Baby It's Cold Outside

I Hope everyone had a good weekend! We sure did! It has been RIDICULOUSLY cold here with temps in the teens and wind chills even lower than that!! On Saturday we went and did a College Campus Tour and the WIND was BRUTAL!! (OK, I know some of you are SNOWED UNDER, so I will quit complaining!) I can just feel the excitement in Jenna as she looks towards her future. Wasn't it just yesterday I was bringing that sweet baby home from the hospital?

I have been able to sign up & be accepted for a couple of MyBlogSparks and am sooo excited about the prize packages! I will be posting the info. in the week ahead! You will have to come and see the commercials we have been making!!! You can see our silly side ;)

Just one more week of school and then it is CHRISTMAS BREAK!! WOOHOO :) This week will be full of finals for the kids and for me it means finalizing everything so that when they are out, we can focus on all things CHRISTMAS


This weekend will be our Rylees 2nd Birthday! Holy Smokes! I am thinking the title of this post should read "Where has the time gone?" My Baby Brother turns 40 this Friday! Man....HE'S OLD!!! ;) If you were wondering ~ No, we aren't doing anything special for him! No, I am not planning ANYTHING for him AT ALL! Shhh, don't tell him ok!

Well, I hope you all have a blessed Monday and week ahead! Remember to share the Gift of who you are with those around you as
JESUS shines in you! Love you ALL!

Spiritual Sundays

HIS Humble Birth

Tenderly she held her Baby,
And looked at Him with love.
Her heart was filled with wonderment,
about her Christ child from above.

This truly was the Son of God
was what the Angel told.
Her tiny Baby full of grace,
such a wonder to behold.

She thought of what His life would bring,
He was born to set us free.
But she only saw her infant Son,
As a Mothers love would see.

The shepherds came, the wise men too,
To praise His Holy name.
She sat in awe, and held her Child,
While those to worship came.

She must have wondered why God's Son
was born to her this day.
She wanted so much to be worthy,
as she bowed her head to pray.

Mary wrapped her robe a little closer,
around her new born Son.
The chill of this old stable,
must not touch the chosen one.

It was a humble birth,
But a King was born that day.
He came to pay the price for us,
and wash our sins away.



Christmas poem "His Humble Birth"
written by, Verna Parks.

Have a blessed weekend ~ I love you all! Thank you Charlotte and Ginger for sharing Spiritual Sundays with us each and every week! Join in Here with us, won't you?

TGIF

Wow! This week went sooo quickly! I seriously can't believe it is FRIDAY ALREADY!! Can you?? I am so glad our FF Leader is back with us! If you want to join in and spread the laughter head on over to KIM'S @ Homesteaders Heart! She would love to have you!

This week my Stepdaughter sent me these adorable sayings from precious little innocent, inquisitive children! They Just made me laugh and hope you will too! Have a blessed Friday and weekend too!



JACK (age 3) was watching his Mom breast-feeding his new baby sister.
After a while he asked: "Mom why have you got two? Is one for hot and one
for cold milk?"


MELANIE (age 5) asked her Granny how old she was. Granny replied she was
so old she didn't remember any more. Melanie said, "If you don't
remember you must look in the back of your panties. Mine say five to six"

STEVEN (age 3) hugged and kissed his Mom good night. "I love you so
much that when you die I'm going to bury you outside my bedroom
window."


BRITTANY (age 4) had an earache and wanted a pain killer. She tried in
vain to take the lid off the bottle. Seeing her frustration, her Mom explained
it was a child-proof cap and she'd have to open it for her. Eyes wide with
wonder, the little girl asked: "How does it know it's me?"

DJ (age 4) stepped onto the bathroom scale and asked: "How much do I
cost?"

MARC (age 4) was engrossed in a young couple that were hugging and kissing
in a restaurant. Without taking his eyes off them, he asked his dad: "Why
is he whispering in her mouth?"

JAMES (age 4) was listening to a Bible story. His dad read :
"The man named Lot was warned to take his wife and flee out of the
city but his wife looked back and was turned to salt." Concerned, James
asked: "What happened to the flea?"

