Another Giveaway Peeps!!!

Big Mama, together with Hershey's, is giving away a $100 VISA gift card.  Don't know which is sweeter ~ the Hershey kisses or the thought of winning the gift card right here at Christmas time!!!!  Hop on over HERE to Big Mama's giveaway page and enter!!!  After you enter, click on the Hershey's link and check out some great recipes.  YUM!!!

GIVEAWAY!!!!!!

WOW ~ what a giveaway.  Kelly at fabulous k is having a huge holiday giveaway.  Follow the button on the right and enter.  This is one of my absolute favorite things about the addiction that is . . . bloggin'!!

Wishing all a wonderful, peaceful Thanksgiving Day. Hope each and everyone of you have as many beautiful things to be thankful for as I do! Enjoy your day and take the time to give thanks and reflect on everyday blessings.

Joy,

Public Service Announcement

Ever wondered how to quickly and effectively clean out that messy junk drawer? I can help.

1. Get ready to go to bed about 11:30 on a friday night after working all week.

2. Accidently knock the large, full glass of ice water you just set on the bedside table into the top drawer you just opened.

3. Quickly remover the drawer, run to the kitchen yelling "oh crap, oh crap, oh crap" (really that's as bad as I got), plug the kitchen sink and dump contents into a big drainer.

4. Wipe drawer clean and dry.

5. Begin replacing the 400 pens and pencils, several bookmarks, and at least a zillion elastic ponytail holders, every button you've ever gotten on a new garment in little tiny plastic baggies, an embarrassing number of reading glasses, and lots more junk I won't bore you with. Dry each one off as you replace it and throw away what's not needed (your hubby helping makes it more fun, just ask him).

6. Smile cause there ain't nothin' else you can do and slide the drawer back into the table. You can also be thinking about what drawer, box, closet, room, etc. that you might want to douse with water tomorrow so it will be cleaned out, too!!!!

Just wanted to be a blessing for all my interweb friends!!!  Goodnight all

Pioneer Woman and Bakerella!

I've mentioned Pioneer Woman on my blog before as one of my favorite sites. She's recently written a cookbook and you can sign up for a chance to win one on another of my favorite sites ~ Bakerella.
http://www.bakerella.com/the-pioneer-woman-knows-her-stuff/

After you've signed up to win the cookbook, take the time to read some of Bakerella stuff. It's great!!!

Don't really know why I am sharing about this, might have less chances to win myself!! hhhhmmmmmmm.

DipTacular 2009

Because I love to be involved with important things, this specific "tacular" really got my attention because, like BooMama, I LOVE dips of most any kind.

Here is a great one that my daughter-in-law makes at every family gathering. I will warn you ~ it is NOT pretty when you begin putting it together, but it is GRRREEEAAATTTT!!!

Super Easy Black Bean Dip
1 can chili (no beans)
1 can black beans
8 oz. cream cheese
Dump it all in a pan and heat until melted, smooth and warm.

Check out other dips at BooMama's DipTacular

Fun Craft!!

Cute huh??? This weekend was Institute with the Georgia Federation of Women's Clubs and the Sunday morning brunch theme was denim and pearls. These were the centerpieces! The girl that made them found toddler jeans at the thrift stores and used Plaid Stiffy Stuff, then formed them. Some were bent, some wiggly like toddlers, some just straight like the one in the picture. I think these would make a GREAT baby shower thing ~ using a cloth diaper. The possibilities are endless.

You can get Plaid Stiffy at most craft stores, some Walmart stores, and online. Just one little hint ~ DO NOT google stiffy stuff.

If you do make something fun, share it with me!!!

Have fun, Bitsy

Summer Promise Giveaway!!!!

"Get a free, abridged MP3 audiobook on August 15! ONE DAY ONLY! Author Robin Jones Gunn is giving away the abridged MP3 of Summer Promise, the first book in the best-selling Christy Miller Series for teens. The audiobook will be available for download from her online shop: http://www.shop.robingunn.com. It will be free from midnight (PDT) on August 14 to midnight (PDT) August 15. Don't forget to download your copy and to tell your friends!

"Also, on August 14 from 5-7 p.m. (PDT), Robin is hosting an online party on her Facebook fan page. She'll be answering questions and "mingling" with all of the party guests. To learn more about the party and to join in, go to Robin's fan page here:

http://www.facebook.com/reqs.php#/robinjonesgunn?ref=name."

