His Doorkeeper

Apples or Baby Barn?

2012-01-25T20:36:00.000-08:00

Hubs and I are on a little trip this week to our annual pastor's conference.

We stopped here and there along the way to break up a long trip.

Today we stopped at one of his favorite stores......

and then at mine........

At which one would you rather spend some time?

Love Will Keep Us Together

2012-01-23T05:11:00.000-08:00

There is no more lovely, friendly, and charming relationship, communion, or company than a good marriage.

-Martin Luther

Happy marriages BEGIN when we marry the ones we love and they BLOSSOM when we love the ones we marry.

-Tom Mullens

Forty-one years ago today I married the one I thought I loved more than anything and forty-one years later I love him more today than I did on that rainy January night so very long ago.

I have no gift to give him worthy of what he means to me. I thought I would write him a little list of 41 reasons I have been so blessed by him all these years!

1. I love that he loves the Lord above all....me included! That's the divine order of life!

2. I love that he loves the Word of God and studies it continually.

3. I love that he faithfully proclaims God's Word with no compromise.

4. I love that he is the only person in the world who loves my children as much as I do.

5. I love that he is and has been a loving and faithful husband to me.

6. I love that he thinks our grandchildren are GRAND children! He loves them so much!

7. He is a man of great integrity.

8. He values character over popularity.

9. He is the most generous man I know.

10. He is calm during the storms of life.

11. He is dependable.

12. He is faithful and trustworthy.

13. He is a hard worker.

14. He is super intelligent.

15. He has a keen sense of humor. (That is one of the greatest secrets of a happy marriage!)

16. He know how to do many diverse things such as build things, do plumbing, tiling, electrical, etc.

17. He knows how to work so many technological gadgets. (That always amazes me)

18. I love how he appreciates the little things in life. Not a big pleasure-seeker.

19. I love how he was so unselfish in the ways he loved my parents and helped them when they were alive.

20.I love that he loves to eat dill pickles right out of the jar.

21. He prays for all of us in his family, including all our church family.

22. I love that he is a die heart Razorback fan....faithful fan...win or lose!

23. I love how he loves his tractor.

24. I love how he is not a clothes-horse.

25. I love how he can be counted on during a crisis.

26. I love that having white hair (and these days, very little of it) since he was young doesn't bother him.

27. I love how he has a tender heart and tears up frequently.

28. I love how he watches "This Old House" on TV and wishes he could work along side of "Norm".

29.I love how dependable he is. I can always trust him.

30. I love how he is not musically talented very much but that doesn't stop him from loving music and singing and praising God!

31.I love how he loves to travel to other countries and do mission work for sharing God's Word to all parts of the world!

32.I love how he can be asleep snoring before I can get my pillow fluffed and covers straightened!

33. I love that he is physically strong and is not afraid of physical work.

34. I love that he is able to think rationally and calmly when others do not.

35. I love that he loves the children in our church and loves to play with them!

36. I love that he is a ferocious appetite for reading and reads probably a book a week.

37. I love that he lets me be ME!

38. I love that I always feel safe when I'm with him.

39. I love that he has such a love for our country, for history and a keen insight into politics. (That's what he majored in during college)

40. I love that he always has a great sense of direction....rarely gets lost.

And finally, number 41: I love him because for 41 years now he has been my very best friend, has loved me and made me feel special.

I love you Steve! What you say we try for 50????

What a Difference Three Years Can Make

2012-01-16T19:24:00.000-08:00

Those of you who follow Kelly's blog ( and I know most who even read my blog come over from her blog) know that today is Harper's 3rd birthday! You know we went over to celebrate this week-end and you must know by now that I will have Nonny's view of the party to show too!!

To tell you the truth, I don't know how Kelly gets her post up so quickly. I barely get home and upload my pictures and it still takes me a couple of days later to get a post done! I'm slow!!

It is nearly 7 p.m. here as I am writing this and Harper was born at 7:03 on that wonderful night three years ago. Things happened so quickly after her arrival it sometimes seems like a bad dream.....something so terrible that it didn't even make sense when those words fell out of the neonatal doctor's mouth, "She probably won't live through the night."

This is the way she looked when we were at the hospital!

BUT.........

God had plans for Miss Harper Brown Stamps!!

(1 Samuel 12:16 "Stand still and see the great thing God is about to do before your eyes.")

and.......

Here she is this week-end!!

Our whole family is still in awe of the great and mighty ways in which the Lord worked in Harper's life and also how we saw the very hand of God in action! I hope I never get "over" it!!

So here's just a few "Nonny" pictures of our fun time celebrating her birthday! Also enjoying the company of her other grandparents and Miss Hollis! (Who is the sweetest baby!)

Harper grabs her blanket and wants Papa to hold her and watch "Sleeping Beauty" with her!

Of course, he does exactly that! Looks like he's kind of enthralled in the movie! ha ha

Isn't this called "planking"???

She got a cute piggy bank in a tutu from her Aunt Linda and Uncle Bob. Plus a sack full of other goodies!

She got a cute piano with its own microphone plus another microphone from Uncle Chris and Aunt Carrie! Let the music flow!

Hollis thought she could sing along too!!

Harper also got a harmonica. If her great grandpa was still alive...he would have been thrilled. He always had several harmonicas around his house and loved to play!

We had a lot of fun at her party. The kids all enjoy playing and then eating treats.

The parents enjoying visiting!

Our sweet friend, Caroline, came by to see us and show us her beautiful engagement ring! This beautiful young lady has quite a story of her own of God's faithfulness! She is a precious person!

We first met her when she and her beautiful Mother, Robin, drove to Tulsa from Texas to see us in the hospital with Harper. We did not know them but they just felt God wanted them to come and do a prayer walk around the hospital for Harper and pray with us. I'll never forget them for that!

Since then, Caroline has moved to Arkansas, got a new teaching job, met her future husband-to-be and her parents are moving here too! What a marvelous story of believing God!

We love you Caroline!

Loved visiting with Kelly's sweet friends, Amanda and Jennifer and their darling daughters!

The rest of these pictures are of Harper just having a BIG OLE TIME!!

We just love this baby girl so much and are so thankful for the past three years!!

"Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You and praise Your name for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things; things planned long ago."

Isaiah 25:1

My Daddy

2012-01-10T12:27:00.000-08:00

As you have probably noticed, if you are at least 40 or older, time has a way of getting away from you.

It is always good to reflect on the past; not to dwell there, but to remember people who help mold you into the person you are today.

Thornton Wilder once said that the greatest tribute to the dead is not grief but gratitude. Today is my late father's 96th birthday and I am always filled with gratitude when I remember him!

It really doesn't matter who my father was; it matters who I remembered he was. And I remember him very well.

My Dad served his country in World War II. He was in a German prison camp for over two years before he escaped. The war greatly affected the rest of his life. Looking back now I think he was too soft-hearted to see and experience the things he did during the war.

He and my Mom married when he returned from the army in 1945. They celebrated 57 years together before he passed away.

My sister, Linda, came along in 1947 and thus began the long-time career of my Dad being a wonderful, caring father and grandfather.

I came along 15 months later (poor Mom). I don't have many pictures of me as a little baby. Do you think my Mother was a little busy then? This picture is of my Daddy holding me and my sister standing next to me. I know it was Sunday because my Dad has on a tie and the young boy in the picture(Kenneth Dean Hughes) was a boy who went to our church. We lived about two blocks from church and he would come down and want to help get me and Linda to Sunday school on time!

I laugh now because I see most of our pictures were made as we were getting ready to go to church!

Our parents always took us to church....not sent us....they took us!

I was so blessed and didn't even realize it!

And Daddy was always with us when Mother made our pictures with what Santa brought! I love these pictures and can remember this little table set, my doll and the metal set of toy dishes! (But can't remember what I did last week....oh well!)

I remember this Christmas especially. My sister and I were always dressed alike. These dresses were hunter green corduroy. My doll's name was Suzy and she was a "walker" doll. You could hold her hand and her legs would move as you walked.

Here's another picture of Daddy with us and our Christmas dolls! He is holding our dog Penny.

Daddy loved dogs and we always had one. I guess that why my sister and I both LOVE dogs and so do my children!

I remember this day. It was Sunday afternoon after church and we went to the park. We had a friend who played with us after church and she went with us. She took the picture.

This is one of the few pictures made of me alone with my Daddy. When you have two girls so close in age it is hard to find one of you by yourself with your parent. Or least it was in those days! Is it strange to you that I can always remember my clothes and what color they were? Mother made almost everything we wore. This little dress was brown on the bottom with a little pink print in it. The top was cream-colored with material from the bottom of the dress made to form the "V". My mother was a very talented seamstress. (I can't sew on a button and neither can my sister. Go figure!) My little purse was pink and had French poodles on the front.

I skip up to our teen years.....oh my! This is one of those "yes we will all go and have our family picture made for the church pictorial directory" pictures!

I think I was a senior in high school('66) and my sister was a freshman at the U of A.

My sister looks beautiful and I look like I've got buck teeth. How do you like that "flip" hair-do??

