Family Member

30 Days of Thankful 2014 - Day 26 - FAMILY MEMBER

Thanksgiving is a time for FAMILY and friends and a time that we often come together to relax together amidst the busyness of our lives.  Today, I will be busy preparing to leave town.  In doing so, I first need to drive down and pick up my brother, Dan, and bring him back to Shreveport.  We will then pack the car and wait for Ron to get off work so that we can drive to Atlanta to gather with other FAMILY MEMBERS for the holiday weekend.  Because my brothers and I (and our children) are scattered around the country, it will be the first time we have all been together since my daddy died almost 6 years ago.  I can't wait to see everyone!!   And the cousins can't wait to be together again.

Some of you are probably already surrounded by many FAMILY MEMBERS while others may be preparing to see someone special or remembering a particular FAMILY MEMBER.   Who will you choose to highlight today and why?  Why are you thankful for that particular FAMILY MEMBER?

Family Fun

Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family.
~Anthony Brandt

What a wonderful holiday I've had!! It began with Callie getting into town and then Jana and Rob arrived to spend a few days. My dad went down to pick up Dan and then Don and his family arrived on Sunday. I'm sure that some people don't really understand how we "do" family, but I love it!!! We are all so different, but when we get together, we have so much fun. The cousins enjoy each other so much and generally kind of "pick up" where they left off the last time they saw each other, despite the months that pass between visits. And the adults all have a few favorite things to talk about or do, too. It's like we just can't

This year, Don and Sally brought their two dogs with them---border terriers named Wally and Teddy. Since Emmi had just had surgery and was wearing a "lampshade" I brought her over to Daddy's house most days and let her stay in the laundry room. The house was a busy place with four dogs to take care of!!

After the candlelight service at church, we enjoyed a wonderful meal at their house on Christmas Eve and were joined by Mary Lou's son and his family. Mary Lou really outdid herself with delicious food and a beautifully decorated house!!! Then, on Christmas morning, we woke mid-morning and began to prepare food for brunch at our house. As things were getting ready, we stopped to share presents. It was fun to have a new family member with us and I hope that Rob enjoyed being with us, too. All the others joined us for brunch----and of course more presents to open!! After opening some great gifts, I realized that the wonderful things I'd received definitely didn't have a feminine feel to them-----a GPS system, a cordless drill and the new computer I'd purchased with a monetary gift from my dad!!! haha! I've had enough time to really use and enjoy all three now!! I've also loved listening to the new CD Callie got for me!!

Througout the week, we tried to squeeze in as much as we could and managed to shop for bridal gowns, bridesmaid dresses, after-Christmas sales, play Descent on Dad's computer (Sally and I are the champs, by the way) and watch a movie or two. Then finally on the last day, Camille and Callie threw together a gingerbread house!! It definitely was a lesson in the "process of art" rather than the finished project!!!

What I Love About Christmas

December Details 2014 - Day 25 - WHAT I LOVE ABOUT CHRISTMAS

The decorations are nice, the presents are fun and the music is great, but WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT CHRISTMAS is being surrounded by family.  Last weekend, we were able to make a quick trip over to Stephenville to be surrounded by Ron's family.  We opened gifts, ate great food and opened presents, but the best part was being together.

We usually begin our Christmas Day with family over for breakfast and opening gifts.  This year will be different---for the first time ever I think---I will not be at my own home for Christmas morning!  This year, there is a new child in the family and it's time to begin a new tradition.  (And especially with another one on the way in just a few short weeks!!) But, it really doesn't matter where we celebrate, what day it is or what's under the tree.  MY FAVORITE THING is being with family.

Today, my wish for you is to have a wonderfully, relaxing day filled with family, fun and memories.  Merry Christmas!!   

What I Did On My Thanksgiving Vacation

Remember in elementary school when you had to write a paragraph about what you'd done on a recent vacation? While I didn't travel, I had a vacation from work. So, here are a few of the things I did on my Thanksgiving Vacation:

--Cleaned out my closets
--Taught Sunday School
--Helped Callie clean her bedroom
--Gave Emmi and haircut and bath
--Took 2 car loads of stuff to Goodwill
--Shopped for Christmas presents
--Made Christmas presents for my co-workers
--Visited with my brother and his family from New York
--Shopped for paint and supplies
--Painted the hallway ceiling and walls
--Walked/ran the Turkey Trot (3 mile race on Thanksgiving morning) --Ate Thanksgiving Dinner with my family at Shreveport Country Club
--Played Mad Gab with family --Took family photos
--Watched a movie I would have never watched on my own!("Run Fatboy, Run" with Jana, Rob and my niece, Leslie)
--Mudded the wallpaper seams in my bedroom and sanded them (the girls and their husbands painted them)
--Took Jana shopping for dress pants
--Cooked a big pot of chili and invited the Jamar side of the family over---lots of fun and laughter
--Hugged Dan "good-bye" --Hemmed 5 pairs of pants for Jana and Callie
--Hugged Callie and Jordan "good-bye"
--Hugged David, Leslie and Laura "good-bye"
--Constructed a set of angel wings and halos for a skit at church
--Wrapped Christmas gifts
--Chased Emmi down the street when she got out of the front door
--Hugged Jana and Rob "good-bye"
--Cleaned up my new, fresh bedroom
--Took a nap

Now, it's back to work and regular work schedule.

