212–Chef Tyler and Feet Pajamas

I went from work to the gym tonight and when I got home Tyler was just about to take supper out of the oven.  He put together a chicken casserole with cream of mushroom soup, Rotel, and cheese with egg noodles. It was good! HOT, but good!  It was nice to have supper ready when I got home, too!

My sister Kristin (#11) texted me this photo today…

One of the things I’m remembered by in my family is my “feet pajamas”.  When I was in the 4th grade, I got a pair of red feet pajamas for Christmas.  I LOVED them and wore them faithfully from 4th grade until I was 19 years old.  They still fit (width-wise) after all those years, but were stretched lengthwise so much so that I had them held together with safety pins at the knees.  I finally burned them just before I got married (I thought Dave might not appreciate them as much as I did)… but seriously, I wish I hadn’t burned them.

Jodi actually bought me a pair several years ago for Christmas.  I hadn’t seen any in stores, but from the looks of it… they’re making a comeback!!

211–It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year #4

“The stockings were hung by the chimney with care”…we don’t have a mantle to hang our stockings on… so we do the next best thing in our house:

We have seven stockings this year…love it!

Do you have a fireplace? If not, where do you put your stockings??

210–It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year #3

Tyler and David got out the Christmas tree after church tonight and let Daisy, Maddie and I do the rest…

I LOVE the lighting that a Christmas tree gives off.  It’s one of the many things that I enjoy during the holidays.

Tonight when Maddie was hugging me “goodbye”, she said, “Don’t take down this Christmas tree, okay??”  It was so cute!! I promised her that I’d leave it up for her at least until Christmas.  That got a big smile!

I can’t believe it’s been a year, but today is Kale and Kayla’s first wedding anniversary.  Happy Anniversary to two people that I love with my whole heart!

209–Game Day!

Rylee-Roo and Maddie-Moo

I had a quiet morning at home, but Tyler, Daisy, and Maddie made it here in time to watch the Hogs game with me.  (What a great game!)  After the game we all went out for a celebratory supper at “Razorback Ribs” then on to Dave’s sister, Carla’s, for a visit and some of Carla’s amazing homemade pie.

I’d say it was a good day!

208–Black Friday 2010

I pretty much stayed in sleep pants today and did a lot of bargain shopping on my computer.  I didn’t find near as much as I’d hoped, but I’m getting my list in order.

This is what the dogs did most of the day…

They parked it right in front of the fire. Can’t say I blame them.

207–Thanksgiving 2010

The weather turned COLD and rainy here and it actually feels like winter and time for the holidays now.  We spent the morning at home not too far from the wood stove.  Tyler went to Daisy’s family’s house for lunch and David and I went to my folks’ house late in the afternoon.  (My family does Thanksgiving supper.)

We had a house full, but there were several families missing. 

Sophia is getting so big…

Two nieces – Sophia (13 months) and Courtney (18)

We do a lot of sitting around and chatting…

Tyler didn’t want me getting the camera out. (Haha – you can see my reflection in the glass doors.)

And I was never so happy to see this girl – we hadn’t seen her since Sunday…

Mads and David were having some serious pretend time with the phones.

Sporting her pink slippers with her houndstooth dress.  Adorable.

This was the first time ever that I didn’t have both of my children home for Thanksgiving.  I was happy to know that Kale and Kayla were celebrating the holiday with neighbors, but I sure am missing them.  Knowing they are happy and loving their new life is soothing to me or this distance thing would be so so hard.  Still, I am looking forward to being together at Christmas – Lord willing.

206–It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year #2

I baked a couple of pumpkin pies… took one to Ms. Charlsie… baked two loaves of pumpkin bread, and made Kelly's chocolate chip cheese ball.  I’m so ready for the Goulet family Thanksgiving tomorrow.

Oh, give thanks to the LORD!
Call upon His name; 
Make known His deeds among the peoples!

(1 Chronicles 16:8)

205–Distance Dilemma

My girl, Kayla, called today and said she found out that she can take Christmas Eve off, but she has to work the day after Christmas.  That’s Sunday, people.  Who buys a car on Sunday, the day after Christmas??? Take a vacation already.

Because of that, they can’t come home now, so we are trying to figure out a plan to go to Houston.  It’ll be a quick trip (we’ll be driving), but at least we’ll be able to be together. At least, I hope we ALL will be able to go!!

