THE WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Thanksgiving has come and gone, but this year it was special. My parents 45th wedding anniversary! So to celebrate (one of the things on my list I got done) I made them this very special video. I had some help from my siblings and their spouses and would have made it a little different had I had better access to photos. But, it is what it is and certainly made with love. I hope you enjoy. Set aside 12 minutes of your life, to join in ours and turn up the volume.

NEW STUFF

Has anyone tried the links I added on the side bar? You know I love looking at the toolboxes and drooling. The Spiritual link is wonderful. I signed up to have an e-mail sent to me everyday, very thoughtful.

And, I really like the fairy art. I think it is beautiful the way the fairies blend with nature. There is so much art to appreciate in the world. This is only a teeny tiny portion.

BLESSED

It's been a busy day, just working around the house. "Git r done" seems to be the motto of the day. Just kidding, it just feels that way. Trying to keep my house just picked up is a full time job, and, like everyone else, doing laundry, dishes. I was able to cross a few things off my list so I am feeling good. My back is better, not perfect, but I am not going to let that stop me.

I wanted to share why I feel blessed. Because I do have a home, food to eat, and warm clothes on my back. I have a nice warm shower to use everyday, and a vehicle to get around in.

These, are things most people take for granted.

Today, my family and I went and served lunch at a homeless shelter. We signed up a couple of weeks ago at our church's ministry sign up. Joe and Elijah have gone before with the church but we had not done it as a family. The ministry is called the Jello Team and we are ask to bring Jello to serve. I made enough for 32 not knowing what to expect.

We showed up with our Jello and learn that someone else is supposed to be there with food to serve lunch. Not sure what to do, but willing to help in anyway we could, we just hung out. It was not long before we realized that the people and the food weren't going to show up and we were in a panic. The director started pulling a little of this, and a little of that together and we ended with a full meal. We had to move quickly as they were on a time schedule and didn't want to be late. Everyone worked together like pros. The kids were a joy to work with and did a fantastic job of being mature and really helping out. Yes, I do remember that Naomi is 6 and Levi is 10. They
made me proud in every way.

By the time we left we had cleaned, prepared sandwiches, served cake and Jello and made conversations with anyone who wanted to talk. We heard many thanks and how good it was to have a nice place to take a shower and get a good meal. I heard how beautiful my children are, and how sweet they were.

Anna, one of the ladies there, even ask me to keep her in my prayers. She has a heart condition and is a little late on taking her medicine and feeling the effects.

Once we were home I ask the kids how they felt going to serve today. Both really liked helping and would like to go back. Levi was better able to explain how he felt. Of course I can't remember how well he put it when I ask him, but I was really surprised. He seemed like he had really been thinking about it and liked being able to tell me. The main thing I remember is that he finished with saying he felt closer to God and going to Heaven.

I think we will try to do this again soon. I learned today that my family is growing up and with that growth, the desire to help others. There are so many ways we can help, I don't see how we can stop now.

I hope everyone takes time to remember the blessing we all have been given. They may seem small at times but if you are reading this, you are doing well. There are so many people going without even the basics.

Just a reality check, I hope you don't mind that I took you with me.

WHAT'S OLD IS NEW

I am showing my age here but after my recent birthday, it seems I am showing my age anyway.

Elijah is bring back old memories for me. With the recent room remodel he has been fascinated with old music, specifically, music on vinyl. He found out that I had an old turntable stashed in the basement and pleaded with me to let him get it out. Of course it didn't take too much pleading and he has been listening to the past since then. Which has only been a day because he quickly found out that the old system didn't work too well with the new. There is a teeny tiny problem. He needs a pre-amp. Quizzing me on my childhood stereo system. Wondering if it was mine or Meme and Pops. Where it was, and the list goes on.

He has been funny, trying to figure this all out. HOW we could have only listened to a few songs at a time and not been bored out of our minds. The whole 45 vs. 33 thing. Is it OK to pick up the arm and move it? Did I get to have the record player in my room? If life wasn't complicated enough, there were so many new questions! Most of all, when can he get a pre-amp???? One of my all time favorites. I'm surprised it still even plays.

I loved to sing along with her! Specifically, The Rivers to Wide.

This is a double album! Cool pictures on the inside too.

I had a few more and realized you might want to see them too. Nothing says the 70's like Disco Donny Osmond!

