The annual pic to begin Christmas morning....

there are those (less fortunate souls) who are tortured into waiting on the stairwell for the photo before seeing all their goods that Santa left....

.....and then there is this sweet old soul who has a cushy front row seat downstairs waiting for them, ready anytime.

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree...

how we all love you....especially the sweet little girl with the giant caterpillar.

The stockings were hung....

I have this thing for polka dots. And cute stockings.  So when I found these right before Thanksgiving, I HAD TO HAVE THEM.  I've always held off from buying expensive stockings or having any of our previous ones mongorammed because I always knew I'd find some I really wanted.  And VOILA!  Sure, there may come a day when I get tired of these, but I hope not, they are too adorable to ever be put away for good!  However, you will notice they aren't monogrammed. 

At the time of purchase, I didn't want to leave them another week for monogramming, I wanted to get them home and hung on our mantle by Thanksgiving.  However, if you look close, you will see blocks sitting atop the mantle over each stocking.  Those are letters from an old letter press printing system used in New York City.  My father-in-law brought them back as a souvenir from their trip with Elder Son to NYC this past summer.  I think they are such a neat piece....we each have our monogram in these letters.  I've wondered how I would display them, they are too cool not to have out, and making them personal to our stocking was the perfect idea. 

 So, the stocking are hung by the chimney with care....now, let's just hope St. Nick remembers to fill them!!

Games you can play with the elderly....

• Let's see who can keep their eyes closed the longest....or more commonly known as "NAPTIME".

• This game is called "SKINS"....but it isn't played on the golfcourse. In fact, there is no equipment required. Except your great grandmother's hand. The winner is chosen according to who gets her skin to stay "up" the longest, after being squeezed into a ridge-like mechanism atop her hand. Believe it or not, this can supply hours of fun when you're a kid.

•  Beauty Parlor....a long standing favorite among the generations.

•  HUG-O-RAMA.....how many times can you hug a grandparent before they get in the car to leave? 

**** Please Note:  obviously from the looks of TynerBeth, this is a pretty outdated post.  This post has been in my scheduled archives for almost an entire YEAR!!!  That's just absurd.  I remember saving it because I had another photo or two to add....somewhere I have a picture of Grandaddy "jamming out" to a Barbie or Disney Princess bright pink portable CD player with ear phones, priceless.  Obviously I never found that photo.  However, I had to throw this up on the blog just for memories sake, I love sweet memories with the Great Grandparents.

Something to ponder.....

Yes, yes, I know I'm behind.  I'm behind in getting this month's H3 verse up.  I'm behind in getting the photo for our Christmas cards.  I'm behind in addressing envelopes.  I'm behind in laundry....but that's certainly nothing new.  I'm behind, and at this time of year, that just seems to be the rule.  So I'll make this post short and sweet. 

Don't we all rush around this entire month?  We are trying hard to make attempts to relish in the quiet moments we have as a family throughout the next few weeks....and then make it a goal to carry that through into the next year.  Enjoy the days....they are few, my friend. However, for those who know the Lord, our days here on earth may end, but our days with the Lord are eternal.

Are you busy shopping for gifts? Wrapping gifts? Swapping gifts? Debating the best gift? 

Debate no more. There is no need to ponder any longer. 

I read these thoughts the other day and wanted to share......

• Getting into Heaven is not about what you've done.
• It's about what God's done.

And that is clearly stated here:

• "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God"~~Ephesians 2:8

Yes, the greatest gift of all...and you didn't have to get up at 3 AM for it, you didn't have to punch in your credit card # to buy it online, you don't need a special coupon to get it, or a cash only line to stand in for the express route. 

The best part, you don't even have to buy it.....HE paid for it all, a long long time ago. 

You didn't have to fight for a parking spot (there's plenty), or sweet talk the store employee to let you buy the display model because the last one was bought just before you walked in, or be the 25th caller on a radio station to win.

You don't have to do anything.....HE did it all, including suffering and dying just for you.



He is the one and only. He is all sizes and colors.  He is the BEST gift ever.  If you already have the greatest gift, share it with someone else. 

