Christmas 2007

Last night before the fun began!!

We had fun eating, opening presents, and just enjoying each other's company. My children did it all. The planning, the cooking, the fun - all was provided by them. All I had to do was sit on the couch and laugh! The best Christmas ever!! I think we have started a new tradition! LOL (or not?)

This worked out so well since my mom was taken to the hospital the same day as the party. She is better and back home tonight. Thanking my LORD for all of his blessings!!

Update Addie

Addie has added to her blog today!!

It's Christmas!

MARY DID YOU KNOW?


Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water?
Mary did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters?

Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you.

Mary did you know that your baby boy would give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know that your baby boy would calm a storm with his hand?

Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God.

Oh Mary did you know
The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will live again.
The lame will leap, the mute will speak, the praises of the lamb.

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations?

Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding is the great I am.
(copied)

Fill 'er Up

Just wanted to show you one of my old tricks. Brown paper lunch bags stamped with a green bingo marker in the shape of a Christmas Tree.

If I had red paint I would have put a few red dots here and there to look like ornaments. Since I didn't have any red paint on hand today, I just cut up Christmas Seals and stuck the pieces here and there on the tree. After filling, I fold over the top and close with red ribbon pushed through two holes and tie the bow.

Merry Christmas !!

My Card, Mine, Mine, Mine!!

Today I found these cards in the dollar store. You know I had to have them. This is my blog name! How wonderful is this? Eight cards in a drawstring bag for $1.00.

Addie/Scott Update

Addie's having trouble getting to her blog. My aunt forwarded her email on. She's doing fine, but missing her husband, family and dog. There were a bunch of pictures attached but I'm only putting up her tree picture. Maybe she will get a chance to post on her own blog and might use these same pictures.

No pictures from Scott. (Well, I did get the baby with Santa picture) I talked with his dad recently. He said Scott is very busy. He is missing his wife and baby. He thinks he will get his break to come home about the time his son reaches his first birthday.

No word from Justin at this time. He left around the 12th of December. Please continue to pray for our troops all over the world. Thanks!!

Let's Talk

ABOUT SCHOOL VIOLENCE

In our paper today on the front page there is an article about a stabbing at the Middle School (grades 5-8)in our little town. They are saying an eighth grade girl (age 15) went across the hall into a sixth grade room and stabbed a girl (age 15) with a 10-inch kitchen knife. The sixth grader is in the hospital and the eighth grader is being held in an area juvenile detention center.

Our question is what are 15 year old girls doing in sixth and eighth grades?

Friday Sky Watch

Thursday's Sunset

Long Shadows

The shadows are getting longer and the nights are coming faster. This picture was taken about 3 p.m. on Monday. My side of the road is already in shadows. Across the fields the sun is shining. The crops have been gathered and I can now see my far neighbor's home.

In the woods the trees are casting their long shadows. Notice how the goats have cleaned up the underbrush in this area.

I love living out in the country. It is nice and peaceful out in our neck of the woods!!

Meet Our Grown-Up Kids

Actually the title is misleading. These are my husbands kids all grown up. I had nothing to do with these kids. LOL. This was taken yesterday afternoon. They had come up out of the woods and were looking for supper.

Some of these nannies are almost ready to deliver new kids. When the little ones get here I will try to post some pictures. I actually think the little kids are cute!

We are having another beautiful December day. Shorts weather outside. I feel so bad for the people in the middle of the country suffering with all the ice and power shortages.

Best Time of the Year

My mailman comes very late. Sometimes after 5 p.m. But not today. He was here about 3 p.m. I love going to the mailbox this time of the year. Christmas Cards !!!

And this is the one I got today from my granddaughter. She is getting married on Dec. 20th. Troy is going to be her husband. May they have many wonderful Christmases together!!!

Today is such a beautiful Decmeber day. It does not feel like Christmas. Our Temps are in the 70's today.

Friday Sky Watch

Today has been a gray day! We had a few sprinkles this morning. Counties not far from us had ice/sleet this morning. This was taken of the western sky about 3 p.m. and the temp was 50 degrees.

Would you have taken this?

A friend of my husband told him to go look in his vinyl trash pile to see if he wanted anything. We are thinking of putting vinyl rails on our front porch. We brought back some things we thought we could use, but it seems to be more for a deck than a porch. (much higher than we wanted) My husband thinks he can still use those pieces for something else. I found this one piece of fencing that I just wanted for some reason. I think it looks like grave yard fence. Now that I have it, what in the world am I going to do with it? LOL

Christmas Letter

I received this email today from Hilda. It made me think. So today I'm using it as my post!!
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Letter from Jesus about Christmas --
Dear Children,
It has come to my attention that many you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. Maybe you've forgotten that I wasn't actually born during this time of the year and that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate My birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival. Although I do appreciate being remembered anytime.
How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.
Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.
If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:
1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.
2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.
3. Instead of writing George complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.
4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.
5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.
6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.
7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families
8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary-- especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.
9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.
10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.
Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember : I LOVE YOU, JESUS
Letter from Jesus about Christmas --
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This was a good day! My grandaughter, April, was given a wedding shower by her Aunt Dawn. Dawn did a beautiful job and the happy couple, April and Troy, received many useful and pretty gifts. They will be married December 20th. I wish for then a long life of love and happiness!!
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I've Started Christmas Decorating

This is a wreath I have used for years.

