My Sister's Christmas pretties...

I wish I had the same flair for decorating as my sister, Rachel, does. She is very talented. Check out some of her Christmas decor. She takes simple things from around the house and creates a whole new look. For example, she simply added a dear and tossed cookie cutters into her cookie jar.

I have this same cookbook and stocking. Cookbook is on the shelf and stocking hanging on wall. I like this idea a lot better.

Just put some balls in a bowl, candy canes in a cup and filled the pitcher with pinecones and holly. She put a book up there to add to the Christmas feel. I love this.

I love her countdown snowman.

This is just too cute. What a great way to display Pyrex Christmas.

One of her many trees.

The little no sew runner I made her.

Love her primitive living room and this tree fits right in with the rest of the decor.

Odd and end Christmas setting around.

She bought place mats at Dollar General and ripped the end seam out to make these cute little pillows. She made the snowman on the blanket as well. 

Her little window. Too cute.

I love this. Christmas balls in a red Pyrex bowl. 

One of her other trees.

Another tree. Very basic, very cute.

I may have to try to remember some of these next year.

Weekend wrap up part 2

Sunday I slept until 7:30 which is very rare for me. After church, I went to the store to get some goodies for a Christmas party with my Thirty-One sisters. We were doing a secret Santa exchange and the limit was $10.00. I had been procrastinating and had to stop on my way to the party to get a gift for the exchange. I stopped at a store called Bee Hive that carries costume jewelry. They had a sale on watch faces for $5.00 and $1.50 for the interchangeable bands. So for my $10 I got a watch with three different bands. They even threw in a spare battery for free.

Once everybody got there, we had to take our tradition picture in front of the tree. 

And since they all love Kodak moments, we had to take one on the staircase. 

And it wouldn't be a gathering with these ladies if somebody didn't say "Now let's do a crazy picture." I just love them all so much. We have a blast when we get together.

One of my friends, Theresa, brought each of us a bottle of Germ-X with the famous 31 on it.

She actually was #1 on our gift fame. She got this attractive scarf. She had to put it on and model it even if it didn't match her shirt.

I was #6 and I couldn't have picked a better gift. Cookie trays, cookie mix, kitchen towel & potholder and a pretty whisk. Nobody stole it from me. They must have realized my gift was definitely meant for me.

Our fearless leader, Colleen, gets us each a new planner every year and we love them. This year she gave us a magnetic pad and a set of stars we could use to mark party days in our new planner. 

It was an awesome day and I am so blessed to have such a wonderful group of women in my life.

Weekend wrap - Part 1

Wow! What a totally awesome weekend. Where to begin? So much activity that I am going to have to split it into two blog posts. I need to back up to Thursday because that is when my busy weekend kicked off. My grandson Caleb is my quietest grandchild as far as being in crowds and mingling with other people. You can imagine our surprise when he volunteered to be in his school's Christmas program. And we were even more amazed when he informed us he had a line to speak. It was just one line like most of the other kids, but for Caleb this was a HUGE announcement. He did a fabulous job and we couldn't have been more proud. That's him in his 50's look black leather jacket.

Friday was a crazy evening as I was scurrying around to make cookies and clean house for the weekend.

Saturday was my busiest day. We had breakfast at Shoney's and it was delicious. After that we did some shopping and then went back home and hurried over to organized the Annual Community Christmas Parade. It went off without a hitch. Four years and everything has went smooth. I couldn't be happier.

After the parade, our choir performed our Christmas program and then I hurried home and changed clothes just in time before the family started arriving for our birthday gathering for me and my children. We had a wonderful time. Here are a few highlights from the night. We had pizza, wings and breadsticks for supper. The three younger Grands wanted to eat in front of the TV in their room. When I went in to check on them and see if they were done, this is what I found. Apparently they were all full and relaxed. 

I had left a box of decorations in their room and a little green Christmas tree. I told them they could decorate their tree and room with what was in the box. Note to self: In the future check what is in the box BEFORE turning them loose to be creative. I had forgotten their was a bag of leftover tinsel (icicles) and garland from last year in the bottom of that box. They called me in to look at their tree and this is what we found. 

I was able to get a few picks but forgot to turn on the flash so they are a little blurry but these are my three handsome grandsons...Garret, Caleb and Colby. 

And these are my two beautiful granddaughters...Shelby and Alexis.

Shelby and Colby were fascinated by the new fireplace. I love this picture. These two are a whirlwind bundle of energy. She is 6 and he is 4 and it is rare to see them sitting so quietly.

My daughter and her family got me this beautiful sweater. I can't wait to wear it to work today. 

My son and his wife really surprised me with their gift. They know I am a huge fan of Rudolph. I never miss it. Here is Rudolph and Santa surrounded by some of the Misfit toys. But the most special part is that Santa has a list of names. It's all my grandchildren. I love that the top says The Grands since that is how I refer to them. My only question on this was "Is this the naughty or nice list?" I was just kidding. My precious Grands will definitely be on the nice list. 

