I am Having a Contest!!!

I declare everyone who visits This Blog Today a Winner! The Rules, such as they are, are Really. Quite. Simple:

1. Be one of the first three bloggers to leave a comment on this post, which then entitles you to a handmade item from me!!!

2. You must post this challenge on your blog, meaning that you then must Pay It Forward, creating a handmade gift for the first three bloggers who leave a comment on YOUR post about this giveaway!

3. The gift that you send to your Three Friends can be from any price range and you have 365 days to make/ship your item. This means you should be willing to maintain your blog at least until you receive your gift and have shipped your gifts. And, remember: It's the Spirit and the Thought That Count!

4. When you receive your gift, please feel free to blog about it, sharing appropriate Linky Love!
If you are not one of the Top Three Commentors on Today's Post, you're still a Winner in this Time of Grace and Giving. Please take this Symbol of the Seasonal Spirit and post it on your blog; start your own Pay It Forward Chain, and encourage your Bloggy Friends to do the same!

I won from Veggie Mom!! If I can do it, you can as well!!!

Plus, Kat is having a give away of one of my favorite things - LOST!!!! Check her out and maybe you can win.

Happy Birthday, Johnathan!!!

Today 6 years ago the first little boy love of my life was born in Paducah, KY - my nephew, Johnathan Dade!! Johnathan had a rough beginning but you would never know it now looking at him. He is a true delight and I am so glad he is my nephew! We celebrated his birthday in Texas over Thanksgiving so we could all be together. We played games at the house and then spent the afternoon at Chuck E. Cheese.

Johnathan, we love you and are so proud of you! May God continue to bless you richly as you grow into a wonderful Christian young man!!! We love you!

Elf Training

This morning we loaded up the van and headed to the FHU Associate's Elf Training. This was the first year they have done this activity for the community and to raise money for student scholarships and it was VERY well received!! My kids had a blast doing the different activities:

Decorating Elf Hats

Storytime with Mrs. Claus

Gingerbread House Maze

Eating Snacks at Frosty's Cafe

Pictures with Santa

Making a reindeer ornament and reindeer food at the Reindeer Stables

Decorating cookies in Mrs. Claus' kitchen

The kids loved going through the different activities -except Carter would not go anywhere near Santa, and in the end they each received their Elf School Diploma. We can't wait to go back next year!

A New Christmas Tradition

We have always exchanged Christmas presents with the Youngs. We have been so blessed over the past 6 years to have had our friendship with them grow and develop into what it is today. We decided this year not to exchange gifts, but to help a child who really needed it. So, we loaded up our van with everyone except Brandon and Rhett (Oh what they missed!!) and took off to go shopping for toys and clothes. We had told the kids that this little one did not have family and friends like we did around this time and did not have as many toys. Therefore, we were going to be his friends and be Santa's Elves. They were on a mission after that!!! All I can say is I wish our pocketbooks were as big as the kids' hearts. Everything they kids saw that was on the little one's wish list they were trying to put into the cart. Each child used their own money to help pay for part of the gifts and were very proud of their "tickets!"

Carter, Laura Beth, Lawson and Jagger (below) with their tickets.

It was a great night - one we will never forget - and one we can't wait to recreate next year as well.

A House Divided

A house divided can it stand? In our case, yes. We have been very blessed that my team (Alabama) and Damon's team (Texas) have never played each other. Therefore, we can stand. We have a mutual understanding (that has been tested at times) that I gladly cheer for Texas and he gladly cheers for Alabama (this is where we have had some issues) in all games, especially big games. We lived high for awhile thanks to the BCS had us number one and two, but thanks to Texas our hopes of a home national championship was dashed. I was hoping to post these pictures tomorrow while both of our teams were playing for their conference championships but thanks to the Big 12's ridiculous rules, I am posting them today because tomorrow we will ALL be in our CRIMSON and white - cheering for a Bama win and an Oklahoma loss (sorry to all my new blog friends who are OU fans). Then, and only then, will we have a chance to see if our divided house can stand!

I think I see next year's Christmas cards coming from something like this. . . . . .

I Just want to go Home

I Just Want to go Home

Our journey down the yellow brick road is coming to a close. I hope you have enjoyed the lessons and they have blessed you as you are trying to walk more closely with our Father in heaven to reach our heavenly home.

All through the movie, Dorothy kept telling people, “I just want to go home.” She had her focus on her goal – home. We must keep our focus on our goal – heaven – as we travel down our narrow path. Colossians 3:1-3 tells us to "seek things above," and Hebrews 12:2-3 tells us to "fix our eyes on Jesus." We are also to ". . . trust God and He will make our way straight." Proverbs 3:5-6.

There’s No Place Like Home

Dorothy was on her way home. She was on a journey that led her down a winding yellow brick road.
We are on our way home. We are on a journey that will lead us down a narrow path.
Dorothy wanted to find her home so bad that she stayed on that path.
We should want to find our way to our heavenly home that we stay on the path that will lead us there. It is not an easy journey and not everyone will choose to follow or walk with us on this journey, but we know (and should try to show others) the joy that waits for us at the end of the our yellow brick road.

