Made my day...

"A Daughter is just a little girl who grows up to be your best friend"  This Daughter of mine surprised me with an early morning visit yesterday!  She sent me this picture standing outside my house:)  She added a cute Christmasy filter and honey it MADE MY DAY!  Thank you Tracy for taking the time to stop by, you will never know how it warmed my heart!  Some really tight hugs, a kiss on the cheek and lots of chatting... 

"LOVE my GIRL"

After that, the day just zipped along!  I shopped at Walmart for a few things and enjoyed getting out of the house for a few hours!  Here is the daily countdown to Christmas:) 

I hope you all have a wonderful day, sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

Sweet little manger scene...

My SWEET little Manger scene is now displayed!  It is simple, all white with a touch of gold, one of my favorites:)  I was SO happy to find it wrapped up in tissue, safe and sound!

These gold poinsettias are scattered throughout my tree!  They sparkle and shine with the glow of the lights!

The countdown continues:)  The first thing every morning, I change the number of days left until Christmas!  Otherwise, how would I know:)  

The packages are arriving and I will have to get busy wrapping soon:)  I am enjoying a hot cup of coffee this morning and just getting my day going!  I hope you have a beautifully blessed day, sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

They stood still for the picture...

Look at them standing still to get their picture made:)  All of these nutcrackers are ready for the next 27 days until Christmas!  My Sister Barbara gave me most all of them, except for a few!  I love them all and I think they love me too 

(wink wink)!

I worked with those guys for a long time, some need repair after being in the attic for a year!  I pulled down a few more pieces that I was missing and did some on-line shopping!  I think the decorating is done except for the precious ornaments to be added to the tree!  I like it just like it is for right now, just gold/glass balls and gold bows/poinsettias:)  It's a chilly morning here but has been warming up nicely in the afternoon!  

Enjoy your day dear friends, 

sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

The tree is glowing...

Our house is beginning to look a little Christmasy:)  I am happy that we made the climb up to the attic, pulling down the boxes and tubs of precious decorations!  This is one of my favorites and he always gets to come down first!

Lights and glass ornaments are on, the angel is glowing atop the tree and now I will add the precious ornaments later today!  See that little red Santa, he has been shining bright since Tracy was a little girl... almost 44 years!

While I was busy inside, Marc was busy outside:)  The deer are all lit up and the gifts will be lit up later tonight!

The Nutcrackers are standing waiting to come down and I will be working on those this morning!  Decorating for Christmas gets harder every year but I am always happy when it is done and I can enjoy it for the rest of the month!  I have gifts to wrap and more to buy, but for this moment... this morning... it is peaceful to just enjoy the glow of the tree!  Enjoy your day dear friends, sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

Cute cups and perhaps today...

It's time to drink from these cute cups:)  My Saturday didn't see much accomplished, ONE gift wrapped... that's a start:)

Perhaps today after Church, I can assist my hubby in bringing down the decorations!  It's dangerous climbing up in the attic, boxes and totes full of treasures to be opened with lots of memories inside:)  My Niece Kelly said yesterday that she enjoys the tree after it is decorated but not the actual decorating of the tree... I agree!  When Tracy was little, we played music and made it fun!  Then the Grandkids came along and that made it fun again!  Now... it's a chore, Tracy reminded me that I enjoy the lights shining when it's all decorated:)  SO... it will be done!

Enjoy your day dear friends, sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

Decking the Halls...

That's what I did yesterday, started decking the halls:)  Most of my decorations are in the attic and I can't get them down by myself!  Marc will make the climb up perhaps today to bring the tree down, but in the meantime...

My dining room is looking festive...

One of my favorite decorations, my friend Marion gave this to me MANY years ago!  He gets special care after the holidays and is always perched right here on the counter:)

I got outside for a while and snapped a picture of this tree, isn't she lovely:)

CAN YOU BELIEVE that this rose is blooming right now?  Me either, it is HUGE and smells heavenly!

We transplanted these little bushes from the woods last year, look at their pretty berries!  Festive for the holidays!

On my walk up to the mailbox, I saw these peeking out from the woods!  REAL Holly with red berries!  I can see these coming inside soon:)

And last pic for this post!  My little cottage all decked out in lights and bows!  The little tree is up and shining brightly:)  I SO enjoy looking out and seeing this sight!

That was a busy and productive day after Thanksgiving!  I did some on-line shopping and some packages were delivered from orders already placed!  We enjoyed Thanksgiving leftovers for dinner, some good football games before heading to sleepy-land!  Today?  Football and lots of it!  Perhaps the tree?  Have a blessed day dear friends, sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

Together again...

