We Are Getting Old!!

I got a puzzle for Christmas because I thought it would be a great family thing to do. 

Sadly I woke up with a a terrible ear ache on Christmas day, so we waited until Monday to start working on it!  I don’t think the kids were impressed.  They put in a couple of pieces and made fun of us cause we were kinda of excited about it.  After a while I got a great idea and turned on some 80’s music!  Of course, me and the hubby started singing along to the songs…together….That’s when our middle son rolled his eyes and called us old.  Bradley and Joey quickly left for town to spend Christmas money.

We could not help but to laugh ourselves silly!!     NOW, we know how to get rid of the teenagers for a few hours….break out a puzzle and turn the 80’s music up loud!  We listen to 4 hours of different songs from the 80’s and it was fantastic!!  HA!

I guess we have officially made it to “that” stage of life….OLD!!!  {{{SIGH}}} 

Merry Christmas, A Day Late

This has been the first chance that I have had to get on my blog to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!  Yesterday I woke up with a terrible ear ache and after getting home from church I spent most of the afternoon on the couch.  Not the way I planned on spending the day, but I was thankful I pushed through and was able to go to church!  I love it when Christmas falls on a Sunday!!

I did get to start on antibiotics yesterday and I am able to report that even though my ear is still throbbing, I was able to come to church tonight and spend it with some special ladies!  Tonight is our night to host homeless women at our church!  My special friend greeted me as soon as I walked off the bus with a big hug!!  We have two new ladies that joined the group tonight along with our regulars.  I am happy that they feel comfortable enough to join us because as I type this, the rain is hitting the windows and it would be a cold, hard night.  I really enjoy being here and have looked forward to it all day!

I guess that is all that I have to report.  I am turning in and fingers crossed with get some much needed rest tonight!  Merry Christmas, a day late!!  :o)

It Begins & Ends Today

Today I begin my Christmas shopping. UGH! Me and my cousin Annette are leaving in a few minutes and both of us have yet start the blessed event of buying Christmas presents. So, today we leave with the intent of fullfilling the job of getting all the things on our lists in one day. We'll see! Hopefully we won't kill anyone!! Wish us luck!! :o)

It’s Sad…

It’s sad when my dog has more to blog about than I do.

He is full of fun…

He is full of life…

He is full of mischief…

He has four legs…

Which makes blogging easy for him.  The topics are endless.

AND, he has made blogging friends with many other dog bloggers….REALLY!!  Can you believe it?? 

I can, because he is so manstastic!

Check his blog…by click here or the link below.

http://theadventuresofhiggins.blogspot.com/

Almost Thirty Decades Coming To End!

My hubby celebrated a birthday today!  He turned 39 so of course we teased!  LOTS!

It has been a cold and dreary day that has been filled with lots of birthday love for him.  After sleeping in this morning, our middle son treated him to lunch at a new BBQ place in town.  I’ll have to say it was rather yummy!!!  I love trying new places and this one did not disappoint!  Then there were all the cards and phone calls!!  I love celebrating with my hubby!!  I made him pose for a picture with Higgins, which is always the highlight of any birthday celebration!  HA!

The hubster requested clam chowder for supper, so I made him yummy homemade clam chowder with basil grilled cheese sandwiches…can I say yummy?????  YUM-MY!  I even went a step further and made our youngest son some milk free chowder and milk free grilled cheese!  He loved it by the way!!

As the day is coming to a close, we are watching  The Polar Express…ahhhh, what a great way to celebrate his last year of thirty decades!!  You’re welcome hunny!  HA!

Looking For Last Minute Christmas Gifts?

 

Drink coffee, help villagers! 

Give coffee to loved ones as Christmas presents, help villagers!

Win, win!

Pangeo Coffee makes a perfect Christmas gift with a purpose! Give friends and loved ones a single or multi-month gift that will make their mouth happy well into the new year!

I have partnered with Jeff Power to get the word out about his coffee and to also support the development work in poor villages by drinking world-class coffee!

Helping never tasted so good!

One of the things I love is that they roast the beans on Monday and then mail your coffee out on Tuesday.  Right now you are can still order for Christmas.  Each bag is $14.95 and if you buy three bags the shipping is free!!  Also, if you use this code: jpdbj and get $2.00 off each bag you order!  For those that are awesome and put me to shame having ALLLLLLL your Christmas shopping done, you can still order and give as an extra little yummy gift, or just too have  a bag for yourself!

Use this code: jpdbj at check out and get $2.00 off  per bag!!

Please check out Pangeocoffee.com for more information on the coffee and Pangeo’s story!

A Hug

It’s a little after 11pm and I am sitting on a blown up mattress in a room full of strangers.  Well, not all are strangers, one of the ladies that is opposite the room of me is a friend that I met 2 weeks ago in the same room.   Tonight I am with homeless women that have no other place to go.  What an honor and privilege that I have to be here.

