The Word

One of my goals for 2010 was to spend more time in the Word. I could go on and on about the power of spending time in the word and have always known it was important and depending on my stage in life have been faithful to spending time there and sometimes not so much. It is my goal to be consistent in this. This is an area for growth in my life, but I have committed to at least focus and pray over a verse a day. In our day and time there are so many modern conveniences. Not that God has to be or even needs to be convenient, but I do love the many resources in which you can find Him these days. One of those being WayFM - my favorite radio station! Their website (and the station) has a verse that is the "Word on the Way" each day. I have spent time reading and praying about these verses each day! I have used Word on the Way before. When Chris and I were just best friends I sent him a verse and a prayer each day to get him through some really tough times and continue today to share verses and prayers. Anyway, for those of you who don't know of that resource I thought I would share it! If you ever find yourself consumed at work and needing to draw near to God, google "Word on the Way" and you'll have a verse in not time! I confess that I do not always have my Bible by my side, but I am never more than a moment from Internet access. :-)

S-N-O-W!

We got more snow!!! Actually we are still getting snow and they are predicting that we'll get 5 to 9 inches by tomorrow! This is the most snow I have seen in a long time.... and by a long time, I mean YEARS! :-)

This morning I picked up Chris and Lily and we...

...headed to IHOP. (They called school off last night so we all slept in and didn't actually get out and about until about 10:30.) When we sat down to breakfast we looked out the window and saw flurries! By the time we were done eating we were in the midst of a serious snow shower and it was piling up quick! We made a mad dash to the movie store and grocery store and rushed back to be snowed in. In the hour and a half we were out it got seriously slippery on the road!

It started snowing about 11 and as you can see by the pictures (taken about 3:30) the snow really accumulated fast! Chris made some serious snow cream - YUMMY!!!!

And I made some serious from scratch potato cheese soup, so when we came in all cold and frosty we had a warm-filling dinner waiting on us!

It was a WONDERFUL afternoon! We watched movies, dozed, cooked, played... all kinds of fun snow-day stuff!! And the best part? We get to do it all again tomorrow!!!! :-)

Sick day...

Not feeling all that well today, and neither is Chris (rare, because he has an immune system made of steel) so we decided to take the day off work together to rest and get better. I am at his house now, relaxing and being reminded how much daytime tv sucks.

One thing that I have remembered as I am going stir crazy, but don't really have energy to do much, is that I have neglected my blog. So as Chris dozes and watches Band of Brothers, I have decided to update the blog! There is probably a lot I need to update, but at the moment I have little inspiration as far as something to write about so I chose a recent picture and someone that always cheers me up... Lily!

Here she is! Assistant basketball coach/cheer leader and cutie pie! :-) Always happy, always loving, always kind and compassionate! Big girl, big time, who walks herself into school every day up that long sidewalk, big stairs, and through those giant double doors all on her own without a thought or a backwards glance! Ms. Independent who wants to dress herself, pick out her own clothes, read to us without help, do things like crack eggs and help cook in the kitchen all by herself! We hear a lot of, "I can do it!" and nothing is better to hear that her growing her independence! She has created a job chart for her dad and for me and she keeps tabs on everyone! She has all but kicked her finger sucking habit which she only indulges in when she goes to bed at night (at her dad's at least), she has become the good manners police and the pick up/clean up monitor! She loves "teaching" how to sing songs, spell words, and just about anything else. She loves hide-and-go seek. Sher loves arts and crafts and making things and surprises! She loves putting stickers on her job chart and it is a rare occasion that she doesn't get one! She is one talented, precious girl! I sure do love her and her daddy very very much! And so, on a day when I'm not feeling too swell, I can think of them, and smile.
Now, her daddy! I know where she gets so many of her qualities because he is the most kind, compassionate person I have ever met! He reminds me a lot of my dad because he has such a huge heart and always tries to do what is right and just. He puts others before himself almost to a fault! He values family and he loves his daughter more than I have ever seen anyone love something/someone! He is generous with his time. He is an amazing coach and has a heart for those kids that won't quit! He is funny and it doesn't matter what mood I'm in, how bad I feel, or how frustrated I am, he can ALWAYS make me laugh! He loves to play and be silly... just a few days ago we had a 2 on 1 wrestling match right in his living room floor (me and Lily lost, but we all laughed so hard all three of us almost wet our pants). It's that spontaneous spirit and that ability to always have fun that I admire and love! We can talk for long hours or say nothing at all and both be in total peace! He's an amazing man with an amazing little girl and they have both enriched my life beyond words!

So there's an update for the blog. A little something that will, in the very least, make me smile while I'm feeling puny! I hope you all have people this special in your life to brighten your day!

You can't beat...

1.
...a good cookbook! I got The Pioneer Woman Cooks cookbook for Christmas from my sister! What a great gift! I have already cooked a couple things from the book and both were huge successes!!!! I highly recommend her book!

The best part in any good cookbook or recipe...

"I love it when you cook... you make the best food of anybody!" ~Lily

"I want to help! I love chef-ing with you!!!" ~Lily

"I look in the pantry and see nothing, then you go in the kitchen and the next thing I know we have a wonderful dinner! You're amazing" ~Chris

:-) So fulfilling!