BIRTHDAY PICTURES

As promised, I finally get around to posting pictures of our fabulous birthday dinner. Naomi and Levi decided to get dressed up for the event. Levi in his money tie and Naomi in her suit. Like I said, we all love crab legs and consider them a real treat. We ate so many, that we won't need to go back until next year. Levi getting ready to dive in.

What was left over, nothing but the shells.

Posers!

ANOTHER YEAR OLDER and feeling like it!

I'm not much of a complainer, but I feel the need to share with you my misery. I hurt my back! I'm not sure how I did it, maybe it was the high heels I wore Saturday night. Maybe it was working in my office, sitting in awkward positions. Maybe it is just getting older. I have never hurt it before, and hope I never do again. It is one of those things that doesn't hurt all the time, just when I forget and move suddenly, THEN, I remember.

On a positive note, I added some things to my sidebar. I finally was able to add my girlfriends website to the page. Check her out if you haven't already. With Christmas right around the corner you will find lots of wonderful gifts there. The link for the spiritual website is the book I have been reading, The Language of Letting Go. It doesn't always pertain to my life but I usually find something I can relate to.

Lastly, I want to share my birthday with you. Because it falls so close to Joe's I told my family I didn't want a cake. Instead, I wanted to celebrate by playing games with my family. It seems like we have a hard time getting together to play. I started with cards, but ended with Yahtzee because it is the easiest, and fastest for all to play. I usually don't do very good and end up with a low score but I was lucky last night. I scored TWO Yahtzee's and didn't have to cross anything off which is unusual. I ended up with a final score of 473, that is after I got my bonus birthday Yahtzee. I wasn't the only one that was lucky, Joe ended up with three Yahtzee's. It was a lot of fun and I hope we get to do it again soon. On a side note, Levi is hooked on Scrabble and wanting to play that. I reminded him that someone we love has a nice Scrabble game and would love to play with him soon!

THE REST OF THE STORY from the beginning

I started off this day with a lot on my mind. Got quite of few things accomplished. Had a nice birthday dinner to celebrate Papaw's 76th, Joe's 48th and my 42. Thank you Lee and Paul, we had a nice time. (I'll post pictures when I have more time) We ate lots of crab legs!

While organizing my office, these words literally fell at my feet.

Be always joyful, PRAY continually;give THANKS whatever happens. 1 Thees 5-16-18

Each one of you has received a SPECIAL GRACE, so like good stewards responsible for all these different graces of GOD, put yourselves at the service of others. 1 Peter 4-10

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3-16

So, I felt like I should share the words with ones I care about. Who care about me.

Thought about Christmas and where I would like to put our tree. I think it would go best in the basement, with a table top tree in the living room. I also think I am going to decorate with pine cones and things we find in nature. I'm ready for a change (in case you haven't noticed).

ALL THINGS RANDOM

Today we woke up to snow on the rooftops. The kids were excited beyond belief.

I have a "to do" list a mile long. Not really, but it seems that way.

For my business alone, it is overwhelming.

Personal is WAY overwhelming, I guess I better get started. At least I hear that is the way to get things accomplished. I am quite the procrastinator if you didn't already know that.

My list consist of at the moment: Not in any particular order as in that would be way too much pressure.

1. Hang our bikes from hooks in the garage
2. Finish hanging Levi's cork board wall
3. Work in the yard specifically pruning trees and moving plants (unless it gets warm again I won't be the one doing this job)
4. Remove scratches from dining room table (since I moved my house around, I found new things to do)
5. Remove more clutter
6. Clean and organize office
7. Get things ready to take with us for Thanksgiving
8. Work on computer (something besides blogging)
9. Scan kids artwork (has nothing to do with #8)
10. Rearrange the garage as to be able to get the car in it for the winter
11. Get material for Christmas play

Some things I have on the list for Joe. I am willing to help but he will have to do most of it(maybe with the help of Pop???).
12. Build awning for shed
13. Get hot tub running with new hoses
14. Get workshop organized to work more efficiently

It looks like we have our hands full with plenty to do. I'm sure we will mix some fun things in too as we always do. I just find it really helps me to have a list, even if I have a hard time starting... My life reminds me of the book If You Give a Moose a Muffin If you have read it you will know what I'm talking about.

ALL THINGS RANDOM part two

I have been wanting to post all week but it seems like my life gets busy and busier. So, fitting, I thought I would make a random blog of (a very small portion) the things that have gone on in my life recently.