Many years later, 1973 to be exact, my Daddy became a Grandfather for the first time. Pap-pa

was a loving grandfather and he thought his first grandbaby, Kelly, was the greatest thing he ever had!

And then, in 1976, Pap-pa welcomed his first grandson, Chris. After being surrounded by all the women in his life for so long, he finally got a son!! A GRAND son! He loved Chris so much!

Pap-pa loved to spend as much time as possible with his only grandchildren.

He relished every visit with them!

My children always grew up knowing their Pap-pa ( and Mam-ma) thought they were the finest grandchildren ever!

So, even though my Daddy has been gone for almost 10 years now, I still think of him and miss him greatly. I especially think of how, if he were alive today, he would be so totally in love with this great-grandgirls, Harper and Hollis! Pap-pa knew about raising little girls!

I am so very thankful that the Lord put in me in a home with a wonderful,loving Father. This makes it easier for me to realize how much my HEAVENLY Father loves me if my earthly Father loved me so much!

I wanted to post one last picture....a very old picture of my sister and me.....just to show Kelly that she comes from a long line of mothers who dress their daughters alike! And look at that LARGE bow in my hair!!! LOL

New Year's Eve "Party"

2012-01-07T15:01:00.000-08:00

I haven't written a new post this "year" so I thought I might share with you how our new year's eve was spent!

We got up early and Hubs was so excited to spend the morning in his shop with a project he been trying to put together for months!

He went down to his shop to get a fire started in his wood stove to heat up the area so he could get started on a wonderful all-day "shop" day! His idea of a real fun day! Bless his heart!

I was still working on putting away Christmas decorations (finally finished today....you'll understand why as I go along) and was in the garage working. I didn't hear Hubs come in the door until I came back in the house and hear him hollaring from our bedroom. He was saying something about "orange juice" which is usually the signal that he is having a sugar low and needs some juice quickly.

However, by the time I got back to our bedroom he was violently shaking, foaming at the mouth and fell flat in the floor, hitting the armoire in our room and was OUT! I had never seen him like that and I was in full panic mode. I couldn't put anything in his mouth because I was afraid he might choke. I have never called "911" in my life and I was shaking and crying so much I barely could use my phone.

Two very nice men from our local fire department showed up first. Of course, they couldn't do anything but help me wait for the ambulance. I'll have to back up and say that while I was talking to the 911 lady, it dawned on me that men were coming to our house and we would probably make a trip to the hospital and I wasn't dressed! (well, I did have on my PJs but certainly not ready to go out the door!) I quickly threw on some clothes, socks and shoes before they got there. It reminded me why I should get up EVERY morning and get myself dressed 'cause you never know what you will be doing!!

Before long( it seems like a long time to me but probably only 15-20 mins) the ambulance showed up and the paramedics took over! Thank you, Linda and Philip, wherever you are! I was so happy to see you!

So they loaded Hubs up and off to the hospital they go! Don't ask me why I took a picture! Just figured Hubs would never remember this and I take pictures of everything so I don't forget!!

We got to the hospital ER around 9:30 a.m. and stayed till around 2:30 p.m. when they put him in a room. He had tests but nothing really showed up but the ER doctor didn't want to let him go until they did blood test every 6 hours and look for markers for heart problems. He did have a stent put in last year. Let me add all the staff in the ER and the hospital were just wonderful! So very helpful!

So we ended up staying from Saturday morning till Monday evening! On a holiday week-end, trust me, the hospital is like a mortuary! Too quiet but you still get no real rest!

Finally, the cardiologist came in (after we had waited all day to see him) and said they could do a procedure on him the next day if he wanted it. Hubs declined the kind invitation to stay over yet another night and have something done that he didn't feel warranted.

It was good to be home! Hubs is fine and has a follow-up appointment with his local doctor in another week.

That was last Saturday. Today he was in his shop doing what he loves to do and I am so thankful to the Lord for taking care of him! In the meantime, I have been to the hospital everyday this week except Thursday visiting with church members who were having surgery or test. The hospital and I are close friends!!

You can always look around and see those who are in much worse pain than you are. We pray for so many who have serious illness right now. And there seems to be so many lately!

Reminds me of a good verse to remember in times of trouble: 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
" For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes NOT on what is seen, but on what is UNseen. For what is seen is TEMPORARY, but what is unseen is ETERNAL! "

I thought this was funny in the paper today!

What If You Went to Branson and the Rest of the World Was There?

2011-12-29T19:44:00.000-08:00

Hubs and I had to make a little overnight trip because he had an early morning appointment with his doctor in a land far, far away. (Well, at least, we have to get up a couple hours early just to drive there to be there on time!)

Kelly ask us to come meet her and the girls for lunch in Branson today. She was meeting a friend for breakfast earlier. She knows how we love to see our grands any chance we get, so of course, we told her that we would LOVE to meet them!

I have no news except Hubs got a great doctor's report and we enjoyed a little time away overnight! Even the Boys are enjoying some pampering at the kennel for a couple of days! (That means a shave and a haircut....more than two bits though!)

Here are some pictures from today!

Kelly and her friend, Amanda.

Papa telling Hollis what a sweet girl she is!

....................And she is the sweetest!!!!!!

Harper decided to do "snow angels" in the floor. No snow.....and I'm sure no germs in the middle of a floor that the ENTIRE world has walked on! OK, Nonny, it's OK. She will live!

Harper and Amanda's little AnnaBeth looking in the store window!

After a fun-filled "circus" lunch, we made a final picture before they left for home!

We had such fun!

I did want to show you that I found some sweet little coats for next year for the girls....on sale, of course!

I loved the detail on this little white coat for Harper!

And this is for Hollis! It looks reddish but it is dark pink.

I loved the little flower on it! Looked like Hollis!

It was a beautiful day today. I made a beautiful picture of the sunset on the way home tonight. I just never tire of the color God uses to show us His Majesty and Beauty!

Psalm 66:1-3 Shout joyfully to God, all you on earth; Sing the glory of His name; Make His praise glorious. Say to God, "How awesome are Your works!"

I wish you could see the picture but I made it on my IPhone and I have not figured out how to get that from my phone to my blog......I did Twitter it though!

I need some tech lessons! Anybody else????

I'll Be Home for Christmas.....

2011-12-24T17:52:00.000-08:00

We are planning on spending a quiet Christmas at home this year. It is actually something to look forward to after a busy year that never seems to end with things to do, people to see and places to go!!

I wanted to show a couple of pictures made at our Candlelight Lord's Supper service this past Wednesday night. We always try to do things a little different...never changing the importance of the ordinance but also not to make it a ritual but something very special just as the One is special who we remember.

We had several ladies who worked on making the unleaven bread. The idea was to make it as in the olden days. Brenda Hopper had the idea to use a very old table that was in her barn for the Lord's Supper table. One of the men of the church took it, cleaned the dirt dobbers off, cleaned the wood and it was just wonderful....a simple table for serving the bread and juice! We walked down the aisle with our candles lite, picked up our Lord's Supper and after everyone was served, we ate it together. It was very special!

Sunday we had five new members join and blessed our hearts! I love our church family! They are the best!

On that Wednesday night, I had Harper with me and I was a little nervous about sitting through a worship service with her since she usually goes to the nursery. But I decided to brave it and she was wonderful! I told her to only whisper, that we did not talk out loud and she did! But she does love to light the candles and blow them out. We let her hold an "unlighted" candle and she seems happy with that!!

After the service she did want to go up on the platform and made a B-line for the guitars that our worship band keeps there. I had to stop her twice! Now that Santa has brought her two guitars.....I expect her to start playing anytime!

The next morning we made the trip over to see Kelly to celebrate her birthday and to take (sniff, sniff) Harper home!

Here are a few pictures of our little birthday/Christmas party with our kids!

Got the chance to hold this sweet baby for awhile!

My sister, Linda, went with us to see the kids and watch them open gifts she brought them!
They are blessed to have a great-aunt who loves them so much!

Papa got some quality time with Hollis!

Harper showing us her reindeer she made at MDO!

Helping Mommy open her birthday presents!

Smelling the candle I brought Kelly.

I think she wanted to try on her Mama's new earrings.........

......and wanted Papa to try them on also!!!

Hollis is on the prowl constantly!

We took everyone to Mimi's for lunch! It was delicious as always!

The birthday girl wearing a new pair of earrings we got her!

Harper got in some sweet time with her Daddy! She loves her Daddy!

After lunch we had a little Christmas! Hollis was asleep by then but Harper didn't mind opening her gifts for her!

This may be the start of her career as a musician! Kelly said she didn't put it down the rest of the day!

Santa knew she NEEDED a guitar!

I offered to get a set of drums for her birthday but her Mom said if I did, they would stay at MY house!

The tricycle was her "big" gift. Her Dad was probably thrilled 'cause I think he has to put some of it together! But he should have plenty of time till warm weather for her to ride it outside!

So that was our Christmas with our grandchildren. Now they are spending time with their other grandparents! I just hope Pap-paw Stamps won't have to try on any earrings!

May each of you who come to my blog to read about my family be blessed by the One whose Name is above all others......Jesus!

