Encouragement for today

 

Nathan isn’t too overworked running the cloud machine

 

well.....we got hit by Covid

We had had an arctic blast at Christmas and Rhonda and Grand Marilyn were under the weather so we did not get together with the Thorne side of the family at Christmas.  Then Austin went to Chicago for New Year's Eve so we waited until the following weekend to have our family Christmas brunch.

All was well, it was lovely.  My 4 were here (Sarah and Justin had to work so could not come).  Dad and Marilyn came, and Rhonda came.  It was a small but nice little gathering.  We had the traditional Christmas breakfast of cinnamon rolls, hash brown casserole, and lots of other goodies.  Annabeth had a headache, but nothing unusual for her.  

By that evening she was running a fever and tested positive for covid.  We were heartbroken for her and scared for the rest of us. Austin had just spent the entire day with Mawmaw, Angela and Aunt Sandra, so potentially exposed them.

Long story short, as of today a week later, Austin, Annabeth and myself have gotten it.  Dwayne someone missed it, but I am grateful for that.  Daddy got it, but Marilyn did not.  Rhonda, Mawmaw Conlee, Angela and Aunt Sandra did not get it.  

I am going stir crazy in that little bedroom upstairs.

 

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