Saturday morning smiles...

Connor... adorable little Great-Nephew of mine in town for Christmas!  I love HIM and enjoyed getting to see his sweet smile!  

I had to get me a goodbye hug!  
See ya soon Connor:)

My Sister Cindy, Brother-in-law Jeff, and their growing family!  Love them all and enjoyed my Saturday morning with them!  Thanks for breakfast SIS:)

So many smiles and hugs!  I cherish each one!  NOW it's New Year's Eve, wait WHAT?  Yes, it is the very last day of 2017!  What will the New Year hold for us?  Happy and Healthy times, I pray!  Have a blessed day dear friends, sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

Christmas continues...

My Nephew Bradley, his wife Tiffany and their son Connor are here to celebrate Christmas with their Georgia family:)  I CAN NOT wait to see them!  Connor is growing so fast and has the cutest personality!  He reminds me of his Daddy when he was a little boy:)  I will be heading over to my Sister's house shortly to sit in the floor and play with little Connor and get some really tight hugs from the Parents!  Christmas continues...

My tree is still lit up, well... like a Christmas tree:)  My outside lights still come on morning and night and I am enjoying burning the candles I have received for gifts!  I hope you all have a wonderful day!  Sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

Lunch and a warm visit...

 Wanna go to lunch?  Yes I do, off to meet Tracy and Alex for lunch, boo hoo NO PICTURE:(  A little shopping at Hobby Lobby and off I go!  WHERE did I go?  I enjoyed a belated Christmas visit with my Brother Marshall and Sister-in-law June!  Warm and toasty sitting in my favorite chair chatting the afternoon away!  They warmed my heart!  I made this ornament several Christmases ago and there it was on their Christmas tree:)

Their Christmas tree was SO pretty!

I loved this little sparkly ornament:)

These three girls take such good care of their Parents and each other!  I love them and appreciate all they do!

Another cute ornament hanging on their tree!

This is THE cutest little car sitting under the tree!  Marshall has a '55 Chevrolet in these colors!  LOVE it!

And another pretty tree sitting right by my favorite chair!  Lots of sweet treats too!  I was too full from lunch but it was tempting!

As I was leaving, we took our selfie as we always do!  I love my Brother and I am SO thankful for him!  I am thankful that he and JUNE are having good health!  Be thankful for all things, that's what I am doing!

That's it!  A full day, lunch with two of my girls and an afternoon with my brother and S-I-L!  Today is just getting started, no plans yet and that's just fine with me:)  Have a blessed day dear friends, sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

OK, this week I won't complain...

OK, this week I won't complain... but next week LOOK OUT!  I can't believe how cold it is across much of the U.S.  Stay warm and safe wherever you are!  I couldn't get warm yesterday!  I kept wrapped up all day and stayed in!  It isn't as cold here as it is in other places, but I am still cold!  We had loaded potato soup for dinner last night and that felt warm all the way to my tummy:)

Not much hap'nin around here!  I want to accomplish SOMETHING every day!  Yesterday, my Christmas work table was cleared and put away AND I cleaned the dining room table AGAIN!  Not too exciting but if I try to get a little something checked off my list, I feel better!  Enjoy your day dear friends, sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

The sky was lit up...

I spent my yesterday inside doing clutter control, sorting and packing away Christmas paper/ribbons etc. and some much needed couch sitting:)  While putting leftovers on the table for dinner,  I looked out and OH MY!  The sky was SO pretty!  The lights on my little cottage had just come on and the sky was LIT UP with beautiful colors!  The picture doesn't do it justice!  
It took my breath away!

These are the days after Christmas when I have withdrawals from being with family, it's just Marc and me again!  I love talking with Tracy about what the kids are doing and there is always something going on out there:)  Prayers requested by my Step-daughter Anna for her Mother-in-law!  She was in an accident yesterday morning and has a fractured sternum and a broken leg:(  SAD for them to be going thru this but thankful it wasn't worse!  Have a blessed day dear friends, I will be doing more of the same as yesterday!  Tackling little things to make a big difference:)  

Sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

It WAS a VERY Merry Christmas...

It was a VERY Merry Christmas!  We had lots of food, opened gifts, played games and took a family picture!  Some were missing but we will see them soon!

 Marc had fun dressing the Georgia Bulldog Nutcracker in Georgia Tech Yellow:)

Cindy made Tracy and I a "12 Days of Christmas" bag full of 12 fun things!  She sang the song and we laughed SO hard!  My favorite item was the "A bag of FUN-YUNS"!  Which I ate for dinner last night!  Thank you Cindy for preparing such fun games to play!

