Winter In the South

i love winter. won't make any bones about it. it's a time of rest. reflection. hot chocolate and a fire in the fireplace. a time to slow down. soft talks at night. soup and crusty bread. endless cups of coffee with various creamers for the holidays. it's my favorite time of the year. always has been.

cardinals. my favorite bird. especially the males with their colorful red in a white world with green hollies in bloom. they remind, and i know not why, of being messengers. they turn up to make one smile. they seem to know when you need to see them. could they be sent to make us remember better times, loved ones no longer here, eternity that will be filled with peace. watch for them. they come when they sense a need. truly. as do dragonflies. but that's another story.

walking on a bridge in a snowy wonderland. romantic. i wonder how many engagements have taken place here? how many have expressed love here? how quiet the snow makes our world. it blankets out loudness, animals settle in to hibernate and sleep. daily outside noise vanishes. all lies dormant. beautifully so.

 i know not where this is other than a street my heart takes me to in my dreams. belgium? rome? paris, oslo? i pray that he will show me these places in my dreams once this life is over and there's beauty i still haven't seen. i wonder, do the people who walk these streets wish to walk the streets here? hmmm ~ 

 sadness. so much sadness. 84 deaths and counting just in our state alone. from flu and flu related illnesses. death is no respecter of persons. we've lost family, friends and oh, we've lost our young. those that die with our dreams. this year has been a terrible one with this illness that takes us to such sickness.

our youngest and her family. just prior to going to look at the christmas lights in the town, suburbs and various areas that still love to decorate and set out luminaries. i miss that as our current home is in a suburb that doesn't but oh, we've lived where they do. and it's not only beautiful but brings us back to the heart of christmas with the lighting of a candle. a star.

It's Almost Easter

Our youngest daughter and her family will be celebrating Easter tomorrow with the congregation where her father in law ministers. It's a sweet country locale and the members are all kin on someones side of the family. They get so excited when the little ones 'come home' to hide the eggs and eat 'dinner on the grounds'.  The photos taken there have become a precious time I look forward to each year. Others will be traveling this weekend to celebrate with various members of their family. I pray you all arrive safely and enjoy your time worshiping  with loved ones & taking delight in watching the little ones hunt eggs. 

It's Halloween ~ Over the Years

Let's start with our MS babies ~

I've tried to gather as many as I could find

on their mommy's FB albums

and those I've been able to get.

Toward the end, I'm guessing they are in order  {wink font}

Alaina's first Halloween :)

I love love love that look on her face!

You can tell who likes to be a Princess!

Here they are now ~ 2012

The Princess and her Ninja Warrior

Now, let's move to the Alabama babies~

And again, I'm guessing at the order.

Ian's first Halloween,

Can't have been that long ago.

Right?! 

We were out eating and Ian found a friend. 

A favorite of mine. Snuggle that little Noah!

Indiana Jones, with whip no less!

A cute golfer.

 

Then a little sister came along!

Worn out, ready for home ~

I seem to be missing a year here,

for this is 2012. I'm missing 2011.

There's also a photo I just LOVE

where the boys are leaning against a wall

downtown and Noah is giving Ian the LOOK.

Jenny, if you have that, I'd love a copy of it

to frame for the Halloween sets.

So, how was your Halloween!

Moving Up a Grade or Watching Babies Grow

Tonight we went to watch Noah's end of year program for K3. It was cute, he sang out loud, the antics of the young ones was funny, but let me tell you, it was LLOONNGG.  Like an hour and a half long, and you're reading this written by someone that has a difficult time sitting still for thirty minutes. Ask my sweetheart. He's forever nudging me in worship, to sit still, quit fidgeting, quit asking him what time it is. I'm horrid. Love the lessons that are short, with lots of songs of praise and where we can stand up to sing {grin font}

See Miss Elle? She loves loves loves purses and loves looking to see what's in them, like Nan's earbuds. I accidentally grabbed the bag I take to the fitness center, so there was very little in there to attract her attention tonight. She likes to find a compact, some lipstick, a cell phone, you know, girl's 'stuff'. 

