DECKING THE HALLS 2013

Deck the Halls With Boughs of Holly...

Fa La La La La, La La La La... 

Don we now our gay apparel 

Fa la la la, Fa la la la la la...

While I tell of ancient treasure...

Fa la la, la la la la la la

Sing we joyous all together...

See the blazing yule before us

Fa la la la la la la la la

FA LA LA LA LA, LA LA LA LA!!!

What does it mean to be Thankful?

It seems really easy for us to say we are thankful. I am thankful for all God has done, I am thankful for my parents, I am thankful for my spouse, I am thankful for my children... What does "thankful" mean? As I was reading the dictionary, they used it as an adjective, and a noun. But, I truly think if one is truly thankful, it should be used as a verb.  To show action. If one is truly thankful, they will act accordingly.

In ones religion one can be thankful for many things.  Our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, Holy Ghost.. come to mind first. Is it enough to be thankful for the gift of the Holy Ghost, and not act upon the promptings we receive, or be worthy enough to keep  his spirit to be with us.  Is it enough to show our gratitude to God and Jesus Christ by just saying, I believe?   In all they have done for us, I think not. How can I show my gratitude? I recently heard someone talk on submitting our will to God.What does that mean. After you cut through all the different directions you can go with it, it comes down to, trying to live all the commandments of God with all the attributes he has, and to do it because we want to, not because we have to.

For example...if we are truly thankful for our place of worship, we should be eager to clean the church and maintain it, happily.  If we our are thankful for our leaders, we should strive to do what they ask us to do, even if it is something that is difficult. If we are thankful for those who serve us, we should join shoulder to shoulder to serve others. I could go on and on, pages and volumes.

Being thankful for our parents comes next to my mind.  Parents aren't perfect, heavens, I have made so many mistakes in that department. How do we show gratitude? Obedience, showing concern, taking care of, all come to mind. May I also purpose that maybe the way we live our lives, is one of the best ways in showing our gratitude. How we treat others, how we rear our children, how we serve others, how we act when they are no longer on this earth. How are you showing that you are thankful for your parents?

Being thankful for our spouse.  Do we say we are thankful, or do we show we are thankful?  Being married gives one the opportunity to be totally unselfish. That being said, being unselfish is a great way to show your gratitude. Do you constantly keep score, or are you willing to loose once in awhile.  Are you aware when a spouse is down and needs uplifting, or do you put the screw in even deeper, because you had to give more, or do more that day?  Do you forgive, even when a terrible injustice has been done?  Are you truly thankful?

Being thankful for children. I hear people say how much they love their children everyday.  Are they a burden, or do you see them as a joy.  Being thankful for our children can sometimes be hard, it unfortunately, can also sometimes be unpopular. Do you put your main focus on them, or do you find satisfaction in everything else. Do you give up doing what you want to do, for what they need you to do.  Do you go through the act of being a good parent, or do you truly immerse yourself into parenthood? My there is a lot to being thankful.

So yes, showing one is truly thankful, is a lot more that lip service.  It is a way of life, an action plan, and yes, a most important verb.  I am thankful for what I have, and in every way will try harder to show it.  I have a long way to go.  Hope you will continue to be thankful now, and through all the years to come.  Because one should never give up on being thankful.

Ten Little Monsters

Ten little Monsters dressed for Halloween. Princess in the purple dress, just wanted to scream. Soldier Boy, just couldn't wait to run, and he did from house to house, before they were done. Pretty Pink Princess, just wanted to please, at least one little monster made their Mama, at ease.

Cute little (Ady) lady bug, didn't make a sound, just wondered why all the other monsters, were running all around.

Monsters 5, 6, 7, were really dressed to scare, so keep reading about them, only if you dare! Grim Reaper was all dressed in black, ready and willing to scare, if you got to close to him, you might be missing some hair!  Cute little witchy girl, twirled in her skirt, but that didn't keep her, from being a big flirt. Ten year old Zombie, slowly made her day, by drooling over every human, that happen to pass her way.

