Family + Food + Fun + Blessings = Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving and now it is back to the routine tomorrow. I was bummed thinking about it being over but then....I realized....we only have 17 school days left this year! YIKES! And then another vacation! BIG SMILE!


So a Countdown to Christmas will go up in my room and I know the days are just going to fly by. 


Hoping your Thanksgiving was fun and relaxing. Can't wait to read about yours!
Here's a glimpse of ours....

Mama to Be had a craving to make sugar cookies!

Auntie D loves her Niece to Be!

Baby Rhea and Daddy do the carving....

Haley Beth made Mama Lace a shirt!

The girls in our aprons....

It takes us a while to get a picture! Way too much silliness!

Mama and Daddy To Be

 

And NO we didn't do Black Friday....too tired! How about you? Any great bargains?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Over the River and
Through the Woods


Over the river and thru the wood,
To grandfather's house we go;
The horse knows the way
To carry the sleigh,
Thru the white and drifted snow, oh!
Over the river and thru the wood,
Oh, how the wind does blow!
It stings the toes,
And bites the nose,
As over the ground we go.

Over the river and thru the wood,
To have a first-rate play;
Oh, hear the bell ring,
"Ting-a-ling-ling!"
Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day-ay!
Over the river and thru the wood,
Trot fast my dapple gray!
Spring over the ground,
Like a hunting hound!
For this is Thanksgiving Day.

Blessings to you and your family on this special holiday. It is truly a time of  "THANKSgiving" for all the wonderful blessings that God bestows on us every day.  

Most of All Thanksgiving Day brings to mind
the blessings in our lives
that usually go unnoticed:
a home that surrounds us
with comfort and protection;
delicious food, for pleasure
in both eating and sharing;
clothes to snuggle up in,
books and good entertainment
to expand our minds;
and freedom to worship our God.
Most of all we are thankful
for our family and friends,
those treasured people
who make our lives extra special.
You are part of that cherished group.
On Thanksgiving, (and every day)
we appreciate you. Happy Thanksgiving! By Joanna Fuchs  

Ephesians 5:20

King James Version (KJV)

 ²⁰Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

A Little of This....A Little of That!

 The book of James in the Bible is one of my favorite....I can understand the simplicity of the words and yet they are powerful. Whenever I am in "need", I am drawn to this book. 

James .... Chapter 1...
 ¹James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
 ²My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
 ³Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
 ⁴But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
 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.
 ⁷For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.


  The trying of my faith worketh patience.....Amen! Though my faith MAY be tried, it will NOT be stolen by Satan!
I had a few weeks this Fall where I walked to school many days and recited this verse over and over ALOUD!

My #2 Daughter and Son in Law to be are in the midst of "wedding decisions and planning". They are trying to decide the whens and wheres! So exciting! We had a fun afternoon a week ago to do just preliminary "dress trying on". NO pressures, NO decisions....just pure fun! And she looked gorgeous in every one!




Darb had a fun "informal" dance a few weeks ago.....It was famous couples! She and her date went as Marilyn Monroe and Joe Dimaggio. They got 3rd place in best costume! I told her her mole wasn't drawn on big enough and her hair wasn't white enough! HA!

It has suddenly felt like winter is upon us. Fall is leaving us and the frosty mornings and chilly evenings are upon us. The furnace is on, the wood will start burning in the fireplace. We have not had any flurries yet....which I'm happy about but if they do start....I hope we get enough for SCHOOL TO BE CANCELLED! 

I have 3 more days of work and then get Thanksgiving Break. I really enjoy the simplicity of the holiday as it's all about blessings, thanks, family, and food! 

We have projects on the agenda for our days off.  Hubby and I are Landlord/Landlady in our second job/life! We own rental properties and they keep us quite busy. TOO BUSY actually! If the economy ever recovers, they will be a blessing....but right now we are just happy to have them rented. 

Also on the upcoming agenda is new carpet in the upstairs level. Big sigh just thinking about what that will involve...moving furniture, pulling up old, putting down new, moving furniture....ughhhhh! But I've got to get my guest room/NURSERY ready for that new pink bundle that is on the way! She is growing like a little weed (Baby....not Momma!). I get to feel her kick and squirm and wiggle in her momma's tummy....she is right on schedule for her ETA (February 13). Lace is looking so cute with her little belly. They are working on their nursery and it's going to be so cute. I'll share pics when it's done.

Last weekend, R and I got away for a quick weekend. It was buffer week for sports. R was done with football and getting ready for basketball. So we took a fun relaxing weekend down to Branson, MO. It was Veteran's Day weekend so not so sure "relaxing" was the word! The town was packed! We had fun though and shopped and ate alot! Weather was awesome! 

And so now we begin the winter season activities and holidays! I'm one of those people that has to get Thanksgiving over before I can think or decorate for Christmas....so my house is still orange, green, red, yellow, and brown! The fall candle scents are still burning ... but after Thanksgiving....the Christmas music comes alive and the pine scents will be lit! 

And here is the million dollar question from me to you......

ARE YOU READY FOR THE HOLIDAYS TO BEGIN????????

I can't wait to hear all your plans for the upcoming holidays!  

