good advice for the new year...

they all have to go back...

some in our lifetime...

some after...

you never know which it will be...

so love them all while you can...

here's to all your scars!

I love mine!

I want no open wounds...

those come between you and God and between you and those you love...

heal them up!

How long must we endure our trials?

as long as it takes...

no more, no less...

but we are not doing it alone...

unless we choose to...

be smart...

grab a hand and hang on...

pray without ceasing...

and pass His grace onto others...

May God bless and keep you and yours in 2012...

may the joy of Christ fill each and every day...

Big Hugs- Tete

consumer report...

the bunny is laying...

these were found at our local Walmart today...

further testing is needed to insure they are the real deal...

but initial results claim they are...

stay tuned for further updates...

my word for 2012 is...

gratitude...

that I will be more grateful for everything I am given...

and everything that is taken away...

that I will be more blinded to worldly things...

and focus on what is really important...

with a grateful heart...

an attitude of gratitude can change a life forever...

and those that life touches...

let it begin with me...

its in the 50s, let's go for a walk...

the skies are so blue...

seed pods are waving the breeze today...

still green...

I don't think we will have replant the this in the spring...

dianthus...

just a great day to play outside...

wish it was March or April...

would be getting these ready to go...

another year...

how time flies the older you get...

looking back at the year...

wondering where it went...

it was a year of progress...

and set backs...

for us, there were no deaths...

no weddings...

no births...

but there were still a few changes...

and we made it one more year, together...

so that counts for something...

and I have more friends than I had last year...

and more blogging sisters...

looking forward to the new year...

wondering what it will bring...

a little excited...

we have gardening plans...

deck plans...

flooring plans...

and blooming plans...

and blogging plans...

we woke to this this morning...

it was so pretty...

the wet snow clung to everything...

and the branches were completely outlined on each and every tree...

just under 2 inches...

but the temp was up and it didn't stay long...

there are a few places here and there now...

but tomorrow will take care of that...

spent the day with laundry and cleaning...

ate BBQ at the deli...

nom nom...

and then took a good 2 hour nap this afternoon...

hamburgers and fries for supper...

tired of left overs, so we took a break from them today...

we can finish them tomorrow...

need to make more of those Mrs Fields' chocolate chip cookie bars in the morning...

only one left...

my bestie, Rebecca and her family need prayer...

they called hospice in for her Grams, Ella Mae, yesterday...

she is ready to go and isn't eating anymore...

she is aware of them and what's going on...

been talking with her mom and dad from the other side...

and holding her baby that had been stillborn so many years ago...

from my experience, when they come from the other side...

there isn't much time left on this one...

and that's been the day...

quiet and peaceful and reflective, talking to Rebecca...

praying for her...

and others...

and spending time with my guys...

folding clothes...

putting up most of the Christmas stuff...

have a cozy evening...

my guys...

Craig gave Doug antlers...

my red gloves...

Craig, Doug and DH...

can you believe that they still do bunny ears?

its a Christmas tradition in my family...

this was taken this morning before Doug went back home...

the camera was not used at all this year!

and Doug felt so bad when he got here on Friday...

he was very upset and told me he had run off and forgotten my Christmas presents...

I told him that that was ok...

I had him...

and then DH took him home and brought my presents back...

this was one of them...

and I love him!

my very first sock monkey!

he is a TY beanie baby!

isn't he just the cutest sock monkey you have ever seen?????

ready to party?

here are some fun images to kick out the old year...

and kick in the new...

here comes 2012...

the year I turn 50...

ready or not...

here it comes!

our Christmastime...

Christmas eve morning was fun...

we started our day baking...

we waited to do it when we were all together...

so we could do it together...

first we made Mrs Fields' chocolate chip cookie dough...

and we put it in a cake pan for pan cookies...

once that was in the oven, we moved on to buckeyes...

which is a round peanut butter cup...

and you know how I love those...

got the batter made and rolled into balls...

Doug melted the chocolate chips and spooned the chocolate on top of those...

then we moved onto the apple cake...

each one had their jobs to do and it was fun...

we shared licking the bowls and spoons...

and we talked of all the past Christmases...

while Christmas shows played endlessly on the tv...

we did lunch, whatever you wanted in the fridge...

a few took naps- I was one...

DH ran to the deli in Ashmore and dropped of Rebecca's bag on her back porch...

she had to work yesterday...

then...

we started the prep work on supper...

made the salads...

got the baked potatoes and chicken in the oven...

then DH and I delivered a post card to friends and went to the post office...

back home just hanging out until it was supper time...

Craig grilled steaks and supper was so easy and so good...

then we opened gifts...

talked...

and then Doug and I went for a drive so he could see the lights in town...

we had a very good time...

and then this morning we got up and started cooking the big dinner...

we did it together and ate so much!

it was all good!

then the naps happened again...

