Wow, guess what!!

Where these daughters live,

near Jackson, Mississippi,

they're expected to get snowfall

TODAY!!

Their bad weather has grown cold enough

for them to expect snowflurries,

with light accumulation.

I hope they enjoy it as much as I would!
Maybe Austin and Alaina can make a snowman
and send me some snapshots.
And just maybe, their mother
won't have to go to work!!
Send it this way, guys!!

Earlier tonight, I was out on the sidewalk

looking to see if this might be forming.

Yeah, I know.

Crazy, but I love watching severe weather. and then I remembered!

They were talking about the very area

that these people live in! So I called. And woke Jenny up.

To tell her they had a tornado

headed their way.

Then I felt foolish.

She's a grown woman!

With a very protective husband.

Guess a mother always worries.

But I promise Brandon and Jenny,

I'm really really trying.

I had to include this picture

of my brother, Nelson.

Showing off a bass he caught yesterday.

He was so proud.

And Johnny Hood was so envious.

Thank you, Kelly, for such a sweet award and yes, I intend to pass it along. It's a caring world here within our blogging friends and although we do not everyone face to face, we have become dear friends of the heart. I would love to pass this one on~

"These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find, and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers."

The rules: pass along to eight bloggers who are to include the text above and then they pass it onto eight bloggers.

I know I say this A LOT, but there is NO way I could pick just eight of you. So, if you do not have this award, I am tagging you. Please take the award and pass it on to others. I consider each of you my blogging friends and I appreciate you all.

Finally, finally! we have begun decorating for Christmas. I am not ready to post snapshots yet but will in the next few days. We both love this time of the year and will be spending Christmas Day, plus the following three days, in Gatlinburg, Tennessee! Yes, we are too excited. We took Leslie and Jenny up there one Christmas and it snowed! Had our little tree, stockings, gifts, and a very special time together. Of course, that was back in the day when Gatlinburg shut down for Christmas Day. We finally found Big Boy {and early Shoneys} open in Pigeon Forge. Now? Everything is open when you get hungry and the town never sleeps. You'll be seeing snapshots from that trip as well.

On another note, we are under some severe weather watch. No, not snow. Drat. It's been raining here for several hours now and it appears to be in west Alabama at the present time. Sure wish it could become snow before entering our county! {and yes, I'm really hoping that happens!}

Have a beautiful Wednesday and find many moments to laugh~

Merry Christmas!

Jenny took some snapshots

this past weekend for us

and we loved them!

We plan to use a collage for

our 2008 Christmas card.

It's so nice to get free photography

and just buy her lunch.

Where she only ordered a sandwich,

and split the dessert!

Seriously? Thanks a million, Jen.

We loved the time with you

and the photographs!

Not this sugar bowl, but THIS Sugar Bowl,will be the site of the meeting

of the University of Alabama

and the University of Utah.

The Crimson Tide will play the Utah Utes.

Look out New Orleans, here comes The Tide!

Funny names, these university mascots.

BUT,

for your information,

I found the following.

In early newspaper accounts of Alabama football,the team was simply listed as the "varsity" or the "Crimson White" after the school colors.
The first nickname to become popular and used by headline writers was the "Thin Red Line." The nickname was used until 1906.
The name "Crimson Tide" is supposed to have first been used by Hugh Roberts, former sports editor of the Birmingham Age-Herald. He used "Crimson Tide" in describing an Alabama-Auburn game played in Birmingham in 1907, the last football contest between the two schools until 1948 when the series was resumed. The game was played in a sea of mud and Auburn was a heavy favorite to win.
But, evidently, the "Thin Red Line" played a great game in the red mud and held Auburn to a 6-6 tie, thus gaining the name "Crimson Tide." Zipp Newman, former sports editor of the Birmingham News, probably popularized the name more than any other writer.
So there you have it, The Crimson Tide. The Utes? Shoot. You go look that up. I really don't care. {ha ha I crack myself up sometimes}

