IT'S OVER AND GONE

Well, Christmas has come and gone and so has 2008.

Is it just me or does everyone agree that they both just flew by?

We spent Christmas in AR as usual.

I got to see alot of my family that I don't get to see very much throughout the year.

We left Tuesday and came back late Saturday night, so that we would be back for church.

The kids got way more than should be allowed.

We left some of their gifts with their Grandma so that they can play with them when they are there.(I didn't let them know it was just the noisy ones)

They got a wii from their Grandma and so far they have had to fight John over it.

I may have to ground him from it so that the kids can play.

One thing I thought was neat about the Wii, is that you

get to pick a Mii, which is your player who you make look like you.

We all had a merry Christmas and as far as I can tell everyone got all they asked for.

I'm thankful for all that God does for our family.

We've been given more than we deserve.

Now it's on to New Years.

We'll have a Watch Night service tonight to ring in the New Year.

I cannot remember a time that I wasn't in church on New Year's Eve.

I'm sure that is strange to most people, but I don't think I would feel right doing anything else.

I hope everyone has a blessed and successful New Year and that God does more for you and that you do more for Him in 2009 than in any other year thus far!

BEEN GONE

Saturday, my mama, aunt, and cousin came up and done some Christmas shopping and stayed the night with us.

We started shopping and I started feeling funny, but just figured it was because I hadn't eaten anything all day.

So about 6 o'clock we finally stopped shopping long enough to go to Red Lobster, which always makes me feel better. I'm a Red Lobster lover, you know the slogan, "for the seafood lover in you" yeah, that's talking about me.



Anyways, I did feel a little better and we resumed shopping.

We made it to the last store about midnight and then it hit me.

I knew it was coming on... the death virus(or at least that's what I call it)



I have now been officially sick for 5 days. It's pretty much running fever, neck pain, headaches, and chills. I have had the occassional "pukies", but it's not really like a stomach virus.

I do feel somewhat better today and hope that by tomorrow I'll be fine, but just as soon as I think I'm feeling better it seems to hit me again that I'm not.



While shopping I did find some great things. Mama bought me a really cute purse, which she says I'll only carry a few times and be tired of. John says that is probably true. I say they may be right but who can pass up a cute purse.



I still have a little more Christmas shopping left to do, so maybe I'll feel better in time to go get the last few things on my list.


I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season.

I also want everyone to remember who this season is all about and everyone try to put aside all differences and be open and honest with one another. I think that would be a great Christmas gift to give anyone. Trust and true friendship. Friendship isn't just between 2 people, friendship is something that is big enough for everyone to be apart of, if you'll just allow it. A man [that hath] friends must shew himself friendly. Proverbs 18:24 You can never have too many friends.
"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked."

Jesus is the true gift of Christmas and He also gave us other gifts as well. He gave the gift of friends and I'm glad to say that I count each of you as my friends and hope that you all have a very Merry Christmas and that God gives each of you the desires of your heart this year.

PHOTO FRIDAY

I couldn't just pick one child's "HAPPY FACE" so here's all 4 of my "HAPPY FACES"

This pic was taken outside of the Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg. They were really excited.

MERRY MEMORIES AND TASTY THURSDAY

Today's Tasty Thursday recipe is...

CORNFLAKE CANDY


CORNFLAKE COOKIES

1 c. white sugar
1 c. corn syrup
1/4 c. butter
1 c. peanut butter
6 c. corn flakes

Bring sugar & syrup to a boil. Remove from heat & add butter & peanut butter.
Melt, pour over cornflakes. Mix together good. Spoon onto wax paper.
Makes 50 cookies.

I plan on making this tonight with the kids.

I am the world's worst about not letting the kids help.

I figure if I just do it then there won't be that big of a mess and less clean up for me, but I realize
these days are ones for making memories and my kitchen can be cleaned.

So, I'm gonna to start today and try to loosen up a little and let the kids be kids.

We're also going to venture out and build a ginger bread house.

When the kids were little I would not let them get dirty for anything.

I have had to get better about this since they have gotten older and since there are more of them than there is of me.

Some things you just can't control no matter how hard you try. (You saw the hair pictures from last night)

Here's to you and yours and merry memory making!

Apparently, Sawyer found gum somewhere before he went to bed and ended up getting it in his hair.

John worked on getting it out yesterday with ice.

Sawyer must not have thought he was doing it fast enough and this is what happened when we weren't looking....




I cannot believe he done this to his hair.

I have no idea what to do. I guess we'll just have to let it grow out. John is about to die, he doesn't think we should take him out in public.lol

I guess he'll be wearing a hat until it comes back. My only concern is church, but since it's cold maybe we can pull off a toboggan.

