Go light your world

Yesterday we turned on the tree and we have more lights out. I was so aggravated, psycho tree. We had to add strands when we put it up, we added another strand in last week after it was finished and now two more branches are out. Clay looked at it last night said "well you are just going to have to add more lights."

I had various random thoughts last week when this happened.

Our trees look beautiful and perfect when lit up. We can look beautiful on the outside, but we are all flawed and we all have hurts. Sometimes we can hide it, cover it up, look perfect and make it appear to the world we are ok, but still our inside hurts. But many times just like my middle lights, there are things we can't hide, flaws we can't cover up and some things are obvious for all to see.

This morning this song came to mind.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ePwMcrkgPs

I don't think I will fix the tree this time. The dark branches are going to be a reminder. There are so many people out there in darkness and we are to be their light. Look at your tree shining bright, that is what we are to be in this world.

 So my thought for the day is this ......GO Shine my friends!!!

Read the lyrics--- listen to the song.

 My tree is going to show it's imperfections this year and I am going to shine, hope you will too!

There is a candle in every soul.
Some brightly burning some dark and cold
There is a spirit, who brings a fire
Ignites a candle, and makes his own.


Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the hopeless, confused and torn,
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, go light your world.
Take your candle; go light your world

Frustrated brother, see how he’s tried to
Light his own candle, some other way
See now your sister, she’s been robbed and lied to
Still holds a candle without a flame.

Carry your candle, run through the darkness,
Seek out the lonely, the tired and worn
Hold out your candle, for all to see it
Take your candle and go light your world,
Take your candle go light your world.

We are a family, who hearts are blazing
So let’s raise our candles light up the sky
Praying to our Father, in the name of Jesus,
Make us a beacon in darkest time

Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the helpless, deceived and poor
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle and go light your world
Carry your candle, run to the darkness,
Seek out the hopeless, confused and torn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle go light your world
Take your candle go light your world

Hometown

I just got back from 6 nights in Gruver taking care of Sweetie. It was strange to be there without Clay or the kids. It was the first time in our 23 years of being together that I have been there alone. It made me think. Made me look at things a little differently and it made me love Clay even more. He loves home, loves his family, loves his hometown.

I had to get out the house a few afternoons. Ran to the DQ for Happy Hour, to the Gruver grocery store one day and then drove over to Spearman the next day. I started driving and thinking. We grew up pretty similar. Church, big family, good parents, small town...... Except his little town in somewhat isolated and the scenery is very different than North Texas. Wide open spaces and not many trees. Pretty in its own way and pretty to Clay.

Anyway.... I just thought.... We all need a place that is our own, a place we belong. A hometown. A place with roots and memories. I feel the same way about little Josephine. I love to go to my mom's, walk in the back door, grab a diet coke and go sit in the living room next to her chair. It is home, My home, my safe place, my people, my mama.

I saw Gruver that way more than ever this trip.  It is Clay's home, his safe place, his people, his mom and dad, his place. I sure hope we have created this for our kids. A place that is their very own, a safe place, a fun and happy place....and most of all a place where they know their mom and dad love them no matter what.

BTW Clay's thinks the Gruver Dairy Queen is the only place that can make a cherry vanilla cream dr pepper. (who puts cream in dp anyway)..... He love the seasons, the freezing cold, the snow, the smell of cow poop, playing games  and most of all  his mom's cooking.  Guess What?   I love him because all of that matters to him. His town.His people. His place.

Thoughts to ponder.... if you do not have a place....create one for your family. Make your house a home, a happy place...a good place... a place your kids will want to come to.

Trials... pits.... stresses

Started August 28,2011
Just now editing and here I go.....

