I am thankful for warm weather. I know that it seems to be tiring that our local temps are in the upper 80's these days, but I go running very early in the morning, and I am so thankful that I can run with just sweat pants and a t shirt on. When it gets colder here, I am dressed in layer after layer...I sometimes feel like that Stay Puft Marshmallow Man from "Ghostbusters" when I go down the street! And I am thankful that I can run and hike. When I was younger, it was so hard for me to run, and I just never imagined that I would ever even be able to run 3-5 miles a day...and then to like to do it too! I am thankful for my neighborhood that is safe, so I can be out and enjoy those peaceful early hours as the world is waking up and beginning their day. I am thankful for police officers, for fire fighters, for our military and all those who give of their time, and work less than safely, so we can enjoy the things we love to do, the things we want to do and the things we need to do.
I am also thankful for family...for children who love each other and care for each other (even, sometimes, Kayty and Nathan), for a sister and brother who are good, kind, loving and caring people, for good parents who raised me well, and for a mom who continues to always be there to help me. I am also thankful for dear friends who are like family to me. I am thankful for prayers from those who love us. I can feel their strength, and it gives me courage every day. And, I am thankful that I have dear, wonderful people to pray for each day. I hope that they know that the adversities they are enduring do not go unnoticed and that we care and we love them and we want them to be able to endure the hard times they are facing and to remain steadfast, for the blessings truly will come.

Thanksgiving Placemat Crafts For Kids

I wonder if Kayty and Nathan would do this for us? Fat chance!!!
Thanksgiving Placemat Crafts For Kids

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It Just Got Out of Hand!!

I haven't written as frequently as I have been...and I have an excuse...a poor one, albeit, but an excuse. It began with me just "puttin' up the Winter Village". Then, since I had two Nativity Scenes already displayed, I just was going to put the rest up, so I could enjoy them. Well, I put them in a different place, so I had to remove stuff to put them there. Then, when I needed to put that stuff away, I had to get other boxes down. "I'll just put a few things up here and there to make room for the stuff I am putting away," I convinced myself. Boxes in the closet, boxes up to the attic, stuffed animals and pillows down from the attic...Up and down...up and down. I was a gonner...I couldn't stop myself. And now, though my kitchen table has a lovely brown Thankgsiving tablecloth, pumpkins, pilgrims, and turkeys, the rest of my house - including the beach bathroom, the patriotic tree in the family room, the smaller hunting tree in the living room, the nutcrackers in the entry, and our big tree in the living room...is ready for Christmas! Music is playing, stockings are hung, and it is 85 degrees outside. Maybe I am just wishing winter here...Anyway, the excuse sounds better than the fact that I just go nuts at Christmas!!

Thankful Thursday

What a week it has been! I can hardly believe it's already Thursday again! I was reading my daughter's blog this morning. Her sweet hubby had written for her...about her birthday yesterday. What love he expressed! So, I got to thinking this morning as I was driving kids (or corpses - sleeping all the way!) about just how blessed I am to have the most wonderful kids-in-law. I love them each so dearly! Michael is the best: a wonderful husband, a great provider, a super support, and a down right awesome daddy to my grandbabies. I knew he was special from the first time I saw him, and when he sat up all night when Allison had her wisdom teeth pulled before they married, I knew he was just...well, he loves my daughter; he makes her happy...and that makes him the most special person ever! Then there is Cameo. She loves Ethan so much! I remember before they were married when she threw him a surprise party for his birthday (not an easy task less than two weeks before Christmas!)He had always looked kind of sad when others had parties, and he had no girlfriend that loved him enough to make that effort...that is, until Cameo. She does so much to be with him. She camps (and still looks just gorgeous...what goes on in that tent while we eat?)She is a super fisher-person (for awhile, Nathan would not let her bring a pole with her when they all went fishing...the fish just jumped on her line!!)She is a great cook (makes the most decadent sour cream enchiladas!) and, again, she loves my son; she makes him happy...and that makes her the most special person ever. Now, sweet Danyel. I may be selfish about her, for she does so much for my Doran, but she also does so much for me!!! She is so patient with my son. She supports him in EVERYTHING! She is there for his photography events, his dances, as they yard sale, and even in Harbor Freight(and we know Doran could spend his entire life there and never notice!!)She also helps me. I had a rough Saturday, and there she was...anticipating my needs...getting paper towels, washing and drying dishes, and she stayed when I had to leave to make sure Allison's birthday cake didn't burn. Again, she loves my son; she makes him happy. And that makes her the most special person ever. I only pray that my other children are blessed with spouses as wonderful as my children have been blessed with. They all have been raised by great parents. They taught them honesty, hard work, and trust. I thank them for giving me and my family their children. We all are blessed for each one of them!

