Random Thankfulness

I really liked my post of Random Thoughts because I am not a good writer and I don't have to think in complete sentences. So I thought I would do the same for this post and as I sit here thinking, list some of my many blessings and things I am so thankful for. Lord please help me not take anything for granted.

Christ! His forgiveness, His mercy, His grace, His love. My health. My husband. My children. Little Drew. The many freedoms that we have. The soldiers fighting for those freedoms. My home. Reliable transportation. Water. This beautiful part of the world we live in. Electricity. A job to go to everyday. That my parents are still living. My sense of sight, hearing, taste, feeling, and smell. (The apple pie in the over smells so good!) Nature in general; God's artwork is everywhere. Bibles. My bed. Ability to buy food. Extended family. Change of seasons. A garage. Tissue paper. My washer and dryer. Hot water.

To be continued . . . . .

Bananas!

This little monkey LOVES bananas! Drew was over on Saturday afternoon for a little while while Kayla and Chase ran to Branson. I had a couple of bananas lying on the kitchen counter and when he saw them, he had to have one. I tried and tried to get him to hold it and he would not. Kayla usually slices them and that is how he is used to eating them. Well I had taken the banana to the living room and laid it on a table while he was playing. I turned around and he had it! And had both cheeks full. Snapped a couple of pics real quick. He is so cute!

Almost 14 months old and still doesn't say words. He know what you are saying but he doesn't talk yet. When I ask him where Kristin is, he will point to her picture above the fireplace. He knows where his belly button is and his ears. Tonight I was reading a book to him and there is a frog that sticks out his tongue; I told Drew to "stick out your tongue" and he did! So funny.

Random Thoughts

So tired. So much to do. Need to start Christmas shopping. Don't know what to get anyone. Looking forward to Thanksgiving. So much to be thankful for. Hate sharing. Gotta cook pies. Just not like it used to be. I miss shopping with my girls. So bad it hurts! So wish they could or would get along. Just grow up. Wish Brian could get his truck fixed. My heart still hurts for him. Want to put up my Christmas tree. Want to hang lights on the house. Can't get motivated. Gotta clean out the two bedrooms upstairs and get ready for extended company. Thanksgiving meal for the girls at work on Tuesday evening. So thankful for Jonesy! Little Drew can't poop and doesn't feel good. Love my husband. Need a humidifier. Got to address Christmas cards. Praying for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. Getting baby birds on Monday. Thankful! How do you keep the holidays calm and relaxed and focused on what the true meaning is? Pumpkin pie, can't wait. Gotta back up my pictures on my computer! Would be absolutely sick if I lost them. What an external hard drive for my laptop. Waste too much time on FB :(. Need a friend. Want to make a another quilt. Want to scrapbook. Such a procrastinator. Hate that about myself. It's like everything has to be just perfect for me to start on something. or the time has to be just right. Or there can't be anything else that needs to be done. Grrrrr.

Kayla's Birthday

Absolutely does not seem possible that my oldest is 27 years old today. Happy Birthday, Kayla! I fixed chicken tacos for her tonight and made a chocolate cake, with no icing of course. She said Drew was in bed with then this morning (he woke up early) and he had his pacifier in his mouth. She said "Drew why won't you say Mama, that would be the best birthday present ever". At that moment, Kayla said he spit his pacifier out and said MA MA MA really loud and and assertive and then stuck his pacifier back in his mouth. That is so funny! I can just see and hear him doing that. That was enough to make her happy. She has not heard him say that again all day long.

It's Official

Well, it's official! We are expecting another grandchild in July! Kayla and Chase went to the doctor today and it was confirmed that she is 6 weeks pregnant. They got to hear a really faint heartbeat and got to see the baby. It is only the size of your pinky fingernail. That absolutely amazes me! God is so awesome. These siblings will only be 22 months apart; that is good though. Me and my sister are only 19 months apart and Kayla and Kristin are 25 months apart. I got to see the ultrasound pictures. Hopefully I can post those tomorrow night! So excited! This was the surprise I blogged about on November 1st. I just couldn't tell anyone. Nothing real exciting or special about the way she told me. I just rec'd this picture in a text message. LOL. Praying daily for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy child!


Here are the promised pictures of Brian's project. It is a '46 Chevy and will be a "true" Rat Rod.

It amazes me at what this "child" can do.

Until later.

