I'm Thankful!

I find it amazing how we jump from Halloween to Christmas and hardly even acknowledge Thanksgiving. The store that I work in has literally shoved the fall items in a corner, placed them 50% off and prominently displayed the Christmas stuff back in late September! Don't get me wrong, because Christmas is my favorite holiday, but Thanksgiving is next in line and I celebrate it just as much. I know that we should be thankful everyday, but that in itself should be even more reason to make a big deal out of the actual day. God has given me many reasons to be thankful and I have no problem celebrating the holiday! Yeah, turkey is wonderful and being around family is too, but just to think of what God has done in our lives is the reason for the holiday (in my opinion). I'm thankful for my husband, children and extended families (including in-loves and godparents and their family too. I'm thankful for all of my blogging friends and the awards that I've received. I especially want to thank Gloria from Gloria's Blog Viva la Vida, who is so sweet about giving me awards that I don't even feel worthy of receiving! I'm very thankful that God chose me to be one of his children and for watching over and protecting us daily. He is such a good and loving God and He is worthy to be praised!!!

I know I haven't posted much, but I'm still around and reading and enjoying a lot of blogs! I've got a lot to do in the coming week and a half. I have a to do list of things to make ready before Thanksgiving when all the relatives converge on our home! Lack of money will probably cut the list in half, but cleaning and small projects (i.e. hanging curtains and room decor) will definitely keep me busy! Hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving! I do hope to post some pics of my fall decor this week. Until then, have a blessed week!

Mums the Word!

I know it's been a while since I posted, and I'm so sorry! Life has been extra hectic with having to drop off and pick up kiddos everyday, plus added activities, church and work. Not much time for breathing! My house is a mess (no, really) and my days seem so short with little time to do anything after I get home (to stay) besides cook, help with homework and go to bed.

Anyhow,I've spent the last three evenings shopping for and working on homecoming mums for both of my daughters. I got the wild idea to make them when my daughter brought home a brochure and I thought I could do them myself. The girl that makes them only charged $40 for the smallest (which was still large), but money is tight and hubby didn't get paid until this past Tuesday and the homecoming game was last night (Friday). Too short of a time period to have one made, so I volunteered to make my oldest daughter's since this is her senior year and she never asked for one until now. My shopping time was limited to one hour on Tuesday evening (after spaghetti dinner fundraiser at the boys' school), none on Wednesday (due to flooding rains in the evening---gotta love TX!) and two hours on Thursday evening (had to add an Avon delivery in there too). I stayed up until 4:20 a.m. trying to get them both finished (oh yeah, daughter #2 made her request known at Hobby Lobby!) before they left for school. After the boys left, I had to call my neighbor and ask her to help me with her glue gun to get them both finished. She glued the backing in place and a few ribbons on Deondra's and I glued the backing on Cedraya's. These are the finished products below. I think I did pretty good for a first time effort! I spent a little over $40 each, which was what the girl charged that gave Deondra the brochure, but I wouldn't have had the money in time to get them back before the homecoming game. I think I did a decent job and they seemed happy. That's what counts, right? Anyway, maybe I'll have more time next year. Cedraya wants one for every year now, so maybe I can make some for other people and make some resale shop and garage store money! lol

I learned that senior mums are white with an added accent color. Deondra chose pink for hers.



Here's some little extras



Since Cedraya is a freshman, hers has to be the school colors (black & gold). Yes, there's mum protocol!



The finished products......





The happy campers....



Be Blessed!

What an Awesome Day!

I just wanted to share what an awesome day I had today! It started off in church, and what a time we had!!! My lil' bro (he adopted me), who is our assistant pastor, preached an awesome message titled, "A Yet Praise." While listening to him, I really thought about all the things I've been going through (no, life isn't perfect)and realized that through no matter what, yet will I praise Him! I put aside all my insecurities and wants (not needs) and complaints, and just praised His Holy name! God has been so good, in spite of all that's going on around us. I need to be thankful for my family, my home, my job and stop complaining about the kids not doing what I need them to do, about the house not being big enough, about not having the job that I desire and about the pain that comes with working this present job. I'm just grateful that God has allowed me and my family to see yet another day, and for that I praise Him!

We had our church picnic today after service, and we had a really good time there, too. The kids got soaking wet with water balloons, and they enjoyed playing and hanging out with their friends. I enjoyed just being around the saints. Afterwards, we went to my cousin's house for a dinner to celebrate my aunt's, my cousin's and my birthday. We were all within days of each other. I really had a lot of fun all day and now I'm going to bed!!!

My cousin, Cavon, me and her mom, my aunt Roxie (we are all in September, with the same ending number in our ages - 64,44 & 34!)



Be Blessed!

Happy Birthday to Me!!!

Today is the 23rd anniversary of my 21st birthday!!! lol Yes, today is my 44th year on Earth, thank the Lord! I'm not ashamed to say how young I am, because it's a blessing to be here in the land of the living! I just wanted to share a few pictures on my day! Hubby and my precious kiddos gave me these beautiful roses and cards.




Sweet hubby says there's more to come, but he's not feeling well today, so my festivities will continue on another day. Keep my honey in your prayers.
There's so much sickness going around. As one of my favorite gospel songs says, "You pray for me, I'll pray for you and watch God change things!"

