I know, I know...I'm behind!

But I have been just taking some time to stop and smell the roses. This being the last day of 2009, I cannot wait another moment to tie up all my loose ends in pretty little bows...so here goes...

Christmas Eve, was a wild and crazy day around here. Somehow, in my thinking I was doing good with my time but there were a few items to buy and tons of kitchen time before we were to be at my mom's house for dinner. The day went super fast...I was busily finishing up a project to give to my mom, Brittany was the mad present wrapper and then of course in the mean time I was baking a chocolate cake, making rolls, baking a loaf of cinnamon bread for my brother along with assembling everything for Christmas day so that I wouldn't have to work so hard. Ha...on the way to my mom's all I could think of was how much I still had to do. My wonderful family told me not to worry...we would all work together before bed. We had a lovely time at my mom's...it was her, the three of us and my brother and his wife and two little ones...oh, how I love to view Christmas through a child's eyes...there is such magic there. I have pictures but haven't unloaded them yet...I'll try to do that next week. And yes, when we got home, we all worked together and everything was ready for Christmas morning.

Christmas, what a beautiful, relaxing, joyous day it was. We woke up and I put the casserole and cinnamon rolls in the oven and we all just relaxed and laughed as our little boy dog tried to steal all the presents (he loves to open them). After breakfast, I had time to get myself ready because all my work was done. It was simply...pop my dinner in the oven. It all turned out really good. My mom came over and we were just casual and comfy for the day. She spent the night, we all watched a movie...and just had a blessed day.

By Saturday, I was ready for a long winter's nap and that is precisely what I did. A cozy spot on my couch made it a perfect rest from all the festivities.

Sunday...we all woke up late and Brittany decided to go and spend the day and evening with my mom, her Grammy. Colton, my nephew was there too so this gave my mom another full day of family. I hate her being alone...especially during Christmas.

Monday was another day to entertain, this time I really made it easy on myself. I bought a pan of lasagna from one of our finer local establishments not too far from home. It is rich and creamy and a special treat. I served it with none other than salad and garlic bread for our special guests who happened to be my daughter's mentor (well, I like to think I am her mentor) but this woman was the woman who influenced my daughter to love dance and to grow up to be a dance teacher. She is married, just had a baby and lives in Vegas now so our visits with them are far and few in between. Miss Pamela, has seen Brittany grow from a tiny little girl into the young woman that she is becoming today. She definitely was a seed planter in our daughter's life. She is like a ray of sunshine and we treasure her friendship.

This now brings me back to the rest of this week. I have just taken a break as everything will be starting back up again next week and I wanted a bit of relaxation. We now have a couple of inches of snow on the ground and I have so many birds at my feeder that I feel like Snow White.

We have a little party planned, just the three of us tonight. On the menu we have stuffed jalapeno's, Cheese Quesadillas, homemade salsa (that I am attempting the first time) and homemade Guacamole too. Brittany made this yummy chocolate and peanut butter dessert and we will be all set. I am not much of a New Years person. I am not good with farewells and not that I live in fear but I do fear a bit what a new year can bring. So I choose to live this, our last day in 2009 counting all of the many blessings that the Lord has so richly bestowed upon my humble little family.

May the Lord grant blessings to you and yours this New Year.

Joyce Marie

Happy Birthday Jesus!

My Christmas day menu...

I like to share recipes and also copy recipes for my own. So, I have linked mine up here just in case you like to do the same.
First things first...Breakfast:
Overnight Cinnamon Rolls
Christmas Breakfast Sausage Casserole (I'll make half a recipe for just the three of us)
orange juice and coffee

Christmas Dinner:
Hot Chicken Salad
French Dinner Rolls
Green Beans with Browned Butter and Pine Nuts
Collector's Cocoa Cake
Homemade Apple Sauce
iced tea/coffee

And for those evening munchers...
Sloppy Joes
Chips
Carrots and Celery Sticks
French Onion Dip
Variety of Soft Drinks

And there you have it...my official Christmas menu for 2009. The thing I am most excited about...most of everything is make ahead and cook later recipes. I have been trying to incorporate this over the years and I think I got it down this year. Now, I can just relax like everybody else on Christmas and have fun.

Christmas Blessings!
Joyce Marie

My Christmas Day menu...

First things first...Breakfast!