TAMMY(age 4) was with her mother when they met an elderly, rather wrinkled
woman her Mom knew. Tammy looked at her for a while and then asked, "Why
doesn't your skin fit your face?"


The Sermon I think this Mom will never forget this particular Sunday
sermon...

"Dear Lord," the minister began, with arms extended toward
heaven and a rapturous look on his upturned face. "Without you, we are but
dust..."
He would have continued but at that moment my very obedient daughter who
was listening leaned over to me and asked quite audibly in her shrill little
four year old girl voice, "Mom, what is butt dust?"

JOY ♥

It's that JOY filled day of the week and Angel is our host so join in and help spread some JOY

I am filled with JOY because I can listen to Christmas Music whenever I want to! I just L♥VE Christmas Music don't you?!?!?

I am filled with JOY because we will be going to visit a college campus with jenna this weekend :) OK. I might be forcing the JOY on this one ...just a tad....you know, saying it through clenched teeth ~ I kid I kid! I'm so happy for her and know the Lord will show us right where HE wants to her be!

I am filled with JOY because during church this week the Lord revealed some things to us as a family and I KNOW HE will be Faithful to walk us through them!! Praise HIM!!

I am filled with JOY because I think I have a list for all the gifts I will be purchasing ~ Now, all that's left is the shopping and the wrapping!

I am filled with JOY because our Sweet Rylee came and spent the night with us last night!
She crawled under our tree :) I think she's the best gift God could have given us for sure!!



May you all have a JOYfilled day! Enjoy this quick video of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir as they sing JOY TO THE WORLD!


May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

This and That Tuesday

There are NINETEEN shopping days left People! 19 ~ ONE NINE Are you ready? Have you got them wrapped and under the tree? Can you hear the panic in my typing??? ;) If so, You are correct-a-mundo! Cause' I am NOT done let alone have anything wrapped!!!

This week we will attending our daughter, Jenna's, Senior Football Banquet. It is quite the big deal! All the players and trainers will be honored. Everyone gets all dressed up and we are served a very nice meal! The kids are given an awesome poster size photo or collage of some of the best shots of the year. It will be an exciting night for all of them and most likely a tearful one for all the parents!

At Physical Therapy yesterday I had my first progress note. I am sooo happy to report I am doing awesome in my range of motion. I haven't been able to do any strength rebuilding but as of today that will all change! GULP I am so very thankful to be able to do Physical Therapy and let me just tell you ~ the staff are the most wonderful group of People. EVER!! They all just bring me so much Joy even if they also inflict pain at the same time ;)

As long as I have been married to Brian (20 years now) we have had a dog in our home. I realized just recently that every one of the dogs was male. January of this year we got a new boxer and HER name is Maggie. Well......Maggie has become a woman. LOL. Well, what I mean is she is in heat for the first time!! Let me tell you she is HUMILIATED to wear these diapers! She is one whiney dog and looks as pitiful as I've ever seen a dog look. Any of you have some advice? I am really not experienced in this LOL

I am sharing an awesome review today on my book blog! You should go check it out.....GET IT???.... check it out!?!?!? LOL It is a book Titled "A Path Less Traveled" by Cathy Bryant. She is a precious woman of God and one of my new favorite authors for sure!


Today is the first forecast with a mention of snow in it!!! I doubt it comes but even if so....as they say in our State "If you don't like the weather, Hang on for about 15 minutes, it will surely change!" That is about right on because later in the week we are almost in the 60's again!

Remember the REASON for the SEASON
My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn't know the first thing about God, because God is love—so you can't know him if you don't love. This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they've done to our relationship with God.
The Message (MSG)
1 John 4 : 9-10

Christmas in Heaven

Over this past week, I feel as if I experienced every single emotion known to woman. Not feeling well was not helping in my mind set but I also know that so much of it was that this time last year my brother and I were boarding a plane to see our Daddy who was suffering with Stage 4 lung cancer. Honestly, neither one of us knew how bad it was until we saw him. The healthy (on the outside) man I had left just 2 months prior was barely skin and bones. It took everything in me not to just crumble when I saw him lying in his bed. As I laid my head on his chest to give him a hug, yet he made a grunt of sorts, it was then I realized that even my head was to heavy for him to hold. My daddy. My strong daddy was no longer strong.

