Happy Birthday to my Sweetheart & Happy Father's Day, too!

Since I can't seem to load any photos today, my words will have to suffice. 

First, I'd like to wish a wonderful and special birthday to my Sweetheart.  We celebrated with Brennan & Breezy when they were home late last month.  It was a combination Birthday/Father's Day celebration and it was so very sweet.  The kids bought dinner -- two different kinds of pizza...including Tom's favorite, Hawaiian, not to mention melt-in-your-mouth breadsticks.  Add to that a delicious birthday cake with Graeter's Ice Cream (a regional favorite that is incredibly good -- Oprah Winfrey once said it was her all-time favorite!)

One of our favorite shows is "Scrubs."  It happens to be one of Brennan & Breezy's too, so they own several seasons on DVD.  They set up their laptop on the table so that we could watch (mini-drive-in style) as we enjoyed the pizza and dessert....wasn't that clever and thoughtful? 

One of the nicknames Tom is best known for is "Daddio of the Patio." Brennan & Breezy found this great, sort of vintage-retro sign that says just that!  They couldn't pass it up.  That was one of their gifts!  Breezy also made Tom an awesome plaque (similar in style to the one she made me for Mother's Day), except his is in browns, greens and a little black.  She included a quote from "Oh the Places You will Go" from Dr.  Suess.  It turned out so well!  Hopefully, I'll be able to load photos of them later.

Since he shares his birthday with Father's Day, he and I had a special lunch yesterday to celebrate his birthday.  It was a sweet time together. 

Last night, I took my Dad (and Mom) out to dinner at Cracker Barrell for Father's Day.  We had so much fun, celebrating the blessings of this year as compared to last.  If you were reading my blog back then, you know my Dad fell from a scaffold just after Memorial Day, shattering both his heels and ankles.  He spent weeks on bedrest with casts on both legs.  By Father's Day, he was still in a good bit of pain, and feeling a bit overwhelmed by the long road that lay ahead.  He does now walk with a cane.  He still has pain and residual issues from the accident, but life is good.  He is able to work part-time, drive and do a number of things he once enjoyed (he just moves a little slower).  What a difference a year can make!   I love him dearly and wish him a great and special day!

After church this morning, Tom opened his gifts from me and then we enjoyed a light lunch.  He always prefers a low-key birthday celebration and I try my best to honor that.   

In a short bit, we're heading to Tom's parents to celebrate Father's Day with his Dad, Bob.  He is now 86 years old, so every year is an extra special blessing.  We're looking forward to celebrating with him. 

For Tom, my Dad, Clyde, my Father-in-law, Bob - may the remainder of this Father's Day be a special one.  All three of you are dearly loved.  If you're a Father, I extend these wishes to you, as well! 

Once again, for Tom...Happy Birthday Sweetheart.  I love you.   

Congratulations Brooke!!!

 
Happy Graduation!  We're so proud of you. 
May God bless you in all your future plans!

...Be strong and courageous.
Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged,
for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

~Joshua 1:9

A Special Birthday Celebration!

We recently celebrated my mother-in-law, Millie's 90th birthday! To her friends, her age has always been a closely guarded secret (we family members figured it out a couple of years ago).  ;  )  She called us back in February to say she and my father-in-law had booked a local banquet facility for a birthday celebration.  She thought a brunch would be a fun way celebrate and at last, reveal her her age!  We were especially happy to discover it fell during the time Brennan & Breezy would be home for vacation, too which was an added bonus!  (By the way, special thanks to Breezy for sharing some of these photos!)

Pink was her color of choice for the party...

Isn't this a beautiful arrangement?  It was a giveaway for one lucky guest. 

The photo immediately behind Millie was her graduation portrait...the photo in the middle was a recent one of she and my father-in-law, the other photo is Millie at 4 years of age. 

 

Aren't they adorable?  My dear father-in-law not only wore a rose colored jacket, he wore a pink kerchief and even pink socks in honor of her special day!

They had a great crowd...many long-time friends...some dating back to when my husband and his sisters were children!  (The woman immediately below with her husband was their babysitter and a dear and precious friend.)