Have a wonderful Christmas and a Blessed New Year!

See you next year!

My Wonderful Baby

2011-12-21T20:44:00.000-08:00

Thirty eight years ago, on December 22, I gave birth to this wonderful little baby girl. It totally changed my life.

I was young (25) and had never been around babies. But I believe God gives you a natural instinct to nurture your own children. I loved being a Mother! And I knew from the very beginning that I was raising a special child. (In fact, I have raised two special children!)

She has always been fiercely independent with a mind of her own. Strong-willed to say the least but also with a heart for others. And most importantly, a heart for God.

She is now a Mother herself and I stand amazed at what a wonderful Mother she is. She is so talented and very smart! She has taught me many things along the way! She is lovely on the outside (if I say so myself) but her beauty within is what makes my heart full of gratitude.

I love you with all my heart Kelly!
Have a wonderful birthday tomorrow and we can't wait to share it with you!

" I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." 3 John v.4

December 20..Day 2 and the Fun Continues

2011-12-20T19:41:00.000-08:00

I can't remember having such a wonderful day so close to Christmas in such a long time. Usually my pre-Christmas days are filled with church activities (still are), parties (gone to several), shopping, wrapping, cooking, baking, dropping like a rock!

This year, because our children are having Christmas with their in-laws, I have done practically no shopping ( we have a no-gift policy for adults...only children and charities) and I must say it has been a season of peacefulness to say the least! If your family hasn't tried it one year, you should give it a whirl next year. Just enjoy the people around you and focus on the Spirit of the Lord and He will bring you an abundance of peace and joy!

Tonight was especially joy-filled. Harper and I have waited all day for Papa to come home and tonight we all went out to eat and to look at the Christmas lights!

We especially had fun at the local town square Nativity scene. Of course, Harper knew what and who it was. She wanted to go over and see Baby Jesus. But most of all she wanted to ride on the donkey and the camel!! And she gave the Wise Men a kiss before we left!

So much fun to see this through the eyes of an almost three year old!

We ran into the Santa man himself. I think he was checking his notebook to see if Harper has been naughty or nice. I could tell him she has been the "sweetest" girl! But I might be a little prejudice!

We made a little side trip to WM to pick a few things and Harper did pick out one thing:

We gave her a choice between a little FP play house with little people or the farm.

She bought the farm! She loves animals!

We had some sweet time together tonight when we got home and I just had to make pictures of a perfect ending to a perfect day in the eyes of a Nonny who is so in love with her grandbaby!

Papa was drawing for her. Skipper was in on the cuddling on the couch!

Just so you will know, I got in on the love fest too!

Harper, You are too young to know or understand at your age what joy you bring to your Papa and Nonny's heart! Truly God has blessed us and we thank Him every day!

P.S. (For Harper's Mom and Dad's sake, she went right to bed and fast to sleep when I told her as soon as she gets up in the morning , we'll break open the new farm and play!!)

Christmas Dream Come True

2011-12-20T07:35:00.000-08:00

" Perfect Love sometimes does not come until the first grandchild"

We are blessed this week by having our first grandbaby come spend a few days before Christmas with Nonny and Papa!

Nonny and Poppa are thrilled!!

Best Christmas present ever!

Watching her Papa leave for work this morning!

We are having a wonderful time and hate to take her back home! But her Mommy is having a birthday on Thursday and we don't want to miss that!

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas PARTY!

2011-12-10T18:37:00.000-08:00

Hubs and I are so blessed! We have the pleasure and honor of teaching (well, truth be known, he does the teaching; I am his helpmate) the young adults at our church.

Because we are a small church these range in ages of college age, singles and young married with or without kids! We love them all and they are special to us!

We have one girl in our class who just gave birth to her first baby Thursday(she didn't come to the party...can you imagine that??) and another girl (her sister) who is due with her baby this spring. We have an engaged couple, some fairly newly-weds, some married for many years and some who should be getting married soon (Isn't that right, Tyler and Daisy???)

Anyway, a good mix of young adults!

We had our annual Christmas party at our house last night and we had a great time. Although I didn't get all the pictures I wanted 'cause I was busy being hostess in the kitchen, I did get a few pictures. Just didn't get one of them all.

It was like a junior high party at first. Girls all on a table together and the guys were all in the dining room pretty much. I did take the girls upstairs to our bonus room where they made a little take-home craft of an ornament that they made for their trees.

I was so busy watching them stuff ornaments and tie ribbons that I forgot to take pictures but they turned out really cute!

I know Kelly is having her decorations for Christmas SUYL next Friday but I am going to show mine now.

I never know from one day to the next what I'll be doing by then!! Since none of our kids will be coming home this year for Christmas (yes, we trade off with the other in-laws...it's the right thing to do) I decided I would not put a tree this year, party or no party! That's my least favorite thing to do!

So here are a few pictures of the little decorating I did!

The reason for the season: "For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11

I got this idea from a picture in a P*Barn catalog. I have acres full of available sticks and you put epsom salts in the bottom of your glass vase to make it look exactly like snow!

Now on to the party.......girls all at the table together........

Guys gathered in the living room ........

I was so busy I didn't get a picture of all the food everyone brought but there was a lot of it and it was all very good! If you stay to the end of this blog, I will share a new recipe I got from Paula Deen that was so easy, so good and didn't include a stick of butter!! Can you believe that???

Andrea and Rebecca

Sarah and Casey

Amanda and Alicia

Kristen, Lynn and Gwen

Jeff was quizzing his old pastor!

Bryan, our resident poet, was just happy to let me make his picture....he posed!!

Clint, our favorite pharmacist, was getting ready to play a mad game of Pictionary!

No Apples to Apples tonight!

There were a lot of "stick men" drawn in this game!!

I didn't get a picture of all who played but someone took a picture of the "old folks" who played along too!

See, I didn't draw a stick man. I was drawing a car!!

We also played "charades" using Christmas carols! Old games but lots of fun!

Now for the Paula Deen recipe!

This is so easy and tasted great.....I think I ate two but could have eaten half a dozen but had other mouths to feed! har

I took a picture of them before I put them in the oven but forgot to take a picture when I took them out because we were ready to eat. But just imagine these browned so nicely and they looked really nice on a footed cake platter.

Sausage/Cheese Wonton Cups

10-12 servings

1 lb. pork sausage

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 cup sour cream

24 Wonton wrappers (found in our WM produce aisle)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cook sausage, cumin and red pepper until brown and crumbly. In medium bowl stir together sausage mixture, cheese and sour cream.

Spray a 24 cup mini-muffin pan with cooking spray. Fit won ton wraps into muffin pan to form cups, then spray cups with cooking spray.

Divide sausage mixture among cups.

Bake for 10 minutes or until lightly brown.

These are just delicious and great hors d'oeuvres (yes, I had to look up how to spell that!) for a party!

I cooked the sausage a day ahead and put in the refrig. and just added the cheese and the sour cream to the mixture before I put them together.

Try them, you might like them as much as we did!

Happy Birthday Shirley!

2011-12-06T07:33:00.000-08:00

Today is my sweet mother-in-law's 89th birthday! I have known and loved her for over 41 years now!

She has been a wonderful mother, mother-in-law and grandmother( and great-grandma) for all these years!

Shirley, Wish we could be with you today as you celebrate! Happy Birthday from your family!

We love you!

You know I have to throw in some old pictures!!

Shirley as a young military wife in Japan with number # 2 son Stephen (better known on this blog as "Hubs"!!)

Shirley holding her newest great-grandbaby, Hollis, this past summer.

Older Blogger

2011-11-18T18:39:00.000-08:00

I don't have an exciting blog to write about tonight (not that I EVER have a really exciting blog to write about ever) but since Kelly is having her Friday's SUYL theme "Older Bloggers", I figure I fit right into this category!

I have been blogging for several years now. Kelly got me started when Hubs was on one of his long trips to India and I would be alone for awhile. (He just home tonight from Nicaragua!)

Through blogging I have "met" some wonderful people and feel like it is sort of a personal journal. I have even forgotten some of the things I've done when I look back over the archive of the past years of blogging.

I know Kelly has people who read her blog that range in ages from high-schoolers and then all ages including us grandmas!! What a wonderful way to connect with other women of all ages and learn from each other!

Thanks to all who stop by to read this "older blogger's" post from time to time! I would love to hear from any of you!

Fall Fest

2011-11-16T20:22:00.000-08:00

Tonight our Wednesday night BLAST kid's program at church had our Fall Fest.

We took the kids on a hayride, had games to play and got to paint faces, etc.

I just wanted to post a few pictures so I could remember what a fun group we have!

This is the group I work with. We usually have 9 kids. They are four- five year olds!

Love them!!

I was Skyping with Hubs after I got home from church tonight telling him about our hayride and how cold it was outside. We were all bundled up!! He had to tell me how he was sweating in the 80 degree temperature in Nicaragua!!

I would love a little Nicaragua weather!! Any day of the week!

Welcome Home Mommy!

2011-11-11T16:05:00.000-08:00

This time tomorrow night my Mommy will be home from her exciting trip to Ecuador with Compassion International.

