We had a very good Thanksgiving service Wednesday night. One of the verses Pastor read was "In every thing give thanks;" It doesn't matter what we are going through. In EVERY thing give thanks. I like hearing the testimonies of what God has done in the lives of others. The Wed night before Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite services.

Thanksgiving morning my mom met us here at the house. We loaded our vehicles and took off to Virginia to have Thanksgiving at my Aunt Margie's house. Aunt Carolyn and Aunt Joyce showed up with all of their crew and it was so much fun.

Here's a pic of mom on the stairs at the hotel we stayed in. Isn't she beautiful?

My cousin, Gina is the beauty on the left. I met her for the very first time this Thanksgiving. That's her son behind her. He's eight and such a sweet kid. Angela, the beauty on the right, I've seen through the years, but certainly not enough! She and her family will be spending this weekend with us before flying back to Alaska! I'm looking forward to our visit. And then in front of me is my cousin Steve. What a ham he is!! I don't think I've seen him since I was about ten. He's a mess. I wish we lived closer. All of us. And last but not least is Steve's little girl, Emily. She was SUCH a doll. I honestly thought I'd never see my cousins again. I was truly blessed this Thanksgiving to have seen them and my aunts and Uncle. There were four or five cousins that were not present. I wish they had been able to join us. And I sure did miss my brother. It would have been great if he and Jenny had been able to come too.

I love you, Gina, Angie, and Steve.

In this picture is my cousin, Gary. He's a mess too! What a little rascal he was when he was younger! Oh the stories we heard and could tell. haha...good times! I love you, Gary.

We left to come home Friday afternoon after making one last stop at Aunt Margie's to say goodbye. We had a good trip home with a stop at Cracker Barrel for lunch. No shopping for us on Friday.

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Saturday morning I took some pictures of a little guy in our church. It was a tough shoot, I'll admit, but here's a sneak peek. Can you think of anything sweeter than chubby little hands?

Saturday evening, our church took the Nursery Mothers out to eat and then to a Narrow Way Production in Fort Mill. It was a lot of fun and I enjoyed our time out together.

I hope all of you had as much of a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend as I did.

God is good....all the time....all the time....God is good.

Christmas, Crafts, and Cooking

When I got home from cleaning a house yesterday, Hannah wanted to decorate for Christmas. So Justin pulled everything down from the attic and the insane rush to decorate and make things pretty for Christmas began. "Insane rush" meaning Bruce was at work and we wanted to get it finished before he got home. I thought he was working a sixteen hour shift. But the kids said he would be home at 10:30. What??? Boy, did that push me into gear! I finished up just minutes before he got home.

We had the house dark with tree lights and candles going. It was so peacful and so pretty. My collection of nativities are out and they are lovely. Just lovely! :D

OK, I have a crafty question. I bought one of those round, plastic covered cake plates. Like Rubbermaid? Anyway, I want to paint the lid with some acrylics. But if it gets washed, the paint will begin to chip. So what would I get to spay over the acrylics to keep that from happening? Any suggestions?

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. We will be celebrating with numerous family members. I need to cook up a couple of desserts. I'm thinking peanut butter fudge and a coconut cake or a chocolate eclaire cake. What will you be doing?

Milkshake Memories and Brides-to-Be

It did not matter how great or how small a good thing was, daddy would always say, "Let's celebrate!" And he absolutely loved the holidays. For Thanksgiving he started a tradition of making milkshakes for breakfast. That was always fun.

It's going to be a difficult day, but we have much to be thankful for. "Pop" is in Heaven. If that was all we had to be thankful for, it would certainly be more than enough. But the truth is, there is so much more to be thankful for and God is good in all things.
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This past Saturday I took pictures of Monica, a bride-to-be. She's getting married next month. Here's a peek of her pictures. You'll be able to see more of the actual bride after she says I do.

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Next Saturday I'll be taking pictures of a little baby in our church. He is the cutest little guy. I have some cute ideas floating around in my head and I'm really excited about it. Fun, fun!

Thank Jesus

We had our Ladies Thanksgiving Fellowship last Tuesday night. The theme for this year was simply, Thank Jesus.


