Happy Halloween....

Happy Halloween or All Hallows Eve???

Well, whatever it's called! I'm not into the negative side of this holiday...just the pure fun of it! I don't focus on the bad yucky stuff...I don't serve witches, goblins, witchcraft, demons, devils or voodoo. 

I serve God as you do.  

So this holiday is purely....

jack-o-lanterns, 

apple bobbing, 

trick or treating, 

bonfires, 

Charlie Brown's Halloween movie, 

candy, 

costumes, 

and family get togethers.  

We have a tradition of going over to my 80+ year old in-laws who live on a great street that most trick or treaters like to frequent. About 25 of our family congregate and bring in great food....take the ones that still trick or treat out, hand out treats and just have good ole fashioned fun.  I planning on taking Baked Potato Soup and Pumpkin/Mini Chocolate Chip Bites. Hopefully someone will have a camera so I can fill you in later! My sis in law will be there and always gets great pics so check her blog too!

Do you have plans?

IT'S HALLOWEEN

It's Halloween! It's Halloween!
The moon is full and bright
And we shall see what can't be seen
On any other night.

Skeletons and ghosts and ghouls,
Grinning goblins fighting duels,
Werewolves rising from their tombs,
Witches on their magic brooms.

In masks and gowns we haunt the street
And knock on doors for trick or treat.
Tonight we are the king and queen,
For tonight it's Halloween!

Jack Prelutsky

Wishing you a Happy and SAFE Halloween! 

*******  Lace and I are so excited!! We think Christmas music on one of our favorite stations starts tomorrow!

Blessed Mom's Giveaway

 I reached my one year blog anniversary last week, and around the same time I was contacted by CSN to do another giveaway :-) The timing couldn't have been better! I loved working with them before, and this time they are offering a $60 one time use gift code for the lucky winner.

Of course, I've been looking over their many stores to see what I'd like to show you. 

First, I found this beautiful Paula Deen end table.

What a great giveaway...I was sold right off the bat on the end table!!! Go visit Marcia here.

Squeaking Through

Yesterday was the school Fall party.  I had 15 enthusiastic, loud, excited, out-of-their-minds students.  AND I had no voice. I lost my voice...literally. Can you imagine trying to control a classroom FULL of students/parents stuffing themselves with more sugary treats than I can begin to describe?  That was exhausting! I was so glad when 3:00 came! Then my husband and I left to go to a visitation for a funeral he was going to be the speaker at.  Once again, a true struggle to try to communicate and give condolences. I nodded. I smiled. I hugged.
Today, we went to visit mom. We giggled because as I whispered to talk to her, she whispered back. Then I had to take Darb to an eye appt and do grocery shopping at Walmart.  Survived trying to communicate to the eye doctor/receptionist about insurance and thought I was home free just getting my groceries and heading home. OH NO! I have to pick the aisle that has the most talkative, jovial, happy cashier. I tried nodding and smiling....didn't work...the questions kept coming...I squeaked....he kept talking...I whispered....he kept talking. I paid my bill and smiled. Darb and I didn't talk on the way home. Complete silence. She understood I was worn out!  
Tonight I am continuing being completely silent...blogging allows that. My family is watching TV and carrying on the biggest conversation and having the most fun talking.... and I sit silent. They are probably very happy! My husband is happy! It is the strangest thing to not have a voice.  I'm not even squeaking anymore...nothing is coming out. I've decided that I didn't realize how much a person says in a day, until you really can't. But I'm enjoying reading your blogs tonight and sitting cozily by the fire drinking my coffee.

Energy and Enthusiasm

Oh to be young! 
Darb is 16 and has more energy and enthusiasm than her mom and dad put together on ANY given day. I really can't remember having that much energy but maybe I did. I'm going to tell myself I did. Age does that to a person. She cheered/danced for her last football game  for this year....now it's on to basketball season. Just had to share a few pics.

Don't you just love a high school football game? 

 

*These pics were taken the night that the young man was injured and lost his life early the next morning. Our family did not know him personally but he has been on our minds and in our hearts. It is hard to think about JOY and HAPPINESS and FUN when so many are hurting and in such unbearable pain. So, this is kind of a tribute to him and to the game he played in that night. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and all those that he touched.

