All is Bright

What a whirlwind of activity the month of December has provided...

~ unpacking boxes and organizing their contents

~ another Christmas program

~ dinner guests
~ a gingerbread house ~ our small group dinner and Christmas pageant
~ Christmas creating ~ cooking, baking, wrapping, delivering ~ traveling to Mobile
~ singing Christmas carols
~ a Christmas Eve visit from the tooth fairy
~ time with family



Wishing You and Yours a Merry Christmas!

My Reminder

When the stress of the week ahead starts to get to me may I remember these precious faces!

Just Stay in the Gutter

There is so much to tell you ~ The last few weeks have been full. Full to overflowing. Overflowing is not always good. Overflowing often leads to being overwhelmed.

We've had a school program ~





with Santa ~


and cookies ~
Mary Frances earned a "snow globe award"~



I've unpacked boxes and attempted organization. Just a glimpse...

Yes, that is a cell phone charger. It was missing for a week. I found it in the train box. I now know what happened, but that combined with a missing house phone have been the cause of a bit of frustration. Let's just say I have been hard to get in touch with this week.

Throughout this school year as I have waited in carpool lines, I have been reading a book by Katrina Kenison ~ the gift of an ordinary day. In so many ways it is fitting that I have been reading this book over the last SEVERAL months. There are many points that I could blog about, but today I will simply use a quote from Katrina Kenison to sum up what is going on with me ~ "The house awaits a hundred finishing touches. Everywhere I look, there is something I need to clean, hang, unpack, or put away." I'm making progress, but it is slow. Some moments I feel as if I make two steps forward and then take three back as we bring in yet another load of our stuff from Frank's dad's house. I mean really how did we have so much stuff in such tight quarters.

Last night we took a break from the projects and had guests for dinner. These friends have been such a blessing to us as we were living down the street. The were our next door neighbors as we were displaced. During this time we became friends. Real friends. Good friends ~ Friends who we are so thankful for. Friends who we can be ourselves with. Friends who have lived the last year and some months with us more than most. Friends whose children we love. Friends who we can call on. Friends who we never tire of being with.

It was a simple dinner ~ A combination of efforts ~ burgers and sweet potato fries with fruit. Cookies for dessert.

As the evening was winding down the children put on a performance. They acted out the Christmas story, and it was precious. That turned into a dance party. Not sure how that transition occurred but it did. I have no pictures of the first performance, but I did pull out the camera for the dancing. It was priceless! It wasn't just any dance party but a ballroom dancing party. Where did they learn these moves? As I was shooting photos, my mind wandered and I smiled because this is what it is all about ~ being together, laughing, making memories, loving each other and life.

We loved living next door to this lovely family, but now we will just stay in the gutter as we travel back and forth from one house to the other.
I pray that we all cherish these times, these memories, these blessings...

We're Home

Finally, we're home...
Let's not forget the precious little one who will finally sleep in a room and not in the foyer by the front door.
We baked our first cookies, cooked our first supper, read our first books, had our first fire, and spent the first night in our house last night.
You see where my priorities lie ~ It wasn't getting sheets on the beds but instead what meal would we prepare and what old favorites could we read off of our bookshelf. My children were thrilled to have their Curious George back, and it is no surprise that the first story we read was Curious George Goes to the Hospital.I must tell you that despite my many grumbles and complaints over the last 15 months it was certainly worth the wait!



It is far more than I could have ever wanted or needed. I look forward to the countless memories we will make as we turn this house into our home.
What a blessing!

Give Thanks and Sing Praises

On my morning run, I pass by a neighborhood pharmacy that also sells many gift items. {Do you have one of those near you? They often have some great gifts though I have never darkened the door of this particular store!} For the last six weeks or so there has been a pumpkin tray in the front window. The words, "Give thanks. Sing praises. Psalm 92:1" are painted on it. The first time it caught my eye, it made me pause and give thanks for all of the many blessings that I have been given. It made me smile! Since then I have sought it out, because that first time it made me happy and grateful for those many blessings. I have so much to be thankful for ~

my husband...my children...my parents...Frank's parents...my extended family...Frank's extended family...my friends...my neighbors...my health...my home...my faith

... the list goes on and on...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Starts, Spurts, Stalls, and Stops

So we still aren't in the house.

I guess that's okay because I still don't have Mary Frances' dress hanging in the closet. We're close on both fronts!

Construction is definitely an exercise in patience. Just ask my brother patience has never been my strong suit.

These last few weeks have been a series of one step forward, two steps back.
For me it is utter frustration.
For the boys it has been shear delight ~ lots of heavy equipment.
We hoped to move some things in over the weekend, but upon walking through the house yesterday, there were still some issues with the floors. I saw no reason to start putting things in the house if they are only going to have to be moved. Maybe we can make some headway today, but in the meantime I'll leave you with some finished details that I haven't posted. I'll try to take some more pictures today.

Halloween Recap

Good Morning Friends~


A few quick pictures of my royal subjects and their best buddy who was dressed as a "digger"

And with our favorite neighbors...
Call me a party pooper, but Halloween is not my favorite day. Around here people take Halloween to a new level ~ yard decorations, a parade, some even have a band party. Fortunately for me my children aren't terribly into it either. This year we did the most trick or treating ever, and we went to about twelve houses. Call us homebodies, but we are all content to pass out candy from the front yard, and visit with friends and neighbors that way. Now don't get me wrong, I think it is fun for my children to dress up and trick-or-treat. I am all about those memories because I realize there are only so many years that they are going to want to do this with us. However, now that it is done I'm glad to move on into November.