I'm dreaming of a White Christmas....

Last week, Meghan & Sara and I had the fun priviledge of going to see Irving Berlin's White Christmas performed at a local highschool. This is one of our very favorite movies, and to make the evening even more special...we were able to see it with good friends AND watch one of our dearest friends perform in it as well. Wonderful job, Miss Bella!!! The girls outside posing in front of the sign...from left: Arianna, Grace, Meghan, Tess, Michaela, Morgan and Sara
My beautiful daughters! I love doing special things with them...making memories...time seems to be going so fast...I blink and they are 14 and 16!

We were greeted by our friendly "elf", Tori...a friend of ours from church who was helping usher. Doesn't she make the perfect elf?!

Bella is dancing front and center with the long, flowing brown locks! She is a wonderful dancer, but she really looked professional out there!
Bella, on the right, singing with the chorus...
It is always so good to get together with "my" friends, too....like my friend Renee on the left, Marybeth (the proud Mama of Miss Bella!) in the middle, and me
The girls after the show. We all had such a wonderful time!!! Great job, Bella!!!!

A great way to start off our holiday, Christmas season! ~Sue~

Perspective...and "teenagers"....

First, I would like to say that I really, STRONGLY dislike the term "teenager"....in todays society, it conjures up images of selfishness, rebellion and disrespect....but not ALL young people are like that, nor should they be lumped into that category.

At the moment, my two oldest daughters are 16 and 14....and they are wonderful! They are responsible, caring, very, very helpful....and they actively look for ways to serve our family and make my life easier...especially on my bad 'fibro' days. They are both learning to be keepers at home.....and enjoy learning homemaking skills. Of course, these are not the only things they do with their time. Like all young people their age, they enjoy many friends and fun get togethers...but they also love all of us just being home as a family.

For the past few days (ok, longer than that) I have been having pretty bad fibro flares....Sunday afternoon, it put me in bed. But...these two have helped with their little brother and sister, helped with meals and cleanup, laundry, cleaning....as well as carrying a pretty full load of highschool work this school year. Sunday, while my wonderful husband took my two little ones to a train show...the girls and a friend, cleaned up lunch, then after I put a roast in the oven, the girls peeled all the carrots and potatoes and got them ready....then the 3 of them went to Starbucks for the afternoon...while I napped. It was so wonderful to sleep, then to wake to a yummy dinner, everyone home...and the girls friend stayed the whole day...which was a blessing to be able to spend time with her.

Here is the 'clincher', if you will.....Since Monday morning, my Sara (14) has been sick. Meghan has pitched in and helped take over Sara's chores, and she has made dinner two nights in a row while I took Anna to dance class on Monday...and worked at danced yesterday.....not only did she make dinner...but they were GOOD!!! She outdid herself yesterday, making a sweet/spicy glaze for the chicken, and a glaze for the carrots....presenting the wild rice on steamed zucchini...and even made an apple cobbler for dessert....all while I wasn't home. She enjoyed the creativity, and the domesticity.

My "teenagers" and I enjoy each others company....and would prefer to do everything together than with anyone else. Tomorrow night, (if everyone is healthy) just Meghan, Sara and I are going to see a musical performance of "White Christmas"....it is one of our favorites and we are so looking forward to this! There is no one else that I would rather see this with than Meghan and Sara!

They are such wonderful young ladies...and we are so proud of them!!!! I am very, very blessed to have my two "teenagers" right now!!! Love you, Girls!!!!

SIckness & Sue Thomas

First off, I am sick.

Sick as in 100.8 degree fever (mild), a devilish headache, and a sandpaper throat.
Let me tell anyone who doesn't know: being sick is a pain. MAJOR PAIN!

Okay, now that I am done updating everyone on my physical health, time for a monologue on (my favorite show EVER): Sue Thomas F.B. Eye.

Man, I love this show! It stars Deanne Bray, Yannick Bisson, Rick Peters, Ted Atherton, Enuka Oma, Tara Samuels, and Mark Gomes. (That was by memory)

The whole plot is that SUe is a deaf FBI agent who does all these cases. In most episodes a new case each episode (and the occasional 2-parter). Now, this series plays on Gospel Music Channel and is totally family-friendly clean... some episodes might be a bit scary (involving terorists, murders, etc) but most are clean-a-reeno. So check it out everybody! It is on channel GMC everyday at 4 pm & 8 pm... WATCH IT-LOVE IT- POST ABOUT IT!

PS: For anyone who has watched the show (I know Ella has!)do you think the character Jack Hudson :) has on eye makeup? I say NO WAY, but some people disagree (*cough* Meghan!)

Sunday suppers...and good friends!