Please 

please 

please don't tell me you have your Christmas shopping done!!!!!!!!!

Trick or Treat!

Another Halloween has been survived! My husband's side of the family has celebrated at Grandma and Grandpa's house for YEARS. Our idea of Halloween is eating, talking, watching the kiddos in their costumes, and eating more! It's more of a family fellowship time than anything! Tonight there were around 24 of us...a house full....but also very empty as Grandpa was not there. Each and every one of us felt him being there, but his physical presence was very missed. 

It's so hard when you lose such a patriarch of a family. We have wonderful memories in our hearts and tons of pictures but it's still hard. The holidays will be tough....but this is a wonderful, close, loving family that I feel blessed to be a part of. Here are a few snapshots of a fun evening together.

My sis in law and I usually sit on couch and just talk all night! She always dresses up so cute!

 My great nephew...he was a jockey!

 A great group of kiddos!

 Lacey and my niece who was Mini Daisy Duke!

 Darb and Roscoe!

 The newest member of our family.....Sayge...my great niece....she was the most adorable ghost!

 Grandma and 2 of her grandbabies!

I must say, I am happy to survive another year at school with Halloween parties. WHEW! I felt like I was on the wagon holding the reins of 19 very excited horses ready to run! Their desks, my desk, and their bellies were FULL of sugar! I did good....I ate a salad for lunch! But when evening came....I hit the buckets of candy!

Bargainmania!!!!!!!

I'm a sucker for a bargain! 

I'm a clearance shopper/coupon user/sale consumer! 
I love thrift stores,

flea markets, 

and garage sales! 

And I love love love to come home and share my "bargain" with the fam! They don't seem to get as excited as I do! 
Last Saturday, #2 daughter and I were going to Saturday Surplus and the flea markets for therapy. As we were driving, I saw a garage sale of a friend who I had her daughter in 3rd grade. She has since had another daughter and so was selling her baby clothes! I did a "slamonthebrakes" and pulled in!

It was a beautiful day and so Haley and I sat on the concrete driveway and went through TUBS of baby GIRL clothes! Excellent condition...very gently worn!!  Oh joy to my heart! It was so fun and after much time had passed... the infamous line used in our family came rolling out of Haley's mouth....

"MOM you are out of control!"

So I took a deep breath and stopped! But I could of done more damage! 

Here are some pictures of my adorable goodies I got for my granddaughter-to-be! 

Now I want you to guess what I paid for all these! (That's the game I like to play at my house!) And I'll let you know at the end of the pictures! 

And the grand total......

$21.70

A sidenote....I'm fascinated by "Extreme Couponers"! I would love to have the time to learn to be one! What an awesome feeling to go to the grocery store and spend pennies for such an enormous amount of goods in so many carts. Does anyone do that or do you know the trick to it? It seems like for sure you have to go to a grocery store that doubles coupons.

Sugar and spice
and everything nice
that's what little girls are made of

Sunshine and rainbows
and ribbons for hair bows
that's what little girls are made of

Tea parties, laces
and baby doll faces
that's what little girls are made of.

Well, it's official!  2 sonograms later....

1st sono was a little iffy...she didn't want to provide the best angle for viewing so it was not a 100% confirmation....but after a 2nd viewing this week, we will be blessed with a little Granddaughter! YIPPEE! Grandpa was pretty excited! He's a pro at little girls! 

Grandma T was holding off....restraining myself to buy anything pink or blue until confirmed....

but now....

look out...

because I've got lots of pink, bows, tutus, ruffles to buy. 

Her momma has the nursery all planned and it will be adorable. 

Lace is doing very well and has really just starting showing. Her belly is getting so cute! Her 20 Kindergarteners love to give the baby hugs as well as Auntie D and Auntie H. 

February 13th is arrival day....but wouldn't a day late be so fun?  Pink and Red for sure that day!

 We are so excited for her to get here....

I get to put up my crib and changing table that Daddy and I bought for our first born and all 4 of my babies used.  I've been stocking up on diapers and wipies.

I have a framed poem in my house that says

"Our family is a circle of strength and love, with every birth and every union, the circle will grow, every joy shared adds more love, every crisis faced together, makes the circle stronger." 

 

That pretty much sums it up, huh? I'm betting that all of you out there that have already experienced the joy of Grandparenthood will say that it's pretty good, pretty fun, and pretty fulfilling.

 

I keep getting told that "there's nothing like it."  

 

I've already been praying for this little darling....for so many things....but most of all that she will love God and know Jesus. I'm excited for her to go to Sunday School, to learn "Jesus Loves Me" for the first time, to fold her little hands and pray, and to have a little Bible all her own.

I know her Momma and Daddy will bring her up "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."   Ephesians 6:4

 All Grandparenting advice is welcome! 

 

 

How about those Wildcats??

Note....I just found this post...I had it all typed up and forgot to hit PUBLISH! Yes...it's true....I'm forgetful...! 

Football is in full force around this house.....And since 2 of our daughters and 1 son in law went to K State....we love those Wildcats!  I think daughter #3 has sights on KSU as well. We went to the game October 2nd and had a great time. As of today...they are unbeaten!