New Year New Look

I always get a little distressed when I look at the house after Christmas is put away. Having a pretty limited budget since the love shown to us last January, after 23 years of service, I needed to come up with a few new spots of fun in the house. I wish that I could get Chip and Joanna to stop by to give me some ideas, but that's not going to happen, so I tired to combine things I love to create a few new focal points.

An old pottery piece left for grabs at my Aunts house, and old but goodies gathered from other places a round the house

This arrangement reminds me of my Grandmother Sowards china with the pussy willow pattern, and my Aunt Marge's Willow tree in the spring. It make me smile!

 Trying my hand at chalkboard writing a lot harder than it looks!  I am determined to master it!

Funny, I don't like change too much. I do however, love a new look.

As We Start Anew...

Hoping this year will give us all strength to carry on in a renewed spirit of perseverance and love. This past year as reached a bottom low for our country.  Never in my sixty plus years of life have I seen our Nation in such an ugly state of being.  Pride and Selfishness had taken over the Unity and Patriotism our founders fought so bravely to preserve.  I have been embarrassed by it all. I pray that we can mend the wounds and hate in this great nation, and carry on.

Our family has been blessed with many blessings this new year. Not with riches, but with a renewed sense of gratitude for what we have. As we kneel in prayer each night, we are grateful for the blessings we have received that day. We are grateful for our children and grand children and address them by name and circumstance each and every night. How grateful  I am for the knowledge I have that we are God's children, and he loves us. How I wish that the world could see that love and peace begin in the home, not anywhere else. 

We had a fun New Years Eve. Family. Food. Fireworks. Always make a fun party.


Five hoagies made to order...

 Will get in serious trouble for posting this. Maybe not though because nobody reads my blog.

Jarod and Jamie with a little help from the rest of us put on a pretty fantastic fireworks display.  Kids love the pooping puppy. (AKA snake)

Happiness of the New Year to YOU!

December's Destiny

December saw me, and a lot of family, fighting a pretty bad cough and cold for the whole month. It got the best of me.  I was determined not to let it ruin December, so I did get in and out of bed to attend Pip's baptism, concerts, basketball games, and my favorite December tradition the Nutcracker Ballet.  Just started getting on top of things a few days before Christmas. I was planning to host Christmas eve, but no strength to get the job done. Light house keeping would take everything I could give. So as in a few recent years, we opted to go out. We love us some Pappasito's anyway!

December 3rd found us celebrating Pips Baptism. It was a cloudy, rainy, day... but the baptisms was in a setting of love, and pure sunshine. I couldn't even talk the day before. It was the tender mercies of the Lord, that got me through my talk and preparation.  I was right back in bed with a raging fever that night.

Loo did a great job on decorations.

I put together these handouts to go with my talk.

There were a lot of people in attendance.

The Arciniegas and Becky and DJ came too. 

 

Auntie Bri and Auntie Becky did a fabulous job on her hair.

A new heart charm with CTR engraved on it for the birthday girl.

Three cousins baptized this year.

Guh and Guggy with their beautiful Pippy!

Pip and Auntie Bri

Brandon and Elizabeth's darling family.

They wereso good, we gave them crazy picture time.

Elizabeth's parents were in town, so the rest of us went to Lupes after the baptism.

Next opportunity to get out of bed, was to go hear Zeke sing at his Preschool Christmas program at John Wesley.

 Cousin James was there too!

 Such Joyful Noise!

The next night we attended Bailey's Concert. I took a double dose of cough syrup, so I would not cough. The music and setting were beautiful. The audience got to sing along frequently to familiar Christmas Carols. What a treat.  Dinner at Chuey's after a wonderful night full of the Christmas spirit.

I had missed two of Bailey's ball games so I was determined to go watch, droggy and all.  The memories of watching her Auntie Bri flooded my mind. We love #4

On the 16th we attended the The Houston Ballet.  The new arrangement of the Nutcracker was so amazing to see.  Sara was such a joy to watch, I will never tire of watching her grace and beauty as she performs. She makes it look effortless. Her son Josh got to perform as one of the children in the opening scene. Next year a hope we can get everyone there.

 Brianne and Sara

Beautiful inside and out! Mother of 3.

The new set isn't as viewer friendly, but fun to see it anyway.

Let it snow, let it snow...

Told Audrey to dance.  I guess cartwheels count.

Christmas Eve Traditions were carried out. Dinner at Pappasito's,  Treats and nativity at Brianne's house.  Gift exchange,chimes, and singing finished out the night.

 Love these boys, best buddies forever!

This group was having fun with their tortilla dough our waiter so kindly brought them. I call it Mexican play dough.

Papa and I sat with the 3 Amigos. Benz hadn't gotten there yet. We had a great time listening to their conversation.

Love this crew and loved Tex Mex for Christmas Eve.

Desserts, Oh My!  I might have eaten one or two.

The Nativity
Pippy was so excited to be an angel this year.

Our "sunshine."

This is one wise beyond years Wiseman.

Ike acted his part well.

I never knew Mary wore hot pink glasses, so cute!

Benz is learning to be a team player, he was a great Wiseman!

Our cute cow was happy to participate in her own way.

Gavin was Joseph, he wasn't thrilled about standing next to a short Mary, but he rolled with it.

Mary on her cute little donkey.

Love this picture!

Couldn't find the other angel dress so we improvised. Naturally I fine it afterwards.

Zeke (brown) really wanted to participate this year, He was an excellent shepherd.

Two Wise men and one Wise women.

The cast minus our cute little cow.

Cousins exchanged gifts.

One of our very best memories of Christmas will be singing as a family in Church. In tradition of The Sowards Family singing "Star Bright." I am sure we were surround by angels from Heaven today.

On the 30th Brianne's Birthday, Rick joined Becky and I for a Birthday Lunch with Bri.

What a wonderful December, even with it trials. I will look back at it as one of my favorite Decembers ever!