I am so proud of her for going 'cause I know she hated to be away from my big sister and me.......and my DAD!

But when you follow Jesus you sometimes have to do things that are not exactly in your comfort zone!

Such as go down the Amazon in a boat and nearly sweat to death to love on some sweet children who have nothing much other than love from their parents. Not even the necessities of life!

I am so glad my parents and my Nonny and Poppy have adopted children all over the world to support through Compassion to give them a chance at a better life! And I don't mean having the luxuries that we "think" we have to have. They need food, clothes, clean water and a mattress even to sleep on at night. And a chance at receiving an education. Most of all, they receive a chance to hear about Jesus who loves all the little children of the world!

So, Mommy, I can hardly wait to see you! Here are some pictures Nonny made of me the past few days just to remind you what I look like! har har.......a little baby humor!

Hollis

House Guest

2011-11-08T18:33:00.000-08:00

Monday I took a little trip over to pick up my house guest for this week. Her parents, being so strict, won't let her drive yet! I also got a little visit with her older sister for just a few hours!

Mom is on a Compassion International trip in Ecuador this week and Dad's parent's came to keep older sister while her Dad works.

So that left us with this sweetie:

How many have company who brings their own food?

So I guess if she behaves herself, we'll let her spend the week with us! Think we can handle that??

Carrie's Having a Birthday Today!!

2011-11-04T06:21:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to our favorite beautiful, sweet daughter-in-law!! We love you Carrie!

Have a wonderful day Carrie!!!

Where Did Fall Go?

2011-11-03T11:23:00.000-07:00

I went out early this morning to do some errands and it was windy and VERY, VERY cold!

Skippy and I decided that today was one of these kinds of days:

All a part of the ..................

Please, fall, stay around a little longer! Skippy and I are just not "Winter" people!

How 'bout you?

What's your favorite season and why?

Happy 8th Anniversary!

2011-11-01T05:20:00.000-07:00

Today is Kelly and Scott's 8th Wedding Anniversary!

We couldn't have been blessed with a better son-in-law than Scott. Kelly, we love you both and pray God's greatest blessings on your marriage!

May you have many, many happy years ahead!

We love you both,
Nonny and Papa

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T07:04:00.000-07:00

I've seen hundreds of pictures the past week of people cutting out faces on their pumpkins getting ready for today.

This picture takes me back to the days when we use to cut up pumpkins!

These were my little pumpkins then......now I am looking forward to seeing my two little grand-pumpkins in their costumes today!

Oh, What a Beautiful (Fall) Morning!

2011-10-26T06:27:00.000-07:00

"The earth is the Lord's and all it contains....." Psalm 24:1
"The heavens are telling the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands." Psalm 19:1

Just stepped out of my house this morning and was overwhelmed at the beauty of this season right in my own front yard!

No one paints a prettier color on the trees than our Lord!

I just hope you are enjoying this wonderful fall morning! Bobber and I are!

Going Deer Hunting

2011-10-23T15:01:00.000-07:00

Last year we put out six new trees in our front yard to line our driveway. I was thrilled to see the maple trees turn beautiful colors of red this year for the first time!

We lost several trees in the Big Ice Storm of '09 (when Harper was born) and I was so proud to get some new trees to replace those we lost.

BUT

Look at what our "deer" friends have done to our new trees!

I'm sure they are not aware that deer season just opened this week! They might better watch out for the old lady sitting on her front porch with a loaded shotgun!!

On a much lighter note (as they say on the news after a tragic story), I have these trees with these red berries on them and I'm not sure what they are. They are pretty but the red berries are all over the place!

I also had to get this little fellow off my new trees!!

I guess I should be happy that the deer, the dogs, the spiders and all other of our animals friends have not had a feast off my little pumpkin on my front steps!

In all things be thankful!!

You Can Go Home Again....

2011-10-18T14:42:00.000-07:00

In the 1940's Thomas Wolfe wrote a novel entitled You Can't Go Home Again. He suggested that you can't return to your past to relive youthful memories but I beg to differ with him!

This past week-end was my 45th high school reunion in my hometown. Since my parents are both deceased and I have no relatives living there anymore, I don't go "home" very often.

Our class of 1966 has always been a fairly close-knit class. We have had reunions every five years or so since we've graduated.

I must admit that reunions are much more relaxed and enjoyable the older you get! No worries over what job you have ( or had). You know who you "are" by this point. (Didn't turn out to be a brain surgeon but were successful nonetheless!)

Many classmates (including "moi") have been married 40 + years, others have lost their mates and others are still looking! (I guess you never get too old to look!)

We had a great time visiting, catching up on the lives of those who occupied so much of our time as youth. Stories were told, times of joy and sorrow were shared and teachers/classes were discussed.

We were all in agreement that we lived in a wonderful era.

We even discussed our favorite stores that make up our small town's square built around the county courthouse: the drugstore where we read "funny books" and ate a double-dip chocolate ice cream cone for 10 cents; the elementary school we went to with the huge windows, no air-conditioning and old wooden floors. We even remembered the older lady janitor who cleaned those floors with an oil mop!

We remembered the class members we have lost in recent years and we prayed for God's blessings on those who remain with many trials in their present lives.

We sang a roaring rendition of our class fight song and our school's alma mater. ("To You, De Queen High School, We're always proud to stand....") We ended with singing "Amazing Grace".

I was so very proud of our class....a bunch of 60+ year-olds bonded together through growing up in a small town in Arkansas in the 50's and 60's and having such a love and appreciation for each other.

So, Mr. Wolfe, you CAN go home again....just don't expect everything to be the same and you'll be just fine!

Here are some pictures of my wonderful classmates......didn't get them all so I apologize if I missed anyone. I was busy talking MOST of the time!

Ken and Glenda

Leo and Beverly

Vickie, Cathey (my BFF and college roomie for a couple of years), Tacy, who I hadn't seen in 45 years and yours truly!

The Chandlers

Eddie Lou (we went to kindergarten together) and Vicky, our FABULOUS pianist

Curtis Wayne ( we also went to kindergarten together)

The Pikes

Walter and Cheryl (not married to each other)

Randy and Laverne (not married to each other)

Don (married to Laverne above) and Curtis Wayne

Lloyd and his cousin Dana

Charles and Sandy

DeLois

Ron with Leo

Cathey with her two sisters, Karen and Jan, met us for lunch.

Judy "Oots" and Nancy

Cheryl, Kathy, Janet and Sandra

Kay and Jay (not married to each other)

LOTS of hugging went on!!

Me, Tacy, Cathey and Vicky

Vicky playing our anthem by heart after 45 years! Awesome!

The Class of '66

We did have an interesting "visitor" to our dinner Saturday night. She was very blonde and sang and played with Danny's hair (or lack thereof)!! We laughed so hard and I am still in shock....if you knew her you would be shocked too!!

I wanted to show you the plaque I bought in a new shop in my hometown. The owner took the old bank on the corner of the square, remodeled it and made the most beautiful shop! It just opened so if you live there, you need to go see it and buy something from her!

I wanted to show those who didn't get a chance to drive-by the new elementary school in our hometown.

The elementary school we attended was a relic, I think,when we were there and was torn down years and years ago. This is a beautiful new school for the kids! Hope in the future they will have as good memories of school as we all did!

Fall Follies

2011-10-11T14:31:00.000-07:00

I guess my favorite blogs that I read are the ones that decorate and do make-overs on old furniture or show how to design a room. I am amazed at the talent out there in bloggy land!

I would love to be so talented. I love design, colors, decorating but don't have the time/money to devote to such things at this time of my life.

I do love to decorate my home and my church for the changing seasons.

I put out a few seasonal things a couple of days ago and thought I might share them.

If I have any "spare" time these days, I like to devote some of it to these girls:

If you read Kelly's post this morning, you know all about her trip to South America coming up soon.

Let me tell you we are so proud of Kelly but are so thankful for Compassion International.

We have a little boy we adopted in Nicaragua several years ago and it's one of the best things we've ever done! I urge you to look into the Compassion program and read all their information. It is a win-win situation: You help support a child who has next-to-nothing. But it not only helps the child but the family provide a future for that child and the added bonus is you get to have a relationship through letters, pictures with"your" child! We plan on supporting ours until he is grown if God allows.

Here's a picture of Kelly modeling her "special bug-proof" hat that she bought to float down the Amazon! By the way, we are having the honor of keeping Hollis while she is gone and Scott's parents are keeping Harper! Won't we have a wonderful adventure too??

It's a Dog's World (at our house)

2011-10-07T11:46:00.000-07:00

Today on Kelly's Korner SUYL she is asking to show our pets.

Well, our family has a long line of being DOG LOVERS! NO CATS....no apologies for that!

Thought I'd go back through memory lane and show you our first family pets (much to the chagrin of my kids, I'm sure)!

This is Buster, our first cocker spaniel. We got him when Chris was in kindergarten and Kelly was in 2nd grade. He lived until Chris was a Senior in high school and Kelly was in college. He was our long-time beloved pet! It nearly killed us to have him put down but he had cancer. We have TONS of pictures of him over the years.

