Baking Extravaganza

I cant believe that Christmas is already here! Whitney and I having been baking up a storm over the past three days. We are headed to Smithville to spend Christmas with my side of the family. I think I heard that there will be 38 people there!! Whew! I think there are plenty of goodies to go around. Ray's about to get the chex mix finished and then we'll be loading up the car and getting on the road! God's blessings and safe travels to everyone!

Sausage Cheese Bites:

Bakerella's Cake Pops:



Cream Cheese Cookies:


Sugar Cookies:


Whitney and Ben decorating

Merry Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Time to do the Baking!!!

I think Whitney and I pretty much finished our Christmas shopping today! Yay!!! I'm sure we'll think of a few more things we need to run to Target for, but it sure is a good feeling to kind of be finished! Now it's time to get busy in the kitchen!

First I'm going to make sausage/cheese balls. It's one of the things Mom always made. They're really yummy, and the recipe makes a ton so I don't have to worry that we'll eat them up before we head out of town for the big day! Next I'll do some cream cheese cookies. Have you ever had anything with cream cheese in it that was not delicious? Lynn gave me this recipe years ago, and last year I discovered the dough was a pretty good consistency to go in the cookie press. So now I add a few drops of green food coloring and start shooting Christmas trees onto the cookie sheet! Makes a lot and they're really good with a cup of coffee! Then we'll make a batch of chex mix! Ray likes to use his mom's recipe and most years he makes it! His annual cooking event. Ha! It doesn't hurt that it's his favorite snack either! I usually save the sugar cookies for last because they are the ones we have the most trouble not eating up as quick as we can! Whitney has turned into a gourmet chef. She amazes me in the kitchen, and loves to cook. She has some really cute cake pops picked out to make! Here we go! Recipes to come!

Next month we'll work on diet plans!

We Wish you a Merry Christmas!!!

Maybe we'll dine in here. Usually Pokey is the only one who brings her food in this room!

The living room. A good spot to read by the fire. Nana you need to come back, your chair is waiting!

The big tree. Tried to copy a tree I found on Traditional Homes.com.

Whitney helped me do the snowman room when she was home. My little girl has turned into Martha Stewart.

God bless you with a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, and remind you of the hope we have Him!

Hello Again!

Wow! It's been a long time since I sat down to write a blog! I still read yours tho! I love to read them, even tho most of us spend way more time connecting on facebook these days. It's fun to follow my nieces and nephews. To see what great parents they are, and watch their kiddos grow up! I get inspired to read how many of you walk thru hard times with such a strong faith, and how God carries you! It's fun to read the decorating blogs and see how people decorate their homes - something I've always loved to attempt even tho I'm a little hit and miss in my own efforts. Its always fun to run across a new blog!

I think one of the main reasons I haven't updated in so long is because I really felt like it needed to be an amazing tribute to my Daddy. My precious daddy passed away shortly after I wrote my last blog. I never felt like I could write a tribute to do him justice, (it's not possible!) and to find the words to try always made me realize how much I missed him. My blogging kinda froze, so now I am going to attempt to revive it. It might be a little tear-stained if it were on paper, and I hope if anyone reads it, it will not make them sad but only grateful for the love God allows us to share while we are on this earth. A love that will only be sweeter in eternity!

Daddy was almost 87. He was on a ladder when he fell. High on a ladder. Why? Because he saw a job that needed to be done. My daddy never saw a job that needed to be done that he didn't feel like he should take it on himself to get it done. He lived by that philosophy. It was a mission that often caused those of us who loved him to worry. It took him into bad neighborhoods, to prisons, to help hundreds of people we won't know this side of heaven that he helped. We won't be surprised. It was his life. It was the Spirit of Christ living in him. He didn't know what it meant to retire. He retired from a 21 year military career, one that spanned thru 4 wars, lots of moves, many awards and promotions, always done with the strength and dignity that he modeled for us. That retirement led him to career number two. He went back to school (ACU) for 4 years and got his teaching degree. Summa cum laude of course. With three little girls and a wife to provide for, which as an adult I find amazing. They did it with such grace that I didn't realize when I was young what an amazing feat it was. I say they, because he couldn't have done it without my mom's full time help and support. She worked at ACU to provide for his tuition, came home in the evening to take care of her babies, and after we were fast asleep she sat up and typed his papers while he went to work at his night job at Gibsons Department Store. If you knew my Dad, you know those papers had to be typed to perfection, in a day before computers made it as easy as a backspace! How did they do that? They did it in such a way that the years we lived in Abilene were some of the favorite years of my childhood. Only as a parent did I come to realize how hard it must've been! Then the teaching years began, with a move to Smithville and I think 15 or so years teaching high school there. Yes, he taught while we attended there. Usually that was a good thing, and it certainly made me try a little harder to stay out of trouble and be on good terms with my teachers! He started the distributive education program there, and later switched to teaching special ed. He helped and encouraged a lot of students that others would've given up on. He always felt rewarded with each step they took towards being able to lead the most independent lives possible. I know he also took their struggles to heart. He had a weakness for caring too much!!! I think that was also one of his greatest strengths! Retiring from teaching only led him to find a new career! He did not believe in retiring to sit on his laurels! He spent the next phase of his working years as a baliff for Bastrop county. I think he loved that job as much or more than any of his previous ones. Loved serving, loved the people he worked with, loved still being able to work which he continued until he was 85! I would have to say that he had a fourth career as an elder in the church in Smithville. He served in that role for over 40 years. He carried burdens and made difficult decisions. He made sure odd jobs around the "church-house" were taken care of which is what he was doing when he fell. Changing the filters in the churches air conditioner. I can't think of anything he would've rather been doing than serving at church. He reached out to families in crisis that we won't know about because he kept their confidences. There were usually only two elders because the church is small. That means the weightiness of that job was not carried by very many. But God helped him. Anytime you went in to tell him goodnight he would be reading his bible, or having already read it it would still be laying on top of him. He knew where his strength came from, and taught us where ours comes from as well. He was an inspirational man of God! He lived a life to be honored and modeled.

