Please pray for Denise

Donetta,

This is Eddie, I have posted a new update on the blog, thanks for your prayers.

November 28, 2007 4:38 PM

Pay it Forward

There is still a spot available

I thought I would jump in and signed up on Bren's "Pieces of Me" This was going around the quilting circles and has now branched out, so please do not think you need to be able to quilt. Any handmade gift will do...napkins, aprons, bags, candles, any thing you can make with your own generous hands. Here is how it goes.

"Come join in the fun and make the world a happier place. So this is how it goes...It’s the Pay It Forward Exchange. It’s based of the concept of the movie “Pay it Forward” where acts or deeds of kindness are done without expecting something in return, just passing it on, with hope that the recipients of the acts of kindness are passed on. So here’s how it works: I will make and send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment to this post on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I do not know what that gift will be yet, and it won’t be sent this month, probably not next month, but it will be sent (within 6 months) and that’s a promise! More than likely I'll get it made after Christmas and sent out early in the New Year. What YOU have to do in return, then, is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog. Unfortunately this is only possible for those who have a blog."

So the first 3 people to comment and join in will get a handmade gift from me....I will make it a nice one, I promise!!

There is still a spot available

Tails from the scales Weel #9 -3

193 starting

191 week one

191 week two (at 189 on Friday) First Synvisk Injestion

193 week three Second injection

190 week four (189 peeked at me) Third Injection

192 week five

188 week six

189 week seven

192 week eight (most of it lining my colon)

189 week nine

I see a pattern loss gives me permission ...hum... I will continue. The eating for your blood meal plan type is a problem the items are too pricey and a bit of a hassle to get. I have to make myself worth it! It really does work when I am doing it. UTI no fun (thats one way to make you get your water intake :)! I am released from Physical therapy for my knee. I have to go back in 10 days unless I have pain that lasts for two days. So far GREAT! I am back with strength in my leg. I will be doing my exercises at home.
We may ride the bikes to the school tomorrow , I'll have to see how the day goes.
O.K. some goals.
1. Drink more water and tea
2. Do my knee exercises and core strengthening.
3. Walk or ride bike every day.
4. Stay away from avoids (wheat,dairy, corn and candy)
5. rest better set myself up for a good nights sleep.
6. Pray for all of you and myself that we all resist the temptations that would so easily take us off course.

Wordless Wedensday

Works for Me Wedensday, A five apron day!

When I am making Gift for Christmas I often will make several and do a type of assembly process. This will make your work go faster and easier. When you do one you know what your going to do then when you do four more it is just thought less and goes fast. I have a few tricks one of them is to use fusible tape to set your pockets. This will give you accurate placement and you don't need to use the pins that might cause it to pucker. Finished aprons under guard. (well they are gifts) Two of them will be for the children's teachers.


I got apron strngs

"SEW...?"

"Sew What...?"!
Aprons!

Heads or tales *Mark* Images Mark our life time.

Over at Meeyauw's visit the Heads or Tails

There are images that mark our life time. Those moment captured in a flash of of a camera. Marked by the flash of a moment for ever stopped in time.
Life is not rehearsed though like so many an image we have to thumb threw.

Babies grow so fast and nothing stops the mark they have upon our lives.
When life is a blur we often miss the mark we so longed for to gain.

This is a mark in time that we let go of. The times we played in our dune buggy and the others who found joy in it as well. All left the mark in time of the loss when we sold it . It marked those carefree days of desert trails. I miss that time. It left it's mark on me.

As parents we leave a greater mark for the future to behold. With our hearts we long for that result to be a mark of excellence, yet so often faltered we mark the road with trial of errors. Mark your course and set your sail.

The future will prevail.
Then they too will leave their mark upon this tired Earth.
It just might prove that they will erase those marks we make in error.
It just might be however that they will show the beauty of those marks well made.

Family Updates

My Immunologist called and all of the major concerns that he tested me for are "NORMAL".