It seems the most pressing is my girlfriend, Paula. She lost her mom (the one I was asking for prayers for) last Monday, the 10th. She is suffering a great loss, as anyone who has lost both of their parents can relate to. I am fortunate in not having experience that myself, but have lost some really wonderful family that I was close with. Having said that, I am at a loss for her. She and I have know each other for a long time but have gotten closer through the recent years. I have extended myself to be there for her. She is reluctant and distant. I need help in suggestions of what I can do to help her through this process, if there is any helping. For those of you that have been through this do you have any suggestions??? Thank you all for your prayers

Some other things...

Joe ended up in the ER last Thursday. He had a severe case of diverticulitis. I had heard of it before, but not seen it in action. Joe is not a complainer so to see him in such pain was hard. The hospital did a cat scan of his abdomen and came back with the diagnosis. He was sent home with a prescription for TWO antibiotics and a pain pill. I new it was going to be bad. With all the talk of overuse of both, I didn't think they would prescribe them with out warrant. I was right, it took a week of suffering before it got better. And, thankful to say, he is back to normal.

This is my client (friend) I have had for 20 years. She has always let me do what ever I want with her hair. To my surprise she came in and was ready to cut her long hair. Not wanting to freak her out, I didn't take a picture of the before look. Now, I am sorry I didn't. Her long hair was pretty but this is sooo much better.

I just love this picture of Levi. It really captures him.

I guess this really captures him too. I bought this wet suit at Goodwill for $10. I couldn't pass it up. I am very cold sensitive and our annual trip to the Smoky Mountains in early June came to mind when I saw it. Joe thinks I am crazy for needing a wet suit but if I am to go into cold water I don't want to do it without one. I don't think they wear out so it won't be long before it will fit Naomi by the looks of the way it fits Levi. You know this captures Naomi too, if the cameras out and she's around, she'll be there doing her best.

There is so much to say about this picture without even using words. I'm going to help you out by pointing out the obvious (to me). First, this in not a normal look for Sam. The kids always like to see our bird and most of them want to hold him. Well, he really doesn't like to be held but is very comfortable on your shoulder. The problem with that is he is close to your face. Most kids are freaked out by that and to make matters worse, he will nibble at anything that is dark (like moles and freckles) or strings, whatever interest him. Second, you have got to love the hat. It was on of the first things we noticed. When questioned about it, he said his Daddy bought it for him at a gas station. Molly just shakes her head. Last, the kid has style. In addition to the hat, the Ambercrobie shirt is fitting. Ambercrombie and Hustler what a statement.

BEFORE AND AFTER

Looking at these pictures is a little confusing, even for me the picture taker. I'll try to explain. The top is the after picture but I wanted to show you the before because of the couch difference ( I know, small changes get me excited too).

The after. We still need to bring in a few more plants and a plant stand. I think it will fit in nice with the others.

The before. It was nice and I never thought of it any other way until we ran into the plant situation.

The rest of the after, and no, Elijah is not a permanent fixture.

The before. We moved the dogs and the crab into the dining room since they don't need as much light as the rest.

TIME FOR A CHANGE

I'm getting really excited. I have big ideas brewing for our home. This is what my kitchen area looked like earlier today. We have moved things around and I have done a deep cleaning. Now we are ready to move back in with a different look.

The before pictures.

FALL BEAUTY

As much as I don't like the cold weather, and I know what is in store for us, I love the beauty that Fall has to offer. So on this cold, windy day I had to get out and do some work. Prepping our yard for the days ahead. The sights were so beautiful I had to stop and try to record them. The wind was really blowing so most of the pictures didn't turn out half as good as what I saw but the beauty is still there. Letting the love shine through!

This is the area I was working in raking pine needles. I looked up and saw the tree in all its glory and new I had to get the camera. Check out the pine needles all over the big spruce (they are not supposed to be there).

This is a picture Joe took out at the farm. I think it looks like there is a big fire with the color of the leaves in the background.

SOMETHING I RECENTLY NOTICED

I just wanted to share a little of what I have to deal with. I know everyone looks at my blog and thinks how sweet my family is. I think that too.....most of the time. And I had never really noticed it before, but I was looking at some of my recent pictures and noticed something a little different. Obviously, it runs in Joe's side of the family since I haven't noticed it in all my children. There is one in particular that comes to mind though. See if you can tell what I'm talking about. Joe, looking rather different.

Naomi, the PRINCESS of different.

Just think, I thought it was me all this time.

