Here We Go Steelers!

A sigh of relief. Then a shriek of joy as I run laps around the house jumping up and down and over the side of the couch until I wear myself out. Then, I flop down on a pillow, exhausted. That sure was a stressful game. 

That's what usually happens after the Steelers win a playoff game, especially an important one like last week's. (But hey, what Steeler game isn't important?)

And here we go again. I have to gear up and prepare myself for another nerve-racking, pillow biting (that's what I do when I get really nervous), Terrible Towel wringing playoff game. The only difference is that this is the ultimate playoff game........this is the Super Bowl!

By right of birth, born into a family of Pittsburghers who love the "Stillers" I've always been sort of a fan. I'd watch my dad and brothers watch the games and hear them talk about them, but that was about it. You have to start somewhere, right?  It was not until I was probably seven that I started getting really interested in joining my male family members in their football fandom. Ever since then, I've been a big fan. I've cheered the Steelers on every year, but then again, who doesn't! Our whole city loves the Steelers; there is not one Sunday in football season where you can not spot dozens of people sporting  Steelers jerseys. They say -and I don't doubt this one bit- that we have the best fans in all of sports. Of course we do! We're Pittsburgh!

This will be my third Steelers Super Bowl. I saw them win #5 and #6, and boy, am I sure hoping to see them add a 7th Lombardi to the case!
And what will happen if they lose?! I don't know what I'll do, but one things for sure, we will not have a happy household for at least a month. I've seen my brother grieve over sports loses before and Its not pretty.

Whatever the outcome, it'll prove to be an exciting game.

So let's hope the next time I do my post-playoff game routine of sighing, cheering, running, and jumping is on Super Bowl Sunday, when the Steelers win!

Here we go Steelers!!!!!!!





Question: Are you a football fan? Of what team? If not, are you a fan of a team of another sport? What kind? Did you grow up as a fan of this sports team or just recently become one?

Let me know!

Happiness Is.........

A couple years ago, my mom got out the sound track to the musical "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown" from the library. At first, it was like, "eh, just another CD mom thought was interesting and thinks we should listen to" (I wasn't too keen on the pictures in the booklet showing real humans taking the place of the Peanuts cartoon characters, which was all I was used to. They kinda freaked me out). But once I had heard it a  few times, I was hooked. It became sort of a family staple. My brother and I memorized all the words. Even the older siblings joined in. "Shroeder" and "My New Philosophy" were belted throughout the house while "Suppertime" was used as our dinner bell. But perhaps the most favorite song was the one that came very last on the CD, titled "Happiness".

Speaking of "Happiness", here are the lyrics:

HAPPINESS IS FINDING A PENCIL.
PIZZA WITH SAUSAGE
TELLING THE TIME.
HAPPINESS IS LEARNING TO WHISTLE.
TYING YOUR SHOE FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.

HAPPINESS IS PLAYING THE DRUM IN YOUR OWN SCHOOL BAND.
AND HAPPINESS IS WALKING HAND IN HAND.
HAPPINESS IS TWO KINDS OF ICE CREAM.
KNOWING A SECRET.
CLIMBING A TREE.
HAPPINESS IS FIVE DIFFERENT CRAYONS.
CATCHING A FIREFLY.
SETTING HIM FREE.

HAPPINESS IS BEING ALONE EVERY NOW AND THEN.
AND HAPPINESS IS COMING HOME AGAIN.
HAPPINESS IS MORNING AND EVENING,
DAY TIME AND NIGHT TIME TOO.
FOR HAPPINESS IS ANYONE AND ANYTHING AT ALL
THAT'S LOVED BY YOU.

HAPPINESS IS HAVING A SISTER.
SHARING A SANDWICH.
GETTING ALONG.
HAPPINESS IS SINGING TOGETHER WHEN DAY IS THROUGH,
AND HAPPINESS IS THOSE WHO SING WITH YOU.
HAPPINESS IS MORNING AND EVENING,
DAYTIME AND NIGHTTIME TOO.
FOR HAPPINESS IS ANYONE AND ANYTHING AT ALL
THAT'S LOVED BY YOU.



