Snowy Day

Ahhhhh, what a beautiful snowy day we are having today ~we have about 5" and may get a few more before it is over. It is just so pretty looking outside and seeing that sight of "falling snow"....from our cozy house. We have one snow lover (me!) and one "not so much" snow lover (Alden). Surprised? hee hee.

Nonetheless, we both so appreciate the beauty of it and.....the calmess it provides.

Remember this shot a few days ago ~ lush green daffodil bulbs......... As we woke up this morning ~

It started to fall around 9:00 a.m.

Early on

A nice amount ~ to be pretty, but not too bad to shovel ~ about 5".

Unfortunately, Alden has bit the dust. He came home from work last evening with a persistent cough....and today it is more of a bug with a fever. He feels lousy. So sad.......

serenity in the midst.

January Smile

A bit ago, I was sitting in our study ~ I looked out the window to enjoy the sunny day. It was beautiful and just kind of filled me up with contentment (my day off kind of helps that too!).

As I enjoyed the sight, I noticed something by the azaleas on the walk up to our house......

could it be?

Oh yes, it is daffodil BULBS coming out of the ground! It simply makes you smile ~ life ...in the midst of the winter.

Even though we are still in winter....with snow predicted in a few days.....there is a sign of Spring that will be here in awhile.

A gentle reminder of God's hand in the midst of our lives.

Visit with Hannah

After church today, Alden, Steve and I went over to Hannah's

to have lunch and visit for awhile.

Hannah and Steve playing a little guitar tool bag....yep, just a few tasks for Alden (oh how he loves that!)

Sarah helping Alden with the ceiling light

Loved spending some time with Hannah and Sarah

(Hannah's roommate and friend....and ours too!)

Great weekend ~ got some things done, relaxed, football, and now.....

readying for Monday and the week ahead.

My Birthday

What fun ~ I have had such a GREAT day!

Thank you God for the blessings of family and friends in my life ~

beyond measure.

Enjoy moments of my day (Alden's sign for me this morning!)

Hannah took me out to dinner last night (she had to work tonight!) Yum....... So special I love this girl ~ Hannah (Thank you for our time together)Steve's note to me this morning :) I love this man! Courtney had me over for lunch ~ wonderful lunch Birthday treats from Courtney ~ how I love this girl My sister Kim came and spent the day with me ~ what a pleasure!

thank you Kim!!!!!!! What fun we had. Courtney's note :) Um, yes, grandkids added to my special day! Bailey and Sawyer Playing.......

Kim enjoying the grandkids!!!!!

lunch about to be served ~ isn't it pretty!

Bailey ~ precious Bailey

Courtney served us this yummy lemonade....and Bailey loved it! (as we all did!!!!)

lunch.....scone dessert with a candle!

Happy Birthday to you....happy birthday to you

Kim and I even got to play Candyland! Yahoo

Rebekah got home from school before we headed home....yep, doing homework!

I got wonderful calls from Phill and Christy ~ how I love this couple!

We ended the day ~ the 3 of us going out to eat. Wonderful!

My Alden......Yep.....we did our share of eating today!

tomorrow......diet!!!!!

Thank you all ~ family and friends for your friendship and love.

Time

Wednesdays....every other Wednesday I spend a few hours with Courtney and her crew. I treasure these times. This Wednesday, Bailey captured my attention.

She knows how to write her name ~

Good job Bailey ~ getting ready for kindergarten in the Fall.

After getting Joshua on the bus for school (and by the way, I loved seeing him too!!!!) we enjoyed lunch at McDonalds ~ an all time favorite of ours.

Sawyer loves to eat!!!!!!!

And of course, it goes without saying how much I enjoy just sitting with Courtney and getting caught up. I think she and I love eating at McD because we get to sit in a stationary place for at least an hour.....and TALK. The kids are busy and having fun eating. I love this woman ~ my oldest daughter. Precious to my heart.

Thanks for the tradition of Wednesdays Courtney. :)

Visit with Kate

What a nice evening we had with Kate. Kate: Hannah's best friend and a good family friend to Alden and I. Kate is living in Africa ~ living her life for Christ through her gift of photophraghy. She is home for a few weeks to visit her family and friends and came over last night to share what her life has been like over in there and what God has been teaching her.

Enjoying dinner and catching up ~ Kate we loved spending time with you!

Kate and Hannah

enjoying some one on one time together by the fire

Sarah joined the girls later.....and they talked and laughed the night away

Wonderful friends ~ all loving their Lord in different areas of life.

Family Christmas Gathering 2009

"Merry Christmas" one more time!

We gathered as a family last night for our "family Christmas gathering".

Everyone came to our house ~

we had a wonderful dinner together, did stockings, and opened gifts to each other.

house is all ready for the "gang"

house is peaceful

looking forward to the fun time ......and......

the LIFE of what a family is all about......arrives!!!!!

All 7 precious grandkids

and our kids and their wonderful spouses

Hannah, Brittany and Ayden

Courtney and SteveAlden, Phill and Bailey

Courtney, Sawyer, Christy and Ayden

Pat and Phill

Steve, Hannah and Phill

How do we do gifts? Our kids and their spouses draw names, so each person gets a gift. The grandkids (or cousins!) buy for each other in early December....and open those gifts this night.

Alden and I do stockings for all. Bailey and her baby Christy and Ayden Pat and Sawyer Joshua Rebekah (who gave us ALL a precious gift of "used" items...with a sweet note handwritten by her).

Um....we get gifts from everyone. But, the night is not all about gifts.....we mostly love the time spent together....the adults love to talk, the kids love to go to the basement to play, we all and of course, eat.

Southern dinner of breaded chicken, chicken and pastry, hash brown potato casserole, home made cornbread (NC style...made by Alden), carrots and brocolli, green salad, and pinapple

Courtney and Rebekah having some mother/daughter time

brought out an old photo for Bailey to see....of her mom (Courtney) at her ballet recital when she was a little girl

Bailey LOVED seeing mom at age 6 or so!!!!!!!

Grandma having some fun with Rebekah....teaching her how to play "THAT" song....you know, that two people play and everyone knows (sure don't know the title). Special time together.

Nothing better than...............time spent together with people you love.