Gone ;(

Snow..gone. It has all melted. We have had it so long, it was weird to see actual grass. I can hardly believe it is almost 2009. Remember the worry in 99 when 2000 was about to hit. Regardless of the year, I want to live for Jesus and make it to heaven, whether I die or by the rapture...I just want to make it.

So, one of the things I got for Christmas is an Espresso Maker, so last night Emily and I tried it out. Once I get the hang out of it, it will be really nice. You can totally tell the difference between that and regular coffee pot coffee. Either is good to me, but this tastes more like the coffee shop. So hopefully I can just learn to make all my own coffee drinks. Also, Emily got me the movie Saving Sarah Cain. Good movie. Although, with the ending, there better be a sequel...grrr, the ending upset me. :( I also got the video game Cabelas Dangerous Hunts for my Wii. We get together every night nearly to play it. I could do without some parts to the game, and am going to try to figure out how to get rid of the commentary at the top. But for the most part, I really enjoy it. I got Emily to play, but then she quit because she said it made her mad...haha. And it's stressful. Seriously...it's called dangerous hunts for a reason, gets your blood pumpin.

My favorite part of Christmas this year, was actually Christmas Eve. Mom and I were out delivering gifts, and their was a blizzard going, sounds crazy...but it was just cozy and Christmasy. Then we went and looked at lights in between delivering gifts. I really enjoyed Christmas Eve this year. Worst part, me pouting because of melting snow on Christmas DAY, and the fact it seemed to fly by this year. To quickly. I felt very empty after this year, maybe more than ever. We never know when we will have our last Christmas (not to be down) and I wanted to really thoroughly savor it this year. It flew by so quickly. I got to take time on some parts, but most of it just went so so quick.

I hope everyone has a great day and that God will lead you into a deeper way with Him.

Creeper Inner

Feeling the loneliness creeping in. Making me sad. NOW, I have a choice to be down because of my situation in life as widow. OR, I can choose to look at all I am blessed with. Yes, I miss my husband. I always will, God understands that. But He also has given me so much, that I don't have a reason to STAY down and mope about. Sadness will come, loneliness will come, but I can't stay there. So please pray for me to feel the joy, and to praise Him in all things. The victory is in the praise. Thank You Jesus for Truth and YOU, Family, Friends, Jobs, Love, a Home...You are so good to me.

Failed

Emily and I tried to make a snowman yesterday with all the snow that was falling/fell (all in all about 3-4 inches of new). However, it was to dry. :( Bummer. Mom tied two tractor tire tubes together and pulled us around on the tubes with the four wheeler. We needed goggles for all the snow flying!!

After that we came back to my house and got ready and went shopping. We went to Old Navy, and of course they have their After Christmas sales going on. Well, I got two doggie jackets, matching. One for Honey and one for Abby. They are so cute, will have to post a picture. They were on a big sale too, 6.60 each, that was good. After Old Navy, we went home and I got the Abby and Honey and put their jackets on them. Abby had never worn one before, but did really good. Honey who has worn lots of clothes, and still hates them, wouldn't even move. I had to pick her up, and carry her. Finally by the end of the evening, she came into the house without me carrying her. But going back, we went and got a movie from red box (my second time). We rented Bella...it was a bit of a different movie, but I liked it. Thinking about buying it, I don't know if I even heard one single word of profanity. It's about saving a baby from abortion to some extent. Long story line, just watch it. It all comes together. I would recommend nearly all parts of it. Hard to explain. I looked up the main actor last night, he actually stands up for babies rights in real life. Is against abortion, for adoption, talks alot about of God. It was nice to see an actor, a fairly famous one in the Latino world, who could have everything at his hands, good looking, a singing career, all of that, and he still decides to stand up for what is right. Refreshing. Go rent Bella.

Shew!

Well, Emily is here safely. Praise the Lord! She had to wait a very long time for her luggage last night, which made a light night/early morning. I got up to go to work today, half day and she went with and walked around downtown while I worked. It was six degrees here this morning. BRRR...

Now, we need to start cooking for our Day After Christmas Dinner.