Our days and nights over the next few weeks were filled with late night emergency rooms trips or regular appointments to receive fluids but as time went on nothing was working. Daddy's body was filled with the horrible cancer and he was getting tired. It became more and more obvious that our time with Daddy was ending. I was a constant by Daddys side, wanting to do whatever it was he needed. Drink, pull the covers tighter, blot his lips from being so dry, you name it, I just wanted to help him.

It was early summer 2 yrs. ago when we heard of Daddy's diagnosis. Lung Cancer. How did this happen? He hadn't smoked in 32 years. He hadn't done anything to speak of except take amazing care of his body. He was a runner. He watched what he ate. He took vitamins like crazy and would never take anything hardly except an aspirin and vitamin c tablets when sick. On the outside he was amazingly fit and healthy. But it was the inside that I knew needed to be healthy. I was a fairly new blogger when I heard of Dads diagnosis. It was at this time that I learned of the hearts of those that the Lord had connected me with. So many of you all prayed for Salvation for him. Sooo many of you covered us in prayer.

As I sit hear and reflect on those days with tears and with joy I can still recall the moment in which I heard daddy tell me he had asked Jesus to be his Lord and Saviour as he took my hand in his and woke up as clear as anything. It was such a gift and such of time of rejoicing. Angels were rejoicing as were all of those who had whispered a prayer on behalf of my Dad.


The Holidays are difficult to get through when you are missing your loved ones. I have read soooo many who have shared their sadness or their difficulty because they too have experienced a loss during this month. It doesn't matter when we lose them, it is not having them with us each and everyday that hurts.

I pray for all of those who are hurting and going through a difficult time. Please know that the Lord WILL Strengthen you, HE WILL Comfort you, and pour HIS Love over you as only a Father can. His HOPE carries me through the difficult moments, and sometimes it takes the whole day but the Lord reminds me that one day we will be together again.


Christmas in Heaven

I see the countless CHRISTMAS TREES around the world below
with tiny lights like HEAVEN’S STARS reflecting on the snow.

The sight is so SPECTACULAR please wipe away that tear
for I am spending CHRISTMAS WITH JESUS CHRIST this year.

I hear the many CHRISTMAS SONGS that people hold so dear
but the SOUND OF MUSIC can't compare with the CHRISTMAS CHOIR up here.

I have no words to tell you of the JOY their voices bring
for it is beyond description to HEAR THE ANGELS SING.

I know HOW MUCH YOU MISS ME, I see the pain inside your heart
for I am spending CHRISTMAS WITH JESUS CHRIST this year.

I can't tell you of the SPLENDOR or the PEACE here in this place
Can you just imagine CHRISTMAS WITH OUR SAVIOR face to face

I'll ask him to LIFT YOUR SPIRIT as I tell him of your love
so then PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER as you lift your eyes above.

Please let your HEARTS BE JOYFUL and let your SPIRIT SING
for I am spending CHRISTMAS IN HEAVEN and I’m walking WITH THE KING.

~ by Wanda White



I ♥ you all!

TGIF

It's Friday! Time for some laughs! Our Friday Funny Queen is in the midst of moving so there is no mclinky today but I know she would want us all to still share some funnies with you!! She also wouldn't mind prayers for this move! It has been quite the ordeal but she has praised God all the way through!

Have you all seen the hilarious Target commercials lately! OMG I love them! Here is one of my favorites!! I bet this lady is a hoot to be around! She is soo stinkin funnneee!


Happy Friday you guys! Love to you all XOXO

The Crud got me

I wish I could say I disappeared from blog land because I was.... oh ..... say, shopping or taking a mini vacation ~ You know, something FUN! But no, I have been in B.E.D. coughing, aching, stuffyhead, fever kind of stuff. When my DH had to go out of town this morning I knew I better get into the DR. so that I could be amongst the living LOL and take care of the kids. Man, I am glad I did. Found out I have double ear infection and the beginning of bronchitis..... can you say YUCK!! He put me on my all time favorite drug....Prednisone. You know how I love being on STEROIDS!!! NOT and a strong antibiotic and I am praying it kicks in because I am suppose to begin Christmas shopping with my Mom tomorrow!!

