It's a mopey kind of day....

.....because my daughter is heading back to school.

I have thoroughly enjoyed having her home.

we've laughed
played
baked
shopped
snuggled
talked

.....I am really going to miss her!

If you can, please pray for her travel.
We are going out to breakfast and then she has an 8 hour drive ahead of her.

And if you think of it, pray she finds her keys.
yep, she lost them the FIRST day she was home and we haven't seen them since. She has an extra key but it's just a hassle....thanks!

I think it most definitely will be a mopey day.

Random Dozen

I am joining Linda at 2nd cup for Random Dozen today. So glad she kept this up for 2010. I love learning more about everyone through her questions!

Enjoy!

1. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being a cranky-baby-hissy-fitter, how much of a complainer are you? Wow, I don't view myself as a complainer. More a 1/2 glass full kinda girl. but if I am truly honest and listen to myself, I would have to say at least a 3-4.

2. When someone else is talking, do you listen, or are you thinking about what you're going to say in response? Depends on who I am talking to and how much I have going on.....my mind is constantly going. I really try to be a good listener but sometimes it doesn't work.

3. I just deleted 1062 messages from my email account. Do you have any plans for a clean sweep this month--of anything? Nope, except maybe all the sugar from my house!

4. Tell us about your perfume. Was it a gift? What does it remind you of? Do you have a signature scent? I have worn the same perfume for 15 years.....Red Door. I sometimes try new fragrances, but always come back to it.

5. What is your best organizing tip for the new year? coming from an unorganized woman...I don't have one. But I have a good tip that I just learned works......if someone in your house leaves gum in their pants and it gets ALL OVER your dryer, take a dryer sheet and soak it in fabric softener then use it to scrub off the gum.....it will come right off! My son had the dryer clean in less than 30 minutes!!!

6. What is your favorite comic strip? Hands down.....Zits!!! It epitomizes our life with our teenage son!!!

7. Do you sleep with a fluffy or flat pillow? I can not sleep with a flat pillow. Mine is a memory foam one.

8. What color is your kitchen? Why did you choose that color? Exotic honey....yep, sounds...well....exotic, doesn't it?! I love color. It's a very rich and warm color.

9. What’s the most interesting bumper sticker you’ve seen? one that pertains to us now...clear the road, I'm sixteen!. And because I really dislike tailgaters...The closer you get, the slower I go.

10. Do you prefer an expensive writing tool or whatever is lying around? (Are you a Montblanc or a Papermate?)What ever is lying around. It is a waste of money to buy me an expensive writing tool because I will promptly lose it. My husband on the other hand loves his space pens!

11. What chore doesn’t feel like a chore – you just enjoy it (at least most of the time)? cooking....I love it. Bet you didn't know that!

12. If your parents often repeated themselves, what is something one of them said more than once? Wear your seat belt......way back then it wasn't a law.

Happy Wednesday!!!

Closed schools and city-wide panic..

....was caused by this in AR today...

You Northerners have my permission to laugh!

Ok, I'm not being fair.....not ALL the schools were closed.

How did it happen?

How did my baby get to be 16?!!

Sixteen years ago, as I went to the hospital in -92 degree
weather, I had no idea exactly how God was blessing our family.

Sure, I knew I was about to add a 3rd baby to our family.
But no one could have explained to me the joy
that you would bring!

There have been trials...amazing stubbornness and
picky eating to name a few.

But the blessings have far out numbered them.

Jared, you are one of the most caring young men I know.
You are always willing to help others out
and it brings me joy to see you love God the way you do.

Happy 16th!!
I love you so much!!

Love you, son!
Now get busy and get that drivers license!!!! :)

Project 365 - Week 1

Week 1!

It is so weird to be typing week 1 again, even though you will also be getting the last few pictures from last year.

I am very excited to have some new friends joining us for project 365. I have spent all day working on my Blurb book for last year's pictures and it is turning out SO GOOD!! It makes me very excited to continue with the project for 2010.

So, if you are joining us for the first time....welcome.

And if you are returning for another year...welcome back!

Here is my week:

Sunday

Back to reality.

Monday

one of my favorite parts of the holiday's is receiving all the Christmas cards. I love reading about what everyone has been doing all year and getting caught up!

Mine have yet to go out......again.

Tuesday

While I was at work today, my oldest son completely took down the Christmas tree for me. And my youngest addressed all my Christmas card envelopes!!

I do love those boys!

Wednesday

This is what a double wide recliner is all about!!!

Thursday

Happy New Year!

We spent the evening with good friends,
playing cards, whoopin' on the boys,
and laughing....a great way to end the year!

Friday

This is my favorite picture from our open house today.
While all the adults (50+) were upstairs eating and visiting, and all the teenagers were running around all over the house, and all the younger kids were playing PS2 in my bedroom, our worship pastor's son had found my boys train set. I found him all by himself and completely content with it!! so sweet!!

Saturday

I was wiped out from our party yesterday.
I spent most of the day on the sofa, in my PJs,
working on my Project 365 book.

So, now it's your turn. Just click on Mr. Linky below, link up your blog and share your weeks pictures!

Completely exhausted but perfectly happy!

New Year's Day is one of my favorite days of the year.

I can't tell you how much I enjoy having my house full of people. It really brings me so much joy. And even though I am totally exhausted from all the prep and entertaining.....I am sad it's over.

Here are a few highlights....

Steve fried two turkeys....one with Buffalo flavoring
and one with Italian flavoring.....deeelish!!!

my kids got a hold of my camera and had some fun...

Lot's of food...

the turkeys after being carved....yum!

How many crock pots can you fit on a counter?
I count 4...with two BIG pots of black eyed peas!

People started coming around 1 and the last left around 5:30

We had the PS2 set up in our room for the little guys.
The older kids were in the basement with the Wii

after a while all the teenagers ended up in our dining room
playing some game

It was a really great day.
I love opening my home to friends and am so thankful I am able to do it.

The perfect start to 2010!

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year to all my friends and family!

Today will be full for us.
Open house
Black eyed Peas (good luck you know!)
lots of food and fellowship
fun!


As we start out 2010,
my prayer is that each of you would be drawn closer to God.
That we would learn to trust Him fully
and walk humbly with Him.

Love and blessings to each of you!!