Mother's Day Meme

Angie at The Knightly News is hosting this meme for Mother's day...

Since it is such a busy weekend - I want to share with you about my MOM from my post last year... and then see pics and updates on her Cancer from earlier this year here.

I hope that the other moms that read will join in ... link to Angie's blog so we can all visit together during this next week.

Being a mom is a high calling. I am blessed to have a Godly Mom... and I am blessed to be a Mom.

Look forward to visiting with you all!
Sweet Blessings...

Beginning Together

TUESDAYS TOGETHER (in the WORD) offically begins next week.



Now, I have figured out how to get Mister Linky working on my blog (YEA!)



So, here is what I want you to do... Please post a blog about beginning our reading together. Leave a comment. Link back to this blog from your blog. Sign up on Mister Linky.



Our reading starts on Jan 1. See the side bar for the reading list. Even if you do not get a blog posted this week - you can let us know that you are with us by leaving a comment.



I am still learning so much about blogging.

I certainly am still learning so much about the WORD.

I am excited about this journey this year with you.

Together in the Word

I have been thinking about what we all could do together this year... and praying about it.

The message this morning was a challenge for us to "Go Deeper" in our relationship with the Lord, in our knowledge of the Word, in our reading.

Then today, Kelly at Where's the Beef suggested to me that maybe we could read our Daily Bible Reading together.

So here are the thoughts for now....

Would any of you be interested in having the same reading plan... and then having some discussion together one day during the week? I plan to have a Mister Linky... for you to sign up on each week - and link to your post on your blog. (Or if you are not a blogger - you could just comment/discuss with us.) Not only would it be fun - but we could actually hold each other accountable.

So, leave a comment and let me know if you are interested. Not a commitment- just interest.

Also, I am going to see if I can get a button for us all to add to our side bar soon. I am thinking that I will call it WEDNESDAYS in the WORD. *** This has been changed to TUESDAYS TOGETHER in the WORD. *** I know that many of you participate in the Word-filled Wednesdays - and I am not trying to compete... You could actually do both.

Let me know what you think...

2008 Christmas Tour of Homes

I am so behind on all of my decorating and preparations this year.... but was determined to join in on this fun. It is now 10:40 p.m. on the 15th... and I am just posting. It is amazing how much of the clutter/mess you can NOT SHOW in these pictures... I'm just saying.

So here we go.

First the front door...

Please do come in..





I have this table in the foyer with a small tree that I just added this year. It is my "Nativity Tree." I have only put angels, crosses, and Nativity ornaments. (and silver/white/gold misc. decorations)

The Nativity on this table is the one that I have told the precious grandbaby and her friends that come over here... "this one we do not touch." Hal brought this one home to me when he was preaching a revival in North Georgia many years ago. It is one of my favorites and it is breakable. They have been so precious in "not touching". But you will see why in just a few minutes, as I show you the ones that they can touch and play with.




For years I collected nativity scenes. Until I gathered so many that I really do not have enough room to get them all out.



Look at this picture that my Mom gave me. If you can look close enough - you will see that it is the passage from Luke chapter two. Amazing, huh? It hangs on the wall over this table. I plan to get a new frame for it... mayby by next year.







Here are the stairs...And next we come to the dining room. I do not have the table all decorated as it will be for Christmas morning... but wanted you to see what I have. I decided to go with silver and gold in here this year.

This was my grandmother's dining room suite... I have a lot of wonderful memories around this table.

This candle is on the piano... and I have displayed a small Nativity in the globe. This one came from Rome. Precious friends brought it back to me. I actually leave this up all year. I love it displayed this way.

Now we move to the kitchen table. This is where we eat all the time. I love these dishes...





Now, as you come into the family room, I have a little wagon - and this Nativity is from Guatemala. You can see the Indian culture in the long design of the faces. It is carved from wood. The little ones can and do play with it.




And for some reason, when Aubrey is through playing... she lays them all down. Always. So, each night I set it up again for it to be ready for her to play with again the next day. And when she leaves to go home... they are once again laying down. I guess they are sleeping...



And here is the tree...



I am having trouble with my lights... the lower half is out. I just do not want to take the decorations off to fix them...


And now, here is the mantle. You might have seen some of this for my post when we had Christmas in May for our Jonathan who was home from war. I got some of it out then.





And here are my Carolers - that I painted - Yes in the 80's. But I still like them. So, they go on one of the end tables. They are just so cute ... don't you think so too?




Look at those faces... They are singing "JOY TO THE WORLD".



On the lowest shelf of the entertainment center is where you will find this Nativity. It is the one that my mother had when I was a little girl. Yes, I know... it is OLD. I love it. And it is unbreakable...so, it is another one that I told the little ones that they COULD TOUCH. Handle it, play with it. And they do.








