Novermber 24, 2009

Just thinking....
~ About how very blessed I am.

~ And that I don't need to worry everything always seems to fall into place.

~ I have such an awesome husband and wonderful children.

~ How very much I love my mom and dad.

~ Thanksgiving is in just 2 days, and I have so much to be Thankful for,
actually I'm so excited. I remind myself of the children I use to teach
in school just before a holiday. We should all share the excitement for the
holidays the way children do.

~ I wish I were going to be at home tonight, instead of decorating at church.

~ I'm off Wed and Thu this week that will be wonderful.

~ Can't let all these thoughts push out the important things today, like telling the
ones I love how grateful I am to have them in my life.

Ignore the dates on pictures

My post dates are current for the events I've posted, but the date on the pictures are wrong, I need to reset my camera date.

Big Red Drives Big Red....

Did I happen to mention that Eric has made his first car purchase or should I say "Truck". He has wanted to get rid of his explorer for so long and get a truck and I kept telling him at the right time

everything would work out and it did. Although he didn't trade in the explorer, he decide to keep it. I image the thrill will wear a little thin when the first payment comes due, but I want bust his bubble, we'll just let him enjoy the moment. By the way if anyone needs any ideas for him for Christmas "truck accessories" would be great his has list a mile long.

Shirley Family Photos

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Making Memories

We have just returned from our family vacation and all I can say is if a picture is worth a million words then nothing needs to be said...We had the best time ever and created so many wonderful memories that will keep me warm for the rest of my life. My husband and boys are everything to me and I can't thank God enough for blessing me with their love and friendship.

Playing with the kitchen table...

Eric thought I lost my mind today but I remebered a post on MHH about tablesetting ideas so I thought while I had the table cleared to set it for fall that I would play a little.

My favoirte Fall things..

Fall colors, changing leaves, pumpkins, warm fires, crisp cool air, apple cider, hot chocolate, football, sweaters, Thanksgiving, Halloween, carmel apples, State Fair, baking bread and making cinnamon apple jelly...These are just a few of the things that I love about Fall. Since the temp outside feels more like summer I decided to bring fall inside.

Favorite Thanksgiving Family Recipes

Aunt Judy's Sweet Potatoe Delight

Don't ask me what catagory to put this in or if it's dessert or a side dish; this belongs in a catagory of it's own, it's rich, sweet and decadent....but it is still sweet potatoes, so just make it and enjoy is like I do.

Ingredients: 1 & 1/2- Pkgs Ritz Cracker/Crushed

2- Sticks Butter

1- 8 ounce Cream Cheese/Soft

1 &1/2-Cup Sugar

1- 8 ounce Cool Whip

3- Cups Mashed Sweet Potatoes

1- Tsp. Vanilla

Instructions: Combine crackers with one stick melted butter and press into bottom a casserole dish; bake for approx. 10 minutes in a preheated 350 degree oven - to make a crust. Let cool completely. Now cream together 1 stick butter with cream cheese, mix well before adding 3/4 cup of sugar, after blending well fold in Whip Cream. Spread over crust. Mix 3 cups mashed sweet potatoes with 3/4 cup of sugar and 1 tsp vanilla until well blended. Spread over cream cheese. Refrigerate at least one hour before serving.

Topping: Toast 3/4 cup of crushed pecans with 1/2 cup of shredded coconut in 1 Tbl. of butter in a sauce pan on top of stove with 2 Tbl. brown sugar. This will make a nice crunchy praline topping for your sweet potatoes. Topping is optional, but the praline is my favorite, Aunt Judy just uses pecans and I have also topped it with a thin layer of Cool Whip.

Hudson Christmas Names

Merry Christmas...Well the Hudson Family exchanged names for this coming Christmas.
Bud got Perry/ Patsy got Randy /Perry got Bud/ Amanda got Selina /
Courtney got Kathy/ Charles got Eric/ Mandy got Patsy/ Barry got Mikey /
Selina got Amanda/ Randy got Chris/ Mike got Mandy/ Eric got Courtney /
Kathy got Barry/ Chris got Charles

Don't forget to use your wish list it has a lot helpful information, and if you are really not sure of what to buy just give your person a call and ask them. The limit for gifts this year is $30.00 to
$35.00. Knowing who you have this early in the year you can watch for sales and find something really nice for that price.

I am so excited Eric and I have been on our diet for 9 weeks now and am really starting to see some results. By Christmas we will both be very close to our goals.

New Beginnings

Tonight is my Circle of Faith meeting and here I am laying in bed with a fever and just had Randy call Donna and let her know that I can't make it. It makes me wonder if the lesson I planned was just for me. This meeting would mark the beginning of a new year for our group, and even though we normally associate New Years with starting over; the truth is life is full of new beginnings. Winter Spring Summer and Fall all mark the start of something of new. Even King David in the Psalms encouraged us to sing a new song, but a new song can only come from a renewed spirit, so maybe the devotion was just for me, as I lay here maybe it's for God to renew my spirit so I can begin to sing a new song. Lamentations 3:22 tells us that Gods mercies are new every morning. The truth is that each second is a new beginning and a choice. My choice to sieze or let it pass. Isaiah 43:18-19 Reminds us that God doesn't remember the former things; the mistakes we made yesterday and that He will do a new thing. My prayer today is for a new beginning, a renewed spirit that will create in me a new song.

Finally I have found my way back

I can not believe I have been away from my blog for almost a whole year! I have tried and tried to reset my password and get back in, but with no luck until today.

I'm not even going to try to catch up, I'll just start here new today.