Overnight Cinnamon Rolls

Christmas Breakfast Sausage Casserole

orange juice and coffee







Christmas dinner:

Hot Chicken Salad

French Dinner Rolls

Green Beans with Brown Butter and Pine Nuts

Homemade apple sauce

Hershey's Collector's Cocoa Cake


iced tea/coffee


For those who are hungry Christmas evening...

Sloppy Joes
Potato Chips
Carrots and Celery Sticks
French onion dip

variety of soft drinks

Busy, busy, busy...but a good busy!

I have enjoyed these past couple of days so much. Sunday was just a laid back day of doing nothing much but all being in the same room together. We made our favorite Sunday night Nacho meal and watched some of our favorite television shows.

Yesterday, Brittany was invited to go to a Christmas/birthday party for a new friend, it was a sleepover party too...so it was a perfect opportunity for Dennis and I to have a date night mixed in with the little bit of Christmas shopping that we had to do. It was lovely to walk around the stores hand in hand with my guy. I miss doing that! We laughed, talked, visited Starbucks for a slice of banana bread and a steamy cup of their Christmas blend. Walked around some more and then stopped at Taco Bell on the way home (I am a cheap date :). Brittany had a wonderful time and we are so happy that this new friend is such a nice girl and a Christian to boot. They made taco's, baked Christmas cookies and made friendship bracelets. She met I think five other girls so anytime that she can make new friends she is all for it.

This afternoon we braved the grocery store...I am so happy that I am done now. I'll take tomorrow to work on a project or two and of course work out...and then Thursday morning, I'll be up early preparing my make ahead dishes. I am so excited that this year, everything that I am having can be made ahead of time and just warmed up to eat.

Right now, I have potatoes boiling for mashed potatoes. Meatballs are simmering on the stove and I have to decide what veggie to serve and then we are off to the mall to just be out and enjoy the spirit of the season.

Tomorrow, I'll post my Christmas menu...Blessings to all of you!

A vintage post card

Paper snowflakes

I love paper snowflakes. There is a favorite site that I have used now for several years. These snowflakes turn out just beautiful every time. What do I do with them? Besides the fact it makes a great family activity in front of the fire on a cold evening listening to Christmas music. You can place them on windows with tiny pieces of tape, you can line door frames with them. I even saw a picture on a blog somewhere of putting miniature lights behind them on an archway, it looked beautiful. You could use them just about anywhere. We have even put them on our tree before. This year I am going to use them somehow down the center of my table for Christmas dinner. A neat little tip to make them sparkle is to use a glue stick and white or clear glitter...they really do look pretty.

Dave's Snowflakes

Enjoy!

A pretty vintage Christmas card...

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

Woke up to our first snowfall this morning, things were a bit slippery but we don't have much and that is fine with me. I can still see tufts of plants and grass poking through, can still see the fallen leaves in the park. Ok...so now we have snow, it can go away!

We were up and out early today. Stopped and picked up little foil wrapped Christmas candy treats for Brittany's little students this morning. Sat in my van munching away at my sausage biscuit and large coffee with three creams. Finishing a very nice little Christmas novella from Lori Copeland. I read the entire book in three sittings. It was a nice story...if your looking for a bit of light reading, I recommend it. The book is called The Christmas Lamp. I got it for free from Amazon for my Kindle a while back...have I mentioned I love my Kindle?

Brittany has a small performance this afternoon for a Christmas open house at her dance studio then it is off to the airport to pick up my man. I am so excited! We are planning a nice family dinner tonight to all get reconnected and then some more of that candles, fireplace and hot chocolate time in front of the television before bed.

I am looking forward to just winding down and enjoying Christmas! No more rushing around as everything is on hold until after the New Year...I think that is one of the best things about Christmas vacation.

Got all my jobs done yesterday except grocery shopping and laundry is just an ongoing process with me. I would imagine that next year, I won't have many excuses but to just get my laundry done every week.

Blessings to you and yours have a lovely Holiday weekend! I am off to iron my blouse...

What is on your list to do today?

I have many things to do before I go to sleep tonight. I am wondering if I will get it all done but with Brittany much better today I am sure we can accomplish much.

Top of the list...

workout
(come home, clean up, change clothes and such)

Christmas shopping (gifts for nephew and niece)
grocery shopping
home to put it all away
clean my bedroom, change my linens
scrub the bathroom
dust all the floors
run the sweeper on the floor rug and furniture
make dinner

light some candles, turn on the fireplace, snuggle under a blanket and watch a Christmas movie! That is my reward :)

My love is coming home tomorrow afternoon...from Reno through Denver to Cleveland. I am so hoping that weather won't be an issue as we are all so eager to be together again. I can't wait to see his handsome face coming down the escalator in baggage claim! I will be waiting right there with bells on!