Heading up the rear of the group...8,9, and 10. "Super Hero's" monsters, ready to win.  Iron Man is fearless as he walks up to the door, screaming, "Trick or Treat" in his hefty monster roar.  Captain America, excited as can be, jumping, running, door to door, as far as the eye could see. Smiley little Spider Man, just grinned from ear to ear,  and in his head he is thinking, "just wait until next year!"

All Guggy's little Monsters had a smashing Hallows Eve, the smiles on their faces, would show you they agreed.  They played, they laughed, ate candy, and enjoyed it to the end.  It is great to be a Monster if it's only just pretend.

Love you all, my sweet Monsters!!!!

Good Bye October

Well, with a late decorating start and all, October is over.  Didn't do it up the way I wanted, and the humid fall weather put a "damper" on things.  Grand kids didn't get a homemade Halloween surprise, but with birthday celebrations and such, I don't think they notice the presentation of their Halloween surprise too much. I always look at it as a challenge to try and do better next year. As I look at years past decoration pretty much the same old, same old.  Did find a few new things in Utah.

Beware Blocks!

Web table cloth worked well on the mantle.

Fun Pillow!

I made this...

and some of these...

And about 18 of these...YUM!

Goodbye October already planning for next year...???

SACRiFICE

I was quite embarrassed that my rant on being frugal, was one of my more highly read post. I really do try sometimes to do things to help around here.  One time I suggested to Rick we make double house payments.  He totally took me up on it.  The last couple of months we have found the need to put that extra money into traveling to special events, replacing air conditioners, and microwave, with a much better alternative.  We were so frustrated that it was taking us from our goal, to pay off the house.

Well dumb idea number two came into my head. Let's sell my beautiful (not the color, or fact I didn't get the sunroof I wanted) 4 RUNNER, and pay off the house. My intentions were, that I could get a new car with lower interest than the house, and maybe the color I wanted.

Tried with all our hearts to get a dealer to buy it.  We weren't dumb, and got informed on about what we should get for a 4 RUNNER WITH LESS THAN 32,000 MILES ON IT, IN MINT CONDITION. You see I only drove it to see local grand children, the grocery store, and to church. I have lived in Houston for 13 years and have never driven "downtown." Hub's hated my 4 runner, he has a long torso and had to contort and twist to even get in it.  So, we take his newer bigger 4 runner everywhere else. This was our second attempt to take it to a dealer. Face book entry October 11, 2013

So, went to see if Toyota Country wanted to buy our 2006, Toyota 4 runner. It is in almost new condition with 31,912 miles on it. I only drive it to see local grand children, to the store, and to church. Rick doesn't fit in, because of his long torso. He dislikes it, and won't drive it. When they called us, I told them exactly what we wanted for it. Come in we can do that...blah, blah, blah. 

The first thing the ask for before we did anything was our license, really who does that? Then they kept asking if we messed with the mileage, if we had taken it somewhere besides Toyota to be fixed. REALLY? I left feeling like we had been interrogated by the FBI! Then if we weren't insulted enough they proceeded to tell us they would give us 4,000 under what we asked. Rick politely got up and ask for our keys to the 4 runner. They kept stalling throwing out ridiculous excuses and offers. We continually asked for our keys for the 4 runner. They wouldn't give them to us. Kept trying to make a deal. I finally went outside found the 4 runner parked around the side of the dealership, put in my other set of keys and drove over to pick up Rick. Who finally got our keys.

It was the most bizarre car experience ever. Needless to say, we will never go back. And I will keep my almost new 4 runner.

All was accurate, except for the last sentence. Kids, talked us in to Auto Trader and Craig's List. Offers the first day were low ball, no one would believe the mileage.  Then things took off, one gentleman from Sugarland a suburb southwest of us, called, and immediately wanted to see it. He loved it! It was going to take him a while to get the money through his 401, but Rick was okay with it.  Well to our surprise he called the next day with the money, and wanted to get it after work. Rick had even turned down an offer for 500.00 dollars more.