While I sat in the waiting room coughing with all the other sick people in my little town I saw this clip on the TV. The Rachael Ray show was on and I just love her but she shared the newest YouTube Phenomenon video. It was quite entertaining and I thought I would share it with you all since you might have missed it ;)





I hope everyone is having a blessed week ~

O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever!

1 Chronicles 16:34

Homemade Lotion Recipe

The chilly winter dry air is here and with it comes dry itchy skin...well, at least for me it does. How about you?? I have tried numerous lotions or bath oils but I have yet to find anything that stopped the itching UNTIL..... one day at lunch with my girlfriends last year we started talking about how bad our skin was and my friend Connie spoke up saying she had a homemade recipe for a lotion that her mother swore by! Well, I had to give it a try and let me tell you I am hooked! One of the best things about it is that you can customize it somewhat to your liking!

The ingredients are as follows:

2 -15 oz baby lotion
1 - 8 oz vaseline
2 - 8 oz vitamin e cream Note: I could only find this in 4 oz. jars so I got 4 of them


The Ingredient containers below:


4 of these "Fruit of the Earth" Vitamin E cream (I found this at Walmart in the Beauty section)



2 bottles of Baby Lotion (here is where you can customize it for YOU! Choose the smell you like best! If you haven't shopped for baby lotion lately you will be soo surprised at all the different choices! I chose the Shea Butter but also loved the Lavender as well)


You only need 8 oz. of vaseline so I bought the larger size and just kind of guess how much 8 oz. is since it's cheaper than buying the smaller size jars.



Also, If you have a lotion that you just love add some of that in as well. I add in some coconut vanilla shea butter from Bath&Body just because I love the smell)

Pour all the ingredients into mixing bowl and blend with mixer until all is blended well. I use the Vitamin E jars and fill them up with the new lotion and also bought containers to store the lotion in. This makes a great gift so you may want to get some cute containers (air tight of course) for giving.

Note: This makes alot of lotion so if you want to make sure you like it then modify accordingly. either cut the ingredients in half or even cut it into 1/4's.

The lotion is light and doesn't leave a film or feel like you just put lotion on at all. My husband hates that feeling and he loves this lotion! So ladies there you go! I have to include my dear friend Clif as well since he so kindly made me aware that men could benefit from this lotion as well! ;) I just love him and love that he keeps me on my toes!!

Turkey Talk

I pray everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving! Are your leftovers gone yet?? Did the tryptophan put you on the couch LOL?

We had such a Peace-filled Thanksgiving and we were sooo excited that our oldest daughter and husband along with our Precious Rylee were able to come and spend the evening with us! A rare treat indeed. For the past 10 years or so we are out of town with my Mom and Stepdad and so it was just wonderful having them join us. Sitting around our table and sharing Thanks was just so very special. I know you all are dying to know if I made a turkey LOL well.....my DH grilled a turkey tenderloin ~ Does that count ;)??
It was delicious and of course we had all the fabulous sides. We were stuffed!

The rest of the weekend we spent decorating for Christmas. Our lights went up outside and look fabulous! I Just LOVE having our house lit up. I am figuring out that I get that from my Daddy. I remember this time last year when my brother and I boarded a plane to Florida to see Daddy. When we arrived at his house it was like a winter wonderland and I have NEVER seen so many lights! I am so glad Daddy was able to see his lights up before he passed. I remember pushing him outside in the wheelchair and just seeing his face light up and that smile! Daddy had such a beautiful smile!! That moment was such a gift!

What about you guys? Did you get your Christmas decorating started? Tree up? I really can't even believe this week starts December!! It's just amazing how quickly this year has flown isn't it!?!

On Sunday I put up a Facebook Status that I was making my Winter Lotion and some asked if I would share the recipe ....so come back tomorrow if you're interested or if you suffer from dry itchy winter skin!!