CHRISTMAS' PAST

Well it is Christmas Eve 2008. After all the Christmas' past, with five children in the house and each one wanting something special that "Santa" is sure to bring them, we are own our own. Just John and Me and the the NetDish installer are here together. I know he is ready to get home to his family and we are ready for him to leave. We are going to eat dinner with Johnny, Tracy and the kids. Tracy's mom will be there also. We haven't seen her in quite a while.

I was going trough some pictures today and found these in our picture drawer. Man I can't believe that so much time has past since the kids were here. Johnny is going to be 42, Monica just turned 40, Sondra is 37 (and going to have baby #2), Mark is 30, and Sarah is 27. That must make me and John about 110.

The worst part and the best part is that me and John will have the Holiday with just the two of us. It is just not the same without a child in the house. Although Johnny, Tracy and the kids will come over and eat tomorrow, the presents have all been exchange so no messy wrapping paper to fill up two garbage cans.

Monica and Tim and the kids will spend Christmas at home in Memphis.

Sarah and Cody and the kids will spend Christmas in Nebraska.

Sondra and Jonathan and David will be in North Carolina, and Mark will spend Christmas alone in South Haven MS because he has to work the day after Christmas. (That really Stinks)

After dinner tomorrow John and I will probably cozy down for a nice long after Christmas dinner nap. We want be putting bikes, trains, and doll beds together. We want be trying to find the instructions that got thrown away with all the Christmas wrapping paper, and we want be shouting, "you're going to shoot your eye out".

Just a reminder to all our children. Although it seems very hectic and madding at times. Enjoy the Christmas of the Present, remember the Christmas' of the Past, and look forward to the Christmas' of the Future.

Now to all a Merry Christmas and for us a good nap.

HEREEEES JOHN PEARSON & EMILY

I made this picture at Thanksgiving. John Pearson has been wanting to know why I haven't posted his picture. So here it is.

Right before Thanksgiving John Pearson and Emily came in from school and JP started racking leaves. He worked and worked and I thought man what has come over this child. About an hour later he wants me to come out in the yard to see what he was doing. He and Emily were jumping into the leaves having a great time. I got several good pictures of them frolicking in the newly racked leaves.

BACK FROM NEBRASKA

We had a real nice trip up to Nebraska to visit Sarah, Cody and the kids.

The weather was great while were there. Luckily we went last week instead of this week. It was great spending time with Luke and Charlotte. They seemed to enjoy our company.

We had very smooth flights all the way. We got into Nashville Saturday night about 8:30 and into Killen at around 11:30 pm. It is always nice to travel, but always nice to get home and lie down on your own bed.

VICTORIA SECRET

Well tonight is the Victoria Secret Extravaganza. I have to say seeing all those super models parading around in their undies really is quite a sight. I know this sounds silly, but it makes me want to slip into my best lingerie, which I did.

SHARE IT ANYWAY.

Father Andy read this quote from Mother Teresa of Calcutta. He is not the friendliest person that I have ever met, but occasionally he says something in his homily that kind of sticks with you. I hope I am not committing plagerism, but I will share it anyway. (disregard my bad spelling). I wasn't sure my picture would download and it is probably to small to read so I typed it out. Hope you enjoy this as much as I did.

"The fruit of faith is love, and the fruit of love is service"

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered

FORGIVE THEM ANYWAY.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;

BE KIND ANYWAY.

if you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;

SUCCEED ANYWAY.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;

BE HONEST AND FRANK ANYWAY.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;

BUILD ANYWAY.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;

BE HAPPY ANYWAY.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;

DO GOOD ANYWAY.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;

GIVE THE WORLD THE BEST YOU'VE GOT ANYWAY.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;it was never between you and them anyway.

AFTER THANKSGIVING AT MONICA'S AND TIM'S

We left Thanksgiving evening and drove to Memphis to spend the rest of the weekend with Monica, Tim and the kids. The kids were still up and excited to see MawMaw and Grand Daddy come to visit. We had not seen them since August.

Friday we took Andrew and Matthew and hit a few thrift stores and let them find some treasures. I found a really nice old curio cabinet with a rounded front and strips of glass instead of the solid glass kind.