Prayers

We had our last football game last night at home.  A fine young outstanding man lost his life last night as a result of a injury.  He was on the opposing team but that did not matter to one person there.  He was life flighted and passed away early this morning.  Everyone who was there and witnessed this as well as all those who have heard of this are deeply saddened and in shock.  He was a son to two parents, a sibling, a friend to many I'm sure, and most importantly a child of God's. Our prayers are for all those who are mourning this loss. Please say a prayer for this family and all those that are hurting with his loss of life. God can and does heal and help those that need it.

and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.  Matthew 28:20

My Old Friend!

Guess who showed up at my house today?  My old faithful friend. She always makes me feel better and I just love her to pieces! 

I can't wait to curl up in bed and read every inch over and over and over! Usually this magazine ends up in my purse (yes...I'm a big purse owner!) and I take it in the van while my husband listens to talk radio or ball games, to volleyball/basketball games, on all road trips, relaxing on the porch with coffee or iced tea, sitting in my chaise lounger in my yard....you name it! If I could only have one magazine (and actually right now I am down to one subscription!) this is my choice! 2nd choice WAS Country Home...but that went out of print! Drat! I keep all past copies of my BHG (my husband just loves this....NOT!) and I sort and store them by months so every month I bring out the stash collected for years. Monday the Novembers will all come out!

Are you a magazine fanatic?  And what do you buy or subscribe to?

Proverbs

There is so much to be learned from the Proverbs. This week I am drawn to many verses in that book.

I wrote on my kitchen chalkboard for my verse of the week...

Proverbs 3:5,6 - Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. 

As I left for work this a.m., I read it and tucked that thought in my mind.... and was able to stand a little taller, feel a little stronger, and have a little more hope.

My brother in law spoke at church Sunday and one of the verses he used was this one...

Proverbs 27:17 NIV
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. 






 Today when I got home from work, sitting in my foyer was the sweetest, kindest, most thoughtful gift from one of my sister in laws. A whole gift bag of Panera bread, her homemade apple pie filling (yum!), a candle, a cute Mary Englebreit book, a recipe, an adorable apple basket, and a sweet handwritten card. The bad news is my camera is NO MORE so I can't share a picture of it. I'm on the hunt for a camera and need some advice on a "cheap" but good camera! With the holidays approaching, I'm hoping to find a great buy! Anyway what a lovely surprise it was.  She touched my heart with compassion and love. She is so supportive of the situation I'm going through with my Mom and just wanted to let me know. I'm so grateful and I just want her to know how much it meant.  

Auntie L, I hope you are reading this and you know how much I love and appreciate you. 

Proverbs 27:17 reminds me of of the support and friendships I have and just as iron rubs on iron to sharpen, family and friends strengthen me. Thank you God for them. I pray I can do the same for others.  

Sunday Night Blues

I get the Sunday night "Blues" often! Not in the summer time when I'm out of school....just when I have to get up and go to work the next day! I'm always so happy to get Monday over. Just getting back in the routine is hard but once Monday is over I'm good to go. Sundays are good to serve God, worship him, partake of the Lord's Supper, and strengthen your faith. I love that part. But when nightfall rolls around, I'm just not as perky! Sometimes I think if I didn't work I'd like to wake up on Monday morning here....

I would go down to the lake with my puppies and take a cup of coffee with my Pumpkin Spice creamer and sit. Then I'd head back up to the house and do laundry, dishes, and then I'd go back down to the lake with my lawn chair and read a book or look at magazines. Then I'd go fix lunch and then head back down to the lake and....

Oh good grief...I've got to go get ready for bed, set my alarm for 6:00 a.m. and go back to work tomorrow.