Here's a brief description of Summer Promise:"Fourteen-year-old Christy Miller has the dream summer ahead of her in sun-kissed California, staying at her aunt and uncle's home. Aunt Marti loves to shop, and those surfers are cute, especially Todd. Christy promised her parents she wouldn't do anything she'd regret later, and some of her beach friends are a little wild. But Todd and his "God-Lover" friends are giving a Christy a new image of all things eternal. Can this summer live up to its promise?"

Unblogging!?!

I ate lunch with a great friend today and was told that I needed to "step it up a bit" with the blogging, and put up more posts. I explained that apparently my life was so exciting and busy that I did not have time, or that it was boring! So I will try to be better!!!

I do have exciting news ~ I became a Great-Great Aunt this week. My sister is older than I am and had her 2 girls soon after marrying at 18 and I was an aunt at 3 years old. My 2 nieces had three children each. The oldest great niece married a couple of years ago and had a beautiful, bouncing baby boy this week.

The only sad part is that they live about 8 hours away ~ so it will be a while till I get to hold him. Thank goodness for technology, I have lots of pictures.

So Jennifer, thanks for the push, and I promise to post something equally exciting again soon!!! Like, tomorrow is my hubby's birthday!!!!

love ya'll

Quick lunch and dessert

I made an quick and easy Bruschetta with fresh garden tomatoes for lunch today. Peeled and chopped tomatoes (amount depends on how hungry you are). Drain most of the juice. I mixed it with some Kraft Tuscan House Italian Dressing (cause that's what I had), added a few finely chopped vidalia onions. I let it sit for about 30 minutes in the fridge. Sliced french bread, brushed it with olive oil and toasted it. We ate the tomato mix over the toasted bread with grated mozzarella cheese.

THEN . . .
This was an EASY dessert!!! A lady at work made this the other day for a birthday lunch and I loved it!

Ingredients
12-14 vanilla ice cream sandwiches
1 jar caramel ice cream topping
1 jar hot fudge topping
8 oz. container of Cool Whip
chopped pecans

Cut ice cream sandwiches to fit in casserole dish (I used 9 x 9). Layer as follows:
1/2 ice cream sandwiches, caramel topping, chopped pecans, small layer of cool whip, rest of the ice cream sandwiches, caramel topping and pecans. Cover and store in freezer for 3 hours or so. Remove from freezer and top with remaining cool whip and drizzle with hot fudge. Let sit for about 20 minutes before serving!!!

THIS IS NOT A JOKE!!!!! Although it is funny, except for the squirrel. Went to lunch today with friends. As we were getting in my friend's car at the college, someone saw this in the grill of her Lexus:

Poor guy apparently crawled into the wheel well and tried to come out the grill. We went on to the restaurant and happened to park right in front of the door. According to the hostess, the car was the entertainment for everyone coming and going. People (especially the men) were bending down and taking pics. Thankfully cameras do not have a smell feature. After an hour in the hot sun. . . WHEW.

When we returned to the college, people were coming from all the buildings to see it. Even the President and Vice President. It obviously does not take much to entertain us these lazy days of summer in the south.

She called the Lexus dealer because the grill was cracked. They did not believe her. Needless to say, she headed straight to the dealership to show them. Can't wait to find out what they said!

A Family Fairy Tale

Once upon a time there was a man and a woman who decided their kingdom needed a new queen. They looked far and wide until they found the perfect one. They crowned her Miss Delilah Grace, calling her Missy.

The queen led a wonderful life. Pampered by the man and woman, she ruled her castle with a stubborn, yet loving demeanor. The years passed quickly and the queen accepted and began to love the man and woman’s grandsons and friends, as they spoiled her as well.

As the queen began to get a little older and gray around the temples, the man and woman pampered her even more and made sure she was always comfortable. The queens eyes were not the same and she slowed her pace a little, but she still had spunk and brought the man and woman lots of joy.

Around the 11th year of the queen’s reign the man, who must have begun drinking too much of the moat water, suggested to the woman that they present the queen with a princess. After examination of the man’s sanity, and seeing the chosen princess’s face, she agreed. They crowned the princess Good Golly Miss Molly, and called her Molly. The princess looked much like the queen as a child.

