Catching up....again

It has been a crazy couple of weeks. I worked close to 60 hours last week and I feel every minute of it. Day one of the craziness started with me waking up with a head cold. I start medicine immediately but still ended up by day two with a course voice. By mid-week I was borderline of full fledged laryngitis. Here we are day 12 and I still cough some and still taking medicine. The voice has good days and bad day, but it is on the mend. On the flip side, all the coughing and cold has cost me my appetite. And because of this and because I have been drinking lots of water to stay hydrated. I lost 11 pounds in 11 days. Like I said, rough couple of weeks. But before I got sick, I found some old boards and painted them and made Christmas gifts for the porch.

Three of the Grands were over and they fluffed the tree (Colby is behind it). They did a great job.

I got the house all decorated before Thanksgiving because I was going to be working over 60 hours that week. 

I was happy that I got it done early since I got so sick.

I got a great surprise at work. My nephew and his family came to the show. He just got out of the an 8 year stint in the military and I have not seen him in those 8 years. His baby girl is 7 and I had never even met her. I fell in love with her. What a sweetie.

All in all it has been a crazy hectic season so far. And it doesn't show signs of slowing down. In addition to working 40-50 hours per week, I will be going Christmas shopping probably about three times. Working on a project for a Christmas gift. Not to mention any church Christmas programs or kids Christmas programs at school. I have a family event for birthdays, a special time planned for my actual birthday with one of my close friends. A Christmas party with some special friends. Lots of wrapping and a couple of events I want to go to. As usual, it is a very busy time of year.

Happy Thanksgiving

The day before....

It's the day before Thanksgiving. This is going to be a very odd Thanksgiving since I will be working all day. I've had a cold all week so food does not taste good. Therefore I am for going my traditional meal and just eating whatever I feel like eating whenever I get hungry tomorrow.

We celebrated Thanksgiving with my family on Monday night. So since I am working all day tomorrow, I will celebrate the actual Thanksgiving day with my wonderful work friends that have become like family to me.

It's covered dish day tomorrow. So we usually end up with a ton of food at work and it runs the gamut from deviled eggs to casseroles to some of the best dessert you ever eat.

I don't mind working the whole day since my family won't be getting together anyway since we already did. But at least I will get to be with my extended family on Thanksgiving Day.

Monday Meanderings

I went to sleep Saturday night at 9:30 ish and woke up at 3:00 a.m. wide awake. I have had many things come up that I needed to get put in my planner so I got up and gathered stuff while it was on my mind and spent an hour planning so I could get sleepy again. It worked. Planning got completed and I was tired enough to go back to sleep for 4 more hours. 

I spend some time yesterday looking at some Black Friday ads. I saw a good deal on the big nice towels at Kohls.

They are going to have a little chopper I have been needing for $2.14 for Black Friday. You can imagine they will be gone the minute the doors open. But I can hope to find one at one location or another hopefully.

This 6" electric skillet was on my wish list last year, but I never could find it in the stores at a good price. 

I saw this Pioneer Woman teapot that I am falling in love with I need this.

I have been using a happy planner for my calendar and planning every year for three years now. I love this product. Here is the one I want for this year.

Have a great day.

When God shows up...

I am a strong believer in faith. When I pray, I practice the bible verse that says "Pray in faith believing". Today I want to share three miracles of people who had extreme faith in God and got the miracle of life. These are all true stories of people I go to church with that have struggled with health issues and through their faith in God, were able to receive second chances at life. 

Ms. Norma was in dire need a new lung. She needed a fundraiser in order to afford the procedure. She prayed and a fundraiser was created to help her get the deposit required for her to be put on the list. One fundraiser was all it took to raise the money. In fact she raised every penny needed and a little bit more. She was told the lung should give her about 5 more years due to her age. Well, she lived around 10 or 11 years after the transplant. We lost Ms. Norma a few years ago due to an emergency issue not related to her lung transplant. With God's intervention on the lung transplant she had a blessed life for 10 years long than she thought she would live. 

My friend Stephanie. She has suffered from cystic fibrosis since birth. She was told she wouldn't live past 16. She has such faith that it just blows people away at the trust she has put in God. In 2017, at 29 years old her fight was getting to the point that it was get a double lung transplant or she wasn't going to have much longer. To shorten a long story, she went on the transplant list in July right after she turned 30. They said it could be months or even a year but at least she had a hope and her faith. A month later the call came. The lungs were a perfect match and pinked up right away when the transplant was done. She beats all the odds. The doctors said she could come home in about six months from Nashville where they needed to keep watch over her. She came home in time for Thanksgiving that year, a mere 3 months after the surgery. Fast forward to now 2 years and 3 months later. No rejection. No problems. She has passed all her exams with flying colors. She hikes, rides bikes, breathes and sleeps like a normal person. Something she has never been able to do.  