As you can see, I had a full day on Saturday. But I loved every moment of it.

Sunday's Song

Craig Wayne Boyd is one of the singers vying for the chance to become The Voice.  He is by far my favorite but this past week, his performance blew America away. He not only did a spiritual song, but an old Southern Gospel standard...The Old Rugged Cross. He brought tears to the judges eyes and even had Pharrell Williams saying To God be the glory. You could tell this song was done because he believed in every word of it, not because he was trying to put on a show. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Please take a moment to listen to the coaches comments at the end of the video. I loved when Pharrell asked him "What does it feel like to be at the top of your game and surrender it to God in front of the whole world?"

My special day...

I have been blessed my entire life by having a spirit of joy and finding pleasures in the small things. Today is a celebration of my life. My special day. I turn 58 today and I am excited about it. I believe birthdays are magical days...no matter how old you are. I have had a life of love and family that have meant the world to me. Those moments of magic to remember over the years. 

I was a curly haired little girl who loved and worshiped her Daddy. This is one of my favorite pictures of us together when I was 2.

I went through a stage where I wore nothing but dresses and saddle oxfords. I loved my dresses. Now that is something you will rarely see me wear unless it is a very special occasion.

I grew up with an older sister and two younger brothers who mean the world to me. We have always been close and still are today. Mom and Dad showered us with love and we never knew there was any other way to be in life except happy. We didn't have a lot of money, but we didn't know that because Mom made everything so special for us. She and Daddy gave us plenty of wonderful memories.

We had a hoard of cousins and got to see them all the time. It made for some awesome fun and lots of giggles and girl time.

One of my fondest memories is when my Uncle Charlie took me to Sears to sit on Santa's lap. I don't remember my siblings going so I am not sure if they did. I don't recall pictures like this of them. I wonder if he may have taken me for my birthday this year? But I do remember having so much fun that night. Check out the corsage on my coat. We ALWAYS got a new corsage to wear at Christmas.

I remember clothes hanging out on the line and all those years with the inflatable pools. So many sweet summertime memories.

I went through the nerdy stage with the cat eye glasses when I was in 4th grade. Here I am sporting one of my favorite shirts Mom made me. I guess red has always been my favorite color.

When I grew up, I married my wonderful hubby and have had over 33 years of being spoiled. Oh how I love this man of mine.

Nothing ever made me feel as blessed as God trusting me with a set of beautiful twins. I always said I wanted a boy and a girl and that is exactly what I got...all at once. Since they were born 3 days before my 21st birthday, I would have to say this was the best birthday present I ever got.

Just when I thought my life couldn't be any fuller, the grandbabies started coming along. I have three very handsome grandsons....

And two beautiful granddaughters.

I am trying to grow old gracefully like my Mom has. She is one of my inspirations and one of my best friends. To this day, when something happens in my life...good or bad....I call Mom and discuss it with her. At 84, she is still going strong. She still loves to craft and read. 

So this may seem like a conceited post to some, but it isn't. I am just so truly, wonderfully appreciative of every moment of the life God gave me. So I usually take this day to celebrate my birthday. I'm just a big kid at heart and I think it is okay to be happy to be another year older. 

Hubby outdid himself for my birthday this year. We finally got a HDTV and one of those electric fireplaces I have been wanting for several years. Thank you, Allen, for always making me feel so special.

Busy, busy, busy....

Well, it is going to be a busy weekend around here. How would you like to have my schedule this weekend.....

Direct TV is coming to change install new Genie boxes on the TV's. We get a free upgrade since we have been with them for two years.

I need to run and get my hair cut after he leaves if there is time.

Tomorrow I have breakfast with my daughter and a little shopping to do. We are going to do the Shoney's breakfast bar. Best place to get full on a good budget.

From there, I will go straight to start lining up everybody for the annual community Christmas Parade. Somehow I ended up in charge of this when we started it four years ago and I still am the main organizer. But everybody is so easy to work with that I don't mind. 

After I send the last float or group out to the main road, I will hop in my car and go the other direction and circle around to our church. I always time it so that I get there as the first of the parade arrives so I can actually get to watch it and not just organize it. 

The parade ends at our church and we give everybody time to come in and then we perform the our annual Christmas program for the community. So as soon as the parade is over, I hurry inside and become a quick change artist to go from jeans and a sweatshirt to pants and a sweater for the program.

After the performance, I will hurry home where my family will be waiting and we will have pizza and a birthday party for me and my children since we all three have birthdays this week.

Sunday morning is Sunday School and church. Our morning worship services will be our Christmas program again for our church family. 

After church, I need to hurry home and make something to take to a Christmas party for my Thirty-One friends. I need to leave the house by 2:30 to get there for the party and gift exchange at 3:00. Around 5:00, I will have to change again into my dress clothes and drive about 20 minutes to a sister church who has invited us to perform our Christmas program. They do not have a choir so they have invited us in to sing for them. 

After that, it will be back home and time to put on my warm socks and crash on the couch. I am hoping to fit eating and sleeping into my weekend somewhere.