The queen, realizing her old and senile people must have lost their minds, felt sorry for them and accepted the new princess, albeit from a distance. The princess loved her queen and wanted to be close to her and love on her all the time. The queen, not being quite as affectionate, “talks” to the princess in a low, deep, growly type of sound. The queen’s people work hard to keep peace in the castle.

About 6 weeks passed and the queen and princess formed a shaky, yet tolerant relationship. The queen just did not understand her younger generation.

The man and woman, seriously examining their decision making abilities, pray that they will all live happily ever after. They ask for your prayers as well (cause they’re really gonna need ‘em)!

The End

A peaceful time in the castle when the man and woman rest!

BOOK FAIR!!!

I am a sucker for book fairs/sales. A Scholastic Warehouse sale came to town for two days and our education division spent a few $'s and our lunchtime there today. I actually did VERY well. Left spending less than $50, which is a record for me. The ladies told us there was one about 45 minutes south with 5 times the inventory and we almost headed south, but restrained ourselves.
However, when I looked up the website to link above for all of my faithful 5 or so readers, I realized you can enter your zip code and find sales in your area. GUESS WHAT, there is a another warehouse sale about 15 minutes north in Tennessee ~ at my high school Alma mater. I feel a road trip coming on!!!

I will share my few purchases with you. Most of the time I go for kid's books ~ but if you could see the kid's books on my bookshelf, you'd know why I avoided them!!!

For the grandson's (especially the 13 year old who loves trivia, etc) I got How to Hold a Crocodile: Plus Hundreds of Other Practical Tips, Fascinating Facts and Wicked Wisdom. It's a Firefly Book and they do lots of cool stuff.

Joey Green's Fix-It Magic. He was featured on Good Morning America some time ago and is a hoot. Click on his name and it will take you to his website.

For a special little girl's birthday in June, I got a Klutz kit ~ Paper Fashions, Design Your Own Styles! I LOVE Klutz stuff. I am not sure if I like this more than she will. Maybe her mom will let me come play with her!!!!!

Also picked up two little Pocket Posh Puzzle Books from The Puzzle Society ~ Sudoku for my daughter-in-law and word roundup for hubby (his is not purple, it's dark burgundy).

Look for one in your area and share what you bought, too.

Wakeup call

Wakeup calls come fast and furious the older you get! Last night I was looking in a magazine at a makeover article. The ones where they show the before and after pic! I've always enjoyed seeing those, but not last night. As I looked at some of the before pics, I realized that I kinda look "before"!!! YIKES

Molly

Who can resist this???

She went for her 9 week shots yesterday and she weighs a whoppin' 3 lbs., 14 oz. Healthy except for a little hernia. Doc said it can be fixed when we "fix" her at about 6 months old.

Sisterchicks!!!

I LOVE the Sisterchicks books written by Robin Jones Gunn, best selling author and speaker.

Each book features two sisterchicks (friends) who take off on an adventure or a dream vacation or destination. Book number 8 will be available in stores on May 5, 2009!!!! I highly recommend it, along with all the others.

SISTERCHICKS IN WOODEN SHOES ~ "Summer and Noelle, two pen pals since 4th grade, meet for the first time in the land of tulips and windmills. An abnormal mammogram sends Summer on a quest to fulfill her lifelong wish before she begins the same struggle her mother fought against breast cancer. The story of these two Sisterchicks is brimming with hope and cheer and will bring encouragement for any woman who has faced a fearful future."

Read about Robin Jones Gunn and the other Sisterchick novels at the following sites. There is also a great devotional ~ Take Flight!


http://www.robingunn.com/index.html
http://www.sisterchicks.com/home.aspx

sign up for her newsletter here:
http://www.robingunn.com/html/newsletter.html

Robin Jones Gunn modeling wooden shoes

My women's ministry group at church participated in a book review for the publisher, Multnomah Publishing Group, for the second sisterchick book, Sisterchicks Do The Hula. We received copies of the book, stickers, decals, feathers, bookmarks, participant questionnaires, and a lot more goodies.

Check it out ~ Happy Reading

Easter Puppy!

Old people cannot make rational decisions and cannot be trusted when left alone!!!!!!!! Look what the Easter Bunny brought us!!!!!! I arrived home from a spring break trip about 11:45 last night and walked in the door to find this!!!!! It's another dachshund (we have a 10 year old one now). We'd discussed getting this, but just could not justify another expense ~ but how anyone resist here??? Hubs picked her up on Wed. of last week. She is adorable. The 10 year old does not like her but tolerates her ~ I think she thinks it's a rat!!!!! Our 10 year also looks just like the puppy's mother and we think the puppy wants to nurse!!!

