Throwback Thursday

Breakfast at La Madeleine this morning with DH after his lab work and got to sit by the fireplace. Oh, those croissants! And the bacon was perfect! I haven't had bacon for months. I baked a cheesecake for our son's birthday tomorrow and hoping it turns out good. The batter was pretty yummy. My friend Alice came over for a long and much needed visit. The plumber fixed the toilet. It's a good day. 

One of our fun young moms at church. 

Times have changed. Last night after church (actually during church, too) Frosty and Rudolph were there for the kiddos and a hot chocolate social. 

Rudolph led the choir in a rendition of his favorite song.

Back in the day ...

Me as one of the angels who got to recite, "Fear Not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy."

With my Daddy and enjoying a chew on my rubber doll.

The dolls got bigger.

My sister and brother and me rocking in front of the Christmas tree! Such sweet and cozy times we enjoyed in that little house ... a cracker box with living room, kitchen, one bath and two bedrooms. 

Hodgepodge Delight

It's Hodgepodge Time. You copy the questions, answer on your blog and link up with Joyce. This time next week, Christmas  2017 will be history.

1. Where have you found unexpected magic or delight this holiday season?

The most recent delight is that our kids will be attending Christmas Eve services with us ... another delight was receiving the Christmas ornament memorial to Trudy from the boys ... and getting to take Kate and Jack to the Christmas Spectacular. And it's truly magical when all of a sudden you're "done"! All the gifts are bought and wrapped and you can breathe a sigh of relief!

2. What's your favorite type of holiday gathering? 

To be with family or friends eating great food and enjoying each other's company ... lots of laughter ... playing games. Will you/have you gathered in your favorite way this month? We have several times and are looking forward to doing that again on Christmas Day and the week after when our daughter and grandsons come to visit. 

3. Time has named 'The Silence Breakers' (women who came forward with stories of harassment)  'person of the year' for 2017. Would you agree? No, and I will spare you any comments about all that. 

If not, who do you think deserves the title? There are so many other possibilities for Person of the Year. Just off the top of my head, Melania Trump is someone I personally admire very much having taken so much abuse in the last year against her husband, herself and her son. She has managed to maintain her poise and dignity in all this. 

4. How did you spend your time this year? 

It made me sad now that the kids are in school and no longer staying with us so much anymore, however, we are in a different season and my husband needs me more. I am now in the role of caregiver to him and taking over responsibilities he handled in the past. I'm making more of the decisions and this has been a big year for that. Life has been full of quality time with friends, Bible studies, and even the normal household things. It was also fun to attend my 50th high school class reunion. 

Are you happy about that?

As always, the good days far outnumber the hard ones. Life is good and I'm thankful and happy that God has strengthened me to be able to take care of DH and ask Him each day to guide me in the decisions that have to be made. 

5. Bid farewell to 2017 in ten words or less.

As always, you didn't listen when I said, "slow down!"

6. Insert your own random thought here.

We had our last Ladies of Grace Bible study for 2017 and celebrated with a Christmas brunch and gift exchange. It was a little bit different rolling dice and stealing gifts!

We had fun!

 

All sweet ladies of grace!

They look like they're singing!

So glad to be a part of the sisterhood!

It has been raining since yesterday evening. That is an understatement. It has been raining cats and dogs. And I am discovering what a hard head I have for a dog. She. Won't. Go. Outside. Aaaauuuggghh! Must I always be dealing with dogs and potty time? So, I was very thankful for a ten minute window this afternoon when the rained slacked off and I took her for a walk. Whew! Got 'er done just as a new downpour started, but I didn't care. I felt free and I'm sure she did, too.

She was happy to get out for a walk.

Two quotes I discovered recently and so I leave you with them. 

"The shop, the barn, the scullery, and the smithy become temples when men and women do all for the glory of God! The "divine service" is not a thing of a few hours and a few places, but all life becomes holiness unto the Lord, and every place and thing, as consecrated as the tabernacle." ~ C. H. Spurgeon

"There is no work better than to please God; to pour water, to wash dishes, to be a cobbler, or an apostle, all are one; to wash dishes and to preach are all one, as touching the deed, to please God." William Tyndale

Christmas Time's a'Comin!!

Can't let the week pass by without saying how much I love the special ornament I received from these sweet boys last week. Their mom said they both had a hand in designing it and she also told me they are giving their input to my Christmas gift. She is teaching these two well and someday their wives will think they are superstars ... which, of course, I already do ... and they will thank Sara for that! They never fail to write thank you notes for everything they receive. 

