2011 Recap

Since I've only posted about three times this year I thought I would let y'all know what went on in 2011 for me and my family.

It wasn't a horrible year but it wasn't a great one either. The Lord has blessed me tremendously this year. He has provided for us on so many different occasions when I didn't know how we were going to get by. And I mean in every sense. Like emotionally, financially, spiritually and our safety! He always has provided for us. (read Philippians 4:19)

The year started off normal enough. I was just enjoying life and my family. We had started planning for my step-father's 80th birthday party in May. We were having family coming from out of state and we were excited about seeing them. But what really excited us the most was my nephew coming from Michigan. It was what I was looking forward to most of all. It was great to see him and all our other family members that came to the party.

In April there was a tornado that wrecked havoc in our state. I was watching the news when it actually showed it touching down in Tuscaloosa. Immediately I started worrying about and praying for my nephew who works there and lives by the university. It was an F5 while it was on the ground. Thankfully it didn't come near his apartment, it did kill a lot of people and it did destroy a lot of others' homes and businesses'. We continued watching it not realizing it was heading right towards us!

The weather man kept saying it was going to hit metro Birmingham. Well we are about 8-10 miles north of the city, thought we were in the clear. About 6 o'clock that night I looked out the window, I was looking to see if my neighbors were home. That's when I noticed debris on our cars. At that time we heard on the news that the tornado was in Smithfield. Now Smithfield is right across the highway and usually if a tornado touches down there it will hit my neighborhood next. We started heading down to the basement, my phone rang and I was on it when my husband yelled for me to hang it up and come on. It was my sister asking if we were in our basement. I was trying to juggle the phone, a flashlight and my chihuahua all the while heading downstairs. Oh with my motorcycle helmet on too!

We were in our safe spot only a little bit when it hit. My town was struck by an F4 tornado. We were very blessed as we had almost no damage. Just trees basically.  Other neighbors lost their homes and businesses. Our town was hit pretty bad but no deaths which was a miracle. Below is an actual video of the tornado going through our neighborhood.



This video was taken from an apartment building across from my neighborhood (across a 4 lane highway and I65). While I was in the basement with my husband, hearing the roaring and just by the sound of it you knew it was big. I told my husband this is how we're going to die. Strangely enough I had no fear of dying. As I said we were very blessed that day.

Even now there are still lots of reminders of that day. Our trees behind our house are just all broken. There has been a lot of repairing of our town but there are still signs of the tornado. I think the emotional scars have a long way to go before they are completely healed though.

My grand babies turned 4 and 2 this year they are getting so big. The best parts of the year were times spent with my daughter's family. They have brought us so much joy. They are really at the ages where we have a ton of fun. They like to wrestle and let me tell you this Grammy gets worn out! I am so tired after spending the afternoon with them. But there are also a lot of climbing on my lap and snuggling. I will have one on one leg and the other on the other leaning up against me reading stories or watching videos on the iPhone. I love these times with them.

October brought sadness. My father passed away on the 25th. We went to California for his funeral. It was a beautiful service, he was a great person and the best father ever!

Alfredo "Fred" - my dad

After I got home it was about three weeks before we lost my husband's mother. She passed away on November 20th. She had been sick with her heart and on this day her kidneys failed. As we were getting ready to leave the hospital it was about 9:30 when my husband seen all the doctors running into her room. About 20 minutes later they came out and told us she had passed. 

 Kathryn - my mother in law

My husband was her only schild. His father has passed so he feels really alone now. Please remember him in your prayers. Kathryn had remarried about 7 years ago. Her new husband was real good to her. One thing I disliked was that one of her step-children's wife had posted on Facebook that Kathryn had passed before we even got to notify all of her family. I hadn't even told my daughter and it was already on Facebook. I just think that people ought to consider a person's family before they start posting their deaths.

We stayed home during Thanksgiving just didn't feel like going any where. For the first time I had my daughter and her family over and made my very first Turkey. I must say it was really delicious!

We really did have a great Christmas. We enjoyed shopping and then watching our grandchildren opening their presents. Hubs got a kick out of putting Roary the race car together with our oldest grand son Ray. Little Bruce played with his toys for a bit then got on his old airplane toy that he likes to ride on. All the new ones and he was on the one toy he plays with every time he comes over here. Oh and the marshmallow suckers I got them tasted like "turkey and cheese!" I don't even know where that came from. lol

Well that's about takes us through the year. I am sure I have forgot a few things. There were losses but also lots of love and good times. But now that's life. Prayers and a relationship with God will always get you through the bad times and the good times. Just so thankful He is in my life.

Have a blessed day!