I thought it was especially fitting that the daugther of Millie's long-time best friend, Annie won the flower arrangement.  Kathy is a beautiful woman that seems to exude joy and kindness. 

It was a beautiful celebration and It warmed my heart to see how many people love Millie!

Craft Day!!!

Last Saturday was soooooo much fun!  It was Breezy, her Mom, Lisa and me, crafting and creating all.day.long!  If you saw my last post, you know Lisa is quite creative.  And if you saw this post, you know Breezy is very talented, too!  The ideas that flow from this family...wow!

One of the things Breezy was looking forward to during this time of vacation was crafting...and let me tell you, crafting she has done!  Holy cow, the girl is AMAZING!!!  I wish I could show you everything she's made since she's been here!  Some are gifts, so they need to be kept secret.  = )  Still others are being kept under wraps for a different reason...you see, she's building an inventory.  That's right!  She's creating all sorts of charming products for her very own website!  Really & truly!  I think I'm almost as excited and anxious as she is!  When everything is up and running, you can bet I'll pass along the particulars...you're in for a treat!     

Want a tiny little sneak peak? She says I can show you what she made on Saturday...

. 

A charming little bottle gift, two hair accessories, one vintage style pin..

She created the darling little owl on this tote bag by making a stencil from freezer paper!
 

Isn't that adorable!? 

Although Lisa and I weren't cranking out scores of items like Breezy, we did get quite a bit accomplished on the projects we had undertaken.  She was working on the scrapbook from the Breezy's bridal showers and the wedding. 

She loves to incorporate memorabilia and vintage elements.  Her pages are BEAUTIFUL!  

As for me?  I worked on a gift and though I can't show you the whole thing, I'll give you a little peek, too! 

I'll share more about this later and maybe even do a tutorial.  But for now?  I'm sleepy and not thinking too clearly so I bid you good-night!  Hope you have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend! 

Trip to SC, Graduation & Our Kids are Home!

Greetings!  Hope this finds you well.  Just wanted to share a little about our trip to South Carolina and Brennan's Graduation. 

Initially, we had only planned to go down early Tuesday for Graduation that evening and come home Wednesday.  When we found out both Brennan & Breezy were in a play the weekend before, we felt we couldn't pass up the opportunity to head down early to catch the final performance on Saturday night.  It was called Joseph of Aramathea.  Brennan played John the Baptist and Breezy played Martha.  It was wonderful and we enjoyed it so much! 

On Sunday, we spent several hours with the kids, including lunch at their favorite local spot...a wonderful Mexican restaurant that was FANTASTIC!  Let me just say it quickly became a favorite to us, too and I suspect we'll visit anytime we're in town.  Everything was positively delicious!  It started getting rainy and stormy as we headed back to the hotel. Tom and Brennan chatted and Breezy and I checked out all sorts of blogs...it was great! 

On Monday, Brennan had some final exams and projects and Breezy was working, so Tom and I were on our own.  It was unfortunately still very, very rainy in Greenville, meaning we couldn't do many of the things we would have normally enjoyed (we love their beautiful downtown area).  Tom said, "let's head to the beach!"  (You need to know Greenville, although in SC, couldn't be farther from the beach!)  We went to Google to find the closest, which was Folly Beach, near Charleston, 3 1/2 hours away.  Unfortunately, they had rain in their forecast that day, too.  We checked other beaches, just in case, but all were expecting 70% rain and thunderstorms!

We decided to take our chances that we'd miss it and hit the road.  After all, it was better than sitting in the hotel all day!   About 2 1/2 hours into the trip, we hit some unbelievably hard rain.  (So much for our chances!)  It was so hard to see!  Finally, it cleared up just before we arrived at Folly Beach.  It was cloudy there, but not raining! 

(photo courtesy of Google images)

We walked on the beach for a while, put our toes in the (very) cold water, and then decided to head over to Charleston, an an effort to beat the rain.  The skies were getting darker by this time and it was sprinkling just as we arrived.  We parked and started walking around town, then stopped for a late lunch at Five Guys Deli (there is one locally but we've never eaten there).  It was terrific! 