Blessings for a beautiful day!

One week to go!

Can you believe this time next week many of us will be sitting down with family and/or friends for Christmas dinner. For most of us the presents will already have been opened, the wrapping paper thrown into garbage bags and then, me, mommy will be in the kitchen.

These last two months have been tight for us and I am finding myself looking for every way possible to stretch my dollar. If you don't know, in November a deer, crossing in front of us on the expressway decided in the pitch black of night to jump directly on the front end of our van. Rental fees, buying another vehicle, getting the van fixed, getting new plates for the new (er) van, and paying insurance for now two vehicles has left me shaking in my shoes...that is just me though, the ever growing frugal CFO of our family. So I have been looking for many ways to cut costs this month. As I also have year end expenses not to mention Christmas.

But, Christmas isn't about the presents is it? Christmas is about how much our Lord loves us...loves us enough to send us a Savior in the form a precious little baby. When the tabulator in my brain awakens me before dawn (crunching numbers)as it has this week I simply get up turn on KLOVE and listen to the music that enlightens my heart. It isn't long before I am humming and singing along and feeling uplifted.

Some things I am doing to stretch my food dollar...I have cleaned out my cupboards to see exactly what I have. Sometimes, things get pushed to the back or fall behind things...you would be surprise what you can find this way. We have thought we were out of paper towels for a week...NOT! I found a double pack hiding behind tall cereal boxes. And they have Christmas prints on them to boot. I was pretty proud of myself (ahhh, the simple things in life). So, while I was at it I wiped out the cupboard and got those tiny bits of rice and and flour and sugar out...now my cupboards are clean and organized and I can save a bit of money from not buying things I don't need.

We haven't gotten to our gingerbread house and I am not sure that we will now. I started the week with a scratchy throat. No wonder, our weather goes from 12 degrees to 54 degrees back to 24 degrees in only a couple days. I seemed to work through it but Brittany came home Tuesday night from her youth group Christmas party with a full blown sore throat and head cold. So, she has been downing the same thing I did...but still, she feels pretty rotten. I have been taking advantage to get things done that I haven't been doing again...like LAUNDRY!

I have worked out three days this week...yesterday I went all by myself and ran/walked on the elliptical machine for 30 minutes all while watching HGTV. That channel makes a half an hour go pretty darn fast. I am hoping that this jump on exercise will keep me from gaining that 5 lbs of holiday weight that every one says they do...I am not baking this year because my new working out makes me think about how I don't want to undo what I have just done. I need to go today...but I want to just stay home so bad. If I don't go ...I'll regret it because I am doing so well. So, at some point I will bundle myself up and go back by myself...maybe tomorrow Brittany will feel like going.

I made my menu for Christmas day...I found a delicious casserole. It sounds perfect for a nice dinner...we aren't huge ham eaters...or meat eaters even although we do like meat. I'll post my menu here soon just in case you want to try what I found. It really does look so good. My husband told me to just go easy and not work too hard. I am down with that!


I think that is all that is on my mind for now, just a bit of rambling for today...I hope you are all enjoying this Christmas(y) time of year.

Blessings!

A very Bloggy Gingerbread Party

Every year Brittany and I take that last week before Christmas week and have some fun. We bake a gingerbread house! In total, it is a three day project but when everything is put away and our little house is on display we are so proud of our accomplishment.

Usually we build everything, including our own template, this year, I found some templates that are ready to print. If interested, you can find them here. Colonial House,
Salt Box, Side Gable

We chose the Colonial Style this year. I can't wait to see it all together.

I love heirloom recipes...there is just something about a recipe that is passed down from grandmothers. I have no family recipes of my own so I am always in search of them. And have adopted them of my own to hand down to my grandchildren some day. Anyway...I found this gingerbread recipe several years ago on Allrecipes.com. It will fill your home with the spices of the season. The dough turns out beautiful every time.