Life Change!!

So the major change in my life is that my daughter and her family have moved in with us. (Taking a deep breath) When she first asked if she could I knew I couldn't say no, hubs knew he couldn't say no. But we have been so use to living by ourselves (7 years!!) that we have become VERY comfortable. There was quiet in our house, with just the noise of our Chicobaby barking when he heard something. We have been use to being alone. It will be a month on the 29th. We have adjusted fairly well. Hubs has had more problem than I have. He also has been laid off from work so he is there all day. For a couple of weeks he wasn't really handling it too well - leaving to go to a friends house. And well let's just say I prefer he stay away from this friend's house. I am so glad that he hasn't been there in over a week now and things have gone back to normal for he and I.

The living room and dining room are a little cluttered. I went through a few things over the weekend and cleared out the living room pretty good. I will start on the dining room tomorrow. My daughter is reorganizing the kitchen. She has been doing the cooking, all of the cooking, so that I don't have to when I come in from work. Cleaning is a bit more challenging for her though. lol We still need to get one of the bedroom's organized so the kiddos can have a play room.

This morning as I heard my oldest grandson jumping and laughing in the living room it made me smile. It also makes me smile when I walk into the living room and see their cute little faces. They are always smiling and happy to see me. To my husband's delight our son-in-law has been great with the yard work. lol So overall we are all adjusting to each other.

Oh I failed to mention the reason they moved in with us. They have property over in the next county and they moved in with us to save money for the building of their house. The property is paid for and they want to do like my son-in-law's sister and build their own house. So please pray with me that all works out well for them and us!!! lol

Have a blessed day!

Zumba and Drama

Saturday I was good!!! I got up early got my house together then I threw on some work out clothes and headed to Zumba class. Now I really enjoy this new activity that I have found. I actually made it through a whole class without stopping!! The last two classes I had got to feeling a little bad and had to leave. After running to the bathroom for a few minutes, I felt a lot better and hopped right back into class. Well when I woke up Saturday my blood sugar was 92 - low for me. I was feeling a little weak and had no energy. So I ate breakfast and went on with my day. Well when I got into Zumba class I was still not feeling right. I have these glucose tablets that I do not take often but had with me. I thought maybe I better take one, you know so that I don't fall out. Well I don't know if during the other two classes that maybe my blood had dropped and that's why I had to go and take my little break or not. But I do know that after taking the tablet I felt good and didn't need my bathroom break. So I was proud that I got through the whole class!!

Although they tell you to go at your own pace at first I find myself trying to keep up with the pros in class. lol Well I'll be going at my own from now on. It just wears me out way too fast. These ladies that I am talking about are fit and trim and young. So I don't know why I think I need to keep up with them. I am old, fat and a Grammy!!! While my doctor likes the activity he's told me that someone with my illnesses shouldn't take such a fast pace class. Puhlease!!! But since he is my doctor I am going to continue taking the classes but just go at my own pace. I enjoy it! It doesn't really seem like a work out (my body disagrees with me!) because it is so much fun. The hour flies by and I think some activity is better than none! My doctor's never say anything to me about my weight - they say the meds and insulin make it hard for me to lose weight. But I want to. I want to have more energy. So I am hoping that this will help whether I lose a lot of weight or not - just to have the energy I need to play with the grand babies without getting so tired so fast.

Ok so let me move on to Sunday. As I mentioned in my previous post DST was not my friend this year. I love it when we switch back because I like having daylight for a couple of hours when I get off of work. But it has really worn me out. So I get up - I am running way late. I get dressed and head out the door. My daughter and her family were coming over that evening for tacos so I had to run to Walmart to pick up a few things. Mainly cupcakes for my grandson Ray.

Well I find a really good parking space one lane over from the doors right in front. So I park, get out of my car and proceed to walk over to the other side of the lane I am parked in, so that way I can then cross over towards the doors. Well there were no vehicles when I walked away from my car. By the time I got to the middle of the lane though, I looked to my left and I was shoulder to hood with a big black truck. The driver was looking off towards his left - not seeing me. My mind is racing and I am thinking -

"Oh Lord I am going to have to run!"

"Should I run?"

"Even if I run, he's still going to hit me!"

"If he doesn't slow down, when he hits me I am going to fall and end up under his truck." 