We both quickly noticed there were college kids everywhere!  (There are a number of colleges/technical schools in and around Charleston.)  As we were finishing lunch, the rain got heavier and this time accompanied by thunder & lightning!  We decided the rest of our exploring was going to be better done from the car...i.e. no photos.  (Sorry!)  = (  We headed back to Greenville thinking we'll have to try visiting again sometime in better weather! 

Tuesday was graduation day and at last, the sun returned!  It turned into a beautiful day.  We took advantage of the opportunity to sleep in a bit, had lunch at Panera, then headed to the school for graduation practice.  Later, we enjoyed dinner with the kids and then we headed back to the school for the big event!  Though Brennan's college is a small one, they went to great lengths to host a special, inspiring and wonderful ceremony. 

 
Receiving his degree...

With faculty and other 2010 graduates, Rachel & Natalie

 

Thought this was such a sweet moment...Breezy is so proud of Brennan! (and so are we!) 

And a kiss for his favorite girl!

Following the ceremony, there was a wonderful reception for the students, family and friends.  Everyone enjoyed it so much.  Finally, it was time to call it a day.  We were making the trip home on Wednesday and wanted to get a good night's rest.  Speaking of making the trip home, a certain couple followed us here!  = )  They have several vacation days and they wanted to spend it with their families.  (Hooray!)  You can only imagine how much we're loving that!  = ) 

My Mother's Day Gifts... = )

Just had to share with you my charming Mother's Day gifts from Breezy & Brennan.  They were perfect!  First...

I should tell you...I've always loved flowers in a Mason jar, but this was precious!  I love the way that ribbon and button dress it up.  She added that sweet mini clothespin and made the card attached with scrapbooking software.  Isn't that a great idea!? = )   

Then...this!  I absolutely LOVE it!  She stained the wood plaques and then Mod-Podged pink paper to the front which she distressed.  She added a slight antique coloring to the photos and added a beautiful quote (chosen by Brennan), then embellished with ribbon and buttons.  The photos she chose are some of my favorites.  This is truly an absolute treasure!

I've always told you Breezy and her family were talented and creative.  Over the years, I've seen her create some wonderful and very special gifts for Brennan.  It was especially meaningful to receive something so special for my own!  Apparently, her inspiration for both gifts came from things she has seen in blogworld. Yes, she too has been bitten by the blogging bug!  (I love it!)  She has been having lots of fun exploring & getting all sorts of ideas.  = ) 

Oh and lest I forget!  Here is the beautiful quote:

A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.  ~Washington Irving.

Hope you had a wonderful and special Mother's Day, too! 

Happy Mothers Day!

I was privileged to spend yesterday celebrating Mother's Day with my sweet Mom.  We had such a great time!  I'm beyond grateful He blessed me with a Mom that is tender, kind, caring, compassionate, fun, flexible, talented and so very easy to love.  What a gift!  I pray His most abundant blessings for her.  

A little later, I'll be seeing my sweet boy and daughter-in-love...I absolutely cannot wait!  It's my first Mother's Day with two kids!  ; )  They've been in town this week, working with the college seminar team which has provided a few bonus visits (the greatest Mother's Day gift, ever!)  What a treat it has been and how I love them so!     

Tonight, we'll honor my  mother-in-love, Millie.  She too is a treasure to me and I truly thank God for her.  At nearly 90 years of age, every Mother's Day we have together is a special gift. 

In the quieter moments, I can't help but think of so many Mom's I know, in all walks and stages of life...

* those joyously celebrating their first Mother's Day and those whose babies are preparing leave the nest;
* those who now care for their aging Mothers as she once cared for them;

* those spending Mother's Day without their own dear Mom;

* those whose arms still ache to hold a baby of their own and those who were privileged to hold babies that have now returned to Heaven;

* those separated by distance and those separated by broken relationships;
* those who gave birth to babies that will be loved and nurtured by arms other than their own; 

* those with a house full and those with just one....
I'm praying for you today. 

A friend wrote this morning and I couldn't agree more...next to salvation and my husband, there has been no greater gift or privilege in my life than being a Mom.  I truly can't thank Him enough.  

Hope your day is special in every way!  Savor every moment, every hand-picked flower, every hand-made card, every sticky kiss, every "I love you"  They make the sweetest of memories as days go by.           

Happy Birthday Brooke!!!

