The last day of 2012...

New Year's Eve is starting out like every other day!  Up early and sitting watching the morning news, having a cup of hot coffee and trying to wake up:)  I can't seem to sleep later than 6:30 lately... UGH, I guess I am really getting old, NAH!  There were a few bananas that needed to be used or tossed!  I learned something from BJ over at Sweet Nothings!  It doesn't always have to be REALLY homemade:)  So... I took those bananas and squished them up in a banana bread mix right out of the pantry:)  Oh it smelled good baking!  I can't wait to have a slice a little later for breakfast!

 

It won't be as good as Tracy's REAL homemade but it will still be tasty with my morning coffee!

 

I went to Church yesterday after missing the week before!  My Brother-in-law, Jeff preached because our Preacher was out of town!  The crowd was small but the blessing was BIG!  After Church, I stopped by my Sister Barbara's for a few minutes!  Her family was coming to celebrate Christmas!  Look at her tree, HOW CUTE IS THIS!  Perfect tree, I loved it!

 

Some of my blog friends show "Love Is" cartoons and quotes!  This is my "Love Is" for today!  You know your hubby loves you when he lays the Hobby Lobby ad and coupon on the kitchen counter:) 

 

I hope you enjoy your New Year's Eve!  No plans for sparkly gowns or wild parties here!  We will most likely spend it sitting in our comfortable home watching football!  I will watch the ball drop in my dreams:)

 

BIG HUGS and many blessings to your Heart from MINE:)

What? Almost 2013?

Today and tomorrow and 2012 is gone!  It amazes me how fast the year goes!  Why can't it be like when I was little?  Why can't time seemingly stand still?  Why does time have to go so fast?   Yep, I'm a little sad to flip the calendar again!  Just because 2013 will fly by too!

 

As I reflect on 2012, I get tears!  There was so much good that happened, so VERY much to be thankful for!  Justin came home and I will forever thank God for that! So many were not so fortunate!  Do you ever think back on being so scared for the safety of a loved one?  I felt that for Justin!  I prayed and prayed and trusted God to keep him safe!  I recently cleaned off the side of my refrigerator:)  Everyone knows that I am not ashamed to fill it full of pictures and artwork and even the customs forms where I sent Justin packages!  He didn't write many letters but the ones he had written were on my fridge!  I flipped thru those custom's forms and they made me smile!  There were some crazy things listed that I had sent him to put a smile on his face in that faraway land!  He gives his testimony in Church sometimes about being over there and feeling the prayers of his family and Church!  I am excited to see what the future holds for him!  I know his future is bright:)  We all love him!  I was looking back thru the pictures and decided to post this one:)  Alex just loving on Justin when he came home... Sweet love for her cousin!

 

So on this 30th day of December, 2012... I am going to be thankful for being where I am!  I plan to enjoy each and every day of 2013 and thank God every day for allowing me to flip the calendar:)

 

Have a blessed day dear friends!  BIG HUGS!

Now I Understand...

It becomes clear as I get older why old folks don't put out so many Christmas decorations!  We got the tree down Thursday night and Friday night was spent taking lots more down and putting it in the attic!  It is a lot of work:)  Thankfully my Hubby was steady at it and we got much more done!  I kept out some snow people and a few things that aren't necessarily JUST for Christmas!  I just needed a little left to enjoy!  These fellas get to stay out for a little while longer:)

 

What do you do after a hard night of UN-decorating?  Chicken wings and onion rings!  We got take-out from our local chicken wing place, chowed down on some yummy food and watched football!  LOTS of games yesterday, FIVE I think!  It's that time of year, football games and colder weather coming!  Brrrrr... gonna be cold Sunday morning!

 

WHY am I up so early on Saturday morning?  Not sure, I thought after the busy Christmas season I could start at least sleeping until 7:00:)  So... I sat for a few minutes in my favorite spot trying to doze for just a few more minutes, and since that didn't happen... I turned the coffee pot on and here I sit with my coffee:)

 

No plans today!  I am really enjoying that!  I enjoy going and doing but when it is all over, getting back to normal feels good!

 

Have a blessed day dear friends, BIG HUGS!

Yum, shopping, police...

"After Christmas" shopping at Hobby Lobby was FUN!  I went in saying that I was only going to buy stuff I could use throughout the year!  CUTE polka dot wrapping paper and a few Christmas rolls!  66% off works for me!  On my way out, I picked up a bag of these!  I love them and so did my Mama:)  When I got in the car and tore open the bag... that smell was as if she was eating them with me:)

 

Well, the day went downhill from there.  My Parent's home is abandoned, the land is for sale and we had someone break in!  Sad that someone needed a place to sleep but we had to take care of that!  Called the police, my Brother and I met them up there to make sure it was OK to go in!  It was, but someone had indeed spent the night in the house!

 

Nice young Police Officers have a dangerous job!  Fortunately for them, our call wasn't dangerous but an opportunity to meet me and my Brother, to hear all about our Family home and our Parents:)  They left us and we thanked them for their help!  They will keep an eye on the place for us!

 

While we walked around the yard, making sure all was well... I looked down and saw these flowers coming up:)  OH MY... that made me smile!