One of my favorite things about him, and one of the things I miss the most, was his humor. He was the funniest person ever. Some people might be surprised by this, I think he often saved it for those he was closest to. He had a comeback or a one liner for everything! I wish we could remember them all, but the ones we do remember always make us smile! He always reminded me of a Christian version of Johnny Carson. He never lost his sharp wit!

I am grateful to God for the sweet Christian parents He gave me. Momma, I'm sorry if this made you cry! Love you and I know that you miss him more than anyone! You are the best wife and mother God ever made!

If he was here to proof read this, he would be embarrassed that I would think about publishing it. But for sure it would have more than a few red circles on mistakes that needed to be corrected. Wish I didn't have to settle for spell check! I love you Daddy! I am so thankful to know that our separation is a temporary one!

I will try to do better on my blogging now! Maybe get a few in before the pictures are of Whitney's college graduation!

Graduating...

This was actually at bacculeareate. So glad I took it because my camera conked out at graduation! It's had a busy year! Looking for a good camera repair shop!
Here are some other graduates! Kyle with his masters & Sam from the nursery!
They came to celebrate this night with the Whit, tho!

My babies! Matt ran upstairs to his office & let us borrow the camera he uses for his work at church. Yea for a few pictures after all!

Jack & Aunt Whitney! He'll be wearing one of these before you know it! He's going to be getting ready for pre-K for now, tho!

The family!

We had a full weekend! Graduation was followed by her class's project graduation. They had so much fun spending the night at Texas Motor Speedway, even getting to ride a few laps in a speedway car going about 120 mph! Don't worry, the pro's that work there were at the wheel. The rest of the night was all games & prizes. They had so much fun!

Almost Summer!

Senior Sunday

Richland Prom
Why are these so little???

Will the water ever get warm enough???

Sweet Sam, running the bubble mower over the concrete!

Such a helper!

Can't believe there are only a few more days of school! We've had a busy, busy spring! Whitney will graduate on the 29th! May is a busy time for seniors! Proms, parties, banquets, awards assemblies, bacculareate, graduation, project graduation.... Fun, but busy! Not to mention her senior scrapbook presentation & ring turning ceremony in less than a week! I'm learning to be a pretty fast scrapbooker!

Kyle completed his master's degree & is currently on the job hunt! We are so proud of him. He could teach us all a lesson in perseverence! God has great plans for him!

Matt & Christine & the boys got to go on a wonderful vacation with some of their best friends to Destin, Florida. They had a great time. So thankful Tine has been feeling better & so thankful for such sweet friends to share their vacation with! We love the Critz family! 

Mom is doing great after having open heart surgery on April 7, her 85th birthday! They were able to successfully repair a valve. It hasn't been an easy recovery, but she is amazing me with her progress! Thanks to all who sent up a prayer for her! We are thankful! She's quite a lady & I'm proud & thankful she's my mom! Dad's been a pretty good trooper too!

Praying...

I've been so blessed this semester by a ladies Bible study at church called "Live a Praying Life". It really stresses that our prayers have power when they are from the heart of God. There's no manipulating God with a formula, but when our prayers come from His heart we have it right. Wow. Doesn't that seem like common sense, but for 50 years I've just been praying my heart & thoughts thinking that praying was my talking to Him, and reading the Bible was the main way He talks to me. I hadn't really realized that He might have a prayer that He wants to put on my heart. It is a communing thing, and I'm really remedial!!! I've often been guilty of throwing my will out there first, and then saying half-heartedly "If it's Your will". This study has really been a blessing to me, and helped me grow a little more in my understanding of the importance of prayer. I haven't explained it very well, but if your looking for a Bible study to do, check it out. It's always better with a group, but very doable on your own as well.

My prayer list is long at the present. In fact, I'm beginning to feel a little like we are the bullseye of a target. Satan is attacking. Yes, there's a battle going on. But greater is He who is in us then he who is in the world! (I John 4:4) So my prayers are for God to bless & protect His children. I know His children are always on His heart & He never stops working in us, through us & on us! So I'm praying for our sweet Christine, today being two full weeks in the hospital. Yuck. Four white walls, an ipod, a tv & long days of feeling crummy & missing the people she wants to be home with. My precious, precious, precious Mom struggling with heart problems, recovering from a heart attack we didn't even know she had had & going in for a cath on Thursday. Sweet Sharon, who's my favorite "chemo diva" and an inspiration of how to go through trials praising God all the say. I've always looked up to her, and now am truly amazed by her. Rick & Amy and your sweet girls. If you read this, I hope you know I think you're amazing. I love your humor and your faith. The sick list of family, friends, and church family has never been so long . So many struggling in other ways, too. Jobs, finances, family... Life.... You are all on my heart. But more importantly, you are on God's heart. So, if your faith has gone out for a test-drive, hang on. Things are happening that we don't yet see, and in faith we can be certain of what we don't yet see. (Heb. 11:1)

Sorry to be all preachy. Well, I'm really not. But I am praying HARD!