Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite days of the year. I guess because it is one of the only days of the year that most of family will be together at my Mother's house. Just like when we were young. Today, I woke up about 8 so I could get started on the dishes I am taking. I am waiting on a dessert to finish so I thought I'd write down my thoughts today.

I have been reminiscing a lot lately. Maybe because I am getting older... Perhaps because of the season... I don't know! Tradition means so much to me. Thanksgiving always starts with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the smells of dinner coming from the kitchen. As a child we would help Mother with whatever she needed us to do, and watch the parade. We would sit down to dinner about 12 or 1. I say sit because I don't remember ever having a table that we all could sit at, but we try. All the chairs are brought to the dining room. Chairs from the kitchen, office chairs, even the piano bench! You see there are 9 of us, plus Mother & Jerry, makes 11. Now we've added spouses, and grandchildren, but we still bring up every chair in the house and try to all sit around the table. As we've gotten older we've added new traditions. The grandkids now sit around the kitchen table. Some of us stand around the table or sit in the adjacent living room. Then after dinner, Jerry & some of the boys will be watching football in the family room, the other boys will be in one of the bedrooms playing some type of video game, and the girls are in the living room going through the Black Friday Ads! My step-brothers & sister usually leave around 3 or 4 and go to their Mother's house, but most of us end back up at Mother & Jerry's that evening.

Today, we are expecting that 7 of the kids will be there. 2 of the boys won't be. Dabreon is in Florida, and DeWayne is in Alabama; neither were able to come because of work obligations. I am very excited because my sister, Nakia, will be there today. She doesn't always join us, but today she is going to be able to. So, total we will have 23 people for dinner today! That is our 2 parents, 7 children/siblings, 5 spouses, and 9 grandchildren! Sounds like a lot but we will be missing 2 children/siblings, 2 spouses, and 9 grandchildren... When we all get together there are 36 of us! Isn't that amazing...

Well, I just heard a timer go off, and I hear my husband & children stirring. I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Banana Sour Cream Cake

Kraft Foods Banana-Sour Cream Cake

My Banana Sour Cream Cake

I found this great recipe in my Food & Family magazine this month. I always have bananas and most of the time they are eaten before they get too ripe, but sometimes they don't! I get tired of making banana nut bread, muffins, etc. My picture isn't as good as the one from Kraft Foods but hey they have professional photographers with very expensive cameras to take their pictures! My family was very impressed with my attempt, and best of all it tastes delicious! I will be making this again!

Simple Woman's Daybook - November 24

Good Monday Morning! Come on over & check out what's going on in my day...

If you want to join in, just go visit Peggy over at The Simple Woman, read the guidelines here and then add your name to Mr Linky. There are so many other participants sharing their day, I'm sure you'll enjoy looking through them :)

For Today

Outside my Window...

the wind is gently blowing with a nice steady rain. I can see the last few leaves struggling to hang on to the branches. A very large black bird just landed on the bird bath to get a drink.

I am thinking...

that I won't be able to blog as frequently as I have in the last 6 months after this week.

I am thankful for...

Mercy...God has supplied all our needs even when the obstacles seemed insurmountable.

From the kitchen...

Monday-Country Fried Steak & Mashed Potatoes with Banana Sour Cream Cake, Tuesday-Homemade Chili, Wednesday-Trevlyn's 17th birthday we'll be eating out with family but I am making a homemade Oreo cheesecake, Thursday- Homemade Mac & Cheese & Pumpkin Cheesecake for Thanksgiving, Friday-Thanksgiving leftovers!

I am wearing...

Blue sweatpants & a red t-shirt

I am reading...

Compromised by Kate Noble

I am praying...

that my work schedule will be convenient for my family & my church obligations

I am creating...

Christmas presents; quilts, aprons, purses, pot holders...How will I get it all done before Christmas? Maybe some will be Valentine's presents...LOL

I am hearing...

Silence... no one is in the house but me. I can hear the clock ticking, me typing, the wind blowing through the trees. I treasure my "Me" time. I told my husband this morning that I am going to miss it! I didn't really realize how much until now it will be gone.

Around the house...

Bathrooms, Kitchen, my bedroom, and several loads of laundry. This week will be very busy. I am going to attempt to make sure that the house is very clean so after I go back to work the rest of the family can chip in and help me keep it that way.

One of my favorite things...

Cooking...I love to cook.

A few plans for the rest of the week...