I'll list it here:

"This is one my mum in England used to make when we were kids. It was always the biggest hit every year. Use your imagination and a variety of candies to make doors, windows, pathways, and a garden. Note, this gingerbread house takes 2 to 3 days to complete. You can buy a variety of candies for decoration."
Ingredients:
3/4 cup butter
7/8 cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 cup molasses
2 eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoon ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground allspice

6 egg whites
4 (16 ounce) packages confectioners' sugar,
sifted
Directions:
1. First cut out in thin cardboard: a side wall, 4 1/2 x 8 inches; an end wall, 4 1/2x5 inches; a triangular gable, 4 1/2x3x3 inches; and a roof rectangle, 4 1/2x9 inches. Tape the rectangular end wall piece to the triangular gable piece: match the long side of the triangle, 4 1/2 inches, to one of the 4 1/2 inch sides of the end wall.
2. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in lemon zest, lemon juice, and molasses. Gradually beat in 2 eggs. Sift the flour, baking powder, and spices together; stir into creamed mixture. Wrap dough in parchment paper, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
3. Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface. Divide into 6 portions, 2 slightly larger than the others. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the 4 smaller pieces to approximately the size of the side wall and the end wall with gable templates; cut out two of each. Roll out remaining dough, and cut into two rectangular roof pieces. Transfer gingerbread onto greased baking trays.
4. In a preheated 375 degree F (190 degrees C) oven, bake gingerbread for 10 minutes, or until crisp. When removing from the oven, leave the gingerbread on the baking trays for a few minutes to set, then transfer to wire racks. Leave out overnight to harden.
5. In a large bowl, lightly whisk 2 egg whites. Gradually beat in approximately 5 cups confectioners' sugar. The icing should be smooth and stand in firm peaks. Spread or pipe a 9 inch line of icing onto a cake board, and press in one of the side walls so that it sticks firmly and stands upright. If necessary, spread or pipe a little extra icing along either side to help support it. Take an end wall and ice both the side edges. Spread or pipe a line of icing on the board at a right angle to the first wall, and press the end wall into position. Repeat this process with the other two walls until they are all in position. Leave the walls to harden together for at least two hours before putting on the roof. Spread or pipe a thick layer of icing on top of all the walls, and fix the roof pieces in position; the roof should overlap the walls to make the eaves. Pipe or spread a little icing along the crest of the roof to hold the two pieces firmly together. Leave overnight to set firmly.
6. When ready to decorate, make the remaining icing. In a large bowl, lightly whisk 4 egg whites, and mix in remaining confectioners' sugar as before. Use this to make snow on the roof, and to stick various candies for decoration. Finish with a fine dusting of sifted confectioners' sugar.

So for us, today is day one...off to the grocery store to buy any ingredients that we need. We'll come back and mix our dough and let it chill out in the fridge until tomorrow...Anyone care to join us?

A quiet day on the homefront...

Brittany and I have spent the day watching Lifetime, I call it the Lonely Wife Network. Luckily they have had some pretty cute Christmas movies on today...so we have spent the day watching.

I am fighting off a sore throat, taking Zicam chews every three hours and I actually think it is working.

My husband had a nice time last night and is visiting his boss's home today. He leaves for Reno first thing in the morning. I'm happy that we'll finally be into next week so that life will feel a bit more normal.

Hope you have all had a very blessed Sunday!

I am feeling sort of like Cinderella...

I am sitting at home watching television while my husband is hundreds of miles away dressed up also alone at a Christmas party in beautiful San Antonio. We have been going together for the last five years...it is sort of our little get away, even though it is a work related event. The company puts us up in a beautiful hotel. I called him and told him how much I missed him and that I bet he looked handsome. I know it isn't going to be much fun for him as most if not all the people will have their spouse or date with them.

It feels weird that I too could have been dressed in some pretty Christmas blouse and skirt or dressy pants. Instead I sit here in my jeans, slippers, t-shirt and mommy sweater.

On a lighter note...we did spend the day at Grammy's house (my mom) and played with my nephew all afternoon and evening.

But then again...there is the beautiful River Walk boat rides that are outside the doors of the hotel that we usually ride at the end of our evening. I guess I am a hopeless romantic...

Guess, I'll go see if there is a Christmas movie on television.

Just a short little blurp....

I am feeling soreness in all the RIGHT places. We are going to eat breakfast and then head back to the gym for the week. I am going to just go for it and see how much I can do...I may just have to walk it out on the treadmill or the inside track today.

I am learning that when I write it down it gets done...so for today...another workout!

The weather outside is frightful...

After catching my breath from the gust of wind that blew into my face this morning I realized just how cold it is. I know we are not as cold as some parts of our country but 19 degrees is still very cold. That is our high for the day. Yesterday, we had a wind storm which made some interesting roaring sounds throughout the day and night but we made it through with only small branches falling from our old Oak trees.