Ok so I have not been very faithful to my blogging lately. This is our first night without Blair and I am hoping I am going to have a little more time on my hands.It has been a hectic summer so I am going to make a list of all the things that have caused me stress and I hope it makes me feel better.
Late May-- small car wreck in Suburban, not my fault, but still had to have body work.
June 10-- picked up fixed car went to get hair cut and had a flat. Wylie tire to rescue but they said new tires were needed. $600.00 later
June 15-- Suburban overheated on way home from Lubbock. One tow and $2,000 later--- good to go.
June 24-- picked up car in time for New Orleans trip, 1300 miles later back home. A good friend passed away while we were away.
Late June-- Letter from IRS.... Tax error owed IRS another $3,000
July/ August-- skunk smells in and out of house, day whatever of 100 heat..
August 1st-12--  5:00 am wake up call for Garrett, 982 pb and j sandwiches made, helped with one tailgate party, two parking lot feeds and one pool party
August 15 Blair had a wreck on I-30 she was fine but Lexus totaled
August 14 One A/C unit not working properly
August 19 one pool party
August 22 first week of school for Gar--- 7:00 am not so bad.
Thursday one of many Sam's runs.
Aug 26-- Scrambled up 5 lbs of hamburger for Blair to freeze, made one potatoes casserole and baked beans. Ran and opened up the church, loaded tv stand from storage at store, served at funeral, helped make Friday football food, served the food, 45 minutes at home, hot as all get out ballgame, home at 11:00 loaded Blair's car and finally went to bed at 1:00 am
Saturday 5:00 am wake up call. Stephenville bound by 5:40. Worked all day unpacking, got Blair settled and home at 11:30.
Sunday church, nap, left to run to Royse with Nene and Tammy and came home and found at thief had been here.
Seems like we are in a season of new experiences, one thing after the next. Trying not to complain because in so many cases things could have been alot worse. This afternoon someone decided to take an uninvited stroll thur our home and take my jewelry box, camera, gifts cards and one of Gar's money jars. Garrett was out in the pasture and we had just ran over to Royse to eat.

So here I am on November 21st and I am just now completing this....makes me stress just reading it!
Ended up with 10 weeks of Friday football feeds, 10 lost football games, two touchdowns, one parent's weekend, new Sunday school class with several boys, dove hunting breakfast, babysitting kids and overall lots of fun. Thankful the season of stresses seemed to pass us up this fall...... I forgot one hurt rib and one sprained ankle........

Reflection day

Today has been a sad day---Brant and Dea's last Sunday at our church was today. I know preachers come and go.....but 13 years is a long time and  I have become emotional as I have reflected. They came when Blair was just getting ready to start kindergarten. I had just started teaching a GA group and they came to my first party. It was supposed to be swim party at my moms but as is happens in Sept it go cold and rained. Party ended up inside, they showed up so young and cute. I was a new teacher and they were the new preacher family. That Halloween we had a carnival and everyone dressed up and Brant showed up as a woman. Fun times. Church camp and delivering goodie sacks to the old people with Dea. On one hand it seems like yesterday and on the other it seems so long ago. People have come and many passed away. We have all grown up. They have 5 kids. Precious kids that have been born and raised in our church family
It was a sad day, lots of tears and harder than I believe most people thought it would be when they pulled into Church.
I was watching the family memory video and I was sad and yet very proud too. It had so many fun memories and made me realize how thankful I am to be part of a church family, thankful for all the friendships and proud of who we are as a church. Brant and Dea are going to do great and they have a new family waiting to love on them. We are going to do great too. We don't know what the future holds but I know and trust that God does and it is exciting to see who He has in store for us. Then we get to start again, building friendships and making memories.It is all going to be ok.

I started this last Sunday and never finished it and here I sit trying to complete it and begin blogging again....so my thought for today... start what you finish!!!

blogging.......

So part of my problem with blogging is this:
I have thoughts but it just takes me too long to type. I am so slow and what should be a simple little task turns into a very time consuming task. Time which is a precious commodity around here. I sure wish I had listened to Mrs Caldwell in 1983. I was not going to be a secretary. Me.... a Secretary, no way..... I had big plans of fashion and fun............. little did I know the world would become a typing texting fast with your fingers kinda place!
So when I have a bit more time I am gonna catch up my blog or maybe I will type real fast and leave it an see if you can figure it out!!