There were about sixty that signed up and about one hundred twenty that showed up! It was good though. We had plenty of plates, plenty of utensils, and plenty of food! If it's one thing I know about the women at my church, they can COOK!



Our future Ladies of Faith showed up too.

I enjoyed the fellowship with all of ladies.

Pastor Goodman showed up to make a plate before everyone arrived. Then scooted back home. Yes, it was a ladies fellowship. I suppose there are certain perks to being the "Big Brother." haha

Some of our little Ladies of Faith have grown up to be adult ladies of Faith. And pretty ones too!

It's good that mom was able to make it. :D

I love my mommy. ;)

Mrs. Becky did good at her drink station, but was really upset we didn't have door prizes this year. LOL

Mrs. Marla...always finding something to do. Busy, busy hands.

My buddy, Dana, was there too.

This was just the dessert table. You should have seen the food tables!

There was a lot of laughter and chattering.

Pretty fall decorations.

And even some "itty bitty" ladies were there!!

Future Ladies of Faith....gotta love 'em.

We took up a love offering for someone special. I thought it was sweet that Trina and Celine passed the baskets.

Mrs. Ava made some announcements and then gave a devotional. It was so good too. She spoke on the treasures God puts in our sacks.

At each plate she had a small sack full of treasures. Five butterscotch pieces represented the four common treasures that most all of us have in our sacks. The fifth treasure represented the secret treasures from God that He gives only to us, personally. Those treasures that mean something special to us.

1. The treasure of Salvation

2. The treasure of the Holy Spirit

3. The treasure of a close walk with the Lord

4. The sure treasure of the second coming

5. The secret treasures from God

For the fifth treasure in our sack, she chose a candy kiss and on the inside was an almond. I thought that was a neat little table favor.

Hannah, LeAnna, and Dana sang I Just Want To Thank You Lord. I wish they could sing it in church. It was so pretty.

I had a great time at the fellowship. I love my church and the ladies there. I love my Pastor's wife. I have much to be thankful for!

Avi Met

Tonight we had our ladies Thanksgiving fellowship. Mrs. Ava had asked me last week if I would say a word. I told the ladies that the first thought that went through my mind was TELL HER NO! But my mouth said yes.

I don't really get nervous speaking in front of people, but I was tonight. After the last couple of days I've had, I knew it would be a difficult task to get through. Since I am a "notes" person I wrote out what I wanted to say. I find it easier to keep my thoughts in line. I thought that was a bad thing, but then felt better about it when I saw I wasn't the only one that did that tonight!!

Anyway, this was what I shared with the ladies:

Avi Met

I read these words in a book Mrs. Ava loaned me on grieving the death of a father. Avi Met is Hebrew for My father died.

Since reading those words and learning its meaning, they have run through my mind several times a day, as if I am trying to remind myself that my father has died.

If ever there was a daddy's girl, it was me. If it were within his power, daddy would do anything for me. He told me daily that he loved. He always greeted me with a hug and a kiss and he always said goodbye to me with the same. He prayed for me and he prayed with me. He was a guiding force in my life to live right and do right. He taught me how to love my children. How to serve the Lord. How to witness. He taught me the importance of family gatherings and celebrations of life. He taught me that the answers to the questions in life are in the Word of God. I can't tell you how many times I would call and ask him a question about life's dos and don'ts and he would say, "What does God say about it?" And then I'd go look up Scripture or he would quote me verses on the subject.

When I was younger and even up until earlier this year, whenever I would think of daddy passing through this life, into the next, I would begin to cry. Just the thought of it was extremely painful. I always thought in my heart that when my dad died, I would fall to pieces. Bruce would be left to comfort and console a depressed wife, my children would have to fend for themselves, I would be a crying mess everywhere I went and in everything I did. It never crossed my mind that God would give THIS much peace and THIS much grace to my grieving heart.

I can't explain to you the peace that He has given in my heart and mind. Yes, I cry. I cry often. I miss my daddy's voice, I miss his touch, I miss the smell of his hands. His hands had a distinctive smell and they always smelled so good! The first thing I did when walking into his bedroom after his passing was open his closet door and his dresser drawers to smell his clothes to see if I could find that smell. I couldn't. Avi Met.