MY CHRISTMAS HOME

I thought I would share some pics of my Christmas decorations.

This year I don't have quite as many out because I'm missing a couple of boxes that my husband says are no where to be found.

I'm sure they are somewhere, he just isn't determined enough to find them. That's just my take:)

These are just a few of the living room, kitchen, and hallway. I hope everyone shares their decorations as well, I'd love to see them!

" />

I've had this gingerbread house forever.
These are our stockings. my friend Laura, embroidered the kids names on theirs. I think they're cute.
Poinsettias on the hall table.
Note the cookie jar is already empty. I can't keep the thing filled fast enough.
Kitchen window with little mangers scenes.
Another window in the kitchen.
Little hutch with snowmen.
Snowman above entertainment center.
This is our snowman family, if you look closely you see the names.
Wreath on entertainment center.
Our tree, I could never get a good picture of it, this doesn't do it justice. I also wanted more sprigs coming out the top but Hobby Lobby has sold out.
These are my two favorite snowmen that I got the 1st year we were married and I love the candy cane candles.

Everybody have a great day and enjoy the Christmas season while it lasts!

AT WAR WITH NO ONE?

Yesterday, Evan finally got to have his paintball war.

He and 5 of his friends went out to a friend of ours farm and shot paint balls at each other?

Sometimes I just don't understand boys. Some of the things they think up!

After church, I ran out and got pizza to feed them before they left to play.

While I was gone they all changed out of their church clothes into their paintball gear.

This is what they looked like.






It was so cold, but that didn't deter them, they still had a great time.

I hear this was the topic of conversation all the way home from church last night for some of you parents. "SORRY"

I'm glad everyone had a good time and no one was hurt in the process.

John said it was so funny watching them. They had over 5000 paintballs to use and the first round they shot 1000 of them and not one boy was hit.

Apparently, it was just as much fun shooting them sparadically, rather than at each other.

Thanks Mr. David and Mr. Brian for going along for the help.(or your own need to shoot paintballs)lol

FOTO FRIDAY-LOVE

Today is Foto Friday.

I thought I would post a pic and play along.

Today's theme is "LOVE"




This is Sawyer and Marissa last year at Easter.

He used to say she was his girlfriend, but now he's in the phase of girls being gross.

She sure does tell him what to do though, typical boy/girl relationship.

FESTIVE FOOD FRIDAY

Since there was no Tasty Thursday this week we'll have Festive Food Friday.

The Christmas season is upon and with the season comes holiday baking and candy making.

For the month of December, I will post recipes for Christmas treats.

Starting with....

OREO COOKIE BALLS
(These are great to put into tins and give away at Christmas time. I hope you like them.)

Ingredients
1 (18 ounce) package regular Oreo cookies
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1 (24 ounce) package white almond bark

Directions
1Crush the oreos really well and mix with cream cheese (can use blender or mixer.).
2Roll into walnut size balls.
3Chill for at least 1 hour.
4Melt the almond bark in microwave.
5Dip chilled balls into melted almond bark and set up on wax paper.
6You can decorate with drizzles of opposite color almond bark or sprinkles, if desired.
7Keep them refrigerated. Try to share!

IT ONLY TAKES A SPARK TO GET A FIRE GOING

Today was a pretty normal Wednesday or so I thought.

I usually go and get groceries this day and now I have added cleaning up
the house to the list because of our youth services being in our living room.

I went to Wal-Mart and got some great deals on pajamas and shirts for
Kailey.

I get so excited when I find things on sale.

I was able to get her about 30 shirts and capris for $1.00 each that she
will be able to wear next summer. She will be able to wear some of them now with
long sleeves under them.

They also had some cute St. Louis Cardinal jackets for $1.00.

My original plan was to go to Wal-Mart and get groceries and refreshments
for the youth.

I got to Wal-Mart and was sidetracked by all the great sales I found and
ended up not getting the groceries or the refreshments.

I hurried back home as it was starting to rain and rushed inside to start
making sure the house was picked up.

I started going from room to room lighting
candles.

I lit them in the kitchen, the bathroom, the living room and my bedroom, in
that order.

As I was going into the living room I noticed smoke and the smoke
detector started blaring.

I mean blaring. John and I quickly started trying to find out where the
smoke was coming from and couldn't see anything in the bedrooms, so we sent the
kids out of the house until we could get the situation under
control.

When I got to the bathroom I saw it.

Fire was blazing on one of the countertops where
I had just lit a candle.

We have two sets of countertops in the bathroom and one of them has a set
of cabinets above it.

This is the one where the fire
was.

