Let the Feast Begin!!

Every year my church provides Thanksgiving dinner for the church family. My church family is truly my second family. In fact, since my parents and grandparents live an hour away, the people there see me, Jon, and my children more than my actual real family does. The amazing thing about this church family is they truly care and they love you. Don't get me wrong - we have certainly had our shares of ups and downs and everyone that sets foot in the church building is far from perfect, but there is always such a warmness and love in the air that is unexplainable. Let's see, we have a Nanny, a Granny, a Cookie, a Mimi, and Pa-paw, a KiKi, a Papa, a Shay-Shay, a Lane-Lane. That's just to name a few. Some of these people I don't even know their real names. In fact the first year Shay-Shay won the chili cook off and they announced her real name, I looked around in bewilderment wondering "Who is the world is this visitor who won our chili cook off?" That was the day I learned Shay-Shay's real name.

I remember almost 8 years ago when we first visited our church. We had gone to a pretty big church and some things happened there that really left a sour taste in our mouths. My husband had wanted to leave this church for quite awhile and since my closest friends were there I begged him to let's please stay. One Sunday morning on the way to church he told me, "I hate waking up on Sunday morning hating to have to go to church there." It was like the LORD hit me on the head with a baseball bat and said to me, "Michele, how in the world is Jon EVER going to be the spiritual leader (something I had prayed over him for years to be) if he hates going to church, and you won't let him lead?" I looked at him and said, "Let me resign from my volunteer positions, and let's leave." I was totally convicted about trying to be the leader.

A friend of a friend invited us to this church that met in a school building. I admit I was a total snob and told my husband, "I do NOT want to go a church in a school building." He suggested we try it out. We went and have never left! I loved it instantly. The praise and worship was wonderful. You could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. The people were so warm and you know when they said they were glad you were there, they really were glad you were there. More importantly, Jon loved it too! We both have grown so much spiritually over the last 8 years. I LOVE my church family.

I always tell the ladies who do the cooking on Wednesday nights that it is the best meal my family eats all week. I am not just trying to be nice either. They are some wonderful cooks!!! Here are some pictures with me and some of my very favorite people I go to church with.

Tiffani, Candis, Me, Cookie, Julie

Me and my favorite guy in the whole world

Ashley and her best friend Beth

Me and Tiff (you don't have to read this blog long to know how special she is to me)

Tiff and Steph

Julie and Steph

Me and Steph (see this necklace and earrings I am wearing? Stephanie is the fashion QUEEN and gave me this last year for my birthday. If I ever need to know what is in style I just need to look at what Stephanie is wearing)

My church family is certainly at the top of my list of the things I am thankful for this year. I hope and pray all of you out there belong to a group of believers who love the LORD and love one another like this bunch does.

After the Thanksgiving feast Jon and Tim (Julie's husband) decided they wanted to play PlayStation football. They asked Barry (Stephanie's husband) if he wanted to play and he told them that he had promised Steph they would go home and clean the house together. Steph let him off the hook and got the Best Wife of the Year award!! We all headed over to Julie and Tim's and we all did what we all do best - the guys played video games and the girls gabbed!! What a fun night we had!

Thanksgiving Fun!

This past Wednesday Alec and Ashley took part in "Homeschool School's" Thanksgiving Re-enactment. The school really does a great job putting this on. They dispel a lot of myths about Thanksgiving and you really do learn a lot. This is their 2nd year of being in this play. Last year Alec was Squanto and Ashley was just a Pilgrim child. This year Alec was William Brewster and Ashley was and Indian named Squicone. It was very, very cold and both of the kids had on clothes under their costumes. It was so worth being cold though. They both had a wonderful time!

You stand in line and your tour guide takes you on a tour of "Thanksgiving."

Here we are with the Pilgrims on the Mayflower. You learn here that the Pilgrims were not Puritans but were Separatists. They came to the United States because they wanted to separate themselves from the English church and wanted to base their own church on a Biblical model. Notice my William Brewster in the middle.

Here we are at Plymouth Rock. We learned here that Plymouth Rock was not where they landed first. The actually landed somewhere in New York (they told us, I just forgot where), but it was inhabited by Native Americans, and the Pilgrims were afraid of them attacking them.

