A blessed weekend and a prayer request

I had an awesome weekend. Three of my grandchildren came to spend the weekend. Colby is 3 and will come and visit, but the last two or three times we tried to get him to stay all night, he didn't make it. Come bed time or during the night he would want Mommy and nothing would calm him down so we had to meet up for him to go back home. Since he is a little older, we decided to try again. I am happy to say it was a success. 

That evening, Alexis and Colby were playing a war game, Stratego, because Colby likes playing his own version. Alexis was doing good explaining it to him and he seemed to be paying close attention. 

He sat there and studied the pieces then started to make his move. He "ran" his man across the board and then yelled TOUCHDOWN. Which shouldn't surprise me because the child lives for sports. 

Alexis is 9 now and she still likes to sit on Papaw's lap and have him comb her hair out after her bath. 

Garret and I played one of his war games and he beat me like he always does. I can't believe he is growing up so fast. 

I was blessed on Sunday morning to be able to finally take all 5 of my grandchildren to church with me. That has never happened. When Colby was a baby and stayed all night, Caleb would be at his other grandparents and didn't go to church. But this Sunday everyone of them went with me and I could not have been happier than I was at that moment. We did get a pic but the eyes are a little off because the lighting wasn't good and it is a cell phone picture, but I will take what I can get.  (I definitely need a haircut.)

One of my dear, sweet friends at church is one of the kindest most compassionate ladies you will ever meet. She is always so thoughtful. She saw on my Facebook post that I was doing my kitchen in snowflakes and Santa's with lots of blue and red this year. When I got to church Sunday, she had me a surprise goodie bag. She is very crafty and had made me this little gift. I loved it. It is going to be perfect for my Christmas decor.

She also got me this little dish. I'm going to fill it with hot chocolate packets. 

I stopped by Walmart over the weekend and picked up my first box of Christmas cards. It usually takes me two to three boxes to get all my friends, family and church friends taken care of. But I like the looks of the one in this box to get me started. 

I got up Monday morning and made my daughter-in-law her requested birthday "cake". It has vanilla pudding with peanut butter, Cool Whip, brownies and Reese cups. It is heaven in a bowl. 

I had a very blessed weekend and enjoyed every minute of it. I do have a prayer request. Yesterday, a very, very close friend of mine who is my son-in-law's grandmother fell off a ramp in her garage while she was carrying groceries in. Ms. Clara is 82 years old and is always on the go. She has more energy than most people half her age. She broke her hip in three places and is going to have surgery this morning. They are discussing extended care services for after the surgery. This is going to be very hard on her with the holidays coming up. Please keep her in your prayers.

Happy Birthday

I want to take a minute to wish my daughter-in-law a Happy Birthday. She has brought great joy to our family. I couldn't have hand picked anyone better for my son. 

She is a great mom and has provide us with three beautiful grandchildren. 

Happy birthday, Jamie. We love you. 

Sunday morning songs...

Vintage Christmas Salt and Pepper Shakers

I was in the mood to look up some vintage Christmas items last night on the internet. I stumbled across some cute salt and pepper shakers. I don't collect S & P, but I did pick up a cute set with gingerbread men this summer. Here are some I saw that I liked. This was a popular set that I've seen a lot of.

These are cute. I just love Santas.

Somebody had a set of these. Either Mom or Rachel or me. Just don't remember who.

I love this set. 

And I would love to find these deer. 

And these are so whimsical. They are so cute. 

I fell in love with these little Snow people. It would be cute to have.

I have always loved Charlie Brown. He's my fave. So this would definitely be something I would buy if I found it. 

And I went nuts over this snowman and snow woman. Especially since I'm doing these colors in my kitchen this year. 

But the one that stole my heart was this one. Two of my favorite items together...nutcrackers and Russian stacking dolls. Oh, how I would love to own this set.

I love my new Christmas App

I love having apps on my phone that keep me organized. I downloaded one the other day that I am so glad I found. It is a free app called Christmas List Pro. It has this cute little Santa as it's logo so you will know which one to download if you think you might like it. 

It is very user friendly, making it easy to create your own custom gift list. Simply click on the person you want to add. There is a place to enter sizes, how much you want to spend, items you want to purchase, and a check box to mark the item purchased. It then shows you how many of the items on your list you have purchased for each person and lets you know what still needs purchased.

You can easily set a password so anyone using your phone can't check your list. You can also keep track of your spending so you don't go overboard.

I can already tell I'll be making my list and checking it twice with the help of this neat little app.

Windows of Gold

I love poetry. Over the years, many poems have inspired me, calmed me and just over all lifted me up. Perhaps my most favorite poem is Windows of Gold by Helen Steiner Rice. It is very beautiful and teaches us such a valuable lesson. I read it for the first time when I was only about 13 or 14 years old and it has always been my favorite poem over the years.

Windows of Gold

There is a legend that has often been told 

Of the boy who searched for the Windows of Gold. 

The beautiful windows he saw far away 

When he looked in the valley at sunrise each day.

And he yearned to go down to the valley below 

But lived on a mountain covered with snow, 

And he knew it would be a difficult trek, 

But that was a journey he wanted to make.

So he planned by day and he dreamed by night 

Of how he could reach The Great Shining Light. 

And one golden morning when dawn broke through 

And the valley sparkled with diamond of dew.

He started to climb down the mountainside 

With the Windows of Gold as his goal and his guide. 

He traveled all day and, weary and worn, 

With bleeding feet and clothes that were torn.

He entered the peaceful valley town 

Just as the Golden Sun went down. 

But he seemed to have lost his "Guiding Light," 

The windows were dark that had once been bright.

And hungry and tired and lonely and cold 

He cried, "Won't You Show Me The Windows of Gold?" 

And a kind hand touched him and said, "Behold! 

High On The Mountain Are The Windows of Gold."

For the sun going down in a great golden ball 

Had burnished the windows of his cabin so small, 

And the Kingdom of God with its Great Shining light, 

Like the Golden Windows that shone so bright.

Is not a far distant place, somewhere, 

It's as close to you as a silent prayer, 

And your search for God will end and begin 

When you look for Him and find Him within.

Author: Helen Steiner Rice

Bedtime Blogging

I didn't blog this morning. I tried and I ended up finding other things I needed to do. So I thought I'd drop in with a bedtime blog. When I got home today, it was so cold out that I was ready for a bubble bath and my favorite Jammies.

After my bubble bath, I grabbed my current novel I am reading along with my reading glasses and headed back into the kitchen. 

I had picked up some Pizza Hut pan pizza and breadsticks. I thought that would be a good supper for tonight. 

It was delicious. 

I did save some room for Oreo's and milk before bedtime. As heavy as my eyes are getting, I would say it will lucky if I get to even have a snack before I hit the hay.