 

AND this made me smile too!  My Brother had to go back over and board the place up again!  My Niece's Son Cameron went with him to help him and took this picture:)  Thank you Cam for helping and for this sweet picture of the "Old Home Place"!

My Hubby and I spent the evening taking the Christmas tree down!  I didn't want to take it down because I was still enjoying it, BUT... it needed to come down:)  AND so, it is down for another year!  I left out a few snow people and the village is still on the dining room table!

 

This morning, I am enjoying my coffee and thinking... 

 

Have a blessed day dear friends, BIG HUGS!

After Christmas Funeral...

My day after Christmas was spent at a Funeral!

 

This is my Daddy's Brother Clifford who has been gone for years and his wife Myrtice, Aunt Myrtice to all of us!  She passed away before Christmas at 92!  Wow, that's a lot of years!

 

She has been in a nursing home for a few years, fell and broke a hip and now she is gone!  This picture is from the family reunion in September!  I am so happy that I took this picture!

 

 Her last reunion with us!  Makes me sad but she lived a really long life!  Her Grandson spoke at the funeral about his MawMaw's yummy dressing and what an athlete she was... I didn't know she was an athlete!  He cried about her and how he would miss her!  I only knew her as my Aunt, to him she was MawMaw:)  Sweet Funeral... Christmas songs and even at the end "Joy to the World"!  This is why I take these family pictures!  Aunt Myrtice was in this one:)

 

Two of my Sisters, Cindy and Brenda went with me... we laughed on the way up there, we laughed on the way back, stopped for lunch and laughed some more!  We saw so many sweet family members at the funeral including the last living Aunt, Aunt Dot!  We enjoyed visiting with family!

 

Now, I am up this morning enjoying my hot coffee and looking forward to a day that has not a single plan!  Perhaps some after Christmas shopping, perhaps taking down a few decorations, perhaps nothing:)  Love to all of you and GINORMOUS Ganky sized hugs!

Christmas Day 2012

Family tradition... we get together on Christmas morning, eat breakfast and open gifts from each other!

 

Austin, Justin, Britani, Autumn, Bradley, Alex and Avery

 

There are people everywhere, some still in their jammies:)

 

Alex and Avery got American Girl dolls from Santa:)  They love them!

 

Alex stopped to pose and toss me a sweet smile!  My Sister gave Alex and Avery laughing dolls... SO cute!  They will not stop giggling:)

 

Bradley and Autumn... Cousins and great friends!

 

Cindy, Avery's doll, Avery and Alex!

 

Britani and her fella Dylan!

 

See something new?

 

YES, My Sister Barbara gave me the cutest girly nutcracker EVER!  Tracy says she kinda looks like me:)

 

That girl came in, stood right down front and said "Hello Fellas, move over and make room for me":)

 

Merry Christmas dear friends!  I hope you all had a wonderful day!  WE did!  BIG HUGS!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from my heart to yours!

This picture is from our Family Christmas Eve Celebration!  There was a huge crowd!  We had a wonderful time!  Nothing makes me happier than being surrounded by Family:) 

 

Have a very Merry Christmas dear friends!

Christmas Eve and a Birthday Dinner!

Happy Christmas Eve to all of you!  I pray that each of you are happy today!  We celebrated Austin's 14th Birthday last night!  I made him a Banana Split cake:)

 

He wanted to go to the Japanese Restaurant and we had LOADS of fun!  Here he is with his football that Pa and I gave him (his request)!

 

Nanny gave him three movies that he can't wait to watch:)

 

Fun with family celebrating a special birthday!

 

Cindy, Jeff and the family joined us!  These two little girls stayed right there with them:)

 

Pa and Austin!  Austin said, LOOK Pa... I AM the tallest:)

 

 Tracy and Derek!

 

Austin with his Sister and Cousins!

 

This guy gave us our money's worth!  HE WAS HILARIOUS!

 

Great dinner:)  GREAT fun!

 

I love my Grandson and he knows it:)

 

Autumn and Justin (Cousins and very good friends)

 

And the whole bunch of us!  We had a wonderful evening!  Thank you all for sharing this special time with us!

 

As we drove back home... the lights in McDonough Square!  AWESOME!

Have a blessed Christmas Eve dear friends!  Thank you for stopping by for a visit!  Gotta get busy:)  BIG HUGS!

Happy 14th Birthday Austin!

Happy Birthday Austin, our sweet

Christmas present:)

 

You blink and they grow up!  My Oldest Grandson is 14 today!  Happy Birthday Austin!  I love you SO much!

 

He is SUCH a sweet fella to me!  He is loving, kind and OH SO funny!  He makes me laugh ALL the time!

 

Oh how I love those little cheeks:) 

 

Precious then and now:)

 

Football and Basketball... great at both!  I can't wait to see what great things are in his future!  #88

 

Love this picture:)

 

SUCH a wonderful brother to all of his Sisters!

 

This is our picture we took last night, ALL 7 grandchildren!  My Austin is so tall and handsome!  How sweet when you stand next to your Grandson and he puts his arm around you:)  SWEET!

 I am so blessed and EVER so thankful!

 

Have a blessed day my friends, HUGS!