A new program has started in Murfreesboro called The Way of Hope.  It give homeless women and their children a place to stay every night during the cold winter months.  Our church along with other churches in our area have agreed to open their doors and offer a safe, warm place to stay.  When I was approached about this opportunity and asked if I would be willing to help out, there was not much hesitation on my part of if I wanted to help, but when, where and I needed details!  I remember going home and talking with my husband about this program and I knew that it was something that God was calling me too.

Two weeks ago the program kicked off and the first two night only one lady showed up.  My heart broke hearing the news that two other were on the fence about staying and I knew that we had bad weather moving in during the evening hours.  They chose not to come.  The lady that did come shared her story with us and I was drawn to her in amazement of her story.  I asked her if she would be back in two weeks, and she felt that she would be moving on.  I was saddened, and when we parted I hug her bye and told her I would be praying for her.

Tonight when I showed up at the shelter where we would be picking up those who wanted to stay at the church,   I seen her in the parking lot!  I was so excited and ran to her and hugged her.  A couple hours later I told her to plop down on my mattress so we could chat.  We talked about things that were going on in her life the past two weeks.  I told her I was thrilled that she was still here.  She told me that it was people like me that made her feel welcome and when I hugged her neck she said it was things like that made her want to stay.  I told her I had been praying for her and she said she knew.

Something so insignificant as a hug.  A hug that I take for granted.

Tonight the group grew from one to six.  One part of me is so happy that the word is out and more women feel safe enough to stay with us.  Another part of me is sad that is the group has grown.  That is six more homeless women. 

Pray for this new mission, pray that more women that are homeless would feel safe enough to come out of the cold.  Pray for their situations, their stories.  Everyone has a past and we are I was so quick to judge them.  I am so guilty of that.  I have judged so many people that are on the street, with signs, wrapped up in blankets under an overpass or pushing a grocery cart down the street.  Maybe if I were not so quick to judge and took a moment to listen to their story I would have understood a little more.

I have more I would love to share about some of these women, and in time, I will.  Our room is quite, women are sleeping and it’s time I joined them!  Goodnight!

I Have Been Baking

It’s not what you think…

it is not yummy Christmas cookies…

or fudge….

or seasonal fruit cakes…

I baked a batch of pumpkin dog treats for Higgins!!!

He is such a loved doggie…or as my husband likes to say, spoiled rotten dog.

Nah, I like loved better than spoiled!!

Anyways, head over to Higgins blog to read more about these scrumptious dog biscuits!

Also, find out how you can score your doggie some treats!!!

The Difference A Day Makes

Yesterday, the fog rolled in.

Today, snow is falling.

I Have Been Scolded

Every once in a while I will get a Facebook message  alert on my phone that someone posted a message on my wall.  I’ll be honest when I say I get a little giddy. Someone actually has something to say to me, little ‘ol me!  Yeah, my life can seem like a pathetic existence at times.  Just keeping it real folks….sigh.

When I checked to see what profound words were waiting for me to read, it was my SIL getting on to me for not blogging.  Grr.  Not the juicy yumminess that I was all hyped up to read.  I almost took a shower and got dressed before reading that comment.  Thank goodness I came to my senses and left my hair in a tangled mess and my PJ’s on.

I have not blogged in awhile and was shocked to see that it has been over a week since my last post!  Where has that week flown off too??  How could a whole week pass by me and I have not one thing to show for it or at least blog a little snippet about.  Oh my, has my life came to this???

Just to lay it out there, I got a little frustrated and there were a few things I wanted to blog about, but didn’t.  As all bloggers know, we put our inner feeling out there at times and speak from the heart, type our true feelings and can be a little naive as to who is reading our blogs...well not naive, our blogs are out there for all to see (I know that).  I find comfort in my blog, comfort in knowing that it is mine, my online diary to talk (or type) myself silly, if I please.  I found through the years I have gained friendships with some great people that I have never met in person with common interests that we share.  I treasure those friendships! :o)

When I told my sis-in-law that I allowed some folks to steal my joy and it frustrated me, she told me to blog anyways.  So Jenny….here I am!!  You are right, today I blog.

For those that like to judge me and you know who I am talking too, if my blog steps on your toes, do not read it.  Plain and simple.  This blog is me and for all my imperfectness that will never fit into your world.  I will talk about things that you may not agree with, but OH WELL.  Don’t judge me unless you have walked in my shoes or lived a day in my life.

Now with great apologies for all the others that read my blog, that actually come here to find out what kind of craziness my family is up too.  Please forgive the rant. 

How dare I allow someone to steal my joy of something I enjoy so much!!!  Thanks Jenny for the scolding…I love ya!