Now I am in the middle of the lane, the vehicle, that I could literally pucker up and kiss, is positioned to where I am standing smack in the middle in front of the hood. So even if I do run I am going to get hit. About the time that I get ready to sprint the driver turns his head and looks straight at me. Luckily he stopped with MAYBE a 1/4 of an inch in front of me. At that point I have my arm out towards the truck - I guess I thought I could stop it. lol When he finally came to a stop - which seemed like an eternity - I looked up and walking towards me is a girl I go to church with. I said "Thank you Jesus!!" We chuckled as we passed each other made a little comment and I was off into the store. The man made no attempt to stop and say he was sorry. He just kept on driving like nothing had happened!

I am glad to report that the rest of the day was a ton of fun. My grand babies came over and we all ate and had a good time. Oh and for your viewing pleasure:

 Aren't I blessed??

Have a blessed day!

Family Happenings!

Got this in my email the other day from my uncle and thought I would share it! I am going to keep it posted at work so it will remind me to just pray when I get frustrated!

My cousin passed away last week and her funeral was on Saturday. Now she is my mom's first cousin so I think that makes her my second. Martha Bibby Green. She was always so very nice! I always had a good time around Martha and just remember her smiling a lot. She really loved the Lord too. A couple of months ago she was praying in church and she said that she had actually seen the Lord at the church. She was so in awe and excited about that.

During the service her preacher was saying that as we were sitting there that Martha was in the presence of the Lord. That she was face to face with Him and that if he knew Martha she was on her knees praising Him to His face!!! How awesome! I know her sisters, brothers, her son and granddaughter are going to miss her terribly. But the thought of her praising God just made me happy. I know her family would appreciate your prayers for them at this time.

Martha wanted to be cremated and I knew that when they cremate people they put them in the wood/cardboard coffins that look like the ones on the cowboy movies. Well Martha's son just didn't want his mother in one of those coffins. So they looked at a couple of others and the one he picked for her was just beautiful. It looked like a regular steel casket but it was just wood or cardboard. It had the appearance of wood but I thought I heard my other cousin say it was cardboard. If it was cardboard they did an excellent job because the wood looked like wood! It was just beautiful. I thought it was prettier than a lot of the steel caskets I have seen. Just a plain wood grain looking coffin. I told my family that that is what I'd like to be buried in. Just a simple, and to me, beautiful wood grain looking coffin.

I wasn't planning on spending too much time after the funeral with family. I had quite a few things I needed to do at home. I was just going to drop off some chicken and leave. But I decided to ride over with my sisters and we all really had a good time catching up with family. The circumstances was not idea but seeing everyone was great. It was almost 5 when I got home!

Sunday after church I got a call that my brother (who has been gone for a while working out of town) had surprised everyone with a visit home. So we all got together and went out to eat. Mexican of course! lol It was nice seeing him again and today he is heading back to North Carolina. So please say a prayer for him while he is traveling and working away from home. I know it is hard on his daughters and him too.

Well I guess that's it for today. I have a few posts I'm working on letting you know a little more about what I have been doing so stay tuned!!


Have a blessed day!

ZUMBA ZUMBA ZUMBA!!!!

It has been a busy busy week!! I am so glad it is finally Friday!! Well along with church, bible studies, blogging, tweeting, Facebook, family and work I have decided to add something else to my schedule. When I had lunch with my sister last week she said we need to do Zumba! I was excited. I had heard of Zumba but that is about it. I didn't even realize that we had a class very close. So that is what we did. Let's see it was me, my sisters, Helen and Emily, my daughter and her sister in law and her friend. We were all first timers. I just want y'all to know that I was making bets on how long I would last. I gave myself 10 minutes. lol

Here are a couple of shots before class:

 

Quite a big room and by the time we got started it was packed!!

My daughter and my younger sister, Helen.

Those are the pros there! lol

This was us after class. Notice the coin skirts they gave us to wear? I tell you what you really want to shake those hips so you can hear them jingle!!

At any rate, we had a BLAST!!! I LOVED IT!! I am definitely going back. I do admit though that I was working up quite a sweat when the instructor yelled "Ok warm-up's over!"

LOL I screamed "Warm Up!!" I knew then I wouldn't last the whole class. But I did!!!! I had to run to the bathroom and take about a 5 minute break but then I got right back out there! I think I did real good with keeping up too.

I just knew that I was going to be so sore! By the time the class was over my hips were killing me! But I was excited and couldn't wait for the next class! By the time I got in bed that night I slept like a baby - but dreading how I would feel in the morning. To my surprise when I woke up I felt great! My stomach muscles were sore but that was it. I couldn't get over that that was all that was sore.

Let me just tell you also that during the class we smiled and were laughing! To me it was really intense but you have to realize that I have stopped walking and doing any form of exercise since before Christmas. I have never had such a fun workout that felt like a work out!! Does that make sense? lol

Just in case you want to see what Zumba is - here you go!

