What a beautiful bride

It was a beautiful wedding, and she was a beautiful bride! More to come. Having a great time.

Little sis' is gettin' hitched

She's the baby, the caboose, the little one who had to grow up pretty much by herself. By the time she was in school, the rest of us where married and having our own babies. Even now it's hard to realize she is grown and been on her own for 3 years!. Liz is getting married this Saturday to such a sweet guy. We met Morgan at Christmas last year and love him! No more baby in the house. In fact, I hope that we'll have another new baby around soon . The youngest grandbaby is already eight!

Not only are we going to a wedding, we are having a family reunion! Our family hasn't all been together since summer of 2007. We are way overdue! I am so excited! Heather and I will be taking pictures galore to post on our blogs, so we'll let you in on all the fun when we return, just in time for Lynn and Craig to get here for Thanksgiving.... the fun never stops. Now that is entirely different story! Have I ever told you about shopping with Lynn and Megan the day after Thanksgiving?

Thought for Tuesday...

Though you have not seen Him,

you love Him,

and even though you do not see Him now,

you believe in Him

and are filled with inexpressible and glorious joy.

I Peter 1:8

You know it's Christmas at our house when.....

1) We go family shopping. One Saturday before Christmas we go to the city, split up and shop with the girls. They find gifts for each other and for me and Wayne. We go to lunch somewhere really good and then to see the Christmas movie.

2) We go to Aunt Lynn and Uncle Craig's for Christmas Eve. This is probably my favorite tradition. Since the first year we were married, Christmas Eve Has meant a trip to Lynn, Wayne's sister. We spend all day laughing. The kids open presents. Craig and Wayne hang out on the deck smoking cigars and grilling deer tenderloin. Lynn cooks shrimp chowder. After we eat, Wayne and I and Lynn and Craig ride around and look at lights. The night is finshed off by eating some sort of ridiculously good cake Lynn made and watching "Chevy Chase Christmas Vacation" Yes, we watch it every year!

3)we turn out the lights after the girls decorate the tree and eat Christmas cookies and hot chocolate or tea while we look at the lights glow.

4)Candle light Christmas service.... Beautiful!



What are some favorite Christmas traditions at your house?

Young Love

CMA review, or I was country when country wasn't cool

I watched the CMA's with Wayne and Virginia last night. We all agreed that:
1) Taylor Swift may be cute but she cannot sing! Her live performance made me cringe in a few places.
2) Carrie Underwood is gorgeous and can sing, but my allegiance still lies with Alison Krauss, she should have won female vocalist.
3) George Strait is one sexy man (OK Wayne didn't actually voice this opinion)

I loved country music in the days of Barbara Mandrell and Alabama. It has changed over the years and not necessarily for the better. Yeah, I was country when country wasn't cool.

Happy Birthday Mema

Last night we celebrated my mother's 65th birthday. In was a night of hot wings, bakery cake and laughter. In honor of her journey to senior citizen I want to list top 10 reasons why I love my mom.

1)She is BY FAR the world's BEST grandmother (or MeMa as the girls call her)
2)She neither coddled or spoiled any of her daughters, and as a result she raised 5 strong women.
3)She taught us to LOVE books. Oh the places I have traveled through reading!
4)She has endured suffering in her life, buried a daughter,and both parents, raised 5 kids on little money but was never given to complaining and many times I heard her say "this too shall pass."
5)Married at 17, she was determined that her daughters would go to college, and we all did. She placed a high value on education.
6)She speaks her mind, at times that has caused lots of friction, but you never doubt where you stand even if you don't agree.
7)She is my dad's soulmate, they are truly the best of friends.
8)Birthdays were a huge celebration. Even now, when I turn 40, she'll make my favorite meal---lasagna and chocolate cake!
9)She sewed all our clothes, and one of my favorite memories was the fabric store, where we'd pick out fabric and patterns for Easter dresses!
10)She showed all of us the way to Jesus. She has lived out a faith that has been at times hard, but genuine.

This and many reasons more are why I say I love you Mom! Happy Birthday!