Thanksgiving

Hi Everyone,

Here are a few pictures from our time with my mom Thanksgiving day. Mom did really well in celebrating the first holiday without my daddy.

We're off to visit more family today, friends tomorrow and

Saturday Kelsey wants me to see the wedding dress she has chosen. Yeah!!!!!

Kelsey was awesome in teasing Tom with the (evil) Carolina blanket. She knows how much he dislikes his arch rival. Go STATE!!

Turkey Ticklers

Good Morning Friends,

Here are two funny Turkey Day Cartoons.
I think we could all use a bit of laughter while we're cooking and cleaning.





With friends like all of you, everyday is a HAPPY Thanksgiving!!!!

I'm working today and Wednesday and preparing for Kelsey's arrival Wednesday night.
Yeah!! It's going to be great having our future daughter-in-law in the house for a few days.

One last thing... This will be our first holiday without Tom's mom and my dad.
As the Lord bring us to mind please pray for my mom Lois, she is missing my daddy a lot these days.

Thanks and Giving

Happy Thanksgiving Friends,

I'm sure each of you has things baking and bubbling in your kitchens as you prepare for this week of Thanksgiving.

I wanted to take this time to tell each of you how thankful I am for you and for your friendship.

I pray this week will be one of fun, family and fellowship.

I hope you will steal away a few quite moments to be express your gratitude for all you've been given. I'd love to hear some things that are on your gratitude list.

Thanksgiving Delights
On Thanksgiving Day we’re thankful for

Our blessings all year through,

For family we dearly love,

For good friends, old and new.
For sun to light and warm our days,

For stars that glow at night,

For trees of green and skies of blue,And puffy clouds of white.
We’re grateful for our eyes that see

The beauty all around,

For arms to hug, and legs to walk,

And ears to hear each sound.
The list of all we’re grateful for

Would fill a great big book;

Our thankful hearts find new delights

Everywhere we look!

By Joanna Fuchs

Easy Fudge

Good Morning Sweetest Friends,
As I prepare for my annual Ornament Exchange in 2 weeks I thought I'd be adventuresome and try out a few new recipes. Here's the latest one I've found.


Easy Fudge
Ingredients:
2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) Semi Sweet Morsels
1 can (14 oz.) Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups miniature marshmallows
1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped walnuts



LINE 13 x 9-inch baking pan with foil; grease lightly.
MICROWAVE morsels and sweetened condensed milk in large, uncovered, microwave-safe bowl on HIGH (100%) power for 1 minute; STIR.
Morsels may retain some of their original shape.
If necessary, microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, stirring just until morsels are melted. Stir in vanilla extract.
Fold in marshmallows and nuts.
PRESS mixture into prepared baking pan.
Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Lift from pan; remove foil.
Cut into pieces



Here's a new recipe from Deanna. Thanks for posting that on my blog Deanna.
I'd love any other sugar free treats any of you might have.

Banana Oatmeal Cookies
3 ripe bananas, mashed
2 cups quick-cooking oats
1 cup chopped nuts
1/2 cup raisins or craisins
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
Mix it all.
Bake in preheated 350 oven on a greased cookie sheet.
Use tablespoon to drop on cookie sheet, and flatten slightly.
Bake 10-15 minutes.
Taste best well done and crispy.

Easy Peanut Butter Cookie

Here's one more recipe for today. I've copied this one from my sweet friend Kim's blog.
http://www.ksvail.blogspot.com/

Flourless peanut butter cookie:
1 cup sugar
1 cup peanut butter
1 egg

Mix ingredients together.
Roll into balls and place on cookie sheet.
Dip fork into sugar and make criss-cross pattern on cookie.
Bake at 375 for 9 minutes.
Optional: As soon as cookies come out of oven, place hershey kiss in the middle :-)

I think I'll try to make this with Splenda.

Vegetable Soup

Good Morning Sweet Friends,


The weather has finally cooled, the leaves are falling and I'm craving my mother-in-laws vegetable soup. Saturday I tried her recipe with a twist and it's a big hit.