Here is our Indian village where we learned about Squanto and his role in helping the Pilgrims. We also learned that the Patuxet tribe was a peaceful tribe. Notice my little Squicone in the middle.

Here we are introduced to the only 4 Pilgrim ladies at the first Thanksgiving. Did you know that by the time they celebrated Thanksgiving only 4 women survived and they had to take care of 50 men and children!!! We also learned that Thanksgiving was not a religious holiday. It was a time of feasting, games, and celebration. If it were a religious holiday the Pilgrims would have spent the day in prayer and fasting.

Here we learned that the Pilgrims did not dress only in black and white like pictured in story books. The actually wore solid colors! Also we learned that they did not eat with forks, only spoons and knives. On Thanksgiving day there were 52 Pilgrims and 90 Indians.

Here is some of the food that was present at the original Thanksgiving. Some of it actually was not quite bad. The stewed pumpkin that is pictured here was pretty gross though. Jon tried some succotash and found a spot where he could spit his back into his cup without anyone seeing him:)

Squicone the Indian. They had a snack room where the children involved in the reenactment would be given breaks to go get a snack and drink. Just about every time I saw Squicone she was either running to the snack room or from the snack room. She then told me on the way home that the mom who sat in the snack room to supervise everything said to her, "Thanks Ashley for your company. I would have been very bored today if you would not have been in there with me." That's my Ashley!!!!

My Williams Brewster (see his GA Bulldog sweatshirt under his Pilgrim costume?) It was really, cold!

Jon and Hanna taking in all the festivities

As Alec and Ash were getting their costumes on that morning, I felt bad for Hanna Boo. She didn't have anyone to dress up like! So, I had to be creative. Who better to dress up like than the one her Daddy says she wants to be like? Her Mom! I was able to put together some matching outfits for the 2 of us! So Hanna got to go as "Little Mama in High Heels" I even sacrificed pulling my hair back for her, which I HATE the way my hair looks pulled back.

For The Children Who Cross Our Paths

Normally I would not blog this late at night, but my heart is so heavy I have to get this out on "paper," if you will. Tonight at church I have 2 little girls in my class, sisters, that might have well been my sister, Melissa, and I 20 years ago. Very close in age these girls are, a little rough around the edges definitely. For the sake of their privacy I will call them "Michele" and "Melissa".

Tonight we did a thankful chain and one of "Michele's" chains was she was thankful for her birth mom. She and her sister are adopted. I later asked her if she ever saw her birth mom and she said, "No, that she was in jail." Another child (different kid in the class who is also adopted) spoke up and said his mom was in jail too, and he remembers the police coming to his house.

Unfortunately, I could really relate to these children. I spoke up very quickly and told them that as a little girl I once visited my Daddy in jail and I described to them what the situation was like. I didn't want them to feel ashamed for where they came from. You see, as a child, my close friends all had what I perceived to be "perfect families" - both of their mom and dad were together. Mine were not. Their families all went to church together. We either went with my grandparents or my neighbor. My dad was an alcoholic and drug user. I knew way, way too much as child. My sister and I experienced more heartache and grief than any child should.

I then asked these 3 children if they ever prayed for their birth mothers? All 3 quickly responded "No." I then encouraged them that they have to pray for their birth mothers. I told them their birth mothers act the way they do because they don't know Jesus, and if they knew Jesus then their hearts would change. I also told them they must pray for their birth mom's because no one else may be doing it. To my surprise the little girl that sometimes gives us the most trouble, "Michele", was very tenderhearted about this issue and shook her head yes. Her sister, "Melissa", responded with a "No, I'm not praying for her."

We get home and my Ashley tells me that "Michele" told her that her mom's boyfriend one day hit her mom and then took her baby brother and banged him up against a mirror. I am totally heartbroken for these precious children!!! I have just cried my eyes out. Ashley then said, "I always just thought "Michele" was mean," I told Ashley, "Now we know why. That poor child has seen and heard more than any child should."