I have been released for 10 days from Physical Therapy. If I get into pain that lasts mor than two days I have to get in. Otherwise that might be the last appointment. I get 9 hours a week back plus the drive time and a less interactive week. I get a little worn of folks when everyone is hurting so bad and so lonely. So many people with such gaping heart wounds. I am grateful to help but it is good to have more of my energy for the family.

Beauty does not have to do first phase on her braces. She gets to wait another 6 months before we begin. She has a mouth of a 12 year old and we await her two baby teeth to fall out. We have the choice to make of Head gear every night for two years Or pulling out two teeth.

Dash has an I.E.P. appointment on December 6th! Then services will comence.

Dash has an 2 appointments on this Friday at the Children's Rehab Services Clinic at ST. Joe Hosp. We also have to do a financial review and update. Big hassle of paperwork and such. Hubby not getting a raise yet is a real bonus here for we are covered at 100%. Funny how God works.

Hubby may have some more skin cancers, he sees a doctor tomorrow. Please Pray for him. :)

So much good news!

Your Christmas is Most Like: The Muppet Christmas Carol

You tend to reflect on Christmas past, present, and future... And you also do a little singing.

What Movie Is Your Christmas Most Like?

The little drunner boy

I want to live my best for Him, but I fail every day. I want to be in tune and on the beat, but I falter and fall on my face. The thought of Him smiling at me brings me to tears. Every time I hear the drummer boy song...well I feel His love for me. When it is sung "Mary smiled"...well it is like My own Mother being pleased with me. Every child wants to know that their Mother is pleased with them. This morning both of my kids made choices that frustrated me. I as a mother have to correct them, train them and find a way to always let them know I am pleased with them. It is hard when you have all your work undone by them and then more work created by thoughtlessness.
I guess that must be what it is like for God with us, With me. Yet He still finds ways to say that he is pleased with me. The greatest hurt is when the efforts we take go unnoticed. These can be deep wounds to the soul.
Lord help me to notice all of your efforts, and those of my children and all of the others around me.

"Drummer Boy"

Come they told me,
pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see,
pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring,
pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King,
pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
So to honor Him,
pa rum pum pum pum
when we come.

Little Baby,
pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy, too,
pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring,
pa rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give our King,
pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
Shall I play for you?
pa rum pum pum
on my drum.

Mary nodded,
pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time,
pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him,
pa rum pum pum
I played my best for Him,
pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
Then He smiled at me,
pa rum pum pum pum
me and my drum.

"Blessed are the pure in heart:
for they shall see God."
-- Matthew 5:8

Christmas Meme

Hootin' Annie Started a meme go gove her a visit to get the code.

For the holiday season, I've started a meme. "The Twelve Questions of Christmas" If you'd like to participate, I'd be honored to have you join in the fun. If you'd like, you are welcomed to use the meme header graphic!

1. Christmas is HOLY. [fill in the blank with ONE WORD]

2. In memories, what was the best part of your Christmases past?
Shopping for Christmas Angles. I love the Salvation Army bell ringers! I will always try to share what I can and then some when I see them. I try to have a little gift for them in my bag. I get a wonderful rush when they tear up at the kindness.These folks kept me alive in my childhood and made many a Christmas come to life for us.
I often sign and have several cards in my purse for those acquaintances you see in community.
I love the Worship time, the reverence I teach the children and have of my self. For a single life, ONE life, changed everything. To me that is HOLY, each of us have ONE life that can and will change those around us to the good or to the detriment, we get to choose freely what it will be. Seeing this reverence on the face of my children is pure unadulterated beauty! By taking them to live nativities, and reading to them the HIStory of God (not done religiously but relationally) these are those moment when I see in their eye that they really get it.

3. Was Santa ever good to you? [describe how and what]
I remember on year, I had told my Beloved a story of a little paper ballerina music box I had, that had been destroyed in my childhood. That year just before Christmas he was forced to take a class in another city. We had rarely ever been apart. For Christmas that year he gave me a gift. As I opened it I knew before the paper was off what it was. I began to cry...little paper jewelry box. When I opened it I was a child again with everything that the worm had eaten restored. I wept freely for the first time in my adult life. It was profoundly healing. I still have it this many years later it is one of my prized possessions.

