Rhode Island Visit

Well, today is the first day of Spring and it is most welcome! It is a beautiful, sunny day outside, so you might wonder why I'm sitting inside at the computer. I just got home late last night from Rhode Island visiting Jenny and family. Since I was away from work for a week, sitting in front of the computer is not so distasteful today! I downloaded all of my pictures of the kiddos and decided to update my blog since I had not posted anything since January. If I get real adventurous, I'll try to download a couple of pics to my blog site today. I'm not promising anything...
The trip to RI was wonderful! The weather was great - sunny and mild, which is usually not the case. In fact, while I was there I talked to Kim a couple of times and was telling her how pretty the weather was and she said I must have taken the sunshine with me b/c it had been raining for a couple of days here. She said, "You know what they say - ain't no sunshine when she's gone!". Anyway, since the weather was so nice, we were able to get out and see the New England countryside. The Cape Cod houses, sailboats, mansions, old rock walls, historic land marks, the wharf, the cliff walk, rocky beaches, etc. The older kids and I made several trips down to the beach which is in walking distance from their house. Jake loves to throw rocks in the water and the girls love looking for shells, crabs and sea glass. In fact, Hannah has a pretty impressive collection of sea glass. Jenny and the kids picked me up from the airport Tuesday at lunchtime and it was so great to see everyone again. We had last seen them in July just before they left Indiana. Jenny had put roast and potatoes on to cook in the crockpot (my favorite - thanks, Jen!) and then the older kids and I watched "The Princess and the Frog" together. They got to stay up late and eat popcorn and I got waited on hand and foot. I reminded them that I was on vacation, afterall. :) Ken kept the kids on Wednesday night so that Jenny and I could go out to a fancy, smancy seafood restaurant in Newport. (Thanks, Ken!) We walked along the wharf and then went inside and were seated at windows overlooking the water just as the sun was about to set. It was beautiful! And the clam chowder was the bomb!
Nathan is a doll! Such a happy child! He was just beginning to sit up when we saw him in July. I enjoyed bonding with him a little bit. He especially enjoyed trying to get my glasses! And he is busy! He gets in to everything! Hannah is so smart and is really growing up. She is almost nine and is very cool. She could answer all of my questions and enjoyed showing me around her domain. She excels in anything she does and is already quite a good swimmer. (I got to see the kids in action on Wednesday at swimming lessons at the local YMCA.) Grace is a little inventor and artist. While I was there, she made a Leprocan trap (It was St Patrick's Day afterall!), created a Robot out of two plastic bowls, duct tape and pipe cleaners and forks, and drew a pretty mean sea gull in the sand at the beach, not to mention the pictures she made for me. She is also the practical joker in the crowd and loves to laugh. Claire is such a sweetie and very affectionate. She is very articulate and has all the details about everything. She never forgets a thing and can recite, word for word, any conversation she has heard. She is also very artistic (she loves to draw, too and is quite good) and smart as a whip. Jacob is a joy. He loves to throw rocks at the beach and we threw in a lot of 'em this week! He also love puzzles (of trucks and tractors and airplanes and trains). He put them together better than I did! He and I bunked together! All four of the older kids are in one room - two twin beds and one bunk bed. The plan was for Jake to sleep on a pallet on the floor and I was to sleep on the bottom bunk. At least that's how we started out the night. By 3:00 AM everynight, Jake was cuddled up next to me! But that's OK! Because I'm Nana and that's what Nana's do. They play and play and cuddle and hug and love the dickens out of those little rascals! Thanks, you guys, for showing me such a wonderful time and sharing your world with me! I love you all to pieces.....