Show & Tell Friday - Garage Sale Finds

Today I'm joining in Kelli's Show & Tell over at her wonderful blog, There is No Place Like Home. A few weeks ago my neighbor had a moving sale and I found these oil bottles for $2 a piece.



Everywhere I've seen these bottles, they are normally at least $8-$10 each, if not more. Macy's had some for $20!!!! All they needed was a little wiping down and I made a nice little top of the refridgerator display. I got the planter for free from a friend, whose daughter had a garage sale and this was left over. I love FREE Home Interiors items! (Ignore the plastic ring from the juice container that hubby left on top of the fridge! lol)

I also got this cute organizer for the boy's room. I've always wanted one, but they were a bit pricey. Of course this one is a little worn, but what isn't in their room! lol I got it for $8, which wasn't too bad. The family that had the sale was selling everything, trying to get enough money to go home to Hawaii. Things were kinda overpriced, and I know I probably could've gotten them cheaper, but I wanted to help them out.



Garage sales are so much fun!!! You never know what you might end up with!

Be Blessed!

I'm Baaaaack!!!

I am back from my much needed vacation! I thoroughly enjoyed vacationing ALONE and being pampered and treated like a princess! I went to visit my godparents in Atlanta and when I go there, they treat me like I'm their birth child and I come back more spoiled than I was to begin with! lol

For those of you that haven't been, Atlanta is sooooo pretty! I'm from Texas, and although our surroundings are beautiful too, Georgia has us on the trees and landscaping! The trees were abundant, the grass was soooo green and flowers were everywhere! I mean you could pass a broke down looking automotive shop and they had flowers out in front! No kidding! I enjoyed having doors opened for me, riding in beautiful cars and eating, eating and eating. Oh yeah, and SHOPPING, SHOPPING, SHOPPING! I got to go to America's Mart in downtown ATL, where they have the sample sales from the designers. Then I got to go to Lenox Mall and Belk at Phipps Mall. It was nice to see another Belk, and especially a bigger one, to compare to the one I work at. Labor Day, I got to go to the outlet mall and do some more shopping!

We ate out everyday for breakfast, lunch and dinner. My godfather's church's hospitality department gave us (his sister, her friend and me) fruit baskets that weighed a ton! Aunt Becky said she just knew there was a brick in the bottom of the basket!!! lol I ended up bringing fruit home for the kids to eat! I'm talking about humongous Georgia peaches, oranges that looked like grapefruits, pears, apples and grapes galore! I tried to eat some while at the hotel, but we ate out so much that I didn't get much of a chance. We ate at Spondivits, Tavern on the Green, Landmark Diner, Piccadilly's, Fat Matt's BBQ, just to name a few! I know I'm probably a tad fluffier than I was before I left! hee hee!

Anyway, even if they hadn't spent a dime on me, I would have been just as thrilled. It was a honor and a priviledge just to be among the saints of God! Everyone was so sweet and I had an awesome time at church. My hubby and Cedraya want to move to Atlanta now! Deondra is undecided because she doesn't want to leave her friends or boyfriend, but it was funny how they were suddenly interested in moving when I told them how much I enjoyed myself!

As far as I'm concerned, I have the most amazing godparents! They were good friends of my parents (Bishop and my dad started out in the ministry together),and when I lost my parents (best in the world, I might add), they told me that they were my family now. Not as replacements, but to continue with the love and support where my parents left off. I always appreciated the fact that they are very down to earth people that haven't let money or position affect them. Just truly sweet people!

I really enjoyed myself and look forward to seeing them again. It was wonderful to get much needed rest and have fun at the same time, but I really did miss my family. Glad to be back home with my hubby and kiddos!

Oh and you would think that being the daughter of a professional photographer would mean that I would have pictures galore of my trip......WRONG! I enjoyed myself so much that everytime I left the hotel room, I would accidentally leave my camera in the suitcase!!! As Bugs Bunny used to say, "what a maroon!" I didn't actually think about it until Sunday evening, so I have a few pictures from church that night.

Aunt Becky (my godfather's sister), Mother Owens (my godmother) and me!


Me being cute! hee hee!


Aunt Becky, Regina (our hostess and driver for the week) & Miss Nadine (Aunt Becky's friend)


An awesome painting of the former presiding bishops of the Church of God in Christ, with the pastor of the church where the convocation was held, in the middle. My godfather, Bishop Chandler Owens, is on the bottom right corner.


Since I had my moments in giddyness and forgot to get a picture with my goddaddy, I pulled one from when he preached in Dallas a couple of years ago.

Much Needed Break!

I know I haven't posted a lot lately, but I'm about to take a much needed break from EVERYTHING!!! I am going BY MYSELF to Atlanta to visit my godparents and enjoy their church's jurisdictional state meeting (my godfather is a Church of God in Christ bishop). I'll be leaving in the morning and will be back next Tuesday. They're excited that I'm coming, and I'm excited to be going! Join me in praying that my dear sweet hubby can handle everything (as he says he can) and that my dear sweet children don't give him a hard time! Hubby was sweet enough to give me his free airline ticket built up from his American Airlines awards points. He could've easily used it for himself and flown to Kentucky to see his family, but a few months ago he told me to call and find out when the meeting dates were and see about going. What a guy! Gotta keep him! lol

Anyway, it's after midnight and I still have lots to do before I leave. Stay blessed and I'll be back with you soon! Luv ya lots!

~Chondra