And no, we did NOT write on the walls at McAlister's. I just like playing with my Piknic on the Flickr site. It also lets you know why we've gathered at 8 PM. Yeah, long program. Miss Elle is on her way down to get to the purse again. We had such fun together and didn't get a photo of Brandon and Jenny. They sat at the table across from us, looking tired but happy. Happy but tired. I thought it was a neat idea of Jen's to let us sit with the little ones. Then it was out to the car for a few gifts, some ooh's and aah's. When I told Ian we had him a gift and he immediately said, "I hope it's Lego's!"  I told him no, that his mother hadn't told me to get Lego's, to which he answered, "Well, anytime you want to get me something just make it Lego's, whatever momma says." {Ian has loved Lego's from the time he could hold those fat ones. You know, the baby Lego's? He would build towers with his daddy that were taller than he was and then gleefully knock it down. Now he's into very intricate models and tiny pieces. That's why there's a baby gate at the door of his room.  Little Elle has to stand there and watch he and Noah play with the Lego's. It's funny seeing her stand there stretching to see what they're doing. Sick humor, I know, but funny}. 

As I said it was late and I believe Ian was watching Noah play with the glow stick they used in the program. This was before the food. Notice the rather clean table. Afterwards, it wasn't so clean but the food was delicious and Ian ate so much so fast he got a tummy ache. Our g'babies are growing so quickly. Austin will be a third grader next year and Alaina will go into Kindergarten. Dry the tears in my heart. They are beautiful, well minded, talented and bright children. Their parents are very involved with setting a good foundation of love for the King, love for family, and a zest and curiosity for life. I'm very proud of them. Now to just get in as many snuggles as I can; carry them as long as possible across a parking lot; and rock them for naps until they become so involved with life that I'll have to travel to where they are to see them. It happens you know. In the wink of an eye. Like the song, Turn Around, Turn Around with Danny Kay. They are grown and gone so soon.  Okay, enough maudlin, have a great weekend and may the rain bring the heat level down!

Feature Friday!

CasaSugar has some great tips on prepping your home for resale. We have moved a few times in our life together and never had a problem selling any of them (and getting a bit more than market price on a few!). It is extremely important to 'stage' your home and I cannot impress that upon you enough. Now is the time to put away family photos, put bulky furniture in storage, and get rid of the heavy drapes! HGTV has several shows that will not only give you ideas but will help you sell your home quickly and get the necessary money you need. I loved staging ours. A quick sell means we're looking for another to decorate and move into. For a bit. Until I get the urge again. Poor hubby. He's a patient man.

I loved what Melissa at The Inspired Room had to say about melding our feminine side with that of our masculine others. Her article You Anchor Me Back Down is heart warming and filled with photos that bring her post to life. I'm sure from there you'll want to explore the rest of her site as well!

One of the sites I frequent always makes me go, "Oh!".  Kristen is very talented, not only with decorating her home but she has an Etsy shop as well and sells the most precious deocrated framed and photo books. She has been taking us along with her on the renovation of her kitchen and it's finished now! You can see her choices and the completed project here. Kristen's Creations is a beautiful blog.

No one, that I know of, throws a party like Melissa Lester, at A little Loveliness. She's a local writer, author, and party planner that thrills the senses with not only her ideas and photos but she includes the recipes! Some are new and tweaked by her, some have been passed down for generations. Her site? A total feast. Believe me. It's one of those sites you'll go back to again and again. And again.

I worked at a children's boutique for a bit once and we sold birthday hats for almost $25. I've seen them for $20, but you won't spend anywhere near that kind of money and still have a beautiful hat for that little special someone. Jones Design & Co have a tutorial on making these and it's too easy. Then embellish to your heart's content. And yes, you can do this!

Heartstrings is another site of mine, where my hands lead when my heart is filled and running over. It's a quiet site, and I feel uplifted and refreshed each time I visit. Or add to it. I hope you enjoy it, as well.

Our daughter's blog is about a busy mommy with day to day problems, giggles, and hugs. There are bad days, great days, and some things overheard and noticed. If you're a young mother, click over to Jenny's spot and see if you can find yourself in her life. If you're a grandmother like me, it will bring memories to your heart and wishing that just for one day, they could be small again. With hugs, and bright eyes.

And for something fun to end with on a Friday, I'm joining up with Only Prettier. After you read mine, go to her site and link up yourself! And have a beautiful, blessed weekend ~

1. Can you drive a stick shift? ONLY if I have to!

2. What are two foods you just can't eat? Ugh, mincemeat and rutubagars

3) Do you buy Girl Scout cookies and your favorite? We don't anymore, but I loved the chocolate with peanut butter things. I could totally eat a box with some sweetened icy tea!

4) How do you pamper yourself? When no one's home, and no appointments, I sleep in. As late as my widdle body feels like it! And I don't feel guilty about it either!

5) What is your nickname and how did you get it? Sweetheart to him, momma to them, Nan to the g'babies, Princess and/or Sunshine to my daddy, and Mrs. Hood to my students.