Blair came home a few weeks ago and as great as ti is ibeen we are all having to adjust to the family dynamics. We are goo now ecveryone has found their place. the first few days were funny. she would get in my chiar well the chiar that used to be her chair and then I dint know wher to sit and  we all had a hard time figuring out  how to get comfy in th eliving room.like teh three bears and goldilock well anyway.....
seems like we all grew in 9 months. 4 barjley at 6 foot tall and well lets just say we fill up this old  house.....

there you go..... I really stink at typoing!!!!
Love yall!!

The Circle

The Circle--- just follow my thoughts. I have been pondering this one and it might be a rambling one!

It started on Easter Sunday when we circled around moms living room to say the prayer. At Thanksgiving several years ago daddy wanted everyone to go around and share what they were thankful for. Since then when we circle up he has started asking if anyone has anything to say or share. This time I did have something to say. I started with being thankful for mom because a year earlier we did not know what was in store for her or us. I added I was thankful that she had been able to cook the entire meal for us by herself and then I added something like this:   Look around this circle. This is your family, people you can depend on no matter what, people that will always be there for you. Kim Price shared how special the family was to her and that she was thankful to be in our group.  Then my dad started talking and he got choked up and had big tears. He said that it had been a rough year and that he was so thankful for mom and all the family. I don't know what else he said because I had tears too. I do know that in that sweet moment, from a man that keeps it all together, everyone in that circle knew one thing--- they knew they were loved. We prayed and went onto the food and I started trying to sing:
These are my people....This is where I come from....We're givin' this life everything we've got and then some
It ain't always pretty......  But it's real.....That's the way we were made....Wouldn't have it any other way
These are my people

Back to the circle.....We went camping this weekend with 5 families and we spent a lot of time circled up around the fire. One the last night the campfire circle was very tight (we were cold!)  If you were not in the first little tight group you almost had to beg to get in.  People would move, but several times it was very slowly. We do this in life don't we.We get comfortable and just don't want to move. We like our circle and we are not sure about adding anyone else to it.  I don't think we mean to, but we do.  We argure over whose hand to hold and where to sit.  How does it feel to be outside the circle, trying to get in?........ Think about that one....

Anway. Everyone did make it around the fire ( except Daron-- he was cleaning and was just outside the group)  Our circle was big and I love what happened.

Shelby wanted to play camp games so she started this goofy little song and dance all by herself.......well maybe her mama was excited too!

Chicka a chicka..... up .....down and around.... She added one person

 and when your name was called you stood with the group and did the goofy little dance.

Everyone did it -- even the men! Some were a little excited waiting their turn....

I am sure our camping neighbors thought we were nuts.

what did I just do--- I am worn out!

Would our kids have done that in front of a big group of people, would I have done that? Not sure.... but in that moment...... in that circle...it was ok...it was safe .....it was with friends....with our people...

Thoughts to ponder my friends:
Circle up when you can. Great things..... unexpected things can happen.
Friendships form, ties that bind get stronger, love grows, confidence develops.
If you do not have a circle, make one, find friends, go to church, go to ball games, enjoy your family.
Websters---Circle--- 8. A group of people sharing an interest, activity, or achievement:

My Mamaw's Would Be Proud Of Me

Both of Mamaw's were excellent cooks and could make a meal out of anything. I am not talking about fancy, looks perfect on the plate food, I am talking good old fashioned eating.
This has become a little challenge for me and I have created lots of great dishes with a little of this and a little of that. I can cook! Waste not want not. In their day and time they did not waste a thing.
So here was my creative, stretch your dollar, waste not menu this week.
Tuesday: Red beans in the crock pot with left over Easter ham, smoked sausage, jiffy cornbread and  delicious chow chow
Wednesday: Red Beans, mac and tomatoes, left over cornbread
Thursday: Goulash with mac and tomatoes, red beans. I added  corn, hamburger meat. A little of this and a little of that and it was yummy.....that is if you like good ole cooking!.

Delish for a few meals, but really I have had enough. Today my fat dogs will get a good treat. I know it is not good for them....... but.....waste not want not!!!

Just another quick thought. How many cool whip containers, butter tubs, and pieces of foil

does a household really need!

Praise!