I'll be at home until Wednesday night church service. I will be working in and around the house as much as possible for the next few days. Then Wednesday night after church we will celebrate Trevlyn's birthday then go over to Mother's to help her prep for Thanksgiving dinner. Thursday will be spent with all of my family at my Mother & Jerry's house. Friday will be spent with Brendia, Heather & Beth shopping. I don't really have any money to spend but it is just so much fun being with everybody. We tackle the ads & the stores looking for the best deals. Mother will join us about 9 for breakfast. We have a great time, and it is the way we kick off the Christmas season. Saturday morning we are all going out to the church to decorate the dining hall for Christmas. Saturday night is our very last Vols game. This will be the last game that I manage the church concession stand. I am both happy & sad. I've enjoyed it, but I am glad that next year I won't have the responsibility. I can just go out, work the stand, and enjoy the fellowship. A busy week. Hopefully I've not planned too much, but you know me, I probably have and won't be able to get everything done. Especially if I stay on this computer a minute longer today! LOL :)

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

This is a picture of my baby about 17 years ago. He was just a few weeks old in this picture. He was born on Tuesday, November 26 at 6:34am, 2 days before Thanksgiving. We were released from the hospital on Thanksgiving day and went straight to a Thanksgiving dinner at my husband's uncle's house. I'll never forget it. He was and is my favorite son! Isn't he beautiful? I can't believe he'll be 17 years old this week! Where does the time go?

I've Caught the Bug!

I woke up this morning sick! My throat hurts, my head hurts, my ears ache, I can't breath, and I've been running a fever off and on all day! Chills one minute and sweating the next. I have been in the bed all day. At least our house is warm. I am so thankful that Charlie was able to fix the furnace yesterday. He had to replace the ignitor. I am glad that he is mechanically inclined otherwise it would have cost us several hundred dollars to have it repaired. I was planning on going to Trevlyn's first basketball game tonight, but I guess now I won't!

I just made a big pot of potato & onion soup. I call it the feel good soup! Hopefully I'll feel better tomorrow.

A Simple Woman's Daybook - November 17

FOR TODAY November 17, 2008

Outside my window... The wind is blowing gently with a very chilly breeze.

I am thinking... that it is cold in my house because my furnace went out last night!

I am thankful for... God answering prayers. I was offered a job today. It isn't a management job which is what I've done for the last 7 years and I am thankful. I wanted a job where I could bring home a check and still be available for my family.

From the kitchen... Cinnamon Toast this morning

I am wearing... flannel pants, and 2 long sleeve shirts

I am creating... Quilts for Christmas

I am going... anywhere that is warm! Charlie & I are getting ready to leave to buy the part to fix the furnace.

I am reading... Full Circle by Davis Bunn

I am praying for... that God will help me and Charlie to be good stewards.

I am hearing... birds chirping.

Around the house... I have to finish the 2 quilts I am working but I also need to do a few loads of laundry today.

One of my favorite things... blogging, and the feeling that I get knowing that I have friends that are praying for me.

A few plans for the rest of the week: This is a stay at home week. I don't have anything planned for the days, but Wednesday night we will be going to Trevlyn's Basketball Jamboree, and on Thursday night Beth has Ice Skating!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Ripples, everything that happens in life causes ripples!

Another Quilt Giveaway

Can you tell what is on my brain? Quilting... Camille over at Thimbleblossoms is giving away a quilt, and you get to choose the pattern! You have until Nov 23 to enter so head on over and check out her giveaway.

A Feeling of Accomplishment

Yes, I finished something! Lately it seems that I've been going from one project to the next without finishing anything. I hate doing that, but sometimes my ADD kicks in and I just can't seem to get anything done. I am that typical Mom that starts in the kitchen cleaning. I find mail on the counter so I take that down to the office. While in the office I find my coffee cup that needs to go in the kitchen. I take my coffee cup back to the kitchen. Then I find my car keys on the counter. I take those to my bedroom, and I realize I didn't make up the bed. Then ...okay on and on and on.... These really are my days. Most of the time I just can't seem to find a good rhythm, and I spend my time getting nothing done! Yesterday wasn't like that! I had a very productive day. Before noon, I had washed 2 loads of laundry, folded and put them away, made egg salad for lunch, and while doing that I put dinner in the crock pot so that could be cooking while I was working on my quilting. Then I started working! We have another baby shower tomorrow night. Did I tell you that we have 7 babies being born in a matter of months at our church? 2 of them have been born in the last month, and the other 5 are due between January & May. So this is the 3rd baby set that I have made. It is a coordinating baby blanket, burp cloth & bib. This is one of my favorites. I just love the rubber ducky fabric. They are made of a very soft and cuddly flannel. I like for the sets to be comfortable, and cute but still be able to be used. All 3 things can be put in the washer & dryer when they get dirty!