I'm telling you God has blessed me with a real-life Cinderella story!! He has certainly done far more with my life than I could ever think or imagine (Eph 3:20). First of all He saved me!!! I was a sinner, dying and going to hell, and he pursued me and saved me. Then He kept me safe from so many, many things that could have harmed me. He has blessed me with an amazing husband who is my real-life, "Prince Charming," 3 beautiful children who love their mom so very much. I have a beautiful home in a nice neighborhood. I have a nice car. We have food on our table. I have a wonderful church. I am blessed with AMAZING friends! I have an awesome mom who is one of my very best friends. I have 2 sisters that I truly delight in and think the world of. The list could go on and on. Many, many times I have asked the LORD, "Why have you blessed me in such amazing ways? I certainly do not deserve any of this." I know BEYOND a shadow of a doubt it is because He LOVES me!!! Because I am telling you NOTHING I have ever done in my life is good enough for me to have the life that I have! It is all for His glory!!! I give Him ALL the praise and ALL the glory for this life He has given me!

I know for certain people prayed for me as a child. I know my Grandmama and Papa and my Faye covered Melissa and I in prayer. I am pretty sure there were others out there praying; in fact, I am convinced of it. I can't wait to one day meet these people in heaven and thank them, truly thank them from the very bottom of my heart. I just really believe in the power of prayer! So please, please, please I urge you to pray for those children that cross your path. Pray for your children. Pray for your children's friends. Pray for your children's enemies. Pray for their classmates. Pray for your friends' children. Pray for your nieces and nephews. Pray for those children you teach at church. Pray for those children that come up and give you a hug on Sunday mornings. It makes a difference. I am a living, breathing example of the power of prayer.

As I prayed for these 3 precious children tonight I pleaded with God to please bless their lives even more than He had already blessed mine. I prayed that they would live their lives glorifying Him!

P.S. On a side note, my Mom is a Christian now and loves the LORD and the majority of the things I experienced were the times when I was with my Dad. As far as my Dad's salvation, it is one of those things I am really unsure about - however, I will NEVER, EVER, NEVER stop praying for him - even during the times it hurts.

Lunch with Lisa

Today, my dear friend, Lisa, and I had lunch at one of our favorite Mexican restaurants. When we moved here almost 10 years ago, Lisa was one of my very first friends. We met at church, and then soon discovered we lived right down the road from one another. In the early days, when Alec was a year old, Lisa would come over to my place and we would Tae Bo together. We would get so tickled, because there was not very much space, and I literally would kick my long legs over her head:) We have been through so much together, the births of both of my girls, the birth of all 3 of her kids, change of jobs, change of homes, change of churches, my miscarriage, family aggravation, the ups and downs of motherhood, etc. For such a long time we would never get to see one another and would refer to each other as "phone friends." As we both lead busy lives, it is just so hard sometimes to get together.

Her sweet husband, Tim, even took a break from work today to come home and keep their kids just so she and I could have lunch. We had such a BLAST today! I've really missed our long talks! Lisa is such a great friend to me, and I am so blessed to have her in my life. She knows so much about me and still loves me anyway. Thanks for such a great day Lisa! You brightened up my day!

My Jeans are Too Tight

My mom has been having withdrawals from my kids. I'm telling you my mom is the best Nanna ever!! I hope I am just as good of a grandmother as she is one day. The kids haven't spent the night with her in about a month or longer so she was anxious to get them. I dropped them off Friday and, as from my "Bargain Betty" post, I took off and went shopping. Jon and I met back up at the house and just hung out here Friday night. We watched episodes of "What Not to Wear" and then he headed to the bedroom to watch Atlanta Hawks play basketball.


Saturday morning we woke up and it was cold and rainy. We were supposed to run in a race, but I don't do cold and I certainly don't do rainy. I always tell my kids that I can't get wet because I am so sweet and sugar melts in the rain:) In an effort to be a "fun wife" we went and I did so with a smile on my face. It was so cold out there I was visibly shaking. The race was a trail run which we've never done before. My time was not as good as I like for it to be. However, I did place 3rd overall female and 1st in my age group. I won this cute hat and a medal. After the race I gave the hat to Jon. Jon placed 2nd in his age group and won a medal. He finished like 3 minutes faster than me. Normally it is only like a minute and a half, but I'm telling you this race was HARD! In fact during the run this man was passing me and I shouted out to him, "I'm ready for this race to be over with!" As always my very favorite part of the race is when I am nearing the finish line and hearing Jon cheer me on. I teased him and told him that is why I always let him win so I can hear him cheering me on *wink*,*wink*.


