a word from peter for......

To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.

For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
Therefore, my sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:1-11

May 2011 be a blessed year for all of you, my blogging friends. Our Heavenly Father delights in giving us His good and perfect gifts....I pray that we will receive them with a grateful heart and use them to glorify Him!

target tales

I like Target. I think their prices are higher than WalMart on most things (except when they put them on sale), but as my daughter says "they have cool stuff" and I try to do my part to make sure competition is alive and well in my city!
Last week, I was there with the
" grandgirls", when I heard a child say, "Mom, can we buy Candy Land?" Reply...."No, it's almost Christmas." "But, Mom, we could hide it under your bed with my other presents. I'll act surprised when I open it, too."
Earlier this week, there was an older couple checking out ahead of me. Their cart was filled (and I mean FILLED!) with paper goods and cleaning products....their total was $213! As the cashier was finishing their order, the gentleman said. "I can't decide if we are the cleanest people in the world or the dirtiest!"
Last night, I went to WMart to get some miscellaneous things and a few groceries. One of the main things I needed was eggs....... there was not one carton on the shelves....not one! I couldn't believe it! I was going to make a quick stop at Target to check on a birthday present for my son in law and I would pass another grocery store on the way home. So, I thought I would stop there. Well, Target didn't have the video game I was looking for, but on the way back to the front of the store, I remembered that they do carry a few groceries. "I wonder if they have eggs." I thought. Guess what.....they did! And at the same price as
W Mart. I couldn't help but laugh. Here I am buying eggs at the store with the "cool" stuff! Well, the eggs were refrigerated!! :-)
Hope you are having some laughs today!

a few of my favorite things....

Chris Tomlin, my favorite vocalist and Jan Karon,
my favorite author. These are their latest releases.






My favorite
everyday scent,
Warm Vanilla Sugar from
Bath and Body and my favorite special occasion scent, White Shoulders.









I love pretty teacups! This one has my favorite flower, the daisy.









Gooood coffee!
Hazelnut is my favorite!











Pretty jewelry......an amethyst bracelet and a sparkly pin for my......










lovely scarf in my favorite color....purple!










My family and friends were very thoughtful and generous this year. It seems they know me well! I enjoy shopping for and surprising others, but, I'll have to admit, it is still fun opening a package and finding a wonderful surprise!! :-)

christmas at our house

I know many of you had beautiful and elaborate tablescapes for your Christmas dinner tables....and I hope to get to see them on your blogs. My "crowd" is much more casual...they like things simple and comfortable with lots of elbow room and plenty of space for the "groceries" as the hubby likes to call "country cooking"! So, a happy snowman, some snow, and some Christmas tableware is all there is!




Like Judy, I have tried to make some different dishes and desserts, but the family wants the same thing every year....their favorites. Again, nothing fancy...just simple and tasty.



Here they are.....digging in and wishing Mom would just sit down and quit taking pictures! :-)

This was the scene ten minutes later...ha! ha!


After lunch, we exchanged our gifts. Kids couldn't wait to start enjoying theirs! The young artist painting with water... these books are a great invention!


Cousins watching Toy Story 3 on the new portable DVD player


Squeal!!........"I really wanted a pillow pet....I really wanted a pillow pet. Look, Dad I got a pillow pet!" Aunt L and Uncle B hit a home run with this one!


Dora on a Nintendo DS....a happy combo. She sat there for long time playing...completely oblivious to those around her.
Look at those curls!! :-)



The boy loves Thomas! The play rug along with "Hank", a coal car, was a gift from his aunt and uncles. He was a happy guy!


We had a nice day....love and laughter...food and fun...giving and receiving...blessing and being blessed! We are so grateful for the family God has given us .....three precious children, another sweet daughter and son by marriage, and three grand "grands"!






There is a sweet new saying that I am seeing everywhere these days...."All because two people fell in love!" Maybe it should be "all because two people made the commitment to love each other." I think that love lasts longer! :-) It did start with just us two and now there are 10.....God has truly blessed. As I looked around the room while we were opening gifts, my heart was filled with joy and gratitude. Having a family that loves the Lord, loves each other and that enjoys being together has always been a desire of my heart. My Heavenly Father has certainly given me that. That is the best Christmas gift I could ever get!

A Christmas Wish

"While we were sinners, God sent His Son..." Thanks be to God for His unspeakable Gift!
A Blessed Christmas to you all!

making some "grand" memories!

"Breakfast" and a movie!!


Fun at the park!





Today, the "grand boy" comes to play! Look out!! :-) Hope you have a grand day, too!

a "grand" day!

Riding bikes and scooters was fun and the day was beautiful!






We had lots of help setting up our very simple Nativity. When we pulled in the driveway Sat. night, the oldest said "Gran, where is Baby Jesus?" Knew then we had to take care of that!



Yogi was okay... they loved it so that's all that matters.


A day with my girls....... so glad they are here! Five days until Christmas...we're getting excited! Are you?

self portraits?

Someone found my camera.....and knows how to use it!!





Silly girl! Glad it didn't "freeze" that way! ha! ha! Off to see "Yogi Bear" later! Hope you are having fun today!

rendevous!

We met our son half way between his house and ours at a Cracker Barrel to get the "grand girls". Dinner was good, but playing with the toys was the best thing!!






The fun has begun!! :-) Hope you have a glorious Lord's Day!!!

just add crackers

Here' a recipe you might enjoy during the holidays.....quick, easy, 4 ingredients, delicious!


Chicken Cheese Ball

1 can (12 oz) white chicken
1 8 oz bar cream cheese (softened to room temp)
1 pkg dry original Ranch Dressing mix
3/4 cup (more or less) chopped pecans
Drain chicken and shred or chop. Mix with cream cheese. Add ranch mix. Mix well, form ball, roll in chopped pecans or sliced almonds. Refrigerate until ready to serve. I think it is better made ahead. It gives the flavors time to blend.

I have had this recipe for years, but only made it once. Made it again this week for the Hubby's work Christmas party....and they ate it all! Several people asked for the recipe. Made me think some of you might like it, too!
Hope you are enjoying your preparations for Christmas. I am happy to say that my shopping is done and all the gifts are wrapped! Woohoo!! I am meeting our TN son to get the "grand girls" tomorrow. They are spending the week with us and we are really looking forward to that! I see "Monkey Joe's" (an indoor play place of inflatables), the movie theater (Narnia), and the nail salon (even at 7 and 4 they like "manis" and "pedis" ha! ha! ) in my near future. :-)
I pray that your weekend will be blessed and fun!!

it "snowed" snowmen

I finished putting my snowmen in their places! First on my "mini" pew.....


then on the piano.....

on one end table......

and the other one.....


on top of the entertainment center........




on one side of the TV.......


on the other side........



and on the room divider....perhaps my favorite!


Can you tell that I like snowmen? Their happy faces make me "snow" glad they found their way to our home. My grands love playing in the "snow"...and I let them!!! One more day of work and then I am off until Jan 4! Woohoo!! Hope your tomorrow is "snow" very blessed!