The meal:
Main:
Individual Cornish Game Hens

Sides:
Whipped Sweet Potatoes w/ Bananas and Honey
Green Bean Casserole
Mashed Potatoes/Gravy
Creamed Carrots (super excited about this recipe, from the Little House cookbook)
Corn Bread Stuffing/Dressing

Dessert:
White Christmas Pie

Not Dreaming

I won't have to dream of a white Christmas. Unless a heat wave comes in overnight, we are having a white Christmas here. I don't know how many times I wanted one as a kid, and when Damon was here, and it didn't snow. I think I have only had a white Christmas 5 times or less in life. So this is special. It was a mess out tonight. The wind was blowing the snow so hard it was at one point an almost white out, and then covering the roads so you could barely see the lines. We , mom and I, were delivering Christmas gifts, so it was fun (minus the bad road part) and got me into a bit more of a Christmas mood. :)

I wish you all a wonderful Christmas!! Make that CHRISTmas!! And, pray for Emily as she travels. No delays please!! :)

Check It Out

The recipe for the White Chocolate Cherrie Chunkies that I made, is on the recipe blog! Go
HERE!!

Snow+Cookies= CHRISTMAS!!

White Chocolate Cherry Chunkies
That is the snow shovel on my back porch sticking up in the snow. It is a bit more mounded there, because I have mainly been shoveling a small walkway just for the poochies to go out. Hence all the little foot prints. Abby really enjoys the snow.

Snow falling, YAY!

Me in my snowbootsm in the snow, the snow is covering the top of my feet.

Here's the new path I just shoveled, we have gotten about an inch more this evening.

My pretty tree, I think the snow makes it look better.

All in all I think right now we have 5-6 inches. Some of the drifts are up to about two feet. The deepest in my back yard is probably 6-7 inches. Looks like we will have a white Christmas. Thank the Lord for safe travel this morning. I just took it slow and kept it in four wheel drive and did fine. By this evening the roads were pretty good. Pray for Emily's trip out here, she is a bit nervous with the snow. But the Lord will take care of her. Also, I am havin sinus issues. My ears are really plugged, but my sinuses seem only slightly affected and my throat has the drainy feeling and is now slightly sore. That is what caused my head to feel like it was going to pop off last week. I want it gone by Christmas, I am praying for the Lord to touch me. Please pray to. love yall!

Great As It Is...

The wind is strong, and blowing the snow into pretty big drifts. It started snowing last night and didn't fully stop until sometime this afternoon-ish. We are supposed to get more tonight and I think snow nearly every day until Christmas. My only thing is, I have to drive quite a ways to work. So please pray for safety. I really like the snow and enjoy it, just need my roads to be fairly clear. :)

Also please pray for some unspoken requests of mine. love yall, and have a great night.

YAY YAY YAY

SNOW SNOW and MORE SNOW!!! Finally, REAL snow. Meaning more than a dusting or an inch. It is hard to tell because of the wind, it has blown it into quite the drifts. I have a drift on my back porch that is about 6-8 inches deep. I would imagine we got 3-4 inches if there wasn't any wind. WOOHOO!! I hope we get more.

Following Through

I am doing much better mind wise, thank the Lord and you for your prayers.

Now to the following through part- I am actually doing Christmas baking. Finally. I have been saying I was going to bake the last two Christmases, and haven't. So far I have done chocolate dipped pretzels, white chocolate dipped oreos, peanut butter cookies w/ the little kiss in the middle, and now I am baking white chocolate cherry chunkies. I dont know how much more I will do today. I was going to do some pinwheel cookies, but haven't gotten the recipe offline yet. I am just glad I got some actual holiday baking done. Woohoo.