Today, I want to wish a very special birthday to my oldest niece, Brooke.  It's a big one -- the big 18!! 

She's a very busy high school senior, working hard to "finish well."  For several years now, her plan has been to pursue a pre-law degree, and then attend law school.  She's always been extremely smart...never once below a 4.0 average, in her entire life!  Her discipline and desire to do her best (even from a very young age) is second to none. 

Brooke is the oldest of my sister and brother-in-law's five children, so you can imagine what an enormous help she is (and always has been).  Her siblings couldn't ask for a better "big sister" and they know it.  She and my sister have always been extra close. 

In addition, she shares a very special relationship with her Grandparents (my parents)...especially her Grandpa.  Last year, when asked to write about her "hero," she wrote about him. She has a great heart for God and is a definite bright spot in our family! Not only that, she is an absolute blast to be around.  (Family gatherings are always made more fun by her hilarious and crazy antics, not to mention her contagious laugh!)   

Brookie, (have to take advantage as I know I won't be able to call you this much longer...)  We love you dearly and we're so proud of you!!!  Thank you for all the joy and happiness you bring into our lives (and others, too!)  We wish you a very joyous birthday, filled with every blessing you desire!  XOXO

Happy Birthday Jordyn & Josh!!!

Believe it or not, these two, (my niece and nephew Josh & Jordyn), are twins!  Today, they are 12 years old!  I absolutely cannot believe it.  They are very busy and talented middle school students...Josh is an awesome cross-country runner and Jordyn is fierce on the basketball court.  Among a host of other talents and activities, both are honor roll students and members of National Junior Honor Society.  They are as different as night and day, yet both GREAT kids who are lots of fun. 

Josh & Jordyn, I love you dearly and wish you a wonderful and very special birthday!  Looking forward to celebrating with you next weekend!!!   

Happy Birthday Marcia!

Someone very near and dear to my heart is celebrating a birthday today...my sister, Marcia ("Mar-see-uh").  Next to Tom, she is my closest friend...I've adored her since the very day my parents brought her home from the hospital.

Of her many gifts, I'd like to tell you a little about her heart for serving others.  She is one of the most thoughtful, caring souls I've ever known.  She's a hairdresser by occupation and just the other day, I called and asked what she was doing.  She said, "Buying flowers."  I said..."Sounds fun, what's the occassion?"  She said, "I've got a client coming in, an older woman...and today is her birthday.  I thought it would be fun to surprise her."  So very sweet, yet this is the kind of thing she does all the time!  She is constantly looking for ways to bless others.

So many times, I myself have been a recipient of her kindness. A while back, I had a nasty case of tonsilitis. The antibiotic they had given me wasn't working, so they called in something stronger. I felt absolutely horrible, but I was going to need to go out to pick up the new medication if I wanted to feel better. Well, she insisted on picking it up. When she returned, she had not only my medication, but a two kinds of soup from Panera and a slush puppie! (Did I mention this was two weeks before Christmas? And she has 5 kids?)

Last summer, when my Dad was hurt, she was positively tireless in her efforts to help both he and Mom with things that needed to be done, but always going a step farther to show an added measure of kindness, grace and thoughtfulness, too.

She absolutely adores her husband and kids, and as you can imagine, they adore her right back.  Any given day finds her running in a million directions, tending to the their needs, cheering them on, giving love, support, encouragement oh, and laughter...always lots of laughter, too.  She wouldn't trade it for all the money in the world. 

Happy Birthday Marce!  I love you so much & thank God that He made us sisters!  Hope you enjoy your day...looking forward to seeing you tonight!  ((Hugs!))

Happy Birthday Mom!!!

Only One Mother

Hundreds of stars in the pretty sky,
Hundreds of birds that go singing by,
Hundreds of shells on the shore together,
Hundreds of lambs in the sunny weather.

Hundreds of dewdrops to greet the dawn,
Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn,
Hundreds of bees in the purple clover,
But only one mother the wide world over.

~George Cooper


I love you Mom!  How I thank God that in all the world, he choose you for mine.  What an amazing gift.  I wish you a wonderful and special birthday!  Can't wait to celebrate with you!  XOXOXO 

Valentine's Weekend

First, I want to thank you for your kind words and prayers for the families in Thursday's post.  I can't tell you how much that means to me.  This post was in the works at that time, but had been set aside.

