Christmas is almost all down and I am loving the clean look that's left behind!
My friend, Dawn, down in Florida has a canvas that says, "People seek happiness when happiness is actually a choice."
And that is so true.
The pink poinsettias are gone from the front porch and now it's Home Sweet Home!
I start my days with coffee and my devotional books and memory verse cards outside on the kitchen deck.....
On rainy days, I go out on the front porch.
Sunday night, Ilene and I had a nice evening with a charcuterie board.....
and fancy Peach Bellini drinks.
Garnished with fresh mint and peach slices and a couple of blackberries.
The pepper poppers were special since I used a gouda cheese dip for the filling.
It was like a Girl's Night since Louis Dean seemed to be in a stupor and went to bed early.
Ilene and I both had seen this movie before but it made more sence to us the second time we watched it.
It's wonderful to have these special times together as it makes me feel so good to be with a good friend enjoying a meal and a movie.
For years and years, I went into other people's lives to visit and minister....
Mother, Lillian, Reaoma, and June.
Now God is sending people into our life to minister to us.
As in Ilene who is such a blessing.
And DJ, Stephanie's grandson, who came over to visit us over the weekend.
He and I spent at least an hour on Saturday picking up pecans and having a throwing contest.
He's seven years old and in hockey as his Uncle Mark was.
I told him about my grandquads and their hockey games this weekend.
The girls played so well this weekend in California winning ALL their games!
What an amazing experience they had!
They WON the Championship!
Can you see Trystan, Logan and Kailey?
3,000 miles away Amber and Harrison were having some memorable hockey experiences!
It's COLD in Quebec City!
But you can't hide Amber's beauty!
Harrison is having the time of his life playing teams from around the world.
His team, the Brahmas,won some and lost some.
Hong Kong won the game this morning.
More games to come and they will be there all week!
Today (Tuesday) Louis Dean had an appointment with his cardiologist.
He received a good report! The pacemaker is working 88% of the time and that's a good thing!
I've been worried about his kidney functions and they have improved from last year.
Louis Dean and I stopped to get Subway sandwiches on our way home and watched a program while we ate before loading our bags and heading to Dallas.
I left the cats at home - Tabitha has been bolting out the door lately so I put her in the guest room as soon as I get up in the mornings. We will be at the Bells for a few days so I opened the guest room dooor and left plenty of food and water to last them until we get back home.
We stopped at Walmart for a few things and arrived at the Bells in time to park our car and take their Suburban to pick the girls up at school.
Kailey made homemade guacamole for an afternoon snack and Logan made a chicken salad .
I love how they are so creative and can make meals that are quick and easy and delicious!
I started cooking supper while Trystan was practicing her oboe.
I loved hearing her play while I worked on my journal entry.
We had pasta wiith meat sauce and corn on the cob and
garlic bread.
These are my recent memories.....
And these are my memories from the past...
I love our siblngs trips....
And all of our beautiful memories together!
Now I need to talk to you about my book.
I did not realize what an undertaking this would be.
Telling the truth is hard and even as I read these chapters, I am amazed at the grace and protection of the Lord in our lives,
P;ease know that God was with us and protected and redeemed so much of our lives.
We are who we are because of the redeeming grace of God in our life.