4. Do you open gifts on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or both?
We try to go to a candle light service. We have a tradition to open one gift on the Eve. We first have communion together ( as man and wife) and ask for forgiveness of one another. We thank God for each other in specific ways.We worship and pray and open a gift together.
We watch the children play peacefully with the one gift that would be lost in the madness of the mornings rush. Sometimes it is the PJ"S made for the night.

5. Is there something you make each and every year? [craft or recipe]
Leg of Lamb in remembrance of all that is Holy. On Christmas Morning a pot of coffee for hubby and tea pot of loose leaf for me. A breakfast treat of baked muffins or such.

6. What is your favorite five[5] Christmas songs/hymns?
"Drummer Boy" Hand Down!, Oh holy night, Silent Night, What child is this? and a funny tune..."i yi yi it's Christmas and I don't know what to do...I yi yi it's Christmas and I don't have a gift for you! The children and I do this silly dance, it is a very upbeat ray gay(sp?) tune that is so funny to dance and be silly with.

7. Is there a new tradition for Christmas since your childhood days?
Peace

8. Describe one of your Christmas trips. [whether it's across town or across country]
We all load up and go to the Grand Parents across town. Everyone wants to stay and play with their toys and so it is bitter sweet. Everyone also wants to be with the folks. They often nap and ketch their breath and settle down. It is a time of transition. Usually a desert or main dish between my feet or in the trunk. It is quiet because the kids are tired and we just rest our ears for the 30 minute drive. :)

9. Do you have a special Christmas outfit to wear for the day?
Often I have all the picture of Christmas Morning in a robe and nightgown (there is no time for me). The night before is usually late if I am doing the meal. So waking up is a blur. Once it all settles down I get to look at the pictures and relax.
I like to have a warm dress on and boots with a nice necklace on. Jewelry is essential even it I have jeans and a cute vest. I love my jewelry and beads

10. Have YOU or any of your family members sat on Santa's lap?
My children have a voice and prefer not to sit on any strangers lap, they will approach him and be gracious standing beside him for photo opps. They just would cry so I never forced them to do it. They know that the history is that these are traditional helpers who costume in remembrance of the real Santa who passed years ago.

11. What is/or will be on your Christmas tree this year?
Traditional family ornaments many hand made. We have an ornament for every year we have been together. One for each year of the children's lives too. Many the kids have made or have been given. Several that have been gifts to me by other children or by friends over the years. Several Russian made, beautiful ornaments that will be passed to the children when they are grown and have homes of their own.

12. Do you/or have you decorated your yard for Christmas?
I have dreamed of making a "Drummer boy" "I played my best for him " yard decoration! I even purchased all of the supplies years back, It never gets made. It is a vision I want! I always do my entry and love to fly a few December flags. Now it is "Winny the Pooh on a shovel sliding down a hill". Next it will be my "Wise Men Still Seek Him" flag and then as the season grows close It is a "Nativity" flag. We have white lights to trim the side walk if I can get them up and lights that trim the house they are like ice cycles. Beloved kinda does not enjoy the work of it. I really love it all decked out! I like garland around the front door and a wreath too. I had a beautiful huge wreath I made and let Hubby talk me into tossing it last year...Arg! It hung over the garage, I just love the way it looked but it was a pain for him to mount.

Tackle It Tuesday

Dee: I love the note pad on the big board.

Big day for my Daughter,
she will have a new panorama of her mouth (x ray) taken to find out how everything is coming along. Beauty had a maverick tooth grow parallel in her upper pallet that we had to have surgically removed. It pressed against her front teeth and mal-formed her teeth. We have been waiting for her to develop both physically and emotionally to set braces. She has had hardware on the bottom to hold her teeth with enough open space as to not close in. Now we need to address the extensive overbite caused from the maverick tooth we had removed about a year ago. Braces in the new year we think?
I am devoting this Tuesday to my daughter. I think I will take her out to a nice lunch or make her her favorite tuna here at the house before she goes back to school. Her laundry, Her room and her Christmas gifts sewing projects.
I trust it will all bring her a smile that will shine her heart out to it's full!