I was afraid to face each day during those first few days of his passing. Each day was a different hurdle for me. I didn't want to think about the next day, I just needed to focus on jumping the hurdle of the present day ahead of me. Once that hurdle was jumped and it was behind me, I could begin to focus on the next hurdle. It was a day by day existence those first few days. The thoughts of flowers and food did not matter to me. Avi Met! What would I do without my sweet, little daddy? The days were difficult and with each of those days, there came nightfall.

Psalm 32:7 says, "Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance."

Come nightfall I snuggled up as close to God as I possibly could because I knew if I didn't I would never get through the next day. He gave me a song of deliverance during those nights. It was He Gives Grace. I would put my iPod on repeat and just listen to it over and over again until I would finally fall asleep.

Not only did he give me peace, not only did he POUR out His grace, but he gave me a song to sing while I was in the lowest valley I have ever been in. That song helped me in ways that only He knows. God knew the words I needed to remind me that He gives grace and that He is, in fact, everything we ever need, for everything we face.

Just a day or so after the funeral, although that song has a special place in my heart, I had no desire to listen to it again like I did during those days.

Psalm 98:1 says, "O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory!"

I can sing a new song of praise because the Lord gave my daddy victory through death. When I think of how he COULD have died, the pain he COULD have gone through, the many days and nights his body COULD have suffered, I can't help but sing a new song of praise. But still even more praise because of his salvation through Jesus Christ. Avi Met! But yet, he lives.

Psalm 68:5 says, "A father of the fatherless....is God in his holy habitation."

My daddy and I shared many things, but the most important thing is, we shared a Heavenly Father. God is our bond. He is our eternal bond. I do not grieve as those who have no hope. My hope is in Christ, Jesus. It has amazed me how my Heavenly Father has lifted me up through the death of my earthly father.

Avi Met! But I am not Fatherless. And for that, I thank Jesus.

Happy Thanksgiving

We had a GREAT praise service tonight and didn't get out until around 10:00. The Robbie Mullinax family showed up and they were such a blessing! I have some videos and when I get around to downloading them I'll share them with you.

I'm killing time right now, here at 1:50 in the morning. My cheesecake is in the setting process now. I'll pull it out of the oven in about 15 more minutes and let it cool completely on the table. Tomorrow morning I'll get up and mix my crock pot mac and cheese mixture and carry it to my mother in laws to cook before heading to my parent's home for milkshakes. By the time we make it back to my mother in law's it will be finished.

It's a good thing I had a good nap today. Looks like it's going to be a short night of sleep. LOL But I'm thankful that we'll be able to spend the day with our families.

I wish you ALL a Happy Thanksgiving!!

Early Thanksgiving

We are very blessed to have our family living here just a few minutes from us in each direction. All, except of course, Mitch and Angie, who are currently living in another state while he is serving in the military. We miss them around the holidays and wish they were here.
Mitch and Angie, If y'all read this, we love you guys and hope to see you soon!

Having family close by has its rewards, no doubt! After our Wednesday Night Praise service, the children will go home with their grandparents and then Bruce and I will go over Thursday morning for a traditional breakfast feast of milkshakes! That's right...milkshakes! The milkshakes will cover your three basic flavors, but also branch out into creativity. Which is always fun. Daddy will make the mess of making the milkshakes, while mom pretends to be upset because we're in her way in the kitchen.

After milkshakes and a few Ooooos and Ahhhhs of the Thanksgiving parades on TV, we will gather up our little belongings and head over to Bruce's mother's house for Thanksgiving dinner where a veritable feast will ensue of Turkey, dressing, and all the trimmings. Followed by the rubbing of tummies and regrets of having that last portion of dressing and potato salad. However, the regrets will not stop us from just a sliver of pie or a pinch of special brownies.