Catherine's Vegetable Soup with a twist.
1 pound hamburger browned
4 cups beef or chicken stock
3 cups V-8 juice
6 cups frozen vegetables (I used what I already had in the freezer) Use your favorites
black eyes peas, diced tomatoes, butter peas, green beans, carrots, corn, onion
4 packets Splenda
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Salt and Pepper to taste


Here's the twist:
Place all ingredients in a Pressure Cooker .
In fact I browned the hamburger in the pressure cooker and simply added the rest of the ingredients to that one pot.

Once the pot began to sizzle and spit (my lame attempt to sound like a pressure cooker)
I set my timer for 20 minutes.
After the twenty minutes, I turned the pot off and waited until it had "decompressed" and I could open the lid.
I added one large bag of thawed chopped broccoli and within 3 minutes it was done!
Home made vegetable soup in a flash.
Yummy good.

This recipe makes plenty for several meals and some for the freezer.

Enjoy!

Monday Ponderings

Good Monday Morning Friends,
Here are a few Erma Bombeck funnies to ponder over as you begin your week.

Who, in their infinite wisdom, decreed that Little League uniforms be white? Certainly not a mother.

Most children's first words are "Mama" or "Daddy." Mine were, "Do I have to use my own money?"

My theory on housework is, if the item doesn't multiply, smell, catch on fire or block the refrigerator door, let it be. No one cares. Why should you?

Before you try to keep up with the Joneses, be sure they're not trying to keep up with you.

Christmas Shopping: Wouldn't it be wonderful to find one gift that you didn't have to dust, that had to be used right away, that was practical, fit everyone, was personal and would be remembered for a long time? I penciled in "Gift certificate for a flu shot.

Happy Monday!!!

Southern Christmas Show

Good Morning Bloggy Friends,

Here are a few pictures from this year's Southern Christmas Show.

Enjoy!

This is the the first thing you saw upon entering the first building.

Fa la la la la....



Every kind of ornament you can imagine.

The gourd lady has been a Christmas Show staple for more than 20 years. Don't you just wish you could carry off a hat like that?

Here's the other Christmas Show staple. The Merk's Cheese man. All day long for 10 long days he smiles, hands out samples of the delicious cheese spread and says "Merk's cheese spread, it's yum yum in the tum tum!'

Too bad this didn't come in my size.

Yes, there was lots of jewelry this year and I did manage to find a few gifts.

Beautiful decorations have really put me in the mood to get our tree up.

One Holiday Tradition

Hey Bloggy Friends,

I'm so excited for tomorrow to arrive I can hardly wait. I'm planning to take part in one of my favorite holiday traditions. It's attending the
Southern Christmas Show http://www.southernshows.com/scs/index.php

For those of you unfamiliar with this show let me clue you in on the fun. There are literally hundreds of vendors who bring their items to sell. There is everything imaginable having to do with Christmas. There are three HUGE buildings full of food products, clothing, jewelry, decorations, girly girl things, anything and everything sparkly. Did I mention there are lots of jewelry vendors?

Anyway, I've been going to this show for 20 years and it's one treat I do for myself every year.
I'm taking my camera and will post some pictures.

I wish each of you could attend with me, I'd treat you to a coffee and something sparkly.

Veteran's Day

Good Morning Bloggy Friends,

We interrupt our holiday decorating for an important time of remembrance.

Today we celebrate Veteran's Day and I want to take this opportunity to extend my thanks to each of you who have served our country, are serving our country now and for every family who has experienced the loss of a loved one in service to our country.

I don't want to ever forget the true sacrifice each one has given in order to defend us and to ensure our freedom. We owe you more than gratitude for sure.

For those of you wanting to show your gratitude in a tangible way,may I suggest you contact the USO.

and choose a way to encourage our troops.

Every year Tom and I purchase Christmas boxes for a few of the 170,000 courageous men and women who won't "be home for Christmas".

I hope you will join us in remebering them today and this holiday season.

Holiday Decorating

Hey My Sweet Bloggy Friends,



I don't know about you, but I'm ready to begin my holiday decorating. Perhaps it's because the weather is cooling off or perhaps I'm just goofy. Whatever the reason I'm ready to begin decking the halls!!!



How about you? Are you in the mood to get your home ready to welcome family and friends?

Oh, My Aching Back!!!

