Thursday, December 31, 2009

Finishing projects!!

I woke up this morning and decided to finish several projects I have been working on. This is an apron for my co-worker. She has been really sweet to me and helped me to adjust to the transition of my new job. She and her husband own a restaurant and she helps where is needed. She may be waiting tables, cooking, running the cash register, or just hostessing. She wears an apron and has been talking about how hers were worn out, so she has a new one to wear tonight to bring in the new year. We are staying in tonight. I quit going out for New Years a long time ago. I have plans to paint and sew for the next 4 days. I also have been cleaing out some and I plan on continuing with that task. I hope 2010 brings ya'll great times filled with love, health, and laughter. Stay safe tonight if you go out. Happy New Year and may God bless ya'll!!!

Friday, December 25, 2009

Big guy in a red suit????



MC says Merry Christmas and this big guy in the red suit thing is really great!! She wants to learn more about him. Santa made a hit at her house. We had a wonderful Christmas Eve and this morning is continuing with the same blessings. Daughter, son in law and angel baby are traveling to his mom's for Christmas. I did get to spend a little time with them this morning. They called and told me to come look at what Santa brought. They will return this afternoon. Oldest son just popped in for brunch/lunch--little combo of breakfast food and lunch food. Little son is playing his new Playstation 3. His buddy around the corner is here, they have been back and forth this morning playing with each ones new game stations. The house is full of laughter and giggles, what wonderful sounds!!! I have been sipping on Spiced Christmas Punch, one of my favorites, and listening to Christmas music. This punch is a fav of all the kids. Here is the recipe:
2 cups cranberry juice
1/2 cup water
2 1/2 cups pineapple juice
1 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp whole allspice
1 1/2 whole cloves
3 sticks cinnamon
Place spices in the cheesecloth and tie with a thread. Mix juices, water, and brown sugar in a small pot--Drop spices into juices and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and let steep 5 minutes.
Spices may be put into top of perculator and juice poured in bottom-perk until stops.
Ya'll enjoy the day. Try not to eat to much. Be safe, happy healthy. Smile and giggle. Hug those you love and most of all, God bless ya'll!!
"For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not evil, to give you a future and a hope. When you pray, I will listen. You will find me when you search for me with all your heart." ----- Jeremiah 29: 11-13
May God's Gift Of Love, Be Your Joy This Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas!!!



For unto us a Saviour is born. He is Christ the Lord. May Christ
bring you and yours peace today and all through the coming year.
Merry Christmas yall!!!!

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

A Christmas Story

While drinking my coffee this morning and blog hopping as I do every morning, I found this. Please read and remember!!!!!



A Christmas Story
It's just a small, white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name, no identification, no inscription. It has peeked through the branches of our tree for the past 10 years or so.It all began because my husband Mike hated Christmas---oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it-overspending...the frantic running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and the dusting powder for Grandma---the gifts given in desperation because you couldn't think of anything else.Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties and so forth. I reached for something special just for Mike. The inspiration came in an unusual way.Our son Kevin, who was 12 that year, was wrestling at the junior level at the school he attended; and shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match against a team sponsored by an inner-city church, mostly black.These youngsters, dressed in sneakers so ragged that shoestrings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, presented a sharp contrast to our boys in their spiffy blue and gold uniforms and sparkling new wrestling shoes.As the match began, I was alarmed to see that the other team was wrestling without headgear, a kind of light helmet designed to protect a wrestler's ears.It was a luxury the ragtag team obviously could not afford. Well, we ended up walloping them. We took every weight class. And as each of their boys got up from the mat, he swaggered around in his tatters with false bravado, a kind of street pride that couldn't acknowledge defeat.Mike, seated beside me, shook his head sadly, "I wish just one of them could have won," he said. "They have a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them."Mike loved kids-all kids-and he knew them, having coached little league football, baseball and lacrosse. That's when the idea for his present came.That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought an assortment of wrestling headgear and shoes and sent them anonymously to the inner-city church.On Christmas Eve, I placed the envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what I had done and that this was his gift from me.His smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year and in succeeding years.For each Christmas, I followed the tradition---one year sending a group of mentally handicapped youngsters to a hockey game, another year a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground the week before Christmas, and on and on.The envelope became the highlight of our Christmas. It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning and our children, ignoring their new toys, would stand with wide-eyed anticipation as their dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal it's contents.As the children grew, the toys gave way to more practical presents, but the envelope never lost its allure. The story doesn't end there.You see, we lost Mike last year due to dreaded cancer. When Christmas rolled around, I was still so wrapped in grief that I barely got the tree up. But Christmas Eve found me placing an envelope on the tree, and in the morning, it was joined by three more. Each of our children, unbeknownst to the others, had placed an envelope on the tree for their dad.The tradition has grown and someday will expand even further with our grandchildren standing around the tree with wide-eyed anticipation watching as their fathers take down the envelope. Mike's spirit, like the Christmas spirit, will always be with us.May we all remember each other, and the Real reason for the season, and His true spirit this year and always. God bless---pass this along to your friends and loved ones.--- Copyright © 1982 Nancy W. Gavin--- Submitted by Edwin G. Whiting
The story first appeared in Woman's Day magazine in 1982. My mom had sent the story in as a contest entry in which she subsequently won first place. Unfortunately, she passed away from cancer two years after the story was published. Our family still keeps the tradition started by her and my father and we have passed it on to our children. Feel free to use the story. It gives me and my sisters great joy to know that it lives on and has hopefully inspired others to reach out in a way that truly honors the spirit of Christmas. --- Kevin Gavin

I found this over here:
http://vistawoman.blogspot.com/ Hope it made you feel as good as it did me. Now go get a white envelope and pass it on. Be safe, happy, healthy. Pray for our soldiers and their families. Hug those you love and God bless ya'll!!!