Reflections

Something about the beginning of a new year makes you reflect on the old year and evaluate what you want to differently in the new year. I guess that's why so many people make new year resolutions, huh?
I am thankful for many things. And so undeserving of so many of the blessings in my life. I want to be more "aware" of my blessings this year. Sometimes we all tend to coast through life and take so many things for granted. I want my loved ones to really know how much I love them and treasure them in life. I want to be a better wife, mother, Nana, sister, friend, employee, supervisor, etc. I have room to improve in all areas. I want to be a better follower and disciple of Christ. I want to build up instead of tearing down. I want to be an encourager and the voice of reason. I want to be positive instead of negative - even when negative is so much easier. I want to eat healthier and exercise more and encourage Danny to do the same. I want to drink more water and less soft drinks. I want to web-cam or write letters more to my five precious grandkids in Rhode Island. I want to make an effort to see Aidan more who lives right here in Headland. I want to spend more time with mother and cheer her up everyday. I want to read my Bible and pray more b/c I want to not because I should. I want to get more comfortable with learning new things. Like blogging, facebooking and downloading pictures on the computer.
Let's see. Did I leave anything out? I don't think so . I want to thank God for my blessings and I want to let my loved ones know how much they mean to me each day. I want to have a positive attitude and learn new things and greet each day with anticipation of the blessings I will receive and can share with others. I think that about covers it....
Happy New Year!

Catch Up

Sorry! I haven't blogged in a while. The last time I posted an entry was just before Kim, Derek and Aidan moved out. They closed on their first home in mid-October and actually moved on Halloween Day. Derek's Mom and two brothers came up to help them move. I helped babysit during the couple of weeks of painting and renovating leading up to the move. (I made out like a bandit on that deal. Never picked up a paintbrush - just Aidan!) I made a trip to Moultrie for a couple of nights for training at our Bankcorp Center in October.
Then came November - Thanksgiving and straight on into the holidays. Thanksgiving was very quiet b/c Kim and family went down to Mobile for Thanksgiving. But Danny and I had an enjoyable day with his Mom and Dad. It was just the four of us, but his mom had cooked enough food for an army. After lunch, we came home and took a nap. Thanksgiving night we tried out our chimney and firepit in the grilling shed out back. It was a relaxing night.
Of course there was much shopping to be done in time for Christmas. The first order of business is always the grandkids. And since five of my six grandkids live away, theirs is always the first to be purchased. Jenny gave me the idea for the matching girl and doll outfits for Hannah, Grace and Claire to go with their new dolls. Judging from the web-cam video on Christmas Day, I think they were a hit! Jake is in to Thomas the Train so we bought a couple of engines for him. Nathan got an electronic story book and a glow worm. All of these items, along with some Alabama gear and gifts for Jenny and Ken had to mailed out in time for Christmas. Then we moved on the shopping for everyone else! Aidan got a kitchen set (which she loves) and which I found at Big Lots thanks to one of my scouts at work! Everybody shares what they're looking for and then goes out on lunch hours and reports back in with their finds! It's called networking!
Of course, our singing group performed twice in December which called for extra practices. We sang at the Azalea Court one Saturday morning. And then we participated in the Christmas Eve services. We actually sang Silent Night acapella and it was very moving. It seemed very reverent when it was sang without the music.
Danny and I hosted our first Christmas Party this year, too! I invited the five people in my department and their spouses out to our house for a party on the 19th. (Yes, the weekend before Christmas!) Danny and I worked like crazy getting everything ready. We had something akin to the monsoon season in the weeks leading up to it, so there was a lot we couldn't do ahead of time. We grilled outside, had a firepit, chimney and bonfire going. (Remember my reference to the pre-test on Thanksgiving night!) We made hot chocolate, roasted marshmallows and made s'mores, etc. It was a great success and my house was totally sparkling! Kim and Derek and Aidan joined us for supper and Kim commented on how nice the house looked! Danny's mom came out today and it was a wreck - why can't she ever see it when it's cleaned up? :)
The next week was full of running out on lunch hours, finishing the shopping, wrapping the gifts, etc. Danny was actually able to go with me to the Phillips Christmas Tree this year. It had been a couple of years and I was so glad he came. He's actually always the life of the party. Aidan and Abbie played and had a big time. And the Massey Tree was fun on Christmas Day. We spent all afternoon with them and then Kim and family came out to the house for supper and MeMa joined us, too. It was all very nice and not too rushed.
And I rode with Danny on the weekends at least twice in December. In fact I rode with him the night Alabama won the SEC Championship game. And I finished the October and November reports to turn into the accountant, too. AND we have had the busiest end of year I can remember at work! WHEW! What a truckload of excuses for not blogging, but I think I've re-capped the last three months pretty well. I had to catch up so I can move forward, right?