And the most recent miracle is still in process. Meet Mr. Rickey. Rickey has a heart problem and has other medical issues which have delayed what they are able to do with his heart until it became apparent he was in need of a transplant. He underwent all the tests and was approved to be placed on the list. They told him in late October that he would be about a year down on the list before he would get his new heart. They were called back the next day and said that due to all the various testing in his rare blood type it was going to be like 2 to 3 months instead of a year. So the family was preparing for hopefully a new heart by the end of the year. The first week of November he was officially placed on the transplant list. The family asked the church to pray on Wednesday night when they found this out. The next morning we got a church call that Rickey was on his way to the hospital. They had his new heart. He is doing great and as a matter of fact is expected to released from the hospital soon to go to what will be their temporary home near the hospital for awhile. 

We definitely serve an amazing God. Three lives reaching the end of their journey and within moments a miracle was performed. God is in the miracle business. Always has been and always will be. 

Each one of these survivors pray daily for the families who so graciously and unselfishly gave a piece of their loved one who passed away so that others would have a chance at a normal life. They will all tell you their stories and will always end with how thankful they are to the family that provided them with new chance at life at such a dear cost to them. 

April is National Organ Donor month. It is something a lot of people struggle with whether to donate or not. But as I look at the three people that have touched my life so tremendously, I can't help but realize they wouldn't be here if someone had never made that decision to be an organ donor.

Favorite Food Week

This coming week will be my favorite food time of the year. Since I don't eat turkey and the kids have been traditional dinners on Thanksgiving with their in-laws, we like to have homemade pizza bread when we do our family dinner one night this week. 

We also celebrate my daughter-in-laws birthday with the Reese peanut butter brownie trifle. A hit no matter what the occasion. Brownies, Reese's, pudding, Cool Whip...how can you go wrong with that?

We will also have brownie cookies. So much easier to eat than having to cut a brownie. Just grab a couple of cookies and munch any time you want. 

Of course I will also make a chocolate cake with chocolate icing. My icing is homemade from scratch and The Grands love it. 

I work most of the day on Thanksgiving day. But I still pre-cook a meal early that morning and take part of it to work with me and leave the rest to eat when I get home and as leftovers. I always have ham, baked beans, potato salad and deviled eggs. Some years I have mashed potatoes and gravy and some years I don't. 

I may try my hand at graham cracker pie. This is one Allen made one year. I have tried it three years in a row and it has not turned out. 

I always make me some oatmeal no bake chocolate cookies. I have them for breakfast while I look at Black Friday ads.

Well, now I'm hungry so I need to go eat. I can't wait for all the good food this week.

Friday Funnies

As Thanksgiving approaches, turkeys everywhere are filled with great fear. I thought I would share some of my favorite turkey humor in honor of the upcoming holiday. Enjoy!

Let's catch up....

 Just some highlights of what's been going on in my life. The children have started practicing for their Christmas play and since I go on Wednesday night, I've gotten a little sneak peak. It is going to be great. Shelby's first lines are about drinking milk which is all the child every does so she is really happy with her part. Here she is with a couple of friends run through their lines before actual practice started.

My antifreeze got low in my car and my son-in-law said to bring it by his brother's house because they had extra. Even when you just need some simple like antifreeze, you don't get one Hayes boy, you get two and their two sons. They give new meaning to the phrase "car guy".

I have a good friend who had the most brilliant idea. He has bought his first house and this was his first Christmas so he asked me to help him decorate. We did everything but the tree and then he had a tree trimming party and a bunch of our other friends came over and helped decorate the tree. I made pizza breads for supper and orange punch. Me, him and our friend Abbie baked 120 cookies and Abbie made the most delicious homemade hot chocolate. It was a wonderful evening with friends.

The next day people across several counties were waking up to snow. In mid November. That rarely happens around here this early in the season. It was so beautiful.

I was able to attend one of Colby's ball games. There he is taking a foul shot. He is so good at every sport. I really believe he has a career ahead of him in either baseball, football or basketball. He is amazing. 

The other night we had two shows but the second one had available seats. I need to go to my mandatory show for the Christmas season, so instead of working the second show I just went to it with a couple of the other girls from work. I love our regular show but I adore the Christmas one.

One of my favorite parts was when they do O Holy Night. It is so beautiful. 

And check out her dress and the horse. Makes for a beautiful photo opp.

But the favorite part of the show I get to see every time I work because I am getting ready to do surveys and that is the nativity scene. The camels are by far my absolute favorite.

Especially when they sit down. It is something to see as they kneel on their back legs then lower their front legs.

We had T.C. as our emcee that night. He was awesome.

Yesterday, I went shopping with a friend and decided to get some ideas for Christmas. I want these slippers. The bottom is full of what I believe to be rice. You can freeze them or heat them and they will help with tired, sore feet. 

Well, we are caught up to date now. I am waiting until after Thanksgiving to post all my Christmas pictures. Have a great Thursday.