If you are looking for a great work out you really need to try it! I know you are going to have a blast. Oh the best part was that before class began we seen a couple of girls my daughter went to school with. Afterwards I seen my neighbor come running towards me. It was fun to see that she was there. I had no idea she was taking Zumba class.

I am once again participating in Friday Follow this week. Hop on over and link up. This blog hop is hosted by One 2 Try, Hearts Make Families and Midday Escapades!

Have a blessed day!

Tamales, Family, Roll Tide and a Grandbaby

Hello Everyone,

This past weekend I had a blast!! First of all last week my cousin from Florida came for a visit. She requested that we make some tamales. Now we usually only do tamales at Christmas. Most Mexican families make tamales at Christmas. I remember being little at my Nina's house swinging my feet at the dining room table making them. I was so little I couldn't even touch the ground but we were even 'helping' then with the tamales. So I have been so busy that I wasn't going to be able to help make the tamales this time. But for some reason the masa that was bought made them taste bad when my sisters and mother made them on Wednesday night. So on Thursday we had to make a whole new batch. I did help on Thursday because Thursday and Friday are really my only free nights during the week. We had a good time making them and they tasted great!! Oh we made around 4-5 dozens and I want you to know that there were none left. I only got one! Around Christmas we usually make around 13-15 dozens.

Friday is when we all got together and ate them. Let me tell you the food was great. I made Mexican 7 layer dip and we also had chili, home made salsa and of course the tamales. Let me tell you when I say homemade salsa I mean homemade! I don't mean buying some salsa from the store and adding stuff to it and calling it homemade - that is not homemade!! My stepfather actually grows his own tomatoes and chili's for his salsa. He first fry's them, yes I said fry's. He lays them on the hot griddle or uses his cast iron pan and leaves them there til the skins are black. He then peels them, dices them adds his spices, and other ingredients he wants and wala!! Homemade salsa and that is what homemade salsa is!! It tastes great!!

After Friday everyone was meeting at my other sisters house for the Alabama/Tennessee game the next day. Everyone but me and my family. I think I have mentioned that we do not go around people when we are watching the game. It is better for everyone involved. Trust me. Here is a picture of some of my family during the game Saturday.

L-R Helen, Larissa, Emily, my mom, Angie, Anthony and in back Ginger.

Those are some of my family members. The rest hadn't got there yet but you add in 4 nieces, 2 nephews, a brother, an aunt, step-dad, cousin, cousin's husband, uncle, another cousin and a brother in law. That is everyone my sister had at her house during the game. At my house it was my daughter, 2 grandsons, my son in law and later after half time my hubs was home from work to watch. Now I have been a little more calm this year because of the baby during the games. Even though he sleeps mostly through them. Ray the older one just usually plays and every now and then yells Roll Tide or Touchdown and laughs at me and his daddy when we jump up.

As you know it was a tense game Saturday. Hubs went straight to his bedroom to watch the game because he had listened to most of it on his way home from work. He was not in a great mood because of how Alabama was playing. I did mention that it was a tense game right? Towards the end of the game a plate had been thrown, a coke had been thrown and a front door slammed. NO it was not me but my son in law!!!! Ha! Thought it was me didn't ya?

I never give up on my team no matter what. I get nervous and upset but I never give up. This game was literally down to the second before we knew who won. Once that field goal was blocked by good 'ol Cody I was ecstatic!!!! Jumping up and down and yelling and this time I was opening the front door and screaming at the top of my lungs ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a wonderful yell it was too!!!

So we prevailed! We were in such a good mood that my little party then hopped over to my sisters big party. I want you to know that if they had of lost we never would have left our house. lol But we had a great time visiting with my cousins and the rest of my family. We always have a good time when we get together.

Now I just want to show you the conversation I had with my newest grand baby on Saturday. He had a lot to say to me.


LOL I love being a Grammy!!! Until next time

Have a blessed day!!

The Weekend, Bible Study & A Meet Up

Hello Everyone,

We had such a great weekend. Hubs and I did absolutely nothing! I love weekends like that.

Saturday we had Ray and did we have fun. We had bought Ray a used pop up tent a few weeks back well Saturday we discovered we were missing some poles. So being the problem solvers that we are we used the rods that came with our two person motorcycle tent. Let me tell you that before we could get it up Ray was in it! He then was running back and forth putting all of his toys in there with him. He was really having a great time. We have decided that we are going to try to find him one with Diego on it – he loves Diego. lol

On Sunday all of my family but me and my sister were at the lake. I don’t like going to the lake because of my transplant I can’t get in the water. Well that’s what the doctor’s told me. I have an appointment on Thursday and am going to ask again.