2017 Howell Family Thanksgiving  My Mama and Daddy had 6 children and those 6 children had 16 children and those 16 children had... hmmmm, I lost count:)  There are lots of us and I am ever so thankful for each and every one!  It was a great evening together!

2016

2015

2014

Family, Thankful for Family!  Have a blessed day dear friends, sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

Happy Thanksgiving...

Have wonderful Thanksgiving!  Enjoy your day with family and friends, give lots of hugs:)

Sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

Comments turned off today!

Almost...

Yep, it's almost Thanksgiving!  I think this has been the fastest time EVER between last Thanksgiving and this one!  I have always heard that the older you get, the faster time flies and I believe it!  But, I will cherish today and be thankful for ALL the Lord has blessed me with!

I grocery shopped yesterday, SO DID LOTS of other people!  The workers were steady stocking shelves and there were shelves needing stocked:)  I am steady loading my basket to take for our Thanksgiving dinner and looking forward to seeing everyone!  I am thankful today and everyday,  for FAMILY AND FRIENDS!  REALLY THANKFUL:)  Enjoy your day before Thanksgiving dear friends, sending HUGS and 
PRAYERS your way!

They made his B'day SPECIAL...

He will remember his 70th Birthday for years to come!  Tracy and her sweet family made this 70 year old man SO happy with dinner, gifts and lots of love!  I think Marc smiled the entire night and that made me smile!

He peeked down in his gift bag and loved everything in it!  He had some of his favorite treats, a new book to read and a shirt that he is wearing to our Thanksgiving Dinner!  We walked out to the car and Tracy and family had two more special gifts!  One was a walking stick that they bought at the top of Stone Mountain!  SPECIAL homemade banana bread that he enjoyed this morning!  Having a birthday is fun, watching someone you love enjoy their birthday is WAY more fun!

This family gave Pa a birthday celebration that he will never forget!

Our traditional picture outside the restaurant:)  Autumn is missing but we will make sure she is there next time!

I love my fella!  We BOTH enjoyed his special day!

Have a blessed day dear friends, sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

November 20th...

November 20th... Happy 70th Birthday Marc, my husband and forever friend!

70 years is a long time!  I am thankful that he is in good health and I pray that continues!  I looked for some of the things that were happening that year!

Happy Birthday Marc!  I love you and hope you smile ALL day long:)

Three years ago:)

This was last year!

SO... the Georgia Dome was imploded just moments ago ON MARC'S 70th Birthday!  This is also the day that my Daddy went to be with Jesus in 2006!  I miss him terribly every day!  
I love you Pop!

Have a blessed day dear friends, sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

We cheered for our girl...

On Saturday, we watched Avery's first basketball game of the season!  It was GREAT to be watching her play!  We love seeing the Grandkids doing whatever they are doing:)

She had several assists that added points to the board!  She missed this shot but I am so proud of her for trying:)

They won and it was a great game:)

The rest of the day was spent watching football!  That may not sound too exciting but it was EXACTLY what I wanted to do:)  Enjoy your Sunday dear friends, sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

Back on the court...

We are SO excited to be headed to a game!  We will be sitting in the stands as we watch Avery play basketball!  It has been a long dry spell since the last games for the Grandkids!  Different School, same energetic basketball player!  Go AVERY!  Pa and I will be there to cheer you on!

Enjoy your day dear friends, sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

B'day and Christmas in one day...

We gathered as always for lunch to celebrate Cindy's B'day!  We ate, we talked, we giggled, we hugged and we took a picture!  We always do these things, we always will...

My Niece Kelly brought her little grandson, Grant!  He is a JOY to be around:)

My Baby Sister and me:)  I love you Cindy!

After a short time back at home, off to watch Alex and hear her Narrate the Christmas Lower School program!  She is in Middle School but was asked to help with the little ones, I am SO proud of her!

 The little kids put on quite a show, singing and acting out the Christmas Story!

There were lots of trees scattered around and I managed to snap this picture on the way out!  This night put the Christmas Spirit in my heart... that's a start for me even BEFORE Thanksgiving:)

Have a blessed day dear friends, sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

Happy Birthday Cindy...

Happy Birthday to the ONE who made me a Big Sister!  My Sister Cindy will be celebrating her 48th Birthday today!  This little Baby made my Mama and Daddy SO happy, US too!  

This was last year's lunch for Cindy's Birthday and we will be together again today!  One will be missing and we will be missing her:(  
Miss you FooFoo!

Cindy's family is growing and I know Connor will be calling his Gaga later to tell her Happy Birthday!  A new addition coming next year!  Can't wait, but I will:)

Happy Birthday to my Baby Sister aka "Stister"!  I love you and hope you have a wonderful day!  Enjoy your day dear friends, sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!