My favorite gift!  This little book from my Daughter!  It is filled with 50 little things "Why I'm her Bestie"!  Yes, I cried!  #50 says "I am so proud every day that you're my Mom"  I love you Tracy, thank you for this precious gift!

It was a great day!  This morning I am enjoying my hot coffee, thinking of things I need to do today and probably not going to do today:)  I have leftovers to eat and I am thankful that I don't have to run out for any reason!  I pray that you all had a great Christmas!  Sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

Twas the night before Christmas...

Twas the night before Christmas and throughout the Fellowship Hall, the Howell Family stretched WALL to WALL:)  *Thank you Kelly for taking these wonderful pictures!*

There are SIX of us, Sisters and Brothers... What a joy to be together at Christmas!

My Daughter and me, MY BEST friend, I love you Punkin!

There was enough food for an Army... Mama would be proud:)  

The Dessert table was full too, cakes, candy and cookies!  

My Big Sister Barbara and me, we are joined at the heart!  

She gave me this little guy, another nutcracker!  He is a Georgia Bulldog in my Georgia Tech home:)  My Husband is busy decorating him this morning:)

So it's Christmas morning, I am about to get my breakfast casserole started and head out to spend the morning at Tracy's!  We will eat, open gifts and enjoy lots of Christmas hugs and smiles!

Merry Christmas to all of you!  I hope you have a wonderful day!  Sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

We celebrated Austin...

We celebrated Austin last night!  Here is a picture of Austin and Lexi!  We had a great dinner together and gifts:)

The group shot just as we were leaving!  Justin and Kimberly stopped by to tell Austin Happy Birthday!  Cindy, Jeff and Britani got caught in the Christmas traffic... we missed them!

As I sit here (needing to get started on cooking for tonight) the glow of my little glass Christmas tree warms my heart!  I bought this at a Hospital craft sale MANY years ago!  A little old lady made it:)  I love this little tree and will keep it up until I feel like putting it away for another year!

The stockings are hung by the chimney with care in hopes that St. Nicholas soon will be there:)  One for Ganky and one for Pa!

SO... I am about to get busy making my dessert that needs to chill for tonight!  I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas Eve day!  Lots to do today!  Sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

Our 19 year old Christmas gift...

Our sweet little Christmas gift 19 years ago today!  We were blessed with a little boy, our 1st grandson... Austin!  He WAS and IS the sweetest, most kind-hearted and grateful grandson!  Happy Birthday to you Austin!

A little collection of pictures from over the years!  The picture, top right, is one of my all time favorites of the two of us!  I remember that day in his classroom giving his Ganky a tight hug!  AND to this day, two feet taller than me... STILL gives me a hug!  I love you Austin and can't wait to see you later today to get my HUG:)

 While standing in the check-out line yesterday, my Brother Leon called and said "do you have dinner plans"?  Well, no I don't!  What a pleasant dinner we had, 5 of the 6 Siblings and lots of Leon and Becky's family!  Yummy lasagna, salad, garlic bread (no pic of that) AND a table full of homemade desserts!  SERIOUSLY?

My choice, coconut cake... OH MY!  Was it ever delicious!  Merry Christmas to me:)  I enjoyed my evening sitting at the table eating dinner and reminiscing with my family!  Thank you Lord for your blessings on me!

Because I have so many readers who pray!  PLEASE pray for my Sister-in-law June, her brother Johnny is suffering with Cancer:(  She is traveling there today to see him and is SO sad!  I am praying for June, Bobby, Luke and Johnny!  Praying for my Niece Kelly who is driving her Mama to visit her Brother!  Thank you all for reading, commenting and praying!  Have a blessed day dear friends, sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

First thing on my list today...

First thing on my list to do today, grocery shop!  I truly wanted to check that off yesterday but I didn't make it!  It is crunch time and I am busy finishing up getting ready for the big day!  
ARE YOU READY?  

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

In case you didn't know...

There are 4 days until Christmas, in case you didn't know:)  I got out yesterday IN THE RAIN for a few items, big mistake!  I got drenched up to my knees, but it was a successful trip!  I still have to get my grocery shopping done but tomorrow is another day!

Today, I am spending the day with my Daughter Tracy!  She hasn't been feeling well and I am gonna help her tie up some loose ends!  I pray that she feels much better today:)  I love you Tracy-chele, see you in a little while!

That's that, all of us are busy in these last days before Christmas!  If I am missing from reading or commenting... I will catch up:)  Have a blessed day, be happy!  Sending HUGS and 
PRAYERS your way!

F-I-V-E left...

FIVE days left to finish preparing for the big day!  I spent most of yesterday wrapping gifts and still have a stack to wrap!  Grocery shopping list to make and then get that cart filled!  I am posting this sweet little ornament hanging on my tree with my name on it, it is one of my favorites:)  I am enjoying the peace of the morning!

