Birthday Celebrations

Becky & Jason asked for a Doug Prather "New Beginnings" framed picture. Jason Allen needed a new microwave that goes over his stove.

Maggie's first Bitty Baby American Doll, eyes open, eyes shut MJ is telling mommy.

I just wrote this post and lost it while downloading photos. Not sure why, but blogging drives me to insanity! I hate wasting time, and much of it I feel is not productive! I can never "repeat" what I said in the first place...hence the last paragraph!
Let me say this quickly, in case I lose it again when I try saving pictures. Becky's 30th birthday was celebrated at Equestrian Woods for brunch with her closest friends and family. That is except for the grandkids (including Caleb & Anna) that stayed with granddad. A nice birthday song was sang by the Johnsons, Joy, Jay, Sue and special guest singer, Shonda Judy! What a nice surprise! They were there celebrating Jay & Lisa's youngest daughter's 20th birthday and were so kind to come to our room and sing! We all enjoyed seeing them. The Grider's (our long ago neighbors in Open Gates) were there celebrating their wedding anniversary. So good to see Shonda, Danny, Sheila & family, with Mr. & Mrs. Grider. They were the best neighbors to a young family (us!) just raising young kids and wanting to do it just like they were. Godly examples for sure and certain.
I now remember why I hate blogging...this computer does not read my scan disk card (it reads all the older ones, but not the newest?) It, of course, has all my recent pictures on it. So, I have to use the laptop for downloading photos, and it doesn't type as fast...well, it does, but for some odd reason, the letters won't type as fast as this PC does and they wind up all over the writing. Now that you are bored with my technical problems, I will post the words here, and use the laptop for editing and including photos. I give up trying to format and move pictures on this laptop. It is very "trying" to say the least! Makes me be more patient when the students at school have trouble moving, formatting text boxes & pictures! So, the picture below will remain as is! It came after the birthday photos....this is Christmas day at our house.

Becky, Jessica (co worker, friend) and Matthew (above) Christmas was good at our house. By the 25th, we have had Stinnett family Christmas (30+), Baker family (everyone was there), Becky's family had several Keith family dinners/parties, we all had work parties, and several of us have had church class parties. A little party tired, but always we enjoy a quiet, semi quiet, day to be together. A few highlights:

1. First thing from mother "I felt sad when daddy wished me Merry Christmas and then said he was sorry not to have any presents for me to open on Christmas morning". *my sidenote, mom's birthday was on the 9th of Dec. and dad sent my sister to purchase a watch for mom. She did this so mom does have a nice gift from dad, just not on Christmas. I'm sure he didn't want to burden any of us with the buying of another gift so nothing was said. However, I hate that he was sad not to have been able to do something. He does not get out at all for any reason (with medical exceptions). I cried with mom when she mentioned how hard this was to hear dad say this.
2. Dinner was on time even though it was hard to get ready by 1:00. Thank goodness Clyde cooked the 16 oz. of noodles, while I made the sauce. We had one large casserole of meat lasagna, and one large casserole of lasagna rolls (filled with cream cheese, spinach, ricotta cheese, and more).
3. Everyone seemed to enjoy the food, although is was not traditional fare. The kids at first wanted spaghetti, but then ate every bite! Good for them, good for me!!
4. The boys loved the WII although at first it wasn't a very exciting gift. They ended up loving it and I feel sure will for years to come. By the time they left for home, Austin was hitting the ball very well.
5. Each of us gave gifts that cost a little more, so there weren't many to open. However, the best gift of all was that both my kids, my wonderful son in law (that I know doesn't realize how much I appreciate him), my grandkids and mother were all with me to enjoy one another. Blessings were in abundance. The "gifts" were small in comparison to my family.

Season's Festivities with family & friends!

Good pic of Jason and mamaw. Missing is papaw, unspoken he was there in our hearts. During prayer, he has always held Becky's hand so this was especially rough on her. Hospice was called and came by today. Mom seemed very relieved tonight to have this part of the journey over. They were good, she felt pleased with what they started today. They will be taking over a great deal of the work to make dad's days more pleasant, make these a little less stressful for mom.

I wanted to get a photo of all mom's grandkids. Only Christopher was missing. This is a miracle!

This was one of the Keith's favorite activities...Austin didn't want to get off! We still had the trains set up inside to go see....so much to do, with too little time!

This week we took a night off and visited the Southern Lights. We met up with Jason, Cassie & Thomas. It was the perfect winter night for looking at lights and feeding the "flock". The animals are always a "draw" and we enjoy seeing some that you only see at the zoo.

This photo is at Steve and Sandy's house for our CPA Social. She was so gracious. Everyone had a place set on tables "decked out". Appetizers were held at Joe & Beth's beautiful home, and we ended a nice night at Don and Ingrid's for dessert. She even sent us home with a "favor"! How fun!!

I cannot move this picture (below) down so that my December parties are not in order! This is my bunko girls, with the exception of Cheryl B. who is in Florida. We love the food, fellowship, prayer support each month with the girls.

We started Dec. with dinner at my house celebrating mom's 83rd birthday. We missed dad not being here and he wanted to be, but the day was very cold and rainy. We enjoyed being together with sisters & spouses.Next, Matthew & Austin performed at Porter Memorial with their Tots Landing friends.

Busy days, busy evenings!

Had a great time of fellowship last night at my house for bunko. I served a pork loin stuffed with jack cheese, spinach and sun dried tomatoes, mac and cheese and broccoli casserole...everyone liked it and I was happy it was all eaten. We exchanged gifts, had a good time of prayer and sharing and ended the night happy we are in each other's lives. Blessings to all my good friends. Now my family is off to the horse park for Southern Lights...pictures tomorrow!

Face Lift

I don't have any new photos to post and when I've had the kids over lately, I haven't taken any new ones! So, this is a short entry with nothing big to say! Clyde and I enjoyed the weekend starting off with Friday night movies with our friends, David and Tricia. We went to see "The Blind Side" and loved it. Instead of dinner out, since time was short, we enjoyed movie popcorn and soda! Yummy. As we were leaving, my beautiful niece, Britni, gave me a big hug and a huge smile. She is so pretty and just as sweet.

Saturday was quiet, so good to be home. We loved watching UK basketball and eating Little Ceasar's pizza! Sunday service was wonderful at Southland. The music was some Christmas songs among others. The atmosphere was filled with the sweet spirit of God. Jon preached about "The Story" and many people came forward to make a commitment to change their story.

After church, we met up with our friends, Michelle and Fred, for lunch at one of our favorite Sunday spots, Red Lobster. We eat there more than other places for Sunday lunch. We enjoy eating at Logans, Cheddars or good ole Cracker Barrel with the Waggoners at least once a week for most weeks.

We only saw the grandkids briefly as Becky came by to drop off some things on their way to a birthday dinner in Frankfort. I ran out to the car for quick hugs. Austin had new shoes on that someone had given him....they were spiderman shoes that had a light on them. He forgot to tell me about the light, so after they left my phone rang....it was Austin saying "nana, my shoes light up when I stomp on them"....funny. I'm sure these will be shoes worn by both boys since they both love spiderman! He and Matthew gave me fist bumps for goodbye and Maggie reached way over to fist bump nana....they are so cute!