Inspired by this song, I present to you four things that made me happy this week:

Happiness is..........

1. Not Breaking My Thumb
Thumb. Door. Slam. Not very good words to be used together. You can probably guess what happened. These words added together equal blood, swelling and pain, which is also not a very good combination of words. I thought for sure my thumb was broken. But I iced it, soaked it, and bandaged it under the watchful eye of  Dr. Mom and by the next morning the swelling had gone down. I sit here with nothing but an ugly blood blister and a fully bendable thumb that's not that sore. (No stitches needed) Thanks be to God!






2. Having a Snow Day
I LOVE snow! No matter what people say about hating winter, as long as there is a significant amount of snow, I have to disagree. Snow is such a miracle! And what I like even more than snow is having a snow day. A day devoted solely to snow. And we had just that kind of a day on Wednesday, when six inches of snow fell, and school was cancelled.
I love playing all day in the white stuff, sledding, snowball fighting, frolicking with the neighbors, and just laying in the snow. I enjoy genuinely getting tired out and then, red cheeked and cold, going inside to thaw out with a warm cup of any kind of non-chocolate liquid. My mom likes to make me vanilla milk. Yummy!





3. Watching the Steelers Win
What a great way to end the week! On to the AFC championship! Victory alone makes me feel good, but beating the Ravens is even better.






4. Visiting My Grandma
On Friday, my mom and I went to Cleveland to visit my Grandma. Its nice to live close enough to go see her for a few hours and still be able to drive back to Beaver all in one day. I had a good time. No wonder why they're called Grandmas. My grandma sure is grand!




(5.) Sending out the Missy Times
I just had to mention that.


"Happiness is anyone and anything at all thats loved by you.........."

What made you happy this week?

More Photos From Tennessee

Coming Soon To A Mailbox Near You!

Inside The Times:

"Out With The Old Year, In With The New, 2011 We Welcome You!"

"Did You Know?"

"Leave It To Beaver"

"Billy Had A Better Plan"

"Nutcracker Night" 

"The 'In's' and 'Outs' of  2011 For The Koshutes"

"Adventures In Music City"

"BBQ Pork, Coleslaw, and L'Angelus"

"Lost Voice: If Found Please Return To Missy Koshute"

The Wise Mens' Visit

                  

Three friends were we, a trio of men who studied the constellations.
Little did we know that someday our studies would lead us to find the hope of every nation.

We came from afar, to follow the star, high above the earth.
And at that time we could have never known what our journey would be worth

So bright did it shine, we knew it must be a sign,
 a sign to all mankind.

So we watered our camels and packed our sacks and began our tedious quest.
We trekked over the land and the desert sand,  saying, "We'll find where the child rests!"

All of sudden, after weeks of traveling, the star stood over Bethlehem, a humble little town,
Our hearts seemed to soar within us, was this where He would be found?

We searched every inn, every house, every stable and every tiny space,
until one day we peeked through a doorway and were staring right into His face!

The King of Heaven, the Messiah! We each fell to our knees,
There He was before us, crawling around as he pleased!

His mother rushed into the room and scooped Him up in her lap,
She and her husband smiled at us, welcomed us in and said He had just woken up from His nap

We introduced ourselves one by one as we knelt before the babe,
His father caressed His soft pink face and tenderly told us His name.

We were filled with wonder, and filled with awe at this precious baby boy ,
His bouncy curls, His clear blue eyes, He looked so full of joy!

We opened our sacks and took out gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh,
And as we placed them before Him, tears of happiness turned our vision to a blur

We sat down and adored the savior for a time that felt like hours
and marveled as we held Him close the Almighty's wondrous powers

Finally, we had leave and return to our homes once more
But as we bid His family good-bye we all wished we could stay for just a second more



I will always remember that ever-so glorious night,
The night I held in my arms the son of God, Love's pure light

They call us wise men, but this I say,
The only wise man is Jesus, through Him, our debt is paid today.

This year, we celebrated the 3 Kings visit on Sunday, January 2nd, but today was the day the Epiphany was originally honored on.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!