Prayer for 2023

 

Austin took me to the Peabody

Austin loves going to the Peabody and he wanted me to see it decorated.  

He had to reenact his photo session with Faith and Jessie. 

These are neat 

The famous Peabody ducks

The fountain

Austin was trying to teach me how to make duck lips

It’s the Peabody after all

Then he cracked up and said “Mutha you don’t even have no lips!!!”

He had to have these socks

He thought it was all very funny

It was nice to be a tourist in our hometown.  

 

We finally got to all be together

We had a sweet time.  I’m so glad they live a bit closer and Jackson is the halfway point.  

It’s not often the 5 of us are together.  How some some ladies look so cute in buffalo plaid and I just look like a lumberjack….ugh

Noah, Hunter and Dallas are getting so big

Him and me

Our three

The whole big bunch.  

 

Christmas Morning - Just us

Good Morning Sunshine

I always tease that they never take a picture of me....I see why now, ha!!!  If you look behind me, you can see the ipad up in the air.  I am grateful for technology so we could facetime Sarah.  She has to work at noon on Christmas day, so she could not be here but wanted to be a part of us opening gifts.  I sure miss my sweet girl and her little family.  

Austin's crazy self

Santa needed a bit of help this year with the stockings.

Mrs. Clause helped fill them, with her Queen Size Stockings, of course.

Annabeth doing her best Elizabeth Walton impression.  It was cold enough, she needed that flannel gown.  The temp was negative 1 and felt like -14.

I love the drawing, until Annabeth told her that he was writing "To:  Kay" and accidentally wrote "TOO".....that boy~!

OK, so long story short, Austin use to work at Bath and Body Works.  Back 7 or so years ago a new scent came out called A Thousand Wishes.  I had always gotten the beachy, pear, coconut scents, but I was interested in the new scent because it was in all of the ads and specials.  I asked Austin what did it smell like and he said "A Thousand Buttholes".  ha!!!  So that is what he got me in Body Butta!!!  He said he had to explain to his teaching assistant why she might find the word "buttholes" on the label printer, ha!!!  He is a mess.......AND...........he got me an iPad.  I have always wanted one, but hated to spend the money on one.  We don't really do big gifts for each other or even our kids, but this was a very special surprise.  He said next year to expect shower gel.

Lexi was in charge of trash

and by 2 p.m. on Christmas day, it was all cleaned up, light and airy.  I love putting it up before Halloween, but when it is done, it is done.  

And it is not really even done.  We still will have Christmas with Daddy and Rhonda, just without a tree I guess.

 

Sub Zero temperatures at Christmas

We were due to have The Thorne side over for brunch on Christmas eve, but we got sub zero temperatures and a couple of inches of snow, so we postponed until things get better.  Rhonda is still post chemo and Marilyn isn't feeling so well, so we will see them hopefully soon.

We were also scheduled to go to Ellendales Christmas Eve Candlelight service but they had a water main burst in the balcony and water was pouring from the video we saw.  I bet lots of the Carpet Spectrum Water Damage crew did not have much of a "Silent Night" with all of the work they were doing.

I probably have had it, but have never seen ice inside the windows before.  I guess houses up north are better insulated and prepared for weather like this.

 

Christmas Eve with Mawmaw Conlee and Angela

Gimme Some Sugga!!!

Just us

Dwayne with his momma and sister

I would say these are the adults, but Austin is 28 and Annabeth is 23, so I guess we are all grown up now.

Annabeth and Austin with Mawmaw

Austin and Annabeth on Mawmaw's BRAND NEW COUCH!!!!  She had the old one 34 years.  She got it the year Sarah was born, ha!

They said to make a silly face....he did, and all I could do was look in awe.  He looks like Popeye

 

Why do I feel like I'm sitting with "The Devil Wears Prada"???

When Austin walks in the door, it gets alot louder, much more laughter and the style points in the house increases alot, ha!!!!

 

Austin went to visit Sarah

I guess when your kids grow up and move away, it is hard to coordinate everyone's schedule so we can all be together.  But I love that my adult kids enjoy spending time together.  

Sarah sent me this:  There's no better sound than one of your children laughing....unless it is the sound of all your children in the same room laughing together.

 

Missing Momma - How can it be 13 years already??

 I cannot believe Momma passed away 13 years ago.  Wow....seems like a lifetime ago and yet only yesterday.  I am posting this video link so I never forget about it.  Christmas is just a few days away and it was her favorite holiday.  She loved it.  Oh, how I miss her laughter.

Someone is Missing This Christmas - Video Link

She asked me to take this picture of her when she was at home on hospice.  She called the kids her "bed bugs".

Austin is home for the holidays

This "little fella" flew in from New Jersey yesterday to spend Christmas with us.  There is always lots of laughter when he is at home.....oh and the TV is really loud too!!!

 

Pray More Worry Less

 

My friend Joyce

I have a friend at work Joyce.  We have worked together for over 20 years. In May of this year, her husband (Dwayne's age) passed away suddenly of a heart attack.  It has been a tough year for her.  She is building a house in Indiana and will be moving in the spring of 2023 when the home is built.  That is where her son and grandson live, so it is where her heart is.  We had lunch last week and she got me this.  She knows me so well.  I love the movie Elf and these are my 2 favorite sayings from the movie besides (after a long burp from someone, saying "Did you hear that???").

I will miss you Joycie

 

"Christmas Vacation" in Paris

With all of our various work schedules, we were not able to see Sarah on Christmas day this year.  I guess that is what happens when your kids grow up and move away.

We rented an Air BNB at Kentucky Lake and spent the weekend with Sarah, Justin and the boys.  

This was Annabeth's tiny gingerbread house.

This was Noah's.  That is Mary and Joseph in front and the star is Jesus.

Hunter is the artistic one

Hunter had LOTS Of candy on his.

We were having to share icing bags....ha!!  We will know next time. (By the way, Noah is getting SO BIG!!!)

this is mine.  Me, Sarah and Annabeth got the little tiny gingerbread houses.  They could either be "mother in law" suites for the big houses, or "tiny houses" or they might just be "out houses"...ha!

this is Dallas.  He has Santa and Rudolph going down the chimney.  there is a red nose on the other side.

this is Sarah's

The lake house had a corn hole set.  Don't let those short sleeves trick you, it was 32 degrees outside, right by the lake. 

they loved it though.....Use up that energy.

sweet little Dallas

 

Dallas

watching TV with Peepaw

It was snowing at this football game.

Noah looking grown up

our gingerbread creations

the Lake House

The Lake Life Air BNB - link

the boats at the marina were all lit up.  They were set to have a boat parade going from the marina down to the lodge after we had checked out.  Maybe one year we will get to see it.