I have behind on my updates.
Clay started his new job on April 2nd and he seems to be enjoying it. He had 8 years of a very flexible schedule. We are all adjusting to his new work hours and having to adjust to only seeing him a few hours in the evenings. We feel very blessed and just know God's hand was all over this.
On our way to Gruver over Spring Break, Clay received a random call from a friend of Garrett's dad. The dad knew Clay had trucking/freight experience and we think he had heard from the son that Clay was looking. He wanted Clay to interview with his company for a shipping manager position.  Clay went in on the following Tuesday and had the job the next day. A great fit for his past experience. The new position is in a manufacturing company, so now experience on the other side, aligns great for Clay.
We have just really been amazed. Nothing was coming from his searches online and with contacts he had in the industry. A stand still and very frustrating. Then he gets a calls from a basketball dad out of the blue....really. Yes really..... that is how God works.
A job in Mesquite, an easy commute, great benefits, insurance, a stable company. They understand family so Clay should not have to miss any of Garrett's sporting activities the next two years. (yes that was important to us) Yes, he is working long hours, but he is working and thankful for a job in this economy.

Remember that lil bean/ seed and my " I trust you I really do". We had not grown weary from the job search, both of us were handling it very well and when it all happened the way it did. We knew that was God's answer.

I admit it. Yes I am a kid person

and to be honest so is most of my family. We love babies and kids of all shapes and sizes. We center activities around the kids. We have sat in mom's living room and watched unborn babies in tummies kick and move. We have watched lil babies learn to roll over, to crawl and to walk. We have watched toddlers throw fits and do the shaky shaky. We cheer and clap, and cheer and clap some more. They just do something ordinary and to us it is special. They get their moment of feeling important, of feeling special.
Here are a few ones I remember of our kids:
Blake was so pretty and so cute we loved whatever he did. He would preach from the brick fireplace, he danced. Really whatever he did we loved.
I loved to have the girls Ryan and Heather do their little Razzle Dazzle Boom Boom Boom cheer.
JC sang  ---I got friends in low places, he played his guitar and performed dumb and dumber over and over.
My kids loved to be introduced. We would say " Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls.....Introducing the cutest kids from Josephine,Texas ......Blair and Garrett. They would run down the hall and we would all clap and cheer. Mad and Vic loved this too. They all  like running into a room full of people, with all eyes for them.  They would do it over and over and over......... Ladies and Gentlemen......

So, I think kids feel this. They know we value them, we love them, we want them to feel special, we are proud of them.  So here you have it----my thought for the day. Go love on a kid, any kid. The one in the line at Walmart or on the bleachers at the ballgame. Give them a moment of your time. A smile, a kind word, a sweet pat on the back. You never know how it might make them feel. They might not ever get to be the center of attention.

Rambling....I know.....I have been thinking about little Stella getting ready to join this world. She is already loved and we are all so excited. Little Allie comes into mom's and knows it is a place of joy. I saddens my heart to think of all the little people that do not get to feel this. So the next time an annoying teenager or goofy random kid is getting on your very last nerve.Try to show them some love!

A little behind

I know.... I was going to be on top of this and I do not know what happened. Well, yes I do, it has been a busy month. I been across Texas and back.
Weekend of March 4th --- Ft. Worth for the night to trade cars with Blair. Clay and I decided to use the priceline negotiator, got a 68.00 room in Sundance Square and made a fun little trip out of it.

March 17th we headed to Gruver,
spent one night in Amarillo and two in the Big G.

.

March 26th, off to Big D with my Sunday School class for a slumber party.

                                          Much needed girls weekend trip April 1-3rd

Shreveport to see Tim McGraw April 9th

Houston April 14th and 15th

Home in Josephine April 16th

Easter April 24th and just  planned the Abbott Amazing adventure!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXBoVHZqmwQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Teams were given a CD with 6 songs. The songs were their clues to various stops around town. At each stop that had to perform tasks. First team back home was the winner.