Apparently, the candle was too close to the flower arrangement that was on
the counter and it caught fire.

There was a woven basket next to the arrangement where I keep my makeup bag
and it was on fire too.

I could not believe how quickly the fire
started and how big it was. The cabinets are charred on the bottom and I'm
assuming they would have been the next thing to catch fire, but the smoke detector alerted us quick enough that I
was able to get the water bottle and get the fire out
before they went up in flames.

The arrangement was burnt to death and the basket was burned around the top
of it. Our walls have some kind of tile stuff on them and now there is a burned
place behind where the arrangemet was, so I guess we'll be replacing
that.

We raised all the windows and got the smoke out of the house. You can still
smell it in the bathroom. I'm hoping it will get better.

I am just thankful that we were home and that we have a smoke detector that
actually works.

The strange thing is there is a smoke detector right beside the bathroom in
the laundry room, but the one that went off was down the hall by the bedrooms.
They must be different brands, I'm guessing we need to get another of the good
ones.

Fair warning people, don't leave candles next to anything that is flammable
and definitely don't leave the house with them unattended.

I am so glad that I didn't run over to the church for any reason, which is
what I normally do on Wednesday nights because if I had we probably wouldn't
have a house left standing tonight.

The day was salvaged and I was able to get back to Wal-Mart in time to get
the youth their snacks before everyone got here.

Everyone watch those candles and Christmas lights. This time of year is
prominent for house fires. Be careful.

ITS BEGINNING TO LOOK ALOT LIKE CHRISTMAS

Tonight a group of us from the church went to the Christmas parade.

It was soooo cold out.

I ran off and forgot my camera, but Tracy had hers so maybe she'll post a couple of the pics.

There were about 30 of us that went.

After the parade, we came back to the church and had hot chocolate and cookies.

I was also able to get the teenagers to take down all the fall decorations, they did it in a record amount of time.

Now all we have to do is put out the Christmas ones. Maybe we'll get to that pretty soon.

Tomorrow, I'm planning on going and getting our Christmas tree and decorating it tomorrow night.

I have already begun putting out a few of our decorations, but I can't seem to find a couple of my big rubbermaid totes that have my lights and bathroom decorations in them.

I hope we get those found tomorrow.

I am getting in the Christmas spirit.

I just wish I had all my shopping done.

Hope everyone has a great Tuesday!

THEY SAY IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY

Today my oldest child turned 10.

He's in the double digits now!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EVAN!

WE LOVE YOU!

Here's a pic of him and the cake I made for him.

His paintball war party had to be canceled today because of the sleet and rain, so we'll have it next weekend.
I'll post pictures asap.

THANKSGIVING IN MY HEART

I will be out of town for the rest of the week.
We will be celebrating Thanksgiving in Arkansas with family.
I am so ready for Friday, I can hardly stand it.
I have already started my list of must haves to get at the early sales.
I thought I would do like Amy and give my list of things that I am thankful for so here goes...

I am thankful for

Jesus dying on the cross for MY sins
A husband who loves me and puts up with my bossiness
4 healthy kids who know Jesus
My extended family who are a good bunch of people
A place to lay my head
Love when I don't deserve it
Peace of mind
A happy heart
A voice to sing praises with
The ability to laugh
My church family
Good friends
Monday night tv
big gawdy jewelry
cheese and saltine crackers
blueberry cereal bars
sweet and salty chocolatey almond granola bars
Clearance sales
Vacations
Quality time with my husband
Family gatherings at Christmas and Thanksgiving
Still having 2 grandmothers alive
Not having to cook a turkey
A car to drive
Yankee candles
Cute purses
Anything that sparkles and shines
Sunday lunches with friends
Cracker Barrel and Red Lobster
Crab legs
That I live in a century where there is air conditioning and indoor plumbing
Being able(allowed) to homeschool my children
That they are learning, in spite of me doing the teaching
That God would choose to use someone like me with all my faults

I could go on and on with the things that I'm thankful for. God has blessed me above and beyond what I deserve, so all I can say to Him is, Thank You.

James 1:17
Psalms 107:1

GOD HAS BEEN SO GOOD TO ME

Last week I told you that I had won another giveaway and that there was a twist that came along with it.

Well, I won 2/ $50 dollar gift cards to Wal-Mart. One I could keep for myself and the other I had to give to someone in need.

What a great idea.

I had chosen who I wanted to give my other gift card to.

I had planned to give it to the person yesterday at church, but before I could find him after the service he was gone.

Today, I sent John out to take it to him at his house. I know you are wondering who it is so without further adieu....