Brady and Noah

Looking forward to seeing them this Christmas.

The ornament is a little memorial to our dog,

Trudy who passed earlier this year.

Unbeknownst to us, Jack was working up a case of the flu when they were with us last weekend. Very thankful that neither of us caught it, however, Kate was next and then their Mom. This pic is of Jack in the doctor's office with a little visitor outside the window. While he doesn't look very sick to me, they both missed school last week and the Christmas parties for their classes. So Mom fixed up a little party for them at home with hot chocolate and cookies while making gingerbread houses out of graham crackers.

(I think I see some of the decorations on her teeth!!!)

And last, but not least, no matter from what angle, great-niece Tenley is simply adorable. Someday I hope to see and hold this baby before she is walking.

Snug as a bug!

What a happy girl.

And I am in the process of making molasses cookies for our ladies brunch tomorrow.

This is a busy week and later today we will be going to see the Star Wars, the Last Jedi movie. I hope I can stay awake. Star Wars has never been my choice of a movie and while I did avoid the majority of them, this is a gift to DH. He very happily goes with me to see the movies I choose. Last week we saw Darkest Hour which was good, but I have seen other Churchill movies which I thought were comparable. The week before we saw The Man who Invented Christmas. This time of year, at least there are a few decent movies. The rest of the year we just stay away for the most part.

Are you ready?

My Cousin Charlene

My cousin Debbie called yesterday with the sad news that her sister had passed away. I remember with great fondness my cousin Charlene. That is how I knew her. Little girls we were and close in age. We played together. I remember the sweet dresses Aunt Opal made for us and still cherish the photos of us in them.

The church is in the background.

The church next door to their house was always open and I remember Charlene and me playing church inside. We actually sang a special song together there during a Sunday service. We sang Just a Closer Walk With Thee. We played in the leaves on the road that led up to where Mike Shinn lived. We had so much fun when we spent the night at Aunt Opal's house and jumped on the beds playing Snap, Crackle and Pop. Staying in Huntsville meant we got to go to the Square and shop in the bargain basement, drink icy cold Cokes in the drugstore and go to the movies together. We played together with all our cousins at Grandma McCoy's house.

With Grandma and Grandpa McCoy

and Charlene's brothers, Glenn and Jimmy and

our younger cousin, Leonard Dean

Charlene with her siblings, Glenn,

Jimmy and Debbie.

Debbie is now the only one of them still with us.

Charlene and I spent three days together one summer at Grandma's house and it was so hot outside. I was about 8 and she was 9.  We came inside from playing all hot and sweaty and went into the back room where the bucket of water was and the dipper. She took off her clothes and began to pour water over her head to cool herself off.

I remember the night she gave birth to her first baby and hearing her cries wondering how a person could ever endure such pain. She was blessed to have her beautiful children and it was plain to see she loved them with all her heart and her grandchildren and great grandchild and how proud she was of them. Distance separated us over the years and I'm sorry I did not get to know and be close to her as an adult, but I can see she has left a legacy of love to them.

God bless and comfort all her family as they share all their wonderful memories and say not good-bye, but "we will see you again one day."

love, Connie

Weekend Recap

After spending another nerve wracking afternoon at the ER on Friday, they finally were able to stop the nosebleeds for DH and we went home thankfully ... and me praying that they would cease and desist. Too many things going on that we didn't want to miss out on. Like this, for instance:

This boy had his bag packed with everything he needed, along with four baseball caps, each one of which has a special meaning for him. The one he chose to wear was his "happy hat!"

Sweet kids staying with us this weekend so Mommy and Daddy can have an evening of Christmas fun with Dad's firefighter buddies.

What a good-looking twosome!

So, off we go with the kiddos to The Gift of Christmas, with fingers crossed that Jack would be able to make it through the two hours. While we waited in the lobby of the church, Jack noticed the bookstore and asked if we could go inside. He browsed through all the books and look what he picked out for himself! A Bible. 

"I can read this!"

And read he did, while we waited. So proud of him.

Also in the lobby or foyer of the church!

This is one of my favorite parts of the performance. You can't tell, but the arch of white is actually a circle telling in images the story of Christmas while Michael Neale sings Come That Close Again, which is a powerful song! The gifts and talents in this church are truly amazing!

Wise Men come to worship.

A little silliness in the morning.

All I want for Christmas!

If these kids ever give up their love for stuffed animals, they can open up a shop and make a lot of money!

And Jack got second place in the jui jitsu tournament!