Summer, Josh and Ray came over also on Sunday to wish hubs a Happy Father’s Day. Larry wanted another painting from Summer and she painted him on canvas with oils a picture of Big Al leaning against a goal post with a hounds tooth hat on. If you are an Alabama fan you know exactly what I am talking about. Whenever there is a present to be given to him from Summer Larry requests that she paint him something. He absolutely loved it! He had been bugging me all weekend about what the painting would be of. I am happy to say that I did not give in an inch!

Praise the Lord!!! My hubs who was laid off back in April was called back to work!!! He went back yesterday and let me tell you it was just in time. We have made it on my income alone and due to a little tightening of the belt we made it through. We have not gotten any extras (other than my lunches with my sisters lol) and it is good to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I tend to get a little testy when we are low on funds and hubs even remarked that I hadn’t been. I told him that I hadn’t felt like I needed too. I can only attribute that to God because I had the feeling that every thing was going to be ok.

I am excited about today! Today is the start on The LPM Blog of Summer Bible Study!! I am also excited that I am joining a group of ladies here in Birmingham for that study. Jamie at Happy Harper Stories is arranging this group and I am so thankful that she is. She was truly a God send to me. Oh and she has an award for me that I need to go pick up too.

I had so much fun Thursday when I went to my first blogger meet up. I met some great people there and am still trying to visit their blogs. Unfortunately the pictures I took are stuck in my camera as my batteries are dead AGAIN! But hop over to Alabama Bloggers and check out the Rachel’s post about the meeting.

Well I guess that’s all I have for now, I am sure I am forgetting something. Until next time

Have a blessed day!

Almost Back To Normal

Hello Everyone,

I am back! Not 100% but close enough. I am still feeling a little weak but I believe it is because I haven't been getting enough fuel intake. Meaning food. I have literally only had 2 ham sandwiches in as many days. On Sunday I did not eat anything. So hopefully after a decent meal this evening I will be feeling closer to 100%.

I have been missing blogging and reading blogs. I haven't been on the internet since my post on St. Patty's Day. I have missed everyone. Since I have had internet problems lately I have noticed that Charter Communications has a great deal on their bundle packages. I am thinking about switching everything over to them. Do any of you use them and if so, how are they?

Well let me get off of here now I need to get dressed. Larry, Summer, Josh, Ray and I are going to a get together with family from Florida. They are visiting and we always have a good time seeing them. Ever since Larry met my cousin's husband they feel like brothers. They always have such a good time and it's fun watching them together. Of course I always enjoy seeing my cousin too.

Have a blessed day!

Blogging Issues, Blessings and Family Pics

Hello Everyone,

I don't know what in the world is wrong. It is either my computer, internet explorer or blogger. I have been in the middle of posting and then blink everything is gone. I guess this weekend I will be sitting down and trying to figure it out. Have any of you been having problems?

Have you ever just felt like throwing your arms up into the air and thanking God for something? Well I had asked for prayers a couple of posts ago and I just wanted to let you know that about a day ago part of it was answered, I was so excited. Then yesterday another part of it was answered, I got very excited. I still have a small part that I am waiting on and probably won't get that answer until next week. But you know I have said it a thousand times, God just amazes me with all of his blessings!

Now on to family matters. My cousin has posted about 500 old pictures of our family on her MySpace. I kid you not. So of course we all hopped over there to see what all she's posted. So I thought I would post a few here.

Probably in their Sunday best - but I don't see any smiles

The little girl on the left is my Great Grandmother Ada Everett

Cousins - still no smiles

Blue, Leonard, RW their mother Mattie is in the background. Now either she was really tired or she resembled a zombie. I'm just saying

So those are just a few of the pictures I stole from my cousin. Life was difficult back in those days. I can only imagine what a day was like for a mom. It was a simpler time too. I only know one thing for sure, I never would have made it in that life. I am way too lazy to have worked that hard!

Have a blessed day!

Musical Monday - My Sister, My Friend

Hello Everyone,

Today is Musical Monday and I have come to love doing these posts. Today I have picked a song by Reba McEntire. I like a lot of her songs but this one reminds me of me and my sisters. I also have it as a ring tone for all of sisters. It is called My Sister, My Friend.




I let my sister's hear it as my ring tone and they laughed and said that it sounded like us. lol I definitely need to do a post about all the fights, arguments and stuff we use to do to each other. All of my sister's are with me. They are there when I need them. They are my sisters they are my friends.



**brought to you by Jori and Diane**

Hop over to Jori's or Diane's blog to see other Musical Mondays!

Have a blessed day!