My husband landed in San Antonio last night at 10:30. I went up and ran a bath at 11:00 figuring that it would keep me awake until I knew he was safe and sound on the ground. Of course he was. He is jammed packed with meetings and cocktail parties and dinners for the next several days. Which always is so fun for a non drinker. But, I guess that is company politics.

Brittany and I woke up, and joined the gym this morning. It felt so good to be there and work out again. We decided to do the buddy system this time, hoping that we could keep each other going. We started out with 30 minutes on the treadmill and then we saw these new bikes...well, they were kinda like bikes. But you sit on a seat and it has arm handles as well so it is really a total body work out. We each plugged in 30 minutes on that too...and got a great lower body workout. Then, we washed our hands and headed to the other side of the gym where all the other machines were. We worked our arms, shoulders, abs and inner thighs before heading home and warming up some yummy macaroni and cheese. In total, I burned 300 calories, have no idea what I did with those other machines. Brittany can walk faster than me on the treadmill so she did much better than me. As soon as I get myself going I know I'll be able to pick up the pace myself. I kinda baby my right knee as last year at this time it was swollen and I couldn't bend it for no other reason than I took a brisk walk on a frigid day outside much like today. I came in and wasn't the same for about six months. I have since been doing much better although there isn't a day when I don't feel some sort of ache in my poor knee.

Brittany and I would like to get into something...not sure what that is going to be. The thought of going back out in the frigid cold to buy some sort of craft supply doesn't interest me at all. But, we'll see what we can come up with.

I sit here clothing layered and a thin blanket around my shoulders...maybe some hot cocoa is in order...Blessings!

Christmas Tree 09

What you get when three goofy people go to a Christmas tree farm! (You should see the pics I didn't post)

It's beginning to feel like winter!

I sit here and look out at our little woodland area and can see the first dusting of snow that we have had this season. We have rumors of freezing rain tonight and also starting this evening into Thursday morning we have a high wind warning. It looks like many areas of our country are feeling the chills of winter. Should I put something here about Global Warming? or is it Climate Change these days? Nahh, I'll leave that for the uninformed to talk about.

I had every intention of joining the gym this morning but I am so overloaded with laundry and can see that I am beginning to make a dent by now that I decided that I would wait until Thursday morning...after all carrying laundry up and down two fights of stairs is a workout!

My honey leaves for San Antonio tomorrow evening, I am wondering if the wind will affect his flight time? His company Christmas party is Saturday night and I am unable to go this year because Brittany is teaching 2 dance classes on Saturday mornings. We didn't feel like she should miss. With winter arriving any day I couldn't trust that my mom could take her because if it snows even a flake she won't drive. So, we decided that I would stay home this year and he would go...he is leaving tomorrow night as he has to go out there early for meetings. Boy, am I going to miss him (I am trying not to think about it). He will leave Monday morning from San Antonio for Reno and teach his last class of the year, so this is going to be an extra long week and a half for us. Brittany and I will manage to get into something to keep ourselves busy though.

First, we'll go back to the gym, 2nd, we'll spend Saturday afternoon with my mom and nephew and then church on Sunday...next week, I think we'll bake and put together our annual gingerbread house and then there is also Christmas shopping that we need to do. So when I look at things like that it won't seem so bad. We all just have to stay busy and focused on what we have to do until we are back together again.

Pictures are coming of our tree outing...they have been uploaded, now, I just need to go through them (they are pretty goofy). I plan on putting them up by Wednesday.

Well, I need to go and carry my last load of laundry upstairs to put it away...

Blessings!

It's MONDAY!

Life has quite a way with getting on without me. The last few weeks have felt like this anyway.

Yesterday we drove to the country and did our favorite activity of the year. We cut our beautiful Christmas tree and brought it home on our new luggage rack. We have never had a luggage rack before so we were pretty excited. We had a splendid day! The weather was nice, sky a clear blue, the sun was gorgeous and we were all pretty excited. We picked out the most perfect tree and Brittany did the honors. On our way back home, my honey stopped in at the local Bob Evans and got us all a creamy, hot chocolate for the trip home. It was a really beautiful Sunday. Once home, we got to work decorating our tree...it looks so pretty. We put it in a front window this year. I like to see it from the road. We put a small one in the dining room too...that one is artificial.