Good news!
Her little 10 year old mouth is more like a 12 year old and the orthodontist was surprised. He is going to skip 1st phase and wait 6 months more for the last two baby teeth to fall out "No Braces now "until next summer. More time to save up for it.
I actually took a day of leisure! Yes ME! I needed it!
Now I need to sew.

Pardon my horse pucky!

I am full of it! Minimalistic Christmas ... I just been far to extravagant for far too long...Don't listen to me wine. I ran out of cheese, harhar

Morning thoughts

The reality of a minimal Christmas is hitting me. It is so much fun to celebrate the kids and too splurge. They are such great little people. I will have to really step it up to be so creative as to bring tradition into it as well. It is really a sweet thing to love them this much to refuse myself the pleasure of over abundance toward them. I really want to love them so well as to break this cycle. They have way too much. They are so crowded in the rooms and I want them to have better character. I am a little teary eyed. Oh how forward I look to seeing them on the pedaling devices encoded here. That is the big thing we were able to do. We must stop spending the emergency savings on "stuff". When we were out of work for over a year all those years of savings flew pretty fast. We have to work hard to build that back up. You know each family needs to have a good three months worth of income saved up. We are now far from that and getting older. Remember to guard your selves from hard times. Financial stress is so devastating on families.

The Fruit of the Spirit is "self control" This is a terrific opportunity to practice and teach it.
I will be SEWING every day! I will be doing ONE on One with them instead of giving them so much stuff. Parenting is an education in doing it differently as I go. I miss home schooling because of this. I once spent so much time with them. Gotta to go wake them up now to do so.

Have a great day!

Menu Plan Monday

For more ideas stop by "I'm an organizing junkie"

Good Morning!

I am having a little challenge with this meal plan. Eating for your blood type is very hard. I should live in the Pacific North West! This stuff is not so easy to come by in the desert. I will do my best because I know it works and it is very healthy for me. I feel the creek in my joints from all the "avoid" foods I have consumed over the last week or so. I need to matter to get this weight off and stop the allergic reaction stuff. I gotta tell ya Liver and onions is an iffy for me, but I'll try. I got to call Michelle to see if they might boarder for some venison.

Dee:
I love the magnetic note pad it is just perfect for my shopping list on the big board. Thank you.

Symbols of Christmas

1982 Our First Christmas togeather.
Thos clogs have a great story. Beloved killed a cock roach for the sales clerk and got 10% off:) Wow we still have his old lunch box. I wore the clogs out though.

1984

1986
The first year in our second home.

In 1997 this is the match Photo we received for Christmas. It is Beauty. We had to wait a long three months to hold her in our arms

1999 Our First year in this home. This is all for one child! Nuts!

2000 A little girl in paradise.

Her favorite gift! A "Moses stick" I whittled for her and dried in the attic. I sanded it down and she adored it!

2001 We returned from Russia on December 15th with our son. What a Gift!

2002

2003

This year my family received a Mother alive. December 21st, after I was hit by a man who fell asleep at the wheel and struck my car doing in excess of 120 mpr.
However I was out of action for several months to come.
This has an amazing story behind it os God's intervention and protection.

2004

2005

2006 We totally splurged and answered a little girls prayer. A bonus made us able to give her a pony. We did not have to feed it or clean up after it. Youth fades so quickly.

I once had a tree decorated with forest birds hanging from fishing lie from the ceiling laying popcorn carlands around the tree. The tree was full of bird nests and dried flowers.

Many symbols of Christmas are absorbed from Pagan origins and assimilated into Christian customs. The Christmas Tree is one of them. Like the pumpkin of Halloween it has its roots in paganism. There was a time when I had a large wooden cross in my living room in opposition to the tree. Then as I looked back I became aware that it is a symbol of torture (the realization of it has made me not to fond of wearing a cross either having known torture personally). I much rather see Him on the thrown :). I use a Tree as a place to put reminders of our life time together on display for the holiday season. Because Dash and I have asthma we use an artificial tree. I sorta don't get into the thing to cut down a tree for my own self if I am not going to burn the wood and use the resources, but thats just me. Living trees pose a lot of insect and mold issues. A couple of years or so ago we were fortunate to find this tree at a reduced price. Our former tree was dwarfed by our high ceilings and this one is tall and skinny so we keep the much loved floor space.