I hope you all are enjoying your day!  Sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

That line was LONG...

SO, yesterday was the day to mail packages from the P.O. to get them to their destination before Christmas!  OK, here I go to mail my 3 little grandchildren their package!  The parking lot was FULL, that should have been my first warning sign:)  I grabbed my package walked about a mile (not quite a mile) to almost get inside the Post Office!  OMG, the line was out the door!  It took forever but I got the job done and met some nice folks in line!  I am happy that the package is in the mail and ALSO happy that I don't have to go back there again this year:)

My home mail delivery is giving me a headache!  Lately, my mail doesn't come until almost bedtime... if it comes at all!  I have complained to the USPS, we will see if it helps OR NOT!  Today is a new day, no Post Office to visit... just staying in and wrapping gifts!  

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

Sometimes...

Sometimes... it is the simplest of things that warm my heart!  This little tree with a burlap trunk, no lights, no ornaments... just a tree with the glow of the porch lights shining behind it:)  I was scurrying around this morning early getting a package ready to mail and stopped to admire this simple little tree:)

I hope you are enjoying your morning, ONE WEEK before Christmas!  Have a blessed and peaceful day!  Sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

Keep looking up...

I ran across this and thought someone might need to see it:)  "Keep Looking Up", that's great advice!  Whether you are going thru tough times, loneliness, sad times, sickness or any other troubles... JUST Keep Looking UP!  I try to look up, not only in the bad times but look up and be thankful when things are going good!  Just felt like sharing this on this chilly Sunday morning:)

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

A house filled with love...

My Brother Marshall's 74th Birthday party was AWESOME!  His Daughters put on a feast and the house was packed with family!  I SO enjoyed visiting with everyone!  What a great picture of Marshall and June, I am thankful that they are happy and healthy this Christmas!  Kelly's grandson Grant is a JOY to be around!

My Niece Kelly should host a decorating show!  Every inch of her home is decorated with the sweetest decorations with lots of memories of years past!  AND she's cute too:)

SIX brothers and sisters together again!  I am thankful for them!  We had birthday cake, carrot cake... YUM!  Crystal, Kelly and Suzanne SISTERS and BFFs!  I love them all and appreciate their dedication to keeping this family tradition alive!  I got my picture made with Marshall as I have for as long as I can remember:)  
I love him and he loves me!

After we sang Happy Birthday and Marshall blew out his candles, he said that he made a wish 
"I wished that we could do this again next year"!  
I second that and pray for a great year ahead for ALL!  Have a blessed day dear friends, 27 degrees with wind and it is gonna be hard to get out today!  Avery has a Basketball game and I will dress warmly and be there to cheer her on!  Sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

One of my favorite times...

Today we will celebrate another year with my Brother for his 74th Birthday!  My Niece Kelly has had us at her house for as long as I can remember!  It is truly one of my MOST favorite times!  Her house is totally "decked out" in Christmas decorations and she has the most AMAZING collection of snow globes to enjoy!  I can't wait to see all of their families and get to visit with my siblings!  It will be a grand 'ole time with lots of good food and fellowship!  Thank you Kelly and Jeff for hosting us and to you, Crystal and Suzanne for all of the food you prepare each year!  OH and June makes MY FAVORITE cake for her Hubby's b'day, RED VELVET... YUMMMMMMM!

Just 10 days left until Christmas and I am as done shopping as I have ever been this time of year!  I am thankful for on-line shopping and will probably head to the stores one more time for a few gifts I still need!  We are enjoying the glow of the tree this morning, a cup of hot coffee and blessings more abundant than I deserve!  Hope your day is extra special, sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

Whew, a day full of fun...

We had one of those days yesterday that I would love to have over and over!  We laughed SO much and shopped until we had to stop:)  It was a wonderful day celebrating my Daughter Tracy's 44th B'day!  Me, Tracy and my sister Cindy posing by the tree:)

We took a little break from shopping to have lunch... bad lighting, but I am still sharing it:)

Back at the house for presents:)  My little girl opening her gifts makes my heart happy!  She will always be my little girl, no matter how old she is:)

My Son-in-law was out of town but sent a beautiful bouquet of flowers, how thoughtful!

The day ended with a delicious dinner at The Blue Willow Inn!  Derek caught an earlier flight and surprised Tracy by joining us for dinner:)  She was SO surprised to see him!  I love you, TRACY!

That, my friends, was my yesterday!  I was one tired puppy when I got home but after a good night's rest, I am ready for today!  Have a blessed day dear friends, sending HUGS and PRAYER your way!