Our next dog was a West Highland terrier named Scooter. He was a precious dog! We loved him so much! His downfall was liking to chase trucks. I'll let you figure out what happen to him (tear, sniff, sniff)

After Scooter we got a little Jack Russell terrier named Eddie.

Hubs loved this dog. He was very wild and wouldn't stay home. His favorite thing was go chase cows in our neighbor's pasture. It lead to his early death. We won't talk about that...it was not good.

But, then came the BOYS! They were Westies and brothers. It's a long story but we got Kramer first from a young couple in Little Rock and 6 months later they called and ask we knew anyone here who would like to have Kramer's brother. We said of course we would(he's family after all) so we went and picked him up.

They called him "Stogie" but we thought he looked like a "Buddy" and that's what we called him!

We have a jillion pictures of the Boys and they lived a wonderful life for many years.

About two years ago, Kramer was the first to go after many illnesses and then last year, Buddy died of heart failure.

We still miss them!

But.......

This little cocker spaniel, Skipper, had come into our lives while the Boys were still alive.

A good friend found him out on their road just about dead. She ask around and searched high and low for the owners and no one would take him. So we did.

He had about 500 ticks on him and I hand-picked them off of him(yes, I am good for something) before we took him to the vet for a check-up and shots. He was so thin but now he is a beautiful dog, over ten years old and we love him dearly!!

And we adopted Bobber the Lab over a year ago. He is my constant companion and a dearly loved pet too! He is 10 years old. He has thyroid problems and has to have medicine twice a day.

Harper loves Bobber and wants to see him everytime we "face time" on the phone!

She does ask to see Papa first, Skipper next and then Bobber!

I couldn't complete the story of our great love for dogs in our family without mentioning the GRANDdogs!

We have two so far!

Scott gave Dawson to Kelly before they were married! And he's still going strong today!

and

the newest grand-dog is Chris and Carrie's

COCO!!!

We love Coco! She is so sweet!

I guess you can see we love dogs and keep adding them to our family!

As much as I love the grand-dogs I would love to add a few more GRANDBABIES!!

(Just food for thought C & C! har)

What about your pets? Are you dog people or cat people??

Flagpole, Basketball and all things in between.....

2011-10-03T19:30:00.000-07:00

This past week was a busy week here in our little neck of the woods.

We started off with our annual Campus Prayer Walk around the school on Tuesday night. Hubs and I got to walk together this year and I enjoyed it very much! We walk all around our elementary, middle and high school praying for the students, their teachers and their families.

Hubs and I stopped at the door of each of the elementary teachers who we know or go to our church and prayed for them to have a wonderful year with their students and for their families' welfare. It's always hard if a teacher's children/family get sick and the teacher has to be out. I speak from experience: it is hard to have a substitute.

Wednesday morning we had our annual See You at the Pole. I can't even remember how many years I have been participating in this every year but probably since it's beginning at a national level. We had one of the best turn-outs for that and we fed the kids before they left for class since most show up before 7 a.m.

From Wednesday to Saturday the Crossfire basketball team came to our community to speak in all the schools. They had a Saturday morning basketball skills camp and then Saturday night they played a team of alumni from the area schools.

They presented the Gospel and over 100 were saved and over 100 other decisions were made also!

We had met two of the members of the team when we went to Romania. They travel all over the world and present the Gospel. They have many members on their team but only so many travel at a time.

This is their leader and his name is Randy Shepherd. He also preached at our church Sunday morning!

This young man on the keyboard was named Jazz. He had such an outstanding story he told just before he played and sang. By the way, he sounded like an angel singing....so beautiful!

His mother was pregnant and getting ready for an abortion. For some reason, she decided against it and gave birth to Jazz and his twin sister. But she couldn't afford to take care of them and they both went into foster homes. He said he went to a Christian home where he was introduced to Jesus and it changed his life. He taught himself to play the piano! He was so sweet and I loved getting to visit with him!

This is Tim Lewis. He was a great young man with a great love for the Lord!

Here's a couple of cuties that I love that were at the game Saturday night!

This week started with very cool weather. It was in the low 40's this morning. I have already started putting on 2 layers of clothing! Oh, how I dread cold weather! The Boys and I took a walk this afternoon and I had to pause and stand in the sun and warm up! It felt so good!

So I put up my fall wreath on the door and now it is officially fall at my house!

You know we live where the "deer and the antelope play" all year round. But lately the deer are playing closer and closer to the house!

I guess they feel at home!

Hubs flew to Dallas today to see his mother who has been in the hospital all week. Please remember her in your prayers if you will. She has been very sick but tonight she was doing better!

We are hoping she will get to go home soon!

Rainy Day Fun

2011-09-18T12:22:00.000-07:00

Saturday we went to Fayetteville to the Razorback game. It rained heavily and thundered all morning and then cleared off before the 6:30 p.m. kick-off!

However, the wind blew so hard and was so cold (especially for a September game) that we left at half-time. This also meant we got home around 11p.m. instead of 1:30 a.m. It was a long game last night!

Hubs dropped me off to see my babies and I felt bad that he only got to wave at them as they looked out the window. He has had a light case of shingles ( I know several people who have them right now...what is the deal with so many?) and he didn't want to expose our baby girls to the chicken pox.

So I went alone. I just HAD to see those sweet girls!

Harper wanted to show me her new Princess potty and what a potty it is! I just have to laugh because it plays a tune when you "tinkle" in it! And all the adults go "YEA"!!

She is so proud of herself because she cleans up after herself and empties the potty and then washes her hands....just like a BIG girl!!

We played "name the color" cards and just had so much fun together!

And , of course, I got in some loving on this sweet girl!

This is the sweet little Hog hat the lady in our church made for Hollis.

Harper wouldn't keep her on long enough for me to make her picture. She was too "BUSY"drawing pictures! She loves to draw!

Then Daddy came out of his office and Harper acted like he was a ride at Six Flags and laughed and laughed as he swung her back and forth and over his shoulder!

Scott did that so many times I think we had to call "time out for Daddy"!! You know how kids laugh and never want to stop!!

Hollis is still pretty much a mama's girl but she is so sweet and lovable!

So it may have been a rainy day but a princess who has a special singing potty always has her sunglasses on in case the papparazzi (that would be Nonny) gets too close!

We had a great time together.

To change the subject, I did happen by Tar-jay yesterday and got the neatest pumpkin made by Smith and Hawken made of basket weaving wood. I loved the size(It is bigger than this picture shows) and the color. I hope to put it in another basket and make a "natural" fall arrangement.

And my sweet daughter got me a surprise! She got me my own personal date book and planner!

I think alot of the younger girls have been getting these and she thought I needed one too!

I have been keeping a planner/journal nearly all my life. I jot down many unimportant trivial things in my life (need hair cut, doctor appts., etc.) to very important days in our family (son gets married, grandbabies on the way, etc). But I've never had one this fancy with MY NAME ON IT!! WOO

So thank you, Kelly, very much. Some day, when you go through all my journals, you will see what you and Chris were doing in 1983 and can laugh about how crazy your mother was to write down so many things! Sort of like Caroline Kennedy did with her Mother recently.

On a lower scale perhaps....

But I don't say rude things about people!

Fun Day

2011-09-16T12:45:00.000-07:00

Remember the tree Hubs cut down several weeks ago? I wrote about it several blogs ago?

Well, Hubs took a day off today for a "Fun Day"! And since winter will be coming soon and we need the firewood to help keep the dogs warm all winter..........this is what he does for fun on his day off!

The Boys are thanking their Dad for getting them ready for winter!

The leaves are already beginning to turn!

Are you ready for fall?

BFF's Birthday

2011-09-14T06:38:00.000-07:00

This is what he looked like when we first met in 1969 except he had a little more hair......well, really, a lot more hair!! (Think a young Justin Bieber's hair...only thicker) He was 20 years old. I loved him from the start! He was smart, funny, very shy and very mature for his age!

This was our third year of marriage around 1974. We were 25 years old.

This was made in 1976. Kelly was 2 1/2 and Chris was about 3 months old. Steve was 27 years old.

OK, I skipped MANY years ahead....... This was years ago in Dallas but obviously all have "grown up"!

Here's Steve now and he is known as "Papa" these days! Less hair, but still smart, funny, still shy and I love him more with each year that goes by! Today is his 63rd birthday ( he finally caught up to me!!) and he is the best husband, father and Papa I could have ever dreamed of! He loves the Lord with all his heart and he loves me and his family. We are all blessed!

Happy Birthday Steve!!

Out of the Slump

2011-09-12T19:49:00.000-07:00

I have been in a bloggy slump lately. I have thought about it and even thought about things to share but then just sit down in front of the computer and my "want to" would go to "not today". Ever been there?

I have really been enjoying the cooler weather. It has been as low as in the 40-50's when I get up in the morning and the afternoons are warmer, but beautiful!

I am one of those weird people who really love the warm weather. When everyone is hot, I am just feeling pretty good. I get so cold in my house (and we keep the temp. around 77-78) that somedays I go out and sit in my car in the sun just to get warm! Yes, my thyroid is fine. It has been checked. Although our lab is on thyroid pills twice a day!!!