Since we do spend a wonderful Thanksgiving Day with family, I have always tried to have a Thanksgiving dinner here at our house for my family, with just us five, making memories and traditions. I know that when my children are grown, there is a possibility that they will scatter to the four winds. Or in this case, three winds. :D So doing things like this is important to me. It doesn't matter that it's not on the actual day. Just so long as we have the time together. For all too soon, they will be gone, living their own lives, with their own families.

So anyway, our Thanksgiving Day is today. My cheesecake is in the oven. We'll not discuss the cheesecake. Judging from what I see through the oven window, and the fact that there is thirty-one minutes left on the timer, we may not be eating it. LOL ETS: The cheesecake came out lovely. It is nice and firm and looks like it will be delicious!

Tom is in the fridge. I'm getting ready to pull him out and dress him before popping him into the oven. He's so big I'm figuring on him cooking for quite some time. We'll have rice, green beans, dressing and gravy, corn, crock pot mac and cheese, potato salad, deviled eggs, rolls, and mom's punch. I don't know about you, but I'm already hungry!

Bruce had to work first shift this week and Justin is taking tonight from school. So we'll all be home this evening. I'm looking forward to this. With our busy schedules (especially Bruce's and Justin's) it will be nice to all be home together and enjoy the evening.

I Chronicles 16:34 "O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good; for His
mercy endureth forever."

Our Thanksgiving

I had the opportunity to cook Thanksgiving dinner for my family this year. I'll admit it was tiring, but it was fun too. Sometimes I think I thrive under pressure. lol

Wednesday morning, the guys got outside raking and blowing leaves.


Our little neighbor boy, Tyler, came over and visited with Justin while he raked leaves. Sweet kid, that one!


Bruce relinquished the blower into the capable hands of our youngest, who felt he had graduated to man-hood seeing how his dad had given him the operating machinery.

Once the leaves were raked, everyone was ready to get ready for the Thanksgiving service at church, where we are given an opportunity to stand and say what we're thankful for. It was a blessing!

My cake baking buddy, Amy, made this cake that daddy ordered from her. Isn't it just the cutest? I dare say it's the BEST she's done yet. It was so good!


The children spent the night with daddy after church. Mom and I took the opportunity to get a jump start on the Thanksgiving meal. She wasn't able to do a lot, but was able to contribute to the meal by doing things while sitting at the table. Here she is preparing the dressing.

I'm not sure what time she got in bed, but it was after 2:00am when I finally laid my weary head down.

Thanksgiving morning, Jeremy came over for a milkshake. I think he had a chocolate milkshake and then one with peanut butter. I had a kit kat milkshake.
Thank you, daddy. They were delish!


John enjoyed his milkshake too.

But I think daddy enjoyed his most of all. lol

Watching football....

My itty bitty, 6' tall, fourteen year old nephew, Michael was there too. I think he stole some of Hannah's height somewhere along the way. She barely comes to his chest. lol

No family picture album is complete without bunny ears.

Hannah was supposed to be straightening her room, but I found her snoozing on the bed instead. :)

Before....

...after.

This crockpot mac-n-cheese is my mother in law's recipe. It's so good and easy. I was supposed to cook it on low for three hours, but wasn't paying attention and cooked it on high for well over two hours before I realized what I had done. I was glad I added extra milk. It turned out fine.

Bruce prayed and then we did buffet style getting our meal.

The kiddies around the kiddie table are getting older and older! My, how time flies!

Check out that smile...must be good viddles!

Daddy's appetite was good! oops! I forgot to put my all purpose cleaner up.

The dessert table was slap full. My sugar is going up just looking at it.

My college age, adult nieces and their friend were having fun playing on the trampoline.

All the kids, including the little neighbor boy, ended up sitting and talking together. At one point they were all jumping together. That was scary!

Me and my sister-in-law, Jenny. She's having surgery soon to remove her gall bladder. Bless her heart, you could tell she wasn't feeling well.

When everyone was gone, my mother-in-law stopped by for a little bit. We had a good visit with her and then I fought my eyelids to stay open the rest of the evening. When I finally lost the battle with the eyelids, I retired to my bed and had the best night's sleep I've had in a while. I don't think I even turned over in the night.

So how was your Thanksgiving?