Mark came over that evening and we had smoked sausage cooked in beer and sourkraut. ( we had had them cooked like that when we went to John's mothers birthday party in Columbus O.)

That evening me, John, Monica, and Mark played hearts. I don't think Monicia every figured out the object of the game. We had a good time sitting around the table playing, talking and laughing. Andrew was a little upset that we wouldn't let him play. We needed a little time with Monica and Mark. Tim watched a ballgame.

We just kind of hung out on Saturday and made Asparagus soup for dinner. Sunday we got up early and went to church, then went to Red Robins and had a really great burger for lunch. So basicly we ate all week and have probably gained ten lbs.

Here is the recipe for asparagus soup.

1/2 cup of flour

1 stick of butter or maragarine

onion flakes or finely chopped onion

1/2 gal of milk ( or if you want to live dangerously use heavy cream and make the difference with water.)

1 can of asparagus pieces

2 cups cheddar cheese or cheese of choice.

salt and pepper to taste.

Melt butter, add flour and onions make a creamy base. Cook for about 5 minutes while stirring the mixture. Add milk continue stirring. When the mixture starts to thicken add asparagus, cheese, salt and pepper. If it gets thicker than you like add a little more milk.

These croutons go really well with the soup.

2 or 3 bagels.

1/2 stick of butter or maragarine

minced garlic or garlic salt

parsley flakes

Cut bagels into cubes. Melt butter in a baking pan. Add garlic and parsley. Toss bagel cubes in mixture. Bake at 400 degrees for about 10 minutes.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Well it is Thanksgiving morning. I have everything almost done. The turkey is cooked, the casseroles are made and the pie is ready.

It is going to be a little different this year. Just me and John, Johnny, Tracy, John Pearson and Emily. I am sure we will manage to have a wonderful time.

This time of the year you think about the things that you are thankful for.
I am thankful for a few good friends, A lot of really great aquaintences and most of all my family. Hope everyone has a blessed Thanksgiving Day.

HOW LUCKY IS THIS

Double rainbow. Must be lucky.

Here is that recipe with the sausage and rice.

1 lb smoked sausage

onions and green pepper optional

1 cup of rice

2 cups of water

1 can Rotel tomatoes (mild)

1 can blackeyed peas or pinto beans

Brown sausage, onions and pepper, just enough to get them cooking.

Pour in rice and water. Pour tomatoes and beans on top. Bring to a boil cover with lid. Lower temp and let simmer for about twenty minutes or until rice is tender.

Don't forget to make a pan of cornbread. Yummy!

NOVEMBER TWENTY FIFTH TWO DAYS BEFORE THANKSGIVING

I can't believe that we are approaching Thanksgiving again. This year has flown. It really is true that the older you get, the faster time goes by.

We have had a very event packed year. I have gone places that I would never have thought I would go, and seen things I thought I would never see except on National Geographic.



We have had children move to Nebraska and I felt like this was at the end of the earth. ( They lived five miles from us.) I have children moving to Colorado and feel like they moving in across the street. ( They have been in Germany for three years.) I guess it is all in how you preceive the situation.



I have to remind myself more than once a day that John and I are are just bit players in the lives of our children, where as we are use to having the staring role. We know how Elizabeth Taylor and Sean Connery fills. Ha Ha

That was easy, must have done something wrong.

The main reason I created this is so I can communicate with some of my children. I called my daughter the other night and she was playing Bunko?? and said she would call me the next day, well that has been three days and I haven't heard from her yet. My question is, "How long do those games last".

TRYING SOMETHING DIFFERENT

SENSE JOHN AND I ARE STUCK IN THE 20TH CENTURY I DECIDED TO TRY AND SET UP THIS BLOG PAGE. ( DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THAT IS WHAT IT IS CALLED). I GUESS I HAVE TO MUCH TIME ON MY HANDS. JUST FOUND OUT THAT I HAVE MADE MORE THAN MY SOCIAL SECURITY WILL ALLOW AND I WILL BE OFF WORK UNTIL THE FIRST OF THE YEAR. IF I GET THIS FIGURED OUT I WILL EMAIL IT TO ALL MY FRIENDS. ( BOTH OF THEM) HA HA.