These are the squares for my niece's quilt. I received 40 charm pack squares, and I had to cut out the other 100! Have I told you that the cutting & binding are the things I dislike the most about quilting. I know all the colors are little funky! She asked for pink & purple, and that is primarily the colors that I am using, but there are other colors too! My husband came in last night and he said are you sure that all those colors are going to work? I told him well actually No, I'm not, but I sure hope so since I just spent hours cutting out all these squares! What do those of you with quilting experience think...Will it work? The end result will be a disappearing nine patch! On the left are all the stacks of squares that go in the quilt, and on the right is one square that I put together to let Charlie see an example of how it was going to go together.

Old Red Barn - Win 1 of 3 Quilts

Aren't these 3 quilts absolutely gorgeous? I love them and really really want to win 1 of them, don't you? Go on over to Dana's Old Red Barn Co to enter the drawing!

Little Is Much

I have been taught as a small child to work in the church. Whether you may be a door greeter, a church custodian, a singer in the choir, the sound man or whatever the Lord calls you to do then do it with all your might. I have tried to pass that along to my children too. But, if you've ever been involved in church work then you know that it is a thankless job. Most of the time if someone comes to talk to you about a job you've done in the church then it is probably because you did something wrong not because you've done something right. Sometimes our jobs seem so small, and little known. Today I have been thinking of that, and this song came to my mind. No matter what the job or how small it is if God is in it then our Praise will come from him on that last day when he says enter in! I want to hear him say Welcome Home My Child, Well Done! It will all be worth it on that day!

In the harvest field now ripened,
There's a work for all to do.
Hark, the master's voice is calling,
To the harvest calling you.

Does the place you're called to labor
Seem so small and little known?
All is great if God is in it,
And He'll not forsake His own.

Little is much when God is in it.
Labor not for wealth or fame.
There's a crown and you can win it,
If you go in Jesus' name.

When the conflict here has ended
And our race on earth is run,
He will say, if you are faithful,
"Welcome home, my child, well done."

The Simple Woman's Daybook - November 10

For more daybooks go on over to Peggy's.

For Today November 10, 2008

Outside my window... The sun is shining brightly. I can see the mountains in an array of colors; Yellows, Greens, Reds & Oranges....

I am thinking... that I have a lot to do this week.

I am thankful for... my home, and my family.

From the kitchen... A few things I plan to make this week; Roasted Pork loin, Homemade Pizza, Battered Fish & Fries, and Vegetable Soup with cornbread.

I am wearing... My cleaning clothes; Red knit pants, and a very old t-shirt.

I am creating... A baby set. We have another baby shower at church this week.

I am going... Today is my at home day. I am going no where!

I am reading... I just finished a Kasey Michaels book.

I am praying ... for God's guidance.

I am hearing... the house is very quiet so I can hear the clock ticking, and every once in a while I hear the birds chirping from outside.

Around the house... Clean my bathroom & bedroom today, and wash 2 loads of laundry.

One of my favorite things... talking with my husband. This morning we sat and talked just the two of us after the kids went to school.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Work around the house a couple of days, finishing the construction clean of Brendia's house, Wednesday night church service, Ice Skating Lesson, Baby Shower, and then the weekend shoud be here!

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Charlie & I pretending to ballroom dance while waiting for our family Easter picture to be taken.

Coming Full Circle

I was sitting here this evening reading back through my blog posts... Do you ever do that? It is amazing to see how my life has changed so much just this year. In my first post I said that this might be a type of therapy for me. I just didn't realize how much it would help. I have met new friends, and renewed old acquaintances. You all have been there as I was going through some of the hardest trials of my life. I have battled sickness & financial difficulties. But you have also been there with me through some of the happiest times of my life. This year, I have 2 new nephews, I have learned how to sew, and basically just released the creative side of myself.