This is Bro. Hallum, he is a deacon in our church. He has recently had to have his wife hospitalized and then she was placed in the nursing home. He has really been struggling being without her and as most elderly people he is on a fixed income and has been struggling financially as well because of the strain of driving back and forth visiting her. She was in a nursing home about 35 miles away.

I know it has been hard on the both of them. I went and visited Mrs. Mary a few weeks ago in the nursing home and she told me how much she missed her husband and as she had tears in her eyes she told me how they had never been apart in their entire marriage. She said how they have "crying spells" on the phone and she just wants to come home for Thanksgiving.

Bro. Hallum has been praying that Mrs. Mary would be able to come home for Thanksgiving.

Well, today Bro. Hallum got 2 blessings. When John got to their house, Mrs. Mary was home. God heard and answered their prayers. When John told them why he was there, they couldn't have been more thankful. Now they have a little something extra to use during the holiday season.

Neither of them have ever heard of a blog, so John tried his best to explain to them that God was using me so that someone they have never met could be a blessing to them. That part they got.

Isn't God good. Just even more reason to be thankful this Thanksgiving.

Thanks Beachy Mimi for allowing God to use you in order to bless others.

You can go here to read the other winners stories of how they used their cards as well.

I want to leave you with the chorus of a song..

I HAVE BEEN BLESSED, GOD'S SO GOOD TO ME
PRECIOUS ARE HIS THOUGHTS OF YOU AND ME
NO WAY I COULD COUNT THEM, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH TIME
SO I'LL JUST THANK HIM FOR BEING SO KIND
GOD HAS BEEN GOOD, SO GOOD I HAVE BEEN BLESSED.

FAMILY PICTURES

A couple of weeks ago we had some family pictures made.

My friend, Jodi, has started taking pictures, so went out and had some fall shots done.

I think they turned out great!

We have been married going on 11 years and have never had family pictures done.

How terrible is that?

I must start doing better at this.

Thanks Jodi, you did a great job!

Here are just a few...

TASTY THURSDAY AND SECRET SISTERS

As I have said earlier in a recent post, my secret sister at church always tucks a recipe in a card along with my gift, which I love.

This week I got this cute fall platter, a harvest candle, and the following recipe.



Here it is Amy, you guessed it. My secret sister recipe...


DOUBLE LAYER PUMPKIN PIE

Ingredients
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon milk
1 tablespoon sugar
1 1/2 cups frozen non-dairy whipped topping, thawed
1 Keebler® Ready Crust® Graham Pie Crust
3/4 cup cold milk
2 packages (4-serving size) vanilla flavor instant pudding & pie filling
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice*
1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin
Directions
1. In medium bowl whisk together cream cheese, 1 tablespoon milk and sugar. Gently stir in whipped topping. Carefully spread in crust.

2. In large bowl beat 3/4 cup milk, pudding mix and spice with wire whisk for 1 minute. Whisk in pumpkin. (Mixture will be thick.) Carefully spread over cream cheese layer.

3. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or until set.

4. Garnish as desired. Store in refrigerator.

*NOTE: May substitute 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger and 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves in place of pumpkin pie spice.

WHERE IS SAWYER

Monday night is my night to watch tv.

I love to watch Little People, Jon and Kate plus 8, and the Duggars.

As I was engrossed in my shows and John was busy making phone calls, I realized Sawyer had not been seen in a while.

I just assumed he was playing the Nintendo Ds because this is one sure fire way to keep him busy and quite.

Then I hear, "oh no, Sawyer has sugar all over him!"

I thought, "What are they talking about?"

I send John in to check out the situation because I have been known to be a little over dramatic in these instances. He then proceeds to say its not sugar, but flour.

Then trying not to laugh he sends him in the living room to show me.



I also am trying not to laugh at him, because we all know how "SERIOUS" this is. I am trying to get onto him and tell him that he can't play in the flour.

I asked him why he would do this? His response was "I was just shaking it."

I knew there had to be a good explanation.lol

I thought we had outgrown these types of things, but I guess I was wrong.

I did take his picture though.

I'm sure he was wondering why he was having his picture taken and being told it was wrong at the same time.

He just doesn't understand blogging yet!

FEW TRUNK OR TREAT PICS

This is a picture of John and myself at the Trunk or Treat. Mrs. Debbie did an excellent job with Charlie Brown's THE GREAT PUMPKIN. She had a huge display and everyone was able to take pictures in front of it.

I was so pleased with the way the whole trunk or treat turned out.
Everyone did great and I so appreciated the enthusiasm and creativity that they all put into it. Thanks guys you all know who you are!

Here are a few more pics of that night that I finally uploaded.