No pictures this time...forgot to take any! LOL Yesterday, we had our dear friends, the Henderson's, come visit with us from Ohio. First, I took Ronnie and Anna over to play with their golden retriever, Gunner....how they love this dog!!! Anna, especially loves Gunner. He was so happy and excited to see them! Anna had him doing so many tricks and playing that he took a long nap after we left! LOL Then, Chuck, Stephanie and their sons, Charles and David, came for dinner and the evening. We had such a great time!

Meghan and Sara helped me prepare dinner. We had a wonderful dinner of sauteed boneless chicken breasts, oven roasted potatoes, carrots, green beans, mushrooms and homemade dinner rolls....then homemade chocolate custard for dessert. Delicious!

After dinner, the guys watched the hockey game while Stephanie and I played "Clue " with the older ones. It was such fun! I think I used to be much more observent when I was younger! LOL

Anna cracked everyone up by being silly and repeatedly saying "pumpernickel bread"....which had everyone cracking up! Hopefully, we'll be able to get together again over Christmas, weather permitting!

~Today was Sunday...Ron was on vacation all last week, so he was able to go to church with us this morning! It was so nice to worship as a family! We came home to a crockpot full of homemade wedding soup and rolls...then Ron took Ronnie and Anna to a train show, and the girls went to Starbucks with their friend, Danielle.....so....after I put a roast in the oven , I went for a nap....and woke up at 5:30pm! It was so nice to sleep! I don't sleep very well most days...so sometimes when it catches up with me...I just collapse. Today was one of those days! It really blessed me so much to rest today!

Now...after a dinner of roast beef, gravy, mashed potatoes, carrots, corn, and green beans (which the girls cleaned up! Thanks, Girls!) The 3 older girls are finishing watching "Gone with the Wind"...while Ron and I watch "Nim's Island" with Ronnie and Anna...and eat some icecream...... a quiet Sunday with family...and a wonderful weekend with good friends! We have had a very blessed weekend! Now....another busy week! Tomorrow, Meghan & Sara and I have our monthly 'Maiden's' meeting...after Anna has dance, and Ronnie has hockey. Tuesday, more dance, this time for Sara....another cubscout den meeting here on Wednesday, then the girls and I are off to see a musical at a local highschool of "White Christmas"...we're very excited about that! And...hopefully, my dear friend, Jolyn, will be feeling better by Friday, so we can go to Ohio and celebrate her birthday with her! Hope you all have a blessed week, too!~
God bless you all!!! ~Sue~

Joyful, Grateful, Contentment!

This is the quote that I've been reading all day on my kitchen windowsill...the same kitchen that I have been very discontented with ever since we moved into this house. It is small....it is crowded with 2 people in it...there is no table, and my children cannot be in it with me all at the same time to work together...I've been dreaming of knocking down a wall. Of course, we do not have the money for that type of renovation....nor will we in the foreseeable future. We have been having many discussions lately about finances...or lack of them. My husband's union contract is in negotiations...and it looks like we stand to lose quite a bit of income...if he still has a job. We are trying desperately not to use any credit cards...in spite of car repairs on 2 cars...the washer and dryer breaking at the same time (I'm so proud of Ron for fixing them!) and we haven't, but we have so many birthdays and now Christmas coming...not to mention high winter gas bills...even things like one child needed shoes and a winter coat...ok, have you priced NEW winter coats?! We did last night....and were horrified! LOL I guess we haven't bought new in a very long time....next week, we're off to the thrift store...and if there isn't something that she doesn't exactly love....oh, well....she'll still be warm! I have been so incredibly fatigued lately...especially this week, that it took me awhile today to see what God has been trying to show me....first, we found out that we have a CREDIT on our gas bill of a significant amount! Praise God! Amazingly...about the amount of a cold weather gas bill! Then...I got an email saying that Ronnie had earned enough in fundraising to cover his CubScout $80 fee....and then some for winter activities! Again....Praise God! But it is what happened next that blew me away!
Yes....this is a picture of water, from my kitchen sink....clean, abundant water....even filtered! I'll tell you why.

A good friend of mine and her family are living in Mozambique , Africa. Well....Dayna posted some pictures of their recent trip to the Gaza province. People...there are about 4,000 people living in this particular village....with the average family size of 7 people....larger than the average family here! The pictures of the huts...yes, I said huts....are so small! I cannot even imagine how their daily lives are! She showed pictures of how the women and children get the water needed for their families ever day....only 100 liters per family, too. These women pumped water into very large containers...and then the women AND CHILDREN carried them on their heads back to the village. These women were SMILING...the children were SMILING....when our friends arrived, a bunch of women greeted them singing PRAISE SONGS! They were JOYFUL! (I am shaking my head at myself while I'm typing this)....Dayna also showed how they grind grain....I had to laugh as she directed this particular picture to those of her friends who grind grain and bake...well, my electric grain mill is a miracle, compared to this! I don't know if I would bother if I had to do it that way...it looked like a large mortal and pestle....yet, again....if that is all I had to eat...I wouldn't have a choice. She showed children working so hard, carrying heavy things, working right along side their mothers....and she gave a timely reminder...."Mothers...stop what you are doing, ask your children to clean up their things and then to help you with dinner.".....how many times do our children complain?! I think my children are pretty good in this area, most of the time....until I see this. And they are GRATEFUL to be able to work for their daily needs!