Introducing Molly!!

And another thing!!!!!

SWIMSUIT SHOPPING!!! This must be the most depressing event of the season. I don't have a pool, or belong to a country club, or go swimming all that much (even though I LOVE it). But I needed a new bathing suit to take to Florida.

If you read my previous post, you might understand that this is not good timing for trying on bathing suits. There are LOTS to choose from, all styles, prices, colors, etc. There are suits with little skirts to "hide" things! Well, on me it says, "Look, I got a big ole butt and cottage cheese thighs and I'm trying to cover it up". There are tankini's with skirts and tops and the skirts do the same as stated above! Then there are shorts and tops. The shorts are hip hugger, which causes a bad case of muffin top and the top is short and pops up over the muffin!!! I AM NOT KIDDING HERE!!! Then there are the ones that have the tag hanging on them that says ~ lose 10 lbs. instantly. GUESS WHAT ~ that ten lbs. that the spandex squeezes in has to go somewhere. Can you say large curd cottage cheese. hahahahahahahahahahaha

Aren't muu muus or caftans back in style?

And speaking of yesterday's post, look at the tissues I found today!!!!

Getting Old!

I've decided that when I enter the gates of Heaven, the first thing I plan on doing is meeting Jesus face to face and thanking him for all he did for me.

Then, I will hug my mom, dad, my Godmother, grandparents, and all the other people who've gone before me!

BUT THEN ~ I'm going to have a conversation with God about menopause! Good Lord, what in the world is all this about???????

Whatever place I'm in right now, pre-menopause, mid-menopause, final stages of menopause is just RIDICULOUS!!! I can go from euphoria to depression in a matter of minutes. My face and skin are doing things they did not do as a teenager. I am ginormous and can't seem to lose weight.

I have decided that having to eat my words is probably as much to blame as Panera bread, hubby's cakes, and stuff. All those years of saying "Oh, I will never do that. . . never get that way. . . mom's crazy, that won't happen." HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA ~ My thighs and the backs of my legs look like cottage cheese. By the way, NEVER, and I mean NEVER, look at yourself naked from behind!!! SCARY.

I can smile, talk to people, and carry on somewhat nice conversations, all the while thinking I could just slap the snot out of them. WHERE is that coming from???? I have a VERY short fuse, and get frustrated with myself and others easily. I've referred to hormones as HORRIBLEMONES for years now!

Thankfully, it is only a season and I can make fun of myself, right???? Show the grace, and southern gentility I was taught from my mother? Yea, you go right ahead and believe that!!!

But I do plan on riding this wave with as much fun as I can muster!!! Thought I would share this e-mail I sent to my office co-workers this morning:

I thought I might need to let some of you know that I will be out of the office next week April 6-10. Pray for me, as I am going to Florida with my best friend from Nashville and FIVE 18 year old senior high school girls!!!!! They're hormonal, I'm hormonal ~ should be a fun time!!!! Watch for the Girls Gone Wild version

of "Grandmas at the Beach" coming soon. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I keep teasing my friend's daughter that she will have to compete against me in the wet t-shirt contest and she will lose because they will have to aim the camera lower to see mine and then won't be able to see hers!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ain't life grand?????

BLING GIVEAWAY!!!

One of the best things about blogging is finding wonderfully creative people out there!

Pixisette Jewelry is one of them. Another great jewelry artist, Erin at Vintage Pearl is having a giveaway for Pixisette for these!!! Just visit Vintage Pearl and sign up for the giveaway.



After you enter the contest, check out Vintage Pearls handstamped jewelry at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5135533.

A girl can NEVER have too many purties!!!!!!

BAD TV

We have Direct TV and 5 gazillion channels and they all stink! That's not Direct TV's fault of course, just TV in general. So this evening, believe it or not, hubby and I have watched a marathon of (I REALLY hate to admit this) Bridezilla! Yes, that's right ~ YIKES!!!! Most of the time with our mouths hanging open and we are laughing!!!!