2.

...a girl's very first Easy Bake Oven!

I remember baking cookies, brownies, and cakes with a light bulb! LOL!!! :-) It doesn't get much better, seriously! Lily was SO proud to bake some "surprise" cookies for her Daddy! We sure do LOVE to pamper him!!!! ;-) (and I must say he certainly pampers us too!!!)

3. Antique refrigerator ware!

I inherited from my mother a love of dishes and glass containers! I have always LOVED antique refrigerator ware.... primitive Tupperware, if you will. Funny thing is, I am very specific! I like the kind my granny had. Clear glass. Ribbed. Veggies etched on the lid. I can easily find refrigerator ware in just about any antique mall, but finding the specific type I want is near to impossible! Mom, however, ran across a set and got it for me for Christmas!! :-)

I got two square containers and one rectangle and I LOVE them!!! I mean REALLY love them! Of course, you could buy me ANYTHING for the kitchen and I would love it.... but I especially love these since they have both sentimental value AND functionality! :-) Can't beat that!

And last, but not least: Quotes from the coolest 5 year old I know... LILY!

"Whew! That stinks... someone hit a STUNK!" :-) (stunk = skunk)

"Our defense runs a 2-3 zone, but sometimes we do man-to-man." (Think she likes coachin' with her Daddy?)

"Daddy, your eyes look green tonight... but the middle of your eye... the center of your pupil, is black." (yeah... she's 5! I didn't know what a pupil was until I was in, like, middle school!)

"That's a parody, it's kind of like a joke." (Again, FIVE... thank you Lord for magnet schools!)

"Daddy, your Tweetie bird. I'm Silvester. Meagan, you be the Lady!" (acting out old episodes of Loony Toons... imagination... gotta love it!)

Word to Snow Bird...

Well we have now had our first snow day of the year! (And, as it is Friday morning... I am starting snow day 2 of the year! lol) In true TN fashion we freaked out over a few flurries and a dusting of snow, raided the grocery stores, cancelled school and anxiously awaited the white stuff!!!! We really only got a dusting... maybe an inch if that, but it is bitterly cold and the roads did get very slick. Here are a few shots of yesterdays fun...

Busting dad with a snowball!
Lovin'

Fun with Daddy never ends!

Snow angels, Snow ball fights, singin' in the snow, and a cold kiss!

And the best we could do for a snow man!

Overall we had a wonderful day! I cooked a HUGE breakfast with my assistant Chef Lily who LOVES to help in the kitchen! She is an excellent egg cracker, biscuit placer, table setter, stirrer, and drink order getter! :-) We strapped on our aprons and had a blast! Biscuits, eggs, home fries, pancakes, fresh fruit, bacon, and sausage gravy! MMMMMmmmmm!

After breakfast came the game playing, tv watching, couch snuggling, pj kind of day that makes everyone happy! Then FINALLY it started snowing and snowed heavy enough to coat the ground good enough to play so we bundled up and gave it a go and had a blast!

If you are anywhere near, I hope you are enjoying your snow days too! And for those of you not near and further north (Lindsay, lol) don't make fun of our HUGE deal and 2 DAYS of the WORLD STOPPING for a whole inch of snow! :-) That's how we roll down here in the south!

Happy New Year!

What a wonderful New Years Eve and New Years day we had! We certainly did ring in the new year with gusto! :-) Chris, Lily, and I headed to Chattanooga to celebrate the new year with family! We started at my parents house for Lily to play and for her to have "Christmas" with them...

...she was pretty excited to have this HUGE box! It was almost as big as she was!!!!

It turned out to be a box FULL of boxes!!! And wait 'til you see what was in the many boxes...

Lots and lots of handmade by grandmommy doll clothes (seen above - AMAZING!!!!) and purchased doll clothing and accessories and....

...her VERY FIRST AMERICAN GIRL DOLL!!!!!! It was precious, priceless, adorable! She kept opening box after box saying, "An American Girl Doll brush!" and "An American Girl Doll Dress!" Then she got to the last box and it was Kit - her favorite! She pressed her face up to the plastic pane in the box! Chris and I thought she was going to cry... Grandmommy DID cry! It was so SWEET! And I can tell you that Kit has not left her side since. She changes into her PJs each night and puts on an outfit this morning. She buckles in the car. She even came out to lunch today with us and had her own seat and bless the waiter's heart - he played right along of his own accord - it was priceless!!!

After "Christmas" was over, we headed to my sister-in-law and brother's house to ring in the new year! We watched the UT game, played Wii, and snacked all night! We had a blast watching the girls play and visiting and relaxing...

Here are my mom and dad getting ready to toast and...

...Ken and Sarah watching Dick count it down!

Lily getting ready to toast! Sarah thought ahead and got sparkling white grape juice for the girls and herself since she was expecting!

Grandmommy got Bentlee and Lily matching Snowman pajamas (Grandmommy has some too!)

And after the New Year countdown we headed to the front yard for some more celebrating!!!

Papaw and Ken shot off some fireworks! :-) We frigidly watched from the front porch...

...and Lily and Bentlee ran out to pop their confetti poppers!!!!

The start of the New Year was Fantastic! I hope the year follow suit! :-) We had an amazing time with family!!!