Seed, Bean, Growth

 Plant on 3/29/2011. Beans planted 1/16/2011 

Well here it is, I think the end of my cute lil plant. I brought it back home from church, put it in the window and started watering--trying to revive it. I would say to Clay, it is not going to make it, I guess this is a reminder that choices have consequence. Yesterday, he pointed out to me the new growth of two beans. I was looking for new leaves, for the color to come back and for it to go back to where it was on the day I left it at church. I think perhaps I was looking at the negative, of how tired it was looking.

It took Clay to point me in the right direction.

The lil bean did its job. It matured. It produced a crop, not a big one but a crop!

Matthew 13:22

²³ But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

Thank you Lord for my sweet Sunday school class and for Margaret's idea to plant the beans. Thank you for using this example in my life. This was just what I needed to hear, just when I needed to hear it.Well, you already know that. Thank you for of the precious peace that comes from trusting and knowing you as my Saviour. Thank you providing a job for Clay, for Blair's protection at Spring Break and for my sweet Garrett.Thank you for loving me, just as I am.

I pray Lord that you will use me to bring honor and glory to You.

In Jesus name I pray.

Amen.

My Baby Doll

 I would like to introduce you to Suzy, my sweet well loved baby doll. Clay and I were cleaning out closets the other day  and there she was. Laying there with all my "sit up dolls". (my doll collection). I just stopped what I was doing and held her and loved on her. She still makes my heart smile. I know goofy... huh. No...not goofy.... she was an important person in my life. She is where I first became a mama, I learned to feed a bottle, to change diapers, to swaddle with a blanket and most of all I learned to love.

We played at our house. All day long we played. Trees were our homes, the yard was a big hide and seek area, the pool was the Miss America stage or a mermaid adventure, my room was my dress shop, my bike and then moped was my car, riding to the store was a big trip and Suzy was my baby!!!!

 I think this was supposed to be a replacement or this was Tammy's baby, not sure of her name, but she looks loved.

Now if you thought I was crazy before you can really thinks so now because I still love Suzy.

Spring Break

This is an odd spring break week for us. Garrett is with the church at North Padre of a few days and Blair leaves Monday for South Padre with a big group of friends. I know.....yes.... we are letting her go....she is 19.... and needs to make her way....make choices for herself. Her daddy has had a hard time with this whole thing, he has wrestled and prayed and thought. He has talked with her and prayed for her. I know she knows he loves her, just not sure if she realizes just how much he loves her.

I have been to South Padre as a young college girl and I know too much. When I was her age, all  I could think about was the fun.Never thought I shouldn't be going. I had my Jesus volume on mute. We jumped on a plane in Lubbock, got a car from my dad's office in Harlingen and we were off to our fancy condo for Spring Break. I have stories that I am not sure I would like to share now. My stories, my mistakes, my growing up, my finding my way.... and finally turning up my Jesus volume. I hated the guilt and conviction,so I just turned it on mute and ignored it for a few years and did my thing. Oh how I wish I had done more of God's thing. Oh how I wish I cold take back the times I made a fool of myself and relive that part of my life as His thing not my thing...... sorry I am really about to ramble on  a whole other subject so.....back to spring break......
As a mother it is not so fun, not so exciting, I know too much, I know what goes on. I would like to put Blair in a bubble and never let her out. Can't do that. I will put her in God's bubble this week and Trust and pray.
This is a hard time to be a parent, not sure if I like being grown up.


family trip at padre and somehow I am pretty sure this is not that kind of trip.



The day her daddy was finally able to give her his thoughts ---a very good talk-- with great advise and most of all love.

Be praying for all of us.... might be a long week.
Gar will be back Monday night and I think we just might go to Gruver.

Wrote this early in the week, I am making it just fine and yes we are leaving for Gruver in the morning and yes Blair is doing just fine!

Just in case you are wondering about my lil plant......

I was excited to get to Church today to see how the lil bean plant had faired with a week of darkness.
Pretty faded and pretty thirsty.  I thinks this was a great example of what can happen to us if we neglect our walk with God. We have to water our souls, nurture our relationship with Him. I  thought the plant would look worse, but really isn't that what happens, we fade ever so slightly. We miss a week of church, one turns to two and  before you know it is has been a year. We forget to pray, to ask or include God in our plans. The bible stays shut from one Sunday School lesson to the next, we forge our own way. Ever so slighty we droop. We make one compromise and then another. I have been there, seasons of drought and hopelessness, seasons of doing it my way, times I did not want to listen to Gods word.   Now I like to think I am at a good place and there is peace here. I can assure you there is no greater high or greater sense of peace than that of  knowing and  trusting in Jesus.