New Year, New Focus - One Little Word

Welcome 2018!

Well, here we are, a couple of days into the new year and I am knee-deep in getting my next box out for Dot To Dot Connections. I did most of the work just before the holidays so that I could sit back and just relax with family, but all of the last-minute details have to be taken care of before the box ships out this Friday.

This past year was one filled with grandkids, family and the beginning of my new business.
There were some difficult times, to be sure, but they were overshadowed by the good times, as is often the case.

The last holidays of the year, Thanksgiving and Christmas, were spent with family, which is pretty much my favorite way to spend any day. Carmelle, Chad and the kids came in for Thanksgiving and instead of squishing everyone into my tiny dining area, the weather cooperated and we had our feast outdoors in the backyard. Jordan fried a turkey for us, and I made all the trimmings.


One of the ladies from my Sunday School class joined us and it was such a nice time to remember all of our many blessings and enjoy each other's company.

For Christmas, all of Ron's kids and families were able to come to our house for the first time ever. I regret that I never got a photo of everyone, but I got a couple of so-so pictures of his kids.

This time it was too chilly to eat outdoors, so we just set up an extra table and enjoyed the meal crowded together.

There was plenty of food eaten, games played, "snowballs" thrown and new toys tested.

The day after Christmas, Ron, Dan and I headed to Georgia to meet up with Jana, Callie and their families for a few days.

We rented a wonderful Airbnb and once again enjoyed exchanging gifts, hiking, train rides and just being together.

The time together is always too short, but I am so grateful for any opportunity to be with family!

January 1st arrived quietly at our house. Along with it came a new focus for me, a new One Little Word to invite into my life this year. This year's word is "Gather". (This wonderful dough bowl was a gift from my dear friend, Debbie.)

In 2018, here are some of the areas I plan to focus on:

• gathering with friends, especially old friends that I have been missing 
• inviting people into my home (I have always felt a bit uncomfortable being the hostess, and it is something I really want to work on.)
• gathering the tools I need to become more organized (even if that means getting rid of things, too)
• gathering the materials for my business (supplies for my Connection Boxes, accounting paperwork, email addresses)
• gathering (and keeping on hand) ingredients for healthier food choices
• gathering flowers from a cutting bed I hope to plant this spring
• gathering and using veggies from my tiny garden

There are so many exciting things ahead and I have a tendency to try to take on more that I can handle sometimes, but most of the things listed above are things that I am already working on or things that I feel like I am really missing and willing to add, even if it means cutting back in another area. While I LOVE photography, I have generally spend so much time editing photos that I never get around to posting them. I've decided for this year, that I will edit only my very favorites and will post photos on here regardless of whether or not they have been edited. I have also decided to discontinue creating new Instagram challenges. I love taking a photo a day and will continue that practice, but I am going to use the prompts designed by Katrina Kennedy over at Capture Your 365. I'd love it if you joined me!

Meet the Family---Part Two

You may remember a few weeks ago when I met Ron's youngest son, Tyler.    That was great and he has been here for several weeks.   Part two of meeting the family was last weekend, when the three of us traveled to San Marcos, TX to meet up with Ron's daughter, Carmelle and her family.  Being the only daughter in my family, I fully understand how close a father-daughter relationship can be and also how tense it could be to introduce someone new to the crowd.   But, I also knew that if Carmelle was anything like her dad, things would be alright.   We spent several days together, mostly at the Schlitterbahn Water Park in New Braunfels, and it was so much fun.  Carmelle is a smart, beautiful girl who seems to be an awesome mother to her two children, M and A.  Her husband, Chad, was lots of fun, too and we all had a great time eating, tubing, swimming, visiting and playing cards.  Of course, I couldn't keep up with a real camera while we were in the park, so I had to rely on a few shots with Ron's phone.









Back at the hotel, Carmelle and Chad set the kids up with movies each night while the bigger people played some serious games of Phase 10!  I must say that we ladies gave those guys a good run for their money, with Carmelle being the big winner!





My favorite moments:  Sunday morning, after breakfast, we all decided to take naps before checking out at noon.  Just as we settled down with the Olympics on tv, a knock on the door brought A to our room.  She crawled up in the bed and proceeded to play the games on my iPhone (being a preschool teacher came in handy on this trip).  Before long, another knock on the door brought M in also.  He crawled up to nap with Tyler, complete with his new race car helmet on his head.