The turkey and the tree....

I can't believe Thanksgiving is next week! Where has the time gone. I work on Thanksgiving so we have our family Thanksgiving earlier in the week. I am super excited that everybody is going to get to be here. We don't do a turkey because both my children go to their in-laws on Thanksgiving for a traditional dinner. We always do home made pizza bread because the kids love them and the fact that I was never the cook in the family so choices are limited. But it is not about the food. It's about the family. Us all being under one roof and getting to visit. I am so thankful for my family that what we eat doesn't even enter into the equation. Have my babies and their families under my roof all together.

I did something different this year. I decorated for Christmas before Thanksgiving. I never ever have done that in my life. But from this Sunday until the 17th of December I have something going on almost every day. So I am not waiting that long to decorate. I did the inside one day, the tree and outside a few days later. I will post pics later. But for now I am enjoying the holiday air at my house. Last night after work, it was so cold so I came home and got in my warm jammies and fixed me peppermint dust hot chocolate (will share this later). 

Then I just turned on my Christmas music, the fireplace and the tree lights. And just chilled with my chocolate and my book and had a very relaxing night. 

I would love to hear what your family traditions are for Thanksgiving. Have a great day. 

The Climb

There is a song by Miley Cyrus called The Climb. The chorus has some profound words that are so true.

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb.

This song is kind of my theme song these past four years. I have fought a lot of battles, some big and some small, since I lost my husband. But I keep plugging through with God's strength, mercy and grace. Each time I keep my faith strong and my spirits up. And every mountain I climb and it to the other side has taught me life lessons. I have met new people as I climb up those mountains. Some touched my heart for a moment, made an impression then moved on. Some have touched my heart for a lifetime and won't leave me no matter what. I have forged new friendships, reached goals and achieved dreams I thought were impossible. So don't worry about the mountain you are climbing. Keep the faith and enjoy the journey to the top because you have no clue what is waiting on the other side. 

A birthday wish

Happy birthday to one of the best daughter-in-law's a family could ask for. She is a wonderful wife to my son and mother to three of my grandchildren. she puts her family first in everything she does. I hope you have a wonderful birthday, Jamie. And may God continue to bless you with many, many more. Have a happy birthday we all love you.

Blessings

I have not blogged in about 6 weeks. I miss it. Life has just gotten in the way. A crashed computer being the worst of it. My battery holds a charge about 15 minutes and dies. Santa Baby, put a 'puter under my tree....for me. 

But despite the difficulties of the computer and a series of events this past month or so, no matter what has been going on I have been so blessed and had a lot of time to thank God for everything He gives me and everything He does for me. 

This song says it best...

Friday night lights of my childhood

I remember Friday's in fall up that old country road where I grew up. We'd come home from school and walk up the holler (yes, we called it a holler - not a hollow) anxious for our weekend to begin. We would hurry home and toss our books on our bed and head for the kitchen. Mom would be in there making supper so we could eat at 4:00 after Daddy got home.

It was a cool, crisp day. We would watch for Dad to walk up the road and hurry to meet him. Once he rounded the curve at Ruby's house, we were allowed to go into the road and walk and meet him. On Fridays there was always the thrill and excitement of who got to go to the local high school football game with him. Sometimes one of us would go and sometimes two of us. Nobody was allowed to go if we played Huntington High because there was always a threat of violence when we played them.

It was always a thrill to be picked as the one who went. I can remember many a fall evenings setting up on that very top bleacher, drinking hot chocolate and eating popcorn and hot dogs while we cheered our Barboursville Pirates to victory.

But it was also a thrill to be the one left at home as well. Barboursville was a small town nestled in the hills. Our "holler" was about a mile away and we would go out in the yard and hear the cheer of the crowds and the sounds of the band. We would stay outside until dark. If Jack and Andy were there, they would play their own football game, tackling and passing and enjoying romping around in the yard. If Rachel and I were there or if I was by myself, we would do our cheers.

Mom would soon call us in and we would take our baths and get ready for bed. As we would snuggle into the living room to watch TV, she would make homemade hot chocolate. She would mix Hershey's cocoa and sugar to a sauce like stage and add milk for the best hot chocolate in the world. Then she would top each steaming mug off with 2 or 3 big fluffy marshmallows. She would bring us that and Saps Glazed Donuts for our snack as we waited for Daddy to get home so we could hear who won the game. If you were lucky enough to go to the game, you were cold as could be by the time you walked over a mile back home after the game. But you didn't mind the long walk because you knew Mom would have you hot chocolate and donuts waiting when you got back.

Many years have passed since then. The old school was torn down, but the football field still remains. My brother still lives in the old home place and ball games are still played in that old yard. On cool, crisp Fridays, my mind still goes back up that old country road to those wonderful Friday nights. And if I sit quietly and listen real hard, I can still hear those fans cheering their Pirates to Victory.