Most of these concerts range from church musicals to background music.
This past weekend, the Asheville Symphony gave it's annual "Holiday Pops" concert. I wasn't expecting much, just the usual Sleigh Ride, maybe some Home Alone selections and a few traditional carols. I was right. Thos things were all programed. However, our conductor also programed several traditional Christmas carols. These turned out to be the focus of the whole program.
The first half set the mood for the rest of the concert. We began with what I mentioned earlier; Home Alone, Sleigh ride, and then transitioned into some pieces performed by the ASO Children's chorus. After all the traditional stuff you usually hear at Christmas pops, the first half concluded with selections from Handel's Messiah. This piece is always moving, especially the Halleluiah chorus. There is a tradition, branching back to the 16th century, to stand when the Halleluiah chorus is performed. When the King of England heard it for the first time, he was so moved by the lyrics, that he couldn't help but stand. Check out the lyrics...
I was moved to tears as I played and watched as the whole auditorium stood to the lyrics "For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth Halleluiah! Halleluiah! Halleluiah! Halleluiah!" and "And He shall reign forever and ever. King of Kings, forever and ever. And Lord of Lords, Halleluiah, Halleluiah." I was reminded of Romans 14:

"As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall give praise to God"

I can't imagine what it will look like when the whole world will bow before the Lord, can you?

Nutcracker Mania comes to an end....

That's right, Bell Elementary's production of "The Nutcracker" has sadly come to an end. It was a huge hit last THursday with more than 400 people in attendance. (Our school has only 320 kids). Every kid got to wear a costume, act, and perform a dance. It was the highlight of my year thus far and I can't wait to do it again in two years with new 2nd and 3rd graders. I couldn't get any more pictures to download, so here's one of the kids doing the "waltz."

And the Winner is........(drum roll)

18 votes candy corn castle, 7 votes casper's mansion, and 1 vote house of glob....That's right friends, you voted for Brad and Lee Anne's mansion "Candy Corn Castle." Did no one see the crafty work of Blair Jenkins and the hanging ghost made out of frosting? Oh well, congratulations to Brad and Lee Anne. This just means that we will take 1st place this year in the log cabin house contest (to be posted soon).

GGCC Tournament (a few weeks ago)

This is from a few weeks ago at the GGCC tournament. Wayne won a Calaway Driver and Blair won a T-shirt....yay!!!

Hiking This Weekend...

Hiking: Looking toward Asheville. The leaves are starting to change...

Our Studly Dog

Blair & Denton

ENTRY #3: House of Glob

ENTRY #2: Candy Corn Castle

 

ENTRY #1: Casper's Mansion

 

Making Haunted Houses....YOU VOTE!

This past weekend, Blair and I traveled to his parent's home in Greensboro. Lee Anne (sister) and Brad (the boyfriend) met us there. We spent the weekend at the GGCC (Greater Greensboro Chrystler Classic) golf tounament. We also celebrated my big birthday #28, can't believe it. 30 is approaching quickly. We had one night of making haunted houses which turned into a competition. We obviously couldn't decide on a winner since we're all so competitive. This is where we need YOUR help. I have posted below, in random order, the three houses made by us over the weekend. We need you to vote so that we can pick an official winner. Send your vote to me. I will announce the winner by next week......

Surgery was a Success...

I know that this wasn't public information, but I (cara) had surgery yesterday underneath my right arm. I found a small cyst there about six months ago and have seen an array of doctors since then. I was very fortunate to have found a wonderful hand and arm specialist that was able to get me in quickly (I have found it very difficult to find a time to schedule surgery or even doctor's appointments). Everything went well, Blair was the one I was worried about; he doesn't do well with needles and hospitals. I've already had an ultrasound, an MRI and a biopsy to all confirm that it's not cancerous. However, now that they have it out, they're still going to take precausiouns and send it off to a lab. I've never had surgery like this (I don't count wisdom teeth). So, needless to say, it was an interesting experience. The anesthesia was quite fun; falling asleep and then waking up and not remembering a thing is really a strange concept. My arm is really soar today but considering what the outcome could have been, we're extremely thankful that this was reletively minor. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers, we're back to the world of blogging!

Cara's trip to California

This past week I was in California for my granmother's memorial service. Little did I know that I would get to see all of my college friends and meet Donald Rumsfeld! Despite the circumstances, it was a really wonderful trip. My grandmother's service was wonderful. We cried and laughed simulaniously. Here were some highlights of the weekend...

That's right, I got to meet Donald Rumsfeld! My friend, Tara
who works for him, happened to be in town. It was a blast.

Baby Mikah! Isn't he precious! Kara and I went to visit
him on SUnday night. He's now 3 lbs 12 oz!

The girls!

Kara's second: Mia . Check out her favorite glasses!Tina's baby Zachary... can you say cheese!

Will and Rachel Sherman! I got to visit Bill's church plant
and have lunch with the family... Rachel beat me AGAIN in Scrabble!JJ and Jennica!

Typical Besios...