Are you digging out of snow where you are?  We've had record-breaking snowfalls this month and currently have about 7 inches on the ground.  (I am sooo looking forward to Spring!)  Between two large snowfalls, we had a several cold but clear days.  We had tossed around the idea of traveling south to see the kids, but hadn't finalized our plans until we knew what kind of weather was in store.  (Normally, we would wait to visit until it wasn't questionable, but there were performances at the college that we really wanted to see.)

Thursday night, we decided it was a go and got packed.  I had taken Friday off, so we hit the road in the morning, hopeful we had left the snow behind (for a few days anyway).  Would you believe, 6 hours into the trip (two hours outside of Greenville) it started to SNOW!!!  By the time we arrived, there were about 3 inches on the ground! A very rare occurence there.

We arrived in just enough time to get checked into the hotel, change our clothes and head to the college.  We saw Bren & Breezy just moments after walking through the door.  It was great to see them!!  We hugged and chatted for a few moments with them (and some of our "adopted" kids) and then settled in to enjoy some pre-show entertainment, planned especially in honor of Valentine's weekend.  Then, it was onto the plays -- two of them, back to back with an intermission in between.  The Miracle Worker (the story of Ann Sullivan, teacher to Helen Keller) by William Gibson and The Last Leaf written by O Henry.  Each was only about an hour in length, yet both were very moving  (we were in tears on more than one occassion) and beautifully performed. 

Chatting with many of the cast members afterward.  I was definitely swooning over their wardrobe!  Hard to believe the old man on the far right is only 21 years old!  ; )

Don't they look great!?

My two favorite guys in all the world!  I wish you could have seen the makeup on stage.  Very effective and Brennan portrayed his character extremely well!

Love this photo.  When Breezy's Mom saw this, she started singing "When I'm 64!" ;  )

Peter & Jaimie (they too are newlyweds!) 

After the performance we spent a little time with the kids, then called it a night.  (All those hours travelling were catching up!)  

On Saturday, the performances were matinee which was wonderful because it allowed for much more time with the kids. = )  It was really great to see each of the plays again.  I think Saturday's performances were even better than Friday's (and they were awesome to begin with!) 

When everything wrapped up, it was still early evening, so we had lots of time to "catch up" with Bren & Breezy during dinner.  (Yay!!!)  Afterward, they came to our hotel.  We had the best time!  We had a couple of Valentine gifts for them and I made some Valentine cookies so we just snacked and chatted for at least a couple of hours (maybe more).  It was bliss! = )  When we all started to get sleepy, they headed home and we made plans to meet for a quick breakfast on Sunday morning before we headed home. 

Sunday morning, we checked the weather forecast and learned they were predicting more snow back home beginning late that night and we wanted to get home well before that started.  We met the kids at McDonald's, shared a quick breakfast (so happy to get to see and hug them one more time!) and then were on our way.  Tom and I had decided this  trip was our Valentine's gift to one another (and one that would be hard to top!)  The kids are hoping to come home sometime in March.  If not, they'll be home for spring break in April.  Either way...we cannot wait!  = ) 

Happy Birthday Blake!

Today a very special young man in my family is turning 16!  Meet my nephew, Blake.  He's a caring, talented, funny, humble, and most importantly... Godly guy.  To know him truly is to love him.  He lives his faith boldly, yet humbly...whether on the football field, in the halls of his school or with family and friends. He is well-respected by adults and peers alike, and adored by his family.   

Blakers, hope your day is tremendous and special in every way!!!  We love you and we're so very proud of the person you are.  We're looking forward to celebrating with you this weekend! 

Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. ~1 Timothy 4:12

First "Game Night" of 2010 - New Year's Night

We are a game-loving family! We try to schedule several "game nights" throughout the year, especially when Brennan & Breezy are in town. They're always soooo much fun. My sister, Marcia and her hubby, David were hosting this one, which we planned several weeks ago. Tom was still feeling bad so he stayed home, but he insisted that I go. I reluctantly agreed.