THEN ~ Not to be topped, a show came on in the middle of the the marathon. Surprise Wedding! Talk about sitting with our mouths hanging open! Five women tell their boyfriends that they've won a free trip to Vegas for a supposed makeover. They actually spend the week shopping for rings and wedding dresses. Their boyfriends get to join them at the end of the week to see the "makeover". As you can figure out by the title of the show, they men come out to find their girlfriends in wedding gowns. SURPRISE ~ It's your wedding!!!! The guys get to go off stage and think about their decision. They even get a 30 second lifeline telephone call (the show was produced by the people who did Who Wants to be a Millionaire?).

All the men came out and agreed to the marriage! Can you imagine if they didn't? It would be the Bachelor Debacle all over again ~ right on National TV!!!! And walla, a Chaplain appears and marries them instantly. AMAZING is all I can say.

But really, I can't say a lot. We sat here and watched the entire two hours, watched 5 couples get married without a long engagement or stressful wedding preparations, and it was all free!!! Two couples even won a honeymoon to Hawaii. So who are the stupid ones?????

Oh but don't worry ~ romance isn't dead in our house. Hubby and I are coming up on our 23rd anniversary. Hubby just suggested that on our 25th wedding anniversary, we renew our vowels.

A E I O U ya'll!!!

The Debacle formally known as The Bachelor!

I have to admit, I watched it, even after I SWORE I would not. I've only watched one entire season ~ and that was the first one aired. Monday night a friend called and told me that the final rose ceremony was going to be the best ever and an unbelievable twist with the AFTR hour.

So we watched it together somewhat, by calling each other about every 10 minutes and saying things like, "this is sooo stupid", "I can't believe I am watching this", "Jason is a turd" (although we really like what Melissa called him better!!!), "what is ABC thinking", etc.
But did we turn the TV off??? NOOOOOOOOO, of course not.

Then last night I sat right here and watched another hour of crap about it!!!! hahahahahahahaha.

There hasn't been this much hoopla in the news since Obama was elected!!!! I don't even want to think about what that says about us. YIKES!!!!!!

Anticipation. . .

I HAZ IT!!!
Can you tell I've been looking at LOL dogs and cats? At least 12 years ago, my father-in-law planted a dilapidated, pitiful Camellia bush in the yard between our house and theirs. He just hated to dispose of it, so he stuck it in the ground and never did a thing to it. Now, it is a beautiful shaped 10 foot bush that blooms every year! I see it every morning outside my bathroom window. It is beautiful in full bloom, so I will share pics of that when it happens. Occasionally, we get a freeze that messes it up, but rarely!!!!!

Ring around the head!!!!!

Yesterday I went to get my hair colored ~ painted as I sometimes say. I've been going to the same lady for sometime and she puts the same color on everytime. I am boring, I admit. My hair is gray, began graying when I was 16 years old. A friend and I were looking at my "bad" roots this weekend and joked that I'd moved from salt and pepper to LOTS of salt!!!!!!!

My hairdresser was out of my color yesterday and mixed two colors for me. Well, apparently, my hair grabbed the "warm" one and I am now donning red roots. An inch or so of red on blondish brown DOES NOT look good, especially when I often pull my hair back!

I've attached a pic, even drew a line for you, but it does not do my ring around the head justice. Suffice it to say, I have an appointment this afternoon to fix this!!!!!!

On another note, WHAT IS UP with the pithy, ugly looking forehead. I cropped the pic to show just the hairline and also because a picture looking down on a face is scary. My next trip will be to get a facial! GEEZ, getting old is H*$^#%*LL.

FUNNY NAME GAME TAG

NAME GAME
Share
1.YOUR REAL NAME:
Since I don't use my name on this blog, I had to cheat a little, but trust I used the correct letters. Hilarious!!!!

2.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME:(mother and fathers middle names)
Joyce Lynn

3.NASCAR NAME:(first name of your mother's dad, father's dad)
Pitt Charles (is that not a great NASCAR name, his name really was Pitt!)