My sister Kristin (#11) texted me today.  The text said, “Erik (her 3 year old son) was playing with his pretzels on the ottoman last night and I was about to get on to him because there was salt all over…until I noticed what he was doing”…

Haha!!  He is ONLY three years old.  I’m certainly impressed!

Tyler texted me this evening and asked me if I had donated through KLOVE today.  They were linking with World Vision for a “Thanksgiving 4 Africa” food drive.  When combined with grant funds, every dollar donated is being quadrupled and donated to the twelve poorest countries in Africa. He wanted me to get online and donate for him.  Let me just say that Tyler doesn’t have any extra money right now, but he wanted to give.  I LOVE what God is doing in his heart.  He is a new creation and I am once again overwhelmed with gratitude for all the blessings in my life.

204–Taking It Easy

I’m trying to keep a migraine away, so I’ve been taking it easy this evening.  So have the dogs…

Spoiled much?

203–Thanksgiving Fellowship & Shoe Box Sunday

Today was the last day to bring Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes to the church.  We finished Maddie’s up by putting a letter and photo in each and bringing them down to the front of the church where we collected them.

This evening our church had a Thanksgiving fellowship supper followed by a Lord’s Supper/Testimony service – we heard from those on our Nicaragua Mission team on the trip they took this week.

This was our first fellowship with Maddie.  (smile)

Whoever made this Boston Cream pie… can I just say, “Oh my goodness!”

After church we helped pack up all the shoe boxes to get them ready to move to the next location.  We had lots of help, but I was so tickled that Maddie worked as hard as anyone.  She has such a sweet heart!

When Maddie first met the Preacher, she was really shy and nervous (she has this response with a lot of men).  A couple weeks ago after church when he came in the office, Maddie was acting all nervous again, so I told her, “Hey Maddie, Brother Steve has something for you!” And he took her to our “candy store” (we have a jar of candy in the office) and he gave her a lollipop.  Today, every time she saw Steve she grinned really big and said, “That’s Brother Steve!!” You can tell from the picture (above) that she is no longer afraid of him.

202–Saturday

About 30 minutes after I got Maddie down last night, she woke up crying and complaining of her ear hurting.  Oh my! It’s been a while since I’ve had to worry about stuff like that.  (I forgot how that just breaks your heart.) I gave her a little Tylenol and she finally went back to sleep.  She woke up this morning feeling just fine, though, so I’m hoping her ear is going to be okay.

We had a good time playing this morning.  She wanted me to read to her again today.  I am a firm believer in reading to kids, so I am always happy when she brings me a book.

She also had a good time pretending to faint on me.  The girl makes me belly laugh!

Tyler, Daisy and I also watched “Letters to Juliet”, which I think is one of the sweetest little movies. Then Tyler left to go to Dave’s sister’s to deer hunt, Daisy and Mads headed home, and I started some laundry and finally, after all these months, tackled painting the “Love Room’s” closet doors.  I can finally cross that off my to do list.

This evening, David and I went to A&W for supper. It’s supposed to be fast food, but after about 15-20 minutes, one of the teenagers from behind the counter came out apologizing that they had dropped David’s platter on the floor and were re-starting his meal. (They offered us free dessert for the wait.  I took a piece of pineapple cheese cake pie.) I’ve only been there about 3 or 4 times, but I’ve never seen an adult there behind the counter and it always seems like chaos.  I’m hoping that’s not the way it is all the time, but on our way out of the driveway, I noticed the sign out front:

“Under New Management” Ha!

201–A Really Good Day

Today has just been a really good day.  I had a busy morning at work; a good walk with my sister at noon; a quiet afternoon alone at the house; a HUGE laugh with Tyler (he was teaching me how to race cars on the Xbox – I have no skills); and a nice supper with Tyler, Daisy, Maddie, and David. 

Now I’m sitting in the quiet of my living room  (fixing to watch Garth Brooks on Leno) after having read Maddie a bedtime story before she quietly laid down for the night. (Tyler and Daisy are at the movies – they are Harry Potter fanatics.)

Before putting Maddie down, she and I packed a couple more Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes.  She has given even more meaning to what they’ve meant to me over the years as we’ve let this be a gift from her to “little boys and little girls who don’t have any toys or much food”.  She has literally helped me pick each item and pack each box and she has never once asked for any of the stuff for herself.