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Angel Baby's First Arts and Crafts Attempt



MC, mom and I attempted to make ornaments for all the grans and great grans with her lil handprint, but WRONG!!!! She would not open her hand and when you tried to open it, no way!! Had a good time and I got the only ornament that got anything on it--several blobs of paint, but I will always know what it was. It is hanging on my tree with name and date. Maybe next year will be easier!!! God bless ya'll!!!!!

Monday, December 21, 2009

Christmas Blanket





I finally have finished a project. My time frame has changed some with the arrival of the sweetest lil angel I know, but I did get the Christmas items made before the first family get together. The blanket, bibs and burp pad were finished Sunday morning about 3 hours before our family breakfast out of town with my mom's family. I was determined to have them ready, although the family had given up on it. Ha! Ha! I always work better under pressure. Really things have been crazy here lately. My Thursdays have turned into busy days instead of those where you stay in your pj's all day. New Years resolution--get back to pj Thursday and crafting!! My dad broke his foot and there is a sore on it that we have to treat daily. He is unable to soak, treat and wrap it by himself so my daughter have taken over that job. I really have enjoyed it though, because it gives us some time just to sit and talk everyday. He was not able to go with us yesterday though, because he has come down with a terrible cold. My mom died 24 years ago and this will be the first Christmas get together he has missed. Next Sunday is his family get together, and I hope he is well by then. I loaded him up on medicine and keeping a close watch on him. There are so many strange bugs going around these days and I do not want him to get pneumonia. He is 81 years young!! The baby has been sick and she could not go to nursey, so I kept her a few days. Mom is back at work and does not need to miss, Gammy has all kind of time built up to miss so it was really not a problem to stay home with her. My employer was off and I planned on missing some anyway, but I was going to sew and paint, but holding her and playing with her was much more special. She is really developing a personality as you can see. She loves her Paw Paw Jack cause he will sit, hold and rock all day if necessary. We are planning an easy Christmas this year. I always do our stuff Christmas Eve so Christmas Day is open for whatever. Still have to have food, but thinking about downsizing. Going to have poboy sandwiches, cheese plates, dips and snack food Christmas Eve. Big kids will be working until 6 or 7 so I am going to get everything ready and we will all enjoy the evening together. We have so many big meals this time of year, that I am thinking about ditching the turkey all together and going with roast or something, but family not all on board about that. I will decide today, because I have to get the turkey out of the freezer tomorrow if we are going to have it. My oven is beeping and there are 3 loaves of sourdough bread fixing to come out, and it is time for me to get going for work. Ya'll have a great day! Be safe, happy healthy and remember those that are less fortunate. Hug those you love and remember to smile and laugh! God bless ya'll!!

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Christmas Tree


What a wonderful time of year. I believe this must be my favorite. Happiness abounds and the lights and colors just make me smile. We have a parade every year in our little town and that is my tree putting up weekend. This year though my family talked me into putting it up Thanksgiving weekend. So we have been in the spirit since then. Thanksgiving was wonderful. All the family present, healthy, and happy. We ate at my dad's due to him having a broken foot and it was easier for him if we came there. My daughter and I cooked all day Wednesday and Thursday, then we transported to his house. Great time, but dummy mom forgot to take any pics!! Oldest son brought his girlfriend---never before has he ever brought anyone to family get togethers--maybe this one is for real!! Hope so. She is a really sweet girl. Did you see my sweet Christmas Cat? Every year as we put up the tree our kitty helps and then he claims his spot. Same spot every year. It is so funny!! I have to be careful what ornaments I put around his area and tie them down better than the others. We have to use fishing line to secure the tree to the window so it will not fall as he climbs. It is really funny to watch him get "nested" in his spot!!
If you have not seen "The Blind Side" with Sandra Bullock, please go see it. It is such a heartwarming film and it is all true. Being from the south and Ole Miss everywhere, I know the story. It will do your heart good to realize that there are caring, loving people still in this world who will go above and beyond to help others. At the end of the movie are the real pics of the Tueys and Michael throughout the years. Stay and watch it all. Great story!!! Please, please go see it!!!!!!
Ok, we all know that I am an encourager. I always think positive and try to instill these values in my children. While reading devotionals the other day, I found this verse. I do not think I have ever read it aloud before, but I do now on a regular basis. It is Romans 15:4-6. Enjoy!
"For whatever was written before was written for our instruction, so that through our endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we may have hope. Now may the God of endurance and encouragement grant you agreement with one another, according to Christ Jesus, so that you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with a united mind and voice."
Be an encourager. As I said above this is a wonderful time of year, but for some it is a desperate time of year. Where I see happiness others see despair. Where I smile, others ache. Remember the reason for this season, and help others. Give to those that are in need. Sometimes a smile and a hug will change someones day. Take one gift idea away from your lists for everyone in your household and give the money you would have spent to a charity. Remember if God had not given us His wonderful Son, we would not be able to have the things we do! Have a great day! Pray for our soldiers and their families! Pray for world peace! Smile! Be healthy, happy, safe!! God bless ya'll!!!