Faith, Hope, and Love

This has been an extremely long, trying, stressful month.  I think I'm going to be giving myself some therapy so log off if you need to! My Mom has come home from Texas and it has been a very hard transition for her. It was my sister's choice and decision to send my mom home.  That in itself is a stressful situation and truly another novel I could write....but I won't drag you into the saga of that family mess. I knew it would be very hard on my mom if she did it. My family made arrangements for her to begin living at a wonderful Assisted Living Facility. It was wonderful and the staff was fabulous. We arrived there late Saturday night and from that moment on it has gone from bad to worse.  I stayed with her for 2 nights there. The 3rd day I had to go back to work and after phone calls learning she had left the facility twice, my husband and I picked her up and brought her to our home for the next 3 days which were no better.  She left our home as well, we have been to a hospital for evaluation, and now she is admitted to a secure unit in the nursing home.  That, too, is not going well. She is an angry, mad, confused, agitated 98 pound lady. She suffers from Vascular Dementia and is also having severe Sundowning in the evenings. They have requested that my family and I not see her right now in order to get her stabilized and her medicine regulated.  That has been very hard for us. But we, as well as the doctors know, that all she will say to us are those famous words that we have heard constantly since we brought her home "TAKE ME HOME".  And she means it and she will try to go. So we are definitely relying on our FAITH, having a lot of HOPE, and giving Mom all the LOVE we can as well as being showered with a lot of LOVE and prayers by family and friends. God is really getting us through this and he is walking with us every day. I feel like this one is out of my hands completely and I'm thankful it's in God's hands. He is the master at plans and he has a plan for my mom and I've just got to be patient and let it unfold. I just want her to know we are doing everything we can to help her.
I had not had a nights sleep in 5 nights so I'm now trying to get myself caught up in order to be strong to help her.
I will say that it is very hard to see your mom suffer with the confusion and agitation.  The roles have reversed and we are now caregiving to my mom. There is a sweet book about how the roles reverse for a child and parent. I can never read it without bawling my eyes out. 
I feel at peace that my dad would understand and agree to all that we are doing for my mom.  I'm also thankful he does not have to watch my mom go through this. I pray that all the decisions we make are in the best interest of my mom for her safety, health, and happiness. If any of you have every gone through this, I would welcome your advice and encouragement. 

Matthew 28:20 (King James Version)

 ²⁰Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Apron Giveaway

Heather is having an Apron Giveaway!

Click on over and visit her here!

 

To enter the giveaway you have to be a follower of the blog and you need to post about my giveaway on your blog with a link back here.

We will pick a winner on October 22nd!!

~Good Luck ~

 

 

Prayer Requests

I would like to ask for prayers for my Mom.  She is moving home this weekend from being in Texas for 3 months.  We are busy getting her set up into a lovely Senior Assisted Living Facility.  She will have a small apartment that we will be furnishing with things from her home she shared with my Dad. She will have everything she needs and have the opportunity for a wonderful social and active life there.  I am asking for prayers that her Alzheimer's will allow her to stay there a long time and not have to be moved to a different facility AND that the adjustment will be a smooth and positive one for her. My husband and I will meet my sister in OK City to pick her up. I'm planning to stay with her in her new apartment a night or two to help her get adjusted. Thank you so much for your prayers. God is so good and we know that he has a wonderful plan for Mom. We are turning it over to him to guide us in making the best decisions for my Mom.

I also would like to ask prayers for my Aunt's (my mom's sister in law) family.  She was diagnosed (with no previous issues) with liver, lung, and brain cancer 3 weeks ago and passed away this past Saturday. Her funeral is tomorrow and her two sons are deeply saddened and shocked by all of this. 

The past year and a half have been extremely hard on my mom as she has lost her aunt, her brother, her brother in law, her sister, her husband, and now her sister in law. A lot of it she has not completely "grasped" and remembered which may be a good thing.

I will update you and let you know how mom does with her move.

I truly appreciate your prayers so very much. Blessings to all of you.

John 14:12-13 (King James Version)

 ¹²Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
 ¹³And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
  

James 1:5-8 (King James Version)

 ⁵If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
 ⁶But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

Prairie Flower Farm Giveaway

Linda at Prairie Flower Farm is having a giveaway and you don't want to miss out! You will love her blog! She is such a sweet, Christian, tender-hearted, talented lady. God really must smile when he looks at her and sees what he created!   Go see her here!

Sooooooo I just thought we need a party. I am going to give away one of the Create and Decorate Magazine that they sent me............. and I will also make you A Homespun Snowman Cookie in my little kitchen. So lets have some fun! I will close the party on Saturday October 23. So let the party begin!

So to enter just leave me a comment......tell me one of your favorite Cookies that you bake forCHRISTmas.

2. become a subscriber or tell me you already are one

3. become a follower or tell me you already are one

4. become a facebook friend

5 post about the party!

EASY!

I can't wait to see who is going to come to my PARTY! I need some friends to celebrate with me so please sign up.

Whatsoever....

Philippians 4:8 (King James Version)

 ⁸Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Fall:

Pumpkins

Mums

Apples

Pears

Leaves

Candy Corn

Bon Fires with hotdogs and smores

Today these things are on my mind on this beautiful day.  (Walmart was a huge help Saturday in fulfilling most of my wish list!)