He is so pleased to be trusted with the glass ones .

Beauty is placing her "1st Christmas "

The children had so much fun. For every year of their life I have made or purchased an ornament that was applicable to the year lived and a token of remembrance. Prized treasures. I need to make them this year (we are being VERY disciplined to conserve our funds to go back East next year, pay for Beauty's braces and an tooth implant for me) We all love them (the memories and ornaments). The kids did all the decorating except the ribbon and the lights and star. I put a few of the very top things on. Beloved helped a while and asked to be excused because he wants to clean the kitchen for me to have a fresh start in the morning. How sweet is that!
My children have grown so quickly. These days will be a blur soon for the years are as a vapor in time. Treasure the years you have with you kids. They are a sweet gift. We are going back now to our roots for it is vanity to continue to splurge like this. I will make them a nice Christmas. It is time to stop the over abundance and now we live within the lesser means made available to us. We had fun when we were in the money... It will be fun now too. Just take a little getting used too.

Sunday Smiles

Wow! Another morning of up at 8:15, showered dressed and granola bars in the car, sitting on a pew by 9am. This in itself is astounding in that I went to bed at 4:40 am, awake in prayer all night. Kids had a real challenge with fear of the child care and sat with us at service. They are so challenging over childcare. We never really left them anywhere where or really with anyone for the most part. Only people we really know well and even that very seldom.
We thought they wanted to do a childcare in Dash's age group with a mutual friend(who is also adopted as is his sister) from school. Dash bolted afraid that the kid would not be there, but that little tidbit was left out of his ability to explain his fear until way late in the process of our attempts to encourage him to keep his word. Beauty then (after the assurance was given them both that we would come and double check on them to see if they were alright. Dash agrees sorta to stay then Beauty bolts. ) We are all, after all this, are sitting on the pew as a family of frustrated folks. listening to a great message on the Spirit within us (that choice of spirit) being our self control. We met the couple and sat with them who had the kid known to our children.
After services another woman approached me she had a son (who is also adopted) in Beauty's class at the elementary. She told me I could stay with Beauty and explained the Sunday school class to me. She introduced herself and I had her son at the rock museum the other day. I am begining to feel a little panicked. I am concerned about remembering all these people, so Beloved set up a text info file for me to make myself some notes of people/events and reminders. I so want to go run into my cave rather than be set up for more memory dysfunction humiliations. I have to face this fear in the eye and stand.
I was invited to join a cliq, It is a funny thing in that it is a Spiritually based bloggers "cliq". I'm still not quite sure what that is so "Hopeful Spirit" if your out there I need better understanding of what you have invited me into.
I just came back from making Taco's for the kids.
Beauty just came to me and apologized for running away from her actions. SHE ACKNOWLEDGED it!

I'm smiling!
That was a big step in the right direction for her.
Dash just came and after complaining about lunch apologized and asked me respectfully for what I offered, and how he might be of help to me.
Wow! O.K. I'm smiling now!

Time to SEW on, and on and on and on and on...:)

Mother and Daughter Blog Carnival due nov25

My Daughter is asleep now on the couch. She is troubled by a dream. She is feeling insecure and a bit stressed. Her and her brother for some unknown reason decided it would be an idea to throw rocks at the marble bath tub surrounds walls. "Daddy man", much to his anger, discovers the children in the act as Beauty was trying to get Dash to comply with throwing one a little higher to break the bathroom window. Now my best guess is that she saw something on a morning show or perhaps just wanted to get her brother in a heap of trouble. However Dash was too willed for her and refused. That apparently is what started the rough that brought the "dad" to the scene of the crime aforementioned.
Well I was on a long distance call with another blogger when I heard Hubby in his fury over the event and just had to excuse myself to go see what was the issue.