I realized as I was reading my past posts that I never told you the results of my neurological testing. The MRI came back fine. I didn't have a tumor as the doctor thought at first. However the doctor felt sure that I had Partial Onset Seizures. I hadn't taken the medication that he had given me so when I went back for the office visit he was a little upset with me. He asked me to take the medication for 1 month and then come back. Of course you know me, I asked a multitude of questions about the medication. The medication was a full blown seizure medication. Once I began taking it I would have to take it for the rest of my life. If I didn't then that could result in full seizures. I told him that my husband & I would discuss it, and that was pretty much the end of the visit. I decided not to take the medication and cancelled my next doctor's appt. For many weeks after the testing I was still having major headaches, dizziness, and some numbness in my extremities. These things would always come after I had experienced a rough night. I sleep very hard. I can't say I had sleepless nights because I didn't. I would just wake up feeling like I had run a marathon! Well, one Sunday morning I woke up with a headache, and felt like I could pass out at any moment. I went ahead and went to church with my family. I didn't tell the kids how I felt, only my husband knew. We had been praying for a miracle, and I knew that when God was ready then he would heal me. I sat through church and I felt like I was barely there. I had a sense of being on the outside looking in. I could tell what was going on, but felt like I wasn't a part of it. After the preacher finished his sermon, he decided to sing a song and asked me & my Mom to come sing with him. The song was O What a Savior. I was so scared that I wouldn't be able to stand through the entire song. I felt like I was swaying as we were singing. Immediately after the song was over, I asked him if he would anoint me with oil and pray for me. He said Yes! He asked 2 of the elders in our church to come up and pray with us too. He asked me if I believed that God would heal me, and I said I believe he can. He asked me that twice, and I responded the same way. Then he said No, do you believe he will heal you, and I said Yes, I believe he will. He said we are going to pray for a miracle and you are going to be healed. The entire church started praying, and I was healed. I no longer have those tremendous headaches. I haven't had the numbness or dizziness that I felt for so many months. I still have headaches, but I think that goes along with stress, and they are nothing like the headaches that I did have. The headaches I did have were like brain aches. I literally felt like my brain was going to explode! I don't have those anymore. God healed me!

I don't know why I haven't shared my testimony with you. I should have, and I feel horrible for not doing it sooner. I always want to praise God for what he does for me. He has always been there for me. I want to be faithful and committed to him. I know God knows exactly where I am today. He knows my weakness, and my faults, and Guess What? He still loves me! He is my father. He is still teaching me, and I am still learning. This morning in church our Pastor was preaching, and he spoke to a lady in our church that is 94 years old. He asked her, How bad do you want to go to Heaven? She said Bad, and then she said I am ready. I want to be ready when he calls me. Don't you?

Fall at My House in Pictures

Tuesday, November 4th - A Historic Day

I hope all of you go and exercise your right to Vote today! No matter who you vote for, please go vote! I don't like to talk about politics because I believe that everyone has a right to believe according to his/her own heart. For the first time ever we will either have an African American President, or a female Vice President. We are a part of history! Our children and our children's children will be talking about this election for ever. It will be entered into history books... exercise your right, Go Vote!

A depressing note... I received a call from the company that I was interviewing with tomorrow. They are postponing opening the office in Knoxville until the Spring of 2009 so they have postponed the interview. I was told they would call me in a couple of months to reschedule the interview. AARRGGGHHH.... I have applied other places but I haven't received any calls back. We are praying, and I am getting things together to start selling on ebay again! I know the Lord will take care of us either way!

Quilting, Sewing, Fabric... OBSESSED

Okay, I am obsessed! I can't stop looking at blogs about quilting. I am fascinated by the talent of so many! I have so many ideas that I want to make but I can't seem to get off the computer and get started! I have promised my niece that I'll make her a quilt for Christmas. She, after seeing a quilt I made for my brand new nephew, told me that she wanted a quilt that was pink & purple with butterflies & flowers. She just assumed that I could do it. Isn't that just like a child? They never doubt that their parents, aunts, uncles, or grandparents can just do exactly what they asked for. She didn't know that the quilt that I made for Isaac was from a kit, and that somebody else picked out the fabric for me. That I didn't make the pattern or anything. She just politely said what she wanted, and that I could give it to her for Christmas! Well, I have searched far and wide for a fabric that would meet her demands. I finally found Butterfly Fling by Moda, and it works perfectly. I am going to try to copy a pattern from Sherri that she made from a charm pack.

While I was searching for fabrics today, and reading my friend, Val's blog. I found SeeKatieSew. She has a wonderful giveaway this week (that I hope I win). Go on over to her blog and register to win!

The Simple Woman's Daybook - November 3

For more day books go on over to see Peggy at The Simple Woman.

For Today...

Outside my Window... the sun is shining brightly.

I am thinking... about the election tomorrow.

I am thankful for... peace in the Lord.

From the kitchen... today will be leftovers, plans for the rest of the week are sketchy...

I am wearing... black pants, black jacket, and a black & brown print shirt.

I am reading... an Eloisa James novel

I am praying... that people will go vote tomorrow and that the God will lead this election and that my interview on Wednesday goes well.

I am creating... a quilt for my niece.

I am hearing... MSNBC talking about the election.

Around the house... the house is empty! I am working a couple of days this week at the family store.

One of my favorite things... staying busy! I am excited because this is the first week in months that I have a full week planned...outside the house!

A few plans for the rest of the week...

Monday & Tuesday I'll be working at the store. Monday night we have a church ladies meeting. Wednesday morning, I have a job interview. Thursday & Friday, I am working at Brendia's new house, cleaning.

Here is a picture thought...

Either way, someone different will be running the country after January 1st!