We then went to his mom and dad's house and watched part of the GA/AU game. We had to leave early because we needed to get ready for a fun night out with some friends of ours.


We picked up Tim and Julie for a double date and headed to Longhorn - YUMMY!!! We intentionally left pretty early thinking we would avoid a long wait - NOT SO! We had to wait almost an hour. That was okay though because we were having fun, although our tummies were so incredibly hungry. We had a great night. We got back to their house and the guys played some football game on PlayStation 2 and Julie and I got to have some girl talk! Thanks for such a fun night Julie and Tim! I can't wait until next time.

Jon and I after the "Turkey Trot" race. I'm telling you I probably looked like a turkey out there running.


Julie and Tim

Me and Julie - Isn't Julie SOO pretty? She has some of the prettiest skin of anyone I have ever known!

Me and Jon

Sunday I went to my mom's house for lunch and I hung out there for most of the day. Jon debated going, but the Falcons were playing, so he decided to stay home. I love going home! We had grilled chicken, baked beans, roasted potatoes, garlic bread, and Amish friendship bread. Oh man! My mom can cook!!! Unfortunately I did not pick up these skills from her:( After lunch Hanna Boo wanted to have a tea party. My dad went and got a table and put it in the yard for her because that is where she wanted to have the tea party. The tea pot and cookies were on the porch. I told Hanna that she needed to be a good hostess and go get the tea pot and cookies and serve her "tea party" guests. She informed me that this was a "tea party buffet" and we were to go and get our own!! Typical Hanna Boo.

After stuffing myself with my mama's good cooking and filling myself to the brim at Longhorn Saturday night I have to tell ya, my jeans are way too tight!!! But so totally worth it to be with great friends and great family! Now . . . I'm off to workout so hopefully I can fit into my jeans comfortably today:)

Bargain Betty

I have never been one that does not like to spend money. In fact, in our family, I am the spender and Jon is the saver. However, I do LOVE a bargain. I often refer to myself as Bargain Betty. I am really ashamed when I look at the amount of clothes I have in my closet, but I NEVER, EVER, NEVER pay full price for anything and I try to buy lots of things on clearance. I just really like clothes, a WHOLE lot!!! A good bargain is really tough for me to turn down.

Well, Friday after I dropped off the kids with my mom I headed over to one of my favorite stores, Bealls Outlet. It is kind of like Ross, only better. Because if you go there on Friday you get an additional 15% off. Also when you fill up your frequent shopper card you get an additional 20% off. It is not often I go shopping all by myself so I was going to take this time to go and shop.

I am so proud of my bargains I wanted to share them with you all.

First I got this cute white shirt and I bought this red necklace and funky hoop red earrings. As you will be able to tell, the clothing I buy is pretty simple. I just love to dress it up with FUNKY accessories.


I got this cute green shirt and necklace. I also bought a pair of earrings (I just couldn't get them in the picture)

Again, just another plain shirt. I have some accessories I will dress this shirt up with. I just loved the color!!

I have these really awesome jeans that I do not wear very much because you just have to have the right kind of fitting shirt. I found this green shirt which is very fitted (perfect to wear with these jeans). I then found this funky necklace and bracelet to match.

I love the color of this shirt and I have the perfect necklace to wear with it that a friend of mine at church gave me. The shirt actually has silver sparkles in it. I thought I could wear this to church with my black or white pants or put it with some jeans and a pair of funky shoes - high heels, of course.

Now, here comes the best part! Want to know what I spent on all of these shirts PLUS the accessories? $43.66. Now . . . if I would have paid department store prices, I would have spent $143, that includes my accessories also (that doesn't include tax either like what I actually spent did) WOW!!! I saved $100.

See, although I do feel guilty about having too many clothes, I guess I make myself feel better by rationalizing how much money I saved *smile*

It's not just with clothes that I am a Bargain Betty. It is with EVERYTHING!!! I love to get the most for my money!

What We've Been Up To

Just like everyone we lead pretty busy lives. My time on the computer is pretty limited, so rather than blogging and reading blogs I have been doing some research on the internet for something special coming up. More details to come on that.