A Birthday Surprise for US!

Our sweet Allison has a birthday this week...November 12, 1981, at 1:02 A.M., she made her grand entrance into this world, and she has been just a pure joy ever since. We had taken her gifts to her in Vegas a few weeks ago, so we didn't even imagine that they would be able to come here...but come they did! A phone call on Friday let us know they were on their way! Though we had to share them with the Wilkins, it was just the best time ever. Thank you, Allison, for celebrating your special day with us and sharing those sweet grandbabies!!

Thankful Thursday

Wow! Did the week just fly by!! I am already at Thursday...Thanksgiving will be here in no time!! I want the world to slow down.

I was thinking about how blessed I am that I can wake up early and exercise and run or hike every day (except Sunday). And I am so thankful that our weather is nice and cool now. It was sure getting to be a pain out sweatin' while I was running. I actually wore sweat pants, a long sleeved band shirt and a sweat shirt this morning! So nice...except for the wind.

I am also thankful that the elections are over. Though all things did not turn out the way I wanted them to, I am thankful my congressman was re-elected, and that proposition 102 passed. Those were of high importance to me. I am so thankful that we can vote our conscience in this country. We can put things on the ballot. We can write and voice our opinion. That is such a great, great blessing.

I am thankful my hubby has a job. Today, there are meetings about layoffs, and we are concerned, but I am not worried. We have a years' supply of food staples, a three month supply of food, and he has many talents, so things will be okay, either way. I am thankful that he works so hard at his job, at his dj business, around our house and yard, on the cars, on the roof, on the refrigerator, on the plumbing, and at his church calling. His many skills and his ingenuity have saved us many problems and oodles of money just in service calls.

I am thankful that there were great sales on Halloween candy at all the stores. Our family is celebrating G-Day after Christmas, when Allison and Mike and the sweet grandbabies will be in town. (G-day is Grammy Day. At first, it was going to be a day for my grandkids to come over, eat, decorate gingerbread houses, etc. But, my kids joined in, and now it is just the best day for all of us.We eat goulash, grapes, goldfish crackers, and gummy bears. Then we decorate gingerbread houses...each with its own holiday theme - whatever each family decides. The Grandkids get their own house as well.) I got tons of candy -regular, and Halloween. Plus, I got four ready baked smaller gingerbread houses on clearance...so now Adam and Grace won't have to use graham crackers. I will bake the other ones, unless someone wants a "creation" of their own. It will be so much fun with the Grandmas and Nanos, the kids, the grandkids, and maybe even cousin Curtis. (Believe me, we have plenty of decorations - from Easter, Valentines Day, Halloween, and some from Christmas, too) I am so thankful my kids love to be here and celebrate G-Day. It makes me so very, very happy!!

Nathan has never, ever liked his portrait being taken. I got a few when he was very small (and could not speak!) but, since he was around two or three, he would just throw a fit every time I even suggested a picture...That is why we don't have as many of him as we do the other five kids. I wanted a picture in his football jersey, before we had to turn it it. I researched and researched, trying to find sports photos that did not look "gay" as he calls it. Finally, I found some that I liked, and Dee helped by "encouraging" Nathan to cooperate with me...or else! Thus, I took the opportunity and tried my hand. Now, the lighting isn't that great (I would have preferred waiting a little while until the sun was down, but when Nathan is ready and cooperative, I have to go!) and my flash didn't work like I wanted it to. I have a lot to learn, but, with a guy, posing is the first battle. (See, I even got one of him smiling...that does NOT happen!)