Happy (early) Halloween!

I just got home tonight after being in training classes in Moultrie for two days. It was a good trip, but it's always good to get home. The bank rented a 2010 Chrysler 300 for the trip and I drove. We may have only been going over to Georgia, but we went in style!
Kim and Derek have been working every spare minute on their house. They have most of the rooms painted except for the trim. In fact, Danny and I are listening out for Aidan while they work on it more tonight. The carpet is scheduled to be put down on Tuesday of next week and they plan to start moving in a little at a time after that. Derek's family is coming up the following weekend and help them finish moving. They are so excited and so ready for their own space. And so are we! :) I just realized that means they will be actually moving out on Halloween! What a hoot! Happy Halloween!

What a Difference a Day Makes...

What a whirlwind week we've had! The roller coaster ride started Wednesday night about 11:30PM when Aidan woke up throwing up. This was immediately followed by Kim throwing up. Sheets had to changed, Aidan had to have a bath, etc. When Kim got her back to bed after midnight, she threw up again and the process started all over again! So Thursday morning dawns with Kim and Aidan staying home and (first thing) the downstairs toilet overflows. Not once, but twice! Meanwhile, at work, Derek shoves a rusty nail through his hand. So Thursday's not shaping up to be a good day, right? Wrong! While Derek is still dealing with the nail issue, Bob (the banker) gives him a call to tell him the loan is finally going to close Thursday afternoon. So Thursday ended well with Kim & Derek purchasing their first home. A very good day aferall. Then comes Friday, which was Boss's Day! I get to work and have a card, some candy and a gift certificate to the Olive Garden waiting for me on my desk! Great day at work - life is grand. Get home and Kim is throwing up her socks. So Saturday morning rolls around, Danny and I get up early. We go to town for breakfast at Hardee's (love their country potatoes) and then on to the IGA to buy groceries. He gets his call from Greatwide and takes a short run leaving late Saturday afternoon so I can go with him and still get home late Saturday night so I can make it to church on Sunday morning. Perfect, right? Well, not exactly. Before we leave Saturday afternoon, Derek's not feeling so well. We head for Brundidge hoping to dodge the bullet. We had not been there long when I began to feel queasy. Danny insisted that I go on home, so I grab some plastic bags and head for the car. You guessed it! I got sick (thank God for plastic bags!) I had made it about 10 miles when Danny called and asked me to turn around and go get him. It was a long ride home. It was a long night last night. And I didn't make it to church today. You never know what's gonna happen next! Life can turn on a dime. A good day can go South in an instant. And a bad day can turn around just as fast. Life is an adventure, so you have to hang on tight for the ride!

Roll Tide!

Today was a football day! Danny was off and we grilled out barbque ribs and watched football all day. Aidan really got into the spirit! The Tide rolled over Ole Miss and a good time was had by all! Roll Tide!

Belles of Praise

Today the singing group that I'm a part of, Belles of Praise, sang at Azalea Court in Headland. We are definitely an ametuer group, but we sing primarily Southern Gospel music and the residents there seemed to enjoy it. Christine York leads the group and she devotes a lot of time and energy in picking out the music, organizing, practicing, etc. She formed the group about three years ago and asked me to join and sing second soprano. I had never sang anything except alto, but I told her I would give it a try. I truly enjoy it. We usually practice every other Tuesday night. Even after a bad day at work, it really cheers you up to sing. We have a variety of ages and personality types, but we have a lot of fun with it. Sharon Temples and Barbara DeShazo sing soprano, Christine and I sing second soprano, Ruby McKnight and Ann Deal sing alto. And my sister, Anne, just recently joined the group and sings soprano and tenor. We sing at church on occasion and have started singing at Azalea Court about once a quarter. We'll start practicing our Christmas music soon and that's always fun!