Unwrap it daily, soak it in, bask in the glory of the gift of our Saviour.

I love Cam.

Really, I do. I also think that if Cam were playing for your team of choice, you'd be in full support of him right now as well. I know, I know, you'll probably say I need to quit drinking the Cam kool-aid. 

I have not kept up with all the stories circling this young man, his father, the SEC, the NCAA and all the various allegations. Sure I've read some reports, watched the news, even stooped so low as to listen to Finebaum a time or two just to see what was being said.  I do not know the whole truth, nor do I think any other "sources" do either.  Do I think Auburn paid Cam? Nope.  Do I think a money has been doled out from AU in the past, and other SEC schools?  Sure I do.  I'd be willing to go out on a limb and say it happens every season at probably all major colleges across the nation.....but they just never get reported.

What I do know is that Cam is a great athlete, I've watched that fact come to life every Saturday for the last 11 weeks.  I think his smile is contagious.  I think he is a quite leader on and off the field.

I don't know what will happen in the weeks and months to come concerning what went on during his recruitment.  All I know right now is that I love Cam and I will always cheer for the orange and blue and I will proudly shout WAR EAGLE forever. 

I believe in Auburn and I love it.

Period. End of story.

Life can be a real zoo.....

You know all those cheesy looking figurines you can buy at the gift shop or wedding store....the ones where the two swans are entertwined at the neck in a symbol of love????  Well, I thought it was just a cute, cheesy but cute, way to sell "love".  Turns out, that's really what swans sit around and do all day.....if only I could have been as quick as they were.....I never could get a good shot to show you, but I promise they were making perfect hearts together, repeatedly.

Apparently the lions had been in a bit of a spat before our arrival to the zoo....no heart shaped body parts to be found.  Or maybe, she's like many other women I know, she just needed a good afternoon nap.

I can tell you for certain what this guy needs.....a case of Jergens.  With extra cocoa butter.  Dude, that's some rough looking skin.

Another soul just longing for a quick little nap....a twist of the neck and ahhhh, a nice fluffy spot to lay my head.

I have to include these guys because they look so marvelous in person.....I adore giraffes.....they look so cool.  And I was so amazed by the variance of the coloring in their coats.  One looked like coffee and the other like caramel....so neat.

While snapping this photo last week at the zoo, I had a few names pop up in my head who remind me of this atrocious, ugly, vile, stinky animal....the warthog.  I'll keep that short list to myself. 

These are my favorite animals of all time.....especially that cute thing in the flowery LL Bean rain boots.  Who loves to wear them every day, even with no chance of puddle to splash in!!!

Somebody I know was atop the podium stand this weekend....

Baby Girl had  a big competition this weekend.  A home meet, hosted by her team. It's always fun to do well in front of the home crowd. :)   I was working during several sessions of competition, but I was running back and forth so I could watch Baby Girl perform, so I gave the camera duties over to Temple.....which is why there are only a few shots.   You live and you learn. :)

Baby Girl showing off some straight lines, tight body, pointed toes here in her floor routine......she still had a slight problem with a tumbling run, involving some froggy looking legs, but improved her score and we were proud.

She also did well on vault and improved some on bars.....but it was beam....the BEAM, you know that 4 inch wide apparatus that takes a lot of balance to just stay on the thing??? 

Yes, it was beam, her best event thus far in her competitive season, where she shined brightly.....taking 1st place.

 And putting her at the top for the first time ever.....WAY TO GO BABY GIRL!! 

1st place has never looked so good! :)

(hey, she's my kid and it's my blog, I can brag all I want.)

Baby Girl's field trip to the Govenor's Mansion

It was fun and sad all at the same time.  My last field trip to commemorate a year with Alabama History on the curriculum. Just another reminder my babies are growing up. But it was fun, of course I consider any day spent with my kiddos fun....even when it involves a charter bus full of easily excitable, very loud 9 year olds and a cold lunchroom hotdog on a wheat bun. 