This was part of my blog Jan 16th the day I studied this lesson and the day I planted the bean:
So as I ramble to all of you and surely make no sense whatsoever. What I saw this morning was that I do not want to be the person that hears the word and has no root, the person that lets the enemy snatch it from my heart or lets the world choke me out, and lets fear and doubt rule my life. I want to bear good fruit, to be fruitful and to really trust Him. To hear his word, to trust it and to have great faith.

The little plant came home with me today, it is sitting in the kitchen window all watered up and happy.I have a feeling in a few days it will look better, it does have strong roots. The thing is.... we are going to make mistakes...we are going to mess up, the awesome thing is that we are forgiven and we are loved. When we ask the lord to be our Saviour and we trust in Him, we get that peace, that assurance.

I am glad to have my little reminder back with me this week.

Clay's way of saying thank you...

Before we could eat Clay wanted to capture a photo, not of our friends, but of the food!
He loves a spread and he loves me!
Steaks and pork chops on the grill, asparagus, plump delicious shrimp and http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/06/crash-hot-potatoes/

Not sure why he did not capture the chocolate fondue we had for dessert.


a little blurry from the iphone
I know this is not "diet food"
But I gotta keep Clay happy! 



Crop and more

Don't you just love the tool--- crop photo. I have been using it lately. I am really feeling self conscious of my weight gain. When I look at photos, I just see how fluffy I have gotten. I see my smile and my happiness but then there is the fluff.  Well..... no more. I can just take out the bad and  Waaa..Laa... a much cuter slimmer me.

I really think this is my jacket not my belly!



Life is not this easy. We can't "crop " out all the things we do not like.  Truth is.... I am fluffy, a little fat.These photos reflect me, the me the last few months. I have to work to get rid of what  I do not like, fix the problem, not fix the photos.

This has made me think....oh no.....here I go... Our society is so used to instant gratification. Fast results, quick responses, text messages, Internet at our fingertips. We move money, crop photos, book trips, delete friends, go from in a relationship to single in a click. Life... real life is not that easy, not that fast. Losing weight, getting in shape, making friends, mending relationships, communicating, making money....All of this takes time, effort,energy, commitment.

So as great as a click ... or a crop app.....or the delete button is ... real life is not this easy.

I was facebook deleted a few months ago. Poof.... Brigitte, Clay, Gar and Blair. We were all gone.... as if we never existed....really ...

I understand that everyone is not going to like us. I understand the whole facebook privacy thing. I do get this. I understand if you don't want to talk to me or for me to know your business... but really as a society what does this teach.  "Ok Billy Jo now if someone pisses you off or you don't like them, just hit this button and poof...they will go away.

I know I am being a extreme. But really think about it. I heard over and over.

 Do unto others as you want them to do to you.

Kill them with kindness.

Work it out.

Stick and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me!

BE Nice Brigitte.

Think before you speak

Anyway enough of that .... didn't I start this with crop!

Yes and I should have cropped the nose picking man out of this photo, that would be ok right!

Happy Birthday to my Sweet Precious Mother!!

I love her and so many of you love her. You understand when I say sweet and precious. You understand there are not enough words to really describe just how special she is.

The day before her birthday last year we had a family celebration. Victoria sang a special at church that day and mom was determined not to miss it, even if she felt bad. She made it thru church and lunch. She was pushing and we all knew she felt bad. Once our crowd thinned, she began to really have a hard time breathing. We knew she needed oxygen so I drove down to the fire station to see if they could come to the house. I knew mom would not want 911 to come with the sirens. A few fireman came and they were so great.  The oxygen helped, but they all said she needed to go onto the hospital. We went, they admitted her and we thought it just going to be pneumonia.