You've seen photos of my sister's kids before...there are 5 of them. The two oldest are in high school, the 3 youngest are in elementary and middle school. They are such great kids! The 3 youngest each had a friend over that night, so that they could have their own "game night." When I arrived, this was on the front door...I felt as though I was on the VIP list for a movie premiere! Even their dog (Riley) on the list!

There was soooo much food...hankie pankies, taco dip, chili dip, pecan squares, cheesecake, salami, etc...let's just say there was no New Year's dieting that night! After snacking on appetizers, we were ready for the games...we started with several rounds of an old-time favorite, Catch Phrase. We played girls against the guys and had a blast. Then we played Apples to Apples, another fun game (that I am apparently NO good at...LOL) Finally, we played a new game, Guesstures...very much like charades, it was a lot of fun.

My nephew Blake and his girlfriend, Lydia

You know these two...

David, my brother-in-law...the man is crazy-competitive!


My sister, Marcia. She was on my team and can I just say, she rocks! We still lost, only by one point!

I tried without success to get a photo of my niece, Brooke. I did record a video clip of her that is hilarious, but it won't load! = ( (Sorry Brookie!) She is so much fun!

Here are the rest of the kids...we were downstairs, they were upstairs. Funny how at this moment, they look much calmer and mature than us grown-ups...LOL. (In reality, I'm not sure who laughed harder or had more fun.) = )

By this time, I was really missing my hubby, so I headed home. Brennan & Breezy stayed awhile longer and played what I understand was quite a wild game of Spoons. No doubt the laughter was abounding as it had been all night. It was definitely a fun way to kick-off the new year!

December - A Review (better known as "Blog Posts I Intended to Write...")

It’s so hard to believe Christmas is now behind us and we’re just days away from ringing in the new year. It seems like just yesterday, it was Thanksgiving! There were many things I wanted to blog about during the month, but didn’t because of time constraints (and more often than not, I forgot to take photos!) Now that things are settling down, I wanted to share some of the highlights from our December. While this may will likely be world’s longest post, I hope you’ll find it worth the read…

• At the beginning of the month, I celebrated my 44th birthday. (You know it’s going to be a good birthday when your dear hubby serves you red velvet cake for breakfast!) Oh, I love that man! ; ) At work, I arrived to find cakes, cookies, chocolates and other goodies from my sweet co-workers. It was glorious! For dinner, Tom took me to one of our favorite local restaurants. It’s always a treat as they are known for outstanding food, and service that is second to none. (Even moreso when it’s a special occasion.) At the end of the meal, we were treated to a wonderful dessert, compliments of the owner. It was a lovely day!

• That weekend, Tom and I hosted the youth leaders of our church for a Christmas dinner. We used to serve with these great people and many are very good friends...we absolutely loved having them in our home…it was a great, great time!

• The following week…Christmas cards, baking and a little shopping.

• The second weekend was a busy one! Friday was an ornament exchange at work. It was great because several former co-workers returned and it was soooooo good to catch up. More baking on Saturday and that night, a surprise birthday party for our friend, Tracy Robertson. Yet another wonderful time (and I remembered my camera!)

On Sunday…our annual cookie exchange! Two friends who had taken part for years relocated since our last one - one to North Carolina and one to Ireland! Needless to say…we really missed them. We welcomed a couple of new friends this time, met for lunch, had a great time together and exchanged our cookies.

• It was also during this particular weekend that our local city officials were judging homes in our community for a Christmas decorating contest. For the second year in a row, our house was one of the winners! Tom had worked very hard and did a WONDERFUL job! I was thrilled for him because he absolutely LOVES Christmas! You need to know he never puts up lights to compete, instead it’s just an expression of joy (which makes winning even sweeter). The mayor and other city officials came to our house to present Tom with a plaque and a large, beautiful poinsettia.

Jesus, Mary & Joseph are on the porch, along with angels. On the far left, you can see the 3 wise men and on the far right, there is a shepherd tending his sheep. The photos below are the side and a little of the back yard.

Those candles were given to us by Tom's Mom. She used them for years at her house and they are truly vintage! We love them!

• Just a few short days later, our local newspaper featured Tom as one of four homeowners with beautiful Christmas light displays. As you can see, although we love all the whimsy of Christmas, first and foremost our display points to Christ. When the article was written, I was delighted to see the reporter made a point of highlighting that, both in photos and her story!