I thought this was so neat and had to include it in the post.  The items framed are from the early 1900's, belonging to a General who first owned the home, and were found in 2004.  What I find so funny about it is the list in the upper left hand corner.....

                                      


A list written over a hundred years ago, on a ripped piece of brown paper.....that could be timeless.  It's the same list that you and I make all the time.

"goods for Emilys dresses, get check cashed, pay bill, glasses for table, stockings for Emily...."

I guess women have been making lists since the beginning of time.




Of course we learned a lot of history about various pieces in the home of our state's govenor, little insider facts, items sent from different countries with stories to tell......but what impressed a bunch of 4th graders the most???? 

The pool out back that was shaped like the state of Alabama. 

Sweet Memories....

The photo above may not look like much to you, but it means a whole "heckuva" lot to me.  It strikes up so many wonderful memories....of what, you ask?....a little thing called DINNER ON THE GROUNDS.  

Ever been to such?  Ahh, dinner of the grounds, a favorite memory with my PawPaw, Walter.  Every year, his church had a luncheon out on the concrete tables in front of their church.   As a kid I thought it was the coolest thing ever....EVER.  Concrete tables lined with tupperware bowls full of the best homemade food made by the sweetest old ladies. 

Since those times back in the late 70's and early 80's, a fellowship hall had been added to the church.  That kind of put a damper on the ol' concrete table festivities outdoors.  Everyone wants to be comfortable in a temperature controlled climate belly up to a table with their plate of food. I understand that, really, I do. 

But it sure was nice to eat outside again, dinner on the grounds, on the concrete tables that have been there for many decades.  The same tables my PawPaw fixed his plate from numerous times.  And some things never change, there was still lots of yummy food, in tupperware containers, fixed by the sweetest ladies ever.  It would have made my PawPaw proud.....

Now THAT'S how you bob for apples....

Nicely done, Elder Son.  You Rock....at bobbing for apples and being a super great kid.

A little something to stuff in your mouth.....

Who can even believe that it's NOVEMBER already????  Me either.  Thanksgiving, my birthday, my sister's birthday, two nieces birthdays, the Iron Bowl, gymnastics competitions, etc. ....it all happens this month.  A calendar month, chock full of stuff as usual!!  So, as with last year during this H3 adventure, I want us to pause and really be thankful.  We should be doing that every day, not just in November, not just on that particular Thursday at the end of the month, but every. single. day. ....be thankful

Look, I know it's not always easy....I've had a few hard days lately myself....days where I thought it impossible to appreciate what the world was handing me.  But I've had to realize, the world isn't going to offer much in the way of good.....but every day I can find something to be thankful for in our Lord. Every. Single. Day.

I chose this month's H3 verse because hard times befall us all....but the Lord is there amidst it all, my friend, and don't ever let Satan convince you otherwise.  On Thanksgiving Day, we all stuff our mouths slap FULL with all manner of yummy food....you know you do.  Well, this verse plainly states what our mouths should truly be FULL of....and it ain't pumpkin pie.

"I will bless the Lord at all times;

His praise shall continually be in my mouth."

~Psalm 34:1

So replace that giblet gravy and dressing that falls out the sides of your mouth this Thanksgiving season. 

Let words of praise to the Father be overflowing instead. Every. Single. Day.



Boy, am I glad this life on earth is but a vapor.

"These things I have spoken to you,
in ME you may have peace. 
In the world you will have tribulation;
but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."  ~John 16:33

Sometimes you just have to laugh to keep from crying. Or at least I do.  And then sometimes I wind up crying anyway. But this verse always makes me smile.... when the stresses of life seem to be overtaking me, I just get a good giggle at the end when HE reminds us----"hey, don't sweat that stuff, I overcame the world and I'm still in control....so smile through it all, because you know the ending."

I bet Mary Lou Retton only wishes she looked this good in a leo....

                                                                     

Seriously....how'd she get so stinkin' cute? 

Baby Girl had another meet this past weekend and did well again.  Highest score came on beam where she scored 2nd place with a 9.325.  She fell on her back handspring during her floor routine so it threw her all around score off a bit. However, I couldn't be prouder of my little gymnast!