The next day March 1st, 2010 ---her birthday was spent in a hospital bed and she was sick, very sick. After lots of tests, they somewhat diagnosed her with pulmonary hypertension and it did not sound good. It was a stressful few weeks before we could see the specialist. We came home and waited. She was sick, had zero energy, could barely get up to go to the bathroom and and really had to have 24  hour care. I started reading and googling.  I remember being frustrated,  mad at the doctors and mad we were having to wait to see the specialist. I remember saying to daddy "why don't they just tell us, they all  know it is bad."
Dad replied---"tell you what Brig, how much time she has? They are not going to do that, they don't know and what does it matter." I was reading too much and comparing all her stats and numbers and it did not sound good at all. You see in the back of mind I knew 18 years ago we had been given a precious miracle. I sorta believed we were out of miracles and at that point, my lowest and scariest I was putting limits on God.
This was my post on March 19th.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1174922139&sk=notes#!/note.php?note_id=499152900135

Today March 1st, 2011 One year later--we are celebrating life. God is good and guess what we were not out of miracles. Mom is celebrating her 72nd birthday at home. She cooked meatloaf, red beans and cornbread last night. Today she is doing laundry, has a roast in the crock pot and Aunt Cinda was baking her a cake. Some of you might say that is not a special exciting way to celebrate a birthday.  But you see it is! She is home, at the place she loves to be more than anywhere and cooking a meal for the man she loves more than anything. She is able to do her own dishes, dry her own hair, dress herself and be in her home alone without a bunch of us hoovering around her, jumping up for her every need.

She is not driving anymore, but we all get to be her chauffeur in her cute little Cadillac.
She did not go on our cruise in April of 2010, but she made it to the beach in July, went on a 10 day driving trip with dad this summer,they just got home from a week long cruise and yes they still go to Shreveport.
She made it to Ryan's law school graduation in May in Houston.
She made it to Blair's high school graduation and party in June.
She made it to Brisco and Karly's kindergarten graduation.
She became a great grandmother again in September.
She has made it to 1st birthday parties for our smallest Abbott cousins.
She hosted 3 big Christmas parties at her house.
She saw Madeline and Vic dressed up for their first dances.
She get to loves and spoil on Allie and Carson several days a week and she can't wait to meet Stella in June.
She has been to Ryan's new house, made it to Stephenville twice to see Blair.
She has been to showers, to lunch, to dinner, to parties.
She listens, she shares and she still can throw a hissy fit.
She Lives! She loves! She is loved ....and She is having a birthday today!
Happy Birthday Mama! I love you and am so very thankful for you.

Brigilicious Delish

It is no secret that I enjoy cooking. Blair will be home tomorrow afternoon and both of these recipes taste better the next day. Brigilicious Delish even if I say so myself!  Southern Living has has a new recipe this month, pound cake with strawberry glaze swirled in the middle. Can't wait to try it  Pound cake meets strawberry cake.Yummy!

 I started weight watchers this week and well.... neither Clay nor I could resist warm cake. I have extra points and one piece won't hurt, that is if I can stop at one piece.

Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Brigitte Barkley

1 ½ cups butter softened

1 8 oz softened cream cheese

3 cups sugar

6 eggs

3 cups all purpose flour

1/8 tsp salt

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with electric mixer until creamy, gradually add sugar, beating well. Add eggs one at a time.

Combine flour and salt, add to butter mixture. Beat at low speed just until blended. Stir in vanilla. Pour into greased and floured 10 in Bundt pan.

Bake at 300 for 1 hour and 40 minutes.

Potato Salad

Brigitte Barkley

2 ½ cups potatoes cooked and sliced

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp vinegar

½ cup chopped purple onion

1 ½ tsp salt

1 ½ tsp celery seed

¾ cup real mayonnaise

2 hard cooked eggs sliced

Boil potatoes with skins on, peel and slice while warm. Add vinegar and sugar and let set for a few minutes. Add remaining items and toss to blend. Chill and serve.

I make way more than the recipe call for, as many potatoes that will fix in my dutch oven.

Just in case you are wondering

 my lil plant is still a growing. I think it is happy here! This is been such a special daily reminder.