So even though I am loving the cool mornings, I wish really cold weather would just stay away for several more months.....like till March of next year!!

These guys (and girls) have enjoyed spending the summer in our yard. They are so use to us that they do not even move when we come out of the house and get in our car and drive off. They just stand and stare. Even the dogs just walk right by them and never make a move toward them. They lay down and sleep under the trees in the afternoons and look so peaceful! As soon as deer season starts they will probably leave. We live in a restrictive area....no hunting allowed....but I think the deer know they should make themselves scarce!

While Hubs was gone for two weeks to India this past month, I made a little trip to see an old friend who use to live in our town for years. She lives near her daughter now and helps to keep an eye on her precious little 3 year old grandson! We went to lunch at a neat little eating place in her downtown and then we went to visit an art exhibit in an old Victorian house. While there, a lady from the local paper made our picture as we looked at the art work.

So Ramona called me and said we made the local newspaper the next day! I was thinking they must have had a slow news day in town!! We had a wonderful visit!

Saturday I spent the day at the Beth Moore simulcast from Lubbock, Texas. It was wonderful, as usual, and I always come away from her conferences knowing how much the Lord loves me and how much I love Him! It is just becoming more evident with each passing day that the Lord loves us so much.
As Hubby always says, "The Lord is ALWAYS at work.....we just need to get in on what He is doing."

Of course, Sunday was a very special day. Our worship team and our pastor planned a very moving service honoring our public servants who keep us safe everyday and 9/11 Remembrance.

Hubs preached a great sermon on what the flag has meant to our country since it's conception. But he reminded us there is a greater banner that we live under and that is the Lord Jesus Christ.

The music was wonderful and ended with "Shout to the Lord" as the banners were leaving the sanctuary!

We are so blessed with a wonderful worship team! They are the best!

I wanted to show you something so sweet and adorable that a lady in our church gave us yesterday that she had made for our two babies, Harper and Hollis!

Are these darling? I can't wait to see my sweeties in these! I may be "forced" to make a trip over to take them to the girls and get their picture in them! Thank you, June, for the precious caps!

I also have a"dealer' in our church. I am quite "addicted" to okra and she keeps adding to my happiness by bringing me this:

This was supper tonight! I used a crockpot recipe that I got on Kelly's Crockpotpoloza blog! It was very simple if you want to try it!

4 chicken breasts
1 block of cream cheese
1/2 stick butter
one pkg. Italian dressing seasoning mix

Put all ingredients in a crockpot and cook for 4-5 hours on low.
Serve over rice.

Can't get much easier than that, can you? It was a little rich but very tasty!

So there, I'm out of my bloggy slump! See you next month!! har har

Steven Curtis Chapman - Do Everything (Lyrics)

2011-09-09T11:48:00.000-07:00

First Visit and Class Reunion

2011-08-15T14:31:00.000-07:00

A little over two years ago, this sign was hung out on our fence welcoming the first visit to our home of our first granddaughter! We were just so excited to have her come to see her Nonny and Papa!

This week-end we had another "first" at our home. Our second sweet granddaughter came for a visit!

She deserved the welcome mat (sign) out too!

Our daughter, Kelly, had her 20th class reunion this week-end. I think they had a great time of reminiscing ( and laughing, I'm sure) about going to school in a small town in the late 80's and early 90's!

We moved to our town when Kelly was going into the seventh grade. Since we wanted her to "fit in" and everyone in town was crazy about basketball, we talked her into trying out for the basketball team.

Big mistake! She wasn't exactly a basketball player!

However, she made a great cheerleader!!

Today is the first day of school. Early this morning when I went outside to see Hubs off to work, it was was a cool crisp 63 degrees and I felt a touch of fall in the air!

Made me almost miss teaching school myself. But not for long!!

In honor of the first day of school, here's Kelly on her first day of school in the first grade when we lived in New Orleans! Forgive me, Kelly, for those white shoes but I think this was BEFORE Labor Day so the fashion police weren't after me!! ( and you might want to forgive me for that bowl haircut...but you were cute anyway!!)

The rest of my post is just random pictures of this week-end with my sweeties! This is like putting pictures in a scrapbook so I will look back and remember when my sweet Hollis made her first visit to her grandparent's house; starting a lifetime habit of visiting the two people who love her as much as they love her Mama!

Skipper just wanted to sit on Hollis's blanket and lay beside her!

Harper went out to the see the deer who live in our yard!

Thanks, girls, for making another wonderful memory for us!

We love you very much!

Living with Paul Bunyan and Gratitude

2011-08-09T19:10:00.000-07:00

I was hoping none of our very few-and-far-between neighbors would come flying down our little road this evening because this might have stopped them dead-in-their-tracks!

It seems I am married to Paul Bunyan and he decided tonight was the night to cut down a huge tree that has been looking like death for a couple of years.

It had a few very dangerous-looking limbs overhanging our little road and the other morning one finally fell and it was so huge it could have done some real damage if someone had been under it!

So time to haul out all his "toys"! Men just love this, don't they? At least mine does!

You can see his "help" came immediately!

This was a very tall tree and the top was dead.

Here's Paul, er Hubs, cranking up one of the two chain saws it took to get this tree down!

I think the wood is just beautiful and I love to wonder about how old this tree was!

A good tree-cutter always has to take out time to work on his saw....sharpen the blades, refuel, etc.

This just adds to the lengthening time I am worried someone will come down the road!!

FINALLY...............TIMBER!!!!!!

Now the real work begins.....cutting up some of that tree for firewood!

You are my hero, Paul (albeit being soaking wet from head to toe!)

I wanted to thank all 277 of you who came by and left me a comment on my fourth "blogiversary" post this past Thursday!

I was so overwhelmed!!

I thought I was Kelly Stamps for a minute!!

Seriously, when I ask if any of you readers of my blog might leave me a comment and tell me where you are from I was somewhat hesitant to ask because I thought I would get my usual 5 to 6 comments.

But OH.MY.WORD! How I loved hearing all your sweet remarks and I just want you to know that I know 99% of you come over to see how crazy Kelly's Mama must be, but I love you all and I thank you so much! You made my week!

My heart is full of gratitude. I am nothing but my Lord is everything!

By the way, I started out thinking I would write EACH and EVERY one of you who sent me a comment, but I see now how overwhelming that was! Many do not have blogs nor an email and I just don't have the time to write 277 notes! (I do have to take care of Paul remember)!! har

So consider your neck hugged and many blessings coming from my heart to yours!!

Happy Blogiversary!!

2011-08-04T08:08:00.000-07:00

Four years ago today I wrote my my first post for my new blog. I didn't know what I was doing then and I have to say, nothing has changed! Kelly helped me get started while I was at her house and then I came home and did my second post all by myself! Boy, I was so afraid to push that "publish post" button!!

Four years ago today Hubs was getting ready to leave on a trip to India to teach native pastors and here he is, years later, getting ready to go to India again for his fifth trip.

I started writing a blog because I thought it would be a good way to communicate with him and our kids.
I have come to realize as I look back over the past four years, that blogging is like "scrapbooking" your life. I have gone back and read some of my old post and would have absolutely forgotten some of the events had I not blogged about it.

The most rewarding thing about blogging is meeting and getting to know many of you who come and read my blog and comment. I have got the greatest pleasure in meeting some of you "in real life" and a few have become wonderful friends! Isn't the world of blogging a crazy thing? I'm just happy I am old enough to understand the "real" from the "unreal" and young enough to even be able to put a blog together! I'm not exactly a techie!! Just ask Hubs! He's my tech support!

Of course, now I think: What did I blog about before my two precious granddaughters came along?

Which brings me to my blog today. My sister, Linda, who is a middle school teacher, is starting back to school this next week and she had not got a chance all summer to meet her new niece, Hollis.

So we decided we would take a girl's trip over to see the kids. We spent the night and did a little shopping and drove over to the University of Arkansas campus to look around. Linda hadn't seen it in a while. We drove around, talked of the years we spent there in the 60's, how naive we were and how much the campus has changed! We were going to walk around the campus but the 111 degree weather made us change our minds. We did go down on the downtown square and tried to remember where the old stores we use to haunt were. Remember Campbell-Bell's??

We had a fun two days! I just happen to have a few pictures of our fun with Harper and Hollis!!

I had to add these pictures of Harper watching a praise video, singing and doing the motions to the songs. It was so sweet it brought tears to my eyes!

My prayer is that Harper will always want to praise God for all He has done!

Thanks, Kelly and Scott, for letting us come to visit and get some baby sugar!

To celebrate my bloggy anniversary, would you who come by and read please leave me a comment and let me know where you are from? I am so surprised when I look at my site meter and see people from all over the world who stop by and read my little blog! It humbles me to think you would take your time to read a blog from an older woman from a little town in Arkansas!

I appreciate each of you and pray God's blessings on your life!

Christmas at the end of July

2011-07-31T19:36:00.000-07:00

Just had to share this little surprise that Teresa, my bloggy friend from Shreveport sent me this week-end!

