Halloween 2011

One Biker,
One Army dude,
One Hippie,
and a Princess!

Sam-I-Am

 I just love finding stuff at Sam's Wholesale.

I had searched all over the place for an ice cream freezer. Most stores had either sold out or didn't get any this year. Now what's that about? Especially here in 100+ degrees Texas!! Anyway, Marilyn and I were stopping in to pick up some extra stuff for the weekend. I decided just to check, you know by some small chance, if they had one. Low and behold they didn't just have one; they had a whole stack of them. Woohoo---made my day!

Then right beside the freezers these cute little things were stacked. This ceramic red one just shouted out to me. It was even marked down! I can tell you for sure....it dispensed great amounts of tea during the 4th weekend.

And speaking of weekends.....have a great one!!

July 4th

As Marilyn said, the 2011 July 4th weekend was a success. It was full of family, friends, food, fireworks, and fun.

Davis and Miller Fireworks (Gunter pyro crew)

They actually do two city shows. (We didn't get a picture of the other city crew.) Attendees from larger cities around us said the Davis and Miller shows put theirs to shame!! Way to go guys.

Weekend Stuff

Easter weekend was packed. Packed with everything we love and enjoy......

~~a great church service
~~time with our family
~~an Easter meal (or two!)
~~egg hunt for Jonah and Glory
~~camera fun

Rick was personally pretty busy, too. He went to the church "youth lock in" on Friday night for several hours, and then he went back Saturday morning for several more. Youth is not his ministry area, but the sound booth is! Because they had special music, they needed him in there to operate this.

Hope your weekend was full of everything you wanted. Have a great week!

Easter Photo Op

This afternoon I took Glory to a friend's house. This friend had her Easter yard decorations out and had invited friends to bring their little ones out for pictures. The family has their own live petting zoo around their place (goats, sheep, bunnies).

The Easter bunnies were our favorite!

The Year

First, let me take a minute to think about the resolutions I made last year.........huh.......huh.....I didn't really make any.

Now, let me say it's been a great year. I have enjoyed so many blessings over the past twelve months.

Here's just a few "2010" things that come to mind.

*Traveling (with family and friends)
*Surgeries (Sinus and gall bladder.... these were blessings because they were successful!)
*Great memories/times with the family
*Bible studies with special friends
*God's love, grace, and mercy

Pics of Glory and Jonah in January 2010

Have a great and safe New Year's Eve. Oh, and don't forget to get your black eyed peas!

One Blessed Family

We had such a blessed 2010 Christmas that I have delayed posting because there is so much I could and should share.  We did all the things you did......eat, open presents, remember Jesus's birth, play games, and just spend time together.

For now,  I will share these few pics. (I'll post Marilyn, her family, and Uncle Tim later; those pics are on a different camera that I will have to confiscate.)

Papa and His Kiddos

Oh, and my mom would be proud. All Christmas stuff is packed away. Will be getting it out in about ten months. Does anyone else feel like this process comes around way to quickly each year?

2011............here we come!!

Blessings!

1. These are pictures from the sunrise I mentioned a couple of days ago.

2. Lunch today with a special friend.

3. Plenty of prescribed meds today to help this "junk" go away. I already feel 100% better thanks to a shot.

4. Celebrations around the corner........so

Merry Christmas!

Where's the Line to See Jesus?

Silence my playlist at the bottom and listen to one of my newest favorite songs. We were blessed with it this past Sunday morning. Even if you've heard it before take a few minutes to do so again.

 Annual Girly Party

Keelie hosted her annual girls' Christmas party last night. It's such a treat. She prepares the main YUMMY food! We also do a cookie exchange. Marilyn always brings everyone homemade jellies (that's what's in the wire basket on the table). We do a small gift exchange and play a couple of games as well. Miss Glory got to participate this year. Oh, and one of the best things we now always do......come in comfy PJs or the likes there of!

My kind of fun.......family, friends, and food!

(some of the treats)

(my family)

"The Gift" for Girls' Outing 

The girls ( and one special little guy) had a Christmas outing yesterday. We went to Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano again this year to see their Christmas Pageant. It is always such a blessing!

Jonah's comments kept me smiling before and during the show.

Before:
Nanna, are we going to get to see what God and Jesus really look like?
Hey, will Santa be here?
What about the reindeer?
Will Jesus be big or little?
Is it time to start?

During:
Why do those angels keep coming down?
That's the real Santa, isn't it?! (He came down from the rafters in a sleigh.)
Look, Nanna. Frosty!
Why are Joseph and Mary so still?
That's a real horse.
Hey, Nanna, can we go camping in two weeks?
When is Jesus going to grow up?

He smiled, conducted the orchestra music, clapped, sang, and took in SO much.

As we left the church, he even noticed that way up in the top of the church foyer his name "JONAH" was there (biblical characters in glass). It just amazes me what little ones pick up and notice. He blesses my heart!

FA LA LA...... FRIDAY

* A Christmas Luncheon at work

* Keelie made chicken tacos for us last night (She's the best cook!)

* More Christmas lights with Keelie, Jonah, and Glory

Gotta Love Them!

"Let There Be Peace..."

".....and Let It Begin With Me."

Healthy Cheese Ball?

Yes, if it counts that it has kiwi and strawberries in it. Anyway, have you seen this recipe? I am not sure I had. But I'm sure going to give it a whirl!

"Better Than A Fruitcake Cheese Ball"

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened

2 t. mayonnaise

¾ c. chopped pecans, divided

½ c. chopped candied kiwi fruit, divided

½ c. chopped candied strawberries, divided

Cream together Cheddar cheese, cream cheese, and mayonnaise. Add ½ c. pecans, ¼ c. kiwi fruit and ¼ c. strawberries.

Mix remaining pecans, kiwi, and strawberries. Press coating mixture into cheese ball to make it stick. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate 2-3 hours. Bring to room temperature before serving.

(Sharon Fabianke/Texas Electric Cooperative)

In Keeping with Tradition.....

On Thanksgiving Day, we always take a few minutes to do our "Christmas Craft" with the family. It's usually an ornament that can be added to the tree. We have done them from all ends of the creativity scale. Never the less..... it's so special to look at them from year to year and think about those sweet times together.

So here are a few shots from yesterday.......

And the last two pics here are crafts done for Jonah and Glory for their first Thanksgiving/Christmases (2005 and 2008)....

(Happy Birthday, Greg!)

Treats for the Ladies

Last week I had decided to whip up something for the ladies in my bible study. Nothing fancy....just a few Halloween treats to take home.

Supplies......white sacks, computer-printed image, homemade cookies and brownies, a Snickers bar, and bible verse cards I made.

Oh my goodness. What did I do??

Yes, I forgot to give them to the ladies. I realized it the next morning! Don't laugh...do not laugh!

I just put everything in the freezer--sacks and all. Luckily, I did remember to take them out yesterday.

So last night when we met, I had myself a note taped in my book..."GIVE OUT THE HALLOWEEN SACKS!"

Do any of you relate?

Hope you got treated--not tricked!

The Cutest Little Bones and Bug!

Ready for Wreaths?

We recently attended a craft show. Not really sure why I didn't take a boat load of pics. Probably because the vendors highly discourage it, and I totally get that. But this guy gave people permission to do it. So naturally, I whipped out the phone.

Does anyone besides me think this Santa looks frightened from that angle?!