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV)

Past Lessons:

Lesson One: Follow the Yellow Brick Road

Lesson Two: If I Only Had a Brain

Lesson Three: If I Only Had a Heart and the Nerve

Lesson Four: I'll Get You, My Pretty and You Had the Power all Along

Melt My Heart

I have been sick the past week like a lot of the world out there. It got so bad Sunday I made a doctor's appointment on Monday (I DON'T like going to the doctor) and came home with antibiotics and steroids. Sunday was horrible; Monday, bad; Tuesday morning, a little better. Now, as always, this was a BAD week for me to get sick. I was in charge of Holiday House (a craft and home based business fair) as well as creating items for my Holiday House booth that was suppose to happen on Tuesday. So, feeling somewhat better Tuesday morning, I got up a "To-Do" list a mile long for that morning. I was pretty set in my mind what we needed to get done and was a bit short with my Carter that morning - more than once. He was trying to help but it wound up not being much help (you know how that goes). The longer I went in the day, the worse I felt. We finally made it home from our outings that morning and I went into "get it done" mode. Not sure, but I am sure I snapped at Carter again. I found a job he could do - take something to the mailbox, so I sent him out the door and tried to get something done in that short time. That short time turned into a longer time. I was getting frustrated wondering what was taking him forever only to find him using all the strength his 5 year old body had to move 3 BIG trash cans that had just been empty from the curb to the house. MY HEART MELTED!!! Of course, I had to keep this memory so I grabbed the camera to get these shots:

Bless his heart! When he saw me snapping pictures, he looked up at me and said apologetically, "Sorry, it's taking me a long time, Mom. They were pretty heavy." I immediately took him into my arms and heaped mounds of praise (but not kisses so he would not get sick) upon him. What a lesson my Carter taught me and I will always remember his actions today!

BTW - don't you love his turkey headband? He made this at school 2 weeks ago and wears it CONSTANTLY!!!

Christmas Meme

Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE Christmas and anything that has to do with that holiday! I loved yesterday's SITSmas greetings from everyone and just will do whatever I can to pass the Christmas spirit!! So, when Jennifer from Smelling Coffee (who is AMAZING, btw), tagged me with this, I HAD to do it!!!

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?

Hot Chocolate

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?

Santa leaves some stocking things wrapped but the big things unwrapped

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?

White lights

4. Do you hang mistletoe?

I have never done it

5. When do you put your decorations up?

The day after Thanksgiving or as close to it as possible

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?

My Grandmama Whittle's dressing

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child:

When we lived in Maryland, my Uncle Jim dressed as a Dickens' character Christmas morning and escorted all the kids into the living room when it was time to see the presents. It was great!

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?

What? Santa is not real!!!!

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?

Only if we are at Damon's parents' house

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?

One tree has the memory ornaments - Hallmark ones, ones we have made or people have made for us. We also have a sports tree, a Disney tree and an America tree

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?

Love it

12. Can you ice skate?

Yes, but it has been awhile. I thought it was easier than roller skating

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?

Each year there are certain ones that stand out, but not one overall favorite

14. What is the most important thing about the Holidays for you?

Family and friends

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?

Fudge - it use to be my Grandmama Whittle's buckeyes (peanut butter balls) but can't have peanut stuff anymore with Carter's allergies :(

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?

Christmas Eve finger food family get together

17. What tops your tree?

An angel

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving?

Giving

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?

Tennesse Christmas and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Damon would say I like them ALL!!)

20. Candy Canes​!​ Yuck or Yum?

Yum.

21. What do you want for Christmas?

I usually don't have a list, but this year I have a few things on my list - Alabama sweatshirt, Wii Fit, Wicked sheet music

22. Do you attend an annual Christmas Party?

We get out college kids over each year for Christmas but that is about it

23. Do you dress up on Christmas or wear PJs?

We're always with family, so we start off in PJs, then we dress for the day.

24. Do you own a Santa hat?

Yes

25. Who do you normally spend Christmas with?

Our family first and then extended family at lunch


Now, I am to tag some others who will fill out the questions and pass the tag along to others!!

Laura at the Horton Family

Cheryl at Life with Cheryl

Katie at Ryan and Katie

Carmen at The Joy of Boys
Hannah at Set Apart for the Grandeour of My Master's Service
Arika at "A" Thought or two or three

Merry SITSmas!!!!

From our house to yours:

May your Christmas be merry,

May your visitors be many,

May your holidays be blessed,

May your comments be numerous,

May your days be joyous,

May your Merry SITSmas be one of the

best days of the year!

Another special SITS day as we spread the Christmas comment love to all SITS girls (and guys?) everywhere. Check SITS out to see what it is all about!!! Join SITS and you may win the prize of the day - $200 Target gift card!!!!

Tagged!!!!

My friend, Carmen, tagged me a few days ago (and I just now found it!! Sorry, Carmen!!) to go to my fourth picture folder and find the fourth picture in it. This is what I found!!! Now I am suppose to write four things about it:

1. This was taken in September at PKA's reception for the freshmen.
2. I am with 3 of the senior girls whom I have grown very close to.
3. Nikki, the 2nd one on the left (and the shortest), will graduate in less than two weeks and leave us! :(
4. All 3 of these girls are part of the group that goes to Dumplings once a month for some serious girl time.

Now, I am suppose to tag 4 (?) people to continue the trend. Arika, Sandy, Sasha and Stephanie, go to your fourth picture folder, find the fourth picture, post it and write four things about it and then tag four more people!