And just like the one in the wagon...when Aubrey is through playing...she puts it away like this. She will tell me, "Let me put them back in the cage." LOL I call it a stable. She calls it a cage. And she always lays them in here like this. Precious. Precious. Precious. I love it.








And last, but certainly not least are our stockings. We have Christmas breakfast at our house. Everybody has a stocking. Makes me excited just thinking about it. We have a ball. This year, Jonathan is home from war and will be back with us. Julia and Ronnie will not be able to come until the day after Christmas. We will have another celebration on Saturday with them. Maybe next year we will ALL be able to be back together again.


Well, that is more than enough for this tour. I look forward to browsing through some of your homes. too.

You can see more at Boo Mama's Tour of Homes 2008.
And at We are That Family - It's Time to Share Your Tree


And at Hooked on Holiday House Tours

And at Kimba's Holiday Open House

And at Rhoda's Deck the Halls


This has been fun... but I am TIRED.


Merry Christmas to you all! and Blessings... Sweet Blessings...

I've been tagged

Tagged!!!
Okay, I've just been tagged by Jessie for the longest meme ever invented. It's self explanatory, so I'll just dive right in. Oh, and if you don't make it all the way to the end, I tag Darlene, Tricia, and Alison. 'K here goes.

(By the way... I had to look on google to see what a "meme" was! lol!)

1. What kind of soap is in your bathtub right now? Dial and some kind of body wash :)

2. Do you have any watermelon in your refrigerator? Uh, no.

3. What would you change about your living room? The twelve year old carpet and the couch too.

4. Are the dishes in your dishwasher clean or dirty? Clean (and have been since yesterday. They just refuse to put themselves away!)

5. What is in your fridge? still leftovers from Thanksgiving

6. White or wheat bread? both... but I love the whole grain from panera.

7. What is on top of your refrigerator? uummmmm... tray with nice stainless in it .. and a pretty soup bowl and some leftover bread

8. What color or design is on your shower curtain? have a door


9. How many plants are in your home? 5 real ones... not sure how many fake ones


10. Is your bed made right now? not yet... been on the computer with Jon this morning... but will be before I shower :)


11. Comet or Soft Scrub? Soft Scrub


12. Is your closet organized? Sure. but only I understand the organization.. lol

13. Can you describe your flashlight? what? mine is just a small black flashlight. Nothing fancy.

14. Do you drink out of glass or plastic more at home? plastic.

15. Do you have iced tea made in a pitcher right now? does milos count?

16. If you have garage, is it cluttered? well... compared to a few months ago... no... I COULD get the car in it if the door opener was fixed..

17. Curtains or blinds? Blinds. old little ones... that needs to be replaced

18. How many pillows do you sleep with? One.

19. Do you sleep with any lights on at night? nope...Hal likes it DARK. I would if I could..,.. just a night light in the bathroom.

20. How often do you vacuum? ummmmmmm not enough

21. Standard toothbrush or electric? Standard.

22. What color is your toothbrush? blue and white this time but really just whatever color I get from my dentist.

23. Do you have welcome mat on your front porch? yes... Faith, Family, Friends

24. What is in your oven right now? my Pampered shelf round stone. Where else can you keep it?


25. Is there anything under your bed? no...thanks to FLYLADY... I have it completely cleaned out

26. Chore you hate the most? ummm depends on the day. Sometimes I just hate unloading the dishwasher...how lazy is that???

27. What retro items are in your home? ?????

28. Do you have a separate room you use an an office? yes.. Julia's old bedroom and I LOVE IT!!!!!

29. How many mirrors are in your home? six

30. Do you have any hidden emergency money around your home? don't think so...

31. What color are your walls? beige for most of the house. Still the old (twelve year old - do you see a pattern here?) blue and fruit wallpaper in the kitchen. My office - dark blue - DARK blue - Julia style :), The "grand-baby" room - yellow - Jenifer Style, the guest bathroom light green. Oh, yeah.. the dining room . - DARK burgundy (12 year old style)

32. What does your home smell like right now? Christmas tart :)

33. Favorite candle scent? what ever the newest tart is

34. What kind of pickles are in your refrigerator right now? Dill chips

35. Ever been on your roof? The porch roof... will go there again today - to put up Christmas Decorations.

36. Do you own a stereo? not any more...

37. How many TVs do you have? two

Two. One in the den, and one in my bedroom.


38. How many phones? Uh...three. Plus our two cells.

39. Do you have a housekeeper? Ha! Yeah, her name's DeeDee. Lately I've been thinking of letting her go... (that was Jessie's answer... but I agree lol)

40. What style do you decorate in? not sure - never finished - always changing...

41. Do you like solid colors in furniture or prints? Not a floral person- but have stripes now... Want some solid (leather)

42. Is there a smoke detector in your home? yes... three - one on each floor.