LOST - It Was Worth The Wait

Hello Everyone,

Wow LOST finally came on last night! I loved it! I didn't get off work til 6 I was wanting to finish up on what I was working on. So then I head to WalMart. At approximately 6:40 my hubby calls and asks 'Where you at?', 'Leaving WalMart, have to get gas and then I'm on my way.' Where he usually saids 'Ok be careful'. He said instead 'You know LOST is coming on tonight right?'. 'Yes, I am trying to hurry.'

Well I got home at about 3 til. Threw a pizza in the oven, grabbed a diet coke and jumped in the La-Z-Boy. I made it!! Hubby and I had been waiting patiently for it to start it's season. Let me just say that it was worth the wait. LOVE that show!

It always leaves you with more questions by the time it's over. I hate to see it end. Last night I got so engrossed in the show that when Ethan shot at Locke I jumped. lol It is such a good show.

Speaking of television shows, I have found myself watching The Bachelor. Now I have only watched about three episodes of it before when a local girl, Brooke Smith, was on it a few years ago. So when it started this season I had no intention of watching it. The first night it came on there really wasn't anything on so I thought what the heck.

Of course I had a few favorites right from the start. One of my favorites was Stephanie. I didn't know at the time that she was from Huntsville, Alabama but I just knew I liked her. She seems genuine.

My problem with this show is that I would never knowingly kiss on a guy that had just been kissing on another girl the day before. I understand that they all know that all that is going on but I just don't have it in me to be ok with it. Maybe I am too uptight because I just keep thinking of all the germs and slobber they are transferring around. Yuck!!

Since I wasn't feeling good this past weekend we didn't get to get Ray. So Monday night Summer, Josh and Ray came over for dinner. It was great to see him and when I talked to him that afternoon he grabbed his mommy's hand and was leading her to the door. He was wanting to come see his Grammy and Paw right then!

I am so fortunate that they live so close that I can see my daughter and her family several times a week. Also the rest of my family. I see my sisters every day and my mom about three times a week. My mom, brother and one sister live in Hayden so that's a little further out. My brother usually joins us for lunch on Friday's since he only works half a day. We really enjoy being with each other and our kids. Since we lost our brother, we know how important it is to keep our family close and see each other as much as we can. Not enough to get on each other nerves though. lol

I wanted to thank everyone for praying for my sister. Her surgery went great. She was a little sick afterwards but now she's on the road to recovery. Thank you so much.

Well I am about to go to lunch, I'm thinking Mexican today. Yummy!

Have a blessed day!



P.S. Cara I've misplaced your email so go to Settings click on Publishing and just type in your old blog address it will change it back.

Boss' Gift and Lunch Time

Hello Everyone,

One more item on Christmas. lol I failed to show you what my boss and his wife got me for Christmas. I already get a bonus but this is what was on my desk when I got to work on the 23rd.

It's a whole table setting!



With two hand towels, a candy dish and an oven mit.

Four coffee mugs along with four napkins, napkin rings and placemats.

A close up of the mugs.

Isn't it beautiful? My boss and his wife are great friends and I am fortunate to have them in my life. I know I told ya'll in person thank you but since I know you also read my blog I wanted to thank you again! So Thank You! I am not even going to mention the chocolates and cheese! lol

I have to leave in a couple of hours I am off to be with my grandbaby. We get him all day every Saturday but you know I have to see him two or three times during the week. I have lunch with my sisters everyday and when I can I always enjoy bringing Ray with me. Yesterday my mom and Manuel and nieces were able to join us for lunch. We had a great time and it's fun when they can all join us.

So off I go now to finish up here at the office and then to be with my little man and lunch with my sisters. Hope all of you have a great day.

Your Merry Christmas may depend on what others do for you. But your Happy New Year depends on what you do for others.

Have a blessed day!

Goodbye 2008!

Hello Everyone,

Well this is the last day of the year and I must say I am glad. I am looking forward to 2009 and am glad that 2008 is gone. Seems like 2008 was a very emotionally trying year for me. As I mentioned yesterday my family was going through a hard time from about May to November. That time period just seemed stressful for me. It wasn't even really any one big thing it was a lot of little things. Seems like when one problem got taken care of another one would pop up. It just wore me out. I am thankful every thing turned out alright and it is over. God was with us and blessed us all along the way. It amazes me how many blessings he has given me and my family.

I am going to be spending my time today reading and commenting on all of my bloggy friends blogs. I have been so busy the last week or so I have missed all of you.