Thank you, Dayna...for the timely reminders!!! Thank you, Lord, for your provision! Thank you for opening my eyes lately to....covetness....self-pity....discontent....and a lack of hard work to make us all grateful! You created us to work....6 days....and to be GRATEFUL! I pray that the Lord helps me be content and grateful...and to joyfully go about my tasks....praising Him, and working hard for Him....joyfully!!!
~Sue~

Woohoo!

Okay, just a short note for anyone who cares:
TAYLOR SWIFT WON ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR AT THE CMA AWARDS!

Oh, yeah, I am excited... I really am so happy she won because she derserved it, no matter what Meghan says... :)

Okay, thats all... goodnight!

Happy 5th Birthday, Anna!!! (or....My baby is 5 already!!!)

My baby turned 5 years old today!!! Happy Birthday Anna Lydia! What a joy she is to us! And...she is so very much like me...quite a challenge sometimes as well! She has so many knicknames, that I made up a song for her with them....."Anna Lydia Peony Lucy Love!" Seems like yesterday that I had her...probably my last baby, too! She wanted a "Mama" and me birthday picture....we tell her that God sent her to us, and she says "Because He knew I had lots of hugs to give to everyone!" She makes us laugh!
She says this is her "Five year old outfit"....she couldn't wait to wake up this morning! She jumped out of bed yelling "I'm five!!!" She is now into the "Littlest Petshop" animals....she has always loved animals more than dolls (except her ragdolls)....so today, she got lots of animals, a vet center and the big adoption center....she and Ronnie have been having lots of fun with them! She is also very into the Tinkerbell movies and fairys.....so she got the new movie and 2 new dolls today as well....she said she has had a great birthday!

Anna with "Silver Mist" and "Rosetta".....and the new movie "Lost Treasure"

The party we had today was a big family party for Sara and Anna.....Sara has a very unique style all her own...and it works for her! She loves this t-shirt with the english flag...and her black fedora!
Sara's birthday was Friday, yesterday was my mother-in-law's 71st birthday, and today is Anna's....so we sang Happy Birthday 3 times!
Two tired birthday girls....and one tired mom!!! Since we are not having Thanksgiving here this year, nor Christmas dinner....I won't be having any more big parties until Ronnie's birthday in January...of course, we have many to go to for birthdays and the holidays coming up. Tomorrow.....I'm making the last of the turkeys that I bought on sale last year...great to freeze, and to share with another family. Ron is on vacation all week....so cleaning out the attic is the only task on our list. Looking forward to seeing the new baby this week.....and all of our friends from Ohio this weekend! Hope everyone has had a wonderful weekend! ~Sue~

Happy 14th Birthday, Sara!!!!!

My beautiful daughter, Sara, turned 14 years old yesterday! Happy Birthday, Sara!!! We celebrated ALL day! She had her birthday breakfast request of chocolate chip muffins, then her grandfather took her to lunch...then a friend came over, had dinner...then the girls got ready for a small costume party with her very dearest friends. It was much smaller than last year...but equally as much fun! Sara was "Cinderella"...she looked so beautiful!
I love this picture of Sara and our friend, Alaina, getting "dolled up" for the party.

Loved this image of Meghan getting ready as well...

Above: Elissa, Michaela, Tess, Morgan and Rachel

The girls all had tons of fun, playing games like 'charades', 4 on a couch, and 'catch phrase'....lots of laughs and lots of snacks, too!

Above: Sarah, Alaina, Meghan, Ariana, my niece Tina ..and little crazy Anna
My wonderful daughters, Meghan & Sara....best friends!

Sara and Mom
The Gang....

Everyone had a fun time....I love having all the girls friends over! What wonderful memories were made last night.

Tomorrow...is my little Anna's 5th birthday....I cannot believe my baby will be 5!!! You know this means....another party! This one should be around 30 people...a big family party for both of the girls. We're celebrating my mother-in-laws birthday as well, since hers is today. Today was spent sleeping in from last night...then cleaning and lots of cooking for tomorrow...twice baked potatoes, pepperoni roll, buffalo chicken dip...and I made 20 quarts of turkey stock for soup for dinner....I AM WOOPED!!! My niece is spending the weekend with us, so tonight the gang is going to watch a special movie...then it is early to bed for everyone! Thanks for celebrating with us! ~Sue~