4.STAR WARS NAME:(the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name)Chama

5.DETECTIVE NAME:(favorite color, favorite animal)
Pink Dog

6.SOAP OPERA NAME:(middle name, town where you were born)
Elizabeth Ft. Worth

7.SUPERHERO NAME: (2nd fav color, fav drink, add "THE" to the beginning)
The Chartreuse Diet

8.FLY NAME: (first 2 letters of 1st name, last 2 letters of your last name)
Mack

9.STREET NAME:(fav ice cream flavor, fav cookie)
Heath Chocolate Chip

10. PORN NAME: (1st pet's name, street you grew up on)
Kelsey Lathrop

11.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (first 3 letters of last name plus izzle)Chaizzle

12. YOUR IRAQI.. NAME: (2nd letter of your first name, 3rd letter of your last name, first two letters of your middle name, last two letters of your first name then last three letters of your last name):
Aaelryick

13.YOUR GOTH NAME: (black, and the name of one of your pets)
Black Missy

14. STRIPPER NAME: (name of your fav perfume/cologne, fav candy)
Chanel M&M

NO MORE CATS PLEASE!!!

As you read on the previous post ~ we had a guest (uninvited by the way) the last couple of days. I called for cats to help with the situation because our dog seems to be too old or snoring too loud to help! Turns out old and snoring wasn't the only problem ~ she had been acting a little unusual and we found out she had a tapeworm or tapeworms or whatever ~ I did not need to know more than that. Can you say YUCK!!!!!!!

We do have another guest (invited) that stays some nights during the week because she lives about 45 minutes to an hour from work and stays in town from time to time with us. Last night, she came in from working out at the local gym to pick up some clothes she'd left at the house and then head to her house. We urged her to stay because she was so tired and it was freezing! She would not stay, had to wash clothes, etc.

A few minutes after she left, as I was reading a magazine, I looked hubby and said, "You know, I can't blame Jenn for not wanting to stay. Within two minutes of her walking in the door, we shared with her that we had a mouse in the house and the dog had worms, I really did not want to stay here either"!

I am happy to report that the little critter has been captured and the dog has been to the vet and is fine now. So I feel much better about the house now. However, hubby did add at the end of our conversation this morning after discovering the catch, that he would set another one, just in case the little critter had family members. WHAT?????

Anybody need some company, I'm on the way! Can I bring Jenn?

Calling all cats!

We are not a cat family, but apparently we need one. The dog is old it seems and does not protect like she used to in the way of chasing things away. Tuesday morning about 2am I heard (over the soft sound of my CPAP machine) something rootin' round (that's Southern for looking through to find. . . ) in the little box that sits on hubs shelf beside the bed. I listened a minute, and heard nothing more, so I assumed hubs found what he needed.

Just a few moments later I heard something moving across his shoes at the end of the bed. I immediately thought it was the dog, she gets up at night and walks around. I quickly realized that the dog was sleeping soundly on the floor just beside my bed, and snoring. I woke hubs and he looked around (just to appease me). He saw nothing and decided that my CPAP must be making some sort of noise.

This morning he shared that the noise from my machine had begun rootin' again!!!! Precious huh, some sweet little critters came to visit, felt our home was warm and inviting. Again, the dog slept right through it.

So now there are a few traps set throughout the house. I DO HOPE that hubs realizes that if I hear one of the traps trip, especially if I'm lying in my bed, I might just run outside ~ cold or not! Look for me on your doorstep sometime later tonight!!!!!!

Wanna Win a Printer????

I do ~ and I entered to win this one over at http://www.mayhewreview.com/?p=87 Check it out!!!!

Have you had a day like this lately???? Glad this week is over and it's the weekend.

Great Strides for Nathan

My friend Jenn lost a great friend just a few weeks ago to Cystic Fybrosis. He lived longer than most with this horrible disease. From what Jenn shared about Nathan, I believe God had a lot for him to do on this earth ~ and that he did. I did not know Nathan, but feel like I did through Jenn.

One description of Nathan from her, "He was a best friend, a landlord, a GuitarHero buddy, an outdoorsman, and an occasional PDR. His door was always open... even as he was administering his meds. He was objective advice, good jokes, words of truth, and a ray of God's love in all of our lives. He was a groomsman, friend from high school, a fraternity brother, a co-worker, and the consummate event organizer (trust me when I say I have BIG shoes to fill!)." From all the comments about Nathan, it seems he did more in his lifetime, even in his worst days, than most of us much older.

I've added a button on my blog that will take you right to the site for the Team Nathan 5K run to raise money and eradicate this horrible disease! Click and join in the race by running, walking, or pledging. Won't you join us?