Our Christmas was just great. I managed to find Summer a Wii Fit! Yes!! She is really enjoying it. Larry and I have also been enjoying our Guitar Hero duel guitars. We have all had our Wii's for over a year now and I have to tell you it is really worth the money. We have had so much fun playing with our Wii. Whether it is just us or with family and friends it is a blast.

My grandson had a Christmas literally full of trains, planes and automobiles. I got him a train he could ride, his other grandmother got him a volkswagen he can drive and my mother got him a airplane that he can ride. lol He loved them all. He also got a little big wheel that he tried out today.

Every time my grandson sees me he squeals then runs with his arms reaching out towards me. I then will scoop him up and give him a big hug. He will then pull away from me and after looking at my face a minute give me a big kiss. This has been his greeting to me since he could first squeal then crawl then walk. It has changed recently though. Now instead of looking at me and then giving me a kiss he looks at me and saids "Paw?".

Of course Larry just loves this. I use to be top banana on this side of the family tree and now I am having to share my branch with Paw. I don't like this sharing business. At any rate, here is a couple of my favorite pictures of Larry and Ray. I just find them sweet.

He loves sitting on his Paw's lap and watching tv with him. It makes my heart melt when I see them like this.

We are suppose to go to a New Year's Eve party tonight but you know I really just don't want to. Last night Larry said he didn't either so I hope that he hasn't changed his mind. I will be happy just laying around in my new leopard print pajamas. lol

I am feeling a lot better today. I guess I just needed to get my feelings out. I am back to normal now and glad for it. I'm hope everyone has a great time tonight. A Happy New Year and a safe evening!

Your Merry Christmas may depend on what others do for you. But your Happy New Year depends on what you do for others.

Have a blessed day!

Photo Story Friday

Hello Everyone,

Today is Photo Story Friday and mine is about my Christmas of course. Hope you enjoy!

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Love his little faces!

Opening presents with mom.

Singing Christmas carols.

Summer, Larry, Ray, Me and Josh

Nieces, nephews and great nephew with their Uncle Paul.

We always have Christmas Eve at my sister's house. We have tamale's and open each other's presents. On Christmas morning we went to Summer's for breakfast. Later in the afternoon they came over to our house to open presents. Then we were off to my mother's for Christmas dinner. We had a great Christmas this year and I hope all of you did too.

MERRY CHRISTMAS
Christ is 'The Reason' for the Christ-mas Season!

Have a blessed day!

Luckily Blessed

Hello Everyone,

Some people are just lucky. However, the only lucky person in my family is usually my younger sister Helen. She went to the casino in Philadelphia, Mississippi a few years ago and won $50,000. When she was a teenager she was all the time winning things off of the radio. Well Monday my daughter got a call from a drawing she had entered and won a $25 gift card to Bed, Bath and Beyond. After she came back from collecting her prize, the same place called my SIL and told him he had won something. Well he won an iPod! The same drawing his mother won a $25 gift card to Chili's. So my BIL went to one of the bingo places over in Jasper and won a Cadillac! He was chosen to get a key and try it in the car. He was the first one to pick his key and the first one to try it. I have never won anything!

That's old envy kicking in. I don't know that emotion too well, it's very rare that I even pay attention to what someone else has, let alone want it. If I do want something bad enough I just usually get it. But you know I don't need a new car. I have a total of 4 vehicles at my disposal. I don't even like Bed, Bath and Beyond. I have a little Sansa that I hardly use so I don't need an iPod. Don't really care about a Chili's gift card. So I guess it is just the fact of winning something. ANYTHING! What is it in our human makeup that makes us like that? Or is it just me?

Psychologically does it make us feel like or think that we may be losers? I have never felt like a loser. Well maybe when our football team doesn't win. But really I have always felt really blessed. I had somewhat of a bad childhood. Not as bad as a lot that I have heard about but it wasn't the Father Knows Best kind of childlhood. My sisters and I sometimes wonder how in the world we made it through without becoming hooked on drugs, in gangs, on the streets or dead. How in the world are we "normal"?

We all had vowed when we had our own children that they would never go through what we did as children. We became strong. Now as adults we are a little hard. Does that make sense? I mean that we are the type of people that feel like if we got through our childhood then anyone can get through a problem they are having. Other than health issues, Lord knows I've been there, everything else is cake. If you can fix it, fix it. If you can't, pray about it. That is basically how I live. I am also proud to report that we all have succeeded in giving our children a good childhood. My daughter will tell you that she had the best childhood ever (well if she's not mad at me that is lol).

This post took a turn I didn't even expect. I was going to blog about being lucky and then about my lunch with my sisters yesterday. Oh well! Let me just say in closing that me and my family have really been blessed in our lives and that we continue to be blessed. As my sister would say, God is good and that's all the time!

