Snow

If we can't have snow at Christmas, why can't we have another Christmas when it snows? I woke up to a world of white and it put me back in the Christmas spirit. But when you think about, Christmas is not just a day. It's a feeling, an emotion, a state of mind. One of my greatest joys at Christmas is giving. So when it snows, it just put me back into that frame of mind. So I think today will be craft day. I bought some discounts items last week and I think I'll spend today making a wreath for my Mom's kitchen. I have several other craft projects going that I'll finish up today. If I don't have anybody in mind for them, I'll just give myself a little gift. So enjoy the snow and find something fun to fill your day.

Chocolate

As February rolls around, we turn our thoughts to chocolate. This confectionery delight can take shape in many forms. Candy, cakes, cookies, drinks, etc. It can come wrapped around nougat, caramel, nuts, or a mixture of all three. We love it with coconut, marshmallow, graham crackers. We are a world that loves it's chocolate....in any form. If I was ever going to build a statue to anyone, it would probably be Milton Hershey. But chocolate dates back much further than that. According to historians, cocoa was discovered in 2000 B.C. in the Amazons. Throughout history, it has taken on many faces and been used for many purposes. It has been used as currency in Spain, as a dowry for royal marriages, as a drink for rulers; the list goes on and on. But chocolate as we know it today, is a comfort food. Many believe it should be one of the main food groups. We love receiving it as a gift. Fill a small candy dish with M&M's or Hershey's kisses and give it as a gift and you have a friend for life. I am convinced that chocolate is an acceptable breakfast food. As with anything, it is good for you as long as you do it in moderation. There is nothing like a bite of chocolate to renew your energy, uncloud your mind and give you a shot of "pep" to keep going. So unwrap that candy bar, take a bite and relax. A little chocolate once in a while is good for you.

A mother's love

Drink your milk. Eat your carrots. Stay out of that candy. Clean your plate; there are starving children in Ethiopia.

How many times have we heard these and similar remarks from our parents? We try so hard to set a good example for health and nutrition for our children. But how many times to we worry so much about their emotional well being?

Do you congratulate them when they do good or are you always berating them for misbehaving. Do you tell them you love them and let them know how special they are or are you "too busy" to stop and play?

Little hands when you were small

Left little fingerprints on the wall.

The floor was covered with lots of toys,

There were cars and Barbies and lots of noise.

As you look back and recall those days,

I hope you remember the times we played.

I tried to clean house, but I didn't obsess.

I'd mostly do it while you were at rest.

I strived to be a mother you'd love.

One you'd grow up to be proud of.

It must have been right, those things that I did.

'Cause I see that same love shown to your kids.

The funny things you remember

Mom and I were talking today about the funny situations in our lives that were hilarious to us that others would never see the humor in. One incident came to mind that we still chuckle about to this day. My family had all come down to visit and we were playing tourist. We went to Auntie Bellam's in Gatlinburg. My daughter, Diana, would have been about 11 or 12 and my nephew, Robby, would have been about 10 or 11. We were shopping around, taking in the sites and Robby and Diana came over to me and said, "We found something we want to buy for Mamaw but we don't have enough money. If we put our money together, could you loan us the rest?" They said it was some Mamaw would love and they wanted to buy it really, really bad for her. So I went with them to look at it. Here's where the funny part comes in. It was a jar of jelly in a pretty glass jar. It was only a couple of dollars and between the two of them, they still needed to borrow a few cents from me to get it for her. My mother loved that jar of jelly as if those kids had given her the moon. To this day, when we reminisce, somebody always says, "Remember when Diana and Robby had to put their money together to afford a jar of jelly for Mamaw." It cracks us up, but guess you had to be there.

In loving memory

In loving memory of my daddy

Luther (Luke) Harden Garretson

July 31, 1923 - January 25, 1999

That little dash between the dates represents a lifetime of love, moments of memories so etched in my mind they will never fade. This is one little girl who loves her daddy with every breath she takes. Though he's been gone 11 years, not one moment of my life with him has been forgotten, not one laugh we shared is gone. I see his features and personality in other members of our family and know that his legacy will live on for generations to come.

So from Mom, me, Rachel, Jack, Andy, your eleven beautiful grandchildren, and your ten precious great grandchildren, we all love you and miss you with every beat of our heart.

If Tears Could Build A Stairway

And Memories A Lane

I’d Walk Right Up To Heaven

And Bring You Home Again.

Oh my!

Sometimes, situations in life happen that define those special moments. The moments that are filled with laughter. Those times that you can tuck away in your memory and pull out later in life and still laugh as hard as you did when it happened. We had one of those moments yesterday with Baby Girl. We were leaving the mall when Brother wanted to get his little trains out of the diaper bag. Well, Baby Girl wanted her diaper bag because she knew she had some toys in there, too. As I'm driving out of the mall, I can see her in my rear view mirror. She is very intent and has her head bent down over the diaper bag that she has pulled into her lap. She is rummaging and searching and having a grand time discovering what is stored in the bag. We drive along enjoying the beautiful day, glad that both the children are content, when we hear Ahhhh! from Baby Girl. I glance in my mirror and shout "Oh my gosh, look at your daughter." Any of you who have ever been around small children know the rules of emergencies. 1. Assess the situation. 2. Determine everyone is okay. 3. Take a photo before the moment gets away 4. Solve the emergency. Now, my daughter, being the brilliant person she is. had the foresight to grab both our camera phones and document the moment before she repaired the damage. They say a picture paints a 1,000 words so I'll let the Kodak moment speak for itself.

It's the little things that thrill me....

I am one of those people who get so excited over little things in my life. Today, I get to go to McKay's Book Store on Papermill in Knoxville. I love going there. I take back all my books I've read and then swap them out for new books, DVD's for the kids, DVD's for me & Allen, whatever suits my fancy. The place is huge. I absolutely love when I get a new book to read. And to be able to get a bunch of new (to me) books at once and not cost anything and not have to take them back by a certain date is heaven. When I leave there, I get to go to AC Moore and pick up some craft supplies. Wow, could my day get any better. Well, yes it does. 'Cause I have a coupon for 10% off my entire purchase at AC Moore. Anybody that knows me knows I love my bargains. So free book and a discount on crafts is going to make my day today.