At Nona's reception

Eva Gloria Besio 1920-2006

My sweet grandmother or "Nona" as we called her, passed away this week from a long battle with Alheztimer's. I love this picture of her when she was my age, so full of life. That's still how I remember her, full of life. She lived in my little town of Truckee California with her parents who came over from Italy in the 1920's (Giovanni Moro and Enrica Scaramella Moro - and I thought my name was Italian). She and my grandfather ran a shop called "Besio's Apparel" for 34 years together. I remember going in there after school to drink a coke and play on with the pretend cash register they had in the back. Every Tuesday night, my brother, sister and I would walk to their house for dinner. We would eat, play games, and watch TV. She was quite the cook: homemade stews and raviolis were a regular menu item.

Nona was the one who taught me how to water plants. I remembered that this week when I took one of our house plants off of a stand and put it in the sink. She would always take a spounge and clean off each leaf, she thought that it made the plants happy; that it tickled them. She and my grandfather were two of the most active people. They would take daily walks around Truckee and collect old arrowheads. She would take pride in mounting these arrowheads on mats and then would frame them and put them up in her house. By the time my grandfather died in 1997, most of the walls of their house were covered in arrowheads. I just think of the wonderful conversations and times they had just walking everyday.

They were also the ones that taught us to fish. We lived by a river growing up and Nona would come down to our house (which was in their backyard) and would bring a styrophome container of worms she would purchase at the corner store. We would sit on this big rock for hours with our shoes off and our feet dangling in the water trying to catch fish.

My family and I are grieving the loss of this wonderful woman, but are also celebrating her wonderful life and how she so generously gave to everyone of us. It's wonderful to think that she has her mind back now and is up in heaven making the most WONDERFUL raviolis!

Poop Happens...

This is a HILARIOUS video from my friend, Tina. This is her new baby, Zachary...I hope you laugh as much as Blair and I did!

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The Killer Swan

Blair and I took a little trip to Montreat last weekend with Denton. Montreat is a little mountain town down the road about 20 minutes. We took Denton down by the river and the lake. This swan was obviously not happy about our visit...

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Back to School...

Blair and I are both gearing up to return to school. Blair's RA training starts this Sunday, something he's been preparing for for the past month. It's one of his favorite parts aspects of his job, and yet one of the most draining activities he helps to plan. My elementary school also starts next Monday. I've been busy in the classroom; getting instruments put away, bulletin boards put up, music filed away. We're both ready to start a new year. By the way, Blair may be starting Grad school at Western Carolina University getting his master's degree in "College Student Personnel, Student Services." Still waiting to see if things pan out for the semester, we'll keep everyone updated.

Denton's tour of the Jenkins House...

Alright friends....We finally took pictures and posted them right here for you to see our little house in Asheville, North Carolina. Denton hopes you enjoy our home.
She did pretty well but as you can see, she has not mastered the "Stay" command.
Not bad for a puppy. Here we go...Welcome to Freedom Lane; Asheville, NC!

We live at #7...

Here's our front porch. This is a very southern feature. We

only have four neighbors on our street and usually hang out
on our front porches...

Mom's attempt to garden. Her herbs are actually surviving...

Come on in!

Here's the living room. There's usually an area rug, but

I sometimes have accidents. Hey, I'm only 5 months old!

This is where we sit at night and I get to chew my bone!

Here's the back yard. I can't wait for the grass to start

growing that daddy just planted...

More living room...

Here's where mommy makes daddy dinner...

...and here's where they eat it.

Here's mommy and daddy's room...

...and their bathroom.

This is where mommy teaches oboe lessons. Sometimes
it sounds like a duck, but not when mommy plays it...

Guest bedroom

Guest Bathroom

Whew, I'm tired. Thanks for coming to see the house!

I'm still up for a walk...

Bele Chere Weekend

This weekend, Blair and I had the opportunity to spend the weekend with Wayne, Diane, Lee Anne and Brad (LA's boyfriend). We had mango margarita's and birthday cake to celebrate Lee Anne's 26th birthday and then spend the majority of the weekend at Bele Chere - Asheville's annual outdoor free music festival. We had a great time! Bele Chere brought in 400,000 people this year and featured the band "Train." What a great show! Blair and I went back on Sunday after the gang left and saw FFH. We came home sun-burned and tired - it was all worth it. Lee Anne's trying to hold down Denton...quite the task!

We took Brad and LA up to the Grove Park Inn

LA's birthday cake! Do you think I have a future carreer in baking cakes?

Denton passes obedience school!

That's right! Our #1 pooch actually passed obedience school. Here she is enjoying her certificate, which seems to be the manner in which she enjoys many of our household items. We still have hope for Denton. Though she doesn't come on command outside our house, we're hoping that will click soon. I can't imagine what raising kids are like after trying to teach this dog one simple command: come. How can you resist this face?

Diane's Birthday...

We had the opportunity while in Greensboro to celebrate Diane's birthday. Wayne, Lee Anne, Blair and I all coordinated a cake and presents to honor our #1 mom/wife/friend/supporter/decorator/helper. Denton and Casey had fun helping opening the gifts too, no cake for them!