8 Shows That I Watch
House Hunters
Reba reruns
Still Standing reruns
Late Night with Jay Leno
House
Law & Order, Criminal Intent
The Batchelor/Batchelorette
The Today Show

8 Favorite Restaurants
The Olive Garden
McAllister's
Logan's Roadhouse
Ruby Tuesday
Various Mexican eateries
Marcelle's
3D Dogs
Fanci Free {they have the best salads!}

8 Things I Did This Weekend/Week
Had lunch with Jenny & the boys
Helped out at Cute As A Button
Read Auburn's sorry excuses for dismissing Tubs {I do NOT believe he resigned willingly}
Had dinner with some best girlfriends!
Laughed at Noah and Ian's antics
Sent Alaina some outfits
Went to Nelson's for ribs!
Prayed often for the young families affected by Int'l. Paper's ten-day layoff {and another is coming Dec 20th and will last into January}

8 Things I Look Forward To
Going back to Paradise, and then to Heaven
Taking our daughters & their families to Disney World
A cruise up the Alaskan coastline with dear friends
More grandchildren
Johnny's retirement
Tomorrow, and the day after that, and the . . .
Going back to Paradise and ~ oh, I already said that!

8 Things On My Wish List
Leave this Earth before our daughters & their families
Continued good health
Own a condo in Gatlinburg
Exercise more ~ yeah, right
Buy a 2005 BMW 325i
Eat at home more
For America to return to 'One Nation Under God'
Have an apartment in Brandon, MS

I tag Jenny, Heather, Jennifer, Leigh, and anyone else wanting to think seriously about your hopes and dreams~

Congrats also to the Prattville Lions!

They beat Hoover High this afternoon

to become State 6A Champions!!

Three years in a row!!

Whoo Hoo!!

Still proud of the Tide,
Still proud of their hard work,
Still lovin' the program Saban brought to town!
Roll, Tide, Roll~

You must watch this

and enjoy the return of the Tide!

I cannot wait to see this game

and we are so proud of their hard work!

Roll Tide!!

But for you who revere my name,
the sun of righteousness will rise

with healing in its wings."
Malachi 4:2

FROM THE FATHER'S HEART

My child, in this life you will experience injustice, illness, rejection, misunderstanding, and death. But the time is coming when I, the sun of righteousness, will both rise and de-scend to call My children home. Heaven's healing waits for those who have known and revered Me ~ and a special place in My kingdom. Don't be weary doing good things in My name. Because you have acknowledged My name, I will acknowledge yours.

This was my devotion this morning

and I was comforted.

I hope it brings the same to you, dear friends~

It's Raining, It's Pouring

It was another cold and wet day in central Alabama,

and I loved it!

It was a morning of running a few errands;

talking through one of the dreams

{during that 77-day ICU stay}

with a great Christian counselor;

meeting our youngest daughter, Jenny,

and Ian and Noah for lunch;

helping out at Cute As A Button

for a couple of hours;

and coming home to a warm, candlelit

atmosphere with a smiling, cuddly man.

What an awesome, awesome

day! Thank you, heavenly Father~

You have GOT to go to Melissa Lester's

site and look at how easy it is to make

this beautiful cake plate!

I had the joy and honor of meeting her

this summer at a gathering of bloggers

and she is a delight. And an inspiration.

You need to add her to your list of those

you like to stalk. You'll be glad you did!

Our granddaughter turns three today.

Happy Birthday, Alaina Renae!

We love you very much!!

Having an older brother, she has learned

to get in there and scrap with the best of them.

But she still likes getting dressed up

and primping.

Just like a princess should

Pa & Nan adore you, 'Laina!!!

Sunday began like this. I have blonde hair, but

I looked like this. And it hurt. I wanted this. Really bad.

My throat needed something cold.

But I settled for icy cokes

and this. Then another good shot

to go to sleep last night.

And this morning, I feel better.

But I still want some ice cream.