New Year's

With less than 6 hours left in the year, I realize that although I may not have accomplished everything that I wanted this year, I did make a dent.  This year has been a roller coaster of ups and downs.

Our youngest daughters have moved out to live with their birth mom (our 2nd daughter) and then moved back.  Sometimes, teens have no idea how good they have it.  Bridgett (our 2nd daughter) moved to San Antonio to be with Anthony and it looks like they will be getting married this new year.  What their life has in store for them will be exciting, as they start on a new journey together.

Our oldest daughter, Mandy has had a lot of hard roads to travel, but she is coming out the winner.  She is strong and her faith in God is strong.  She has a wonderful husband, that we are proud to call our own.  Two vivacious girls that keep them busy and young.

Our two youngest, Alexis and Gabrielle, have had to make a lot of choices.  I am sure that they have learnt that some of their choices have not been for the best.  But we are very proud to call them our own, even though they always may not want to call us their own.  Both could be doing better in school, but I have faith in both of them that they will pull ahead.

Payton is still with us (a ex-boyfriend of our 17 year old)  He is now renting the little apartment that my mother-in-law lived in.  He will be finishing high school this May and then going into the service.  He has become like a family member and we will miss him when he leaves.  Oh, well, no sense thinking about it.  His mother raised a great son.

The mother-in-law has moved into the main house.  Enough said about that!

Hubby, Tommy is still on his exercise routine and low- carb diet.  Looks good for almost 59.  He has decided that he enjoys collecting steam engines, along with his farm equipment.  All these are models.  But he does have his share of equipment for the place we live on.

For myself, I have tried to keep the house in order and keep my sanity. Sanity, what is that, exactly?
Above all, I hope that I have learnt some of the lessons that the Lord had for me.  I know that He will continue teaching me new things in the coming year.  Will I be able to handle them all or will they hurt as much as some of the lessons for 2010 were.  I sure hope not.

I am so thankful for the presence of the Lord in my life.  Without Him, each day would be a struggle.  Looking back, I realize that like the poem, "Footprints in the Sand", He has had to carry me so much of the time.  I am looking forward to the new year and what the Lord has for me.  Have you been satisfied with your past 12 months?  If not, just plunge ahead, tomorrow is a new day and a new year.

Sherree

Murder is Binding

Tricia Miles has moved to the quite town of Stoneham, New Hampshire to open up a book store that features mysteries.

Moving from a bustling city life to a quite country life, Tricia is excited to finally achieve a dream.  The street is lined with other book stores that feature history and next door a cookbook store.  Life is great, until she finds Doris Gleason, the owner of the cookbook store dead.

With the sheriff is determined that Tricia is the killer, it is up to her to find the real killer.  When pamphlets are constantly found in books about a nudist camp, her sister, Angelica decides to come for a visit and the Mike Harris, the man that is running for selectman is calling her, "his girl", will Tricia find herself living one of the many mystery books that she has in her store?

My daughter and I both love a good, clean mystery.  She sent me the first three books in the series, "A Booktown Mystery", and I am hooked.  The author, Lorna Barrett, knows how to take the reader and plop you right down in the middle of Stoneham,New Hampshire.  She has given each of the characters such color, that you are almost sure that they are real.  I love when an author can write a book and as you read, you feel that you are a part of the story.  This is one of those authors.
I found that I could not put the book down.  I finished it in one day and looking forward to the next.  If you enjoy a good mystery that you can cuddle up with, then this is one for you.

Bundles of Trouble

What more does a new mother need, aside of a new born daughter to take care of?

Just as Kate is on the way to the hospital with labor pains, the phone rings.  It is the medical examiner, calling about her brother-in-law, George.  His bags have been found at the pier, where a dead body has been found.  Is it George, or perhaps he is the one responsible for the dead body?

Once the body has been identified, Kate finds herself searching for George.  Deciding that she would like to become a private detective, Kate launches out to find who is responsible for not only one, but three deaths.  Can she do this with a new baby in tow, before she becomes a target herself?



My daughter and I found this at Half Price Books in San Antonio, over the summer and the author, Diana Orgain was a new author for us both.  Diana Orgain will take you on a ride that will have you laughing one minute and almost crying the next.  I have already ordered the second in the series.    I highly recommend this book and would rate it with a 5.

Mary Did You Know

Apothecary Jars

I found these on www. uncommondesigns.blogspot.com.  The first time I saw them, they were decorated for Halloween, with the words BOO.  I love the way they look for Christmas.  Taking something so simple, but looking so elegant.  Wanted to share them.

Christmas Tree & Succulents

Well, I just thought that I was only going to do the lights.  I turned out, that I had to do the whole tree.  I kept telling myself, "Only the Tree, Sherree".  But as you can see from the pictures, I did not listen to myself.

Once I get started on something, I just seem to not be able to stop.  So from the tree, I went to the mantel.  Tommy came in after work and he was surprised that the mantel was done.  He commented that, "You have never decorated the mantel since we redone it."  That is true.  I really just hate to take my things down, just to replace with something that will only stay out a few weeks.  Plus, where am I suppose to put all the stuff that I have taken down?

The night before, Tommy once again mentioned that I should take some of the branches from the holly tree out front.  We planted it the year my mother passed  in memory of her.  She loved playing the piano, so now when I look at the holly on the piano top, I think of her and how much she is missed.

Had an open space that was just begging to be filled with this little stuffed dog

Perfect place for my snowmen collection from Hallmark

Perfect place for my 4ft. snowman.  I just have to remember that it is not a real person.

A birthday present from My Aunt Arvina and I did not want to put them up.

On the bar in the kitchen and no, the apples are not real.  They are wooden.

Captain Knuckles and Nola

My baby Donkey Ears, that are having babies themselves.  

From there, you would think that I would be worn out.  Remember, how I said that I hated to remove things?  Well, the place that the tree stands now is were my coffee table was with some of my succulents.  So, on to the sunroom.  Not only did I have to move them, I had to get the sunroom clean.  I made my shelves using paint cans and extra shelves I had laying around.  My Mandy, made a great place for hers with cement blocks.  But at 9:00 at night, Lowe's is closed.  So the next best thing I had, were my many cans of paint (left over from my many projects)

Fill in the Blank

1. I Wish  - That I lived in San Antonio, Tx, where my two oldest daughters live.

2. Yesterday I - Finished putting the lights and the decorations on the tree, dressed up the mantel and the piano for Christmas.  Also, I re-arranged all my succulents on new shelves in the sunroom,

3.  Today I will - Get the house clean and get the laundry done.

4.  Tomorrow I will - Get my hair washed, go out to lunch with my hubby and then at 4:00 I will leave for church. ( We have 1 service on Saturday nights and then 3 on Sunday)

I think that this a real person, but it is a snowman.

5.  May - I need to go by the phone store and take back a holder for my car.  I dropped my Droid Incredible and have to wait until the 22nd to get a new one.  And at that time, I am going to upgrade, so the holder I got will not work.

6.  Someday - All my children will have grown up and I will be able to keep my house clean and have time to sit back and read.

7.  I love - Jesus, my family, a clean and orderly house, to be with my Mandy at the bookstore (actually anywhere would be fine),Diet Dr. Pepper, and of course, BOOKS!

This post is part of, little things we do, that Lauren puts out every Friday.  Anyone is welcome to join in.