It was made by my SIL long ago!

I'm not doing a tree this year. Just placing little things I have on table tops. Some of these were gifts.

Some of these are odd pieces I found on yard sales.

This Camel and King I found at a Church Yard Sale.

And this one I got last year after Christmas. Tells more of the story!

Jesus Is The Reason For The Season!

Merry Christmas!!

Updates !!

Hey everyone, Just wanted you to know my cousin, Addie has posted again from Iraq. Check it out!

Also my new blogging friend, Janie has a wealth of information for any one interested in gardening. How about checking out her blogspot and making her feel welcome. Thanks!!

Just Messing Around

I was just messing around with his picture. This is the full shot.

Then I decided to just crop and save the barn out of that picture.

Then I decided to crop and save the trees in the left hand corner.

Like I said... just messing around.

We took a little ride over to the small town north of us and then circled back on country roads back toward home. We could see something burning in the distance. When we got there it was a combine on fire. (bean picker) The firemen were just keeping the area around it wet so the fire couldn't jump to the dry grass and woodlands.

From Gum Swamp road we worked our way back to our own little town. We decided to get a milkshake so we turned on to third street heading to McDonalds. Just past the stop light we saw a young deer come out of the alley and cross over third street into the next alley. Poor thing was lost and in the middle of town.

Exciting things can be found when you are just messing around.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone !!

Thank You God For Your Everlasting Mercy And Goodness To Me !!

Surprise

Hmmmm, sometimes you find things you didn't want to know. Just up here checking out the court calanders and find relatives all among the people heading to court. Some of them are complete surprises. Seems some of my family members refuse to use their seat belts. It's bad when you get caught once, but three times?

Others are a little more involved. Much more serious. What were they thinking? Maybe that's the trouble, they were not thinking.

Now, that I've opened my mouth about their transgressions, I will probably be the next one getting a ticket. I sure hope not!!

This has been a trying few days. And the thing that was the worst was trying to get pills ordered through the mail here on time. After a free 5 day prescription to try to hold until the meds arrived, still the medicine didn't come. Yesterday, after I spoke with a representive, she reported that package lost in the mail and reordered to be shipped tomorrow.

And you know how that turned out... Today the medicine first ordered finally arrived, and so I was back on the phone to cancel the order that was suppose to ship tomorrow. This is the first time the medicine didn't get here on time. Some times it was close, but never this late.

We've had a beautiful day weather wise. And tomorrow is suppose to be the same. They are saying we might get rain on Thanksgiving and all of us will be grateful. They say one lake that supplies water to Raleigh has a bout 110 days supply left. Then they will be pumping from the Neuse River. After the flood of 1999, I guess we never expected to see this lasting drought. Do you suppose GOD is trying to get our attention again?

Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for all HIS wonderful works to the children of men! And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of Thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing. Psalm 107:21 and 22.

Finally Fall

This week it is beginning to look like Fall around here. Not so much in my own yard.

The blue berry bushes have changed color.

This tree is next to the path in my yard.

Along the NC country roads there is color peeking from the greeness of the woods. On Friday morning on the way to the doctor's office with my husband, I noticed that there is red, yellow, gold along with the green and brown. At Last!!

Christmas Shoe Boxes

This is the most fun part of Christmas for me. I love packing a shoe box for Samaritans Purse.

This is the girls box.

And This is the boy's box.

This year I did two boxes. I look for bargains all during the year for these boxes. Remember the pencils and crayons I got this past summer? Some of them are in there. I also added some blow pops and chewing gum. I hope the children that receive them will like them as much as I liked doing it.

Long Ago...

Look at these three children on that pony. The boy is now 22 yrs.old, the girl in the middle is 20 yrs. old, and the girl in the front just turned 21 yrs. old. I think the pony has passed away. "Pudding" is the pony and the children are some of my grandchildren.

Some days I just feel "OLD".

A Day In The Woman's Life

The woman noticed the smoke first. Drifting, white smoke around the top of the house next door. “ Umm,” she thought, “The neighbors must be grilling.” She kept on dusting the table. But something drew her eyes back to the window and the house next door. And then she really saw it. The grill was on its side on the ground. No one was cooking. Why was there smoke?

She stepped to the door that led onto the porch next to the neighbor’s house. There seemed to be more smoke. She kept going, out, onto the porch, still peering to see where the smoke was coming from.

Then she heard it. A man was calling his wife’s name. Over and over he called for her. The woman’s heart began to beat faster. Quickly she ran between the hedges over into the neighbor’s yard. The man was still calling his wife. More smoke was coming out of the house.