SOME REALLY GOOD TIMES at the farm

I hope you aren't tired of hearing about the farm yet. They have been moving forward on the house but I don't have any current pictures. I'll update you when I get some! This post is about our resent trip with our good friends. I wanted to show you what it's really like.Just like being at the beach, we eat, a lot. I'm not sure why that is but it seems it doesn't really matter what we are eating as long as there is plenty of it. Cheetos seem to be the food of choice this day.

You KNOW how we love to ride. Of course with the encouragement that Levi is giving, who wouldn't. Gregg (on the left) said he hadn't ridden in 30 years, he was loving it! Wes (on the right) rides more often but if you like to ride, you can never get enough.

I was trying to capture the excitement of the kids in the back of the truck. Just being able to ride in the open air it fun.

We took the bow and arrows to get some practice in. PJ turned out to be quite the natural. Little did I know she is very athletic and excels at most things. If it wasn't for Levi enjoying it so much we may not bring it again when she comes. I'm kidding, I'm kidding!

Getting ready to practice, except the target fell down. I don't think she was aiming at Gregg, do you?

The target, no, not Levi. Joe had to carry this through our local mall. Thankfully I was not with him as he said he got lots of looks.

After a long day full of fun, we top it off with a fire and smores. What's not to love?

The crew, facing the sun.

The other half of the crew, a little more lively without the sun in their eyes!

PRAYERS

Today will be a day of prayer for many, change inevitable. In addition to our country being represented by a capable and willing President, I would ask your prayers for my dear friend Paula's mother,Shirley. She was transferred here today after being in the hospital for month, after a terrible car wreck.

She is in ICU and has a lot of recovering to do.
Please pray that Uncle Ben's wounds heal quickly and he isn't in pain.

I want to thank everyone who reads my blog for taking the time to get to know me and my family. I feel truly blessed with my life and want to make a difference. It has been fun doing the blog and getting to know everyone, and I look forward to another year of blogging. If you see something you like, let me know. I love to hear from you.

NOT TO BE LEFT OUT

I found a few more videos in my collection but this one is typical of the response I get when I pull out the camera in front of people over the age of 10. Funny but in a different kind of way. Dad, Hannah, and funny boy Elijah.

VOTE

Today is the day we all get to serve our country. So do your part and get out there and VOTE.

BY SPECIAL REQUEST

I've been not only looking at old photos, but working on organizing my digital photos. I never thought when I started loading them on my computer that I would have so many. In doing all the organizing I found this video that was taken last year. My guess is that it was made at Thanksgiving. So with the holidays fast approaching I thought it would be nice to share.

I also got a call after my Mom's Aunt passed away saying how nice it would be to have more video of our family. So by request, here is one to start. I found a nice one of Dad that will come in the near future, just in case you were wondering about the rest of the family.

PUMPKIN PROJECT and a bonus

I told you about Levi's pumpkin project, now here are the pics to show his awesome work. He had to write a story about a Saints life and he chose Saint Leo the Great, being the Leo that he is. Then he had to make a pumpkin likeness to go with the story. They are going to be on display at his school. Click on the picture to see a close up of Saint Leo. The finished project, very life like!

Working on the details.

I never know what I will find around here with my children. This was a self portrait Naomi did of herself the other day. Her hair is back in a ponytail and she has her braid at the bottom.

Never to be left out Naomi had to get a pumpkin to decorate. One again, a self portrait.

With eyes in the back of her head, she gives herself bunny ears.

MEMORIES....Disneyland

We took one day out of our beach vacation to hit the blacktop. It was super warm but with only the day to see everything, we were on a mission. We did pretty good too but there was way too much to see. Plus, we stayed in the most unique hotel. It was designed to be like Hawaii with a luau, lush tropical gardens, everything I would expect to see there. Levi trying to remove Merlin's sword. Elijah helping Naomi wait in line for her turn.

Behind bars at Buzz Lightyear's ride. Naomi is not sure what to do, she just knew that she had to be with the boys.

Once again, Naomi is looking kinda unsure, but the boys are loving it!

The character breakfast, Levi loving it and Elijah trying to act like he's not there.

Hot stuff, Naomi and Joe with Snow White.

HALLOWEEN

The kids have been excited for weeks. Naomi has had her costume since September just waiting for the time to wear it. Levi was not as sure as she was but after going to the costume store, he deciding right there on the spot.

My Asian Princess.

Batman, Asian Princess and The Drama Queen.

The Rednecks of the group!

The whole crew, Batman, Minny Mouse, Hannah Montana, the lawn decoration, Asian Princess and Spongebob.

The kids got less candy this year, but still plenty of it, but had the best time ever.