Does anyone else have a sweet beautiful daughter who acts out the things in her mind as if she had not a clue as to the effects or consequences. Ten might just be that golden age of development that we begin to see more of these things. A greater rift between siblings is occurring in our home and this is a great concern to me. To most folks it appears to be chalked up to being just normal stuff. I think that the delta in the intelligence between them is a real hurt to Beauty who pales intellectually (we just had all that testing for the IEP) to Dash who is also very precocious about things. It must hurt her to know that at 6 years of age her brother is just leaving her in the dust. Hubs and I try real hard to hide our amazement at that little guy and what he comes up with but everywhere we go it is noticed and folks are startled by Dash. Intellect is a doubled edge sword. Dash is boarder line genius or well into to it IQ wise. He is 6 however and he is very immature too. Beauty has strengths that are more subtle and charming. She is a very strong reader. She is an introvert by nature and must be pulled out. Avery much of a caring person about others. She has been in a lot of hot water lately though. Her heart is beautiful but it is toying with resentment and that is not good for her well being.

We as Mothers to daughters have so many concerns to address. What about a little girl who wants to marry and fantasizes about it, normal yes. My Sweet child wants to adopt.
We recently had a guest; a little boy who was the son of a nephews date. They spoke (beauty and this child) of marrying. The boy is a year younger. Beauty has had this idea of marriage for several years now. Well she came to me so cute in a very strange way, and declared.
"we are going to marry, but because he is my cousin(he is not really) we will adopt. We don't want to have our own kids because they will have 6 toes".... I sitting there with jaw lax thinking where in the world would she get this?..I sputter out well..."you are really not cousins... She chimes in..."oh well I still want to adopt my kids". She is boy crazy and has been for a while. It does concern me. I just cant say how many many times I have explained to her that she is WAY to young to be concerned with such things. She still has crushes on boys (The bad boys...arg) This terrifies me! She loves a boy with bravado. I think perhaps she needs adventure in her life.
The heart of a woman or even a girl desired adventure. We do not want to be the adventure we want to share one.
Perhaps this is where I must look to address my daughters heart.
Oh, the heart of a daughter...

Photo Hunt *Hot*

1984
He is "HOT" to me...
He is my heart throb and has been for over 25 years now!
Beloved on our third Christmas.
That is "Jazz Cat" Jasper our first pet together. Long gone many years ago.
This was our first home.
Beloved purchased it (before we met) as a 20 year old
by buying and fixing and selling used cars. It was 900 sq. feet of paradise on earth.
We still have that red mechanics stool I gave him.
The bear lamp was one of my early creation, there is one in the far background too. I could just kick myself for selling it!
The wooden chair in the back ground was made by his grandfather. Same goes we gave it away.
That carved coffee table was from my youth my step dad brought it back from the Philippines.
He was a Merchant Marine in the 50's and 60's.

Must read her post!

Chrysalis Has a very good post up!
A purposed Driven Christmas, A must read!

A wonderful day!

Black Friday...
"It's the worst day of the year...to go shopping!"
My view on it anyway :)

I would never dream of going shopping. I slept in and just enjoyed my Hubby next to me , the kids came in and we all enjoyed the slow morning. I cleaned up all the dishes and hired the kids to gather all the fall decor and paid them a $1 to do it.
Hubs had a good friend come over and the two men took the decorations bins out of the attic for me! All of them In the garage “it is so amazing”! They just did it for me no issues no complaint! I put all the fall stuff back in the attic bin as they handed it up to me. It was so awesome! The men even put the tree up for me NO QUESTIONS JUST MATTER OF FACT!
Hubby filled the tires in my bike and the kids and I went for a ride. His bike had a flat tire (bad tube).
I enjoyed doing some sewing and really loved Beloved presence in the room. He did a back up on my computer system. I tinkered in my findings fixing up the ribbons in spools and all the items of like kind together. It is so nice now that the kids are old enough to have a little me time.
Then we decorated a little bit.
Daddy man took the kids to Costco to get some supplies and To Wal-Mart to get a tube for his bike tire. They had a few $ burning holes in their pockets.
I plated the left overs on our plates and the kids had hot dogs. Afterward we all had a movie night (The Walton’s on DVD).
Kids had bath time and I tied a few heart strings with Beauty and read to her during her bath time. It was sweet. Now markers busily cover over white paper while the boys are off in the Dad's office. Bed times approaching for them quickly.