Good Morning Bloggy Friends,

I'm writing a short post today as I get ready to hit the Fitness Together Studio for my appointment with the:
Amazing and annihilating Anthony
Fitness Together - Matthews
3022 Weddington Road Suite 200Matthews, NC 28105 - Map
http://www.fitnesstogether.com/lmatthews

Oh, my aching back!!!!!
I don't know what I've done, but my back has been out of whack since Tuesday night. Yikes!
Can anyone pass the Advil?
Zoe

What Changes Will You Make?

Good Morning Bloogy Friends,

Well... here we are on the morning after and some are rejoicing while others are weeping.
We've heard a lot about change in the last few months and I am happy to report that there are many things that DO NOT change.

God's Mercies toward us.
In fact,today is a new day and a fresh abundance of God's mercies are available for the asking.
God's deep and abiding love for us.
God's Promises
God's Character
God's Grace
God Is No Respecter of Persons
God Cannot Lie
God is Just
God is Faithful
God is Compassionate
God Exhibits Goodness and Forbearance
God is Long suffering
God is Forgiving

Theses are just a few charter traits of our God.
I want to take this opportunity to encourage all our hearts by shifting our focus off the man and position of President and placing our focus firmly on our
Heavenly Father who never changes, slumbers or sleeps.

This election outcome has not taken our God by surprise nor was by accident.
Our sovereign God ordained this outcome before the foundation of the world for this time
and it's all for our good and His glory.

So I have to ask you...
What changes will you make in your spiritual life today that will ensure you are focused on the One who NEVER changes?

Are you willing to take a position of humility before your Heavenly Father as you seek His face before you seek His hand?

I love what one of my bloogy friends posted yesterday.
"Instead of biting my nails, I'm trusting the The One with nail scarred hands, right along with you!"
Thanks Katie, your words are music to my heart.

Be encouraged friends, God is in control and waiting for his children to
"change" their hearts and their habits.

Seek the ONE who NEVER Changes and you will be blessed.

The ONE

Good Morning Bloggy Friends,
Well...it's finally arrived! Voting Day!!!!

I don't know about you but I'm thrilled it's here if for no other reason than the end of political commercials (at least for awhile).

Really, I'm thrilled this day has arrived as we have the opportunity to watch and wait upon the Lord to bring about His perfect will regarding our next President.
Although we have the responsibility and privilege to exercise our right to vote;
the Lord is still on His throne and holds the heart of the king (or President) in His hands.

Many are holding their breath and biting their nails today, but I am resting in the everlasting arms of our sweet and faithful God. I want to encourage each of you friends.
No matter the outcome of this election each of us is assured that our Heavenly Father is in charge.
We can be assured that the outcome is part of the plan He has in store for us and His plans are ALWAYS for our good.

Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

Be of good cheer my friends, the One who spoke the universe into being is the same One who knit you together in your mother's womb and is the ONE who is in complete control of every election.
No matter the President's name our God sits on His throne and rules and reigns on high.

I challenge each of us to remember and trust the ONE who created us and loves us enough to send His son to die for us.
In who or in what are you placing your trust today?

It's Official... Our Family is Expanding

Good Morning Bloggy Friends,

Here are a few pictures from the "Surprise" Engagement Party we hosted yesterday.

It was a surprise all right! We pulled this party together in 3 days and Josh and Kelsey arrived before most of the guests. Oh Well...

Check this out. Neither Josh or Kelsey eat cake so our best friends Lisa and Rudy constructed a cake out of Kripsy Creme Doughnuts!

Enjoy the rest of pictures.

These are my Party Helpers and I could not have done it without them.

Thanks Friends, You're the BEST!!!

I Can't Wait Any Longer...

Hey Sweet Bloggy Friends,

Okay, I really can't be silent any longer.

Our family is expanding!!

Our old son Josh is officially engaged to Kelsey Patterson and we are thrilled.

They are a godly couple who are seeking God's BEST for them and we are more than thrilled!!

The actual "giving of the ring" has been top secret for weeks and I've so wanted to share; but wouldn't dare spill the beans or ruin the surprise.

Here are a few pictures of the happy couple from last night. I'll post more tomorrow.

Yeah; we're receiving a beautiful daughter.