Wordless Wednesday ~ 30 years together!

 

Quote for the Week - Charity

"Perhaps the greatest charity comes when we are kind to each other, when we don't judge or categorize someone else, when we simply give each other the benefit of the doubt or remain quiet."  ~ Marvin J. Ashton 

Thanksgiving 2011... done!

My sister-in-law Holley invited us for Thanksgiving dinner. Her home looks so lovely, she has a real flare for decorating!

Holley is a wonderful hostess. She adds a special touch to everything she does.

It was early but when your almost 91 you can have a cool one anytime you want! How grateful we are for our sweet Johnnie Belle!

Johnnie Belle offered a beautiful prayer... she gave thanks for our government, even though they're not doing very good!

Tim is our expert turkey carver, however he was a little baffled while carving this bird. Turns out that Holley didn't realize she had put the turkey upside down on the roasting pan! Tim finally figured it out and proceeded without any problems. Tim and Holley had a good laugh about that. By the way the turkey was moist and delicious!

Come and get it!

Thanks to Holley and her family, and to Lee and Johnnie Belle for a great day. It was fun to feast together, visit and play games.

My niece had this to say about Thanksgiving and I'm borrowing it, it's just how I feel today. Well said Cheyenne!

"Today I am grateful we actually have a holiday before Christmas, -one that we sometimes tend to overlook. A holiday to humble ourselves and help us realize we are not automatically entitled to everything- to remind us to be grateful for all the blessings we have been graciously GIVEN. Happy Thanksgiving :)"

Almost Wordless Wednesday - Christmas Countdown

Countdown to Christmas

Can't Wait?

How long 'til Christmas?

31	Days
3	Hours
31	Minutes

...But who's counting?

Quote for the Week ~ Prayer of Thanksgiving

We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing;
He chastens and hastens his will to make known;
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing,
Sing praises to his name: He forgets not his own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining his kingdom divine;
So from the beginning the fight we were winning;
Thou, Lord, wast at our side, All glory be thine!

We all do extol thee, thou leader triumphant,
And pray that thou still our defender wilt be.
Let thy congregation escape tribulation;
Thy name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!

~ Theodore Baker

Pre-Thanksgiving dinner... Mark, Tiff and Cash are headed to St. George for Thanksgiving so we had an early Turkey Day yesterday!

Cash enjoying a corn bread muffin and some sweet potatoes. His bib says, "What happens at Grandma's stays and Grandma's!"

I'm thankful for my little family every day of the year!

(I always try to hurry when I take pictures, so this one is a little blurry... dang it!)

Happy Thanksgiving week everyone!

Wordless Wednesday ~ My handsome son, 40 pounds gone!

Quote for the Week - Gratitude

Roman philosopher Cicero once said, “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.”

I think he is absolutely right.  An ungrateful person focuses on what they don’t have and is unhappy, discontent, impatient, unkind, proud (thinks he deserves better), and reluctant to help others.  But a grateful person is happy and content. From that gratitude flows patience, kindness, humility, generosity, and love.

So, to raise the level of gratitude in my own life and in those around me, here are 25 Thanksgiving and gratitude quotes for you to read, reflect on, and share. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

1. When you are grateful fear disappears and abundance appears. -Tony Robbins
2. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.  -Melody Beattie
3. Gratitude begins where my sense of entitlement ends. -Steven Furtick
4. I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder. -G.K. Chesterton
5. If a fellow isn’t thankful for what he’s got, he isn’t likely to be thankful for what he’s going to get. -Frank A. Clark
6. Grace isn’t a little prayer you chant before receiving a meal.  It’s a way to live. -Jacqueline Winspear
7. He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has. -Epictetus
8. Gratitude is the best attitude. -Unknown
9. Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving. -W.T. Purkiser
10. We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. -Thornton Wilder
11. Gratitude is a quality similar to electricity: it must be produced and discharged and used up in order to exist at all. -William Faulkner
12. If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness.  It will change your life mightily. -Gerald Good
13. There is no greater difference between men than between grateful and ungrateful people. -R.H. Blyth
14. Who does not thank for little will not thank for much. -Estonian Proverb
15. Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul. -Henry Ward Beecher
16. As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. -John F. Kennedy
17. Only a stomach that rarely feels hungry scorns common things. -Horace
18. Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. -William Arthur Ward
19. It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, and to be grateful for His benefits. -George Washington
20. Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others. -Cicero
21. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. -Psalm 107:1
22. It is good to give thanks to the LORD, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High. -Psalm 92:1
23. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. -Psalm 95:2
24. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. -Colossians 3:16
25. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. -1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

11.11.11

Happy Birthday to MEEEEEEEEEE!!!! As of 11:15 this morning, I am 54 years young. 11.11.11 won't ever happen again. On 11.11.2111, I will be 154 years old and hopefully I will have my wings by then.