LOL

we have ate off and on all day...

its hard to move now...

Doug is going home tomorrow...

he has had a good time being home again...

and now-

the Bears are about to kick some Green Bay butt...

its been a peaceful Christmas...

no stress, family and yummy food...

I wish this could last all year...

Merry Christmas...

"It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”

I got everything that I wanted for Christmas...

I have what matters most...

and you can't buy that...

it's given freely by God...

Peace to you...

O, holy night...

A STAR IS BRIGHTLY SHINING...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SWEET JESUS!

the night before the night before...

just a few Chirstmas funnies...

for those die hard bloggers who just can't get enough of blogging...

even though there's food to cook, floors to scrub and presents to wrap...

Merry Christmas to you all!

HO HO HO

a guys night out...

that's what we gave our kids for Christmas this year...

a night out...

together...

as most of you know, both boys are unemployed this season...

and flat broke...

so...

I had this idea of what to get them this year and ran it by DH...

he thought it was a good idea, too...

I kept trying to figure out what to get them...

and then this idea popped into my head!

what's the most fun thing to do at Christmas?

give to others!

so...

the guys got a night out of shopping together and then they got to eat out...

just the 2 of them...

on us...

that gave them a chance to plan and plot...

keep secrets...

spend some quality time together...

something they don't do much off anymore...

and they bought for us and they even got to pick something out for them...

which will be wrapped and saved for Christmas eve...

so, they did this last night...

Craig took off for town as soon as his dad got home from work...

DH and I stayed home, enjoying the peace and quiet...

made homemade pizza, which was most excellent...

Craig ran in and picked up his big brother and a shoppin' they went...

and you will not believe where they ended up eating out at...

they could have gone anywhere...

but they picked Dairy Queen...

go figure...

well, anyway...

what I wanted to give them was a great memory that will last through the years...

long after we are gone...

the best gift was letting them give together...

spend time together...

without us...

;)

Merry Christmas, guys...

mom & dad love you bunches

I have a new blogging buddy...

Beau Beau is fascinated with the computer screen!

He sits up here for hours watching us do our thing...

he loves the sounds in farmville...

the cows mooing are his favorite...

but he will watch anything...

and he loves visiting your blogs with me... 

the Christmas cards are scarce this year...

wonder if they won't come after Christmas...

without snow here, its been hard for some to get in the "mood"...

a little gift from a secret friend...

;)

I was cleaning today and guess what I had to dust off?

my camera!

can you imagine that?

so I had to dance around the kitchen for a minute and grab some fast shots....

you know, just to make sure it still worked...

there is nothing new...

just the same old same old...

DH and I rode down to the deli this evening after he got off of work...

a tub of BBQ and turkey breast for me...

a restaurant in Charleston used to make the best turkey supremes...

and I was so hungry for one...

Wranlgers, I miss  you!

they closed several years ago and the owner died last year...

it was a mainstay ever since I can remember...

they also had the best BBQ...

sliced turkey breast, mayo, tomato, swiss cheese & lettuce on a huge bun...

they heated the turkey and cheese until the cheese was ooey gooey good...

the juice would run down your arms to your elbows, it was that good...

well, we did our version of their best tonight and oh, my gosh...

it was worth the 8 mile drive to get the supplies to do it...

we also did a quick spin around town looking at their Christmas lights again...

it was raining going down there, but quit while we were at the deli...

well, we are making lists tonight to make sure we get everything done by Christmas eve...

steaks, baked potatoes and salad for Christmas eve dinner...

something we started with my father in law when he was on his low sodium diet...

and it turned out to be a big hit...

we are doing a smaller version of Christmas dinner then Christmas day...

chicken and noodles the main course...

then we will do a ham for New Years...

we are making new traditions...

DH has a whole week off next week!

that's going to be my best Christmas present this year!

Merry Christmas if you don't stop in again until after the fact...

and...

please remember Miss Wonderful in your prayers...

still no word...

help wanted...

I need your prayers again...

I have a friend...

call her Miss Wonderful...

who has been having some health issues lately...

but...

I haven't heard from her in over a week...

I am getting a little concerned...

so could you please take a moment?

and hit your knees?

funny...

hope you are having a good week so far...

nothing much going on here...

need to get a list made of things to do...

Merry Christmas and let the chaos begin!

let's go window shopping...

let's go back to window fronts of the 20s and 30s...

what catches your eye?

now, of course, its more fun if you pretend to be 9 years old again...

or 16...

what did you pick out?

its not too hard to imagine what his dreams were about back then... 

pretty much the same as mine were at that age...

and my kids...

when they were small...

the magic of Christmas never ages...

we do...

Merry Christmas...