Season of Giving & True Friendship

I had quite a week-end!! Whew, glad it's over, but it was truly a blessing in disguise. My best friend, who has been with me since high school is going through a really rough time. She's going through a really nasty and messy divorce and had to move this past weekend. I helped her move along with her family. We moved all hers and her boys things, furniture, etc. On Sunday, myself and 2 of her sisters stayed at the "new" house and thought we'd get a "few" of their things put away and maybe their beds set up. We worked sooo hard all day while she was at her old house packing and getting last minute things done. Her boys kept bringing load after load and just basically unloading it and going back for more. There was no talking, at the "new" house, every once in a while, we'd run into each other since we were trying to get as we feverishly worked to get as much done as possible before she got there!! I don't know how we did it, but by 6:00 pm when she got there we had put EVERYTHING away, set up each and every room, hung pictures on the walls and was even able to put up and decorate her Christmas tree!!!! We were so excited, but the most precious thing about it all was the look on her face when she walked in and saw her new home completely done and the tree up with gifts under it!!!! She was absolutely speechless!!! In all the years I've known her, that's NEVER happened!!! We were TOTALLY exhausted, but seeing how happy she and her boys were and the looks on their faces was all worth it. In this season of giving, that was the best gift I have ever given someone. It was so rewarding to see the joy on their faces and the tears of joy!!! I will not post her name right now, due to the nature of her situation and the messiness of the divorce, but those who are close to me, know who I'm talking about and I ask that everyone pray for her and her boys so that they may have the strength to get through this difficult time. And to my very best friend in the world.....I love you so much and am so glad I have you in my life.

Happy Birthday Megan!!

I would like to wish my wonderful daughter, Megan a very Happy Birthday!!! It was 23 years ago today that my life changed forever!!! I was so very proud that day and I am even more proud today!! Your are the apple of my eye and a very special person. I can't imagine my life without you in it. It's hard to believe your 23 years old, seems like just yesterday that you were born. You were such a good baby and so full of life and always a couple of years ahead of your age. You never met a stranger and loved people as you do now. These past 23 years have been a true blessing to me and watching you become the young woman you are has been a treasure. (Though at times it was a little rocky) I wouldn't change one thing and I just want you to know how proud I am of you and who you have blossomed into and you are one of my best friends and I miss you terribly!! Hope you have a great birthday!!! I love you so much, Mom

Holiday Favorites

Like most people, I have a few holiday favorites. Whether it be foods, movies, songs, etc. Here are a few of my favorite holiday things. I love to bake during the holidays. Anything from cookies to main dishes. Just the cold winter days make me want to cook or bake. Have a couple of "stand by" treats I usually make during the holidays. One is called Pecan Bark the other is called "Reindeer Poop". I know, bad name!! I got the recipe from the wife of a guy I used to work with. It's really good. I love watching Christmas movies during the holidays. My favorite is White Christmas and next would be National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. I don't care how many times you watch it, you laugh so hard everytime you watch it. I love Christmas shopping and wrapping the presents. Like being lazy sometimes on the weekends and just hanging out at home, wrapping presents, baking or just under a blanket watching movies. Lifetime also has a lot of good holiday movies. What are some of your favorites?

BURR!!

Well, another year has passed and it was time to put up the Christmas lights on the outside of the house. My son, Colby always helps me do that (he really does all the work!). This year we were going to do it a couple of weekends ago, when it was warmer, but he couldn't. So as always, we were out in the freezing cold last weekend. The wind was blowing 100 mph, it was misting rain, almost felt like snow and some of the lights didn't work after we got them up. After trying to fix the lights that didn't work, and after our fingers were numb, I decided to go get new ones and be done with it. Easy enough you say!!! WRONG! We got the new lights up and when we got ready to plug in the extension cord, we had ended with the wrong end! Well, I had to go in and warm up so Colby fixed that little problem, got the wreath hung on the chimney and whew, we thought we were done. Plugged them in and the very 1st strand we put up had about a 12 inch section that didn't work. I was back in the house looking out and Colby was quite disgusted by this time and mumbling to himself!! I figured it would be best if I stayed out of his way and so after working for quite a while, gave up. I wasn't happy that a section didn't work. And of course it was on the front of the house, but Colby said, "Mom, nobody will even notice". It really went against my grain to have lights that didn't work, but in the end I gave in and let it be. They really look nice and if you don't know it, you can't really tell there's a small section not working. Thanks Colby!!