Please pray for Denise, She is not feeling well!

Aloha Friday

Kailani over at Island Life Aloha Friday go check folks out.

My question...
Have you ever gone from flooding the kids with gifts(year after year) to a bare bones one or two gift hand made except one big gift,Christmas? If so, what tips can you give me...


If you’d like to participate, just post a question on your blog . Don’t forget to stop by and visit the other players at Island life

Thankful Thursday

Thankfully I was able to sleep until 9 am Of course Thankfully the alarm went off at 6 am to go put the turkey in the oven. Thankfully I had it all ready to put in the oven yesterday. Bagged in the oven bake bag and all softened butter covered.

Thankfully When I awoke I had enough wits about me to make Dash the "Top Hat" he so desired.

Thankfully a wonderfully full and abundant package from Dee...From the apron exchange greeted me as I entered into the kitchen. Graciously it was so full of so many good things. In it were the most beautiful hand embroidered table cover "Give thanks" so cute! Now I have been pining over "Gracious Hospitality's" needle work and here ...What a thoughtful and gracious gift from Dee...How did you know I love needle work? Also a great hand crochet wash cloth a little bird must of told her how much I love these things( Jaye is that so amazing? Dee I told Jaye I wish I had some of these... A wonderfully penned note too. Your work is beautiful Dear Lady and your heart so kind. Thank you Thank you Thank you! Mary Englebright notepad that is so me with a Victorian porch, bird feeder and gardening tools and a sweet little frame of Mary Englebright design. A girl putting a heart into a box labeled life. Now this is amazing I had these in my hands a few weeks ago and was going to purchase them as Christmas gifts, but in my diligence and respect to budget replaced them on the shelf at the store with a little "God these are so cute ...but I let them go..." Hear they are Dee right back in my hand! too perfect. Oh Oh and on the envelope... a SUNFLOWER!

Oh The Apron! Wow it is so beautiful. I wore a matching dress! I have a beautiful purple apron! Just beautiful! Sweet little buttons adorn the bib, and sweet green buttons the straps and ties. It is so vibrant and I felt so good in it today! It looks like part of my dress. I had the picture in my jammies.


What a beautiful apron she sent me made with the loving kindness that rang out form her hands.
"Daddy Man" let Beauty use an old camera to capture the day

Thankfully the potatoes all got pealed and the yams slices The stove cooked an steamed out the joy of abundance. Thankfully at 10:45 I had a hot shower to go and bask in, while my guest who were due at 11 am were delayed. When I got out of the shower One of the prettiest Turkeys I have ever done awaited me in the oven!

My MILove, FILove and BILove all arrived as I pulled it out of the oven. Everything was ready! See the beautiful "Round of Rolls BILove brought. He brings these from a bakery down in Tucson every year. Everyone is so excited about the rolls.
Kailani I opened the Macadamia Nuts they are wonderful and everyone found joy in this delightful Hawaiian treat!

I had the extra gravy that I had made on Saturday ready to heat.

Last Saturday I made the gallon of this delight, I had more time this morning

MILove brought two pumpkin pies made with soy milk just for Dash and I to be able to have them. And lemon merang (two of them) Oh man YUM! She also made cole slaw (so good and fresh and crunchy! Whole Cranberry Sauce too!
Beauty and her did their traditional whipping of the cream, a wonderful grand mother grand daughter time. While the young men (including Dash) went to test drive BILove's new car (it replaced the car that was totaled when he was painfully rear ended at a stop light).


Dash read his TWO books he wrote yesterday and illustrated (Attack of the Evil Pants Part one and two) with top hat, dress shirt and pants oh! he was cute!

Beauty and Grandma had a knitting lesson.
We had a very relaxed afternoon.
I dare say it was one of the nicest Thanksgivings I recall.
We had a great time.
Daddy Man and the kids are playing a computer game and I sit and relax a bit.
In my apron
Thank you Dee, I am thankful to your for you loving kindness and generosity.