• Later in the week…it was time for more baking! We had set aside an evening and my Mom, my sister, Marcia and my niece Brooke all came over and we baked like crazy ladies! (As you can see from the photos...we take our baking very seriously! LOL) Several different kinds of cookies, buckeyes, candy, etc…soooo much fun!

• That weekend, two biggies…Tom narrated our church’s beautiful Christmas Program, “One of Us.” He did a great job, as did the choir and orchestra. It's been a couple of years since our church did a large Christmas program and we really enjoyed it. Later that same night…our kids arrived home! We could not wait to see them! Married life certainly agrees with both of them. We had a a great time “catching up” for an hour or so and planned a dinner together the following night. They’re so happy to be home and we’re thrilled to have them! Bless their hearts, they’re trying so hard to spend lots of quality time with BOTH sides of the family. = )

• The last few days before Christmas, more baking! This time - loaves and loaves of pumpkin bread, and also…this incredibly easy (and very addictive) snack, found on a great blog...Beneath my Heart!

• Since my first Christmas with Tom's family as his fiancée in 1983, we’ve spent Christmas Eve at the home of his sister, Nancy and her husband, Dan. They have a log cabin...so beautiful and cozy -- it’s hard to imagine being anywhere else. The fire in the stone fireplace and the Christmas decor make the house look extra special. We had a great time and if you saw the slides in the previous post, you know that the hit of the night was the digital frame we got for Bob & Millie. Nancy had compiled photos from all of us and grouped them into decades. There were over 300 of them! Bob and Millie absolutely loved it, as did the rest of the family. It was especially fun to watch Breezy as she saw many of her new family members as they looked “back then.”

After Nancy & Dan's, we came back to our house to celebrate “Our Christmas” with Brennan & Breezy. We had such a sweet time together and they absolutely loved their gifts. They surprised us with a beautiful wedding portrait. LOVE it!

• Christmas Morning at our house was quiet. Had my devotional time and then after a little while, finished wrapping a couple of things and we headed to my parents’ house to celebrate with my side of the family in the early afternoon. We enjoyed delicious lasagna and homemade lemon meringue pie, cheesecake, cookies, etc. (I love my Mom's cooking, but especially her desserts!)

As to our gift exchange, we did things differently this year. Because we’ve all felt the pinch economically, we opted to forego the usual gifts and instead each person brought only 1 gift valued at $10-15. They all went into a pile in the middle of the floor and we drew numbers to determine the order. You could choose a gift, but the person after you could either take it or choose a new one. Our family had an absolute blast with this! There were movie certificates, blockbuster certificates, gift cards for food, ice cream, Starbucks and even some board games in the mix. Besides spending only about 15% of what we normally would, there was so much less stress and time spent running all over town looking for this or that gift, which made for a much calmer, more reflective Christmas. Definitely helped me keep my focus on Christ like never before.

As we wrapped up our time at my parents' house, we headed to my in-laws to once again join the rest of his family for a little while on Christmas night. Every year, as we leave their house to head home, Tom and I simultaneously thank God for granting us yet another Christmas with them. Both his Mom & Dad are in their upper 80’s and every year is truly a gift.

• Saturday evening (the night after Christmas), Tom and I went along with Brennan, Bri, Bri’s Mom, Lisa and our friends, the Robertsons to Bethlehem Blessings at the Creation Museum. Despite very cold temps, we really enjoyed our time together there…we were especially partial to the vignette of Jesus, Mary and Joseph (played by a wonderful family friend) and the live animals.

• Sunday was a day of rest! (And boy, did we need that!) Hope you and yours have had a wonderful and special December celebrating CHRIST and making some great memories with family and friends.

• If you’ve made it this far and you’re still reading…I want to say THANKS! Leave a comment and you’ll be entered into a drawing for a $10 St*rbucks gift card (a Merry Christmas gift from me!) If you share your favorite December memory in your comment, I’ll enter your name twice! Feel free to enter up until midnight (Eastern time) New Year’s Eve…I’ll draw and announce the winner on New Year’s Day!

Love & sweet blessings!
Tracy