Anway, this weekend was great. My "no kin twin" Tiffani and daughter, JuJu, came over to scrapbook and stamp. I finished a scrapbook for my dad and then was introduced to stamping. Tiff had been stamping cards and all the time I was scrapbooking I was pretty jealous. So with Stamping 101, I have found yet another crafty hobby. She actually left her stamps for a few days. I almost cried a tear when she came to get them:) We had a great time, lots of laughs!! We ate pizza, brownies, and coffee - YUM-O!

Scrapbooking/Stamping Mess (it is a good thing that both of us are messy)

Being Super Productive

"No Kin Twins"

Saturday Ashley had her last soccer game and then we had a soccer party. She has the best soccer team!!! The girls all sat on the grass and the coach would say something special about each girl and before he would give out a trophy he would say the name of who he was talking about. It was a lot of fun to try to guess who he was talking about before he said the name. When he got to Ashley he said,"This girl knows how to move her feet, and I hope I have the pleasure of dancing with her one day." Very sweet.

Ash and her coach giving her her trophy

Ash and her trophy

One last "Go Team

What Moves You?

It doesn't take much to move my heart strings. In fact, my husband says I am quite "the sap." I don't know of many things that move my heart more than when I walk in my bedroom and see my husband on his knees praying, or when I saw him the other day get his Bible and read a few verses of scripture during the course of us watching the election results. He had several weeks when he had to go out of town and was home on the weekends, and my heart certainly did a hop, skip, and a jump when he grabbed his Bible on the way out the door.


My heart was so moved the other day that I felt like an earthquake was going on inside my chest. Jon was truly hurting for his best friend who is pretty much an atheist. They were talking political talk and his friend said that he had gotten more morally conservative as he has gotten older, but he would never be as morally conservative as Jon because of the "religion thing." Jon told him not to say that because he never knew. His best friend was emphatic he WOULD NOT go the "religious route." Sad thing is, his friend doesn't get it, it's not about religion, but R-E-L-A-T-I-O-N-S-H-I-P. Jon was so troubled and with sadness in his eyes looked at me and said, "How do you witness to someone like that?" Oh my precious, precious husband whom I certainly don't deserve!!! Talk about moving someone!

Does he pray out loud in Sunday School? Not on your life.

One time in Sunday School when he thought the Sunday School teacher was asking him to pray instead of another John, did he look at me with an expression in his eyes that said "HELP"? Oh Yeah!!!!!


Did he bless the food the other day when a bunch of our friends were over for a football party? No way, Jose! He asked someone else to do it.


When our church voted in our new pastor, did he seriously consider going to talk to him and say, "Don't call on me to pray on Wednesday nights." Yeah, he did consider it, but never did.


When he was asked to lead up the Sports Ministry at church, did he make sure there would be someone there he could call on to pray so he would not have to do it out loud? You betcha ya!


Does he love the Lord? With all his heart.


I think it is so amazing that God created me in such a way that when my husband loves Jesus more, then I naturally fall more and more in love with him. I just can't help it! I'm already head-over-heels in love with the man, but boy when I see him seeking God, I just fall that much more head-over-"high"heels in love with him.


So, that is one thing of the many things that move my heart. What about any of you? I would love to know what moves your heart - one thing or many things!

Election Day Fun

If you ask any of my children (yes, including Hanna) who is running for President they all 3 can tell you. Alec knows who is running for Vice President and the girls know that Sarah Palin is running for Vice President with John McCain. The political race is something that has been a topic of conversation in our family many, many times; with the children asking lots of questions and getting lots of honest answers. Fox News is on our TV probably more than any other station. So, I decided we needed to have some election day fun. We started off the morning with blue pancakes served on red plates. It took me awhile to convince Hanna that it was okay to eat blue pancakes.

Next, we had a family election. Of course we would all be voting for the same Presidential candidate. But, what about dinner? So, we had a vote on what to have for dinner that night. You have to read to the end of this blog to find out what menu item won.
Next, Alec and Ashley did an election word search
Then we talked about why an elephant represented the Republican party and a donkey the Democratic party. It makes me grin now because the way I introduced this topic is I started out by talking about SEC football mascots. The kids certainly did not disappoint their dad. The knew all the mascots of the schools that I asked them about. Go SEC!!! I actually learned a lot about why these animals were chosen and what they represent to each party. They had a color sheet of each animal and had to write which party the animal represented. The color sheet was so that Hanna Boo would be included. Alec could have really cared less about the coloring portion. Sweet Ash loved it all!
We then talked about the electoral college and learned some fun facts about The White House. I also did this presidential riddle game with Alec, which he did very well on. Does anyone out there remember the show "Family Ties?" Remember Alex P. Keaton and how he was about politics? That is my Alec. In fact, I often tease around with him and call him Alex P. Keaton. Alec has always been fascinated with the political process, candidates, etc. In fact, Tuesday is the day of "homeschool school." Last week Alec begged me not to go and vote without him. It was so sweet. School was canceled though because they needed the homeschool portion of it for voting.