This morning, we were up and out very early. We are having issues with the van that we just received back from service. Then we had to get our new license plates for our new van. We were illegal, our 30 day tags expired last night. God was good and kept us safe until we got that taken care of. Dennis dropped me off at home where I am now working hard on laundry that is piling up in my basement. I don't even want to look at the pile...but I am hitting it hard today. Dennis went, got his haircut and to the eye glass place, his glasses have something wrong with them...Brittany has been hard at work making some Christmas gifts and filling out some Christmas cards for her out of town friends and her leaders at youth group.

I'll be leaving soon for the post office and then to the grocery store. Hard to think of grocery shopping as I still don't have much of an appetite. Oh well, do you think my appetite could possible stay suppressed until after Christmas??? It would be a sure way not to gain those extra five pounds that they say everyone gains. Brittany and I plan to go back to the gym this week...today was just a bit too crazy to add that in too.

Blessings for a fabulous Monday!

What has been happening this week...

Most of this week I have been down with the stomach flu. Brittany has a dance performance at a place called The Hartville Kitchen on Saturday. It is one of those places that gets really packed...a huge place with really good food. She is in a tap number and they are wearing party dresses. Well, being that we homeschool and that Brittany has yet to have a boyfriend or date she didn't have a party dress. I didn't want to spend a fortune just a little bit and thank the Lord I didn't have to.

Thursday, my first day venturing out with a bit of nausea still plaguing me. We went to a store that we love here...it is called Gabrielle Brothers. It is a discount store that is full of brand name clothing, jewelry, shoes, purses for the whole family. We walked in the door and the first thing we saw were party dresses. We picked one off the rack and continued to look, within fifteen minutes we had eight in our arms and went back to try them on. All but one would have worked, however we chose our favorite. Get this, I bought two party dresses for her, yes two for the incredible price of $9.99 a piece. I was so unbelievable pleased. One is a pretty burgundy color, the other is a black dress...both would make beautiful dance costumes so I couldn't resist.

Friday, my mom, Brittany and I went to a warehouse sale. This place houses and sells country signs, Christmas stuff, and all things country. This is our fourth year going and it is usually a fun, fun day. This year I found it very sad. This place that is usually packed from floor to ceiling had bare shelves, the actual warehouse itself looked bare. It looked like more of a going out of business sale to me. No new merchandise, no Christmas decorations either. I just felt it sad as it was clearly a sign of the times in which we live. We left there and went to the Root Candle factory...they make the famous Root candles right there in town. They add real honeycombs to their candles...when you get out of your car you can smell the soft scent of honey in the air. We went to the outlet shop and picked up a few Christmas scents (I bought some fresh wildflower honey too). I can't wait to light my candles this weekend.

Today, Brittany danced and now my honey is on his way home from the airport. The three of us will be together after a long week apart. Off to dinner we go, I am starving and then tomorrow after church we'll visit our favorite Christmas tree farm and cut down our tree.

Blessings!

Introductions first!

Welcome to my Memoirs!

I am a daughter, sister, wife, mommy, auntie and friend. I love Jesus Christ with all my heart and am striving to grow deeper in my faith. I have spent the last seventeen years of my life doing what I love best. Being a mommy! We have homeschooled since the age of four and are smack dab in the middle of our Senior year.

I have alot (ALOT) of mixed feelings that this season of my life is nearly over. I am looking forward with hopeful anticipation to the next season which I am beginning to peek at through the fog that is covering my eyes.

I married my best friend and we have been married 24.75 years. We met when we were very young in Sunday school. We grew up together in church with a wonderful youth program and in the spring of our Junior year in high school my husband tossed a paper at me and asked me if I would like to go. Of course, I said yes and he has become much more romantic over the years. Our first date was a Christian Rock concert...we, I am proud to say have been together ever since.

After dating for five years we said our vows in the month of March and began our happy life together. After eight years of infertility we were finally blessed to become the parents of a most precious baby girl. Born in mid summer of the year we turned thirty. We exhaustively tried to fill our quiver with more children but the Lord has had other plans for us. He wanted us all to be "only's" only husband, only wife and only child (except for the little one awaiting us in heaven). This is something we came up with one day...we kinda like it and it is what makes us so special.

So...that brings me to today. I am in transition from one season of life to another. My mommy days are about over...but I know my mothering days are not. I am not new to blogging. To read more about me you can see my other blog at Homeschool Blogger. Keeping it Simple


If you can stand it...visit me often, I can promise what each week will bring lots of rambling for sure, some tears and some laughs. All while I thank my many, many blessings.