Mind Me Mind

So, I have been having mind issues lately. I am a big big worrier, ponderer, whatever you want to call it. I have been a hypochondriac to some extent from my early teens. Well, it really hit after Damon passed away. To the point of almost crippeling me with fear. I know, it's not healthy for a person, let a lone a person who is serving God. I had a full physical done before I left Nashville and still had insurance, and the doctor said everything was fine. I know I need to lose weight...thats obvious, but other than that I am in good health. So since February I have been doing pretty good. Until these last two days. I have been feeling like my head is gonna pop off, like maybe I have high blood pressure, and it has sent me into panic attacks. Last night I had to just keep praying to fall asleep, AT my parents. So I say all that to say this, please pray for me. I have started taking the steps to get healthier by eating better (the scale is already showing it, woohoo) I started my morning walking routine today, and have taken my vitamins (those things are nasty, they make me nauseous). I know I can make my health much better for the now, and for the future by what I do this moment, but I do know God will honor my efforts and give me peace of mind, the farther I go along. It seems like a huge mountain in front of me, seeing what all I have to do to reach my goals, but I can only go one step at a time, and one day at a time. Just please pray for me.

Nine Days

Nine days to CHRISTmas. I remember as a child, this time didn't seem to go as fast. As an adult, it is flying by. So much to do, so little time. This year, I want to ENJOY Christmas. Slow down and really enjoy it. Yes do all the stuff that goes along with Christmas, baking, music, Christmas programs...but I want to savor each moment. Life is so quick. So so quick. God help me to breathe in YOU every day, and take each day for the blessing it is.

Just Down

I know it is natural...as we have lost pets before, but I am pretty sad right now. That kinda sinky feeling inside...I have that. I miss Blackie. She was such a good dog.

I will be finishing up my CHRISTmas shopping this week, and getting everything wrapped if it is staying here, or mailed if it's going fah fah away. Gotta fill out my Christmas cards. I am soo so sooo bad about keeping addresses. I have an address book, but then whenever I need it, I can't find it, so now I have no idea where it is. So to my friends that read, please send me your address via email. You should have it, if not, I can email it to you.

Sad Day

Today we said goodbye to Blackie. She has been a very very good dog. Raised three puppies...not of her own, but sort of a surrogate momma to them and taught them the ropes. We are not sure what all was wrong, but in people years she was 84, so she had lived a good long life. They think she may have had a stroke. I stayed with her until she was gone...I will miss her, she was a really sweet good and wonderful doggy. She was the best shake-er ever. I love you Hadley Blackie Leonard.

Upset Tummy

Part Two, I, thank the Lord, am feeling much much better. Thanks to the prayers of God's people and His Healing hand.

However, now I am asking you to pray for something else. My mom and dad's dog, blackie, is very sick. I don't know if she will make it. I brought her home a long time ago, when I was a Junior in high school I think. I found her eating out of my grandparents burn barrel. A barrel where you burn your trash in, instead of using a trash service. Anyway, both properties side with each other, so I brought her back to my parents house. And brought the waterworks on in front of my father. I made promises I am sure, but only one I can remember...sadly I didn't keep it. I told him I would clean up after her potty on the lawn...which I didn't do. :( Anyway, I called several vets asking if they were reporting a black lab missing. My thought is, here, hunting is big. Really big, and she is gun-shy. If you don't make a good bird dog, and you're a black lab, they don't need you. So I am assuming someone dropped her. Big assumption...anyway...back to yesterday. Mom came home and found that she had thrown up. Well, I brought her to my house, and kept her in my garage with lots of water and a blanket, she kept throwing up. To me it looks like it had blood in it. Mom came and picked her up, and is taking her to our vet on an emergency call. Yes, she is old. But I still don't want her to die, because aside she is old and has some arthritis in a hip socket she broke, she hasn't been to awful bad off as far as health goes. It's pretty sudden. I hope they can take care of whatever it is. I know God can. I know He cares.

Pray, and Oh BOY!!

First, please pray for me. Again, my stomach is hurting. I am missing my Christmas party at work tonight...I texted a girl I work with and she said the stomach flu is going around. ick.

Now, the oh boy part. It's SNOWING!! We were supposed to get snow last night, and didn't(it feel for a bit but thats it). I am so excited. Believe it or not, we don't get much snow where I live. I live in the valley, now you only have to drive about an hour to get to a ski resort, so mind you, real deep snow isn't far. But I like to have snow down here. Makes the cold worth while. And it is COLD.

A song came to mind this morning...I don't know all that much of it....but it say's. "I've won, I've won, the victory I've won" it is a Christian song, and well, what a blessing to hear that keep running through your mind.