90

We celebrated Grandma Roberts' 90th birthday today. Kristin and Brandon got to come home for the weekend; Melanie and Jamie and their two boys came in from Pennsylvania; Aunt Carolyn was here from CA; Wendall and Maggie were also here, along with many other family and friends. Here are some pictures from today. . . .Drew and Hunter, Drew again giving him a hug.
Grandma Ginny and Drew. . . .

And we took the opportunity to take another five (5) generation picture today. How blessed my children and grandchild are to have so many grandparents and so much family that live so close. Here Drew is 13 months, Kayla will be 27 in two days, Richard is 48, Ginny is 67, and Grandma Roberts, of course, will be 90 tomorrow.

And feeding the goats.

In other happenings this weekend, Brandon and Richard both killed a deer, Saturday was the first day of gun season. And Brian has started working on another project. Maybe pictures of that "thing" tomorrow.

Educated

It feels so good! Tonight was the last night of my class and I did really good on the final! I am so glad this is over. I have been taking an HR Development class thru the University of Arkansas and NAC at the Durand Center. For the last 12 weeks I have been sitting in class for three hours every Thursday night. What to do next week?

Stess Reliever

Best break ever . . . . . Drew's babysitter had a doctor's appointment at 12:45 today, Chase has to be at work at 1:00, and Kayla had appointments until 2:00. So, I took my lunch hour and went to help. When I got there it was nap time. So I got to hold little Drew and rock him to sleep. Talk about a stress reliever in the middle of the day. It was so peaceful. Just sitting there in a totally quite house rocking and holding a sleeping baby. It kinda put things back in perspective for the rest of the afternoon.

Fall Fun

I got to keep Drew yesterday, Saturday, while Kayla worked. He absolutely loves the 4-wheeler. Here he is holding Brian's hand trying to climb up. Needless to say, Brian was on his way to the deer woods and didn't' have time for little Drew.
He got this little truck for his birthday and has just started playing with it. We went to visit Grandma Ginny and he was not going to let go of it. He was taking it with him no matter what. Here, doing what little boys do, playing in the dirt.

It was a little nippy even after lunch so here he got to wear his new coat. He had so much fun. Almost "running" everywhere.

Richard and Brian finished making some frames for Kayla's mirrors in the salon this afternoon so she came over to sand and paint them. And of course I was available to keep Drew. Now he can tell you how a truck goes and how a cow goes. And he is such a good eater. He ate 3/4 of a banana and some animal crackers for a snack. And then for supper, I baked some chicken,fixed some mac and cheese, and had some mashed potatoes. He ate all of his supper too! Right now he loves his toy popcorn popper. I didn't think he would ever learn how to push it but now he doesn't stop. So blessed to have in him in my life, so thankful they live close. I so miss Kristin.

Changes

Such a sad last few days . . . Boone county is now wet. Obviously not the way I voted or the way I wanted that to turn out.

Kayla sent me a text message tonight and said they have had an offer on their house. It has been on the market for the past few months. I am saying a special prayer. . . . I so wish it would sell if that is what they want.

As promised and way over due, below are a few our our vacation pictures from the Smoky Mountains. We were able to go the third week of October and had a wonderful time. This picture was taken at a rest stop and we are looking at Clingman's Dome, the highest point in the Smokys.
This picture is taken at Cherokee. This is one of my favorites pictures from our trip.

One Tuesday, we drove to Asheville, North Carolina to tour the Biltmore.

This picture was taken at Cades Cove.

All I wanted to see on this trip was a bear! Well we actually saw four bears! Two while we were hiking to Laurel Falls and then two more crossing the road on our way from Gatlinberg to Pigeon Forge.

Election Eve

I cannot believe it is November ! And I can't wait for all of these political ads to be over with. Tomorrow is a very big day for our county as the wet/dry issue is on the ballot. Dear Lord, please have your hand in this election and may your will be done.

I actually voted in the early election; one day last week. I left with a really good feeling. Can't say that I have felt that way after voting that I can remember.

Brian left for Memphis this afternoon and won't be home until late Wednesday night. Ramsey Motor Company sent him to the Chrysler Training Center for some additional training. Home was very quite tonight; it is just so different not having him here. I actually thought as I was pulling into the drive way that we need a smaller house. That will be especially true after he leaves "for good".

A very special person shared some news with me today, told me a secret. Let's see how good I am at keeping it. Dear Lord, I have an unspoken prayer for that situation as well.

Vacation pictures tomorrow night.