My Mom gave me my baby book, some clothes and shoes a few years ago. I love the little shoes!

 My Mom made this pair of shoes out of felt, so cute!

 A Dooney & Bourke bag, I love it!

Tim took the day off and we went to a movie, had a late lunch and did some Christmas shopping. Thanks to my little family... Tim, Christopher, Mark, Tiff and Cash for a wonderful day! 

Another birthday lunch with friends ~ Karen, Sharon and Susan.

It 's been a fun birthday week and I am grateful for all the phone calls, emails, gifts and visits! Getting older is made easier with family, friends and one darling grandson!!

 

Welcome to the world

Jasper Carl Morava

6 pounds 14 ounces

11.9.11

My niece Mandy was scheduled to have a c-section on my birthday. She was having contractions on Thursday and my newest great-nephew was born later that night. It would have been fun to share a birthday with Jasper but he's here and mom and baby are doing great!

That look on Paden's face is priceless! Hmmmm, I wonder what he is thinking! I bet he wondering how soon he and Jasper can go riding together or rope a few steers.

I talked to my brother Lloyd and he is one happy grandpa!

Wordless Wednesday ~ A family that rakes leaves together, stays together!

Quote for the Week - Grandmothers

"BLESSED ARE THOSE

WHO SNUGGLE AND

HUG, SPOIL AND

PAMPER, BOAST AND

BRAG... FOR THEY

SHALL BE CALLED

GRANDMOTHERS!"

Of course I love this quote and it's no secret I love being a grandmother. I am guilty of doing all these things with lots kisses too. 

Tim and I came home from church yesterday and saw Tiff's car in the driveway. We looked around upstairs and couldn't find them. We heard guitar music coming from Mark's room so we went downstairs. That's where we found them! Mark and Cash stayed for a few hours while Tiffani was preparing dinner for her family. 

We enjoyed watching Cash play in Mark's room. He loved all the fun toys and gadgets. I'm predicting we will be playing in the basement a lot more, now that Cash has discovered all the new toys!

Birthday week has begun...

It's my birthday week! I am getting closer to 60 but I don't care. I had no control over when I was born, I'm just trying to live every day filled with love, fun and purpose. 

Best. Birthday. Ever.

My sweet friend Susan hosted a party for me last week. I have had some wonderful parties through the years but this one may be the Best. One. Ever. 

My birthday is on 11/11/11 this year and that was the theme of the party. The party started at 11:11! Susan put together some fun facts about Chinese red envelopes and numerology that were interesting. 

Lorie and Susan asked everyone for a picture when they were 11. It was fun to guess who was who!

11 those were the days my friend... 

 Susan

 Lorie

 Eileen ~ Cindy ~ Billie

Beckie

 
My cousin Amy and I share the same birthday and we always celebrated together. 

They also prepared questions about what we were doing when we were 11. We laughed and also had some tender moments as we took turns answering the questions. 

That's not all... they asked everyone share 11 things they love about me. Needless to say it was a 11 tissue day! I felt so loved and grateful for amazing, thoughtful friends. 

We also enjoyed a delicious lunch. Susan made pasta primevera with shrimp. She knows how much I like shrimp. 

Billie brought apple pie for dessert. I enjoy pie more than cake. Nothing wrong with a birthday pie, right?

  Susan ~ Cindy ~ Lorie ~ Me ~ Billie

Susan ~ Cindy ~ Beckie ~ Me ~ Billie

I had a perfect day surrounded by dear friends.

(We missed Barb, Becky and Denise!) 

The next night Susan invited me to see "My Fair Lady" at the Hale Centre Theatre. I love the music, On the Street Where You Live’...’With a Little Bit of Luck’...‘Get Me to the Church on Time’...’I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face’...‘Wouldn’t It Be Loverly?’ It was outstanding, superb acting, the sets and costumes were breathtaking. Thank you Susan for your gift, you are so generous!