Have a blessed day!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Hello Everyone,

First I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. I am thankful today for having blogging friends and readers like all of you. I am glad that our nation has a day that we all can think about our blessings and be thankful for them. We are all very lucky to be Americans.

I am thankful for having a loving, caring husband. I know that he loves me more than anything in this world. He is my best friend and biggest confidant. He is always here for me and I'd be lost without him. I am also thankful that he is cancer free and that we got through that part of our lives with a stronger marriage. I also want to thank him for being with me and taking care of me while I was sick, even on those days I couldn't get out of bed he waited on me hand and foot. I am thankful that we have such a happy marriage.

I am thankful for my daughter Summer. She has given me such happiness in my life. She has grown up into an incredible wife and mother. She makes me proud of her everyday. I am always impressed by what a wonderful mother she has become. She is so patient with her son. As soon as she had him she acted like an old pro. She has been more than generous with letting us have him when we want to see him and letting us spoil him rotten when we want to. I'll never be able to thank her enough for letting me experience the birth of her child with her. She said she wouldn't have had it any other way. Larry and I both love her and are glad God gave her to us.

Josh, my son-in-law, I am so thankful for. He took Summer off of our hands. Just kidding. I am not worried about my daughter when he is with her. I know that he will take care of her and protect her. They have been together for quite a while and we have liked him from the start. He is such a good father and takes such good care of Ray. I remember the first time he kept him alone, I kept calling him and his mother kept calling him, but he did great. He automatically fit right into the rest of our family and we all are glad he is part of our lives. I am thankful for his family such wonderful people and glad we are all family now.

Now - my wonderful, beautiful, happy grandson Ray. I don't even know what to say. I love him so much that I can't put it in words. I can be down and not feeling good but when I look at the pure joy on his face when I walk into the room I am instantly happy and feeling great. I am so thankful that God has put this little precious boy into our lives. His intelligence just amazes me. Even his doctor is blown away by how advanced he is for his 1 year old age. His little personality is so wonderful. He constantly lifts our hearts and fills it with joy. Thank you God for this amazing gift that you have entrusted to us.

I have another important member of my family that makes our life so happy. He is always there for us, he loves us unconditionally and we love him like he is a human. I am talking about my great little dog Chico. Summer and I tricked my husband into letting us have him. He has been a part of our lives for 6 years now and our home would be empty without him.

I also want to give thanks for the rest of my family. They are a daily part of our lives and they are always there for us. My sisters and brother have shared my life with me and we have always been very close. They have given me the best nephews and nieces that I could possibly ever ask for. I love each and every one of them and are proud of the people they are becoming.

Although we have lost love ones I am thankful for the time that we had them. My husbands father, my brother, our grandparents, we love them all and miss them. We look forward to the day we will see them again. I also want to remember those families who have lost loved ones through the acts of terrorism this week, in 2001 and in the war. I am thankful that God is with them and hopes they know him and that he will carry them through this time.

I also just want to give thanks for my health. I have been very fortunate to be healthy these last few years and am thankful that I am still here to be with all my loved ones. I am thankful to God for all the blessings he continues to give me and my family.

Well this has turned out to be longer than I was intending. I need to go and finish making my Thanksgiving dishes to take to my sister's house. I am so ready to just stuff my face and enjoy the company of my family. I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving and are with your loved ones.

Have a blessed day!

Ray's 1st Birthday!!

Hello Everyone,

Well Ray's 1st birthday party was GREAT! Ray was just adorable! Every one loved watching him play with his cousins, digging into his cake and opening his presents.

Here he is enjoying his cake:


He was so excited. He got so many gifts I'm not even sure what all he got. I got him the Smart Bounce and Spin Pony. Here's a picture of him opening a present (he got plenty of help from cousins, lol):


There are a lot more pictures on my myspace page if you want to go look at them. It was a hectic day but a happy one. Our basic color was blue and then we just decorated with all kinds of bright streamers and baloons. We had over 50 people there and there was nothing left of my meal. I promised everyone they would love it and they did. I have spent a lot of this week giving people my recipe for it. Ray's Nana, Josh's mother Angela, made her nacho dip and it was delicious too. Summer got clown ice cream cones for the kids. We got to see friends we haven't seen in a while. We all just had a great time.

The next day Summer said he kept going from toy to toy playing a little with each one. He wore his self out and napped for like two hours afterwards. He is just a happy baby. My family continues to be blessed by God. He is so good to us.

Well that's about all I have right now. I hope everyone has a good weekend.

Have a blessed day!

Valerie