The woman ran up the back steps and into the den of the house next door. She quickly crossed the room toward the bedroom. She realized now she was calling the man’s name. She got to the door of the bedroom and stared in horror. The sheets were on fire and she could just see one of the man’s legs was black where it had been burned.

Turning with extreme fright, the woman raced out the door, across the neighbor’s yard. What to do? What to do? And all the time she was running toward the front of the house and across the street to the doctor’s office. She didn’t realize she, herself, was now screaming, “Help, Help, Mr. B. is burning in his bed.”

Some men waiting in cars out side the doctor’s office jumped out and ran toward the back door the woman had just left. The woman was running into the doctor’s office like a wild woman. Still yelling, “Help, Help, Mr. B. is burning in his bed!” The doctor appeared, seemingly from out of nowhere. Calming the woman he asked, “Did you call the fire department?” “ No,” the woman answered.

The doctor spoke to his secretary. “Call the fire department!” and then moved quickly to a safe behind the half wall. He unlocked the safe, grabbed a needle full of medicine and raced out ahead of the woman across the street to the neighbor’s house.

The woman ran back to her own home. It had only been a few minutes but felt like a lifetime. The rescue squad and the fire trucks were soon there. She saw them bring Mr. B. out on the stretcher. She saw the man’s wife rush home and leave again quickly heading to the hospital. She saw the firemen bring the burned mattress out the back door and place it near the street for the trash men to pick up.

And she stood there and berated herself. She KNEW you were supposed to try to smother a fire. She had read and read all the instructions on how to react to emergencies such as this, and she had done Nothing! Panic had overtaken her, and all she could do was run and yell for help. She had not known that she would have reacted this way.
True Story

Small Town Museums

Don't you just love small town museums? My small town doesn't have one. The small town to our north has one and the small town to our south has one. We visited the one to our south last weekend. This first picture is a black dress and bonnet. The little note attached to it told who the dress belonged to and a little story to go with it. It seems the owner of this dress had gone to the hospital to visit a relative. She stepped out in front of a car and was injured herself. This is the dress she was wearing.

And I think every old museum has an old wedding dress. This one did not have a note pinned to it.

And most of the museums have an Indian room. This is always my favorite room. My boys found arrow heads in the fields across the road from our house. Almost as good as finding good shells on a beach...LOL

We saw old pictures of people, tobacco in every form on display, a whiskey still, old carriages and old toys, old dishes, old desks, old books, an old carved wooden Indain, animal heads of animals shot in Africa, old school yearbooks, old doctor's offices, old dentists offices, pictures and books of the flood of 1999, and many more things. Look around your home towns. You might find treasures you didn't know exsited

What would you write?

Mary,
Over at her blogspot
has tagged me for a meme that was started by Amy The meme is What would I write if I had an extra hour every day?

Well, let me see:

1. I suppose I’d try harder to do a blog each day.

2. I’d write more “real” emails to my friends and family. Being addicted to reading blogs has begun to take up too much of my time. LOL

3. I’d take more time to send out those “Get Well” and “Sympathy” and “Thank You” cards that I owe to so many people. And maybe even write something personal in them.

4. Oh yes, Amy said we could dream… I would write a best selling novel and make lots of money.

5. I’d be writing the jokes that all those striking writers are not writing for Jay, and Dave….LOL Steal all their jobs!!

I’m not going to choose anyone else to do this meme. If anyone would like to do it, have fun ….

Did you notice?

I was at a little history museum in the next town this weekend. They had a display set up to represent one of the older doctor's offices. The doctor they were honoring was Dr. Troutman, one of the best doctors I ever knew. My daughter did home health for him several years back and she and he got to be good friends. They both loved to make baskets. I think she told me that he told her how to make a stain using green walnut hulls. Anyway, Dr. Troutman got better and still practices medicine in New Bern now one day a week.

Did you notice anything strange about the patient? I never saw it until it was pointed out to me.

Ann's Animals

If you read my meme, you know I'm not too fond of animals. But I do claim some! These are some examples of the kind I like. The first picture is the top of my refrigerator. These roosters and hens were some we gave as gifts to my grandmother and my husband's mother early in our marriage. They both wrote our names, (mine under the hens and my husband's under the roosters. When my grandmother passed away about 1976, my aunt discovered that our names were on that set and she insisted that we take them back. Then in 1996 when my husband's father passed away, (MIL's death was 1989) my husband found our names on that set and he brought them home after his family met to devide up their things.

This black bear was a birthday present to me a few years back. My daughter saw me admire it while we were at a big yardsale at Liberty, NC. She went back later and got it for me. I love it!! Lots of people who visit us love it also. A friend that loves to bear hunt has threatened to steal it.

This year on my birthday my Son brought me this one. As he pulled it out of the bag, I told him... "I have been wanting that monkey"!! And I have. I had seen it at a gift store but wouldn't get it for myself. Right now I have him hanging from a hook on the back porch and we can see him looking in the kitchen windows...LOL I'm not sure if that will be his spot forever. I'm thinking I might bring him inside.