This week is busy busy. Saturday night is my Christmas party for work, I hope it is fun. I still don't know a ton of people there. It's a free meal, and prizes. So we shall see. Happy Almost CHRISTmas. With Jesus though, every day is Christmas!

Countdown

can u believe...Christmas is in 15 days. goodness.

Lights

Lights, Lights, and More Lights.

First of all, a big big thank you to my neighbor, BEN!!! Thanks Ben, and thank you Becky for letting your husband climb up on someone else's roof to help a scaredy cat out! I borrowed their ladder to reach the peak of my house because Damon's wasn't tall enough. However, I was scared I was going to fall off or break it or whatever. Heights and I do not get along well. When I was a kid heights and small spaces didn't bother me. Now I am scared of both. I remember we went caving though at the time I don't think I called it that, and there was one point where we had to crawl through on our stomachs to get through. Now, NO WAY. Besides the fact I was a lot smaller than, there is no way you could get me to do that now. Panic city. Shew. Back to the point, Ben hung my lights on the last part I couldn't reach, then finished it around the corner. I owe them lots of cookies or something, I really appreciate my great neighbors. I should get a picture of what it looks like in the day too, because I think the garland is pretty as well. I will get a pic of it in the night and post that soon too, hopefully anyway.

Well, I need to get off here and get this house cleaned and ready for the party! Have a good day.

Missing Him

Please say a prayer if you would, I am really missing Damon. I always miss him, but there are times when it hits harder. I am such a control freak, so I really need prayer in letting go and letting the Lord take care of it all. I am having a hard time being the head of my household, even if it is just me. But I can't make it all work, I can only serve the Lord and let Him take care of the rest. Pray for me to let it go. To not worry about it all anymore. I hit moments where I am just tired, emotionally and physically. I miss Damon, and the security I felt with him. I have to realize though, all security is from God. Damons security for me was from Jesus, so I have to keep drawing on that. I really miss my sweet husband, he was and is still so dear to me. He completed me, I will forever be grateful for God's gift to me in Damon.

A Week

It has already been a week since Thanksgiving! Time is flying. I remember when I was a kid, things moved much much slower. I wish time machines were real, where you could take an occassional trip back in time. As a kid you wanna grow up, as an adult, its like "why was I in such a hurry?!"

Now, it's December 4th, and in three weeks Christmas and Emily will be here!! I need to do my Christmas shopping, and get my house ready for the party this Saturday. I work with a girl who sells The Body Shop, and I am having a party at my house this Sat Evening. Hopefully a lot of people will come, should be a fun evening.

Hope everyone has a wonderful day!

Healing

I just want to thank the Lord. I woke up around 3 am feeling really bad again. I am not one to get sick a lot, and I had just been sick last week...nauesous and such. So when I woke up and had that achy feeling again in my tummy, I kinda though what was going on. I called my mom, she didn't answer of cours...but I left message for her to pray for me cus I didnt feel well. Then I started praying between my whining at my tummy, and asked the Lord to help me. I noticed fairly quickly it started to subside, about ten minutes maybe. Then I fell asleep, and woke up this morning feeling absolutely fine. Normally when my tummy is like that I will be in and out of sleep all night long or atleast for a good long while. But not last night, I asked the Lord to help me and He did. So I just want to say thank You. :)

Pictures of the Tree

Tigger enjoying hiding under the tree...
Abby tuckered out from decorating...or something.

The decorating MESS

The near finished product.

Lights off, tree lights on. :) I have added some more ornaments, but here you go!

Extension Cord Wonders

While Emily was here last May/June, I bought what I thought was a great extension cord to put up some lights for the Luau. However upon closer inspection, after I got home, I realized it wasn't that great of a deal after all, because it didn't give you any extra length to the outlet, rather you plugged everything into the cord AT the outlet (which didn't give you any extra length) and it has a flip switch to turn everything on and off. Being the kind of person I am, I didn't take it back. I just don't like the extra footwork in taking things back. And, more often than not, I won't take something back. However, now that the Christmas season is upon us, I have found a use for this little invention, so as I sit here typing, I can look at the lovely glow of my Christmas tree that I turned on with the the flip of a switch. :) Simple things amuse me. :)