As I watch her packing them, I can’t help but think about how much I have come to love her and how she has no idea what it would be like to be without.  Without a warm bed. Without food.  Without her cute little clothes.  Without more hugs and kisses than she even knows what to do with.  She is sure that she will be taken care of.  She knows that wherever she is, she is surrounded by love and all the things she needs in life.  I’m grieved for the little children who don’t have what she has and it has helped me to think about the holidays in a much more meaningful way.

I have MUCH to be thankful for.

200–A Winter Favorite

We are finally having our first bit of cold weather here in Arkansas.  It’s been hard to believe that Thanksgiving is so close until the last week or so.  This cold snap has made me start that “chilled to the bone” feeling and I’m craving comfort food.  Tonight, Dave made the potato soup that I just love!! I could seriously eat it every night in the winter months.

Can you believe that I’ve blogged 200 days in a row??? 165 days left in my Project 365.

199–“Open the Eyes of My Heart”

I’ve had a busy day and I didn’t think to take a picture of anything, until this evening when Mads was here.

We have been teaching our Awana Cubbies the song “Open the Eyes of My Heart”.  I love to hear them sing.  We’ve given them little “signs” to go along with it.  (We don’t know sign language, but it’s close enough. Ha!)

They are adorable!!!

198– The Holidays Are Coming

We had another interesting sky today.

Can you believe Thanksgiving is next week?? This will be my first Thanksgiving without Kale (and Kayla).  Another transition.  Not one that I will like, but it’s life.   What can I say? (except for I miss them something terrible these days).

Christmas is only 38 days away!! I started listening to Christmas music last week and I’m thinking about putting up my tree next week sometime.  I LOVE this time of year.

197– Comfort Food

It has been COLD here for the last few days and today after work…grocery shopping…a stop at Charlsie’s…when I finally got home at 7:30, I was ready for some comfort food.

Dave started the fire in the wood stove.

I made homemade biscuits and macaroni & cheese.  Oh, yes I did.

 

Let’s just say these items do not appear on my recommended healthy foods list.  And it would be considered carb-loading as well. 

But, it was SO good!

196–A Fun Weekend

We had another beautiful morning with both fog and frost greeting me when I took the dogs out.

It’s been mostly us girls this weekend while David and Tyler have been in the deer woods.  They spent the last two nights camping at the cabin, but  Tyler made it in just in time for church this morning.  Maddie was so happy to see him walk in the door as we were about to leave for Sunday School.  After church and lunch, the three of us did a little shopping and then Maddie came home with me for a nap while Tyler and Daisy took care of some stuff.  We ALL ended up sleeping - draped across all the living room furniture. Ha!

Maddie – showing Kayla the new stockings we got for her and Daisy

I don’t think they come any cuter!!

Mads and Tyler are pretty good buds… I LOVE these moments I caught today…

Maddie helping Tyler with some TV connections… too cute!

195–A Beginning and An End

Today we celebrated as my brother, Kevin #10, got married.  We wish him and Christy years of happiness together…

We also grieve at the loss of my Uncle Don tonight – one day after his 55th wedding anniversary.  He spent his last few days surrounded by his loving, caring family.  They even decorated for Christmas and celebrated an early Christmas together.

Uncle Don as a baby

Uncle Don, Mom, and my Aunt Karen (1953ish)

The one thing I truly know about my Uncle Don is that he was a man of God.  He lived his life out of that love and he faced death, much like my Aunt Rosemary, with grace and dignity and “joy in the journey”.  I have learned so much about what “to live is Christ, to die is gain” means through the loss of my Mom’s siblings.  She is made of the same stuff and that gives me tremendous peace.  I’m thankful to a God that is real.  Who knows our names. And who hears us when we call on Him.

194–Girl’s Night

We had a girl’s night tonight.  But before we left, Maddie got a little attention from Tyler. 

Then we headed to Chili’s for dinner.  Mostly, chips and guacamole.  There was a 20-30 minute wait, so we waited in the car.  Mads wanted to hold the “call buzzer” and was a little upset when I put it where we all could see it.

  Right after this picture, they buzzed us and I let her carry it in.

After supper, we made a quick trip to PetCo, then Walmart…for some fun in the holiday aisles.

I don’t know who that woman is laughing like a goob in the background???

Then we went to TJ Maxx.  Mads got a new pair of slippers…

… and they couldn’t be any cuter!!