We set up the meeting at Bri's and Jarod's house.  Jarod being an attorney and paying special attention to every detail, drew up the bill of sale. My car was really going to be sold!!!  I cried, money was exchanged, and my car for the last 7 years drove away into the darkness of the night. I cried again, I cry a lot.

Then came the thought... Were we crazy? All that money, and no bank open to put it in! Needless to say, I was up the whole night looking out the window, for someone to come take our dream of owning our home away. NO SLEEP for me. I got a little enraged every time I heard Rick snoring through my panic. I have never been so glad to see the sun come up.  I took a quick nap before the bank opened, then we were off.

More crazy question and interrogation at the bank,  Finally money deposited and FINAL payment on the house. We were both so stressed, our joy hasn't hit yet. Rick's van pooling to work, definitely won't be fun. Rick thinks we don't need a second car for awhile, we will see how long that lasts.  Anyway, for now, the word sacrifice is on my mind.  See I can be frugal.

This for...

That...

FALL BALL

Has been a blast for us to watch Bailey play "Fall Ball," if only the weather were more pleasant.  I have seen an old twinkle in Rick's eyes, as he watches Bay play in her competitive softball league.  We were even late for Ike's Birthday on Saturday. (Bri will never forgive me) I figure since Elizabeth was taking Benson and Brynley to the party, the least we could do was to help fill Bailey's cheering section. Sometimes it is hard to be the Grandma!

She was 1 for 2 today. Did score a runner though.

You can steal bases in this league, she loves it!

She got the fly ball for an out.

 Then it started pouring down rain...

Note to self...tell Bailey that, "only the "Wicked Witch" melts when it rains."   Love that girl!

Playing Catch Up

(warning this is a long post...)

Yikes, it's been a month since I have blogged.  It was a busy month indeed.  Preparing for, and driving to Utah for my Moms 80 Birthday, has taken up a big chunk of the month. I am glad it is over.  Pretty much did me in.

We left on the 26th of September, after a full month of planning.  We drove up with my sister Becky and hubs, DJ.  We opted after much consideration, to take the ugly drive up.  For those who have never driven from Houston, north to Amarillo, to the border of New Mexico, plan on the ugliest drive ever.  However, to our surprise we saw a green New Mexico, due to a heavy year of rain. It was a fun surprise for us. The first day and 14 hours later, we spent the night in Albuquerque.

The next morning, Rick got this crazy idea to go out of the way a bit, to the 4 corners area. DJ obliged. Some pictures on our way, and off the beaten path to the four corners area.  God's creative handy work.

Ship Rock in Arizona in the distance...

Four Corners

Closer to Moab

We arrived in Salt Lake late, got a bite to eat, and went to bed.  Got up, and went to the Quilted Bear (the place I miss a lot), with Becky while the boys went to Walmart.  Then it was off to decorate for the big event. It took us every bit of the 2 hours, to get set up.  Almost everybody pitched in and helped. First the tables were set up.

Starting the madness

 1933-1943

 1943-1953

 1953-1963

1963-1973

1973-1983

 1983-1993

1993-2003

2003-2013

 Its all in the details...

Sign in table done by nieces, made scrapbook pages for people to sign.

The Party
The guest of honor...

Meeting Ezekiel "Glade" for the first time

These dear friends drove from Vernal and Cody, Wyoming...

  We did a lot of singing...

Happy Birthday to you... 

More details... Brother Glade put together a  great video, sister made awesome posters of the decades, and reunions.  There was a table of family reunions, and one of those family members pictures who could not make it, including family member no longer with us.

Mom seemed to enjoy the afternoon.  The family had fun working together, singing together, remembering together, and being together with our sweet Mom. After all, families together forever.  We flew home at 9:00 am the next morning, tired but glad we made the effort.