I got this package and it looked like a Christmas package! I thought it has been so hot I'm delirious!!

I've missed Christmas! har

Cute package filled with beautiful cards for all occasions! I am in "card heaven"!!

She also added this beautiful little tin bookmark! Love it!!

So, I don't know what I did to be so blessed by you Teresa, but thank you so very much!

I am overwhelmed by your sweetness and generosity!

Siloam, Siloam.......

2011-07-30T12:38:00.000-07:00

Thursday we headed over to NW Arkansas to spend the evening with the kids from our church who were at camp and to help drive them home on Friday!

We first made a short stop (and this will surprise many of you, I'm sure) by to see the grandbabies since they live in the neighboring town.

Harper was at her MDO and we got to spend a little quality time with Miss Hollis, much to our delight!

We got to go with Kelly to pick up Harper and she was quite surprised to see us! It was so sweet because she took us by the hand to show her teachers that her Nonny and Papa were here!

When we got home, she went right to her "kitchen" and begin to play-like she was making us some

cookies!

She put her "special ears" in for us and she wore them for the hour we were there! We were very pleased her time keeps increasing!

You can see her little "special ears". The two faint lines down her cheek are from her Nonny's lipstick!!

Kelly said she had been carrying around her little pink Bible (she has several different kinds) and "reading" it. She did this while we were there.......so sweet!

We had a short but sweet visit!!

Here's our group of girls having fun at "children-only" camp this week!

They had a Viking theme this year!

Mike Seabaugh has been the children's camp pastor for many years. He is absolutely the best!

Many children heard the good news of Jesus this week for the first time!

Love his preaching, his highly-choreographic Bible story skits and his "Bicycle" story!!

One of the highlights for me Thursday night was to get to see my friend, Julie Beavers!

She is beautiful young pastor's wife and bloggy and Twitter friend. We also both blog for the Arkansas

Pastor's Wives for our convention.

She and her children were there with their church! I know she is a busy young mother, plus multiple jobs as a pastor's wife! I didn't envy her when I thought of the mountains of laundry she was taking home from camp!! (Brings back many memories)

It was so good to see you Julie!!

When we got home Friday afternoon, we went to have prayer with a lady in our church who is leaving today to go to MD Anderson in Houston to see if they can help her.

Later in the evening we went to visit another lady in our church who just lost her husband on Thursday.

By the time I got home last night, my ankles were swollen and I was so tired that I remember why going to camp was much easier when I was a few years younger!!!

Reminds me of Psalm 73:26 : "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the STRENGTH of my heart and my portion forever."

Updates and Joyous Week-end

2011-07-25T13:48:00.000-07:00

I am learning about house ownership and even though you feel you are still in"sort of a new" (going on 7 yrs) house, there is a need for constant updating!

We finally got our deck painted (for the third time). I think it needs it about every other year even when you use good paint. The sun/rain/snow/ice don't help things much!

So here are some before pictures and an after shot of the deck! And of course, my sweet Hubby, who does 99.9% of all the work! I bring out the cold water for him to drink!

The black marks are from us spraying our old patio tables before we painted the deck!

Somebody might have gotten his feelings hurt when he wasn't allowed on the wet deck for a day!

My back kitchen door was badly scratched/dirty from two dogs who constantly want in and out!

So off with the door, painted and looks like brand new!

Now I need to teach the dogs how to knock!!

So here's a partial picture of our finished deck with newly painted tables and chairs.

I needed 12 new cushions for my patio chairs. The old ones are in good condition but just faded.

As I begin to price new cushions, I was seeing most were at least $25 and up and I needed 12!!!

So I found beach towels that would match my umbrellas and just wrapped them up like a gift around the cushions and pinned them underneath. Now if they get dirty, I just take them off and throw them in the washer and they are as good as new........with much less cost!

Bobber got his doggie box painted to match the deck, a new quilt and a new doormat for his front entry!!

I had gotten some new pictures to add to our bonus/TV room over the garage and we finally got those hung too! Just all kinds of projects getting done this past two weeks!!

When I was cleaning out the garage a few weeks ago, I found our house plans we had ordered probably 15 years ago. I was looking for a picture to hang in the bonus room so I decided to have our house plan picture framed. I thought it would be uniquely ours!

And then I found this which sums up exactly how we feel about living in the "country"!!

I also added a new picture near our little round table. You can't tell by this picture but the picture is of an old bridge and trees.

I also changed the decorations on our TV console Hubby made a couple of years ago.

I think I took off all the Razorback decor and added "girlie decor" as he likes to say!!

Yesterday at church we had such a wonderful, glorious service. Our worship leader and our worship team are the BEST! We started off with an upbeat version of "Revive Us Again" and went right into

"Heaven Came Down" and people even stood and clapped by the time we got to "Days of Elijah"!!

We had a powerful sermon from the book of James and then at last night's service, a young man came forward and gave his life to Christ! Can't get any better than that !!

After church yesterday morning, one of my favorite young adults, Jamie, was here visiting her parents.

She ask me to go to her car with her because she had something for me!

My friend, Richella at impartinggrace.com will love this! We share a love for the plate/napkin sets!

This store called Inviting Company in Little Rock has a yearly warehouse sale and because Jamie knows I adore any kind of stationary, paper napkins, etc. , she bought me a sack full! How sweet and thoughtful was that??? Of course, if you knew Jamie, you know this is no surprise!!

Thanks, Jamie, you KNOW I love it!!

So it was a glorious week-end and even thought it was very hot .......we had a cool time!!

invitingco.com

Three's a Charm

2011-07-19T05:06:00.000-07:00

They met.

They fell in love!

They married!

Today is their THIRD anniversary!

We love you Chris and Carrie!

Happy Anniversary!

Great Expectations

2011-07-15T18:01:00.000-07:00

The trip to Children's Hospital yesterday was filled with great expectations. I am just so thankful that Harper was diagnosed as early as possible and there are people out there trained to equip parents with information needed to help their children with hearing loss.

I have always had the attitude of while I really hated this for Harper and for her parents, God is always in control of the situation and we are nothing but thankful for what He has provided already!

This is just a minor thing compared to the suffering so many parents go through with sick children. And we realize that....especially after seeing all the children at the hospital.

I didn't make any pictures because I had charge of Hollis and this room was so small you could barely move around. I stole these from Papa's camera!

I just want to say that "Mrs. Jan" our audiologist was the best!! What a sweet, kind, and patient lady she was! She worked with Harper for nearly three hours and we just love and appreciate her explaining everything and working so lovingly with Harper! Harper loves her!

So now the world has changed for all our family and we will all adapt to whatever that change brings. Hopefully, Harper will warm up to the idea of wearing her "special ears " but you know it will take some time for a 2 1/2 yr. old!

Please pray for Kelly and Scott! They need patience and strength!

I also wanted to ask you to pray for a little boy named Austin who was in Children's Hospital yesterday having heart surgery. His grandfather and I met last year when I went on a mission trip to New Mexico and I found out through him that his wife read mine and Kelly's blogs!

They live in Louisiana and I got to meet her yesterday while her grandson was having his surgery.

So, Teresa, Jack, Greg and Dana, we hope Austin is doing well. We are praying for his quick recovery!

This was the sweet one that I got to keep most of the time while her Sissy and Momma were with the audiologist! She got so mad at one point 'cause it had been a long time since breakfast and Nonny couldn't do a thing about that so we had to take a little "snack break" and get Mom to feed her!

We were so completely worn out by the time we left the hospital yesterday but so thankful we were able to be there to help in some small way.

Kelly, Hubs and I all teared up when Harper got her aids in and she and Mrs. Jan sang "Jesus Loves Me, This I Know" together. It was too sweet!

Fourth Week-End in Texas

2011-07-05T17:55:00.000-07:00

Kelly's Korner always gets the jump on me when we participate in the same activities. She is quick with downloading pictures and writing a blog. It takes me a few days........

Plus, she took my camera card and got a bunch of my pictures so I am showing you some that were left over from our trip to Texas.

You should go to her blog and read the whole adventure to Big D and then come back and I'll add a little more of my perspective!

We did have an awesome week-end! Quick but fun! Trying to see son, DIL, the in-laws, the out-laws and everyone else in the family in two short days! And then wrestle two sweet babies in the meantime!!

I forgot how much STUFF you have to travel with when you have babies! They change clothes a lot!

This little girl was delightful the whole trip (I don't care what her Mom/Dad say)! We had so much fun with her! There is never a dull moment and she is a sweet, loving child! She had quite a good time with her Nonny and Papa. She would come over to our room every morning and we would take her down to breakfast while the rest of the family got ready. She is easy to take care of but wants to do everything herself: Push all the elevator buttons, climb up on any stool, fix her own oatmeal, etc. Her motto is "Let Harper do it" and we did!! (pretty much)

Of course, baby sister, "Sissy" as Harper calls her was just delightful too! She really is at a good age for travel. She just minds her own business, looks around and smiles when spoken to and only fusses when she is sleepy or hungry! I know grown people like that, do you?