You can read Jenn's message about this at http://www.delightfullycliche.com/2009/01/nathan-cf-great-strides.html

Tallulah Falls School

I have not taken the time this week to post pics from my trip to Tallulah Falls last weekend. We had a wonderful, restful time and fellowship with great friends. The pictures don't do justice to the snow we woke up to on Sunday morning. HUGE flakes!!! Nothing much better than spending a peaceful morning, watching snowfall, drinking coffee and sitting in front of a warm fire with friends. Fortunately (since we had to drive home) or unfortunately (because we did not get snowed in and have to stay) the snow did not last long or cause any unsafe driving conditions.

The Saturday night dinner at Tallulah Falls School was also a big treat. Part of the bell choir played for us. Some of the students were away playing basketball at a neighboring school.

I strongly urge you to visit the area.

A Meme

Jenn tagged me with this and I've answered her exact list. I am sure I could come up with places/things I've been/done, and more than likely thinks I'd liked to do. But this is enough for now I would imagine!!!

1. Started your own blog -- yes, 1
2. Slept under the stars - yes!
3. Played in a band - no
4. Visited Hawaii - no
5. Watched a meteor shower - yes!!!
6. Given more than you can afford to charity - yes!!
7. Been to Disneyland/world - yes, and going for the 2nd time in June
8. Climbed a mountain - maybe a little one!!!
9. Held a praying mantis - yes, yuck
10. Sang a solo - yes, yuck again!!!
11. Bungee jumped -no
12. Visited Paris - no
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea - yes!
15. Adopted a child - yes, actually!!
16. Had food poisoning - yes
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty - no
18. Grown your own vegetables - yes
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France - no
20. Slept on an overnight train - no, but would love to!
21. Had a pillow fight - yes, several
22. Hitch hiked - yes, as much as I hate to admit it. Long time ago though
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill - I won't answer in case the boss reads this! LOL
24. Built a snow fort - snow man maybe???
25. Held a lamb - yes
26. Gone skinny dipping - oh yeah!!!!
27. Run a Marathon - no
28. Ridden in a gondola - no
29. Seen a total eclipse - yes
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset - yes, several of both
31. Hit a home run - in high school
32. Been on a cruise - no
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person- yes!
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors - no
35. Seen an Amish community - yes
36. Taught yourself a new language - if pig Latin counts!!! LOL
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied - yes
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person- no
39. Gone rock climbing - no
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David - no
41. Sung karaoke - yes, yuck again
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt - no
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant - yes
44. Visited Africa - no
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight - yes
46. Been transported in an ambulance - yes :(
47. Had your portrait painted - yes
48. Gone deep sea fishing - no
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person - no
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris - no
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling - yes
52. Kissed in the rain - yes!!! :)
53. Played in the mud - yes 5
54. Gone to a drive-in theater - yes
55. Been in a movie - no (was in a taping of a comedy DVD for a Christian artist)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China? - no
57. Started a business - yes
58. Taken a martial arts class - only once, that's all it took to tell me it WAS NOT my thing
59. Visited Russia - no
60. Served at a soup kitchen - yes
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies - yes
62. Gone whale watching - no
63. Gotten flowers for no reason - yes!!!! :)
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma - yes, often
65. Gone sky diving - no
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp - no
67. Bounced a check - aaahhhh, yes :(
68. Flown in a helicopter - yes
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy - yes
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial - yes
71. Eaten Caviar - yes, YUCK
72. Pieced a quilt - helped with one
73. Stood in Times Square - no (but the one who tagged me is going to take me there)
74. Toured the Everglades - no
75. Been fired from a job - yes
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in Arlington - only on video when TFS students did it
77. Broken a bone - yes
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle - yes
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person - no
80. Published a book - no
81. Visited the Vatican - no
82. Bought a brand new car - yes
83. Walked in Jerusalem - no
84. Had your picture in the newspaper - yes
85. Read the entire Bible - yes
86. Visited the White House - yes
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating - no
88. Had chickenpox - yes ~ gotta a scar on my forehead to prove it!
89. Saved someone’s life - no
90. Sat on a jury - yes :(
91. Met someone famous - yes
92. Joined a book club - yes
93. Lost a loved one - yes
94. Had a baby - no
95. Seen the Alamo in person - yes
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake - no
97. Been involved in a lawsuit - yes
98. Owned a cell phone - yes
99. Been stung by a bee - yes

WEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Actually Wii. As you can see from the pics below, my grandsons are deprived of fun things. Since tomorrow is a school holiday and I'm off, too, they came to spend the night tonight and spend the day with us tomorrow. The youngest got a Wii for Christmas and brought it with him. What you see pictured is what they brought for one night and one day!!!! I thought I might be a little busy ~ but instead I am going to have to go to our Chiropractor and our Orthopedic surgeon. I bowled, golfed, and played baseball on the Wii. I am doing well to type this post ~ WHEW is all I have to say!!