We then made "Future Voter" buttons to wear when I went to go and vote
Here are the kids pointing to their buttons, letting everyone know that they are future voters. The little ladies at the voting place loved these. (Hanna is so funny. She is going through this stage whenever she gets her picture made she puts bunny ears on herself -See? She is so cute!)
I am so honored to live in the great United States of America where I have the freedom to vote, even if the candidate whom I voted for does not win. God has certainly blessed our country, and He has way more blessed me more than I could ever think or imagine. God Bless the USA!!! I am even more thankful I serve a God who is in A-B-S-O-L-U-T-E and COMPLETE control. Man, I love Him so!!!! He is what gives me a feeling of security and freedom. Beth Moore has an excellent post today about the election.
And. . . . the winner for dinner is . . . enchiladas!! No hanging chads here. Enchiladas won by a landslide - it was unanimous.
I had to stick to my red, white, and blue theme that I started at breakfast. So I dyed the cheese dip blue, the tortilla chips did well for my white, and I made salsa (a recipe from my sweet friend, Julie, who makes the BEST salsa I have ever put in my mouth) which represented my blue.
I snapped this picture of Jon as he was digging into the blue cheese dip (maybe he was closing his eyes so he wouldn't be grossed out by blue cheese dip?) He thought it was so funny that I am having this "Election Day Fun" with Mexican food. It makes me giggle!
Well, I'm off to watch Fox News. Jon came home early today from work and took a nap while I went to vote. The last Presidential election he stayed up ALL night. He will be up late tonight, if not all night. I'll be in bed at my usual time. I'll just wait to find out tomorrow, that is if we even know anything by then.

Let the Big Dawgs Eat - Well. . . . They Really Got Eaten

When GA plays FL it should be marked as a holiday on our calender - one of the biggest days of the year for this Bulldog family! This year we decided to celebrate with our friends who love football, maybe not quite as much as us (I don't really love it like Jon does, but since we are one in the eyes of the Lord, I feel the need to say us), so we had a GA/FL football party.

The table. We had some great food, and I should have taken a picture of all the food, but I was too excited about digging into it!!!

A driveway full of cars - Thank you Lord for good friends!!!

Darrell, Candis, Greg - Darrell is a Bulldog. Candis and Greg are GA Tech fans and were pulling for FL because they just COULD NOT pull for GA.

Shannon, Lori, Ainsley - Shannon loves football and is a Bulldog. She, Darell, and Jon were all pretty nervous about the game. Lori is a FL fan and yelled hard for her Gators!

Granddaddy (Jon's Daddy), Tim - both are Bulldogs

The girls in black - Me, Stephanie, Tiffani, Julie and Avery

Justin and Lori are BIG TIME FL fans. I don't know what I am laughing at here, probably hoping FL would lose - wishful thinking for this game!

Stephanie and Barry

Julie and Tim

After the game we all were goofing around. Tiffani and her crew had already gone and so had Candis and Greg. Everyone stayed for a little while after the game. After everyone headed out Justin and Jon headed downstairs to play X-Box. Lori and I stayed upstairs and had some good "girl talk." The whole day was lots of fun other than GA losing! The kids mostly all played outside, so they got to enjoy their friends too.

Jon is a rather quiet person at church or in social settings. However, I knew since we would be at home and it would be GA football, his true self would come out. It really tickled me to think and wonder what our friends were thinking about who they perceive Jon to be and who he really is. He really is the "life of the party" kind-of guy. It just takes him awhile to warm up and he definitely needs to be in his comfort zone. He was hootin' and hollerin' about something during the game and Greg called over to him and said, "Jon, I want to see you doing that at church tomorrow." It was really a fun day even though the dawgs lost!