This was the first time Hubs' Mom has seen Hollis and we were so excited to get some pictures of her with the two great-grandchildren!

We spent the first day at our son and DIL's house. I love their backyard...so cute but too hot to eat out that day!

Our DIL's parents were there to visit also and it was so good to see and visit with them!

Here's Miss Coco, our granddog!! She pretty much rules the house!!!

Harper not only found Chris's guitar but a giraffe that she wanted to play with!

Two pretty girls!

Carrie's sweet mom, Chris!

The middle of the afternoon, we loaded the kids up and decided to try the new double stroller out at the local mall. I told Kelly that I use to take her in her stroller to NorthPark when she was a baby. Neiman-Marcus was one of the main stores there. I sure couldn't afford anything there 35 years ago and now I don't care to pay too much for anything there just to say it came from Neimans! Some people do....but not me!

NorthPark is always full of interesting things to look at! Harper had so much fun watching the ducks and turtles in this little river!

I have always loved the many interesting floral designs NorthPark has. They had tons of cactus. Not my personal favorite but these were pretty different!

Some beautiful orchids!

Many people love this store.

But this is my favorite: nothing but cards, paper and stationary! I could spend hours in this shop!

Or maybe a few minutes in this shop..........

Hubs says there are more geeks per square foot in this store than anywhere! That includes us because we all have MACS!

Lots of things to look at! But there were so many people in this mall it gave me the heebie-jeebies!

More people than in our two counties at home. Do I sound like a hick? Good!

Sunday we went out and spend the day with Great-Grandma Shirley and family.

Aunt Kathy was so nice she got Harper several kinds of bubbles to blow. And it is windy in Texas!

Aunt Kathy trying to show Harper how to let the wind blow the bubbles!

Aunt Molly came out for supper and a little visit with the girls and us!

I think she enjoyed Hollis!

These are precious times!

So I guess you could say we had a flying trip to Texas and a great visit with everyone.

We certainly enjoyed our time with everyone!

I love my precious family and am so thankful for each one of them!

What a great way to spend a holiday!

How did you spend your Fourth?

Poppy Seed Dressing Circa 1957

2011-06-29T19:10:00.000-07:00

Yesterday on Kelly's Korner she mentioned that she likes fruit with poppy seed dressing. Several comments mentioned Helen Corbett's poppy seed dressing as one of the best ever.

So I just happen to have the Helen Corbett cookbook with the recipe and thought I would post it for all who would like the original recipe circa 1957.

To those who don't know who Helen Corbett is : She was the former director of the Neiman -Marcus Restaurants. She wrote this cookbook based on her experience when she worked at the Neimans in Dallas.

She was sort of like the "Martha Stewart" of the 50's!

Here is the recipe: Make it and enjoy...much better than the bottle stuff in your grocery store!

POPPY-SEED DRESSING ( 3 1/2 cups)

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 teaspoons dry mustard

2 teaspoons salt

2/3 cup vinegar

3 Tablespoon Onion Juice

2 cups salad oil (never use olive oil) (I use Wesson)

3 tablespoons poppy seeds

Mix sugar, mustard, salt and vinegar. Add onion juice and stir in throughly. Add oil slowly, beating constantly, can continue to beat until thick. Add poppy seeds and beat for a few minutes. Store in a cool place or the refrigerator, but not near the freezing coil.

To quote Helen: "It is better and easier to make with an electric mixer or blender, using medium speed, but if your endurance is good you may make it by hand with a rotary beater. The onion juice is obtained by grating a large white onion on the find side of a grater, or putting in an electric blender, then straining. (Prepare to weep in either case)

If the dressing separates, pour off the clear part and start all over, adding the poppy seed mixture slowly, but it will not separate unless it becomes too cold or too hot.

It is delicious on fruit salads of any kind!"

Maybe this would be good with your Fourth of July picnic fruit.

I had quite a day today. Our lab, Bobber, had to go to the vet for some thyroid/skin problems and $206 dollars later, I think he is going to be much better!

I also went to the church to do our annual flower arranging for the Fourth week-end. I forgot to get a picture of the arrangement we did for the front of the church but here is the one on the foyer table.

And this is the little verse I framed under the flowers:

Have a wonderful holiday this week-end, be thankful for living in a free country and may God bless America and may we be a blessing to God!

SUYL - SINGLES

2011-06-23T19:46:00.000-07:00

If you are a reader of Kelly's Korner you know she is having her Show Us Your Life this Friday and it's all about singles!

It is amazing how many precious young people are out there, busy in their lives but also wanting to find a mate to share their lives with. Kelly's blog about singles has brought several together and we pray God will bless her intent of helping people find a wonderful mate to spend their lives with!

With that in mind, I wanted to share a beautiful young woman who I have had the pleasure of watching grow up from age three. She is from a wonderful family who I just about claim as my own. There's not a bad apple in the barrel in this family!

Her name is Staci and she works in financial management and has been recently elected to serve her city on the city council.

She is an outdoor girl....loves the river, lake, loves to fish.....anything outdoors!

She loves to travel!

She has traveled several times to Nicaragua with our mission teams and just loves being with people and working with children.

She is very active with her career . This picture shows her doing the "polar plunge" with co-workers for a charity this past winter! Brrrrrrrr.....she has more nerve than me!!!

Stacie loves sports.......mainly the Razorbacks but I know she also loves NASCAR racing!

Stacie is a beautiful Southern girl. But don't let her beautiful exterior make you think that's all there is.

She also has a huge heart inside that makes for a great friend to many people!

If you would like to contact her, here is her email:

stac313@ymail.com

You will just love her as we all do!

Monday in the Big Apple

2011-06-20T19:15:00.000-07:00

Another year of Vacation Bible School got off to a roaring start today! Our theme is Big Apple Adventure: Where Faith and Life Connect!

Our backdrop is Time Square in NYC!

The screen in the middle is where the video and words to the music are shown! I always love Lifeway's VBS music....so much fun!!

All the rooms are decorated so cute.....some like Central Park!

This room has a hot dog stand like you would find on the streets of NYC!

I love it when Dad even works in VBS! Talk about making memories with your kids!

Love it when Grandmothers bring cousins together from out-of-town to go to VBS!

Lots of people registering their children early this morning!

And the part I love the best................the beautiful little faces!!

Even the teachers/workers were spreading the love!!

The last thing of the day is to come to a worship rally!

Ms. Lisa got her "groove" going!

So the first day of VBS went very well. Guess I'll go back tomorrow to see if it gets any better!

My prayer is that I can still be strong enough to take this sweet little girl and her baby sister with me to VBS someday! That is my earnest prayer! It would be the delight of my heart!!

A Modern Family (Yesteryear)

2011-06-18T18:42:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is Father's Day. Normally I would probably make a post about my wonderful Daddy who was such a model father in the 50'-60's when I grew up. He worked hard, was a faithful husband and loved his two girls more than anything! I never doubted that for a minute my whole life!

I still miss him. The 9th anniversary of his death is coming up on July 4th. I can hardly believe he's been gone so long. We love and miss you Pap-pa!

But this year, I wanted to show my love and appreciation for my children's father! "Hubs" to me, "Dad" to my children and now, in the sweeter time of life, "Papa" to my grandchildren.

I think if you would ask my children, their Dad was a very involved father in their growing up years even though he worked long hours and had many responsibilities.

Just a few pictures(of course) to stroll down memory lane.........

I'm not sure who the skinny guy with all that dark hair is, but I let him hold my babies!!

Teaching Chris to fish.....Kelly looks like she is just going to have a "wait and see" attitude!

There's that guy again with the dark hair AND a dark moustache holding my kids again!

"Groovy" shorts kids!!

Now the dark hair is completely made a transformation to all-white!

They are in Texas visiting their grandparents!

One of our fun days.....visit to Graceland! That's Elvis's house in the background!

Hubs was always involved with what they were doing in college.Here's Kelly in "Tiger Tunes" at OBU!

And having supper at the "Salt Lick" with Chris at University of Texas in Austin.

At the airport to pick Chris up for Christmas vacation from school!

Showing the kids the land where Hubs would build our new house.

Of course, you would have to ask our children, but I think they would tell you their Dad has always been special, always involved in their lives and always praying that God would bless them!

.........And you know what? I believe with all my heart, he's going to make a Great Papa!

(He already is!)

Happy Father's Day Steve!

We all love you!

Home Again and Rising Waters

2011-05-28T19:14:00.000-07:00

Hubs got home safely late this afternoon! Thank you Lord for a wonderful trip without many problems in travel this time!

As soon as he got home we made a quick trip around our area for him to see the flooding waters.
When we got up to the dam site, there were cars from Texas, Wisconsin and all states in between viewing the sites!

This is the very nice visitor's center that sits perched on a hillside overlooking the dam.

After leaving there, we drove down to Gaston's Resort where many people from all over come to stay and fish. It is a beautiful place under normal circumstances.

Hubs has done a wedding in this gazebo.

There are still people here who are sand-bagging their property for fear of more flooding.

We are looking for some drier and warmer weather this week!

We will be most grateful!