Also pictured are the iPODS they got for Christmas and birthday. When you combine, 2 and 1/2 sets of grandparents, an aunt, two uncles, parents, an October b'day, Christmas, and a January b'day, this time of year is a BLAST!!! I will be back online after my surgery!!!

OKAY, OKAY

I was left a message yesterday that if I did not update my blog that a certain "anonymous" person was going to get someone of greater power to step in. I could lie and tell you that I have just been so busy and overrun with such excitement in my life that I did not have time ~ but since there is a threat of that greater power coming after me already, I better tell the truth. There is nothing that exciting to tell and I have been lazy since the holidays!!!!!

Actually there are some fun things going on! Today, our youngest grandson turns 7 years old. That is just too much to take. He began rec. dept. basketball last night and it is a blast watching them. He is going to have a Nana and Papa day with us on Monday since I will be out of town this weekend and will miss his party.

I am going to one of my favorite places today ~ Tallulah Falls, GA. I am an active member of the Georgia Federation of Women's Clubs and we own and operate a private boarding school, Tallulah Falls School. GaFWC recently built a lodge up there and that is where we will stay. The school is 100 years old this year and there are several celebrations going on. This weekend is to honor current and past State and District Presidents. I am a past District President and serve on the Tallulah Falls School Board of Trustees so I head up there this afternoon. I can't wait to see everyone!

I did get hit on in Walmart yesterday. I realize as I type those words that they don't even need an explanation, because ALL sorts of stuff begins to go through the mind at this point! I was looking at Wii stuff for my grandson's birthday when a man, maybe in his 30's, with almost all his teeth, and a big grin on his face, came around a corner and almost ran into me. He apologized, stopped and looked at me, then said, "You have really pretty hair." I said thank you and kept on looking at Wii things, he kept on looking at me, which was needless to say, a little creepy. He walked away a minute or two later and did not say anything else to me. Weird!!!

I did buy myself a new toy!!! I have decided that I am not a scrapbooker/crafter, but just someone who collects scrapbooking, crafting, paper making, stamping, etc. products and stores them in a back bedroom, calling it a craft room! I would post a picture of this so called craft room, but would be WAY TOO embarrassed. If I ever get myself together and decide to finally clean the thing up, I might take before and after pics ~ but don't hold your breath out that interpeeps!!!

My new toy is a SLICE by Making Memories. It is a small, lightweight die cutter. I said I was not going to purchase anymore stuff until I cleaned up the room and began working on things again ~ but QVC (yes, I hate to admit it), a special offer and exclusive designs at 12:45 am was way too hard to pass up!!! It does some fun things and here are just a few! Obviously, the SLICE did not make the magnet ~ it' just a bonus for you.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Here we go again ~ another year gone and a fresh new one to look forward to. It's been a tough year, so I look forward to 2009! Did anyone do anything fun last night? Hubby and I stayed home, ate a wonderful steak dinner and watched GA Tech get pounded. It was a nice, quiet evening! Today we will have family over to eat New Year's Day dinner. The southern tradition is to eat black eyed peas and greens. Problem is, no one likes them in my family except me, so cream potatoes and green beans will have to do today!!!!! Simple, edible and makes the little ones happy.

I've made no resolutions this year either. Lose weight, get more exercise, eat right, get organized, spend less, save more, etc. have been used to death! Last year, I said that my resolution was not to make a resolution, that way I would not be disappointed!!!!!

So I hope everyone is looking forward to this new year with new opportunities to spend time with and love on your family, make a difference in someones life, and letting go of all the old hurts, disappointments, bitterness, and failures.

I begin a new bible study next week, Beth Moore's Esther, and I will strive to grow in God's word and pray for my family, friends, church, work, our country, and others liked I've never prayed before. We all could use it, don't you think????

Love and New Year wishes to all of you!